Back Blogging Uganda Trip: Nov. 11, 2011

Do you remember your first roller coaster ride?  I'm not talking about the pirate ship that goes back and forth or the baby roller skate shoes that you ride in, I'm talking about the one your mom or your older cousin or who ever had to pretty much bribe you to get on.  Remember that moment when your life wasn't yours any more?  Your life rested in the 2 inch wide strap across your lap and a piece of metal that clicked tightly over your shoulders.  The next thing you know you are flying through the air going back and forth not really knowing where your headed next or what way was up.  Then suddenly it ends and you've just experienced something all people under 48 inches will never understand.  I feel like I've relived this experience the last few weeks as I adventured this short term medical mission trip to Uganda.  In this, and the next few, posts I hope process with you my experience in a way that you "less than 48 inches" people can understand, relate to and ultimately desire to be a part of in some way.  

November 11, 2011

The last couple of days have been a whirlwind as 10 of us strangers, though siblings in Christ, set out on our adventure to Uganda with the one goal in mind; serving the people of Uganda with the skills and resources God has blessed us with.

MEET OUR TEAM, WELL MOST OF US:

  We met in D.C. and on the plane I was informed that the next 12.5 hours would be spent snuggled up next to some of these strangers.  They weren't strangers long.  We watched movies together shared life stories, played cards and anything else that could entertain us for this long trip to Ethiopia.  I was so excited to be flying over the Atlantic again.  Excited to see how God would once again prove himself God of the nations and break down the boxes that I try to put him in.  Excited to see how he would use me to bless others and how he would use others to bless me.  Excitement, that was pretty much the only emotion I could experience these last few days.  We had a lay over in Ethiopia and then finally set out on the final leg of  our journey to Uganda. 

We spent the next 9 hours trying not to sleep, and wondering around the city of Kempala.  I noticed that this city is relatively a nice city, one that has luxurious hotels and golf courses, malls, and buildings with revolving restaurant on top, not exactly what I expected of Africa.   We haven't had too much interaction with the Ugandan people yet but from what I can tell they are so welcoming, they are excited we are here and have such a gracious and giving spirit.  Though it was nice to spend a night in African luxury the next day we headed out to Mbale and small town in east Uganda where we'd be staying.

On the way we stopped to meet Bob Goff.  Bob is a Lawyer from L.A. who, through researching Ugandan law found out he could be on Uganda's supreme court and so he did just that.  Bob Goff is trusting God to use him to help be an agent of change towards justice in the corrupt country of Uganda.  He's been able to help give trials to innocent people living in Uganda's prisons and he's help to pass a law that makes child mutilation illegal, as it is still practiced by many of the witch doctors there.  We actually met up with him at a hotel where he was having a conference with a room full of witch doctors.  He cordially invited them to a lunch there to share his story of how he has successfully prosecuted the first witch doctor that was caught mutilating a child.  He also informed them how this man is now in a probably one of the scariest prison on earth for the rest of his life, and that this law is easy to prosecute and has been and will be enforced.  We got to see this child that was the victim of this witch doctor that had been prosecuted.  He was a real kid, not just one read about in horror stories.  I looked into this kid's eyes in 2011 and saw a soul that was a victim of terrorism that shouldn't exist in this day and age.  This doesn't have to happen anymore and Bob Goff is one that is making sure that it never does again.  Bob's belief in God's redemptive and restorative plan also led him to share the gospel with the witch doctor in prison and help this little kid get connected with plastic surgeons in the states to help make him "normal" again.  I am amazed to watch God work through just one person willing to take a stance against evil and do what God has called him to do.

After traveling roads that might be better classified as just potholes, we finally made it to Mbale.   Mbale is a small town with running water and electricity and it's about an hour out from the hospital we'd be working at in Begobero.  Our guest house was quite graciously prepare for Americans by our host Pam and Harry Porter, long term missionaries to Uganda.  It had mirrors and toilet seats and mosquito nets! I'm actually quite pleasantly surprised. 

I'm a little nervous about seeing the hospital tomorrow.  Since we are the first Safe World Nexus team to go to this hospital, we are pretty much just an assessment team.  The purpose of our trip is to learn how to help this hospital, what their needs are and what resources and skills we can provide in the future.  We've been advised to learn the culture and the process there and not go in with the mindset to fix it.  I'm sure things are very different and that it will break my heart.  I'm sure I'll breakdown, the only question is when.  I'm already finding myself asking God why and telling him this isn't fair!  Yet I am so thankful that the gospel isn't fair.  That Jesus died so I don't have to and I know that the people in this hospital need him more than they will ever need me.   I write this as the I'm listening to the song God of this City and the lyrics repeat "Greater things are yet to come and greater things are still to be done here."  He knows what he's doing.  I'm learning that God has a way of shaking you out of your familiar and giving you his familiar self, yet so much richer than you've ever known.  I pray for the people we are going meet.  I pray they would be saved, that we would portray our zeal for God, not boasting our knowledge of proper ways to run a hospital, but boasting in the Lord's grace to make a hospital work.  That our own "righteousness"  would utterly fail so that we have nothing to know except for His righteousness. I pray that my heart would break free from it's bondage to the law so that Christ may truly reign and that these people may truly experience him. (Romans 10:1-4)  It's becoming real now.  Not sure I'll be able to to sleep tonight.  So excited!