It is now Wednescay evening as I write, we have just finished clinic and asked to be dropped off at the internet center. Our team is now 4, with Cathy and Calla Holmgren joining us on Monday evening. Poor Dr. Ian is surrounded by women, 2 of which work OB, Calla is an OB/GYN in Utah. We inconsiderately were talking of labors, and breastfeeding a large part of the time on the drive to the camp today. He is a pretty good sport though!
THe clinic has been busier the last few days, with seemingly more acute illnesses as well. I cared for 2 babies very sick with malaria yesterday and the mama tested positive also. Calla and I started the day off with a man with an incredible ulcer on his foot. We are hoping it is only related to an old burn from 2007, and not cancer. He went through a painful cleaning of the wound and then was referred and taken by our ambulance to the clinic in Nakivale for further treatment and evaluation.
At the end of the day, right as we were packing up, a bicycle brought a man to us. He was having an acute asthma attack, unable to breath. Quickly given steroids and aminophyline, he recovered. Upon feeling relief, he began dancing and praising God. Today he returned all smiles. Again, it is by the grace of God that MTI has been allowed to work here.
One of the refugees, working as a security guard for the clinic told us that in the last few days there has been more fighting in D.R. Congo. A village was looted and burned by the Mai Mai rebels. We are anticipating more refugees will be arriving to the Nakivale camp due to this outbreak. The Nakivale resettlement area was established by the UN in the 1950s. There are refugees from Ethiopia, Sudan, Kenya, Eritea, Somalia, Congo, Rwanda, & Burundi. Just recently, the first group of refugees from Rwanda were transported back to their country to be repatriated. Many Rwandans do not want to return, as they fear they will be treated badly and have nothing to return to. Basically they will go from being a refugee to an internally displaced person (IDP).
I cannot describe adaquetly to you the incredibly sweet spirit of the Ugandan people we are working with. They are so patient with us, eager to work and serve, and do everything with a love for people and each other. I love watching them interact with one another. They often hold hands with each other, as friends, regardless of gender. What if we held hands a little more?
Tomorrow will be the first time in 19 years I have not celebrated my son's birthday with him. Happy birthday Ross! You know I am thinking about you!
Mungu akubariki!