Left Behind!

Today, I am reminded that despite all of our(my) planning and trying to control things, there are specific actions that must be taken or we(I) will be left behind.

 

On my previous 3 trips to Uganda, I had either been a “tag-along” with another group, or a father trying to get his half naïve family across the ocean to start a 6 month adventure.  This time, however, I had been more involved with planning and budgeting the clinics and ground game when we are in Uganda.  I also was involved with inviting others to join us and acting like a “host” or tour director of sorts.  Reminding of team fees, immunizations, special things to bring and remember etc. 

 

We had the following part of our 2013 team over to our house last Friday night:  The Treat Family (David, Kimberla, Jonathan, Jakob, and Kali) and Kyle Mueller (Along with his parents Mark and Sandra).  Jill and I went through many things that we would be doing in Uganda.  Some special things to remember, amounts of money to bring and such like that.  Before dinner, I went and retrieved a few things out of my safety deposit box.

1.)    A $100 bill to remind the team that to exchange US dollars for Uganda Shillings, they will need newer than 2006 $100 bills.

2.)    A color copy of their passport to carry with us but not risk losing our passport.

3.)    2 Passport photos, in case we need them in Uganda for a governmental document.

4.)    An international driver’s license.

5.)    A PASSPORT!

Every time that I talked to one of our team this week and before we left the church in Duncan this am, I had everyone confirm that they had their PASSPORT because this was a “deal breaker”.  Well as it turns out, the passport that I had out for show and tell on Friday was mine, but I thought it was Jake’s.  On Thursday night, I gave Jake this passport and had him put it in a special place so that he would not lose it.  He is coming to Uganda with the Gash family in 2 weeks.  I did not want him to be without his passport because……..say it with me “It is a deal breaker”.  So Jake tucked it away in his suitcase that stayed in Duncan, and he went to drop us off at the airport.  It has been said that Jake favors me, but when I got to DFW and looked at my passport, the 2009 picture of Jake in the 7^th grade did not look that much like me.  That is right, after all of the harping and warning of “deal breaking”, I am the one that shows up at DFW with Jake’s passport and mine sitting safely in his suitcase 150 miles away and 90 minutes until check in cut off!

 

I hate making rookie mistakes.  This is my 4^th trip to Uganda and I fly internationally pretty often, but this was a rookie mistake.  So as I am driving back to Oklahoma with my tail tucked between my legs, I had some time to think.  To think about the Due Unto Others team soaring in the air heading to Africa without me.  They are GOing to Uganda to do God’s work, and I am going home.  If I had been a color, it would have been purple.  Half red from being angry at myself and half blue from being left behind.  I had spent hours planning and helping everyone to be ready to GO, but I failed to take the action required (Pack the deal breaker).  Color copies of my passport nor my son’s passport would suffice.

 

I get to join up with the team 24 hours after they get there, as I will take the same flights on Saturday.  As I was on my “Purple” drive home, I started to think about how God requires action of us.  Many different actions are “expected” if we love Christ, but there is one action that is a “deal breaker”.  We have to accept Christ and the grace-filled gift that he gives us through the cross.  It is absolutely imperative that we tell all of those that you are “leading” about this action and pray that they take it.  Today was bad enough getting delayed to Uganda, but I can’t imagine what it would be like on the day that I am called home to stand at the great ticket counter in the sky and the Attendant say “Sorry, you do not have a PASSPORT because you did not take the required action.  You will be left behind”!

 

God has a way of reminding me who is in control and that all of MY planning is no good unless he is in the middle of it.  Take action!  Make sure your authentic passport is ready.  You will not be able to use a facsimile or your family’s, you must have your own!

Jay

Battered by the storms of life!

Do you ever feel like you have been battered by the storms of life?  I think that this is a common perception as it seems that we can’t catch a break.  To quote the Great American philosophers on Hee Haw, “If it weren’t for bad luck, we’d have no luck at all”!

 

Well a couple of weeks ago, I was literally battered by a storm.  At our ranch, we recently got a new wind turbine.  One of the only things that we are required to do, for maintenance, is to set the brake if the winds get above 50 mph.  Well, a storm was coming into the area, as I got home from work.  I decided that I probably needed to go set the brake, even though it did not seem “wise”.  Between the many lightning strikes, 50 mph winds, 60 foot metal tower and darkness, my cell phone flashlight and I did not stand much of a chance!  The wind turbine sounded like a helicopter and I could feel the electricity in the stainless steel tower.  This sophisticated instrument, combining physics, engineering and nature’s power has a “CHEESY” breaking system.  I physically have to take a wrench and tighten a bolt inside the stainless steel tower.  I was trying to do this in the less than enviable conditions described above.  I had the brake almost completely set, but wanted to crank the wrench one more time to protect this delicate instrument.  As I really pulled on the wrench, it slipped and I lurched forward hitting my head on the opening of the tower.  I knew that it hurt, but did not know the full extent of the damage.  About that time Jake came out to see if he could help.  He was yelling to me, but between my lack of auditory acumen, the wind and my head ringing, I could not make out what he was saying.  I headed towards the house and realized that I had blood all over my face and clothes.  I left a blood trail across the back porch and into the house before I got the universal first aid bandage, a wash cloth.

 

As I looked at my head wound, I started to think of what, who, and where my options were for overcoming this injury.  As I thought this through, I decided “I can take care of this myself!  This is what I do!  I don’t need anyone’s help”.  I got out all of the needed supplies and proceeded to anesthetize the wound so I could put in some stitches.  As I started to try to place some sutures, I found that the dexterity required to perform this procedure was lacking, as I tried to work in the mirror. 

 

 

Perhaps it was the concussion talking, but I decided to coach my 17 year old son Jake through the procedure. He was excited about the opportunity and performed the procedure admirably.

 

My skin and my pride have started to heal.  As I have thought about this literal storm battering me, I have realized that this is much like our figurative storms of life.  We venture into places where the odds are stacked against us, and we are surprised when we have an untoward outcome?  What are we thinking?  Then to compound the problem, we depend on ourselves and our own abilities to overcome the problem that we find ourselves in.  Many times, the best solution is to humble ourselves and ask someone for help.  You may find this surprising, but often it is a blessing to them to be able to bless you with the help that you need.  We actually can rob someone of a blessing by trying to do everything ourselves. 

 

So is there a moral to this story?

1.) When you find yourself in a storm of life with figurative lightning strikes, darkness and 50mph winds, take cover!   If you don’t take cover, don’t be surprised if you find yourself battered and bleeding.

2.) Once you are battered and bleeding, don’t be afraid to ask your Christian brother (or son) for assistance.

3.)  Providing spiritual first aid to a friend can be a blessing to the first responder and the patient!

 

James 1:2-5 says “2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

TOP Jonathan

Only 6 days until we leave for Uganda.  I will continue some reminders of "That One Persons" from Uganda.

Do you believe that God is in the business of miracles?  Well, let me introduce you to a 4 year old boy from Gaba, Uganda, named Jonathan.

 The Due Unto Others medical team noticed Jonathan wearing a ragged bandage on his arm while standing in front of his mother’s fruit stand in February of 2012.  He had accidentally pulled a pot of boiling water onto himself a few days before.  His right elbow had 3^rd degree burns that would probably have required skin grafts, in a burn unit, in the US.  No such care was available to Jonathan.  The burn caused his right elbow to stay in a bent position and he even had some second degree burns on his abdomen.  Jonathan was taken to Wentz Medical Center, where he received daily wound care and the Due Unto Others medical team sent out requests for prayers from all over the world.  I had significant concerns that Jonathan’s arm would be permanently scarred in a bent position and be essentially useless to him.  Over the next two weeks, the power of prayer took over.  Jonathan regained full function of his elbow and ended up with almost no scar whatsoever.  Christians, from many churches, lifted Jonathan up in prayer, and a miracle happened. 

Because Jonathan lived near the home base of the team, team members were able to build a relationship with Jonathan’s mother.  She started attending a local church and the direction of her life seemed to take a different course.

Donations to foreign missions have allowed Jonathan to attend school.  He has truly experienced God’s love.

 

1 in 5 children in Uganda die before their 5th birthday.  What if we helped That One Person?

TOP James

James is a 7 year old boy from Mubende Uganda.  The Due Unto Others medical team, from Duncan, Oklahoma, first met James while hosting a child health screening clinic in Mubende, in February 2012.  James was healthy and meeting health and educational milestones, at that time.  Unfortunately, a few days later, he was accidentally run over by a car, near his home.  In this horrible accident, he suffered a broken right femur and an injury to his left leg that required an amputation of the left leg, below the knee.  James was transferred to Wentz Medical Center in Gabba, Uganda.  Wentz was the home base for the Due Unto Others medical team, so they heard about James’ accident and were able to visit him on a regular basis.  James was required to remain flat on his back, with his right leg in traction for several weeks, before he had a large cast applied that went around his waist and then all the way down the right leg.  Through all of this 3 month hospital treatment, James kept a huge smile on his face. 

A local ministry came to fit him for a wheel chair and to counsel him about his new way of getting around.  The gentleman that came to counsel James came away saying that by the time their conversation was over, James was counseling him!  In previous blogs about James, it was said “I expect big things out of James.  He has a heart the size of the continent he lives on and a smile to match”.  It was also said of James, “He has spunk, resolve, charisma and a million dollar smile.  It would not surprise me if he is the president of Uganda someday”!

 

Through the generous giving of Christians, of various churches, to foreign missions, the Due Unto Others ministries was able to get James fitted for a prosthetic leg.  This would not have happened through government health care in Uganda.  Even more unique is that they were able to make him one that can adjust in length so that he can continue to use it as he grows.  This prosthetic leg is a life changing gift to James!  What a demonstration of God’s love!

We are looking forward to seeing James in about a month, when we return to Mubende.

T.O.P. Jamil

Continuing our review of some of our special "That One Persons" in Uganda.

 

Jamil is a 10 year old boy from Palissa Uganda.  He had been written off by his family and it was assumed that his massive eye tumor would end in his death.  Jamil had a tumor behind his right eye that caused his eye to swell and severely bulge out of the socket.  He had lost his vision in that eye about 2 years before and, because of this problem, people in his village were scared of him because they thought that he was cursed. At 10 years old, and very smart, he had not been allowed to start school because of the problems this eye issue caused.  His parents had abandoned him, so he lived with his grandparents and uncle’s family.  Jamil had been seen by an ophthalmologist in September of 2011.  When it was found out that his surgery and care would cost $700 usd, the family felt that that could not come up with the money.  The family had lost much of their hope.  They did, however, continue to pray.

 

 

After hearing of Jamil in March, then getting to meet him in early April, the Due Unto Others medical team, from Duncan Oklahoma, felt God calling them to go above and beyond for Jamil, showing God’s love to Jamil and his family.  A repeat CT scan showed that his tumor had grown by 50% in 6 months.  After visiting the eye surgeon to schedule the surgery, the Due Unto Others team was stuck in traffic, with Jamil in the van.  A street preacher was excitedly telling those in traffic, in the Luganda language, about Jesus.  As he was fervently preaching and spit was flying everywhere, he suddenly stopped, turned, and looked straight at Jamil and pronounced for all to hear, in perfect English, that “God is going to heal that boy”!   

Through funding of generous Christian people, from many churches around Oklahoma, Jamil was able to have the operation to remove his tumor.  Our God did “Heal that Boy”!  The love shown to Jamil and his family made a ripple through the village.  After healing from his surgery, Jamil was allowed to start school.  Once shunned and considered an outcast that was sure to die, Jamil is now big man on campus, as God has shown him special attention, healing and mercy.  Again, through generous giving of caring Christians, Jamil has his school paid for.

 

One in five Ugandan children dies before there 5^th birthday.  What if we could reach THAT one person?

T.O.P. Tendo

As our 2013 trip to Uganda approaches, we have started to put together some short summaries of some of our "That One Persons" that we met last year.  We are preparing these summaries, to share with our church, to raise awareness of foreign missions.  I thought that I would share these with the blog as well. 

Tendo is a 7 year old girl that lives in Konge, Uganda. Three years ago, she was involved in an accident where she was run over by a car, on the way to school. Through this accident, she suffered a ruptured diaphragm and much of her abdominal contents herniated up into her chest, collapsing her lung. She was treated in the national referral hospital and survived. When Tendo was released from the hospital, she still had the collapsed lung and diaphragm hernia, as they were not repaired. Her family was told to return when they had 2.3 million shillings ($900 usd) to have the surgery to repair the diaphragm. Her parents tried to save the money while Tendo began to have more trouble with her breathing, trouble with her swallowing and trouble keeping up with her classmates. Her mom went to her local pastor and said that she did not know what they were going to do, the family had made no progress over 2 years trying to collect the money. Pastor Shalom said, “we serve a big God, we will keep praying for a miracle”. A couple of weeks later, a medical team from Duncan, OK showed up at Tendo’s school to do a medical clinic. That same“Big God” that directed their path to Konge, impressed on the heart of the team that they needed to do more for Tendo. After a trip to see the surgeon, it was found that the surgery could still be done. Through generous giving and prayers from people in Duncan Churches, Tendo was able to have her “miracle”surgery. 

She and her family are still praising their big God!

Tendo came in to Wentz Medical Center a few months ago and she is doing well.  She is just as "sassy" as ever.

It is truly a blessing when God answers your prayers.  It is even more of a blessing for God to allow you to be an answer to someone else's prayer.  Contact me at DueUnto@gmail.com if you would like to give toward the medical clinics on our upcoming trip.

1 in 5 children in Uganda die before their 5th birthday.  What if we were able to help That One Person?

Jay

Time to declare it dead.

As I have started to think about our upcoming trip to Uganda, several things have come to mind.  One of those things is a list of things that are different in Uganda than Oklahoma.  The list is quite lengthy, but one of the hardest things to wrap our brains around is being up close to death and dying.  When we were in Uganda in 2012, we were exposed to people who were quite ill.  Many times those people got well, like Pastor Paul, but some didn’t, like Joseph of Mytiana.  Now I have much experience with death and dying through my work in the ER, but for the rest of our family this was uncharted territory.  I have mentioned in a previous blog, I literally hate to have to tell a family that one of their loved ones has passed away.  I have been told by several nurses, pastors and families that I am good at communicating a death to a family.  Of all of the things that I would like to be good at, I am not sure that I want to be good at such a conversation.  Unfortunately, this conversation, and what to say to the family is not covered in medical school.  Because of this lack of teaching, many doctors don’t know what to do or how to say what needs to be said.  When I have exposure to medical students in the ER, I try to find time to pull them aside and teach them this “dying art”. 

 

Recently, while working with a student in Duncan’s ER, a lady, younger than I am, passed away.  I used that unfortunate situation to teach the medical student what one older doctor had taught me many years ago.  As the medical student was taking everything in, I took out a piece of paper and wrote down the lesson about this dreadful interaction with a patient family.  This seems like a strange place to take a blog, but this is what I told the whipper snapper:

 

1.)    Before you go talk to the family, make sure that you KNOW THE PATIENT’S NAME.  This seems obvious but it is quite uncomfortable if you go to talk to a family and say “hello, are you the family of ……..the dead guy”?

2.)    Ask the family for any information about what they know about what happened prior to the patient coming to the hospital.  Any information that can be helpful must be gathered now, as when the family knows the loved one is dead, they won’t be thinking clearly.

3.)    Tell the family what you know and what has been done.  Explain everything from when the ambulance picked up the patient through the time that they were in the ER.  Include any information that you need the family to hear.  After they hear that their loved one is dead, they shut out any more information.

4.)    Say in very clear terms, borderline bluntly, that the person is “dead”.  You can’t dance around it, or try to soften it up, because if you do, the family will likely have some confusion.  You can’t say that the patient “passed on” or “slipped away” or “we lost him”.  I usually say that “I declared him dead at (some specific time)”.

 

Again, I know that this is a morbid topic for a blog, but as I continued to think about our upcoming trip to Uganda, I thought through some things in my life that I needed to “declare dead at this specific time”!  Things like need for control, lack of faith, or my pride .  Yours could be jealousy, unforgiveness or a critical nature.

 

I think that to get rid of something that needs to die in our walk with Christ we need to follow a similar algorithm as the one I use when talking to grieving families.

1.)    You have to call the thing that needs to die by its name.  Let there be no confusion.

2.)    Consult with God, family and close friends to gather information.

3.)    Discuss with God and tell him what you know and what you plan to do.

4.)    Specifically declare that thing “dead”, accept God's forgiveness and commit to not pick it up again.

 

1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness”.   Name it, declare it dead, and He will purify you!

Just 5 weeks until we return to Uganda!  We are excited to reunite with our friends there and serve our God in the birth place of the Nile.

 

Jay