God's logistics

This week Mary and I have had the pleasure of hosting a friend and fellow missionary, Dr. Allan Sawyer.  Allan is an Ob/Gyn who has traveled...well, everywhere I think, and is particularly gifted at acquiring and gifting needed equipment for hospitals and clinics.  Allan flew all the way to Uganda for the sole reason of bringing vital surgical supplies to Dr. Sam Nigo, who was a resident at the PACCS (Pan-African College of Christian Surgeons) when we were working in Cameroon.  After graduating, Sam returned to his home country of the Democratic Republic of Congo to work at a faith-based hospital.  Keep in mind that he could have gone to any number of wealthier, safer countries, or have worked at a private hospital in DRC where he would have more resources and make a relatively decent salary.  Sam made the 30 hour bus trip from Bunia DRC to Kampala.

We spent Thursday looking around Kampala for some specialized surgical equipment (I didn't really understand what it does, except that you cut someone open before you use it), and it was at this point that the logistics really began to strike me: last week Mary needed a specific vaccine for pregnancy, and after calling several clinics we found the one in Kampala that offers this.  While there, we got the business card of the doc that runs the clinic.  When Sam was looking for equipment, none of use really knew where to go, so I figured I'd call this doc and ask.  She directed us to a medical supplier, who happened to be 1.6km away from where we eating lunch when she called me back.  The company had the exact material that Sam needed, and also was able to give him a catalog and offered to help with coordinating delivery of equipment to the DRC in the future, if needed.  Beyond this, when the sales-woman learned that Sam is a mission-doctor she gave him a large (potentially profit-eliminating) discount on the things that he was buying.

I really doubt that many theological skeptics or militant atheists read this blog (actually, I think only a couple of people do anyway), and I acknowledge that one could attribute the sequence of events to confirmation bias.  When one feels the presence and workings of the Holy Spirit at such times, however, it really reminds you of all that God has done, and continues to do, for us.