Provision in Protesting

"For he will  command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways."

                                  Psalm 91:11

Thursday evening was beautiful.  The sun was setting, the air was cool, and I was sitting with kids watching our big boys play soccer against some of the village guys.  This is always fun, well until someone gets hurt.  Typically, Ibuprofen and ice take care of the sport ailments, but after seeing Jeff’s shoulder, I knew I would not get off that easy.  He sat on our front veranda with one shoulder significantly lower than the other, classic dislocation.  After several unsuccessful attempts to reduce it, we decided Kampala would be the best place to take him.    

I was extremely happy, because Sarah and I had planned to take a public taxi to Kampala for the AIM retreat that weekend.  With the injury, we would be able to ride with Claudia (fellow missionary) instead of being cramped in the back of taxi with no way out.  Sarah was disappointed, seeing she loves taxis, but I reminded her how great it was that Jeff would see a good doctor :).  How could we know that God was orchestrating for our safety?

The next day, we headed out in Claudia’s car, blissfully ignorant of the unrest happening at that very moment. What began as peaceful protests had morphed into violent demonstrations over the most recent arrest of the man who lost February's presidential elections, Kizza Besigye. When we arrived in town, we noticed something was amiss. There were no cars in the streets and pedestrians were not moving, just staring at our car as we passed. A passerby simply told us, "if the police stop you, just tell them where you are going."

Moving close to the clinic, we were greeted by a sight I would not quickly forget: hoards of people running past, debris blocking the roads, and the sound of gun fire and tear gas being released. Police were everywhere. Many were dressed in full out armored riot-gear, all carried weapons, and most had gas masks strapped to their faces. A man bleeding from his head clung to the back of a boda (motorcycle), and an unconscious woman was slung across another boda, moving with the rushing crowd.

Our small band quickly left the car and went into the safety of the clinic. The remainder of our morning was spent watching ambulance after ambulance pass which were carrying some of the injured, random crowds of people running past us, and the pops and booms of gun shots and the release of tear gas. I felt like I was on the inside of some CNN news special report!

Looking back at that day, I’m reminded of how things are not as bad as they could be.  Yes, it was stressful, but God’s grace and provision was so evident.  If our plans had gone as we anticipated, we would have been on a taxi, in the downtown taxi park where many sources say the worst fighting was.  Instead we were safely tucked away in a medical clinic, getting the care people needed.  All because a young man has been injured the night before!  God’s plan is perfect. 

Never underestimate what God can do with a dislocated shoulder.

Hope for the hopeless

Frank, Eddie, Angel on the potty

There are kids at GSF that most people would say have no hope.  There’s Eddie and his sister Ziatune (otherwise known as “Little Tuna”).  Their lives were threatened and brought to GSF.  Charlie, just under 2 years old, came to us weighing 11 lbs.  He was neglected, being left alone all day with no one to feed or care for him.  There are Joanne and Angel.  Joanne at 4 years took care of her mother, who was dying of AIDS, as well as her baby sister Angel.  There’s Nicholas (3 yrs) and Frank (1 ½ yrs).  Frank fought for life during his first month at GSF.  He was incredibly malnourished.  When Nicholas arrived at GSF he said, “Frank and me, we suffered.”  

Seb's first day at GSF

 Sebastian just came last week.  He’s 1 ½ and 0-3 month clothing is baggy on him.  He’s not a new face at GSF.  He has been on the GSF feeding program for a year with little to no improvement.  Come to find out the food the family received was sold for alcohol.  Both the mother and grandma are drunkards.  Sebastian has wounds on his head from times his drunken grandma fell and he was on her back.  When we took him in last week he was miserable - confused and disoriented.  He had a fever of 106 F and was positive for malaria.  That night I slept in his home with him.  He would stir and moan in his sleep, wave his arms until he touched me and knew someone was by his side.  We also came to learn Sebastian has a bilateral cleft palate and may have other physical abnormalities (diagnostics are slow or non-existent).  I took him to Kampala to

Starting Seb on his meds with help from Matthew

 meet with a surgeon to see if he could repair the palate.  Thankfully, the surgeon agreed. Unfortunately, we’ll have to wait until his hemoglobin increases and he puts on more weight.

Joanne carrying Gayla

I could go on with stories such as these.  My heart aches at the baggage these kids have at such a young age.  I’ve taken psychology and mental health to know these kids will have issues, issues that are already manifesting.  Sleeping difficulties, fear at night, bed wetting…  The odds are against children like these.

Tuna having fun with G-nut sauce

This is something God continues to convict me of - my unbelief of his saving grace and healing power.  The Psalms have been incredibly helpful in understanding God’s heart toward those who’ve suffered.  Psalm 72:12-14 says, “For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.  He was pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.  From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.” God also continues to lead me to Psalm 103:2-6 as well.  It says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.” 

A much different looking Charlie

Seb one week later

I pray these verses over the children here.  If I look at statistics, there’s really no hope.  Thankfully, God does not work in the confines of a textbook or research paper.  He works in mysterious ways unknown to man.  I praise God for being a God who cares for the sick, lowly, and lame.  He not only cares for them, but promises healing and redemption.  No amount of possessions, no amount of human love, and no amount of therapy will ever heal these children from their wounds.  It is purely the work of God.  The best thing I can do for the kids is come humbly before the Lord, pray that their hearts will be turned toward Christ and trust he will work all things for their good.  While this seems like a simple supplication to a perplexing problem, Christ is their best hope.

He knows my name

The past week was crazy.  It seemed like everyone at the GSF school and orphanage was sick.  We had 20 kids with malaria, copious cuts, burns, and jiggers (fleas that bury an egg sac in your feet), kids with coughs, sore throats, runny noses and red eyes.  One boy had a prolapsed rectum and one of our girls was diagnosed with Brucellosis.   Then we got a new kid Monday, Sebastian.  He came to us very sick and we found out he has a bilateral cleft palate that will need to be repaired (more about him later).  Aside from nursing stuff, a high school team from Florida arrived Saturday, our water pump broke so no running water, and lake flies COVERED the inside of my house.  Seriously, I think it was probably very similar to what the Egyptians faced when God sent the plague of gnats.  All this to say, life at GSF is bustling. 

     In times like these I forget their stories, their background, their wounds.  I look at them in the present.  I see what needs to get done right now.  Who do I treat, who do I meet and who do I beat…kidding, I leave the spanking to the directorsJ. 

      Sunday finally came.  About 30 of the ex GSF kids (called big brothers and sisters) came to visit and lead worship.  Church was full.  It was awesome catching up with the ones I knew and meeting others for the first time.  About half of them got on stage to lead praise and worship (it’s different here).  The praise portion was lively, with everyone singing loudly, dancing, and clapping their hands.  We then moved to a time of worship where slower songs are sung.  They began singing the song “He Knows My Name”.  My heart instantly broke.  Here, in front of me, behind me, beside me where kids whose fathers died, kids whose fathers left them, kids whose father harmed them.  Their stories, backgrounds, and wounds came to light.  I watched their faces, their expressions.  I listened to them sing, “I have a father, He calls me his own.  He’ll never leave me, no matter where I go.”  My eyes welled up and tears streamed down my face.  I have always loved this song, but never have I believed the words I was singing as much as I did today.  The kids and big brothers and sisters cried out to the only father they have; a father who will not leave them nor let them down like their earthly fathers.  I thought about my father and all the times I’ve run to him.  I thought about all the good memories I have with my father.  The disparity between their experiences and my own was painful.  Inside I ached, wishing the kids could have what I did.  The song goes on, “He knows my name, He knows my every thought, He sees each tear that falls, and hears me when I call”.  The kids at GSF yearn for you to know their name.  When I arrived in October, black kids with shaved heads followed me around the first week and quizzed me saying, “What is my name?”  They so badly want to be known and remembered.  This song nailed it.  God is their father.  God is the only person that will never leave them.  God listens to them and cares.  God knows everything about them, even their name.  What a beautiful picture of a loving heavenly Father. 

Moving up in life and in death

I moved up in life, literally.  The Greer family left for furlough Sunday and left me with their home.  It’s on the hill overlooking GSF so everyone refers to it as “up”.  Teammate Sarah was going to wake up Monday morning and take care of rounds and let me sleep in a little.  I had a leisure morning until I received a call from Sarah at 8:30.  “Meredith it’s an emergency.  I can’t find a pulse on Gloria”.  My heart raced and instantly ran out the front door forgetting to even put on shoes.  In no time I was at 4B, Gloria’s home.  Gloria lay lifeless.  Sarah had just done abdominal thrusts with no success of clearing the airway, CPR was started.  This is one of those things I was taught that I hoped I would never have to do, especially on someone I knew.  We checked periodically for a pulse, but she was silent when we put the stethoscope to her chest.  At 8:50 we listened for a full minute and at 8:51 Gloria was pronounced dead. 

    We all knew Gloria did not have much time.  Gloria was one of our special needs kids.  She was mentally disabled as well as physically suffering from cerebral palsy.  In the year 2010, Gloria was in and out of the hospital for weeks at a time suffering from Typhoid, chicken pox, and pneumonia 5 times.  She had become very weak and fragile weighing only 19 kg.  There were multiple times a large group of people were brought to the hospital to pray over Gloria as we thought her life was coming to an end.  Surprisingly, Gloria continued to fight for life. 

    This time was much different.  Gloria was not in the hospital suffering.  Gloria was in her home, with her friends, and with her house mom.  Gloria just a couple days prior got to go swimming for the first time in her life.  She loved it.  All of a sudden Gloria spiked a fever Monday morning.  After given medicine, Gloria was bathed and then was fed breakfast.  That was when the house mom called Sarah and said “Come, just come.”  Upon arrival, Gloria was not breathing and was pulseless.  We tried everything we could, but God called Gloria home that day.  Gloria moved up to heaven. 

    Amidst the sorrow of losing one of our children, God’s grace was evident through it all.  Gloria did not suffer, Gloria was not alone, Gloria’s housemates all were so caring and sweet to her that morning, Gloria was able to die at home, Gloria went quickly.  The timing was also perfect.  All the other kids were in school and didn’t have to see Sarah and I work on her. 

    Just last week I came across Zeph. 3:19 “Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors.  And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.”  What a perfect verse to have in my head for what was to come.  On March 14^th, God dealt with all Gloria’s mental and physical oppressors.  He took what was shameful and lame and rejoiced over it with praise.  I talked to Esther, the girl who cared most for Gloria and asked, “What do you think Gloria is doing right now?”  There was no hesitation in her response.  “Dancing, and talking, and running”.  Gloria no longer feels the effects of the fall.  God has glorified Gloria.

Peace

Thank you to everyone who prayed for the Ugandan elections.  Museveni did win again, and I think that's a good thing.  Election weekend was surprising calm and peaceful.  Some people fear Besigye (the main opposition) may try to strike in the near future, but that is all hypothetical.  This I do know, God has spared Uganda from great civil unrest and is continuing to bless this nation with stability.  

The chalk

Other news: Got a call today from Jane, the school mom, saying she had a child in her office with a piece of chalk stuck up his nose.  I did what any good nurse would do and said, "Sarah will be right down".  It just so happens I was getting ready to leave to take a child to the doctor so I couldn't attend the call :).  After I gathered my things in the house, I stepped out onto my front veranda to see Sarah holding Micah's hand, escorting him to our home.  Micah (3 yrs) lives at GSF and has a reputation for being "stubborn" and mischievous, so I was not at all surprised this was the culprit.  I couldn't help but laugh at the situation.  Four people, a nurse, and tweezers saved this boy a trip to the doctor.  Not sure what the thought process was in sticking the chalk up his nose, but we're hoping he learned his lesson. 

It's that time

A political campaign I saw in Jinja last week

The Ugandan presidential elections are Friday Feb. 18^th.  The current president Museveni has been in power for 25 years and will most likely be re-elected.  Whether it’s fair or not will be hard to tell.  Most of the people I’ve talked to will vote for Museveni, despite their desire for change in power, because of the stability and peace he has brought to the country.  Change in their minds is exciting and much needed, but with that brings much fear.  Please pray for peace during this time.  This election people seem to think the rising opposition stand a chance to win.  I’m not concerned with my safety living out of town in sugar cane country.  GSF is stocked on the essentials so we won't have to go into town if it's dangerous for several weeks.  GSF also has a great reputation with the surrounding community and as well as the district officer, so we feel very little threat where we are.  Please though pray for the protection of those living in Kampala and Jinja.  Please pray Uganda will continue to have peace as a nation.

Modern day tax collector converted!

This is a completely normal outfit for Phillip

Phillip is easily spotted at GSF.  Just look for a skinny 10 year old boy with a big belly, bandage on his left ear, shuffling his feet as he runs using one of his hands to hold up his shorts.  He is hysterical.  He can point with his lips and have entire conversations using different facial expressions.  He is fashion forward and loves to accessorize.  Phillip is end stage HIV/AIDS.  His most recent CD4 count was 4 and his viral load over 300,000.  Doctors say he is a ticking time bomb.  A couple months before I arrived at GSF, everyone thought Phillip was on his death bed.  Throughout Phillip’s life, he has had no desire to become a Christian.  During Phillip’s fragile state, many people shared the gospel with him, but he stuck to his guns and wanted nothing to do with Jesus.  Beginning in September, Phillip slowly began gaining strength…enough strength to now cause trouble.  

Phillip is what I like to call a modern day tax collector.  He is a thief.  He steals constantly from his housemates as well as from the missionaries.  Phillip also has the reputation for torturing other kids.  His main target is little Sam who’s paralyzed from the waist down.  He has burned Sam and beat him up on multiple occasions.  Today was like many other days in that one of the missionaries spotted Phillip wearing a Timex watch carrying 10,000 Ugandan shillings (~$5).  It was very apparent that neither one of these things were his.  Phillip fessed up when confronted.  He went to Uncle Mark the director for punishment.  After disciplining Phillip, Mark shared the gospel with him.  This time Phillip said he did want to accept Jesus into his heart.  We pray that this was a sincere decision and that his kleptomaniac and pyro behaviors are of the past and Phillip experiences newness of life in Christ!  We don't know when God will take Phillip, but we can rejoice knowing we will see him in heaven one day!

New kids on the block

Charlie

 Meet the new kids at GSF!

 Charlie to my right is just under two years old weighing 11 lbs.  His mother died and his father is who knows where.  His grandma was unable to continue taking care of him, so she handed him over to the care of GSF.  Charlie came to us very sick and is just now starting to gain strength and weight.  Charlie reaches for any food in sight and will typically only smile for men, though this is starting to change.  Pray for his continued healing.  

Little Gerald in his new clothes   

Gabriel standing outside his house

     
















Above and to my right are Gerald and Gabriel.  They are brothers that came to us several weeks ago.  They're father died and the mother is an alcoholic and was neglecting the boys.  These two have transitioned very well into GSF.  They both have big belly laughs and love to play with each other.  Gerald, though he doesn't look it, is 1 1/2 and Gabriel is 3 1/2 years old. 




 

Oh to be fed

     For those of you who know me well, you probably wouldn’t be surprised if I dedicated an entire blog entry relating what I eat here.  Seeing that my dad would be the only person remotely interested and I’ve given him the 411 on skype, I’ll spare you the details and talk about Rwanda.

      Last week, Sarah and I were able to attend the regional AIM conference in Rwanda.  I was a little anxious about taking the night bus there and back and being told a bomb went off several weeks prior on the same bus line as we were taking killing three people only perpetuated those feelings.  It's also not encouraging when Ugandans tell you it's not safe to ride the night bus.  Anyway, prayer and Nyquil got me through it.

    The conference was just what I needed.  It was good to get away and have a break from the constant demands at GSF.  More than that, it was so good to be fed spiritually.  At the GSF church, I can hardly understand the Ugandan pastor and we sing songs like, “Move to the right in the name of Jesus, move to the left in the name of the Lord and shake that body that the good Lord gave you”.  I love the fellowship with the kids, but it can be very difficult to grow spiritually.  The speaker at the conference was challenging and encouraging talking about the sovereignty of God in difficult situations.  The topic preached on was so appropriate for the tragedy that was to come.  The last day of the conference I got a phone call from one of the missionaries at GSF saying one of our special needs boys Emmanuel (9 years old) fell off his potty a couple days prior, was taken to the hospital, and within a day passed away.  This came as a complete shock.  It was hard to swallow the sad news, especially over the phone and a country away.  This was a harsh reminder that our future is God's hands and nothing can thwart this plans.  Death has its sting, but is comforting to know Emmanuel’s broken body has now been made whole and he rests with the Lord.  What better ending is there than this?