Uganda

The Lord woke me up shortly after midnight and I began to think about what I am seeing with my eyes. He told the prophet Habbakuk to write his vision down on a tablet and make it plain so that a herald could run with it. When I was in college,  I studied journalism and have never used it. Now I will endeavor to record what I see with my physical eyes so that you my readers may see through my words and maybe your part is to run with it. Some of the SIFAT staff visited one of the many medical centers here in Mukono. They had a large space but their medical equipment consisted of 1 needle. If medicine could e obtained, which is slim at best, everyone is given a shot with the same needle. We all know what happens then. There are no aspirins, no Tylenol, no vitamins, no bandages, no alcohol, no no latex gloves, no means of providing tests to diagnose their condition. This is everyday existence for the average Ugandan. If they had soap and clean water many disease could be prevented. There are few opportunities for them to receive any eyeglasses or any type of vision care, same with dental care, and on and on. The young girls need sanitary napkins. Seems like a simple thing to provide.  The list is endless. Every need can't be met. There is not enough money to fix their situation. There are no excuses. We can't help them all but we can make a difference in the lives of a few and trust God to multiply our meager efforts. This is only one place in millions of places around the world, but I have sen this place with my own eyes and I hope some of you can see it through my words. I sat in the airport at Addis Ababa, Ethiopia surrounded by a multitude of people from many parts of the world. As I sat there I kept thinking how could God love each and everyone of them equally despite all their differences and uniquenesses? I was overwhelmed by what I saw. I don't have many answers, only lots of questions and the assurance that love covers a multitude  of sins. It is easy for us to be cynical and simply write people off and dismiss any concern for our fellow man. We Americans are a nation of spoiled, self-absorbed people yet at the same time we lead the world in charitable contributions. I don't understand the dynamics of that. I don't care about your political affiliations but I can't help but admire the elder George Bush telling us to be a point of light and JFK admonishing us to ask not what our country can do for us but what we can do for our country. Both were calls to action. Sherry and I use to teach the children that you know when someone loves you not by what they say but by how they treat you. Are we going to love our global citizens?

Mike H.