More great stories from Eduardo.
Today was our last day at the refugee settlement. It was a big day for our team with the dedication of the new maternity ward. Wow...these people know how to party! Two hours after the scheduled starting time the ceremony got under the way...and ended about three hours later!
The staff and volunteers worked very hard to make this day a very special one. They set up big tents with chairs for guests and teams, they had a band and a few groups of dancers and singers from within the camp. There were several mothers dancing with babies tied behind their backs. You couldn't help but smile when you saw them. These babies are born into rhythm, dance and song! It was so fun to see and hear them. Their joy irradiates all around them!
These groups were comprised of refugees that live in the settlement. It was an extra special day for me because I was called to go to the delivery room (in the middle of the dedication of that room) to take pictures of a brand new baby girl that was being born. I hadn't been in a delivery room in 13 years (when my baby girl Noelle joined our family). I got to hold the baby. Even in a refugee camp life goes on.
Today I decided to bring along my iPad. No, Apple is not sponsoring this blog, but this is for sure one of the best gadgets ever invented. I took a lot of pictures and videos with it and was able to immediately show them to the kids (and many adults). To say they loved it is the understatement of the year. They had HUGE smiles on their faces and made many comments while looking at the pictures. My knowledge of Swahili is limited to hello and thank you but I'm guessing they were excited to see themselves on the screen. One little boy of about 10 was the drummer for one of the teams. He "killed" it! (that's a good thing). I showed him the video later in the afternoon and he absolutely loved seeing himself - for the first time - "in action." Of course he had a huge crowd of admirers watching also.
While walking outside of the clinic area (behind the fenced areas) I also took several pictures and videos getting the same results. Children and parents where excited to see their pictures.
On our "more-than-it-should-be-allowed-bumpy-ride" back to Mbarara, I saw a bunch of monkeys -- and I'm not talking about our team! ; ) . They were crossing the road and climbing trees and probably wondering "why is that guy taking so many pictures?!".
Once again God showed up. He showed up in the lives of these Ugandans giving them a little bit of hope in a world of desperation. He showed up in the lives of the staff to give them strength and to whisper "job well done, my good and faithful servant," and he showed up in my life to remind me, almost in one instant, of all the blessings he has bestowed upon me. To remind me that he has always been faithful to me. To remind me to be thankful - in every circumstance, and to remind me that, like the baby I held this afternoon, He was once also a baby born in poverty to a desperate world but lived to become our King of kings and Lord of lords. Thank you, Jesus, for bringing new life to me.
Eduardo