Bill and Wanda’s Incredible Journey

Flying to UK

Wanda back in UK.  It is with regret to say that Wanda is back in London.  She flew back on the 24th Oct. Bill remains in Kisiizi.  The reason for this was a serious condition in one of Wanda’s ears.  She had had something similar before.  She had an operation and the doctors gave her the “all clear” before leaving her job in London and coming overseas.  CMS would not have let us go unless there was full medical clearance.

A couple of months ago, Wanda began to have difficulty in one of her ears. We sought medication and advice from the highest levels available in Uganda. Wanda saw 4 different specialists in Uganda including an ENT specialist in Kampala, who was a former Medical Superintendent and firm Christian and reportedly the best ENT consultant in the country. None of the advice or medication that she had been given helped, and indeed, some of it has even made things worse! Eventually she was advised to return to London and see her former consultant.   So back she went.

What next?  Wanda has begun initial treatment but unfortunately the delay in getting appropriate treatment has made her condition much more severe. We do not know as yet what further treatment she will need, however, it is clear that Wanda will not be back in Kisiizi for the Jubilee later this month, or indeed back for Christmas.  Wanda has a number of needs that perhaps you can help with?

• A room to live in, the London area. (Thanks to our daughter, but her flat is suitable for short times only.) We will offer rent.
• Wheels, on loan or cheap purchase
• Work/activity, in some mission capacity, linking with church etc while she is in UK.
• Fellowship and friendship. Leaving her new home, her work and husband at short notice is not a bundle of fun.

Leave your suggestions in the Comments box where I can pick them up and forward them on to Wanda in UK.

Pray for Wanda: for sound medical diagnosis and treatment that will stabilise the ear for the long term; pray that she will find what she needs now (accommodation, car, occupation, fellowship); and for a return to Uganda when all this has been properly sorted out.

Remaining.  In the meantime Bill remains in Kisiizi, though he will go to UK when the situation requires.  Modest progress has been made with the accounts.  The plethora of projects and small special donations distract from re-establishing core processes and training staff.  Nevertheless, it is still progress.

Job’s Apprentice. We ask ourselves, what is the spiritual significance of all this?  After all, we’ve only been here four months!  We have had cheery consolation from some who tell us “God is in control” and “it’s all part of God’s Plan” and of course ” don’t worry, God is Good”.  Indeed He is.  However, The Flesh and The World aren’t so hot.  As for The Devil….

There have been a number of tragedies in the Hospital recently.  In September, one member of staff collapsed at work and died.  Then last month within 24 hours we had two further deaths.  A mental health patient who was also living with a senior member of staff hung herself in that home.  Then the wife of another senior member of staff died suddenly while in Kampala on a course.  In the Hospital, we were reeling.  Then Wanda had to leave.  We are Job’s Apprentices.

In a Post-Fall world, The Flesh is subject to disease, decay and death.  Indeed, in Kisiizi Hospital, this is our business!  However, we personally can get it as much as anyone else.  Do we give up on God, as the Devil in Job would have us do? Certainly not.  We don’t know what “the right answer” is to all this.  But just as Job did, we will reject the wrong answers.

Our response, as was Job’s, is to remain faithful to God in whatever adversity visits us.