Day of Joy

Today’s dedication and hand-over of the new Maternity/Paediatric ward was a day of celebration from start to finish. Every prayer was answered, from the clear dawn which grew into the first sunny day we’ve had in two weeks, allowing the airplane to safely come and go and allowing hundreds of people to comfortably watch the festivities. Every major district leader personally attended, including the LC5 (governor) with his entire executive counsel, the Resident District Commissioner, the Chief Administrative Officer, both Members of Parliament, the Director of District Health Services, the UPDF Battalion Commander, and dozens of other local officials. No one quarreled, the major political combatants laid aside their differences for the day. Our American Ambassador spoke with grace, highlighting the powerful impact of individuals who give and serve, and the partnership between citizens and government. The primary school choir sang welcomes, and two excellent dance and drama groups performed skits encouraging women to use the new maternity services. There were traditional flutes and belled ankles, gyrating hips in grass skirts, painted faces and booming drums to give the African sense of celebration, combined with lovely tent shades and flowers and dignified protocols to give the sense of decorum. We unveiled two plaques, one giving credit to our major donors (Mr. Cheung of Daeyang Shipping in South Korea, James Kern, my family and Scott’s family, and our friends the Hanleys). The other commemorated the Hon. Ambassador Stephen Browning as guest of Honour. The Ambassador cut a ribbon and toured the new buildings, Scott dramatically handed the keys to Jonah. Several hundred people ate a feast. We even managed to get the Ambassador and the Honorable Jane, our women’s member of parliament, to tour Christ School, greeting staff and students. There was just the right amount of time for all the hosting we had planned, and the Ambassador even commented that in all his years (?30 or more) of service this was the warmest welcome he had ever received.

But the best part of the day was to bask in the pause, the stepping back to give glory to God, enjoying acceptance from the community, the appreciation and sense of team work all around. Many thanked us and the mission for “sticking with them through thick and thin” as they recalled the hard and dangerous years of the ADF insurgency. The member of parliament called us citizens of Bundibugyo as well as America. The RDC compared Scott to the Good Samaritan, who saw a need and did not walk by but stopped to help women and children who were dying. I know we should do everything we do just because it is the right thing . . . But it is a blessing to spend a day hearing that the people we serve do appreciate our presence. Scott delighted people by dancing with the dancers. Our whole team turned out to support us, and the Ambassador even spent some special time with the interns as a gesture of encouraging young American volunteers.

This day was truly one of the milestone days of our time in Bundibugyo. I wish that all of you our family and supporters and friends from the US could have also heard the thanks that people poured out for you! It was a true answer to prayer that everything went so well. I think we would like to sleep for a few days . . . But life will go on tomorrow. For tonight we can rest and rejoice.