Today marks our last day in Uganda. It still seems surreal
that we are leaving this beautiful country. As I reflect on our time here, I
realize just how blessed I am and how my heart has been changed on this mission
trip. We came to help the people here, but more often than not, the people here
helped us.
I travelled with the medical team to three different
hospitals throughout the month spent in Uganda. In Kamuli, we met kind nurses,
medical students, and doctors who taught us many things. We were unable to help
them all that much because of lack of experience so most of our time there was
spent in observation. We learned so much about the clinical experience,
treatment, and procedures in Uganda. We saw the miracle of birth and
experienced the sadness accompanied with death. We became incredibly thankful
for modern medicine that is easily accessible in the United States. Our
perspectives were changed and we realized just how blessed we are.
At Jinja Hospital, we met wonderful Ugandan nurses that took
us under their wings. Also, there was a medical student from the United Kingdom
and a registered nurse from the United States that worked with us and helped us
along the way. It was nice for us to
talk with them because they understood what we were going through and they were
easy to understand. J
Here, we felt more helpful as we dressed wounds, observed surgeries, helped
with HIV testing, administered injections, and started treatments.
For three days, we went to Nalufenya Children’s Unit. There
were crowded beds, hot and smelly rooms, and crowds of people because several
of the wards were under construction. We played with children, held babies, did
HIV testing, took temperatures, and Meghan even got set up with a Ugandan
doctor! J On
the last day, we all got to be Santa Claus as we delivered stickers, coloring
books, slinkies, and bubbles to patients and their siblings in the hospital.
Everyone was so appreciative and it put a smile on all of their faces. We were
thrilled to brighten someone’s day, even if just slightly.
Through all of our experiences, I saw God working. He was
working in the nurses who diligently strived to do what they could with the
resources they had. I felt Him giving me wisdom and strength to go to the
hospitals everyday and put a smile on. I felt Him working on my heart, making
me feel blessed and humble. God’s
provision was there in everything we did and I could not be more thankful.
Thank you for all of your continued prayers and support
throughout our time in Uganda,
Kortni McCormick