Thursday!

To those that are readers,

I'm Brian

Hi! We are still in Africa, which I find very reasurring. Today I would sum up as a very eye opening day. Not that every day there isn't something that will make us appreciate where we are from and what we have, but today did have its moments. One of the most positive moments today happened in VBS.

Today was the 4th day of VBS and what a day it was. It was awesome connecting with the kids once again, and we finished up with a delightful treat from the kids during sing time. After we finished up our songs, all the kids broke out into a song of their own, and it was joyous. What started as one song soon became 5, perfect unity and resounding through the meadow. A tear would have fallen from my eye had I been there, but this guy was off saving the world one (and only one) person at a time. So when I heard the story I brought forth a half of a tear. (insert smiley face)

The reason I wasn't there was due to a house call I made with one of the nurses on site. She is British and speaking with her is quite fun. The man was 70 years old, (which in Uganda is something that is usually unheard of) who is suffering from a couple different diseases. It was the first time since we have been here that I have left the compound, and it was an experience. The man we treated was unable to walk, and has been unable to for quite some time. This means he isn't able to work, and in the culture we are surrounded with, that usually means the end of life. The man of the house was unable to work in the field, which means he is unable to provide for his family. I asked him a couple of questions and found that he usually gets food and money from friends who stop by.

After we left the house, I asked the nurse a question about what would happen if he was in America. She said that the man would be able to be treated for most of his sickness and would be able to work and especially walk. So now for a little ventilation. If people in America are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on plastic surgery to improve body features that God had originally gave you, and would use that money to sponser a person who would then be able to walk, where is the need for the plastic surgery? A man would be able to provide for his family, live a longer and happier life, and would be able to walk. That was the first eye opening experience today.

The rest of the day was bright and chipper with its humorous moments. Today in the clinic, a man came in because a cow had bit is toe! That was the most unique treatment I gave, but still the funny moments kept rolling on. About 10 children came in complaining about a cough they had that started last night, and it seemed they all had the same symptoms, just a cough. There is not much you can due except maybe give them some cough medicine, but I just wasn't going to start handing out the medicine. The nurse told me that the reason they all are coming in was because they know the Americans showed up with medicine, which means there is a new flavor of cough syrup to be tasted. She promised that if I would hand out one, it would be gone before the child got back home.

Tonight we all enjoyed family groups quite a lot. Me and Andrew ended up talking with the nurse and her husband for about 2 hours, and the biggest eye opener for me this trip. I asked him what the biggest shock of him being here was, and he the time he had spent in the clinic in the city. He said the hardest part was observing the value of life with the people here. Women long to have 14 kids because they are most likely going to raise only about 10. Children would come to the hospital, and if it appeared they were going to die, there would be no treatment given to them. No sense in treating them if they are going to die when someone else would have a chance to live. He said they would wrap up the babies in cloth when they died, and he said he walked in once and there were babies wrapped up in the cloth that were still crying.

That shocked me.

Life is a gift from God, so as I sign out, please make that a prayer for you that life will be recognized as a gift here in Uganda.

God Bless,

Brian