Whatever you do...

 

Cynthia led us in a devotional this morning about wisdom and the role it plays in our attempting to abide in and with Christ. Our time in the morning is so special, to sing and to share thoughts from the Kingdom. It unites us, centers us, and prepares us.

Our last full day in the village of Akalabai was very bittersweet. Nobody from our team went on the trails today because all hands were needed for the gigantic crowd that was waiting for us at the medical clinic.

In terms of procedure, everything happened pretty similarly to how it occurred yesterday. There were dentists and AIDS test and malaria pills handed out. Our team worked very hard to provide the best and most efficient care possible for the overwhelming crowd of people.

The mosquito nets were a hot commodity. It was a day-long struggle to keep the desperate villagers organized. We handed out close to two thousand mosquito nets in about five hours today. Some local children helped pass out the nets and were actually extremely helpful. It was heartbreaking to have to tell people to be patient or to follow rules as we saw them experiencing a level of desperation none of us will ever know.

Dr. Bartha saw a lot of people today. He said there were a few who were in need of surgeries and they would be working on getting referrals to those people. There were patients suffering seizures and a needed hysterectomy, to name a few.

When our translators were swamped or needed elsewhere, some of the villagers, even those who had gotten close to the front of the line, served their community by helping us organize the people.

Pat tried to take a mosquito net to one of the doctors, who had already refused once. The doctor replied, “I can afford nets. The government gives me nets. These people need them and you bought them for Akalabai.”

Our team was full of joy as we saw people we had met on the trail come into the clinic.

Dr. Bartha’s expertise made it so that we were very efficient with the number and kinds of medicines we bought.

After the dust settled from a very busy day in the clinic, we tried to catch our breath and rest for a few minutes before stepping out into our last crusade at Akalabai. Laura and Cynthia each gave fantastic testimonies. Garrett gave a preachimony (testimony with an evangelistic after-taste). Rudi gave a great sermon, which was the presentation of the gospel woven from both Scripture and his life.

Walter and Rachel went to a prison this afternoon. The prison was pretty far from Akalabai, in the beautiful mountain-region of Uganda. Walter spoke to about 200 men. Rachel spoke to 21 women, 3 babies. ALL of the women accepted Christ after her talk. Our duo also got to talk and pray with the female warden of the prison. On the way home, the driver gave a man a ride and Rachel talked with him and handed him a tract to read. He was a very kind and open Muslim man. Before long, she had climbed across the van to sit in a seat next to him and read some of The Gospel of Matthew with him.

It was more than a full day. Our team is feeling healthy, but will be tired and sore as the evening wears on. Everything at the clinic went very well today. But we did not get to see everyone. It seems as though the more we serve, the more we are aware of how much additional service is needed. maybe all good things work in this way - love, peace, joy. Today was a day that we swiveled between pouring out and filling up. The team was filled with joy to be able to serve most, but laments not being able to serve everyone. We prayed supernatural healing over the ones that we did not have time to see. There were villagers who cheated and stole, trying to beat our system to get the most for themselves, at the expense of their fellow-villagers. There were also villagers who served one another and helped keep the peace.

 On the way home, this rainbow covered the sky, as if God was reminding us that he is Here, beckoning us home, calling us to abide.

 The weekend will look very different than our time in Akalabai has, but it will be full of ministry and beauty. As we begin to close our time in the village (just the dedication on Sunday is left), we are thankful for the invitation to participate in what God is doing in Akalabai. And Scripture promises that he who began a good work shall see it through to completion!

Thanks for all your prayers and support,

The 2015 Uganda Mission Team