Sunday morning was our last in Uganda and we are at the beautiful Chore Safari Lodge on the banks of the Nile River. The tranquility is in stark contrast to the last 5 days that this team has experienced. The beauty of the Nile is breathtaking and mesmerizing. While only a few hours, it seems worlds away from Gulu. The lives of so many have been touched. The thousands that came through the clinics, many seeing a doctor for the first time. The smiles of the kids who made pinwheels and learned how to play “red light, green light” with the art team. Those who learned to “Stop, Drop and Roll”, from a group of 1000 village school children to the 60-year-old headmaster of the school. All appreciate learning something so simple yet so important.
There were our surgical cases- Harriett, Lucky, Michael Jordan, Elvis, George Bush and both John the Baptist’s, just to name few. Interesting names, maybe a sign of the hope and dreams that all of these people have. They are all survivors. They are survivors of war and poverty. Still they are all grateful of what they have. They are SO thankful for the acts of kindness and generosity of our team. Us coming into their lives is a “true miracle” as many said. But in truth, it is we that feel that we have gained so much.
The people of Uganda welcomed us into their lives and into their homes. Reflecting on those memories- the sights, the sounds, the smells- is almost impossible after experiencing the beauty and the real miracle of nature's beauty such as yesterday’s safari and today as we sit overlooking the hippos in the Nile. I am sure that none or very few of the people that we met this week will ever experience the gift that we all have experienced in the last 24 hours, much less the last 5 days. We feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to reach out to these people. While they are all thankful, they will never know the gratitude and appreciation that we all feel after this week in Uganda.
I personally would like to say thank you to this stellar team. And that it has been, a team. And thank you to our host, the lovely people of Uganda. Thank you to Scott for the beautiful photos that capture all that we have experienced as we try to share this with you. The memories that will be with all of us, in our hearts for a lifetime…
Apwoyo – Thank you,
Abigail
Mission Coordinator
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