Thursday, July 30

We are officially done with the clinics. Today we set up in Layibi which is a village just outside of Gulu. Shortest drive so far!!

It was a tough day physically as I think everyone has poured themselves out each day and we are longing to see our families. It was a great day!! We saw 483 people in medical and dental and around 40 in wound care. The unofficial total people treated this trip is over 3,000 with 300 people coming to faith in Christ. What a blessing. We planned on 1,500 and God doubled it. As the afternoon ticked down you could see team members beginning to hit walls. Emotionally and physically we are exhausted, but we have been blessed by the people so much!! It has been outstanding. I am proud to say I assisted Rebecca with the extraction of 5 wisdom teeth on a lady today. I held the light. I wanted to stop after the first one because I had seen all I wanted to see and more but they encouraged me to stay. She was the last patient. And I am man enough to say I was weak in the knees, but I did it. Pretty sure I cannot do it again!!

Tonight at dinner we got to fellowship with our hosts. This was an incredible time. They affirmed and thanked us for the partnership and the blessings we have brought. It was a great time to celebrate. We sang a graet song right in the restaurant that we need to sing in church! I loved it. And while it might seem strange to be singing worship songs in the hotel restaurant when there are close to 50 people eating they simply let us. It was a great example of scroipture that says in heaven all will worship the Lord. Every tribe, tongue, and nation. This was happening tonight.

My idea or image of the church.... The body of Christ is so much bigger now. Coming to this beautiful place and serving with our hosts expands your idea of the church. I am honored to call them friends.

I must say as well that God has blessed us with great hosts. Connecting us with the UMC church in Gulu and Edward in Jinja was simply that. Divine. These men and women love the Lord and have been wonderful. Awesome people of faith. Living it each day.

What a great day. Tomorrow we visit the Invisible Children office and a group flies to entebbe at 10am and another at 1pm. We then go to Jinja with Edward and will visit the source of the Nile. Please pray for safe travels as we will be separated for a bit.

Thank you, thank you, thank you. This trip has blessed many people. We appreciate your support. We look forward to sharing with you. And we apologize in advance for the red dirt we will leave in the shower the first few days home. It goes away eventually!! We are all filthy!!!

Talk to you tomorrow night.

God bless