That was a summer that just made sense. Some summers are chaotic and confusing. This wasn’t.. Now a year out of the military, and a year into my studies at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I found myself in a small village in the cloudy mountains of Eastern Uganda. I was at a definitive crossroad in my life. Supported by a grant from the Carolina Center for Global Initiatives, I was exploring intersections between charity and functionality, trying to get a grasp on how it worked, how it could be better. I had the pleasure of organizing eight mobile medical outreach clinics with a team of US nurses and Ugandan medical providers. It was successful - even if it was just the basics for the most part. We provided medications and education to hundreds in extremely remote regions. There is something that transcends borders though about consoling someone, something about laying a hand on someone's shoulder and saying a kind, motivating word to them.
Part of my research was an evaluation on the Kaserem Christian Medical Clinic, and why it was struggling to survive despite all the outside funding that came in. At that time, it was not well respected among the locals in the surrounding area and the providers barely saw a trickle of patients come in. Our partners at Trinity Center for World Mission were interested in what direction they should take regarding the clinic. My tour of the clinic revealed a fractured environment, empty beds with neatly folded blankets on them were not being put to use. Despite the amazing views and beautiful scenery, there was something so sad about this place.
The funding was cut off. There was an unfortunate truth to situation. Helping had in fact hurt. It turned out there was some misuse of the funds - most of the funds. It was sad to see a place that had such a vision fall to the wayside. Probably more sad for the people living nearby.
What I learned from my time in Uganda that summer, traveling through small villages and helping where I could, was that these are wonderful people and they have great stories to be told, with dynamic hopes and dreams. But this is a harsh place and it is easy to look at the negatives. Spending time there though, you see there is a bright future for this place. But it has to come from this place.
Sometimes you just know when something is really important. That summer in 2012 changed the direction of my life. It was just what I needed and where I needed to be, and it set me down my career and the amazing journey I am on today.
But that wasn't the most important part. It is the story of the clinic that is the best part. The clinic stayed on my mind.
A few years later I got a happy message. Something good was happening.The place was too important and it just wouldn't give up and disappear into the clouds and forest and be forgotten by time. With almost no outside funding, a remarkable thing happened. New local management took over under the leadership of Kiti Peter - they were creative and kind, and instilled leadership values and ethics in the management process. I couldn’t be more happy to return the favor this place provided to me back then, helping me become who I am today, by helping the good people at the Kaserem Christian Medical Clinic develop into who they are going to be tomorrow.
The clinic surprised everyone. It means something to so many people now. And it is truly a different place - a place of healing and hope. And it has so much potential. What will it be in a year from now?