Musima Uganda

Yesterday I went to visit a family in a small village called Musima. A friend of McKensey, named Moses lives there with his family. We also knew that there was a woman who lived there that cares for many orphaned children. Some members of our church had given us some money to help them and we were able to buy 20 shirts 20 shorts and 12 dresses and 20 kilos of beans and 15 kilos of rice. Coming into Musima we found the daughter of the man, Moses (who we were coming to visit) walking home from school so she jumped into my lap and rode with us the rest of the (long) way. When we arrived at his home we were warmly welcomed. And as usual a large group of children had started to gather. Some of the children who lived next door to Moses looked to be very much in need of some new clothing so we were able to give some of the clothing to them.

Moses’ wife Zapora was preparing lunch when we arrived

She is an amazing cook…

We had enough time before eating to visit the woman caring for all the orphans

Many of them were in need of medical attention. Some of the children had scabies. Many had coughs. One girl had been born with a spot on her nose which has just kept growing.

This little guy had been badly burned. It is very common for children to be burned because the meals are prepared on open fires.

Of course we were very concerned about this. We asked what she had been putting on his arm to help it to heal and she brought out a vial of some sort of white powder that I was afraid to even touch and a bottle of permethrin, a pesticide! We asked that she was him up with some soap that we had brought so we could get a better idea of what we were dealing with.

After he was cleaned up it looked so much better. I happened to have a little neosporin with me that I gave her to use. We explained to her that she just really needed to try to keep it very clean.

The boys I am holding are twins. They just melted my heart.

The reality here can be devestating. It is nothing I could have ever imagined. There is so much need. I feel overwhelmed. The reality is overwhelming. Ugandans with basic necessary needs are unable to have them met.

But these people are stong. Stronger than anyone I have ever met. And while they struggle and even suffer, they are warm and kind and welcoming. Some how they have learned to find joy even through the pain. They amaze and inspire me.

I want to share with you an image. I couldn’t help think of the huge beautiful church that we attend at home with all of the beautifully dressed people. All of the programs and activities we have for our children. The library with the books and movies. The kitchen from which we can serve meals. And even a baptistery.  But really, church is about the body. The people of the church.

Let us not forget.