New Scenery in Jinja

I just wanted to post a quick update. I am in a wonderful internet cafe in Jinja at the moment and have enjoyed some good coffee and food. This weekend I have been blessed to be able to get a ride with the hospital admnistrator down to Jinja for the weekend. Another volunteer and I caught a lift to get away and enjoy some new scenery for a couple of days. We are staying in a guesthouse here and exploring the town a bit. It's refreshing to be able to have the luxury of a hot shower and some change in food variety. I am shocked at how many westerners are in this city. Apparently Jinja is the second largest city in Uganda and seems to have a very high percentage of expats. It's quite strange really.



Anyhow, I'll just give a brief update on life. Work continues to pose challenges, but along with these are blessings and some rewarding moments as well. The Ugandan OT returned last week after being away for a month so it was good to meet him and discuss some ideas around the OT program here at the hospital. The hospital just hired another physio as well so that's good. One of the positives about this last week was being able to re-organize ward rounds slightly so that one of the wards has a rehab person present. This ward is where the kids who've had plastic surgery for burn contracture releases etc go, and previously they were falling through the cracks as far as having consistent therapy post surgery. Although, things weren't seamless in following up with them this past week, it was definitely an improvement so I pray it continues. I also am currently looking into trying to get a wheelchair for one of my patients who has CP (cerebral palsy) and who at the moment is having to be carried everywhere by his elderly grandmother. This child is not particularly light and it is a big burden on his grandmother to carry him around. Another boy here has really captured my attention as he also has CP and is very bright mentally but will never be able to walk due to fixed contractures in his legs and he only has one arm that he can use well. He has been abandoned by his parents and is being cared for by his brother and his brother's wife. Currently he is in the nutrition unit as he had become malnourished. I am hoping to be able to facilitate getting a pediatric tricycle fixed up for him (there is one that is stashed but is in need of repair). Hopefully he will have the strength to be able to manage with one arm to use it. It would be so amazing for him to be able to get around independently, even if only for short distances, as currently he just sits where he is put and is not mobile. I am not certain on his age but I think he is around 12 but looks more like 5. There are also questions around the support he has from family as far as how he is cared for. I think he has great potential to learn and become educated if he is given the opportunity--but in his current situation this is highly unlikely. Please pray for wisdom as we work with these kids and for discernment and clarity especially around the social issues with each of them. I think often times the families do really care for the children, but the burden of managing kids with disabilities within village settings where they have to farm and be away from home is incredibly challenging.



On the technological front I am still having frustrating times with my computer. It continues to be fickle and unpredictable and it is the exception if it actually works apart from in "safe mode". I feel rather lost without my laptop and yet am hesitant to risk trying to have it fixed again. I may have to opt to purchase another one:( Hopefully, someone will be coming out soon that would be able to bring one out for me. I've priced them out here and the price is rather steep. Anyhow, thankfully there are friends here who have computers I can use if need be in the interim. Please pray for wisdom to know what to do. It's amazing how dependent we become on technology eh?



On the accommodation front I may have an opportunity to share a house with one of the Dr's here. She is currently looking for a place in Kumi town and has expressed being interested in having me share a place with her. I will be thinking and praying about this possibility as I think the guesthouse situation, while manageable, may be a little difficult to live with for a whole year.



I also would appreciate prayer as I look into the situation here with the leprosy work and the status of the patients with leprosy currently staying at the hospital. The social worker who is involved with the patients with leprosy at the hospital has been working here for 25 or 30 years I believe, and really seems to have a genuine heart for seeing them cared for and the work with the leprosy population thrive. Her and I are currently trying to get a script together to air on the hospital radio (just broadcasted in the hospital grounds) to help educate the hospital patients and their families on leprosy. There are other issues to be researched and addressed as well regarding the leprosy work at the hospital as well as how it ties in with what is happening in town with leprosy. Please pray for wisdom and direction as we look into this. It's difficult to really grasp what the big picture is.

I am grateful that I have been feeling better this past week. I'm not sure what I had but I wasn't feeling myself for almost 2 weeks which was rather discouraging. Whatever it was seems to be resolving and I feel more like my usual self again:)

I am also so thankful for a volunteer that has been here for a couple of weeks. She has been working on getting an energy saving oven in place so that the hospital can have a bakery to help bring in some income for the hospital and hopefully more nutritious baked goods. She has been such a blessing as we have gotten along really well and have had so many meaningful serious talks as well as many many laughs! Laughter truly is such good medicine. I will really miss her when she leaves in about a week... She is the one I am in Jinja with this weekend and we may try to come down next weekend as well before she takes off.

Well, I am in a cafe and should probably sign off for now. Thanks so much for your prayers and your interest in the work out here. Please pray for wisdom especially with the dynamics between me and the rest of the rehab staff that God would give me sensitivity as well as courage and discernment in the situation here. I have received emails letting me know that individuals have been upholding me in prayer and it is such an encouragement to know this. I still feel like every day is a rollercoaster of emotions, but I am praying for grace and joy no matter what each day brings. I really do want God to be glorified in my time here and don't want to become so caught up with the daily challenges that I forget that I am really here to serve Him. I need to also remind myself that what my plans and ideas are may not always be what His plans and ideas are for me and I want to be open to His leading.

This hasn't ended up being that short but I hope you were able to get through it. Please also send me updates on your lives. It's refreshing to hear news from friends and family and feel more connected to other's lives as well. Keep me posted please:)

My snail mail address by the way is:

Angela Goerz
Kumi Hospital
P.O. Box 9
Kumi
Uganda

I love getting openable mail as well, and I think it is fairly reliable.

Will write more later.... God Bless.