Sick!

April 14, 2011

WOW, I think the bottom is falling out of the sky!!!  It is almost 3:30AM and I am wide awake, and for a number of different reasons.  First of all, I went to bed with a little bit of a heavy heart, not feeling really great, and then I was awakened at about 1:15AM because of the lightning and thunder.  I had only been in bed for about an hour before I was rudely awakened by this storm.  There is some rain coming in the windows, they appear to be open, but since there are metal bars around them, I should be conscious because of the massive strikes of lightening.  I was lying in bed wide awake thinking about not feeling well.  I have never had malaria, but you hear so much about it.  Let me just explain to you how I look right now.  I am sitting with a pitcher beside me, just in case I need it.  I learned that from mom when I was a kid.  J  Hopefully I won’t need it.  Normally it is warm here even at night, so I just sleep with a light sheet on.  I am sitting here now shivering like there is no tomorrow, a throbbing headache, and dressed as if I am in Alaska.  Long pants, two blankets, and a hooded sweatshirt, hood on and all, and I am still shivering some.  Besides it is cold in this place, it is probably 70 degrees!!!  J  No worries, I am sure it isn't malaria, just praying that I’ll feel better in the morning.  Sooo, since I am wide awake, I thought I would let ya’ll know what is so heavy on my heart.

Before I do that though, having mom here was great.  She kept commenting on how beautiful everything was and how green.  I realize how much I take for granted being here, cause I have seen the pretty of it.  We were riding back in the truck from taking the kids swimming and mom looked at me and said “Should I even say it?”  My answer, “Yeah mom it is so green, hilly, and beautiful.”  It was great to have her here and see things though fresh, new eyes.

The last day mom was here, I asked our head matron, Julienna, to come up.  Our social worker Karen joined her.  It was nice having them up and just talking with them.  Since mom is the one who always packs the bags, I asked both ladies what was needed for the next time I come.  Everybody knows I’ll come again, I just don’t know when for sure.  Here are a couple of things that stand out to me, things that I can purchase here before I leave.  On Thursdays there are about 10 or 12 kids that are on a feeding program.  They come for clothes, formula, and just needed food to survive.  Actually a few weeks back we got a new addition to our GSF family.  His name is Sebastian and he is doing quite well.  Karen checks on the kids in the feeding program, to make sure they are getting what is given to them.  Anyway, Karen said that most of the babies have problems with their skin because they sleep on the sometimes wet dirt.  None of the babies have mattresses.  Most of the time in the western society, you take care of your babies and then you, here it seems to be the opposite.  So the mom/dad might have a mattress or something to sleep on, but the baby won’t.  Can you imagine??  Seeing as I have somewhat of a soft heart, this just laid a burden on my heart.  I went and spoke with Jane today; she is over the scholarship program for the primary school.  She said that in 2009, mattresses, blankets, and a mosquito net was purchased for each of the 80 kids in the program.  We have gained another 12 or so kids, who do not have any of these things.  She apparently asked about them, but the finances just aren’t there to do it right now.  Obviously these would be things that would be best purchased here.  The other thing that is a need, which is quite private for a young teen girl, is toiletries.  Girls that don’t have these things, won’t come to school for ten days because of it.  I am going to go to the super market in town and see what kind of discount they will give me if I were to try and purchase a few cases.  These are serious needs here.

The first time I came to Uganda, a friend of mine wanted to give me money to come.  It was really hard for me to accept it and this is what she said to me “Debbie, it is great that you can go and serve, but I have a family and I can’t go and this is how I feel like I can be a part and help serve, so don’t be prideful, take the money!”  I know there are some of you, who are like my friend and want to help and just don’t know how.  Most importantly, I don’t want you to feel obligated.  There are always organizations that you can give to and help.  I just happen to be in Uganda and see a need.  So if you want to help, please shoot me an email.  If you are in Kodiak there is still a pass through account set up at the Bible Chapel, just remember to put in the memo line “Debbie Uganda”.  If you are mailing a check, you can send it to

Debbie Rohrer   Box 2219  Kodiak,  AK  99615

The storm has passed, I am at the end of my email, hmm, I wonder if that was God thing? When I wake up in the middle of the night, I don’t normally get up. I lay there and toss and turn and get really mad that I am not asleep.  But I think God really gave me a burden for these things tonight, and maybe it had to do with our missionary devotions tonight.  Either way God is good and He will provide for these needs, in one way or another.  It may not be through this email, and that is ok, but at least I can help people’s eyes be open to some needs around the world.  I know Uganda is not the only place that has these needs, America does too.  Somehow God will provide!!

Please be praying for me.  I only have a little over a week left here.  It is always hard to say goodbyes, but it will definitely be harder since I have been here for three months.  I never want the kids to feel like someone else is walking out of their lives.  I need them to know that I truly love them.  Please pray that I’ll be able to reveal that love to them.

God is good!!!!

Deb

It is now 4AM, definitely time to go to bed.  I will be praying that I’ll be able to go right to sleep and wake up in a few hours, well rested.