The past week has been quite an adventure! While it was difficult and painful for me, it would have been quite normal for
most Africans. Let me explain…
Challenge #1:
It all began last week when I started feeling like I had a
fever. I thought nothing of it, took some pain medicine, and went about my day.
That evening, however, I felt like a Mac truck had hit me and then decided to
park on top of me. The next day I was desperate for relief. This is different
than American desperation, where you can let sickness go because you are
surrounded by the best doctors and medical facilities in the world, this is
Northern Uganda East-Africa desperation. Even though I only had a high-fever,
you do not want to let anything go in this country and end up in one of Gulu’s
“hospitals”. So, I had some blood work done at a “doctor’s office/dental
clinic” and was diagnosed with Malaria. Yes, the scary disease that all
Westerners fear. However, I quickly learned that Malaria is common in East
Africa. In fact, I have not met a Ugandan that has had it less than 5 times in
their life. It’s like getting a
cold in the USA. Further, if diagnosed quickly, it is treated fairly easily. Thankfully,
I am fully recovered, though not without a few good pity parties.
Challenge #2:
Water and power outages are frequent here in Northern
Uganda. Indeed most Ugandans have neither running water nor electricity.
However, about five days ago our house ran completely out of water. Our reservoir
tank was bone dry. No showers, no cooking water, no washing hands, no flushing
toilets, etc. So we adjusted. We went to the bathroom in the pit latrine in the
backyard, boiled rainwater to use in the kitchen and I went days without
bathing. Yesterday, in desperation, a Ugandan friend and I took 4 20L jerry
cans, walked half a mile into the bush/village, paid a random Ugandan woman
1,000 Ugandan Shillings (roughly $0.40) to hand pump water. It was quite the
adventure. 20L jerry cans that are full of water are heavy! And, I have not yet
mastered the art of carrying them on my head like many Ugandans. To say I was
sweating when we were through is an understatement. I was soaked! But, we had 80L of fresh water and I took a
bath for the first time in days. I even heated up a pot on the stove before
using it, how nice!
This past week has taught me so many things:
- It is all about perspective. Both of these challenges are
part of the every day existence for most Africans. To experience one or both in
any given week would be as normal as breathing.
- Feeling sorry for yourself does not get you anywhere. My
father sent me a timely e-mail reminding me of the many afflictions Paul
encountered in his journeys. You know things like: being shipwrecked, being
stripped naked and beaten, getting thrown in jail, and getting bitten by a
viper. Yet, he considered these minor
afflictions. I could learn a thing or two from Paul!
- My circumstances do not change who I am. I am still a
conqueror, an overcomer, and one who is blessed beyond the curse!
- My circumstances do not change how God feels about me.
During the last week, I was never separated from the love of God. Through it
all, I remained the apple of His eye and the object of His affection.
May this be a source of encouragement for you as you
encounter the challenges and frustrations of daily life! Know that He loves you
deeply and no weapon formed against you shall remain! If we can learn to live
life from this perspective, life can become an adventure rather than monotonous
drudgery!
To all of my supporters, words cannot express my gratitude.
Your prayers this past week have been felt and appreciated more than you will
ever know!
Below is the picture of the "clinic" that tested me for malaria:
