You're the ray of my hope.

This trip has already been such an amazing adventure, full of happiness and blessing... with, of course, some tears along the way, as all good stories do. We moved from the Children's home last week on Friday, to Maria's Place. It was so nice to see all the staff and Maria again. We got straight into doing medical clinics... and it felt like hardly any time had passed between now and when we finished up last year. We all just got back into the swing of things and worked so well together.

The thing that has impacted me the most is the children. They are such huge blessings, when I am the one who is supposed to be blessing them. I just wish I could cradle them all in my arms and make everything okay for them.

I will never forget the little boy I met today. His name is Phillip and he is 7 years old. He has been in the paediatric unit of Mulago hospital for the past 3 and 1/2 months, due to a car accident. The speeding car he was in rolled and he sustained major injuries. He broke both of his legs and all of his intestines, urinary tract and bowel was damaged. When I saw him today, his casts had just been taken off his legs, yet he was still in pain. He was so thin and frail... and a very small frown made a home on his forehead. He was covered with a sheet and wouldn't look me in the eye. I started talking to his Mum and she told me about how he has had 2 surgeries already, but still has many more to go. He had his intestines on the -outside- of his body, covered only by a small square of guaze... and was only able to lay in one position on the metal-framed bed. His legs were bent out of shape and deathly thin. He constantly wet his bed, due to being unable to urinate properly. He had a tube into his stomach to assist with urination, but due to damage of his system, was urinating from places the body isn't meant to. My heart broke for this little boy. I took his tiny hand and held it tightly in mine, with tears streaming down my cheeks. I helped his Mum to lift him and change the bed sheets... and he finally looked into my eyes. His eyes were filled with pain... yet he clung to my hand tightly. He didn't let go as I prayed for him... then as I leaned over and placed a kiss on his cheek, I saw the most handsome smile spread across his face. He looked right into my eyes and whispered quietly "Thank you, Aunty Mzungu". Phillip will -always- be in my heart and prayers.