His name is Vincent Oti. That name may mean nothing to you, but to those living in northern Uganda, it may arouse a feeling of fear. Vincent Oti is the military mind and second in charge of the Lord’s Resistance Army that has devastated northern Uganda the past decade. I couldn’t get past that name and I asked many people if that really was this tiny little boy’s name. They laughed as they agreed it was his name. I just kept asking myself who would ever name their son Vincent Oti…and then it hit me…he mother was probably an abducted girl, forced to marry Oti and he was his child. WHOA!
We were holding our medical clinic under the big tree in the center of the camp when it started to downpour. Everyone ran for covering into the thatch church. As I grabbed the medicine and began to run myself, I noticed a small, naked boy sitting under the tree all alone and crying. I ran over to grab him and take him inside the church. I held him for a few minutes, looking for his mother or caretaker but no one claimed him. His frail, feverish little body clung to me tightly as he whimpered. My heart broke. He was so sick and obviously malnourished. I felt an instant connection to him as he reminded me of a similar malnourished little boy we previously struggled with for months in Sudan. Also most kids here fear the white people, but he didn’t seem to fear me at all. He just wanted someone to care. After an hour of discussion, I found out his mother had died and no one could take care of him. We needed to transport him to a feeding center a few hours away but we had to find a caretaker to accompany him. Another hour passed as we tried to find anyone to go with this little sickly boy. Finally a young woman agreed to go. She was suffering from tuberculosis and obviously was sick herself, but we were desperate. We transported them to the feeding center and have checked on them many times since. Little Vincent is still quite sick and small, but is making some improvement. He is also positive for TB and has a rough road ahead. Here is a picture of him a few days ago. He is supposedly 3 years old. Please pray for little Vincent. May God give him a bright future.
Thanks,
Shaunessy

A Marathon

So what have we been so busy with? God has opened many opportunities for us and here are just a few. Developing HIV teaching materials and teaching over 800 hundred attentive students this health education against the HIV/AIDS that threatens their lives while encouraging them in God’s Truth. We have been able to start a new HIV program to the “forgotten” in the five camps we have been working in. We have also been blessed to add one camp, Aleka. The health of the camps has improved and many people have moved to the villages, but the needs of the HIV population are overwhelming. We have been spending time interviewing those living with HIV and registering them. This past couple of weeks we have been able to distribute some basic needed medicine not available in the health center, provide a medical clinic, provide HIV education, share God's love, and pray with each person as we started our HIV program. We are preparing for the next team to come in a week. They will be mostly medical and will be providing a general medical clinic and begin work in three new camps! Wow, what a marathon and what a blessing! As we continue to know these people what aching comes to our hearts. There are so many needs, so many worries, so much hurt, so many thirsty hearts.
In the midst of all these interviews, teachings in the schools, and the HIV program people have asked to surrender their lives and accept Jesus as their Lord. This is not out of persuasion, they simply were ready. Praise the Lord they can put their trust and hope in the Lord. All praise and Glory to HIM.
becky

Thirst

If it is pouring rain outside could you be overwhelmed with thirst? If the water is available, is your thirst still not quenched? Have you ever been desperate for the word of God? I have met many people so very desperate for the word of God. They are so very thirsty and open to the Word of God. One camp asked me to come back and read to them from His Word even if I could not bring medicine. Another visiting nurse and I spent some time with a small group in Ojwi IDP camp after interviewing those living with HIV and registering them for our new program. We huddled inside someone's home with HIV as they feared meeting in public and could only meet in the home of someone with HIV. As we had finished and were spending time reading the Bible outside it started to pour rain and thunder. It was so loud and came in waves that at times we had to stop reading because we could not hear each other. No one was in a rush. Everyone was quiet and attentive straining to hear. They were so thirsty. When we asked if they wanted us to stop they pleaded us to go on. What a blessing! Even with the new bibles we have been able to give out, after waiting for over a year for more to be printed, the demand for more is so very evident and there does not seem to be enough to go around. In America we are so privileged to have the Bible at our finger tips. It is so humbling and puts into perspective how blessed I am. We have access to food even if we cannot work in our fields due to sickness. We have the availability of transportation other than a bike or footing even if we only have a little bit of money. We have access to health care and medicine does not run out. We do not live in a country that has been struck with 20 years of war. We have access to the Bible and it’s Truth.
becky