KBC Medical Missions - BG Team Update: 

Hello from Catharine's front porch.  Dawn and Bob took off for Kenya yesterday evening, where Bob is on the board of a hospital.  Ned, Joyce and I will be leaving in several hours, a flight that will take us through Amsterdam and Detroit on our way to Ithaca.
We have been so blessed to be involved with the teams from abroad and from KBC this past week.  Just today when we stopped by the church to say goodbye to Andrew, Ugandans there were voicing their desire to partner again with us.  They said to bring others from BG along, so consider yourselves invited!!
We look forward to sharing our experiences with you, and tried to get some good video of worship time at church yesterday.  Many here send their greetings back to you all, with thanks for your role in helping the missions week, both financially and with your donations of glasses and vitamins.  We are so excited to hear that 43 people prayed to receive Christ during the week, along with the thousands of seeds that were planted.  Yes - even as I type the word "thousands" we realize that yes, there were thousands that came through the doors of the church this week.  Pastor Andrew has a follow up plan starting this week for the new believers to see that they grow in their understanding in the new faith in Christ.  It's amazing to see the KBC ministry in action.
Much love to all of you.  See you soon.  Karen

Yes... sitting on Catharine's front porch Karen and I... two cups of tea just taking in the last of Africa before our driver Bosco comes to pick us up and takes us to the airport for our final leg of the journey... Its warm and sunny with a gentle breeze blowing, you can hear the sound of the palm leaves waving, and the birds.. lots of different bird calls in the background...  a band of some sort is playing off in the distance... jasmine is in the air as well as the smell of fires burning throughout the neighborhood... 

So hard to believe that this week has come and gone already... we've taken in so much from the wonderful people of Uganda... there is no doubt that have much to share with us and that we have much to learn from them... They have been so thankful for our presence and yet we are the ones who have been humbled to come and work beside them... to see the way that they reach out to their community and care for their neighborhoods both physically and spiritually... unbelievable.  God has certainly blessed the works of their hands and subsequently, for a short time, ours.  We have been loved and challenged.  We have seen God faithfully at work and have full assurance that He will continue His mission here - making Himself known.

Yes, we look forward to our journey home and wonder how we can ever communicate all that is in our hearts... We hope that we can because you have been such an important part of this - with us through your prayers... how can we tell you how important every pair of glasses was and each and every vitamin that you gave in Jesus name... money that was given has been ear marked for several special needs cases - doctors will be consulted this week and we are praying that Christian surgeons will donate their time as your gifts pay for the hospitalization and medications. Our hearts go out to the many who received the bad news that they were HIV positive... they have been counselled and will hopefully continue to connect with KBC...

Our hope is that the long journey ahead will go as smoothly as our trip here... we trust that God will continue to be faithful to us as we travel home to you...   Joyce

Medical Clinic Completed; Job well done

KBC Medical Missions - BG Team Update:

Many many clients patiently waiting:

A mother with twins in the sun, after seeing the medical staff:

The Pharmacy in full swing during the week.

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We completed the medical outreach and then gathered at Andrews for a wrap up dinner. It was great to talk with one another about the many activities of the week, and how we were strengthen for the tasks. Thanks you all for your prayers. Many shared moments that were inspired. From someone singing as they filled prescriptions, to a doctor who in his examination stopped to prayer with a patient for a specific need. Or a mother who was hesitant and fearful to get an AIDS test, and then even though it was bad news was able to come back to the doctor after counseling with a sense that she could manage the challenge. God is Good. Bob

KBC Medical Missions - BG Team Update:

The morning came very early, after a very long trip last night to get to dinner, we needed to leave extra early in order to assure we would arrive in time for the full devotional time, Joyce was giving the devotional. Not only was her message timely and well received, but she handled speaking with an interpreter like it happens all the time. I spent the day in the pharmacy, logging inventory. It was a growing experience. Reading each doctors hand writing and abbreviations. Both Ned and I worked away with just a little competition between us on how quickly we could complete our sheets. Neither of us were very accomplished, but by the end of the day I could complete about 80% of each script without assistance. By the end of the day, I think I was more tired then working on digging post holes. Grace and Peace, Bob When we arrived at KBC this morning, we heard the how the meal at Deborah and Joseph's ended last night. BG folks didn't arrive for supper until about 8:30pm after more than 2-3 hrs in traffic. The Brits weren't far behind. We left for home before 10pm. However, the group from Michigan never arrived for supper till 11pm as they had a taxi driver who didn't know where he was going, and traffic was horrid. They left for home after midnight - thankfully their drive home was only 20-30 minutes. As we sang "strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow" in devotions today, it had special meaning. Thanks so much for your prayers for us. We've had a great day, and saw over 650 patients. In Him, Karen

Hard to believe that tomorrow will be our last day at the clinic! The week is flying by... Each day we see God at work in all that goes on... I continue to work at the "de-worming" station giving almost every person who attends a class of water with their medication - more cups of water than you can imagine have been given in Jesus name! Our station is out in the auditorium where all of the patients gather to be registered - the church is full - even to overflowing! What a privilege to see and greet each one in Jesus name. Many of us have had the opportunity to work with a Ugandan translator. Aida has been a joy to work with - so helpful, thorough and fun! We have made many new friends. Another great day! Joyce

Each day we do grow more weary. This trip has not been as exhausting as the others and we get done seeing patients in triage about three pm. The doctors get done about an hour later and the pharmacy an hour after that. Joyce did devotions and talked about letting our light shine. She said we need to remember that ea. person is special and needs the same care as the ones we see when we are fresh and not worn out. I needed to draw on that several times thru the day. I declined caffeine early in the wk to save it for the end when I knew I'd really need it. This morning I could barely keep my eyes open, and didn't know how I'd make it thru the day. I didn't have time for a cup of tea at home. So, I went out for a Pepsi on the street before devotions. It really helped get me going. Trust me it's the first time I've ever had Pepsi for breakfast:) Yesterday afternoon the Doctor's were quite exhausted and had to re-see a few patients and it was all they could do. I told them that I seldom drink soda in the States but have one each afternoon at the clinic and it really helps get me thru. They both tried it today and it helped them finish strong. They both had Mountain Dew. Hard to believe tomorrow is the last day. As Karen said as we sang strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow GREAT IS THY FAITHFULNESS LORD UNTO ME. Andrew went home for a nap today. That's so unlike him I was a little concerned he just said he was tired. I told him he should get to bed earlier. Joking knowing he was also stuck in traffic for hrs last pm. and he was probably up way past midnight. He was back to lock up at the end, chipper as always.

We frequently get a smile on our face at some of the signage on the taxi-vans.

In all our travels, Bosco has ferried use masterfully throughout the undulating roads of Kampala.

Wed: Mukama Mulungi

KBC Medical Missions - BG Team Update:

WOW.. a great day of seeing patients, 627 to be accurate. It all was started, as usual, with singing and sharing @ the beginning of the day. We sang several great hymns; "On a Hill Far away" as you know as The Old Rugged Cross. What a truly amazing experience that caused emotions in the inner core; to be sitting in Uganda, Africa, adjacent to a Luganda speaking woman singing The Old Rugged Cross in preparation for a long days work.

It was a very long day, arriving back from evening meal and visit at Dr. Joseph and Deborah Chigula's beautiful home including the pastors and other mzungus.

The trip there proved to be the most significant traffic jam that anyone in our van had ever experienced. The the thought of that melted away as we ate a very late dinner with the sweet fragrant breeze of "night flower" (smells like jasmine) wafting across our olfactory tunnels and made us realize we are in a very special place physically and then reminds us of the amazing place we stand with a just loving, forgiving God. Very tired. No pictures. To late.. NBL

KBC Medical Missions - BG Team Update:

Tuesday, 4-Sept-2012. We arrived at the KBC clinic after a good night's rest for all, and a hearty breakfast of oatmeal, homemade bread caried from home, coffee or tea etc... We are fairing well and were excited to start "Day 2". The day turned into a great team effort of physicians, nurses and all coordinating well to work through the patients efficiently. As always the day brought is many varied disease presentations, that the medical team discussed in detail over dinner, I think that is a standard format for homes ro get together's where the group includes medical professionals. My theory is that the nurses and doctors have to "exhale" the pent-up thoughts that they had to keep to themselves as the next patients needed to be seen and there was no time to decompress during the day. What a blessing to see patients from the whole spectrum of life

young family members,

to smiling elders

Today, a project started in earnest, replacement of one of the boundary fences of the church property. This kept Bob, Ned, Pastor Francis, Andrew, Garrett and Peter "out of trouble" for the day. After the medical teams finished for the day they went to see a nearby hospital and then we all ended up at a hostile where a medical missionary Connie is staying, and all the teams converged. We made connections with Jenny and Jon Davis, and were honored to have Andrew and Edith Mwenge at dinner with us again. We had a long drive back to our quiet abodes graciously share with us in absentia by Catharine Coon and Susan Hay. Time for some sleep to start a new day tomorrow.

KBC Medical Missions - BG Team Update:

The first day of the clinic had its normal start up challenges with flow, but as the day went on it was better. Ned and Bob started the work on a special project of rebuilding a safety fence. Going from place to place to find pricing, fortunately we had Pastor Francis engaging the store owners. It was a totally different picture of Kampala. The current story that is being talked about among the team is of Helen, who married a believer when how his persistence led her to the Lord. It is a wonderful story, you need to ask us more about that story. In repeating the story it gives Karen "goose bumps". Tonight we are going to Mike and Monica's for dinner. That's all for know. BJ The following picture of Dawn on the first day, with a family unit, the mother wanted to be tested for aids.

Sunday events and readying for Clinic

KBC Medical Missions - BG Team Update: We enjoyed a wonderful morning worshiping with our brothers and sisters at KBC. We were greeting by many friends, including Mike and Monica Chibita, Andrew and Edith Mwenge, Dao Muwano, Becky, Deborah, Faith, Mim and others. There were lots of hugs to go around. Our Sunday school class was a preview of Andrew's sermon following the life of James, one of the sons of thunder. We sang in true African fashion with clapping and great gusto. After lunch, we met back at the church to help set up for the clinic that starts tomorrow. There we joined up with some team members we've known from past trips. Connie, Dr. David from UK, and Ann (a nurse from Michigan). The Michigan group brought 9 folks, including a doctor, a resident, 2 more nurses, and several support people. Things went very smoothly. We counted medications and helped set up the room, while others from the church cleaned the courtyard, including mopping the floors, and set up chairs and tables. We are praying for tomorrow, and trust God to provide all we will need.

Arrival, meeting friends both old and new

KBC Medical Missions - BG Team Update: The US Crane has landed. (In case you didn't know the crane is the Ugandan national bird.) We arrived after great air transport and no problems in customs, and arrived @ Susan's and Catharine's place @ ~ 1am, Kampala time on Saturday morning. Praise the Lord ! We awoke between 8:30am and 9:30am, and had a relaxing day. Juliet an absolutely amazing, caring "angel" caretaker/housekeeper had all of our needs taken care of and more. Susan connected us with the man who has driven us around on previous trips. Bosco is a wonderful driver, which is greatly appreciated in the midst the traffic in Kampala. We ran errands and visited an African market today, and are now waiting for our chicken casserole to come out of the oven. While out and about, we "ran into" Andrew Mwemge @ the Forex and Deo Mawano @ the ShopRite. We are feeling rested, and are excited to go to KBC for church tomorrow morning. In the afternoon we will help the folks at church to get organized for the clinic that starts on Monday morning. We went shopping but you wont see any of the mzungu ladies from BG do this.

We ended the day reading Psalm 145; Psalm 98 Psalm 8

Great is the Lord! Worthy to be praised. He is holy, just and merciful, and cares for all around the world.