And I mean it in a nice way.
I really don't understand why people care about me....love me....go out of their way to express how much they care....encourage me....believe in me.....love me....
I think I cried absolute tears of joy and humilty seeing how just different people in my life actually love me. It hit me today...I am loved. Wow. Weird but the coolest epiphany I think I have had in a long time. HA!
The day started off wonderfully in the Word and just praising Him...then my computer was ringing and I had a phone call!!! My friend who recently moved to Utah called on Skype!! It was soooooo awesome to see her and talk...well, I did most of the talking (sorry, Gina!) but it was so awesome and she really encouraged me greatly. Our lives kinda are parallel in that we both moved to an unknown place to kinda start over in all ways at the same time- just different directions. I have to say I didn't really think much about that before, but yes, I have COMPLETELY started over here with absolutely no baggage and no one knowing me before (well, Simon, but that doesn't really count cuz it was a few days). I mean from my house, to neighborhood, to friends, to work, to church...EVERYTHING! Kinda weird and kinda cool. Maybe that has been a big reason why I feel like such a new creature in Christ. I am starting my life on HIS terms, not mine and everything is in His hands completely. Ha.
I just realized I miss my large pillow that I could prop against my wall at home to sit up comfortably in my bed...
Oh, and I really missed a soda machine today...all soda here are in glass bottles and you have to return the bottles when you are done...so you can't just take one and leave....unless u have an empty bottle to exchange..but it is glass and hard to drink and drive...anyways, missed that randomly today. Told Pato about it and he thought it would be cool for Gulu to have one. :)
Anyways, we were soooooo productive in the office today. Updated all files and got them organized!! WHOOT HOOT! We realized what we needed to get to make all files in compliance (not as scary as it sounds...I made the standards - HA!). We then headed to Tegot.
We met with some people and then decided to head over to Alimo Monica to check on her baby sister. Let me first say that we were told she was sick and needed medical care. We were NOT told that she has had a HIGH fever, was vomitting blood,had diarehea and couldn't move hardly at all!! When we arrived we were escorted into their home to meet with the family. When I finally walked in after seeing their newly built hut, I was ashamed we didn't move faster on this little one. She was so weak, hot and not moving. This same little girl, Akera Barbra, a few weeks ago RAN away crying so loud when she would get near me because she was afraid of my whiteness, now was sprawled on the floor, naked, burning up and not moving when I touched her. I asked of her symptoms and knew right away that we needed to take her in. So the men, Simon and Pato, took the mother, Jennifer, and Akera to the hospital. We later found out (in many medical terms that I will sum in lay terms) that she was so close to death that if it were another day that she lived they would not be able to do anything for her. So Jennifer and Akera are at Lacor getting treatment. Please pray for them!!! Pato and I visited when I dropped him off and Jennifer needs to stay near Akera at all times because her condition requires someone to watch her at all times just in case of any drastic change. See, this little almost 2 year old girl, has the worse type of Malaria there is...it can change a status in any minute from stable to death. Crazy. Her little body on the hospital bed just made me want to pick her up and hold her. She was so still, yet so beautiful. Doctors say she has a 95% chance of recovery now. OH PRAY!! Jesus, heal her!!
Jennifer gave Pato some money to get her food since she couldn't leave to make anything for herself for tonight. As we were walking out we discussed that we should bring her food tomorrow as well. So I volunteered to cook rice and beans. YIKES! So bought some rice...and received beans from a family today...so I am making it! My rice is good...testing out my bean cooking skills now....I wish it didn't take so long!!! But let's jus say that Jennifer will be eating some good beans tomorrow!!! I CAN MAKE ACHOLI BEANS!!!! And that people, is some pretty spiffy awesome beans....you can't get beans like you can here in Gulu. YUM! Oh, and let's say, I now have perfected my two finger spoon....aka...using my fingers as utensils to eat...food tastes better that way, it seems.
While the men were at the hospital, Mary and I did some follow up profiles (ones we needed pics to make compliant) and took some new profiles. My Winnifred from my 2008/2009 trip finally has a profile!! OH I LOVE THAT GIRL!!! We took two other new ones and it will soon be posted. HOW EXCITING!!! We are targeting children who are not in school and especially those who attended the awesome unschooled program Sarah and Melissa ran. Winnie's family, her grandparents raise her, were so honored and pleased that they gave us about 10 pounds of beans!!! (hence my bean making tonight) It is just crazy how much people share here....it is so humbling.
With that, I bought an extra bag of rice and seperated the beans in a bag for Cosmas...who by the way is HEALED!!! He thanked me for the medicine and is smiling and joyful again!! ANYTIME!! Anyways, I gave him the rice and beans and told him that a family in Tegot gave it to me as a sign of appreciation and I was to share with my family...well, he is my family. So I said I would share with him. Now, I know the rice was bought but the beans were given to me. But knowing that he has been sick and not eating, his crops were destroyed, he has a family to provide for and his pay isn't all that big to cover the damage, I thought it would be best to share a little more...hence me buying 3 kilos of rice...one for me, one for Jennifer and Mama Ochira, and one for Cosmas. I hope it isn't considered deceiving and lying...but I just can't fathom "feeling bad" for him and not helping in some way. I know it defeats my theory of "give a man a fish and he has it for one day, teach a man how to fish..."but he has been working hard on it. And I considered it my tea and bread for the day.
Pray also for Mama Ochira Brian...she is STILL in the hospital with TB. No one is staying with her so we are going to visit tomorrow and bring her food as well. We saw Brian riding his bike at 1 to give her cassava and we gave him extra money to buy juice for her. Unfortunately, and ashamedly, we are not close to Ochira and his mother so we have not visited except once....we will change that. PRAY!!
Lastly, today I received two packages...one from my friend Kelly and one from my friend Jen V. Kelly sent her sponsor child and me some gifts and it brightened my day!! Jen sent a video she compiled with all of my closest friends and family. It was the sweetest gift ever. People said things, played some music for me, and just really blessed me. I cried, worshipped with you (man I miss playing!!!) and laughed and just missed those people so much!!! I truly have the most wonderful group of friends and family EVER and am just so blessed by it. It was the sweetest gift and I thank God for Jen V for her creativity and to all the people who were in it: Jen V, Stacy, Ben, Miles, Will, Bobby, Megan, Noah, Mom, Ron, Auntie, Becca, Curtis, Eli, Ethan, Jesse, Neal, Jeanne, Brandon, Zaar, Ingrid, Jess, Timmy (and if I am missing anyone it is because I did not see the whole thing because my DVD player is acting up again...grrr....but if I missed anyone I will give you props when I see you!!!)It was so nice to see all of your faces, hear all of your voices and know that I am loved by each of you...thank you for being in my life.
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