Home Is Where the Heart Is

Dear All,

After saying goodbye to Scott at the airport in Entebbe (he is in Kenya for the next week and a half and then Addis Ababa, Ethiopia until December - please keep him in your prayers as he continues his amazing journey!) and many many hours cramped on a plane, the group arrived safely at the Dulles airport.  While we are all physically back in Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Colorado and Massachusetts I truly believe that a giant-sized piece of each of our hearts remains in Agule.  We cannot begin to thank you enough for the many ways you have supported us - thank you for bringing Agule into our lives.  We have tried to bring Agule to you as well, and will continue to tell our stories of our time there as we begin to process all that we have witnessed, felt, heard, accomplished and loved.

To give you a brief update, the beds will be placed in once construction is complete. For those of you that supported the thirtyfivethirty bed program thank you so much!

We may not physically be in Agule anymore, but our trip is far from over as the next few days, weeks and months will reveal to us even more about our time in this beautiful community - and, while we accomplished amazing things during our stay there, we still have a lot of exciting work ahead of us!

Please stay tuned for continued updates on how we are all doing and what our next steps for this project will be...

Grace and Love,

Anneka

sunny days, chasing the clouds away

we had a slow day in the clinic and decided to give to a semi-Cribs style introduction to the clinic and a few of its people. at times it can be tough so laughter and maturity always go hand and hand, all of it done with encouragement and enthusiasm of the patients and medical staff. we hope you enjoy!





on a more serious note, please pray for the health of our team. as we are finishing the closing chapters of our journey it is vital to our team that we be in good order physically and spiritually. thank you for your faith behind us.

much love,
scott

Tuesday July 21st 2009 7:30pm.

mzungu, you be my wife

The amazing thing about being in a place that is ravished my so much disease and heartache is that it allows miracles to abound. Yesterday, God was smiling on us as Anneka, Matt, and Bethany were able to assist in delivering a beautiful, healthy baby boy. After a long, hot week of construction, this was a welcome encouragement.

I wish you could all see the way the maternity ward is progressing – it’s not something you can really put into words. If you blink at the wrong time, you’ll open your eyes to find a roof that wasn’t there before or another grassy and root-laden hill turned into the base for a floor. I have been an eyewitness to all of this, but I’m honestly not sure how it has all happened. Like I said before, miracles are abounding.

When we first got here, I think we were all a bit overwhelmed by what we could do, on an individual basis, to bring something meaningful to this place that is so profoundly affecting us all. Now, with less than a week remaining in this beautiful country, the time-crunch is motivating some really nifty innovations. There is now a mural in the hallway where patients line up on a daily basis to receive treatment and hope, and screens (i.e., spliced mosquito nets) have been pasted over the vents in an attempt to curb the success of the malaria-ridden mosquitoes. Additionally, contracting skills are being summoned in order to craft soccer goals for the children.

At this point, we’re all coping with having to leave in different ways. However, one thing is certain – the plane ride back will leave a Pallisa-sized hole in all of our hearts. We have learned that no matter how many ways we dream up to serve these people, we will never be able to match the blessings we have received. I just pray that the red Ugandan clay and all of the memories that it holds will be coursing through our veins as long as the 12 of us will live.

-Kelcie

Tuesday July 20th 2009 8:47pm

Red Roof Inn

You know, those hotels that look like cabins on the side of highways with the giant red roofs…Red Roof Inn! Thats the one! I’ve never actually stayed at one but the maternity ward we have been building slightly resembles one, minus the cabin look… This past week we all got quite skilled with shovels, hoes, and wheel barrels. Moving over 400 barrels of dirt to level the floor of the clinic, with another 200ish to go we are hoping to cement the floor early next week. Yesterday contractors came and put up the Legos of the big red roof…Considering a week ago we weren’t even sure we would be able to pay for it, it feels like quite a feat.



This is 72 hours in 10 seconds…




much love
scott

Sunday July 19th 2009 3:03pm

Out of Stock (sort of)

friends,

“If the world was how it should be, then maybe I could get some sleep.”

So the past few days have been quite spectacular. In less than 48 hours, we sold out of spots for beds and couldn’t be more excited about it. This is good news. If you are still interested giving please know there is still plenty of room for your support to be used. We are doing our best to process things as they happen in the states and connect them to the project here before we leave. This weekend we will be roofing and cementing the floor. Please pray construction delays are minimal. Also, Bethany and Kelcie have been making screens for the vents on the clinic to prevent mosquitoes from coming in at night. David Geigerman is working hard on building some soccer goals as well!

Yesterday we mediated on Proverbs 4:16. It talks about how wicked men can not sleep until they do evil; they will be robbed of slumber until they make someone fall. What if the whole world didn’t sleep until we did good. If righteous men made it their mission. My urge is that we will not sleep until we do good. A posture to forsake own vital needs until we have made a difference, until we do good. Tonight we can sleep well knowing many of you have done and helped us do good works. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.


scott

P.S. we see the same children everyday, and they are quite fun. Sometimes is hard to talk, but if you’ve ever wondered how to communicate with someone who speaks a different language than you, this might help… :)

thirty five thirty

Buy a Bed...35 beds, $30 each

If you drive (or more realistically bike) down the dirt roads of Uganda, your heart will be pulled between the resilient beauty of the land and the despair that is constantly being combated by unwavering hope. Every few hundred yards, the unfinished foundation of a building stands as a testament to the line where a dream for a better future meets the reality of a gross lack of resources.

The land surrounding the Agule Community Health Center has, until recently, been a very real example of this disparity. The Clinic itself, which miraculously functions on next to nothing, is surrounded by the foundations for a maternity and pediatric ward which, because of the lack of resources, has been left untouched for several years. However, with the financial and prayerful support of many forward-thinking people, combined with an awesome display of raw manpower and ingenuity, construction is moving along at a speed that has surpassed all expectations. The roof is near completion, with a cement floor soon to follow.

Unfortunately, the building itself is only the first step, albeit a large one. The Clinic is already lacking in the amount of beds it is able to provide for its patients, so an entirely new building leaves much to be desired. The solution to this problem lies in sponsorship. Each bed (and we would realistically need about 35 beds) will cost $30 each. If we could be blessed with donors to provide the maternity ward with this necessity, we would be able to engrave the beds with the name of the donor – thereby bridging the gap between the patient and the provider.

This project is about so much more than simply expanding the Agule Community Health Center. It’s about sending a message of hope to the entire district and providing tangible proof that progress is possible. It is also a beautiful illustration of what can be accomplished with prayer and people working together across nations.

We urge you to consider partnering with these people and would love to connect with you! You can donate with the link to the right or email akiaashianut@gmail.com. Thank you for your time.

-Kelcie

falls, beds and birthdays

We took a litle visit this weekend to Sipi Falls which is just a few hours away. It was good for us to get away for the weekend to refocus for the next 2 weeks coming up. We have many things we wish to accomplish, hopefully we can fit it all in!

I had a snazzy Youtube video finished and ready to post on this blog, showing off all the construction on the ward we have done. I was quite excited about it. Unfortunately, sometimes technology doesn't always agree with our plans. The maternity ward is looking good and is nearing completion. We are really pushing to finish it! As we are moving forward the next step in the project is obvisouly filling the ward with the necessities that it takes to provide care...As of now we will have a building but won't be able to put anything in it. So, long story short we came up with 'Buy a Bed.' 35 beds at $30 each. We will write your name on the bed and send you a photo of it so that you can know exactly what your money is going to. Send us email letting me know that you gave (donate link on the left) and we will make it as easy as possible. akiaashianut@gmail.com We will also cover any credit card or transaction fees(if you give $30, all of it should go where you want it to). Thank you for your support!

Scott

- This is a fantastic article about an organization I admire very much. They will do more for world water issues than you could imagine. If you do not give to us, give to them...http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/opinion/12kristof.html
-It's also my brithday yay!!

Tuesday July 14th 2009 3:59pm

how to save a life

Earlier this week we traveled just a few short miles to a nearby lake and met some fisherman. I’ve seen the Deadliest Catch on the Discovery channel a few times so I just assumed all fisherman were like those guys. They rode on a big boat with big rubber boots, burley beards, and British accents. The fishermen we met were different. They didn’t have beards or even boats. They had handmade canoes with paddles. Authentic paddles, like the ones you see in museums. They travel through about 15 miles of marsh just to get to the lake hoping to get a good catch of fish. We were able to wander through the marshes and found some kids who gave us coconuts. Greeting us with open arms, I was surprised at their generosity towards such a foreign and mysterious white boy from North Carolina…

The clinic is always filled with unexpected adventures and amazing things. All night and this morning it rained angry on the tin roof, so we didn’t expect a huge turn out at the clinic. Many patients can travel far distances and usually by foot, so rain just tends to slow things. I spent most of the early morning thinking about home which lead to a discussion about how Chick-Fil-A gets their peach milkshakes to taste so peachy. After that concluded all of a sudden a man suffering from severe Malaria rushed in. His family immediately found him a bed and got our attention. The clinic doctor, John along with Matt, gathered quickly, tending to his needs and after I pricked his finger and 90% plasma came out, both determined he needed to get to the hospital ASAP. Looking back I am glad we spent the past few days outfitting the ambulance and increasing its functionality because this validated our sometimes frustrating efforts and would prove to be very useful. After about a 25 minute excursion Matt and I, with David and Laura arrived at the hospital and immediately his demeanor improved. After losing the girl a few days ago, we were all extremely excited to win one. Today, we saved a life.

I’ve never constructed a building before, but when I was a kid I loved Legos. I realized today that it’s not all that different (but less colorful). Some Legos are big and some are small. Today we played with the big Legos, and as you can see we hoisted them on the roof of the maternity ward. Biceps and headbands out in full effect. We still need to buy iron sheets to cover the roof and likely won’t have all of the finances to do so however we are moving forward and stepping out in faith, believing for God to provide. Please help us purchase more Legos. If you have any interest in giving, please email me at scottseibold@gmail.com.

David and I are also working on some photo projects with some of the children. Still in development on it but great things are coming.


Scott

Thursday July 9, 2009 3:34pm

doing our best

On Sunday we visited some rocks several miles from the clinic. The rocks stand out dramatically from the flat land and short trees. We got to the rocks by driving on roads scarcely 2 feet wide, made of dirt, and lined with bushes. The rocks and caves were used by locals to hide from the rebels during the Ugandan civil war. Many of the locals had never seen white people before. As you can imagine they were quite surprised and enjoyed following us where ever we went. The views were unique, stunning, and we laughed to see monkeys clamoring among us.

At the clinic, we’ve been keeping pretty busy. We started construction over the weekend and are gearing up for the roof. We are hoping to have enough finances to finish the maternity ward before we leave. Donations welcome. If finished, David the clinic director is going to send an invitation to Ugandan President Museveni for the opening ceremony. The entire community is extremely excited about finishing the building that has been uncompleted for 3 years. Imagine the possibilities.

Malaria is eating this community away. Today we tested 5 patients before noon, and yesterday, all experienced a first when a baby girl was suffering from Malaria was brought in sadly, to late. Her parents could not afford to bring her into the clinic earlier, and were not aware of the severity of her situation. When she arrived at the clinic we rushed to do what we could but were left with few options. In this case, education could have truly saved a life.



more soon,
scott (with additions by melody)


Tuesday July 7th 2009 12:07pm Pallisa, Uganda

soccer, family, and good stuff

There is something magical and mysterious about the country of Uganda. There is a peace about this place that words can never begin to explain, but you feel in your heart as you wander through the wards of the clinic, or through the crowds of children, or through the dark of night that shines with stars and the milky way.

Today we started construction on the Maternity Ward, a separate building which will be a area for expecting mothers and a quiet place for deliveries. We started to construct beams of iron and metal, twisting metal around iron bars and squares of metal wires. If this were the States, we would have skipped this step for machine constructed contraptions and industrially produced results (which probably would have been better than what we did) but at a loss of community and strength of will, not to mention the reliance on one another and on God to supply for our every need.

These beams were then lifted up onto the shell of the building which already stands on the grounds, after which the men used wood to create a support for the concrete which was poured in later in the afternoon.

While it was some hard work, we enjoyed being outside working, hanging out with the little kids and laughing as Scott broke out his iPod and speakers and put on Michael Jackson (along with some other fan favorites). Meanwhile all the Ugandans were probably looking at us saying to themselves “Crazy Mzgunus” (aka: Crazy White People).

As for the goings on in the clinic, Matt and the presiding local Dr. Jon Wekenne have kept busy seeing and treating over 200 people in the first week alone; however, this expected to taper off in the coming days. The entire group has seemed to pitch in at every conceivable position the small health center has had a need for. Many of them who have rarely seen the inside of a hospital are now placing IV lines and caring for several ill patients.

We have also gotten to experience the great adventure of playing futbol with some of the Ugandans today. We get there and there are literally hundreds, if not a thousand, people waiting to watch us play, or better yet, attempt to play. While it was a bit intimidating, it was rather fun to run around, sweat, and get muddy while playing against some amazing players. We had the Mzgunus and a couple of Ugandans against one of the local teams in the area.

While we didn’t win (final score 3-3), we put up a valiant effort. I got to play right midfield (after about 7-8 years of not playing), as Anneka kept up the assault, shooting at lest a hundred shots (exaggeration) and scoring two (with a little help from the goalie). Both Scott and Pfieffer played some amazing soccer, along with Bethany, Kelcie and Geigerman.

Its has just been an amazing experience here in Uganda, experiencing God in these people and in this community. While there have been some struggles, God has provided us with the strength to keep going and the patience to trust in Him. It has been a journey for all of us, both physically and spiritually, and the road keeps on going ahead.

Please continue praying for each and every one of us on this trip. Pray for strength and courage to continue to stay in the fold of God’s Wings. Pray that God changes our hearts to serve and follow him wherever he calls us to serve. Please pray for the people and patients of the Agule Community Health Center, along with the doctors and staff that we have grown to love in this short time we’ve been here, that through love and compassion, healing will take place, physically, mentally and spiritually. Pray for the hundreds of people that have supported each and every one of us in this journey, because without your support, both spiritually and financially, we would not be the people we are, serving this community.

Again we thank you all for everything you have done and still do. We miss you all back home and are looking forwards to sharing this experience with you now and upon our return.

God Bless and PEACE
STKerr (Sean)

getting settled...

friends,

there is much to be excited about. we have been awakened to much already and are learning every new day requires new faith. monday, our first day at the clinic was quite an experience...we began work with a growing and eager mob of patients that had heard of our arrival. we passed out numbers to create ordered chaos and opened up a second examination room. after capping the patient line at a hundred (the average clinic in the states sees 15-20) we saw nearly everything…malaria, HIV, a severe staff infections, urinary tract infections, diabetics, …some pretty serious stuff…the group is getting along well and we celebrated Matt’s birthday today. i smuggled in some fun fetti mix, then we threw some nutella on top and called it a party.

yesterday a few of us went to mbala to get some supplies and repair some lab equipment. Tom is pretty excited about the microscopes and centrifuge that were donated (thank you university of Tennessee). we also got to meet a local futbol team and will be preparing for a match against them later in the month. mzungus vs africans. im laughing already…

david has been killing it taking some sweet photos for us and everyone is making great use of their time. today we are in town purchasing some construction equipment to advance the maternity ward. if we can get started soon enough perhaps we can finish before we leave, and mothers will no longer give birth on the floor. progress is a process we passionately pursue…

-scott

we miss you all back home, and thank you for joining this wonderful story