As we wrap up our last day, we feel overjoyed to have accomplished this mission and helped so many people.
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Thanks to your donations, we were able to give 7200 mosquito nets, 7200 prescriptions, 625 glasses, 400 toothbrushes and 200 toothpastes.

The most common diseases and health issues that we target and that people suffer from are Malaria, Chest infections, Diarrhea, hypertension, skin infections, parasites, Tubercolosis, sickle cell in babies and Typhoid. Ulcers are also common as many people can only afford one meal a day, usually eating a root called cassava.

In addition, HIV and AIDS are very present, 2 million of people are infected and there is 7% of new infections every year. Our doctors were able to test for HIV. 

A big issue here is that public hospitals, who often treat HIV and AIDS, are underfunded and corrupt. Private clinics get prescriptions from the hospital and then resell the medicine at prices far too high for local communities to afford.

As today was our last day, we had an enormous crowd, it was our record-breaking day. Aidah, our host, managed very well and helped us reach as many children and sick people as possible. We try to not let anyone go home without seeing the doctor, but its impossible to reach everyone. We still served the majority of people who came, giving over 1350 prescriptions. The work done by the doctors, nurses and translators was phenomenal. They worked from 9 to 5 with no breaks except for lunch. 

The team did a great job. The prayer tent was packed and God was definitively working through us.
We were all tired but as Greg said in his devotional, we finished the race strong.

Our last day was magical. We danced with some of the kids to “Mama Africa”. Our amazing youth pastor and translator, Isaac Israel, taught us the African dances. In exchange, we taught them the Macarena! 

This year was the first year we did the children’s ministry. Lorine, Becca and Michael really got to connect with the children. A highlight of the day was when some girls came back from the first church to see us and dance with us. Later, Lorine and they had a conversation where they taught Eteso to Lorine and she taught them French. One of the girls asked if we could see the Sun in the US. That was quite cute and funny! 

We gave these people some comfort and care but what they gave us is more than we could ever imagine...These people have a light in their eyes, a tender soul and are filled with gratitude for any help from their “American friends” as they called us.

As we leave them, we leave a part of ourselves with them in Africa. We hope to come back next year to build new relationships and give what we can. It’s difficult to express how much these people touch our hearts and change our lives. Their kindness and grace is contagious. You never come back the same when you come back from Mama Africa!

Lorine and Nathalie

Exhausted! Long day at the church and a long, bumpy, hot, one-hour ride in each direction, but I should probably start at the beginning. 

It was a typical day with breakfast at 7:00, devotion at 7:45 and on the road at 8:00.   Lorine did the devotion on Proverbs 16:9 and talked about God’s plans vs our plans and shared some personal testimony.   Becca prayed and then we separated into two teams headed in different directions. Becca, Michael, Nathalie and Lorine were scheduled to go to Soroti Primary Development School and the remainder of the team began the hour-long trek to the church. 

As a side note, this is the same school that Pastor Morris attended as a child. Currently the school has a student body of 1,000 children but only 800 were present today as it was market day and some of the kids had gone to market with their families. When the team arrived, the children had a program planned which included singing the National Anthem of East Africa and the National Anthem of Uganda. The headmaster also gave a speech.   Michael and Becca gave a short teaching on Creation to Salvation and also taught the children a new song.  The team then handed out 800 mosquito nets! 
 
So, we need to back up a little bit before relating the other reason why the team went to the school. Last year when Nathalie was on mission with us in Lira, she had several conversations with the nurses and found out that most teenage girls in Uganda miss multiple days of school each month due to a lack of feminine hygiene products (sorry, is this too risqué for church?). I will say that each time we say those three words, it makes Lee blush, sooo, we say it a lot.   Anyway, God put it on Nathalie’s heart to do something to help. After the mosquito nets were distributed, all the students were dismissed except the girls (200 girls).  A three-month supply of feminine hygiene products was given to each girl (in a black plastic bag) with the promise of additional supplies to be provided every three months for an entire year. I can’t tell you what a huge difference this will make for these girls. 
 
The school team rejoined us at the church around noon. We all rotated through the various “jobs” at the church again, counting pills, handing out mosquito nets, praying/evangelizing, testing for reading glasses, etc.  It was a long day and we didn’t arrive back at the hotel until 6:30 pm. 
 
Some stats for the day:
# patients seen:  1,375
# nets distributed:  1,200 at church/800 at school
# flies in outhouse:  uncountable put close to one million
 
Some words/terms I learned this week:
Smoky vision – can’t see far away
Irish – means potatoes
Somehow – used the way we would say somewhat or kinda. 
 
Debbie

​Wow, what a day!  Your team met for breakfast at our hotel in Soroti, gathered for our morning devotional (today led by Karen and focused on the opportunity and importance of witnessing), and then departed for church services quite close to the hotel.  And what a beautiful church!  Spectacular landscaping, a finished cement floor, additional buildings and the sound of close to 200 voices singing.  They greeted us warmly and we sat on the front row.  

Soon we separated for our separate duties.  The women met in the pastor’s home (on premises) and Mama Ida led the discussion.  She spoke about the 4 types of testimony: What our neighbors say about us? What we say about our selves? What God says about us? What Satan says about us? Debbie, Ewena, Karen and Vickie are still raving about the lesson.

Becca and Michael took the children into the Parish Hall for what must have been a fun-filled hour.  Becca estimated about 120 kids, infants through age 15.  These kids, in the opinion of our team, are well-schooled and asked great questions.  The Adam and Eve puppets, the globe, songs and hand actions and a parachute augmented the lessons. It was so fun to watch the children rush to hug Becca and Michael when we left the church; clearly, both our team and the children made an impression on each other.

The men remained in the church and Lee, Phil and Greg led a lesson focused on Proverbs and how we act.  The men, both our team and the local men, agreed that regardless of nationality, race or age, ‘men are men’.  Imagine the challenge of giving marital advise to Uganda men you’ve just met!  A bond was struck and the sincerity of their thanks to us confirmed that God was in control and our words made an impact.

All returned to church and the service began with the choir singing and about 25 children dancing.  For quite awhile.  No, for a long time.  Seriously, singing and dancing for about 40 minutes!  The faces and the voices of these children will last forever in our minds.  

Presentations and prayers led to the day’s sermon, delivered by ‘Father’ Doug.  His discussions from Mathew 7, ending with the Golden Rule, were both well-delivered as well as well-received.  We are excited to see Doug’s new career as a man of the cloth unfold.

We’ve returned to the hotel and are mindful that as we sit here, separating medicines, toothpaste and tooth brushes, you our church family have gathered for church services in Katy.  (Becca sent a text message to Alex, just to see if he’d respond, and we’re so happy to note that he DOESN’T monitor his cell phone during the service!). We miss you but feel your prayers supporting us as we begin our week.  Tomorrow begins our medical mission, 2 days at the church we attended today, and we’re ready for the long days ahead.  It’s rainy season here, a storm approaching as I type.  

Finally, a comment on the team.  Three ‘newbies’ here now with another arriving tomorrow, 4 people over the age of 70, staff, vestry, congregation members, introverts and extroverts, but hand-picked by God and bound together in excitement and commitment.  We’ve already had tears, matched by laughter, praise and concern, plenty of African tea, licorice and snack bars, swarms of mosquitoes and the biggest beetle you’ve ever seen!  There’s fun and love here; we hope Uganda is ready for us.

Yeah God!!

Lee Stranathan

The team arrived safely after almost 2 days of travel.  We are in Soroti in northern central part of Uganda.   The hotel has proven to be a nice home for the coming week.

We first want to thank everyone for their prayers and financial support.  We exceeded our goal of $50000.  Your generosity will enable us to visit not only 3 chuches and their villages but also a school of nearly a thousand students.   God has opened so many hearts we know he will be doing great things this week.  

We arrived in Entebbe at about 11 pm and were in our hotel by midnight.   Yeah time for real sleep except we had to get up very early for a 7 am departure to drive about 7 more hours.  Drives like this are real opportunities for team building.  

The countryside is blessed with good rains so everything is green making for some beautiful views.  You still see lots of poverty but from 10 year view things seem to be improved.  Our first timers were astonished how impoverished some communities remain.  

We did stop in Mbale for lunch and visited the Covenant Bible College which supplies the pastors the the Eastern Africa Presbytery Churches.   They have a wonderful facilty that has about 45 students.  They are in the midst of building a dormitory and dining facilty to help lower the cost of going to the college as well as meet new government standards for their certification.   The project is moving forward but has struggled with rising costs and schedule slip.  Sounds like one of my projects. You can get more info on their website. 

Morris and Aida send their love and best wishes to Holy Apostles and all the others who are supporting us.

Until tomorrow may grace and peace be with you.

​Doug Eisele

Today we wrapped up our last day of the mission in Dokolo and had a record-breaking day. When we turned down the dirt road we saw lots of people heading in the direction we were going, they were all walking towards the church. We pulled up and saw a mass amount of people, already lined up and waiting. Doctors saw over 1,600 patients and we passed out 1,000 nets. It makes us feel accomplished that we did what we came to do, but at the same time we realize how much more help is needed. Malaria is still a major threat here and unfortunately we are unable to give assistance to everyone, which is heartbreaking. Tuberculosis is also heavily diagnosed and sickle cell in babies. Doctors were able to test for HIV and other infections that are crucial to containing in the population. Ulcers are common as many people can only afford one meal a day, usually eating a root called, cassava. Because people can not afford to finish their homes, they have to build huts which makes for unsanitary living conditions and introduces common illnesses. Mother’s who are widowed or abandoned are helpless and left to watch over the kids, often with no way to make a living. The situation is dire, but these people have a light in their eyes, a tender soul, and are filled with gratitude for any help. 

Even though it seems like we barely left a dent, we made a difference in many lives and we can still do more. This week we saw 9,000 people, gave out 6,000 nets and over 6,000 medications. The prayer tent was busy and God was definitely working through us. The six of us are fired up and already thinking of ways to make more of an impact next year. This mission can not be done without generous donations from you all and ask that you consider donating again for our next trip to Uganda. Little by little, we can make a difference, and it starts with funding, the rest we can handle. 

Thank you for following along on our journey. 

Today was our first day at our last church in Uganda.  The church was located in Dokolo and was almost an hour’s drive from the hotel.  The pastor is brand new to the church and Mama Aidah said he has absolutely nothing, so she is providing some food for his family and we are donating some of our clothes for his wife. 

Michael is having some major allergy problems so we let him slide on prayer duty today, but he did work nets all day.   We have had so many people come to Christ and/or recommit their lives to Christ this week that it is just amazing.   As usual we went out in teams of two and rotated off every few hours.  Natalie and Doug prayed for a young woman today whose husband abandoned her.  She has twins and no means of support, no food and soon, no place to live.   She has been staying with her sister who now wants her to leave. I would love to say that this scenario is the exception.  But unfortunately, it is not.  We hear this day after day.  Men leave their wives and children and go to live with a new “wife.”  We can only offer prayer that God will provide for and protect them.