Well I haven't written for quite a while... I arrived in Switzerland yesterday and it's so good to be home!
The last two weeks in Uganda went well. We were able to do many mobile clinics in internally displaced peoples camps. We saw a huge need for health care. We were continuing health education though by the end of the outreach we were so sick of teaching on diarrohea and re-hydration, worms, personal hygiene!...
The accomadation and food were really good considering there is no electricity or communication with the outside world. We were staying in a little mud hut and the Ugandans really spoiled us with their best local foods. We travelled to places in a truck on dirt roads which was pretty fun...:)
Then it was time to return to England. We had our graduation after just 2 days of staying there. Then came a few days of well needed rest.
Monday, 25 August 2008
Friday, 1 August 2008
Lingira Island
We have just gotten back for 3 weeks on an island on Lake Victoria. It was a gorgeous place as you can imagine! There was only 1500 inhabitants on the island we lived on, Lingira. Historically, criminals escaped to the islands for safety. They never expected to stay so nothing is done towards developpment. Now they are having children and families there... There is a big potentiel but not really any going forward.
We joined a YWAM base there (2 staff!) and helped out with there clinic. We were also going out to different islands around doing mobile clinics and health education. Those places don't get any health care so it was sometimes quite intense and overwhelming though also a very interesting time. It was fun to be travelling everywhere by boat (leaky boats too!)
We were able to make very good contact with the people working at the Lingira base and I know I'll miss some of the friends I made there. We have really felt part of the base and work that was going on.
Also, we had the opportunity to teach in schools as well as just helping out at the base with cooking, cleaning the compound...
We are leaving this Monday (3am) and traveling to the North of Uganda where we'll work in a camp for internally displaced people during the war.
We really praise God for his safety and for good health. All the team is doing well and growing a lot from what we are experiencing.
We joined a YWAM base there (2 staff!) and helped out with there clinic. We were also going out to different islands around doing mobile clinics and health education. Those places don't get any health care so it was sometimes quite intense and overwhelming though also a very interesting time. It was fun to be travelling everywhere by boat (leaky boats too!)
We were able to make very good contact with the people working at the Lingira base and I know I'll miss some of the friends I made there. We have really felt part of the base and work that was going on.
Also, we had the opportunity to teach in schools as well as just helping out at the base with cooking, cleaning the compound...
We are leaving this Monday (3am) and traveling to the North of Uganda where we'll work in a camp for internally displaced people during the war.
We really praise God for his safety and for good health. All the team is doing well and growing a lot from what we are experiencing.
Saturday, 12 July 2008
Week 2
We have now been here for 2 weeks. It feels much more normal and I feel much more comfortable here. We have been mostly going to the clinic with is an hour to two hours drive away depending how many stops we make on the way! The diver always seems to know someone, have somebody to pick up, something to buy... Then there's the boda boda where you ride on the back of a motorbike. Because girls have to wear skirts we ride sideways which is kinda fun! And then the taxis which they pack so full we are practically sitting on knees!
In the clinic we have mostly been observing and getting used to the common diseases out here. We have been able to go into the lab and work in the pharmacy. My favorite parts have without a doubt been the antenatal care. On that outreach we would go out to villages and palpate pregnant women, take their blood pressure, check for danger signs.... We have also done some home visits (HIV positive households or disabled children households). We have made some good friends here, the people are very friendly.
We are leaving on Monday for an island on lake Victoria. I am really looking forward to that.
All the best to all! Have a great summer!
In the clinic we have mostly been observing and getting used to the common diseases out here. We have been able to go into the lab and work in the pharmacy. My favorite parts have without a doubt been the antenatal care. On that outreach we would go out to villages and palpate pregnant women, take their blood pressure, check for danger signs.... We have also done some home visits (HIV positive households or disabled children households). We have made some good friends here, the people are very friendly.
We are leaving on Monday for an island on lake Victoria. I am really looking forward to that.
All the best to all! Have a great summer!
Thursday, 3 July 2008
UGANDA!
I arrived safely...we are having an intense time that is for sure! There are so many new things to see and learn. It was quite overwhelming at first. All our team (6 of us) are doing well, we are adjusting to the Afrcain way of life.
We have done antenatal clinics in a rural area and worked in a clinic about an hours drive away. Yesterday i worked in the pharmacy and it was good to familarise myself with local diseases and drugs. Tomorrow we are going to the clinic and working with disabled children. Saturday is free, we may go to town though transport is so crazy and all the town is looking at you when we walk around and trying to sell their produce at the double price so it's not the nicest experience! Sunday we are participating in a service then invited for lunch in the local village. We are now staying at Hopeland, a YWAM base.
It's really a gorgeous country; very lush and fertile. Poverty is evident it is true. We saw some pretty incredible things already... I am glad we have come to help and no just as tourists!
Food has been very good until know: it's tasty. Plaitain bananas, avocados, maize stiff porridge, mangos, pineapples some rice...we probably wont have that much luxury on the islands...
So we are starting slowly and then going more rural. It seems like we have been here for ages already.
We have done antenatal clinics in a rural area and worked in a clinic about an hours drive away. Yesterday i worked in the pharmacy and it was good to familarise myself with local diseases and drugs. Tomorrow we are going to the clinic and working with disabled children. Saturday is free, we may go to town though transport is so crazy and all the town is looking at you when we walk around and trying to sell their produce at the double price so it's not the nicest experience! Sunday we are participating in a service then invited for lunch in the local village. We are now staying at Hopeland, a YWAM base.
It's really a gorgeous country; very lush and fertile. Poverty is evident it is true. We saw some pretty incredible things already... I am glad we have come to help and no just as tourists!
Food has been very good until know: it's tasty. Plaitain bananas, avocados, maize stiff porridge, mangos, pineapples some rice...we probably wont have that much luxury on the islands...
So we are starting slowly and then going more rural. It seems like we have been here for ages already.
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Getting ready to go...
Durham's Cathedral
Yep, we are leaving on Friday 27th. It's very stange, it hasn't quite dawned on me yet. I guess partly because I had so much going on that there was no time to think about it. It will be difficult for me to keep in contact over there. Firstly we will be working in a clinic for a few weeks and living in a YWAM base near Jinga, than we will move to an island on lake Victoria (Linguera). Lastly we will travel up North to a camp for internaly displaced people (Pader). So it will become more and more rural and elementry as time goes on. I know there is so much need and many opportunities which means we'll be doing some very exciting stuff. We get back to England on the 19th of August and on the 24th I fly back to Switzerland. :)
If you would like to pray for me during this time I would appreciate it.
Pray for:
Hope you are all well.
It was really nice to spend some time with my dad this weekend and see my extended family at my cousin's wedding. It was a beautiful event!
Otherwise we have been learning about pregancy and labour and about a few physio exercises.
If you would like to pray for me during this time I would appreciate it.
Pray for:
- Health and unity of our team (6 of us)
- Protection and favor
- Compassion and love to be fuelling all we do
- It has been spoken over me that I would step out in new giftings and leadership: pray for boldness to do so and step out of my comfort zone
- That God would work through us and touch people's lives, for godly appointments and relationships
- That we would come to grow closer to God during this time, I have been struggling spiritually a bit and long for more intimacy with God
- And that when I come back all might fall into place (housing, schooling, finances...)
Hope you are all well.
Thursday, 12 June 2008
Handling Needles!
This weekend was so much fun. We went to parks, museums and to see a musical. Majorly fun...
AND... today we did our first injections! And you know what, it's easier then I thought. So we've been learning about vaccinations and cold chain...
On Wendesday we taught an other school very basic health care. We really enjoyed it: twas a good laugh.
This weekend I'm going to Durham to see a friend. It's quite a way, so it'll be a lot of travelling.
AND... today we did our first injections! And you know what, it's easier then I thought. So we've been learning about vaccinations and cold chain...
On Wendesday we taught an other school very basic health care. We really enjoyed it: twas a good laugh.
This weekend I'm going to Durham to see a friend. It's quite a way, so it'll be a lot of travelling.
Two weeks left to outreach!
Sunday, 1 June 2008
Worms and parasites, yum yum
We have been completely wormed out last week! Fascinating, I'm amazed at those little (or big; they can grow in your intestines up to 10m long!) creatures who know exactly what to do to survive at our expense!
Last weekend I was busy with a course work project I wanted to finish. We are leaving for Uganda on the 27th June which is pretty soon! So we've been talking about that quite a bit. All my weekends are full from now on, which is kinda crazy!
This week was on HIV/AIDS. It was great! It was so challenging, did you know there is 40 milion infected worldwide and 6000 are newly infected every day worldwide! It's growing every year. Most countries cannot afford treatment. This is a world crisis... we have to do something to prevent the continuous expansion. The worst is that the church wants to have nothing to do with it; we associate it to sin and bad life style. It's terrible the assumptions and stigma we have built around the disease. We should be the first out there, compassionaltely serving them.
God has been growing my heart for people around the world. He has been answering prayers and has been so good to me.
I have been challenged by religiousness. How easy it is to fall in that trap, of wanting to do things by our own strength for our self-glorification.
This weekend I'm going to London, which I'm so excited about. Banana. I hope it will be nice weather.
Last weekend I was busy with a course work project I wanted to finish. We are leaving for Uganda on the 27th June which is pretty soon! So we've been talking about that quite a bit. All my weekends are full from now on, which is kinda crazy!
This week was on HIV/AIDS. It was great! It was so challenging, did you know there is 40 milion infected worldwide and 6000 are newly infected every day worldwide! It's growing every year. Most countries cannot afford treatment. This is a world crisis... we have to do something to prevent the continuous expansion. The worst is that the church wants to have nothing to do with it; we associate it to sin and bad life style. It's terrible the assumptions and stigma we have built around the disease. We should be the first out there, compassionaltely serving them.
God has been growing my heart for people around the world. He has been answering prayers and has been so good to me.
I have been challenged by religiousness. How easy it is to fall in that trap, of wanting to do things by our own strength for our self-glorification.
This weekend I'm going to London, which I'm so excited about. Banana. I hope it will be nice weather.
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