Greetings from the Uganda team, now 8 days after leaving Richmond. I’m happy to report that everyone continues to be healthy and full of surprising energy which is fueled by the Spirit which is obvious the moment one steps off from the bus – I’m sure you know we had a crowd to meet us despite the very late hour! I really feel the team is working now like a living organism or a part of “the Body” with so many complementary talents and of course, we are blessed and nurtured by the sincere love of our Ugandan hosts.

We have just finished a joyful Sunday during which about ½ of the team went to Pastor Isaac’s church in Jinja at which they heard Steve Wozny deliver a great sermon I was sorry to miss. Our team was surprised this service was even attended by an international team of many Mzungu’s (white people). No one had any doubt Steve would deliver the goods. I’m also told Sara hit a “grand slam” with her Bible teaching and we know there is nothing she doesn’t do well. I stayed for the service here at Canaan and was afraid the roof would blow off from the glorious singing and the propulsive beat of the African drums. Pastor Crane delivered his usual inspiring sermon about a passage from Kings II about the handle of an axe flying off into a river, believe it or not (bad things happen). Pastor Isaac later commented he had never really understood that passage before. Frank has certainly spent some precious time with his daughter, Justine, who graduated yesterday.

Tonight, after dark, Mr. B was the center of a wild melee playing his guitar with all of the kids singing “Jack rejoice in the Lord” where Jack Wheeler had to do a dance. I just can’t get over the many talents of Jack (of all trades) that he’s kept secret. Besides dancing, he played a great cripple who was cured by Jesus and of course, he’s been our IT expert, setting up computers at different places and of course, he’s been Mr. Moneybags, paying bills. Getting back to Mr. B., he has a natural talent for getting the best out of people in all ways, including theatrical talent. The mosquito skit was a huge hit today with the Canaan Children with Sara pretending to be sick after Steven (the younger Wozny) really hammed it up buzzing many children with the mosquito puppet. I was also very impressed by the Bible Story skit I caught part of at Kayunga on Friday and I’m sure you’ve likely heard all about that. Steven seems like a great young man who has impressive talents and a great way with the kids.

I really had fun watching Mama Cindy and Tina teach earlier this week one afternoon at Canaan Primary School. It was neat seeing how Cindy used her teaching experience in a completely new setting for her, once having a skit where she threatened to spank Tina for not behaving and of course, the Bible saved the day. Cindy really seems to be a natural in this culture, possibly from having sent Michael and Megan so many times before and she now obviously shares the same love for Canaan and Uganda. It has also been a real pleasure getting to know Tina, who just has the greatest laugh and she has such an upbeat and nice personality and her background as a therapist is also being put to good use in hearing so many heartbreaking stories – we were telling her a lucky guy will someday have to pay many cows in order to land her (a local custom).

Mama Nita (Anita) has just the sweetest way of handling the most difficult topics one can imagine with her youth groups, which I know she handled completely on her own at least once this week. A few nights ago, I received the OK from the mother and family for a group of us to briefly see 2 hour newborn twins who had just been born here at the Canaan Clinic. The family squealed in delight when they discovered that Anita and John were Nalongo and Salongo, mother and father of twins, which is a real honor. Of course, one can’t even begin to describe the love John Keltonic has for the Ugandan people and that is always a real inspiration to the rest of us. I bet that’s the only way he can manage the countless details regarding all the different aspects of the trips as well as always being able to bend when plans change for whatever reason. The 27 ton container of medical supplies he organized and paid for will save many lives.

Of course, it’s been wonderful having my Jonny along and see him thrive in this completely new setting – I assisted him in a Bible Club this morning for about 80-90 children and he did great – I was asked for the second time this week where Judas was buried (!). It’s also great to see Jonny meet so many of the children who were loved by both Tim and Christina when they came 5 years ago. We met tonight with 4 of the girlfriends of Tim and Christina. Jonny also got a lesson in African drumming from Gideon tonight and was sharing dances with Steven. I’ve also spent time with Isaac and Elijah and they were the two stars of Tim’s “Orphans in Africa” video a few years back – Elijah jokingly says he’s the next Will Smith and stated Isaac (who is very slim) is the next Schwarzenegger.

Yesterday’s graduation ceremony for 10 of the young adults was wonderful and Isaac described them as his “Harvest” = they are all very fine and outstanding young men and women who I predict will be a source of inspiration for everyone they meet. One, Samuel, plans on becoming a minister/business man (like Isaac) and returning to his home district in northeast Uganda, a very poor and arid part of Uganda near Sudan. We have also enjoyed spending time with Samuel, Isaac’s preacher son, who has had public debates on Christianity with Muslim leaders in front of big crowds. In addition, we were visited by Loy this weekend, Isaac’s youngest daughter, who is a lovely young women with a wonderful voice and we had her sign “Amazing Grace” today – she is a featured singer on a Christian TV show in Kampala.

Medically speaking, where does one begin? I spent most of 2 days at Jinja Children’s Hospital this week, where I learned about countless malaria cases (one blind and with little tone from cerebral malaria) and saw many TB and epilepsy cases (at least, that’s my field) and had a girl with advanced “SAM” or severe acute malnutrition, which we discussed at length. I had a “walk-around” or tour of the Kayunga District Hospital on Friday with Pastor Moses, where I saw 5 patients with Cholera – I never thought I’d see that, as we learned upon arrival there of the outbreak (it is a Category B Bioterrorism agent). Needless to say, the supplies that had just been delivered to Kayunga from the large container had arrived just in time and the tremendously overworked staff was incredibly grateful! I’ll later prepare a separate medical report for anyone interested.

I now have a line of people wanting me to get off of the computer, so let me end by saying what an honor it is to have been able to come on this trip, especially with Jonny. Even though this is my third trip to Canaan, it is truly always a spiritual awakening to see Isaac and Rebecca, their family and all of the staff and the many children.

God Bless, Ed (that’s Dr. Ed and not Mr. Ed).