Before I head back to the hospital this afternoon and before I begin the journey home tomorrow, some thoughts on what can be done here... initial thoughts I suppose:
- Sponsor a child through Compassion International. The longer I am here the more certain I am sponsoring a child a crucial first step in helping Uganda. The importance of the "whole life" (physical, emotional, medical, spiritual) approach has never been more self-evidently clear than in these last days in the hospital. Compassion cares for the kids and, by extension, they care for the family because children need healthy parents.
- Let's follow Thinker's lead on the sort of stuff - practical stuff - we can do for the children at the hospital. Thinker, we're all ears. This is a project where we can see tangible change.
- Pray. I am more certain than ever about the importance of prayer. We can't forget that in this world there are physical and spiritual forces of darkness. We need to pray against them and for the work of Jesus.
- Support African business. What is needed here are jobs. Buy from Africa.
- Visit. Tourism is vital to the African economy. Spend a few days visiting the tough stuff and spend a few days reveling in the beautiful stuff. There is a lot of beautiful stuff.
- Evangelize. Bring friends and family and strangers into this story. Let's start a hopeful dialogue that will turn into hopeful change. We can't change everything but there are things we can change.
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OK, guys - Who is already doing this? I just wrote to the oncologist who treated my daughter.
Seems like 1. clean water; 2. nutrition; 3 pain relief and 4. comfort (pillows blankets, hygiene items) would be first. That's the sort of thing anyone can do (pain relief is a little more complicated - need to talk to a pediatric anesthesia person - how to get appropriate drugs safely sent and safely given?
Who are the medical people at this clinic? Nurses and doctors? They must exist? What are they able to do and what do they see as their primary needs? How do we communicate with them?
Is there a ministry of health care? What do they do? What missions are working to relieve suffering in this place? What precisely are they doing now and what do they wish they could do. Do they have the staff to sustain their wishes? What are the cancers most common to the area? That makes a difference.
So, I'm going to start by talking to two docs who are friends and getting them to ask the right questions. How is water treated in the area and who gets the clean water? Probably the first and most important thing we can do at a distance is work on the water. Can't do anything without it.
As hard as it is to read, I'm glad that you're there to share all this with us. --Therese
Seems to me if we had the name of a reliable person and place to ship to, we could certainly send non-medical items that would help relieve some of the suffering. I have access to soft toys for the children. What about inflatable mattresses, pillows and blankets. Is there someone in charge who can tell us?
Thinker and friends, I am here to help as well. I've been praying about this as well, and I am recalling Greg Boyd's Christos Victor sermon--we are called to go after the gates of hell, not to be intimidated by them, knowing that through God we have what is needed. I'm so glad this discussion is starting the thinking along the lines of priorities in how to start with this place, right here and now....and I will help however I can. Feel free to email me at discoveringfire@gmail.com. Blessings to you all.
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