Training Day

 Training is one of those phrases often linked with dread… at least for me.   For years in lacrosse, training meant: sprints, drills, sprints, running, lifting… sprints.. It meant that you dreaded practice the week you knew you didn’t have a game approaching because that just gave the coach permission to work you extra hard. But the game day came and it all made sense, it all of a sudden felt like the training was all worth it... at least for the 3 hours of the game or until the next day of training came…

This thought has come to our mind many times today, maybe it is because we had our first “ training” session with the mamas in the Physio department yesterday, or maybe it is because we feel we have been training for this game of living life in Uganda for a few years now. 

This marks week two of being in Uganda, it has already become more like home than we can express in many ways, and yet the reality that we are very different in many ways also is very obvious.  We are loving going into work, coming home, cooking, walking and living life together.  Its hard to believe sometimes that this is truly life for us now!

As I said earlier, yesterday was our first day of having a training session for these mamas.  For a lot of them, they have no idea how to hold/position/play with their babies with "big heads."  They have often expressed fear that their hand may through the skin if they touch the head, or that they will break the neck, ect.  As you can imagine, it is not the best for a baby to only be on their back… for years.

So we are beginning training for mamas each week to train them how to carry, sleep and play with their babies in different positions.  We are teaching them how to stretch their babies and to be comfortable with their little ones. 

It was SO fun to watch as these mamas take care of their babies.  They took time asking questions and watching us as we helped them position their babies.  We had some little ones (like 3 days old)  in there, and their mamas were so intent on learning that we even looked over and saw them trying to sit their baby… we laughed a bit and told them that a 3 day old cannot sit yet, please wait until their baby was a bit older.  But how can you not appreciate their eager spirits to help their babies in any way they can!  What a true encouragement.

It is in moments like these that we see the devotion of these mamas.  They have defied the odds, they have gone out on a limb to bring their babies to us.  It is the best feeling to know that you are a part of giving these babies a chance.  These little ones had really never been on their stomach.. I guess the viral “ tummy time” has not made it here yet  But, when they put their little ones on their stomachs, many of them fell asleep, and none were crying… remarkable. 

Derek and I went back into the Ward late last night to check on everyone, and there we saw a baby in lying on its side, a baby on their stomach and a few on their back  J  I think this was the gift needed today.  It is so easy to get caught up in the frustrations, but when you take a step back, and see that 1200 babies will be given life- giving surgeries here this year and we have the opportunity to meet these incredible babies and mamas… the dust, no power, cat calls and bumps all of a sudden do not seem as ‘terrible.’  When you see a mama faithfully sitting by the bed of her son who is struggling to overcome a brain tumor,  or you see a 4 year old girl with spina bifida finally walking with crutches through the hospital… you realize that there is far  more to life. 

It is an honor to be here… Thank you for being a huge part of us being here… We feel more blessed than you know.

For the last 3 years, many days have felt like 'training' days for both of us.  We have had to consciously choose to focus on the end goal of being married, living and working in Uganda..  Thankfully, it truly feels like the game days are here and the overall emotion is gratefulness.  We are grateful for being given this gift to be here.  Some days feel more like game days than others, but we are reminded to continue training so that we will always be ready for the tasks at hand.