the kampala diaries: day 13, blessed.

I have to make it short tonight, but I guess I'm kind of continuing my theme from last night. If you didn't understand what I was getting at- I'm on the mend! I stayed in one more day today, but I was actually able to accomplish a lot today. Unfortunately, my research partner and a number of other people are sick today.

One girl from our group was even rushed to the hospital when the virus turned into a bacterial infection and then it went septic. Talk about scary, but because of the area of the country that she was sent to this week, she was close to a hospital that is run by an American. Even better, the doctor had a number of his colleagues from the Mayo Clinic in town this week. If that's not the definition of a tender mercy, I don't know what is. Scary to think that that's the virus going around. It just makes me very grateful that my strain wasn't worse.

Tomorrow is Independence Day, and while I'll save my thoughts about my beautiful homeland for tomorrow, I'll let you know that for most of the day I'll be wearing pink and white... which is close to red and white, but that would never be acceptable to me if I were at home tomorrow. I love America so much, and maybe even so much more now that I'm being exposed to a nation, beautiful as it is, that is so foreign to me (literally). We are blessed.

So tomorrow when you are watching the fireworks, and sitting at a parade, and even talking to your family- please take a moment to think of the things that other people don't. Things that people go on happy without that mean so very much to us.

Hug your family a little longer, clap for all of the troops when they walk by in the parade, and keep your hand placed firmly over your heart when the beautiful Star Spangled Banner passes you.

GOD BLESS AMERICA