August 9, 2008
Greetings from Uganda,
Whew! Things are moving very rapidly here, yet we continue to be in the more hurried I go the behinder I get syndrome. Some major changes have taken place in the clinic relative to staffing, hours, and operations so Sally keeps busy assisting with implementation and advice connected with the changes to try to have the smoothest transition as possible. Please pray as change is hard for most of those involved.
Last week Sally took three orphan children from the school to an eye specialist for an evaluation. One child had an eye injury when he was two (he is now fou4) and it seems there is nothing that can be done to help him to have any sight from this eye. The second child has severe lazy eyes but he is 13 so the brain patterns are well set by this point so we are not sure if we can help him. We did get some glasses for him to use and Sally will take him back in a month for further evaluation. The third child, Sylvia, has congenital cataracts. She is six and again it would have been helpful to have this problem addressed when she was little. The ophthalmologist felt surgical removal and glasses would definitely improve her vision. So on Thursday Sally took Sylvia to the Uganda Heart Institute and after a seven- hour wait and an echocardiogram, got the approval from the cardiologist to proceed with the surgery. (Kids with congenital cataracts often have congenital heart problems as well.) Sally takes the report back on Tuesday and then the surgery will be scheduled. These three children all come from extremely poor homes where the family lives in a one-room dirt floor shack. They are being raised by the grandmother or other family members. As we have said many times, the needs here are overwhelming and you just try to follow through on what God leads you to do. At times it feels like it is just a drop in the bucket that is too little, too late. Please pray that the glasses for William help and that the surgery and glasses for Sylvia will greatly help. She wants so badly to see so she can have a notebook and learn to write like the other children.
The construction project could use your prayers, as well. The Seminary Masters Program begins August 19th (requiring four buildings to be finished) and the College begins September 1 (requiring two additional buildings.) The remaining administration building is needed as soon as possible and definitely before we leave here September 23. With all the construction projects under a time crunch, we are working feverishly, but seem to be crawling to a conclusion. I am, however, optimistic.
On the local scene we continue to meet with the leadership team of the singles and encourage them with food, fun, and fellowship. We are planning their first ever singles retreat. We are praying our son, Ben, will be able to join us for a time in September where he can assist us in the retreat. What a gamemiester he is!
Our latest cultural antics found us attending our first Introduction last weekend. An Introduction is where the groom is introduced officially to the brides family and the brides family determines if they will allow the wedding to take place. So I purchased a konzu which is a long white gown and borrowed a suit coat to wear over the konzu. Sally borrowed a gomas which is the traditional Buganda dress. The event took place in a village near Mt. Elgon (close to the Kenyan border) about 45 minutes drive outside of Mbale. Sixty of us in two small buses and a van left the church around 6:30 am for the journey. This introduction happened to be between two different clans so there was a little bit of tension and suspense not knowing if one clan would approve of a groom from another clan. We took many gifts for the family which are all part of the dowry. When we arrived at the home of the bride, her family and friends were already gathered. The yard was decorated with flowers, lights and other items. Several tents were set up so we could be seated out of the sun. The brides family and the grooms family each had a spokesperson and several hours of questioning and exchanging of cash proceeded. Then in a game they searched for the groom and he at last was chosen. We then went out to get all the gifts. In a procession back into the yard each of us carried gifts, which included bags of flour, sugar, baskets of fruits and vegetables. Sally elected to carry some hand baskets of clothes so she wouldnt have to balance a basket on her head. She hasnt mastered that talent yet! After the presenting of the gifts we ate a big feast. Sally and I were chosen to eat inside the house at the table of honor with the bride and groom and family. All this was eaten without silverware and without talking as Ugandans dont talk much when they eat. After dinner there was more celebration with music and tribal dancing which includes bobbing, weaving, and shoulder dipping. My workers loved my attempts! We then all piled into the buses for the five- hour trip home where we sang, laughed and talked together. It was a great day of fun and celebration for all.
Thanks so much for your encouragement and prayer support!
Gorden and Sally
Gethomason1@juno.com
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