My Warmest Appreciation
Friends and Family,
I hope you are doing well! As you know shortly before Christmas 2009 I returned from spending 6 months in Africa. Throughout my journey abroad I spent time in Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia while forming a medley relationships and stories. I am so thankful to have had the opportunities that so many of you supported with your faith, generosity and prayers.
Starting out in Uganda last June, working in a medical clinic, on a team I co-leaded, was the beginning of an amazing adventure that I am sure not to forget. Venturing half way around the world with my closest friends was breathtaking. After spending months collecting supplies and funds the team and I were finally able to partner with the Agule Community Health Centre in ways we had only dreamed of. Innovation, creativity, and determination were vital to us producing good results. During our month in Uganda, we were able to complete construction of a maternity ward, provide valuable lifesaving supplies, and continue to forge relationships that span oceans. One of my personal favorite parts of the experience was being able to document and share the stories of the many lives we were able to impact. If you would like to recall them or stay up to date with the trip returning May 2010, visit akia-ashianut.blogspot.com
Following my time in Uganda I was fortunate to have a few days of rest and relaxation in Nairobi, Kenya before meeting up with a team from Port City Community Church. While waiting, I met a group from Michigan who invited me to join them doing medical work in the slums of Nairobi. The images I saw during those days I hope never leave my mind. Once I met up with the team from Port City we headed to Nakuru, where we held bible studies and taught lessons of character development. Instilling love, honor, humility and honesty in each of the 80 kids, was truly a memorable and rewarding experience. My favorite was a boy named Jeremy, whom I am now supporting and sponsoring to go to school! The thought of watching him grow as we exchange letters and pictures can only be described as joy.
Finishing up Kenya was difficult, fully knowing that the hardest lessons of my journey were yet to be learned. While eager for the challenge, as I entered Ethiopia the first few weeks caught up to me extremely fast. Ethiopia is a nation rich in culture, community and heart but faces numerous challenges relating to infrastructure, education, health and creativity. The everyday struggles of battling these and other issues on many different fronts tested and trialed my faith.
Two days a week I worked in a medical clinic. The first day I walked in I felt like I had just entered the worst plot of land on the face of the earth. I knew my feet were somehow different because of the steps they were now taking. More than a thousand patients lined the walls as far as my eyes could see. All those diseases I heard about on the news, they were here. All of them. My friend Steadman and I walked around speechless for nearly an hour. I finally turned to him and said, There is no way I can work here. We left exhausted and confused, not knowing how to make sense of the troubles we just witnessed. On the way home we talked for a few more hours and I reluctantly decided to go back. I had no clue how I was going to help but, somebody needed to do something. When I returned, I met one of the nurses and he gave me a white coat. Smiling, he looked at me and said, Let’s get to work. Before I could finish telling him how crazy I thought he was we were already drawing blood on two patients.
I spent nearly 5 months in that clinic and learned a ton. Each day seemed to have new challenges, and I often came home wondering how some of the patients were going to make it through the night. Nevertheless, every story has redemption and day after day I could feel the layers of tension covering begin to lift, as these moments shaped me from the inside out. A lot of the memories I have from Ethiopia weren’t glamorous or beautiful but great things aren’t always this way. The world doesn’t always hand us nice things in pleasant packages. Sometimes we just have to jump in. Sometimes we have to jump really far, into cold deep waters. The months I spent in Africa were some of the most rewarding experiences in my life. It wasn’t always beautiful but it was good, and for that I am extremely grateful.
Africa and I are not finished. While, I am not sure which roads will lead me to return, I am confident there are few dead ends. Like my friend in the clinic, so many of you have encouraged me to jump in and travel down a road less taken. With your time, dollars, thoughts and your prayers you have changed my life and countless others. I hope you see the value in these stories because they are as much yours as they are mine. I hope you share them and continue in whatever way you can to jump in.
If you would like to see videos, pictures and read more about my time abroad you may visit scottsafricablog.wordpress.com or email me at scottseibold@gmail.com! Thank you for your time!
Sincerely,
Scott Thomas Seibold
