A few days later I went into town and searched through the two bookstores in town that we knew of. The first bookstore didn’t have a Bible in Swahili and the said that they were very rare because everyone in this area speaks Ateso. Not many people speak Swahili in Soroti so its a special order if someone wants one. I went to the second bookstore and after searching through some packed and dusty shelves, one of the staff members pulled one out! It was dusty, the pages were a little dirty and bent, but it was a Bible in Swahili nonetheless! They told me it was the last one they had. What luck! Thank you Lord!
A few days later Josephine and I went back to the hospital to visit Deborah. It wasn’t visiting hours so we weren’t sure if they’d let us in. But we explained we were coming to bring a Bible to a patient. The guards smiled approvingly and we were in! We went to the ward Josephine thought Deborah had mentioned. She wasn’t there. We asked around to find out where she was. A lady named Agnes who is the counsellor knew the girl we were describing came with us and tried to help us find her. We went to two more wards, but no Deborah! She has no family, she can’t really walk, where could she have gone? Or maybe God healed her completely and she left? But where would she go?
Agnes said she’d continue to look around and try to find her but she told us that the Muslim’s might have taken her back to the mosque. Josephine’s eyes filled with tears and I put my arm around her to comfort her. I was sad too. How was it possible that we couldn’t find her? This was the last Swahili Bible in town! It had to be meant for Deborah. Its her Bible. It was my last day in Soroti! I wouldn’t be able to come back! She had to get it!
Just then, a kind nurse came up to us and said confidently “Don’t be downcast. God will make a way for that Bible to find its way to her.” Her faith and assurance encouraged me so much. Actually, her faith and confidence blew me out of the water. Here I was thinking it was hopeless, but this nurse was so sure that this Bible would find its way into Deborah’s hands and her hope gave me some too.
Agnes came back and she and Josephine exchanged phone numbers so that if Deborah was found Josephine could bring her the Bible. Agnes said she’d check the records and if Deborah came back for counseling or was admitted again she would know and be able to notify Josephine. This helped but now it had become a waiting game. So we said thank you and headed out of the hospital to walk home.
I had really been looking forward to seeing Deborah again and giving her this precious Bible. But I know that I had to trust God and his ultimate plan. If he wants Deborah to have that Bible, then he will get it into her hands. He has the power and the ability to do it. If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my time in Uganda, its how precious the Word of God is. I’ve seen how its changed Andrew’s life and I know it can be a great tool to help Deborah in her walk too. So if you think of it, keep Deborah and her Bible in your prayers. Its so special, it has to be meant for her. I really hope it finds its way into her hands and I can’t wait to hear the story when it does.
