PROS FOR AFRICA TRIP 2011

The Pros for Africa trip was a major success. During the three day campaign, we operated two medical clinics, one in Gulu and one in Atiak, fitted and distributed hearing aids with Starkey's Hearing Foundation, dug water wells with Restore International and Water4, helped in construction of Mercy's Village International, a primary school located in the bush outside of Gulu, and played soccer and football and shared love with many Ugandan children. I was stationed in at the medical clinic in Atiak all three days, so I did not get to participate in a number of the events, but each evening we would discuss the days events as a large group at dinner, and there is no doubt that we touched many local lives as well as transformed many volunteers' perception of life and purpose.

Between the two medical clinics and the hearing aid fittings, we treated close to and maybe over 3,000 patients. With the dedicated and hardworking medical team in Atiak, I'm pleased to say that we left no patients who came to our clinic without treatment. There was a larger patient flow in Gulu, but fortunately, those patients that were not seen in the three days have access to the St. Monica Medical Clinic in Gulu five days per week year round, whereas in Atiak we only operate our clinic on Saturdays due to funding and infrastructure limitations. God willing, with in the year we will build a permanent medical clinic in Atiak providing reliable access to medical care for the very neglected population.

Personally, last week was a blessing beyond measure because I also got to spend the time with my mother, whom I hadn't seen in almost three months. My mom is an RN so she was a member of the medical team going to Atiak with me. It was really special introducing her to my life here. She is more relaxed and feels more secure with my presence here now that she has witnessed firsthand the love and welcoming nature of the people, especially all of the sisters and St. Monica girls whom I'm blessed to have strong relationships with.

Sending the Pros for Africa team back to Oklahoma was challenging for me. I'm not ashamed to admit that a small part of me wanted to stow away in my mom's suitcase and join them, but as soon as I returned to St. Monica's I was reminded of why I love this place so much. Some of the girls came up to me when I got back and hugged me with giant smiles saying they were so happy that I was still here because they thought I was leaving for good with the rest of the visitors. I knew then that I was not ready to leave this life just yet.

At the last dinner with the Pros for Africa team, I was reminded of the moment my grandma told me about Pros for Africa and my thoughts of how amazing it would be to be a part of the next trip… I never imagined a year ago that I would not only be a part of Pros for Africa, but I would be living in Uganda with Sister Rosemary and the girls for four months.

I'm so grateful to Reggie Whitten and Pros for Africa and of course, God, for this opportunity of a lifetime.

DAY 2: ATIAK MEDICAL CLINIC -- 4 TIMES THE IMPACT

March 5th was day 2 of St. Monica's Medical Clinic in Atiak. We added to our Atiak medical team two wonderful ladies this week, Catherine who works in the Gulu Clinic during the week, and Staci, my fellow Pros for Africa colleague and friend. As we approached St. Monica's in Atiak, we were greeted by at least thirty patients already waiting…last week, we had 30 patients total! Throughout the duration of the nine hour day, we treated 128 patients…four times the impact of day one. All of the new patients were recruited by word of mouth of the first day's patients. This reflects clearly the desperate need of medical care in this area.

Because of the great number of patients, we had to manage the flow more strategically. Therefore, I volunteered to put my little bit of Acholi to the test and greet the patients and collect their basic demographic information such as: Name, Age, Gender, Village, and Weight. The names here are quite a challenge for me to grasp on the first try but by the end of the day I was getting much better at understanding their accent. Fortunately, I had learned numbers in my Acholi lesson last week, which served me well. Every time I correctly interpreted their age on the first attempt they would be pretty shocked, but we definitely shared plenty of laughs at my expense when it came to my language skills. Regardless, I felt privileged to communicate with them in their native tongue as much as I could. Great practice.

When I wasn't collecting the patients' information I was assisting Sister Immaculate and Staci with the dispensing of medicine. This was a challenge as well given that I have had no previous experience as a pharmacist. The pharmaceutical terminology and drug names were so foreign to us. For instance, 8` means every 8 hours, which translates to 3 times a day when multiplying to count out the proper number of pills to dispense ; 5/7 means 5 days; 2/52 means two weeks; so on and so forth. It is more complicated that I originally thought. Staci and I struggled through the first couple of hours but by the end we were "pros," at least in our minds :)

The vast majority of patients were women, which given my passion for women's health, made my heart quite happy. I'm eager to see the turnout next Saturday. I pray we are able to treat them all and that our wonderful doctors are well and as energized as they were this day. We are truly blessed with an outstanding medical team. Everyone understands the necessity of their work and eagerly and happily devotes themselves wholly to their patients all day long. I have yet to experience something as rewarding as using the passion and skills God has given me to reach out to people who really need the care and love. So grateful for the opportunity!

DAY ONE: ST. MONICA MOBILE MEDICAL CLINIC IN ATIAK

Today, Feb. 26, was day one of the St. Monica Mobile Medical Clinic in Atiak. I am humbled and honored to be a part of positive change in the lives of the very neglected around Atiak that I know will continue long after I am back in Oklahoma. This endeavor has provided ample opportunities for my integration and understanding of Ugandan society.

It began a month ago with my day of initiation of purchasing the medicine to open the clinic. We spent 8 long hours fighting through the mass of people in Kampala, a city with literally 3,000 times the population density of Oklahoma City, roaming from pharmacy to pharmacy until we gathered all of the medicine we needed.

Next was a waiting period. We had to postpone the kick-off as the political tension rose around the 2011 National Elections. The instability and threat of violence and riots is a reality that must be respected here. Fortunately, there was minimal demonstration following the elections, and we were able to commence this weekend (finally!).

So today our medical team, Brian and Mike who are medical providers, Sister Immaculate and Alex Robert, medical support, and I, loaded up at 7:00 am to begin our 2 hour journey along the rough dirt road, a drive which never fails to give my internal organs a thorough beating, to the most remote area of Africa I have ventured to.

Atiak is a village in Amuru District, the northernmost district. It is about 15 miles from Sudan. This area was very vulnerable to the last wave of terrorism by the LRA in 2005 when Sudan finally granted the Ugandan government access to its borders to seize the rebels. Thus the far North (aka Amuru District) was the battle ground and became the source of many unwilling soldiers for both sides. Driving into Atiak, I am always overcome with an eerie feeling because the recent devastation is starkly apparent.

This entire district has only one fully functional hospital (based on public hospital standards). Atiak has a health center, but it was recently "restructured" because the inspectors came by and found goats roaming the halls and rooms being rented out and occupied as housing. Needless to say, this population is extremely neglected of quality medical attention.

The settings of our clinic are very humble with just two tables with chairs, one exam bed with a privacy screen, stethoscopes, a thermometer, a scale, and a dispensing table, which fortunately is well stocked with the medicine we purchased in Kampala. At first I was discouraged because it was getting on to 10:00 am and no patients had arrived, but Mike assured me that that was normal in village settings. Villagers always tend to their daily tasks and work before they go to the doctor. Just as he called, our patients started arriving at 11:00 am. By 2:00 pm we had worked through our 31 patients of our first day. We expect the numbers to grow exponentially as the patients of today refer two or three friends and their children to us for next Saturday. For the initial day we had only publicized by word of mouth and were pleasantly surprised by the flow of patients.

I am blessed with the mentorship of two doctors, Brian and Mike, who are both dedicated to the field of medicine because of the service they can provide to the neglected population of Uganda. Even on our long, hot days like today in Atiak, their attitude is one of eagerness and gratefulness to be using the passion and skills they have been blessed with to serve the village locals. They both operate in a humble manner with respect for their patients and with keen observance to provide treatment that is feasible to their patients. These are skills that cannot be learned in the classroom and the ones that truly define a quality physician. I'm very grateful for their patience and willingness to teach me.


Overall, day one of St. Monica's Mobile Medical Clinic in Atiak was a great success!

UNDUE SUFFERING

Today was a very challenging day in the clinic.

A young boy of about 15 came to the clinic with an infected cut on his middle finger of his left hand. He had been pricked by a sewing needle 5 days before and ignored the intensifying signs of infection. He presented with a very swollen hand and cut that was oozing puss filled blood at a steady rate. Mike inspected the wound and decided it required suturing and preferably needed general anesthesia, but the boy would not be seen at the Regional Referral Hospital today as it was too late in the day, so Mike had to make due with the local anesthesia at his disposal and make the best of it. Mike scrubbed in and injected the area with local anesthetics. After giving it time to absorb, he began cleaning the wound. I stayed only through the initial phases of the minor surgery because the boy's suffering was too hard for me to endure.

The only other time I have witnessed such agony was in the labor and delivery ward at the Baragwaneth Public Hospital in South Africa, by women who also did not have the quality and supply of anesthetics we have in the States. It is the disparity in available health services, such as adequate anesthetics, between the States and Africa that becomes more than I can bear. I feel intensely frustrated by the undue suffering that must be endured as a result of lack of resources and an understaffed, overstretched medical system that cannot treat the number of critical patients. Days like today open my eyes to the harsh reality that patients face in Africa everyday.

The underlying reason for the boys agony was his lack of knowledge on what an infection looks and feel like and the importance of seeking medical attention at the first signs of an infection. Even if he had simply known that after being cut by a rusty object it is critical to properly disinfect, clean and maintain the area, this whole ordeal would have been avoided. Lack of health education rests on insufficient public health measures. As Benjamin Franklin said," An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." This is a reality that is undervalued and overlooked too often.

I have been considering getting my MD/MPh for a while now, and I believe that today God showed me just how useful it is to arm myself with the knowledge of public health, especially in Africa where many people simply do not have access to affordable healthcare. Yes, I will medically treat as many patients as possible during my visits to Uganda, but I must leave behind preventative measures, such as health education, health promotion and policy changes, or I have only put a Band-Aid on their problem.

SARAH'S STORY

Sarah was abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army and lived in bush for 3 years. After she escaped she lived at a convent with Sister Margaret (I don't know much about this period). Sister Margaret brought Sarah along with 10 other girls to the St. John Paul Social Justice and Peace Leadership Camp in Jinja organized by Laura Frederick. Sarah felt the desire to share her story of abduction with her peers at the camp even though she had previously experienced animosity from other students due to being abducted. Through her courage she gained a network of friends at the camp and learned social skills such as conflict resolution, teamwork and problem solving. She also pulled on the heart of Laura.
Laura knew about Ocer, a Jesuit Secondary School in Gulu, targeting students who had to abandon studies due to the war/abduction. She felt that Sarah fit the profile well and arranged a scholarship for her to attend the school in 2009. Sarah attended the school and did well (she is very intelligent, which I discerned from our first conversation). Sarah went home for the holidays in May and returned to school pregnant. She finished with P7 (6th grade equivalent) in December 2010.

Sarah was only 7.5 months along when she developed preeclampsia and went into labor. Emmanuel was born 44 days premature at St. Mary's Lacor Hospital at a weight of 1.46 kilograms (3.2 pounds). She did have a sick auntie at the hospital at the time, so she had someone to go to at times but was primarily on her own. She was released from the hospital with Emmanuel a month later when he only weighed 1.5 kgs. Father Tony, the director of Ocer, brought her to St. Monica's in an attempt to find her a safe, stable living arrangement.

St. Monica's protocol is that a baby must be 9 months before the mom and baby can stay here so that the mom can attend classes and the baby can spend the day at the St. Monica Daycare, but they had no where to turn. Sr. Rosemary welcomed them generously.

I was sitting on the couch in the sitting room when Sr. Rosemary came up to tell me we had a new visitor and Sarah and Emmanuel came around the corner. My eyes lit up and my heart warmed instantly. Sarah and I talked for a while that afternoon and quickly developed a close relationship.

Emmanuel is now 2 months and weights 2.07 kgs (4.5 lbs). I went with Sarah and Emmanuel back to Lacor Hospital last week for a check-up. We were so pleased to find that he had gained enough weight for his first inoculation, BCG. We will go back in a month for a second review and round of vaccines.

In just the past week, Emmanuel has really filled out a bit. His cheeks are more round and his arms are a little more than twigs. It’s a wonderful sight. And he is always smiling…unless he is eating, which is often, thankfully.

Sarah is doing a great job as a mother and now that the other moms and babies have arrived at St. Monica's, she is learning through observation and her new friendships with the more experienced mothers.

Now, it is our mission to find her a source of income while she is tending to Emmanuel full time and cannot continue with classes this year. I have become aware of her special talent of weaving. One day I noticed a small basket with white and pink ribbon decorating it. I asked her about it and she said that is what she does during the day when Emmanuel is sleeping. I am thoroughly impressed. This week I am going to the market to find her new ribbon in a variety of fabrics and colors so that she can use her creativity to produce as many baskets, table place mats, coasters, wall decorations, etc. that she can before I come back to the US. I will bring all that I can back to sell and then return the money to her via Pros for Africa.

Sarah has also had 2 years of tailoring education, so we are finding her a sewing machine that she can have in her room to work on during the days as well. I have found a few books on sewing skirts with a variety of simple patterns that I think we can master. Hopefully, I will also be bringing home some skirts to sell.

Where Is The Love?

I am reading Where Are The Girls? which consists of research and accounts of the atrocities endured by women and children at the hands of wicked men full of hatred and the question I keep asking myself is where is the love. How can these men honestly have no love in their hearts? How can these women be expected to produce healthy children and reintegrate back into society with any hope for success and a normal life after escaping captivity? The first answer and response must be love. That is St. Monica's specialty.

I know that most of the girls and sisters I talk, eat and pray with everyday have experienced a world without love at some point in their lives. That reality is hard to swallow, especially when I have always had a life overflowing with love. The most precious gift and support I can give these women is pure love and to treat them with the same kindness, respect, and generosity that I have always been given from my family and friends. I thank everyone in my life who has never let me experience a day without knowing how loved I am. I am passing your love to these women who desperately need and deserve it.

I am including an excerpt from the book so that you can understand the atrocities I am referring to. However, it is incredibly disturbing and heart-breaking. Honestly, I am writing this with tears on my cheeks so only read it if you are prepared.

Susan McKay and Dyan Mazurana. "Where are the Girls?" Girls in Fighting Forces in Northern Uganda, Sierra Leone and Mozambique: Their Lives During and After War. 2004.

"Especially in Northern Uganda and Sierra Leone, atrocities against pregnant girls/women and new mothers and their infants were reported. In Sierra Leone and Northern Uganda, babies or children were reportedly left behind at health clinics or with captor-"husbands" or their other wives in the bush when the girl escaped. Unknown numbers of babies and children died in the bush or were killed by rebels, sometime by cutting them out of the pregnant girl's body or by banging them against trees or killing them with weapons. To survive, or because they hated babies conceived of rape, girls reportedly abandoned their babies by the roadside or left them at health clinics….Dangerous childbirth practices were reported, such as pushing on the pregnant girl's abdomen when labor contractions were strong and beating the mother when she was in labor and giving birth. Girls and women often gave birth alone. "

The researcher goes on to make policy recommendations.

"Conduct epidemiological studies in war-affected countries, in coordination with Ministries of Health, to improve knowledge of maternal, child and infant mortality, its incidence, causes and prevention. Develop, where possible, innovative ways to provide a minimal level of maternal child health care for girls in the bush. "

I will start by giving love, and later I will return and give them much needed, quality maternal health care. May we all give in whatever way we can… even as simple as prayer.

THINGS I PRAY I NEVER GROW TO ACCEPT

• A population of 234,000 people with access to only one hospital- Amuru District only has one governmental hospital… there is a health center in Atiak but its resources and staff are very limited. We are starting a mobile medical clinic in Atiak on Saturdays to provide some health access to the neglected district.
• A population density of 7,514 people/km2- Uganda’s capitol, Kampala has this population density. To put this into perspective try to compare that to Oklahoma City’s population density of 21 people/km2…you can imagine. MAD HOUSE!
• Boda-Bodas- Bodas are small motorcycles used as taxis around Uganda. They rule the road with careless driving and their own traffic laws. It is not a rare occurrence for me to see a woman with a baby strapped to her back with a small child sitting between her and the driver. The most horrifying boda I have seen was carrying a mom, baby, and 2 children plus the driver. Again… these are small motorcycles.
• Malaria
• Illiteracy
• Professors granting high scores based on bribery and sexual solicitation.
• Government assignment of University location and degree pursuit.
• 4 year old sitting on the sidewalk or at intersections begging for money. Some parents….

May God continuously open the eyes and soften the hearts of those of us with the ability to help those less fortunate with whatever gifts He has blessed us with.

THINGS I PRAY I NEVER FAIL TO APPRECIATE

• Convenient access to clean water
• Summertime in January
• The pure joy children can find in simple things like playing with a tire
• The Nile River
• The opportunity to partake in Communion
• Pizza, wine and ice cream
• Fresh, delicious fruit with every meal
• Sleeping without a mosquito net
• Warm showers
• Skype
• Prayer
• The power of a smile and a hug

THINGS I PRAY I NEVER GROW TO ACCEPT

• A district without a hospital- Amuru District does not have a hospital… there is a health center in Atiak but its resources and staff are very limited. We are starting a mobile medical clinic in Atiak on Saturdays to provide some health access to the neglected district.
• A population density of 7,514 people/km2- Uganda’s capitol, Kampala has this population density. To put this into perspective try to compare that to Oklahoma City’s population density of 21 people/km2…you can imagine. MAD HOUSE!
• Boda-Bodas- Bodas are small motorcycles used as taxis around Uganda. They rule the road with careless driving and their own traffic laws. It is not a rare occurrence for me to see a woman with a baby strapped to her back with a small child sitting between her and the driver. The most horrifying boda I have seen was carrying a mom, baby, and 2 children plus the driver. Again… these are small motorcycles.
• Malaria
• Illiteracy
• Professors granting high scores based on bribery and sexual solicitation.
• Government assignment of University location and degree pursuit.
• 4 year old sitting on the sidewalk or at intersections begging for money. Some parents….

May God continuously open the eyes and soften the hearts of those of us with the ability to help those less fortunate with whatever gifts He has blessed us with.

THINGS I PRAY I NEVER FAIL TO APPRECIATE

• Convenient access to clean water
• Summertime in January
• The pure joy children can find in simple things like playing with a tire
• The Nile River
• The opportunity to partake in Communion
• Pizza, wine and ice cream
• Fresh, delicious fruit with every meal
• Sleeping without a mosquito net
• Warm showers
• Skype
• Prayer
• The power of a smile and a hug

JOSEPHINE KIZZA: A WOMAN EMPOWERING A NATION

(a long story but worth the read!)

This week I have been at the Great Lakes Leadership Institute. This is a conference in Kampala at the Ggaba Seminary which unites catalytic peace leaders from the surrounding countries who are instrumental in bringing peace and reconciliation to their areas. I have met and spoken with men and women from Kenya, DRC, Rwanda, Burundi, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and others. We have gathered with one mission: To unite minds and efforts in developing a new creation of reconciliation and hope in a region that has been suffocated by lament and war for years. We have spent many sessions reflecting on God’s word and direction for the region. We have engaged in discussions telling of our personal convictions and listened to speakers from the different countries explaining through examples the problems and hopes of their country. Yesterday, we had the honor of taking a 4 hour pilgrimage to the St. Jude’s Family Farm Project in Musaka, Uganda. This was a great experience for me because it was my first time to head south, since Gulu is in the north. I am always amazed by the lush, green forests decorating the land and the basic way of life of most of the country. I would still say that Winston Churchill’s description of Uganda as “The Pearl of Africa” holds.

St. Jude’s Family Project and Rural Training Center was started by a couple, John and Josephine Kizza, after they were trapped in Musaka at the beginning of the war in 1986. They were forced to leave behind their successful life in Kampala without warning or preparation. They had visited John’s family in Musaka one weekend, which happened to be the weekend that the war began and being in the south, Musaka was one of the first areas hit by the war. The town’s people tore down the only bridge leading into or out of Musaka to protect themselves from the terrorizing “soldiers.” John and Josephine had no way out.

Rather than despairing and pitying themselves, they stood firm on their faith and trust in God and knew that his plan was better than their own. They had two options: build a simple shelter and gather whatever resources they could from John’s family, or live with John’s family. In their culture, the daughter-in-law is not allowed in the same room as the father-in-law is home, nor is she allowed to speak with him. Josephine refused to live under that rule and told John to go to his family’s house to get any bedding he could manage while she stayed to set up a shelter. At first he didn’t believe she would rather live such a primitive life coming from the comfortable one they’d had in Kampala instead of submitting to the rules of his culture, but he soon realized she was serious. He returned later in the evening with a mattress and a blanket to find a small but sturdy enough shelter for the night.

The next day they surveyed their surroundings to find that the land was not fertile and agriculture was not the immediate option. Instead, John received two pigs from his father’s lot. After a few months she gave piglets, which they sold and after a few more cycles they had earned enough money to purchase a heifer. Months later she calved and they were able to sell enough milk to buy poultry. Now they began to see their bare beginnings multiply and they had a living.

About five years later, a woman from the UK came to Uganda to teach organic farming to the people. Josephine attended the 3 hour workshop on making compost and immediately began implementing what she had learned at home. A few days later the woman was making house calls to her students to see how they were coming and found Josephine teaching 3 local women how to make compost. She was so impressed by Josephine’s lesson that she offered to sponsor her for 2 years of training in organic farming in the UK... if John agreed to stay home with their 1 year old daughter. Going completely against social propriety, John agreed. Josephine spent 2 years in the UK and returned with a wealth of knowledge and skills that has now created a 3 ½ acre plot of flourishing vegetables and produce as well as full farm of livestock. Josephine was not satisfied with just her family benefiting from her training amidst the poverty and starvation that surrounded her. She opened a small plot where she trained anyone who would come to learn organic farming. She was enriching the lives of everyone who came to her farm by helping them become self-sustaining. In 2005, John died of a stroke. However, Josephine kept their mission alive and since his death their farm has grown 3 times it size. Today, over 6,000 families around Musaka have their own organic produce gardens and farms and at least 30,000 people circulate through St. Jude’s Farm annually to learn, see, and admire this transformation from 2 pigs to a self-sustaining life.

There are a few lessons that really laid on my heart yesterday. First, this was a life that was created out of respect and partnership of a couple. They lived united and with each other not simply along side one another. Second, they never faltered in their hope and trust in God, even after losing everything... and after losing her partner. And God was faithful. Third, St. Jude’s farm is standing because of hard work, perseverance, and a vision. And fourth, Josephine has never and will never become complacent with her level of success. She continues striving forward, searching for innovations for the farm, and continues reaching out to the community to empower as much of the nation as she can in this life. God bless, Josephine Kizza.

INNOCENT'S STORY

My heart has been touched to the core by a young boy full of joy and happiness in spite of the challenges he has been dealt. Innocent Openjmugu is an orphan at St. Monica’s who was born without his arms and with a left femur that refuses to grow. Cognitively, Innocent is fully developed and truly has one of the happiest dispositions I have ever encountered in a child. Upon my arrival to St. Monica’s he greeted with me with a hug and the biggest smile he could manage. His personality consumed my attention for quite sometime before I realized he was armless and had a limp. After spending a couple of weeks at St. Monica’s, I have witnessed his ability to perform almost every task the other children do, draw wonderful artwork, and bring life to everyone at St. Monica’s. He abounds with enthusiasm and joy.

Sister Rosemary adopted Innocent one month ago today, December 19th. The reality of how recent the horrific life that he has suffered through is quite hard for me to fathom because he is so positive and full of love. This boy is the definition of resilient.

I will let Sister Rosemary’s Christmas story of finding and rescuing Innocent speak for itself:

This year we got a special gift of Christmas during our celebration in Paidha. We got a boy called Innocent Openjmungu. This is a special name which tells all about this boy. He is a boy who was born 6 years ago without arms. His father decided to run away from the mother with a strong conviction that the boy is a sign of a great misfortune in the family. The mother resisted and nursed him for a short time and then decided to abandon him as well. She ran away and got married to another man. She never came back to look for this boy again and up to now the boy does not know the two runaway parents.

The brother of the father and his wife got this news of the unfortunate baby, took Innocent with him and had been taking care of him. They took him to a Kindergarten near their home run by our sisters. This is how I got to know about this boy through one of the sisters who is for holidays with us. As she heard I was going to meet the children for this great Christmas celebration, Sr. Margaret pleaded that I should invite this boy to our party as well.

She called the uncle of the boy to send him to the party in Paidha about 50 kilometers away.

When Innocent arrived to the party with the aunty, all of the children welcomed him in their midst with happiness. The challenge came when children sat down to eat. It was great to see how positive this little boy was. He assured me that he can eat by himself using his right foot. He sat near me eating. I tried to make him happy but deep down I was suffering and could not eat. Tears rolled down my cheeks but I tried to hide it. He has no pity for himself; he plays and has fun with his friends.

When he noticed other children looking at him, he told them in a joking manner that it is God who created him like that.

In fact this is why his name is Openjmungu which means, “Ask God.”

Isn’t this awesome? He is great with a great sense of humor. We included him in our program of distant adoption [through Tree of Wisdom].

The next step is to find a home for Innocent because the uncle said it is very hard for him to care for him and a lot of people keep stealing him away from home taking for a show to raise money. This is the real problem facing this boy right now. He is being exploited by people. We brought him along with us to St. Monica and will hopefully send him to our orphanage. He needs a lot of protection and care. He has some deformities in the left foot which could hopefully be corrected by experts.

I am happy that the Tree can shelter special and beautiful children of God like Innocent. He has a found a new home under the shade of the TREE OF WISDOM.

Yesterday, Sr. Rosemary and I took Innocent to the Comprehensive Rehabilitation Services Unit near Kampala to consult with Dr. Antonio on the options for treatment of his disabilities. He preformed a physical examination, took x-rays, and had Innocent demonstrate how he functions with his foot. Dr. Antonio was nearly moved to tears when he danced with Innocent, and he was so impressed by Innocent’s detailed drawing of a car that he said he is going to frame it and hang it on his wall.  Today, Innocent was checked in at the hospital where he will stay for a few weeks in a house with Irene, a caretaker that Sr. Rosemary brought to St. Monica’s specifically to care for Innocent. The first step will be designing a shoe for Innocent with an 11 cm heel so that his hips will be even and balanced. He will remain at the hospital to undergo rehabilitation to learn to walk properly with the new shoe.

The next treatment will be implanting a leg extension into his femur that can be extended by the twist of a knob as he grows. We will receive more details on this surgery and the process during the next consultation. Eventually, Innocent will receive two prosthetic arms, one which will be functional and the other, cosmetic. Dr. Antonio is going to send the x-rays and pictures of Innocent to his colleague in Germany who specializes in child prostheses for a recommendation and a cost estimate. As I learn more about Innocent’s treatment plan and costs, I will provide the information and a strategy for assistance.

Yesterday, while I watched Innocent get his x-rays taken, I fought to maintain my composure as I thought of how radically transformed his life has been in the past month... all because of the love of Sister Rosemary. A month ago, he was being put on display as a sideshow for money, and today he sits with us at the hospital to receive medical treatment.

His is a story of despair to hope and an example of how far a little bit of love can go.

WHY?? HOW??

So in my excitement to start telling about my experiences here in Uganda, I skipped over why and how I even came to be here. Let me rewind....

I fell in love with traveling and specifically to Africa last year when I studied abroad and conducted HIV research in South Africa during the spring semester. My time in South Africa was life-changing and eye-opening. It was my first time to be on my own for an extended period of time and my first time to really travel internationally. Those five months gave me a world vision and created a very positive bias towards Africa in general. Being outside of my norms and typical roles allowed me to gain a new perspective of what I wanted to do with my life and the multitude of options that are possible. From my experience with the HIV + pregnant women that I worked with, I realized that God has enabled me with certain qualities that are meant for caring for women both in the US and internationally. The moment I was on the plane headed back to the US in June I began praying that God would provide me with a way to get back to Africa. I knew I had a rare opportunity of flexibility with the transition between undergrad and medical school coming up to do something that I’d never have the chance to do later and became even more eager to travel again.

Through God’s grace and wonderful connections that I’d already developed during college, I got in contact with PROS FOR AFRICA. Immediately, I knew this was an organization that paralleled my goal of sharing Oklahoma love with the less fortunate women in Africa. Thus I developed a commitment to assist PFA in any way that I could. Soon, I was invited to attend the luncheon that was held at the governor’s mansion honoring Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe. I can honestly say that that event was a defining moment of my life. That day I officially decided to go to St. Monica Girls’ Tailoring Center in Gulu, Uganda, to spend time learning from and assisting Sr. Rosemary and the young women she provides a refuge and fresh start for. After the lunch, I waited around and introduced myself to Sister and our brief conversation filled with her natural joy and humanitarian heart sealed the deal. I told her I hoped to come stay with her for a few months in the next year. I didn’t know how or when, but I was going to try to get there. What could I do for her and the girls? She told me they needed any basic health education. And that was it.

I emailed Jay Mitchel, executive director of PFA who had invited me to the luncheon, and told him my revelation. I told him I wanted to offer my services and time to PFA at St. Monica’s in Uganda for a few months. The next week I met with Reggie and Jay to discuss my intentions and plans for graduation, and we knew it was a match. Thank God! And Reggie Whitten and Jay!

So within 6 months of praying on the plane headed back to the US that God would send me back, I was on a flight headed for Entebbe, Uganda, for four months! Only through God’s hand and people with hearts for changing the world and confidence that we can all contribute to that effort could all of these pieces fall into place so beautifully.

Now, I am here and my life has already been touched in ways that I didn’t expect. One of my personal goals for this trip is to develop an accurate understanding of the society, the medical conditions most prevalent, and the local resources available so that I am best equipped to treat the women of Uganda effectively and efficiently once I have my medical degree. I feel sure that I will be gaining and learning more than I could ever possibly give back on this trip, but I will most definitely be back in Uganda throughout my life caring for the women and returning the love.

DESTINATION: GULU!

Sister Rosemary and Walter picked me up from Cornerstone on Saturday to make a trip north to Gulu. Along the route there are no places to stop for a real meal, but there are plenty of stands along the road selling vegetables and fruit so thatís what we ate. We stopped at two locations which Sister Rosemary favors and frequently buys from; at one we bought pineapples and bananas and the other corn. The bananas in Uganda are truly the most delicious I have ever tasted (including in South Africa). Every meal here at St. Monicaís is concluded with a dessert of some fruit. The pineapple is my favorite.

We were traveling in Sister Rosemary's very trusty truck that she said has never had any problems...until our trip. The engine became overheated.... at the perfect time! I would even say it was a blessing. We are just approaching the Nile River ( So Walter found a clearing to pull over by that allowed us to see the rapids of the mighty river perfectly. Now, pictures of the Nile are forbidden and there are even guards on the bridge prepared to confiscate cameras of violators. One of these guards, in his military uniform and gun over this shoulder, walked up to our car in a rather defensive manner. But Sister Rosemary befriended him immediately as she does with everyone she meets. She greeted him first and began speaking in his native language, which she could identify my simply looking at him. She offered him a banana and told him it was my first time in Uganda. Not only did he welcome me and grant me permission to take photos of the Nile, but he told me that I should get out of the car and cross the road to get even better pictures! To make this experience even more special, as we were overlooking the Nile while waiting for the engine to cool, Sister Rosemary began telling me breathtaking and captivating stories of her experiences during the wars. It was a divine night to say the least.

We arrived in Gulu late in the evening after it had already become dark, so I was not able to see much of the town as we drove in. When we arrived, the sisters had dinner prepared and had even waited to eat with us. It was another warm, relaxed welcome. It feels very good to be "home."

WATER BOTTLE HOUSE

Today, Sister Rosemary came to Cornerstone to fetch me for our trip to see a house made of water bottles. When she arrived, I invited her downstairs where we had some tea. I am so glad I did because a boy working at Cornerstone, Javis, recognized Sister Rosemary from her time at Cornerstone with PFA last year and was overjoyed to see her again. He said he admired her deeply for all the good that she does and hopes that he can come to Gulu to help her at St. Monica’s with IT since he just graduated with his IT degree from MaKerere University. We had a fun conversation reminiscing on their experience with the pros, like Adrian Peterson, coming last spring. Very good start to the day.

Next, we met with Stephen with Butakoola Village Association for Development (www.buvad.org) who has constructed the first water bottle house in Uganda. He explained that this idea originated in India about 9 years ago and provides a cost-effective, environment friendly alternative to bricks. Sister Rosemary heard about this project last week, searched it online, arranged with Stephen to see it first hand, and is organizing an instructional workshop in Gulu by the end of the month.... this lady does not run on Africa time!! I like her style. Her goal is to have a two room building constructed before the PFA trip in March; the building will function as a show room for the girls’ jewelry and clothing that they produce at the school.

The house is located in Kayunga town about an hour outside of Kampala. The drive was a perfect opportunity for me to see a wide range of Uganda. Kampala is the capital and is decently modernized. The roads in Kampala are not marked with lines or many signs, and people will be manufacturing bed and couches on the side of the road. Ugandans just make life happen without the fuss of rules and regulations. It is an interesting concept. As you continue heading farther out of town life becomes more basic with dirt roads, livestock wandering, people walking the road carrying baskets on their heads, and kids playing in the dirt with tires and sticks.

The water bottle house was located even farther out in the countryside. We traveled off of the main dirt road along a side road to the final destination. It was a school and also the home of the water bottle project. The water bottles are packed tight with moist soil and then stacked upon one another held together with cement. It is the same concept of brick buildings without the fumes and allows the use a resource that is readily available all over the side of roads in Uganda, plastic water bottles. Filling the bottles with soil is a task that even children can master and does not present a potential danger such a fumes and the heat of fusing bricks. Sister Rosemary and I were amazed by the quality of insulation that the water bottle walls provided. The walls were very cool to the touch and were definitely stable. Water bottle housing is an innovative technique to providing low cost housing and environment management.

WELCOME TO UGANDA

Well I'm on my second wonderful journey in Africa. This time to Uganda. I am interning for an Oklahoma non-profit organization, PROS FOR AFRICA. Check out the website at prosforafrica.com for a full scoop. Everything with this trip has fallen into place in the past 3 months with God's grace. I'm very blessed to have the opportunity to experience four months of life with a mentor like Sister Rosemary and will learn and gain more than I can imagine right now during my time at St. Monica's. Again, check out the website so you know all about Sister Rosemary and the school :)

My flight went as scheduled. I arrived at Entebbe, Uganda, at 10:30 pm Tuesday night and Paulo Kyama and his daughter, Sharon, were at the airport waiting for me. Paulo works for the government in finance and also assists Pros for Africa a great deal. Both Reggie and Jay said he is one of the kindest and most trustworthy people they know; I agree completely. They greeted me very warmly. It was a nice comfort after a long flight and being half a world away from everyone I know.

Paulo brought me to the main offices of Cornerstone, a youth leadership enrichment organization, located in Kampala about 20 minutes from Entebbe. It is a hostel type setting with a private room and a communal bathroom that I share with a few other residents. The other people staying here at the time being are all American. There is a couple who teach for Cornerstone, and two guests that don’t work with Cornerstone but are in Kampala often. Erin recorders traditional music from around Uganda and combines them with artists in the States to fuse the two cultures of music. His work is really neat and I will be following his progress at www.ensigo.com. James runs a fair trade jewelry business between Uganda and the United States. He buys jewelry that women in Uganda make and sells them in the States for profit; however, the profit is simply enough to allow him to get by and travel back and forth. His end goal is to build up a few women at a time to where they can afford to send their children to school, thus promoting generational progress.

On my second day in Uganda, Paulo arranged for an employ of Cornerstone, Phillip, to take me around to get my phone and internet situation sorted and pick up some groceries to last me a few days in Kampala while I wait on Sister Rosemary to come through and take me up north to Gulu. All of this was much less confusing and stressful this time than it was in South Africa... thank goodness!

There happened to be a group of OU law students in Kampala this week as well working on international review of Uganda’s economy for the UN, and Paulo arranged for me to have lunch with them on Wednesday :) It was rather ironic (in a good way) to spend my first meal in Uganda with fellow Sooners. After lunch I pretty much slept the rest of the day away...yay for jet lag. Then I was up for most of the night. Go figure. Thank you, Reese, for keeping me company for a bit :)

I had zero plans for Thursday and again slept most of that day as well when I wasn’t reading about the history of the Sudan conflict... hostels always have pretty interesting books handy. Sister Rosemary called me to let me know that she would be coming by Cornerstone to pick me up on Friday for a trip to see a house made of water bottles that she hopes to replicate at St. Monica’s. It will be wonderful to see her joyful face again and finally get moving!!