Final visit to Naggalama Hospital

Our return visit to Naggalama Hospital was a little frustrating as it didn't end quite as we'd expected. 

The initial plan was to deliver Ja Ja Justine to her hospital bed, pay the necessary costs for her overnight stay, surgery and medication (about 250,000 shillings) and return to Kyampisi. 

What transpired was many, many hours of waiting for hospital staff (including a doctor) to establish that Justine would need to return to the hospital the following day with the required surgical mesh (which we would need to source and which would cost up to 500,000 shillings) and then be admitted for 2 further days within which time she would undergo surgery (another 500,000 shillings). Apparently Justine requires two operations, both of which are quite complicated. 

These plans were made all the more frustrating as Dale and I needed to board our plane to return to Australia the very next day. 

Thanks to the generosity of Jemima and the willingness of Anna and Jamie to collect the required surgical mesh and deliver Ja Ja Justine to Naggalama hospital, I'm pleased to report that all is well for Justine. 

I pray she'll make a full recovery and I look forward to seeing her back at Kyampisi next year. 

Gift giving

It was such a blessing to be able to take a number of gifts to Uganda. 

We took 9 iPads (for members of KCM and Barnabas Project), 30 Redlands College broad-brimmed hats (for children at Kyampisi and Busoke Christian Schools), 40 Redlands College performance music uniforms (for the KCM Children's Choir), 2 Sidlow Baxter devotionals (for Peter and Edwin), a bracelet (for Hufsa) and a number of 'Australiana' items including stuffed toys, shells, book marks and food - Tim Tams, Milo and Minties - as the Lord leads. 

It was great to witness the spontaneous reactions of those who received. Ugandan's really value relationships and appreciate receiving gifts. 

Gideon Bibles

As both Dale and I are Gideons we decided to take a number of Bibles (8) and New Testaments (30) to Uganda. 

It was a joy to be able to pass these on to people who needed them more than us. 

We gave them to security guards, police, shop keepers, pastors, waiters, teachers, Borda Borda drivers and members of the Busoke, Bbira and Kyampisi communities. It is absolutely wonderful to witness their hunger for God's word. 

My prayer is that His word will go forth and accomplish that which He desires and purposes. God only knows the ripple effect of placing these. 

And the heavens opened as we left

Although technically 'the wet season' in Uganda, the rain has been remarkably absent - until this morning when the heavens opened. 

We woke to the sound of 'pitter patter' but quickly realised that it was actually 'cats and dogs' or given that we're in Uganda, 'lions and tigers'. 

On seeing the rain, we quickly set our minds to our drive down our narrow dirt access road en route to the airport - which becomes very slippery at even the hint of rain. 

Our fears were well-founded, as we nearly slid off the road and into the deep gutter. Praise the Lord we didn't and we arrived safely at Entebbe Airport in one piece - although I was feeling a little car sick! 

As I close this blog I thank the Lord for His provision to us over the past 20 days.  True to His nature, He was faithful throughout our time in Uganda. 

Thank you Uganda. We'll meet again. 

Thank you Lopez, or should I say Dell or Dale - you've been an amazing travel companion and I'll cherish our time together. I think we should do it again!