Monday, July 18, 2016

Hitches, Glitches and a Card or Two

A Few Hitches…


We woke to another beautiful day in Uganda. The morning began with a devotion calling us to share in the words "Here I am", like so many saints who have gone before us (e.g. Moses, Joshua, Isaiah, Mary).  As we enjoyed our typical breakfast of eggs, toast, and fruit made by Sarah (she's a real card, by the way), we got on our way… or so we thought.


We didn't get very far down the road before Kyemba pulled into a service station to have a flat tire repaired. Understand that these roads are brutal on tires, brakes, undercarriage, etc. - the potholes have potholes. So, we all piled out of the van and stood around as one young man beat the tar out of the tire to dislodge it from the rim and put an inner tube in it before beating the tar out of it to get the tire back on the rim. Meanwhile, there were 9 muzungu's gawking about as a boda-boda pulled in with two live goats and two chickens heading home to make ready for the day's meal.


Finally, the tire was done and off we went toward Idudi to see the New Life clinic. However, on the way we decided to stop and grab a few drinks. Kyemba pulled up behind some other vehicles, but was parked in the middle of the junction in the road. Unfortunately for us, there were three traffic officers nearby who quite obviously did not appreciate Kyemba's parking job and proceeded to take the keys from the van till Kyemba returned. After some pleading to no avail we turned the van around and were escorted to the nearby police station. Poor Kyemba. He felt terrible. First, it was the loss of his keys the other day, then the flat, now the traffic ticket. It makes little sense really because if you were to see the way people drive and park here, it's not like there are any hard and fast rules for the road. Nevertheless, Kyemba received the fine, which amounted to about $10 and we were on our way once again.


We arrived in Idudi to receive a wonderful tour of the new clinic. Umar, one of the doctors there, shared with us that this clinic has been open for the last 5 months and has served over 600 patients providing medical care for birthing mothers, malaria, seizures, sutures, and many other things. It is intended to be a general practice but often serves as quite a bit more since it is the nearest clinic for many miles.


As a bit of a treat today, our team was taken out a little farther beyond Idudi to an area where baboons hang out along the roadside. We stopped to fill up the van with large bunches of bananas. When we got there the baboons were waiting along the roadside for passersby to pull over and give them a meal for the day. It was fascinating watching the larger alpha males dominate the banana feast while some mothers carried their young on their backs or bellies grabbing what they could to feed themselves. We all got a good laugh when Sue raised up from her seat to take pictures and had obviously sat on a few bananas because her behind was plastered with them, thus the name "banana-butt" for a good part of the morning.


Afterwards, our team headed back to Musana, taking a snack lunch in the van. When we arrived back at home base the team went down to continue building relationships with some of the women in the craft ministries, then Sue, Julie, Kyemba, and I pulled out for a bit to go take care of some personal business with our sponsored kids. It was great for me to see Annet again and I know Julie was overjoyed to see her child, Masiat. We scurried off to go buy a few things for the girls before dropping me off at Hope Orphanage to play one last time for the kids.  It was great to sing and play, but the goodbyes were extra hard. Hugs and kisses all around then down the bumpy roads we went to return to Musana.


On the way home I was so hoping that Sarah would fix Rolex tonight for our dinner (picture an omelette rolled up in a tortilla), and sure enough she had fixed it just for me…or so she said. 


It feels more and more like home every time I come. That being said, I'm looking forward to boarding the plane in a couple of days (2 days ahead of the rest of the team) and getting home to my family and my community.


Please pray for Kyemba's grandson as he heals from malaria. Remember the staff and children of Musana and give thanks with us for their gracious hospitality. Pray for our schedule as there is much to do and so little time to do it all in these last few days. Join us in blessing God for this wonderful opportunity to experience the people and culture of Uganda.


Be Blessed!


--
Tamara Ramirez
Overflow Director
Riverside Community Church
210-473-7867

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