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
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