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Dearest Jo and others,
We're getting supplies today for our camp in Gulu. Susan Lee and Mike from MAP have sure helped a lot. There will be lots of challenges. Actually MAP (Medical Assistance Program, www.map.org ) is a fairly old group that helps to provide medicines and other medical materials for many helping agencies such as Medical Teams International. They have started getting small very rudimentary clinics started in Northern Uganda in refugee camps. Very simple health care procedures have been started to train people in these same IDP camps. Our role will be both to help take care of sick folks but especially to try to upgrade their knowledge and the system in general. I'm sure we will both be learning and teaching. We travel to Gulu tomorrow. Currently the LRA with its child soldiers has withdrawn into a neighboring country.
The trip over was good. Met lots of interesting people. A young redheaded soldier dress in his light tan camo uniform sat beside me. He was quite somber. Headed for Afghanistan. In fact is going to the Mazar e Shariff area where I spent two rounds. We talked. I hope some positive input re that area and its people will help his perspective. (The Sahara Desert looks just like his uniform from an airplane.) I pray for him.
Met a lady form Uganda whose husband teaches in a seminary not far from the capitol. They have students from a wide area including Gulu. Told of one of their students who had his two sons, ages 11 and 13, abducted by the LRA. Many prayed for them and interestingly the two boys escaped and were able to return by two separate ways to their own village.
Met the man and talked a while who runs "Food for the Hungry" in this part of the world. He is headed to Darfur and then to the Gulu area. May get to talk more.
Saw the cutest little kids along the way. One or 2 y.o. little girl of Indian parents was dressed in very fuzzy little red pants and top. She was running all around in the Detroit waiting area seeing other people, smiling and laughing. She favored me with some of her smiles. Her mom and dad were kept very busy trying to fetch her back.
Love to you, Jo, and to all others. Will talk again soon. Ken
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