I write this blog from the ministry machine as we make our
way back to Mbarara. We have just
finished our 3 days of clinic in Ishaka.
The Due Unto Others/Renewal Health Network/Call2Africa team has seen and
treated over 730 patients, after which we are a little leg weary. Our spirits, however, are energized as we
have seen more than 130 people give their lives to Christ. The Gospel was shared to groups, to
individuals, through video and through a puppet show. Medical care was once again a magnet to draw
people in, to hear about Jesus.
As we live our lives, we sometimes don’t appreciate the
changes that can happen in the span of 1 year.
Our team has seen the huge difference a single year can make this week
in Ishaka.
Ishaka Community Church is almost unrecognizable
approximately one year after we visited them in 2014. You might recall this blog that I wrote about the Ishaka medical clinic last year. As
we arrived to start our clinic this week, we noticed a nice metal building with
a concrete floor. Last year, we worked
out of a small tent on uneven ground. We
even had to scramble for cover when a rainstorm came and almost collapsed the
tent. Ishaka Community’s Pastor, Sam,
told us that he does not think that the church would have gotten started
without the medical clinic that we hosted last year. Our clinic in 2014 was one week before the
church opened. Sam says that almost all
of their original members came from that 2 days of clinic. Ishaka is a community with a heavy Muslim
influence. The district did not want the
church to start, but the initial momentum of the church allowed it to succeed.
What a difference a year has made for Crispus. You might remember this photo from last
summer.
When we saw Crispus, she had been severely burned and her foot was scarred up
against her leg. She was unable to stand
or walk because of the scarring and contractures of the foot. Through God’s provision and Due Unto Others
donors, Crispus was able to receive multiple operations to relieve the scarring
and contractures. When we arrived on
Monday, Crispus RAN out to greet us!
What a blessing to see a child given a second chance at a
normal life. Some of her scars are
starting to get tight again as she grows, so she will be meeting us in Mbarara
tomorrow to have some more surgeries done.
Thank you for your prayers and support that has helped Crispus.
The last 12 months have proven to be a dramatic change for
Gift also. We had seen him last year and
he had a horrible bone infection of his lower leg. It had pus draining from it and he could
barely stand. I was quite concerned that
the leg might require amputation. Again,
through multiple surgeries and IV antibiotics, Gift was healed. He greeted us when we arrived the second
day. Through our God’s healing power and
the efforts of many, Gift has gone from a horrible infection that threatened
life and limb to being a healthy boy in one year!
Just one year ago, Mud in Your Eyes was just a “vision” that
God had given me. It was on this same
drive back from Ishaka in 2014 that we discovered and met Dr. Simon. Dr. Simon is an Ophthalmologist that teaches
at Mbarara University Eye Hospital.
Part of our emphasis, during the past 3 days, has been to find people
with cataracts that could be repaired surgically. Dr. Simon sent an Ophthalmology clinical
officer (like a PA in the USA), named Grace, with us every day this week. He has identified 20 patients that need
surgical intervention. About half of
those are cataracts, and the others are anything from glaucoma to possible
tumors to inverted eyelids that need repair.
So in turning the pages of one calendar, Mud in Your Eyes has been
launched in Uganda. I regret not getting
a picture, but near the end of the clinic today, we saw an old couple. In fact, the lady had received a number to be
seen but the husband had not. After we
noticed him, we sneaked him in the back door to get Grace to look at him
too. Alfred and Queen will be traveling
as a couple to Mbarara on June 1st for an evaluation for cataract
surgery. What a blessing it will be to
them. Can you imagine the demonstration
of God’s love that will be witnessed by their whole village!
We have 6 remaining clinics as we continue with our mission
trip of 2015. Our number one goal will
be to share the Gospel and allow the Holy Spirit to win souls for God. After that, we will continue to look for That
One Person that we can make a difference for medically. Please continue to pray for our team and
those with whom we interact over our remaining clinics.
There’s power in the Mud!
Jay
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