uganda: week four.

week four. i can hardly believe it. this week, the interns spent some time talking about overseas experiences and the highs and lows that come with it. we were told that this week would be the week that reality would set in and we would see life for how it really was. and for me, that was so true. this week was a lot harder than most but there were still some really great moments. so with that being said, drumroll, here are the week four highlights:

• on sunday, one of the kids in my sunday school class gave his life to jesus!! sunday afternoon after church, he went to talk to uncle mark for a long time and realized, then, that he needed jesus. PRAISE GOD that He is still moving on this campus, that He is alive and well, and nothing is going to stop Him from bringing people back to Himself.
• on tuesday, nurse ruth and i took a trip to kampala to take two of our boys to see an ENT. medical trips are always an experience because the entire time i am thinking “if only these people had access to good, consistent medical care.” but despite that, this visit was actually a good and informative one. the best part about the trip was seeing the two boys so excited to see "motorcars" on the road. this was a first trip to kampala for one of the boys and he was so excited to see so many cars. the joy and excitement was the best.
• on wednesday, one of the missionaries here turned 40. so as is customary, we had a “funeral” for him. we all dressed in black and walked slowly up to their house singing a really pathetic version of “happy birthday” then uncle mark gave a eulogy, we sang a song, and then uncle robb was watered. in uganda, on your birthday, everyone comes and dumps water all over your head. so very thankful my birthday is after i leave.
• also on wednesday, i was a malaria testing fiend. it is a great feeling for me to be given more responsibility here but not at the expense of people hurting. i like the healing side of medicine for a reason. anyways, please be praying for several people on campus right now that have malaria.
• this week, we took our HIV positive kids to JCRC which is a clinic in kampala where they do checkups and give out medicine. the great thing about this hospital is that everything there is free: from blood work and x-rays to medicines. the bad thing is that it is all government run so sometimes there is corruption in the hospital. so much about that day was heavy but i think the worst part of the day was when i realized that these kids weren’t phased by the fact that they were in a HIV hospital. it was just normal and reality. it was normal to go by yourself to the lab to get blood work done because they do it every six months. it makes my heart hurt to think about these kids that i have fallen in love with that had no choice in their health status. it was given to them and now their reality is hospitals and 7 different pills every day. ahhh it makes me sick to think about.
• on friday, i got to try my hand at being a pharmacist. little did i know when i signed up for this internship i would be trying out almost every facet of the medical world: physical therapist, nurse, clinical researcher, and now pharmacist. after we went to JCRC, i had to catalog, cut and disperse all the medicines. so if you worried about me getting real hands-on medical experience, never fear. i’m busier this summer than ever before. 
• friday was also the fourth of july so obviously the mzungus had to celebrate! we had a cookout complete with hamburgers, hotdogs, pringles, and soda! definitely a treat. who knew pringles would make a group of americans so excited? we didn't have fireworks but we had something like roman candles that we stuck in the ground. they lit up like huge sparklers. it felt good to celebrate with such good friends.
• i am learning that saturday is one of my favorite days at GSF. saturdays here are so lazy and relaxed and refreshing. everyone hangs out and plays games and laughter abounds. today for instance, kaitlin and i made pancakes for brunch, then i hung out with isanga and steven while they did chores. after that we all ran to play a huge game of soccer and volleyball before we all dispersed for dinner. it reminds me of carefree days of growing up in china when all we did was play outside and only ran home for food. there is so much freedom and joy in it.

prayer requests:

• this entire week, i have felt under the weather with a cold. thankfully, i have stayed healthy so far but this cold has been a real bother. pray that this week, i will be 100% again.
• be praying for the boy that gave his life to jesus this week. the war for his heart may be over but his spiritual battle has just begun. pray for the people that will come alongside him to disciple him.
• there are several people on campus that have malaria right now so be praying for quick healing for them.

there is so much joy in every day life here. there is also sorrow in every day life here. God is here working in both emotions. God is also working in the lives of people in america. that is so amazing to think about. when i have to leave here, i won't be leaving the work He is doing because He doesn't only work in africa. He is active everywhere. so comforting to think about as i move into my last four weeks here.