However, I have to confess, I have seen better days. This job is painful. Sometimes my stomach feels like there is a stone in it and I can’t seem to get out of the funk. Today I feel so overwhelmed by needs. I walked into the village and I was swarmed by people asking for help; this daughter has epilepsy, that son has malaria, those women have a stomach ache, those mother’s teeth are rotting. I have to say I think I know a little about what Christ felt when he walked into a new town. His reputation preceded him and people began begging for help.

It makes sense that if people see hope in me, they reach out and ask. They ask for help in such private physical things. I see when they are truly desperate, they will walk for miles. Today I met a woman who was less than 5 feet tall. Her face was etched with pain and suffering but it wasn’t for herself that she came… it was her 9 month old son who was burning up with fever. I have seen this so often here – the dreaded disease malaria. Of course, one of the team members fronted the $15 immediately for a clinic visit and medicine. I hope that little boy lives. But that was only one problem in over 50 that were brought to me in about an hours time. Talk about feeling helpless. I was totally at a loss. Many of these people needed basic care, others had life threatening diseases. I saw a 3 year old boy with a hernia, a woman with terrible ulcers, 3 children with epilepsy, 8 starving children, 1 widow with a severe back issue, 3 arthritis conditions, countless other headaches, 2 insane girls, and 1, get ready for this, hermaphrodite.

I have never felt so incapable. There is so much to do and I can’t do it alone. I don’t know if I will ever be able to do it all…. but I need to try to do something.

Jimmy

My main concern right now is Jimmy. I have never had the opportunity to meet someone in his condition. His mother was very secretive and talked in hushed tones. Apparently no one else knows that Jimmy was born with both female and male parts. He is only 11 but I can see that he has begun to develop. We gave money for him to see a specialist in the capital city, but I know he will need more for surgery. He is currently using his female parts to urinate and I don’t know if the male parts even work. What am I supposed to do about this? I am totally stumped. I know that someone may be able to donate the cost of a surgery… but what of his changed life? Will he be a boy or a girl? Can you imagine this happening in a village? I can’t tell you how terrible this is for him and the family. He will be seen as a devil and be an outcast. In this situation, there is a good chance the family will have to move to a new area and start a new life. How can I relocate an entire family? Africa is NOT such a big place. People know you from your tribe and things get back to people. And what about the other family members, how can they understand this? I am still trying to think my way through it and figure out the best scenario here.

Well, I am rambling. I will try to keep you up to date on Jimmy. Hopefully we will have things resolved before any more major developmental stages. If you remember, say a prayer for him tonight. He will need it.

There is little I can say to explain the devastation of a woman alone here.  I have seen a lot of women who could barely look me in the eyes… but Rose takes the cake.  I met her in a small town near at the Kenyan border.  

Rose has four children.  The oldest is 14.  When I was introduced to Rose her large brown eyes stayed fixed on my feet.  I asked the translator to have her look at me.  She glanced up and looked away.  It was then that I was told Raymond, one of our field officers, had been taking care of this family.  He and his wife have 7 children of their own and they still took Rose in.  For that, Rose is lucky.  She is extremely vulnerable in her position and if she is not cared for soon, she will need to prostitute herself in order to feed her children.  You see, Rose’s husband left her alone and then at her lowest point, her small house burnt down.  She is absolutely destitute and I can’t say how terribly desperate I am to help her.

I am going to be blunt here.  Rose needs sponsorship.  But more than that, she needs a home. These children need a place to rest their heads.  Rose needs to know that she can close a door and lock away all the fears she has now.  Is there anyone that can help?  A house costs $2800 in total.  That includes a brick home, windows, and doors.  But giving Rose and her children this gift would be priceless.  Imagine yourself in this situation.  It is impossible to imagine it for myself.

There are others needing sponsorship as well.  This couple is caring for their grandchildren when all their children died of AIDS.  The children aren’t eating much and need food.  Please consider helping them

If you can offer any help, please email me at melody@globalfamilyrescue.org  

Ben and Melody with Humprey and his family
It has been over a year since I met with Humphrey in Uganda. Do you remember the story? Humphrey is the 17 year old boy I met last year with 4 brothers and 1 sister. His parents had both died of Aids. One he had just buried and the funeral pyre was still standing. It was when I met him on June 14^th of last year that I knew GFR was going to expand globally into this country. I will never forget the stoney face that I saw and the lack of emotion he expressed when I visited him. I could see the weight of the world resting on his shoulders. It was more than I could stand and I burst into tears.

Melody crying with Humprey last June

We went to visit the village Humphrey lives in and I didn’t see him when we gathered the families. I kept asking, “Where is Humphrey?” The ceremony began after some of the cheering died down. I was quietly sitting among the widows and suddenly he made his entrance in the back. Without any invitation, I got up and walked straight over to him. I reached out to hug him and I briefly saw the shocked look he made. Apparently Humphrey had no idea how much his story impacted me. I laugh now to think about it. This poor boy must have been completely embarrassed with the amount of attention I was paying him!

We had an opportunity to go back to his compound and spend some time finding out what has changed for him.

Melody interviewing Humphrey

I asked him lots of questions about his life now; eating (twice a day at least), sleeping (bed and mattresses), health (everyone is well including the youngest boy I was so concerned about last year), housing (a new hut for the children), livestock (a farm of goats and chickens), etc. His life has changed immensely. He was excited to point out his new cow and bicycle as well.

Humphrey's Bike...how many kids can you fit on this???

He seemed reserved though. It seemed that he was a bit quiet for my taste. Usually families are more exuberant. It wasn’t until we brought out the soccer ball that I realized the problem with my thinking….

Humphrey playing soccer next to his parents graves

We went to Namyoya. The church is really great. They are also in the process of building the pastors house too. We got to see one of the water wells that were completed and we were told that the other one is up and running. See Ben's blog for more photos on these projects.

Pastor David preached about Job. I found it interesting that he compared the village to Job by saying they were now reaping the benefits of patience as Job had. They were now, “blessed abundantly”. It blew me away. They still don’t have what I would want… chocolate, meat (I guess that should have come first), air conditioning, electricity or running water. I am really NOT surprised that they would feel so happy with the simple things like water from a well or a roof over their heads while they are praying. It is said that even the unchurched are celebrating in the village. I wish I could be so simple and content. I am trying hard… but it is not easy for me.

Also met two sponsored families of the team members.

Deb and Chris meet with their widow

It was really exciting. Both were so ecstatic to meet their caregivers. Gene Weavers family was extremely difficult to see because Robert, the father, is dying of AIDS and his 13 year old daughter is taking care of everything including farming 2 acres of land by hand herself. I was told that Robert was once a strong man. He was wealthy owning several cows, farming his own land as an agriculturalist with lean muscle and light brown skin. This once attractive man sought out a wife worthy of him. She was beautiful as well. After giving birth to 5 children, she died in 2007. He sold everything he had to try to save her but it was too late. He has since stayed in his small dirty house crying so loud the neighbors could hear leaving Idah caring for the 4 other children. It breaks my heart to see him now, a broken slight man with bones protruding through his chest visible 20 feet away. The only glimmer of hope here is the sponsorship that the Weaver’s started last month. They even gave extra money in hopes that Anti-retroviral Drugs may be able to keep him alive until Idah is 16 or so. Then she will be an older orphan at least. But I have to tell you my faith feels small in the matter.

Gene and Robert

Maybe now you can understand why I am angry? It just doesn’t make any sense to me. I feel so helpless sometimes. I wish I had a magic wand to make it all ok. I go to sleep at night going over the faces wondering if each one is alright. Are they sleeping well? Have they eaten today? How can I get another one sponsored?

Please help me not be too late. If there is anyone you know that would be willing to sponsor a family for $64 a month, you can save a life. We are looking for approximately 75 more families in this village to be sponsored immediately. Please, won't you give someone a chance to live and email me today at melody@globalfamilyrescue.org

Asiya, a widow with AIDS at her home (BEFORE GFR)

Asiya at the Bank Receiving Sponsorship With Director Idah

Kampala Uganda Families at the Bank With GFR Staff and Caseworkers

Cissy and Idah at the Bank

GLOBAL FAMILY RESCUE FUNDRAISER

November 10, 2007

7-10pm

Grace Bible Church

748 Jones Road

Minooka, IL 60447

Idah Mehangye, Uganda National Director

Mark Goodwin, M.D., Uganda Research Team

Join us for Live Music, 50/50 Raffle, Appetizers,

And...Of course...

What would a birthday party be without birthday cake!

Please RSVP by October 25^th. Cost is $10 per person.

Make checks payable to GFR and send to:

GFR, 291 East Daisy Circle, Romeoville, IL 60446

Tickets at the door will be $15 per person

We got home 2 days ago and I am still sick. It is 5:00 am and my throat is in too much pain to sleep. I think I will go to the doctor today.

I am having a hard time adjusting to how wealthy everything is here. From the size of the tomatoes to the painted walls, it all spells money. I can’t believe how much we are blessed. I forgot how everything here is so huge… stores, burritos, cars. It is excessive. I don’t know how to make sense of the fact that being born here means I will never go hungry. At the same time that I embrace home, I am also feeling detached. It is a privilege that I have running water, but I am affluent to have clean running water. It is a privilege to be an educated woman, but I am also an educated woman who can influence a country through my words and actions… that is affluence.

Can I fully grasp my lessings? Can I fully understand how lucky my daughters are to grow up here and have the ability to choose their own destiny as I do? I am stunned by my blessings and I am frustrated by them as well. What if I was born in Uganda without hope of education, orphaned by AIDS, caring for my children by selling myself for food, eating one vegetable a day? Could I survive? Would you?

I can’t believe that I can sit in my house without a mosquito chewing on me… it feels so strange to not be slapping at my ankles constantly. And I feel amazed that I only have to wait 2 hours to go to a doctor that will cure me almost instantly. I am not worried about contracting malaria, elephantitis, leprosy, syphilis, or typhoid. I also have lots of food in my pantry and electricity to cook it. I am overwhelmed in gratitude and at the same time heart sick for the world. It is all part of re-entry; crying and decreased appetite. I am experiencing reverse culture shock again this year. I wonder how long it will take to adjust.

I can’t wait to attend church on Sunday. I have missed it so much. My friends from Community Christian Church put food in my refrigerator before I came home. They also left cards and little gifts for me. Home is not just a place, it is relationships. Thank you everyone for the wonderful welcome.

Our friend Julia from the U.K. invited us to meet some friends of hers from church during our long layover. They are absolutely divine! Ben and I are staying at James and Tanya’s house in which a “feast” took place earlier. We ate so much food! We met, Joseph (from Uganda), and Nicky and Andrew (from South Africa) as well as James (a good friend of Julia’s). Even Tanya is from Zimbabwe. It was a wonderfully cultural night and we were welcomed so kindly here. We took a walk to the nearest commons (park) too. It was a perfect evening for me. Friends, beautiful weather, a park, my family…. who can ask for more?

Nathan had a fever when he arrived but it seemed to disappear when two neighbor boys invited him and Mike to play cricket. And Amber and I laid in the soft green lawn while Hope watched Avatar on television. But when the food arrived, we were all stuffing our faces! We had the most delicious cheese you have ever tasted. But we also tried some new cookies called “Hob Knobs” (FANTASTIC). We ate hot dogs, salad with fresh tomatoes, corn on the cob with fresh butter and sea salt, cheese, bread and honey and even ice cream. I think I gained 5 pounds!

I want to personally say “THANK YOU” to our friends. You have made my homecoming so warm and I will never forget your hospitality! The tears I shed today were grateful tears. Thank you friends!!

This is so funny, I am sitting in Kampala right now listening to my teenage daughter and my husband arguing over hanging out with teenage boys… no matter where we are in the world, I guess this is bound to happen. How strange that my mind is focusing on AIDS treatments and community projects one minute and then managing sibling rivalry and sickness in our own family the next. It feels surreal to be a world crisis worker one minute and then mom the next.

Yesterday was our last opportunity to be in the field. Next door there is a slum that we have visited often. Our family feels strongly attached to one boy named Joseph. He is just precious. His smile is so catching. Anyway, Michael wanted to give some clothes and things to him and we decided to take some of the items the team left to the families there as well. I am attaching some great photos. I love that in this scenario I was able to mold myself into both worker and mother at the same time.

The children have learned so much about outreach and culture. It has enriched them… even tonight Nate made us stop on the road home when he saw a poor woman and her baby sitting on the street. He said, “Dad, stop! We have to do something for that lady. She is all alone without a husband. Can we help her please?” Ben pulled over and gave her some of our “going home” money, but he asked Nate to approach her himself with the gift. He gave it to her so sweetly. I wish you could have seen it. She was so happy and so was I. My son was is the hero I have always wanted to be. Actually, all of my children are. Amber has turned into the most wonderfully hospitable lady… Nathan is quietly on task and turning into the man I hoped he would be… Mike is unbelievably generous and in touch with the people… and Hope is so attached to our new friends here that she has cried for hours today.

I think, even with a fever and throat infection (which I thankfully when to the doctor for today!), I am actually figuring out how to be both a full time citizen of the world and mother extraordinaire! I am so grateful tonight. Grateful for medicine that is available and I can afford, grateful for my job and the ability to GIVE, grateful for my beautiful children and husband (who keeps me going), grateful for friends and so much more. I am so blessed!