The Guy's Posts = Finally Internet Access!

Hey all,

We are back! Hope you didn't give up on us yet~internet is hard to come by much of the time. Catching you all up on the news. These guys have been amazing and a huge blessing to all in Uganda! Enjoy ...


February 9, 2010
Russ Lowe

Well it has been quite a week so far. I am sitting outside on a porch using wireless internet to email you. Temp is about 75 with a nice cool breeze. It is 8:30 pm Uganda time. Half way around this little world of ours and they have wireless internet. Also, called Mom this evening at work using a cell phone. You get cell phone service better anywhere in Uganda than the US. You can be sitting in a small village in the middle of nowhere and they have cell phones and service. Maybe no electricity and not enough food, but they have cell phone service and it is cheap.

The people here are wonderful. An are very friendly and intelligent. Most everyone speaks english. Even in the villages there is always someone who can interpret.

When we first fly into Entebee it was night so didn't get to see much. Nadine our leader met us at the airport. Everything got thru customs ok. Spent the night in a inn somewhere around Lake Victoria and the UN head quarter base. The inn was ok. Got up in morning and went into take a shower and no water because we were on the 3rd floor. Did a sponge bath. Headed for Kampala the next morning.

Next day we headed into Kampala. Very, very, very fast paced. Makes NYC or LA look like slow motion. Drive on the wrong side like in Japan. Even makes that look slow. No stop lights not traffic signals and always cutting across traffic lanes whenever. Don't seem to be any rules. Every inch of the road is taken up by trucks, buses, mini vans, pickups, motorcycles, bicycles. Pedestrians have not right of way and risk life and limp if they don't get out the way. Spent most of the day buying supplies and getting money exchanged. Exchanged $500 and got 2,000,000 Ugandan. Stuck it in my money belt and I looked like I was expecting. The change in culture was really exciting. I have been to other places in the far east and Mexico but this was so much more different. Finally headed out for Masindi Farm around 7pm. This is a farm where families from the LRA civil war came to find a new life. About 500 acres and 40 families. About 100 childre n in school here. Richard is there leader along with his wife Susan. Small church there that is center of life. Team GBC upgraded the solar panels and and plumbing for their only deep well. This doubled capacity. We also installed the first lighting system on the family. Used to have on kerosene laterns. We four men held VBS for the school children. That was an experience for most of us. It was fun and rewarding. Did Bible teaching and crafts for them. After the VBS the children received school clothes, backpack, books, health packets, mosquito nets, etc.

Currently in Kalongo but don’t have time to complete my blog part tonite. A lot has happened this first week. Helping to install X-Ray machine at hospital here. Running out of time, lights out at 9 pm.

In His Creation – In Africa

Russ Lowe, Team GBC


Jeff Fordham
2-9

Greetings from Kolongo, northern Uganda. What an amazing trip. Kampala is nuts, 7 million people all moving at the same time, crazy.
We have been on the go, The farm was great, the people there even greater. I cannot say enough about the hospitality, thanks Richard and Suzanne God has truly shined on them. The water pump now runs on batteries powered by the sun, 24volt System, doubled the flow. Solar lights in the dinning area, 12 volt, now we can attract bugs. Speaking of bugs, I saw my first mosquito today and the weather has been great. Very talented musicians at the farm, great time of worship.
I did six ultrasounds today at the hospital, they just lined them up and away we went. X-ray equipment seems to be going fine.
This is a great team to be with. We have all gotten along great and we work well together so I am very thankful to God for choosing them.
The People her are great, there is so much to say about this place, so much to think about I don’t know how to put it into words at this time.
There is great joy and great sadness, I don’t think it has all set in yet.
Just a few days left to take it all in, so I will leave it at that.

Jeff

Brian Lucas
2/9/10
What an amazing trip. The voyage went really well. We had no problems and arrived without event. We were met at the airport by Nadine, Richard, Susan and Pritchard. We had a great reunion at a hotel in Entebbe. The next day we shopped in Kampala. What a crazy place. Then we travelled to the Family Empowerment Farm at Masindi(Richard and Susans home). We managed to upgrade the solar power on their water system then use the old setup to provide lights and battery power in the kitchen. What an amazing group of people. I have been filtering everything through the lense of my last trip here three years ago. The love and hard work that these people have put into this slice of Eden overwhelms me. The last time I was here the people were walking long distances to get drinking water from a fish pond. The water bourne disease was unbearable. Now there is fresh water from a well with a pump running into a big tank. They have a tractor now and have increased the production of the farm by an order of magnitude. All the people are happy, healthy and working hard. We next travelled to Kalongo to the Dr. Ambrosoli Memorial Hospital. I believe this is the best hospital in Northern Uganda. We are installing an x-ray film processor, an x-ray machine, and an ultrasound machine. Some parts for the ultrasound got accidently left behind which was heartbreaking. The other stuff all seems to have arrived. I can’t begin to say how proud I am of the whole team. Oh well, It is late and tomorrow Nadine, Susan and I are going to travel to Kitgum. Please pray for all of us and our work. God bless and good night,

Brian