Doug Van Pelt

THE FINAL FEAR BLOG [Uganda.9]

Okay, this is the blog where I chronicle and "get out" all of my fears about this upcoming trip. Here's where I take an unflinching look...


Hold it right there!!!
Let me re-phrase that: "Here's where I take a look, with flinching and clenching, and possibly shaking and quivering..."
he he he


When we went to get our shots (the cost of which could've almost purchased a used motocross bike), the nurse there went through a book that highlights some of the risks involved in this trip.


Malaria. There has been a "Malaria risk in the whole country."
Yikes! I have to avoid mosquitos like the plague ... for real!
We were told to spray our bedding with mosquito spray, so we don't get bit at night. Wow.


Hepatitis A, which has risks with food and water transmission.
Hepatitis B, which is blood and body fluid. No tattoos for me in Uganda!


Tetanus/diphtheria/acellular pertussis.
What? I have to be concerned about tetanus?! I don't plan on stepping on any nails ... but I got a shot for it anyway.


Tuberculosis. Wow, I haven't dealt with this in a while. The first time I can remember was when a girl in our high school had TB. I think the whole school population got shots or something. Then, after I got fired from my Christian bookstore (Music Buyer) job,** I started doing some substitute teaching. I had to fetch my college transcripts and get a TB shot for that. And then a year or two ago I had to get another shot so I could babysit for our friend's then foster child. Anyone caring for a foster child in the state of Texas, I guess, has to be protected for that. I not only had to get another TB shot, but we have to go back within six months of this trip for another one! "Both of these countries (Uganda and South Africa) have reported a disturbing appearance and spread of both multi-drug resistant adn extreme drug resistant tuberculosis. These cases are mostly in the rural areas of both countries where people can't afford proper treatment or don't use their medication properly."


Poliomyelitis. What? Polio?! There is an epidemic in the area. There is "person to person nasopharyngeal transmission. I guess if someone sneezes around me, I'll say, "God bless you and curse that foul disease that just came out of your nose!" (I'm just kidding, of course)


Meningitis. "Epidemic in area... There are 2,000 cases with 65 deaths in Uganda and health officials expect more cases to surface."


Typhoiod Fever.


Yellow Fever. "This is an endemnic zone and the vaccination is highly recommended. Over the past few years the number of reported cases of yellow fever has increased dramatically and the potential transmission zone has expanded to urban areas. Actual number of Yellow Fever infections exceeds reported cases.


Cholera. "Uganda reports 487 cases with 12 deaths from Oct/Dec."


Ebola. "116 cases reported. 338 under observation with 30 dead since September."


Plague. "180 cases with 19 dead have been reported so far this year."
Wow, the plague! That is unreal to even be talking about.


A lot of this is unreal. I can't imagine the risk and worry that mothers and grandmothers have for their missionary children, etc. Seems like I just heard a story a couple weeks ago about a doctor that gave up his practice here to help out in Africa and he recently succombed to one of these terrible diseases and died.


Then there's reports about violence and whatnot. Originally, this Blogger's Tour was going to be in Kenya. This beloved country has lions in the wild. Oooh, that gets me stoked. It's a good thing now they moved it to Uganda (because of the need for guaranteed high speed internet each day where we stay ... for the blogging). Kenya has, of course, of late been rife with violence and political upheaval. It's good that they moved the destination, now.


In the book prepared for us by Passport Travel, there's a warning about safety and security. Here's an excerpt:


Armed banditry and attacks on vehicles are also very common in the Karamoja region of Northereastern Uganda, and the Uganda People's Defense Forces (UPDF) continues to implement a program to disarm Karamojong warriors. Incidents during the past two years have included ambushes of UPDF troops, and attacks on vehicles, residences, and towns that resulted in multiple deaths. Most of the violence occurred in the districts of Kaabong, Kotido, and Abim, although some violent incidents also occurred in Moroto and Nakapiripirit Districts. American citizens are advised to avoid travel to the Karamoja region given the frequent insecurity."


Wow. I can imagine that, if I saw something like that occuring, before jumping into action, I might have feelings of subtle anger, 'Crap!' kind of like how I felt when I flipped my VW Beetle about 3 years ago. 'There goes my rearview mirror. Bummer, that's going to cost a lot to replace. Oh, I'm rolling over now...' It was almost humorous to feel things slow down as a fast roll was happening. It could be a passing thought of frustation, like: 'I didn't sign up for this!'


Besides signing medical forms for this trip, since it's going to a remote location and might involve some strenuous hiking. There was also fine print to sign off on about some worst-case scenerios, like "Extraction" and an agreement not to sue (Compassion). Under the Extraction clause, it mentions:


"The policy of Compassion International is that it will not pay ransom or yield to demands of any individual or group. In the event of an arrest or detention by legitimate governments or other forces, the Organization will do everything within its power and resources to gain release. In the event of threats to the life, the Organization shall use legitimate, prudent means, including evacuation, if necessary, for safeguarding life. If, for whatever reason, I am individually or in a group, involved in a kidnapping, piracy, or hijacking, I hereby agree to allow Compassion or their delegate to represent me and my family in any negotiation proceedings..."


Nothing to get nervous about, Doug! ha ha...
People have varying reactions to stuff like this. A "Nervous Ninny" might fret and worry over possible and potential threats like this. "Reckless Randy" might fly right past all the fine print and just deal with what happens if and when it presents itself. I think I'm more in the Randy category. All these potential risks are worth taking a look at, so I can know what I'm getting me and my wife into, but worrying about something that has little chance of happening is probably a waste of time. I trust that God will be watching out for us and the rest of the tour party. I plan on staying prayerful (and we covet your prayers now and in the coming weeks) during this trip. I think about believers that have their travels chronicled in the Bible, like Paul the apostle. While he was out doing what he was told by the Lord, following His lead and spreading the kingdom, he didn't think twice of gathering wood for a fire after a shipwreck. When he was bitten by a viper, he shook it off and was protected. If we looked at the statistics of general safety (like the ninconpoop character in the movie The Darwin Awards), we might never leave our house!


There are many verses in the Bible that say, "Do not fear!" The context of many of those, by the way, were with angelic visits, to which the visitee cowered in fear to the supernatural presence in front of them. The angels would tell the people, "Do not fear!" It seemed to be a pretty calming affect on the people. As a side-note, this is an argument I like to use with Jehovah's Witnesses or other people that try to argue that Jesus was just an angel and not the God-in-skin Second Person of the Trinity. The angelic visitations recorded in the Bible were accompanied by exhortations not to worship them, "I am just a servant, do not worship me!" Jesus, on the other hand, received worship time and time again, according to the New Testament. If He was just an archangel, He would've been obligated to forbid those supposedly misguided people from worshiping Him.


The Word also mentions that "perfect love casts out fear." I think in many ways love is kind of like the opposite of fear. It's a choice we can make. When we are afraid, we can choose to have courage and face our fears. We can pray to the One Who is more powerful than our danger/threat/risk and ask Him to help us.


I'll end this enormously long blog with a prayer:


Father,
Thank You SO much for revealing Yourself to us. We haven't acted good enough in our lives to deserve or earn Your love, but You have chosen us and lavished Your love upon us. Thank You! While there are dangers out there and some risks in this trip, I place myself and my wife in Your care and choose to trust You for our safety. Please allow us to walk in that trust, where we can put fear out of our mind and focus on those around us and be sensitive to Your voice, waiting in expectation for You to use us to help and love those around us. Thank You so much for this opportunity. We thank You in advance for working through us and with us in doing things we cannot even imagine at this point. We pray in the Name of Your Son, Jesus.
Amen.