true Africa

today we went to the school again for the last time this trip and sat through two hours of dancing, singing, skits, poems, and short testimonies. the kids get so into their programs that even after the hour of allotted time for music is up, they still don't get up to play with us. we enjoyed watching them but we had limited interaction. a few of us picked up cards this morning to sponsor certain kids in the school or home and it was neat to tell them that we would be paying for their schooling. after that we went to mengo hospital to visit the pediatric ward. we passed out sweets, biscuits, toys, dolls, and other little things to the pre-op, post-op, and traction patients. a few of us were able to go in the burn unit where men, women, and children had severe burns all over their bodies. some had their faces completely burned off and others were wrapped up all over. it was heartening to see their pain but also to see where they had to endure it. this "hospital" was one open room for each ward with dirty beds, dirty floors, open windows, flies, and all kinda of unclean and unsanitary conditions. people with severe burns had open flesh wounds full of infection without any defense against it. we got to pray for a lot of people and hold hands and stroke arms or whatever unburned skin was available for these outcasts patients to feel human interaction. a few of us ran up to the labour and delivery ward to do a quick tour of the pregnant ladies, newborns, and those waiting. the whole hospital was so different from anything I've ever seen. wow. after a heavy afternoon, we got to enjoy a fun multicultural evening full of traditional African dancing and food. it was so neat to watch and the food was excellent. at the end of the night they invited us to come dance with them and a bunch of us had fun trying to shake it like they do. now it's time to get some sleep for an early morning tomorrow!