Stats and Stories

The following statistics are to show you some of what the medical team has been up to. Robert Yarber is the head of the medical team, and by trade he is an ear, nose, and throat surgeon. His team has been working like a machine the entire trip. The first day alone they saw 39 patients and Dr. Yarber performed 5 surgeries. The following day he performed 22 surgeries, mostly tonsillectomies. Every day since, up to yesterday, has been just as jam-packed and grueling, if not more so; and those are some pretty impressive stats. I have yet to visit the hospital, but, then again, I’ve never been too fond of getting sick.

A day after arrival at the construction site, the workers recognized Andrew as the Forman, and a man named Richard became his friend as they worked closely on several projects. From Richard, Andrew learned that a good portion of the crew were Christians, or at least they knew enough to fake it rather well. Actually, three of the workers Richard himself had led to the cross where they met The Lord.
The Ugandan Forman’s name is Ibrahim, and he is a Muslim, –which in Uganda is grouped into the Christian moniker– so be in prayer for the salvation of Ibrahim, and the other workers on the site here.

As this blog, in its current state is a collection of seemingly random stories from the trip, here’s one I heard from my uncle David about a conversation he had with one of the Ugandan workers.

Preface: In Uganda they have what is known “Bride Price”. When a man wishes to marry another man’s
daughter, both men will agree on a Bride Price. Often, it is an unseemly high price, amounting in several cows, pigs, goats, chickens, and on occasion, includes money. The currency among the average villager in Uganda, is livestock. A cow being worth the most, a chicken, the least. The villagers trade, pay for things with, and purchase these animals for self dependent food, as well as trading tools. A lot of cows is a sign of social status, although the majority of the people are very poor, as Uganda is yet a developing 3rd world country. Thus, any livestock above a pig or goat would be scarce to find in most village households. So when a Bride Price includes more than one cow and several goats, it could be literal years until it was paid off. Some couples are celebrating there 10th or 15th wedding anniversary and the husband has not yet completed the payment of his Bride Price. This being said, enjoy:

As the story was told me, he (David)
was working alongside Andrew Sutton, the American Forman of the construction site, and David’s son-in-law, as a dog’s body(a man who did the bidding of another, much like a dog does the will of his master.). He did mostly odd jobs: calling for mortar, making sure Andrew had whatever he needed, and instructing others to do things that needed to be done.
As he was awaiting instruction from Andrew of what needed doing next, he struck up a conversation with one of the Ugandan workers. A conversation that ran something like this:

W(worker): How many cows do you have to pay for your bride in America?

D(David): No cows. We do not pay cows for our brides in America.

W: Then what do you pay?

D: Nothing. We do not pay for our brides. The woman’s father pays for the wedding.

W: I am going to America!

This happened a second time when the man asked about American wages.

W: How much do you get paid in America?
David have him a low estimate.

D: Seven dollars and fifty cents.

W: Per hour?!

D: Per hour.

W: I am going to America! I will be very rich!

We all had a good laugh about that one. In the next post, I’ll tell you about how Dad and Uncle David got in prison.

Until next time, Jared Allen signing off.