I am in Entebbe, Uganda in quarantine. I was on the first flight the Ugandan government sent to mandatory quarantine. Things were chaotic and people were afraid; yelling, crying, demanding. It is in times like this you find out who you really are.
This is where I met Maike, a German woman heading to her home in Uganda with two small children, Josefina (3) & Mayla (8mos). She was trying to get to her self-quarantine location that was safe and had room for her kids. This was all set up and ready to go, even someone waiting outside to drive them. I played with Josefina while Maike tried to talk someone into letting her go to her quarantine. Fearing her children would not do well in a small hotel room for 14 days, she also wondered how she would take care of them on her own in such an environment? In the end, the government would not let her leave and we all ended up at the Central Inn.
The workers at the Central Inn have been so very kind and gracious with our group. I am sad to say that our group was not very kind and gracious back. Days of yelling, crying, and demanding continued. No one quarantining themselves. Arguments about pricing. Too many people and not enough rooms. The airport sending over more people. The story we were getting kept changing and changing. People even tried storming the gate one time to leave. Chaos. Such selfishness on display for the whole world to see. I was told our hotel was held up as the example not to follow on the news. We were told, however, we had to quarantine, that was imperative. I agree.
During this rocky time Maike worked on protecting her children and getting them to a safe quarantine location. God even sent her a helper, her friend Shadiah, her house is the safe-quarantine location. Shadiah walked into quarantine to help her friend (wow).
As the days stretched out Maike was still searching for a way to safely quarantine her children. Our conversations changed as the story changed. When they kept bringing new people in but not enforcing quarantining. When the price kept changing. Could they afford to pay that much money? Would they move to another hotel? A school? Could her embassy help? Would the health minister grant her request to self-quarantine? She was losing hope. Every hour was a roller coaster of emotions, highs and lows as the situation kept changing.
I would see Maike from my window when she took Josefina outside to play each day. She was always on the phone talking to someone. Josefina would run around screaming and laughing, tugging on people’s arms to come play. It was nice to hear her joy and sad to think she is the only child here. What must this be like for a three year old? How do you tell them to not touch their face? Others? How do you explain social distancing?
I am a missionary who came to Uganda to help a friend, Beverly Rich and the Called Christian organization, in Jinja. I do not know anyone here and I have never traveled overseas, before I was serving in Mexico at Amigo Fiel. Maike was literally the first person I met in Uganda. I was thankful God brought me a friend right away. I would sit in my room watching the meetings outside wondering what was happening. Maike would go to these meetings to try and find a way out. When she saw my embassy was here she let me know right away. Bless her, she kept me informed.
How did I help her in this situation? I chose to bring her request to God and encourage her where I could. I asked my care team to pray for her, too. This is an amazing group who have a heart to love on people. They have been praying all week. Thank you guys! When Beverly brought me supplies I received items for Maike too. Imagine running out of baby wipes, there is no store here. Beverly, God bless her, she brought some toys for Josefina so her hours locked in a hotel room would be easier. Thank you Beverly, you are a blessing to so many.
On Sunday, day 5, I received word that Maike’s family may get to transfer to her self-quarantine. They expected the car around 330pm. All day we prayed and waited. Waited and prayed. At least at this time most people were quarantining themselves to their rooms, the first case of covid-19 had come to Uganda in the nighttime. Fear drove them to their rooms. At least now Josefina could run and play outside. I saw a woman from the German embassy outside the gates on the phone, she was out there for what seemed hours. But in the end, she left alone. I was deeply saddened as her car drove away. Crying, I called out to God, Why wouldn’t they move Maike somewhere safe? Why won’t you do something about this Lord?
Then about 730pm I heard a quiet knock on my door.
I opened the door to find Maike crying saying I don’t know what to do, help me, I cannot leave her. Leave who, I thought? Shadiah. Honestly, I had forgotten about her friend. The woman who crossed the quarantine line and came to help. The woman who had put her own life at risk to help a friend.
Here is what happened that afternoon. The German embassy had called in favors to get Maike’s family moved. They sent a letter to the Ugandan health ministry and they agreed to move her. But the letter did not include Shadiah’s name, only Maike, Josefina, and Mayla. You see, Shadiah is Ugandan and the German ministry has no authority to ask for her release. The lady outside was here to take Maike to safe quarantine, it was all set up, all okayed. But Maike had refused to leave without her friend. No one knew Shadiah was here. She has no papers showing when she entered, how would she get out? There are armed guards at the gate.
Maike had many fears and doubts, and had received bad advice from so many. Everyone was telling her to leave her friend and get the kids out, just forget her. Maike did not want to leave her friend here with so much uncertainty; so stay? What about the children get sick? If she stays the Germans would not help her get them to a hospital because she refused to leave her friend. What would people think if her babies died? People would blame her either way. And she asked me through tears, what should I do?
An impossible choice
Pick your children or the friend who came to help you in your time of need? I told her, I don’t know. But I did know that God loved her and knew the intent of her heart. It did not matter what anyone else thought, only Him. So we began to talk about how Shadiah could get out. Maybe, asking the front desk to add her to the room so they can see the date she came in? She said I cannot leave her. Then they would truly have to quarantine in that small room and if Josefina came out every day all others would have to go inside. Maike just kept saying I cannot leave her. She received a phone call. The German embassy was coming one more time to get her. She had two minutes to decide.
So I did the only thing I thought would make a difference, I prayed for her. For God to give her wisdom, to help her decide, to make a way, to move a mountain, to bring peace about her decision, and to keep them all four together. Then I told her to go, she had two minutes to arrange whatever she decides to do.
I am now at the window to watch, wait, and pray. So far in my life, this was the longest wait I have experienced. This next part only took about 45 minutes but it felt like a lifetime. I was messaging with Beverly and we were praying for God to move her mountain. That she could leave, they all could. Crying out to God to help this woman. To honor her intentions. The suspense was horrible.
I watched as Maike talked to a guard. As they walked inside where I could not see. Waiting until they came out dragging suitcases, a little parade walking up to the gate. I watched as the gate opened. No one walked through. Why is no one walking through? Much conversation is happening but I cannot hear. Darkness has come and I can only see figures. Maike with a baby on her hip, Josefina playing on her little suitcase that doubles as a riding toy, women, men with guns, suitcases. They start to move the suitcases to the car. Yes! Will Shadiah be allowed to go with them? I cannot see. What was decided? The tension is killing me. I sent a whispered voice message to Beverly, “this is worse than a horror movie!”
Then I see people moving, it is too dark to see who. Then the car drives away. I know Maike and the children are out but what about Shadiah? I can still make out a figure of a woman down there. I call Maike but she does not answer. I text her, is she with you? Did God move a mountain for you? Waiting an agonizing full minute, I get back:
We are in the car and she is with us now.
I fall over laughing loudly and then cry. Thank you Lord for getting all of them out. Thank you for moving her mountain. Thank you for taking an impossible situation and making a way. Thank you that she is a true friend. Thank you for honoring her hearts intent.
During these times we all find out what we are made of, and Maike is made of good stuff. She is steadfast, brave, loyal, honest, caring, and true. An example of what friendship looks like. When times get tough I pray you have a friend like Maike, that you are a friend like Maike. Thank you God for bringing such a woman across my path and moving a mountain for her.
Maike, Josefina, and Mayla safely quarantining. Thanks Shadiah for taking the pic.
Should you wish to send Maike a note I would be happy to forward your words of encouragement to her Deb@NowDeb.com
