Third Letter (08/03/05):

Go here for more pictures:

http://www.ugandamedicalteam.blogspot.com/

Today was the official last day of the Uganda Medical Team. Everyone left for home except for me. I have one more week of working in the hospital and doing some home visits to AIDS patients.

I went the Father Peter and Father Emmanuel, as well as Petros, Procopius, with the team to the airport to see them off. I didn’t realize how incredibly hard it was going to be see everyone off. In the weeks that we’ve been together, the hours of emotional turmoil in the village clinics, the hours and hours of bumpin along the roads, we have as a team really had the time to bond. Seeing them leave without me was like having my arm torn out of it’s socket.

And to top it off, Ugandans have a thing for making long goodbys. So instead of tearing up and saying goodye, and then going home to decompress, we said goodbye at the security gate, while they were in the line, we watched them check-in, then we watched them board the plane from the observation deck. First Carol came out, then Deacon and Theresea, then lastly Dr John all climbed the steps to the plane and disappeared. Everyone got a kick out of Dr John as he turned around before boarding the plane and took a last view of Africa.

I tried to be a good manga and shed no tears, but in the end I’m too much of a softy. I guess that’s the risk of relationships. The more you open yourself to other people and bond, the more risk you run the risk of getting hurt when their gone. And I guess that’s what love is. It’s the sacrifice of giving yourself unconditionally, which was shown ultimately with Christ. Personally, it was shown to me from the team I served with. Dr. John, Deacon Daniel, Theresea, and Carol, I love you guys and can’t wait to see you again! J And as CS Lewis says, there are no goodbyes for Christians.

I learned a little lesson this evening. I went running with my friend Petros through the streets of Namungoona. Uganda was shing in all it’s glory, with all the dust, the side street markets, the smells, the smiling people, and the crazy drivers. We ran about a 4 miles. I started off at a quick pace, while Petros started off what i thought was slow. By the 1 ½ marker, i was petering out while Petras kept on going. A reminder to what I do all to often. Start off strong, and then weaken out. While Petros started of steady and kept going until the end. A nice metaphor of the Christian life. Anyway, that’s my goal for the remainder of my time here. To finish, and with God’s grace finsh well.

Well, thanks everyone who’s been writing to me. I have received your e-mails and will write back soon. I have just a wee bit more time that I can do that now. But your notes of encouragement are always great to see. J

Love you guys,

Seth

Second Letter:

Wasuze otja!

Greetings family and friends from the far land of Uganda. It’s Wednesday night here in Kampala and we just finished a whirlwind tour.

(Some of the fine boys we have met in Uganda)

We headed out on Tuesday morning at 5:30 to go to Gulu in the north part of Uganda. On the way we had to pass through many checkpoints where soldiers would come and check up on us. We were told by the Metrolpoitan Jonah and our driver not to take pictures in this part of the country due to the unrest still going on due to the war.

On our way over we crossed the Nile River, which is breathtaking in it’s ferocity. We arrived in Gulu early in the afternoon, and were quickly told that they were expecting us to be there. Our plans were changed so we visited the Churches in the area. While there I was able to experience life in Uganda by helping carry bundles of sticks for some of the women we met. I’ll send a picture for you to see. My bundle was at least a hundred pounds and my neck felt it the next day.

J

(That's me on the right)

Letter 2:

Later that day we left for Lira, which was about an hour away. We met Father Emmanuel and Father David there at a hotel and had some refreshments with them as we discussed the plans for the next day.

The next day we got up early in the morning and arrived at St. Athanasios where we set up the clinic for the day, after a brief morning prayer service. The Church quickly became a zoo as people just started crowding us throughout the day.

It was heartbreaking to treat the people here. I saw one grandmother who I could easly see had a case of TB. I then learned more of her story and found out that her husband had died of AIDS and few years earlier. Since that time she had become increasingly sick as well. Most likely the TB was a result of AIDS she had gotten from her partner. To top it off she had her granddaughter with her, who was also showing signs of TB. She was an orphan named Sophia and both her parents had died of AIDS. And the all the people have stories like this. It’s almost discouraging to know that whatever you today won’t really help. All we can do in the end is show them the love of Christ. Which I guess is really the best that can be done.

We arrived back in Kampala around 7:30 tonight and had dinner with the Bishop and shared our experiences of the two days. It’s really quite exhausting. If we’re not working, we’re driving. And let me tell you, Ugandan roads are basically potholes with pavement around them. Feels great. Hmmmph. (we found if you want to emphasize what you said here in Uganda, you always add the “hmmph” after it)

Well, that’ the update for today. Hopefully, I can write again soon. I hope everyone is doing well. Bill and Elena, drive safe on Thursday. I’ll be thinking of you guys tomorrow. Well, I sent some pics. Hope you enjoy them!

Seth

Letter 1:

It is day three of actual Uganda time.  I made it from flight to Chicago, then to London, then to Entebbe in the small space of three days.  I took off on Monday at 5:30 pm and landed in Uganda at 6:00 am on Wednesday morning.  we had some rest in the morning and took the tour of the Uganda Orthodox Church headquarters. Later in the day we met Metropolitan Jonah as he joined us for our evening meal.

The next day we started working in the orthodox hospital treating tropical diseases.  It's quite something to go from the worst thing you've seen in a patient was asthma to literally children and adults dying of malaria, HIV, TB and others.  Every child here has malaria, and the symptoms become quite easy to spot.  Aids is taking over the continent and you can see the effects.  Every person that you talk to either has aids or has an immediate family member who has it.  There is a certain perspective that you quickly need accept that you can't save the world, but you can only seek to help those you can.  Many times it can only be by relieving the pain and showing compassion and God's love to whoever. 

Today was our first day in the village seeing people.  By the end of the day I was treating patients and prescribing medication for what I was diagnosing.  It was quite surreal.  The people our lovely though, and the time here has been going great.  Keep me in your prayers and I will keep you in mine.)  I miss everyone and can't wait to share with everyone the experience of the trip.  If you want to e-mail me, I should be able to check email, at least once a week.  those of you who have emailed me, I'll get back with you as soon as I can. 

The Peace of Christ be with you all!

Seth

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"In nothing do we draw so close to God as in doing good to man."
                           -St. John Chrysostom