I have looked at a number of people in Africa who cannot
afford the cost of saving their lives from terrible conditions, so this has
caused me to look even more closely at what I am going to share with you.
In the middle of SEPTEMBER 2013, a young boy named BAGUMA
PATRICK, who is 3 1/2 years old and one of seven children, put a foreign body
from a Bic pen in his mouth. It accidentally
moved through the trachea and down into his bronchi, towards his lungs. Due to
the pain, the child began crying and had difficulty breathing. Because Patrick’s parents are very poor and
had no money, they waited for more days to see what would happen. The situation
increased and the child’s condition worsened, so they decided to sell the only
piece of land they owned and took the child to a nearby hospital.
Rose & Patrick, pre-surgery
The hospital doctors tried to do what they could to remove
the foreign body, but failed. Patrick’s
situation worsened and due to his difficulty in breathing, he was put on oxygen. He was brought, along with his mother, to
Mulago hospital in Kampala, Uganda by ambulance.
When they reached the hospital on September 19th and the
child was taken to intensive care.
This woman did not know Christ as LORD AND SAVOIR and by this
time she had spent all her money from the sale of the land, so she began borrowing
money from other patients around her.
Christians, who were doing hospital ministry, were praying with patients
in the ward and requested to pray with her.
At first she refused, but when they came back, she accepted and they
prayed with her. By this time she has
been in the hospital a week and through prayer God opened a way for her son to
have a bronchoscopy completed, but still they failed to find the foreign body. By this time, the right lung had collapsed,
his chest had become enlarged, and he was put on medication.
The mother lost all hope and had no one to help her. She stayed another week in the hospital, thinking
her child was going to die. At this time
THE CHRISTAINS CAME AGAIN AND SHARED WITH HER THE MASSEGE ABOUT JESUS AND HIS
DELIVERANCE POWER, so she gave her life to Christ and she begun looking for a
church to go to. Meanwhile, they kept on
praying for her and Patrick. The doctors told her they needed to do more tests,
Patrick needed more costly medicine, and that he also needed to undergo surgery. All this was impossible for her, as she had
no friends or relatives in Kampala, no money, and no one to help her, but God
changed the situation because she trusted and put her hope in Him.
Because our church is near the hospital where they were
staying, Patrick’s mother, Rose, came to the church I pastor during our lunch
hour service, as she found us by following our voices. I saw her crying desperately, as she seemed
to be in great pain and confused. The
spirit OF GOD compelled me to go and talk to her, as I know that when God puts
a burden or passion for something on my heart, I must go and act, because God
knows why He does that through me. I
took her into the office and prayed with her.
She opened up and shared with me what was happening. I had to Skype with Momma Mary, so we shared
about Rose and Patrick and the situation they were facing.
My wife and I took a stand to make special urgent arrangements
with the hospital, so that Patrick could undergo surgery and we kept on praying
for his life. On October 23rd, Patrick underwent a successful five hour
surgery in which they were able to remove the foreign body. He has healed and progressed very quickly.
Patrick, following surgery
Patrick after surgery with foreign body
Patrick, Dr. Gilbert, & Rose
Patrick’s father came to see them on October 30th
and when he found out the good news, he came looking for our church and gave
his life to Jesus. They were discharged that
same day and went back to their village in the Hoima district, which is located
more than 7 hours from Kampala. As they
went, they were rejoicing and praised Jesus.
Rose & Patrick, the day of dismissal
When they reached home, they testified to people in their village
of what Jesus had done. Because of the
testimony, people have begun calling me to come to their village and share with
them about Jesus Christ and His saving grace. I am thanking God for Patrick and his mother
and father’s salvation and that many in their village are now receiving the
message of salvation through Jesus Christ.
On this note, I want to appreciate Momma Mary for allowing
God to use her to be a channel in causing change and saving the life of this
boy and many other Africans. I also want to appreciate some very special
friends of “For the Love of Africa Ministries” for their endless support when such
challenges arise in Africa and for always allowing themselves to be used by God
to provide the necessary money to meet hospital bills, surgery, feeding, and
transport.
Of course, I do not want to forget everyone who has stood
for this boy and “For the Love of Africa Ministries. May God bless each of you.
You may not manage to reach these people in Africa
physically, but I want to challenge each one of you TO DO SOMETHING, EITHER BY
PRAYER OR FINANCIAL SUPPORT, THROUGH “FOR THE LOVE OF AFRICA MINISTRIES.”
GOD BLESS YOU VERY MUCH!!!
DR. GILBERT
UGANDA, AFRICA
