I love waking up in Uganda. This country is so beautiful and the people here are so great. We are always greeted with a smile, handshake and a hug. Had the usual breakfast this morning. Loaded the bus and headed to the village of Pasikula (Pass-ee-koo-la). There we were going to distribute the britches and dresses that Lord of Lifers had sewn, the school supplies that LOL had collected and give away 60 goats. First we needed to make a stop in Juba to pick Pastor Peter up to come with us. As we arrived Pastor Peter is holding a limp child in his arms and his mom was following him. Pastor Peter enters the van and says hurry lets go we need to get to the clinic soon. This child limp and so weak in his arms was suffering from malaria and was not doing well. It was an experience being in the van with a child on the verge of maybe dying and the mother sitting right in front of me. The little boy looked so frail and weak. We arrived at the clinic and took the boy inside. In Africa you pay for treatment up front first. So some of us gathered some shillings for the family and they were admitted. Talk about a life changing event for anyone. As we were driving down the dirt roads to get to the clinic I was praying a prayer of healing for the little boy. Hoping he would get well. We found out later that the boy got the treatment he needed and will be okay. I am glad I was able to help this little boy's life. After that situation we made our way to Pasikula. It was such a joy and experience to see all the beautiful smiles and hugs. To give clothes to these children who have maybe one pair of pants, shoes (maybe), and one shirt. For these young children to have another pair of pants and for the young girls to have another dress is huge. For the children to have school supplies for them to simply have a pencil or pen to write with. The goat is a way of life for the families for the children. The children learn to raise and take care of the goat and have them multiply so they can have more goats. Use the milk of the goat and be able to trade a couple goats for a cow and so forth. Teaching the children responsibility and having them educated is important for these young children. Education here is Uganda is not top priority but for some pastors in the villages and some adults it is important for these young children to be educated. That is why it is important for the village to have a well or have one close by. It was a matter of the parents choosing for the child to go to school or go get water from the water hole which is a half days walk back and forth. Getting the water was more important in the parents eyes. So being educated and/or going to school is not top priority. Also part of the day were some well dedications. There is someone on the team here with us that raised over $75,000 to help make seven wells here in Uganda. That is just awesome. One of those wells was in the village of Waneaga. What was great is that we were the first white people to have been in that area of Uganda and that village of Waneaga. The original water source for the village and surrounding area was a six by five foot water hole that was very deep. In order for the children or women to get water they needed to walk along a log and bend over and get the water jug filled. It was a dangerous adventure because the log would get slippery or they might lose their balance and fall in. They had two children the past year drown in this water source that they were using for drinking or other things. So having this well drilled was so important. Water such a simple life giving substance. Such an amazing thing to have and witness people come to a well and know that the water they are drinking is safe and can keep them from contracting cholera and/or thyphoid fever. God is good!
Grace and Peace be with you all,
Raul
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