A bit of redemption

Redemption comes piecemeal in our lives, in spurts, with obscure outlines, but tangible nonetheless. Today, redemption looked perky and smelly, in the bleating stubbornness of 51 little goats, yanked by their ropes to follow beaming HIV positive mothers, or bereaved but resilient aunts and grandmothers, home, portable protein. Scores of people across the globe had given up their usual Christmas treats to purchase dairy goats for poor women in Uganda instead, to purchase the hope of feeding one’s child with the daily milk, the means of avoiding infecting one’s precious baby. Amazing. Karen’s vision, supporters’ sacrifices, Lemmech’s footwork, Pat’s advocacy, Stephanie’s organization, Pauline’s competence, Acacia, Jack, and Julia’s goat-wrangling enthusiasm . . . All pieces of that redemption.

More redemption arrived in shoeboxes and duct tape: the long-awaited orthopedic inserts, in triplicate, packages mailed in early Feb, mid-March, and late March, caught in the web of the Ugandan postal system, and spit out in rapid succession to reach us all on the same day. Jack is gliding along in cushioned protection, more hope of healing. We are grateful to our orthopedic surgeon friend, who never gave up and kept mailing. Luke’s face shows good signs of healing, too.

And more redemption, buried in the nuances of a four-hour staff meeting at Nyahuka, camouflaged by inefficiency, wordiness, complaint, and story-telling. In the end there was some positive organizational process, some airing of grievances, some exhortation towards work and responsibility and courage and community. We struggled mid-meeting through the cautionary tale of the UNICEF bicycle disaster (how good intentions can have devastating effects): they donated two bicycles for immunization outreaches, the district person in charge gave the bikes to two male nurses saying that a woman would not use the bikes for work, ignoring the fact that the person who has actually DONE almost ALL the immunizations over the last decade is a female. She responded by a passive-aggressive work slow-down, and now post-bicycles children are not getting immunized. An unhealthy but perhaps unavoidable response to the injustice she so keenly felt. After much begging she seemed to agree to resume her duties today. Happiest for me, a new nurse whose friendship Heidi and I are growing to enjoy, volunteered and was approved by the group to move into a position of partnership and responsibility in the nutrition programs. Mostly good news in this meeting, just my American efficiency which bristles at the long time it takes to reach those decisions.

And lastly, the redemption of a rain-free day, a respite from the drenching, a hot breeze and blazing sun, pizza at a relaxed pace without the threat of impending storms, enjoying team.