Oct. 2 - Another day in Soroti

Awakened at 5:30 to the sound of Emmanuel, the resident ‘grounds keeper’, trimming the hedge with a machete whilst walking around on the corrugated metal roof of the shed in the back yard! I don’t think he understands that Muzungos are usually asleep at that hour!

Another day in a long lesson on patience for Liz.  Guess God thought she still needed work.  It has not been nearly busy enough here in Soroti for Liz’s liking.  We are spending much longer here than expected and things are not very organized for treating the animals.  A lot of it stems from Dr. Val and Moses being gone for 3 days at the board meeting.  Val’s Jeep is still not repaired so transportation has been difficult.  So far they have repaired some wiring and changed the fuel filter but it still won’t start.  Currently the computer board is in Kampala for diagnostics.  Hopefully that will show something but it will not be repaired in time for us to use on this trip.  We had planned to leave for Karamoja today but there are problems with organization there also.  Of the 4 key organizers one is AWOL, perhaps out of the country, one is sick, one is away at a funeral, and the last in headed down to Soroti for supplies today.  There are surgeries to do and large animals to treat there but it will be a matter of getting the people organized for it. 

Melissa and Liz did get to do one TVT surgery today.  Melissa and Liz have been getting up early each morning to jog/walk for 45 minutes and riding bikes into town each evening to pick up fried fish, Liz’s favorite.

Andy on the other hand is continuing to have busy and productive days.  Today they finished wiring and worked on curtain rods and doors that did not work properly.  Andy is up to 3000+ on picture taking.  Andy went into town with Batman today for lunch.  He noticed a man staring intently at him who then motioned to his beard.  He was from Sudan and was fascinated with Andy’s facial hair.  He took Andy’s photo then came back shortly with several friends who all filed by to look at the strange Muzungo.  The children all want to ‘stroke’ Andy’s arms.  Africans do not have much body hair and they are all fascinated with Andy’s arm hair.

Tomorrow we are, hopefully, heading to Karamoja.

Prayer Requests:

-         a vehicle and safe travel to Karamoja

-         that the community will be mobilized with lots of animals to treat

-         that there will be many hands to help Andy in the projects he has to work on : retaining wall, foundation, and water catchment.

-         Speedy repair of Val’s Jeep

-         Many opportunities to witness to the Karamajong people and encourage the church there.