The 2011 medical mission team to Uganda left January 15th and returned on January 28th. The seven people on the team were Becky Harden, Dr. Bill Harden, and Brock Swanson from First Baptist Church and David Duritza, Leanne Hilliard, Tera Joyner and Jesse Weser. 

The trip was completed without any significant difficulties. We were able to accomplish the following:

1. Because we had no surgeon with us this year, we had the Uganda Doctors to do 46 surgeries that we paid for. As before these were patients who could not afford surgery and had no other way to get the surgeries done.
2. We repaired termite damage to the quarters,  placed mosquito screens over windows in the pediatric and surgical wards, replaced broken windows, and patched holes in the orphanage roof.
3. We bought supplies and food for the orphanage and spent about $1,000 to assist the children in the orphanage.                                      
4. We made many home visits where we gave food, medicine, clothes and prayed with them   all.  We also assisted with rebuilding of damaged huts and provided blankets.
5. 5. We took many medicines to leave with the hospital and clinic. We took BP machines and stethoscopes.
6. 6. We paid the hospital bills for patients who had no money.  Some of the patients had been in the hospital for weeks because they could not pay their hospital bill.
7. 7. We purchased beans, sugar, cooking oil, posho (powdered corn) and powdered milk to distribute to the patients in the AIDS clinic, home visits, and feeding center.  We made daily visits to a feeding center and supplied them with milk – they had none.  We got to know the sick children, their families and their stories.
8. We even had the honor of taking a four year old girl who had died of AIDS and a drug reaction home in our truck with her family.  This was a very emotional time for our team as well as her family.
9. We were able to worship with the patients and their families at the hospital during daily evening worship time.

Most importantly of all, we shared the love and compassion of Christ to all we met.  There are so many other stories and aspects of this trip that we hope to share with you in person.  For a more in-depth look, you may go to www.westminstermedicalmissions.com  when this year's final story, pictures and videos are updated.  The blessings were more than we can share!

Please continue to pray for us, Uganda and the upcoming Zambia trip.  We always felt your prayers for us.   Please remember that we continue to need servants to go on our medical mission trips, not volunteers. Servants go and do what their master has commanded. Volunteers go when the time and feelings are right.<