Jan 18, 2012
The morning began with our usual morning walks and we hustled to get back to get ready for the village health workers testing!! They did oral testing with each of us, some through interpreters and some spoke english. Then, all posed for pictures with their certificates! We are proud of them, they learned a lot and we hope they will take this with them to help their fellow villagers in time of need. We equipped them with a backpack of supplies. The backpacks came from those discarded in the maternity ward of St. V's by patients who did not want them. About 15 village health workers have backpacks from St. V's from over the years!! Also, they were equipped with the stethoscopes donated by Welch allyn, through Heart to Heart International. It was a beautiful sight! They all had assignments to help with during village clinic also. Triage, vital signs, crowd control, wound dressings etc. The afternoon came real quick and people were lined up for clinic since morning! Brenda, Suzan and I saw patients. Melissa and Jessie and Sam did pharmacy, wound care and anything else needed. It was hectic for sure, but much cooler and easier to do in the new clinic! A lot of painstaking work also went into setting up the clinic, painting the inside and then scraping the paint off the new floor! Melissa and Jessie and Brenda you rock!
The guys were still working on the solar..needed more wire and also needed to hook up the tank float switch as it was overflowing and also the lightening rods for the roof. Many kids have died because lightening strikes the metal roof and then goes to the kids who are grounded with their bare feet!! We have a huge roof! Therefore wanted to be sure all was safe!
It was clear as dark came we were not finishing anytime soon, so on went the lights!! Yipee! We saw patients until 9pm! Brenda saw a severe leg/ankle abscess which we suspect had a foriegn body and suspected osteomyelitis. I also have pt in severe abdominal pain we suspected had appendicitis and sent to the hospital. Our clinic bed brought over on the container was used for the first time...and the wheelchair!!
We all broke for dinner at 9pm, then the guys went back to work until 1am!! We all packed and sorted and packed and sorted for the next leg of the trip!
Good thing the team was going to get a break by going to Murchison Falls game park and hiking the falls! I was heading off to Kitgum to meet with the directors of the 3 orphanages we fund for medical care. The team will meet me there in 2 days.
6 am came mightly early!!
Next stop..Kitgum and the Northern Uganda Orphanages!!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Jubilee!!
Jan 17, 2012
Emmanuel Clinic Celebration:
Jubilee was the dream of Mama Brenda!! Little did she know how big this celebration would become! Originally, We thought it would celebrate the opening of the clinic, however, we learned there is politics and procedures to follow in Africa as well! Ha, should have known it wasn't going to be that easy! The clinic will need to be registered, inspected and staffed with qualified nursing, clinical officer (similar to midlevel provider) and eventually a doctor! We also need to add a lab, which we have planned for the next build out of the 4th end section of the building. So, Jubilee became the celebration of the building of the clinic in progress. Villagers from all around were invited, as well as the mayor and other political officials in the district. Two of the political guest of honors were women!!
Jubilee began with Brenda's idea of a health fair for the adults and games and hygiene/handwashing training for the children. There were 8 stations for the adults and they rotated through the various stations every 10 minutes and was indicated by a drum beat. This began the morning. There was about 10 people in each station to begin with and this grew as people straggled in after their morning chores and long walk to the farm. The stations were held in the shade or under a tree and were as follows:
Handwashing: Kam and Melissa (the hotel soaps and shampoos everyone saves was given out to each person who rotated in this station)
Bio-Sand water filters and clean water: Geoffrey Alara trained technician
Neck and Back stretches: Tyler
Dental Hygiene and toothbrushing: Sam (toothbrushes given out here)
Latrines and sanitation: Stu
Malaria and prevention: Alice, alumni trained village health worker
Diarrheal disease transmission and prevention with ORS: Jennifer and Christine, trained village health workers, alumni
Nutrition and Gardening: Nadine and Bosco (seeds donated by Vision Beyond Borders given here)
Children hygiene/handwashing and games/face painting: Brenda, Jessie and Maureen - new village health worker
It was great fun and we finished by 1:15 just in time for lunch! The whole village stayed for lunch. We soon realized after lunch there was a much bigger agenda than we realized. A formal written agenda was produced with an MC, PA system was plugged into the clinic solar power now up and running, sodas were distributed. Chairs were lined up in a semi circle and we all were sat in seats as other village officials and Richard's family were guided to their seats. Guest dancers and singers and drummers were invited from neighboring villages and from various tribes. They performed various tribal dances and it was amazing! Once introductions occured, the politicians were taken on a tour of the vocational school, Alice's garden with the bucket drip irrigation and Alice's household bio sand water filter, the deep water well, solar well and tank, larger garden irrigation, clinic etc. Following there were numerous speeches! Brenda and I even had to get up there! The team was introduced as well. The politicians expressed support of the clinic and said would help with staff etc, however later, Suzan thought this could be all talk...sound familiar? It was fun and dancing occurred until dark! Overall it was a very satisfying day!!
Now to get ready for testing of the village health workers tomorrow morning and then village clinic in the afternoon! Stay tuned!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Sunrise Village Walks
Throughout the week on the farm, we got up early each am between 6 - 6:30 am and walked as the sun came up throughout the village areas. One day we went on the road to Katamarwa school (where the Love Covers and Love Packs blessed the nearly 1000 children and later the 1000 cups with bio sand water filters, learning with clean water and hygiene and sanitation outreach took place). The road is not well travelled at this hour, a few people out with their cows and goats. School is still out of session so there is few children around the school. We love these walks and it is a great way to start the day (unlike the lightening speed we start the day with in America!). The exercise and air felt good, even though it was going to be a hot and buggy day. One day, we went passed the school and walked through Katamarwa village. As we were walking back, a women called out to us in a very cheerful voice and beckoned us to come over and in. She was so friendly and animated so we all walked over and she introduced us into the church made of mud and sticks with a thatched roof. Pretty soon children started peering in. We all introduced ourselves and then she asked us to pray for them. Everyone looked at me, so we formed a circle holding hands and invited the many children in who also held hands with all of us in a large circle filling the space and I prayed for them all. It always touches my heart and God speaks to me mightily each time this happens. I still remember the first time the ladies on the farm sat me in the brick shell and dirt floor church on the farm and asked me to pray for them 5 years ago. This seems like a lifetime ago now as at that time they prayed for time pots to simply boil the muddy pond water in and blankets for their children who were sleeping the cold wet dirt floor as it rained and rained. 5 years later, the development and progress that has occurred is astonishing! Glory be to God! Hallelujah! This was also our first opportunity to invite everyone in the village to the "Jubilee" clinic celebration!! We knew this word of mouth will spread better than any internet or social network in this area!
Another morming also brought us through Rakayata village and many familiar sites. We take this opportunity to do some house visits also. This day we walked passed the village center and went to see John, a 17 year old boy living with hyrdrocephalus and basically floor ridden for years. We first met John in 2006 with the Calvary Chapel team and the village clinic. I have followed him since and even bought him a mattress and sheets to get him off the dirt floor. Also, when the container came over I brought him a hospital mattress with the thick vinyl protection. Far Reaching Ministries, Wes and Vicky have also helped this boy and paid for a shunt surgery in Mbale, a caregiver and a solar CD player. His mother also has another disabled child, a girl, Harriett. Keti tries hard and was told to through the kids away years ago, however she could not and did not. I know she has done the best she can do and rarely do I find any bad wounds or big sores on John when I visit, however, each time his mattress is gone!! We found him lying on the ground on a thin matt and dirty blanket, very cold, but with a huge huge smile! "Hello, How are you?", He says cheerfully! When asked what he needed or wanted, he said a "toy motor car". So we set about getting him his wish...a toy motor car with wheels! And now I am about the task of getting a 3rd mattress, this time a child mattress with a bed frame. It will be way too small for an adult to sleep on it and unfortunately too small for Harriet to sleep on it too (the other mattresses fit both kids and two big ones would not fit in the hut). Maybe, just maybe the adults will not take John's mattress now?! We had a stern talk when I brought back the hygiene supplies and scalp shampoo and clothes. I can only hope and pray they also give the boy the blanket we left at the farm when the bed is finished! This is Africa! Reminds me so much of how we used to find Rogers in Kayunga some years back! The needs are great for all! These kids are incredibly tough to survive against all odds! All are God's children...may he continue to protect them.
Nadine
Shining Light - Emmanuel Clinic
"Let there be light!"
Yesterday the men finished the solar panel and electrical work and the clinic was lit up like a christmas tree! It was truly amazing! I am in awe how the blessing of "light" will bring so much to the farm! I am so very blessed to be here in Uganda! Each day brings a new experience and opportunity to help those in need. The Family Empowerment Farm ceases to amaze me every day! Everyones hard work at home in the United States and here on the farm has truly paid off. I can't wait to continue on our travels and see all the smiles of those we pass!
God Bless everyone and thank you for all your hard work in getting us here and helping these people who truly deserve it!
Jessica Gilmore
Note from Nadine: Jessie is the epitomy of "light". She cascades it all around her wherever she goes, giving freely of her love and kind gentle spirit! Just ask Baby Robinson! Thank you Jessie for completing the team, you were the glue that held us happily happy together (and carried Stu's ball the whole trip!).
From the Guys - Short and Sweet!
Tyler Heffner - A great week with a lot of accomplishments and a lot of creative solutions. Its pretty amazing how things get done around here and how hard it is to find proper equipment and parts. Its a great thing that we have a great team. We managed to get the entire clinic wired and powered up with the solar, we got showers, tap stands, and sinks piped up to the water tank. We fixed one of solar pumps that just happened to quit during our stay at the farm, we fished frogs out of the tanks, and shocked the tanks with bleach. One of our last projects is to install lightning rods on the clinic. Things are going great.
Sam Ausen - Everyone is so friendly and appreciative if our help. And there is a good turnout. The team members are all so awesome and we are getting along just great. We love the hot weather and miss all of you at home and send our love. We are preparing to go to the jubilee celebration.
Stu Stevens- We have been working very hard every day and it feels gratifying! The team and people here are great. The farm is developing into a well oiled machine, I can't wait to see the fruit of everyones labor.
Note from Nadine: If you could have only seen all 4 of the guys in action!! I joked about them in the previous post, but seriously, it was amazing synchronization! They each had their special gifts and we needed each and every one to round out the projects for completion! I could not have designed a better team if I tried! But then again, the creator designed it...the good Lord knew who we needed and why and made it possible. Thanks to Mama Brenda who recruited her clan as well! Thanks also to Bob Wright, an amazing man who lives in Karamojo with his family at the presbyterian mission (also supported by Rocky Mountain Community Church of Billings), who contacted us after we both recieved a grant from NWGREF and offered to be our wholesale water and solar project dealer and consultant guy! After several emails and phone calls in country we finally met him on the last day! Another Godsend!
Our young newlyweds
Uganda is a beautiful country filled with outstanding people. Through our mission trip we have met some amazing loving people, who have changed our lives. Their welcome was so genuine through their singing, our hearts were filled with joy and has sparked our compassion for others. Since our stay here Kam has got all the lights finished in the clinic, and we had our light show last night. It has brought so much joy and hope to our mission. While Kam has been working hard I have been teaching our healthcare workers, and it has been a joy for me to get to know the women of the village. I feel like I have made an impact to these women through my teaching of wound care. They are eager to learn and could recite every word I taught them! While traveling to another village nearby, we meet some amazing people. The children gave us the warmest welcome anyone could ever receive. The sang their hearts out, and we felt very blessed to be apart of it. We got the opportunity to give all the children vitamins, and play with them. They loved the bubbles and pretty much mauled me. They also were obsessed with the camera and seeing the pictures we took of them. They had the greatest laughs, it brought so much joy to everyone. We had an amazing time. As a gift they gave us the sodas. I wish everyone could of saw Kam's face when he saw the mountain dew, don't worry I got a picture of Susan giving it to him. What an amazing experience we had, I wish everyone in the USA could be as kind and giving as these people, we would live in tranquility. We have learned selflessness and compassion through our trip so far but we are looking forward to moving on through our adventure. What a blessing it is that we have got this opportunity. Today we will be doing our celebration of the clinic, and I am doing the prayer in front of the hundreds of village people, keep me in your prayers, I am very nervous! : ) We will keep in touch.
God Bless everyone,
Melissa and Kam Christensen
Note from Nadine: Melissa and Kam were amazing and made an impact and were impacted for sure! Even when they didn't feel well, they served with grace and perseverence. The village pastor actually came, so he did the prayer which relieved Melissa as there were hundreds of people and some political folks! Everyone took turns praying at the meal blessing and if they led the prayer they got to eat first! Now at times that was incentive. Ha! The celebration was quite the deal, much more than we expected! Brenda and I had to make speeches and that was scary!! More about "Jubilee" to come...
Mama Brenda
Jan 18, 2012
Wow what a busy week. So much accomplished. We have been blessed with an amazing team. Everyone has contributed such a great deal. The farm has changed so much since I first came to Africa 4 years ago. Progress. A new clinic (Emmanuel clinic - Hope 2 One Life), a vocational school (Far Reaching Ministries), and a new school being built (Yobel Market), plus many new faces, new tukel's, solar power, and showers....But the best of all was greeting old friends who have made us a part of their families and lives. It is us who reap so many benefits from being here. I thank the good lord that I have been blessed with the opportunity to be a part of this.
Brenda Gilmore
Note from Nadine: Brenda saw her namesake - twin Baby Brenda now two years old and walking for the first time!! Twin baby Leigh was missing her auntie Leigh! The ladies love love Brenda and Leigh who are the best health teachers ever!!
Family Empowerment Uganda - Canaan Farm; Our Home away from Home!!
Jan 18, 2012
Hi all!
We spent 8 nights on the Family Empowerment - Canaan Farm with our beloved friends and director Richard, nurse Suzan and baby Abigail Angoma. Also, with our good friends and interpreters, escorts, right and left hands and all around great help...Young Richard, Denis, Geoffrey, Jackson, Bosco, young Bosco and more! It was great to see the ladies again in the women's empowerment group. 5 returned for our village healthcare worker refresher course (Alice, Jennifer, Keti, Evelyn, Christine) and what started with 3 new ones, quickly grew to 7 new people, including two men! Kampala village was represented, as well as Apopo's daughter from Palebec village north of Kitgum. The previously trained group started off by teaching the "pig story" to the new students! Brenda organized this all! We missed Leigh immensely, especially since Suzan threw away all of the previous posters and teaching flip charts thinking Leigh was bringing over new and better ones! Leigh saved the day by sending us the certificates to be copied (we forgot to bring them!)Thanks! All the ladies sent a warm greeting to Ja Ja (Carol) and Sara!
Training topics included:
Vital signs and first aid: Brenda, Jessie and Melissa
Hygiene and Cleanliness: Nadine
Handwashing: All
Latrines and sanitation: Sam
Wounds and burns: Melissa
Nutrition: Nadine
HIV and STD's: Jessie
Diarrhea and oral rehydration: Brenda
Malaria: Nadine
They were fantastic and real sharp! Others were in the tailoring school and making paper beads to sell for their income generating projects. They have some great new things made! We can't wait for you to see them! Lives are improving through these gift sales that keep on giving!
There was also a lot of activity around piping the water to the clinic, kitchen, bath house and latrines from the new solar deep water well. Tom Osborne traveled over in Sept to over see this project and we got to see the fruits of his labor and fundraising for this incredible project! The tap stand was completed by the time we arrived. People were just turning on the tap and drinking cups of water!! Already the farm had added a box and outlet for drip irrigation of a large garden plot! Richard finally was able to use the irrigation pipes he brought from Kenya years ago! These were the only vegetables growing in dry season, along with the other garden irrigated by the pilot smaller solar well! We added a plan to irrigate the banana, pineapple and passion fruit orchard behind the kitchen also! Toward the end of the week, we had showers for the first time ever! Cold water showers but with great water pressure and it was all gravity feed through pipes in ground trenches! We added sinks at the latrines for handwashing too! Hard to stop once it all got started...the water accessibility was so awesome! Can you imagine cooking and bathing and washing without having to haul water?? Well you all reading this probably can, but for those who walk far to fetch water and for those who simply prayed for tin pots to boil the muddy pond water, once upon a time, 5 years ago...this is a miracle!
The guys did an incredible job setting up the solar power for clinic as well. I had to shut my eyes when they were on the roof and climbing the tank tower!! At least some of the time they were tied off! Other times all I could see was Stu's legs in the air as he fished for frogs that climbed in the new water supply tank! Then there was Sam welding with some kind of makeshift glass shield he held up and on the roof no less! How we lectured on safety! Good thing we had some climbing monkeys! Melissa was begging Kam to tie off! Ty was the ring leader and master mathmetician giving orders from the makeshift ladder! The good lord saw all through with out a hitch. The only injury was when Stu stumbled out the back of the truck and twisted his ankle! In the midst there were a couple trips the ugandans made to kampala for more supplies. They also were on hand to help out in every way possible and learn all they could!
Plans went from A to____, but not quite to Z! This included moving the big sink from room to room in the clinic 3 times!! The bricks and mortar demolition team (gals) helped out the poor guy re-doing it and even cleaned up the mess! We are happy with the room plan now and have a plan for the lab in place and more! It also included the inverter smoking out and making the decision to get a new bigger capacity and better one! (Bill don't be shocked when you see the accounting!). Then the float switch warped when the tank lid was off in the sun...thus all over again and at 1 am the guys were trying to fix things before we had to leave! All took it in stride though and it went smooth! The team worked great together! What a blessing and gift they have been! (I can tell these stories now as the team is almost home safely while I am still in Uganda and finally have internet access!)
The following posts are excerpts from the team and a few highlights while on the farm! Thank you to all those at home who made this possible through prayer, financial assitance and faith!
Hi all!
We spent 8 nights on the Family Empowerment - Canaan Farm with our beloved friends and director Richard, nurse Suzan and baby Abigail Angoma. Also, with our good friends and interpreters, escorts, right and left hands and all around great help...Young Richard, Denis, Geoffrey, Jackson, Bosco, young Bosco and more! It was great to see the ladies again in the women's empowerment group. 5 returned for our village healthcare worker refresher course (Alice, Jennifer, Keti, Evelyn, Christine) and what started with 3 new ones, quickly grew to 7 new people, including two men! Kampala village was represented, as well as Apopo's daughter from Palebec village north of Kitgum. The previously trained group started off by teaching the "pig story" to the new students! Brenda organized this all! We missed Leigh immensely, especially since Suzan threw away all of the previous posters and teaching flip charts thinking Leigh was bringing over new and better ones! Leigh saved the day by sending us the certificates to be copied (we forgot to bring them!)Thanks! All the ladies sent a warm greeting to Ja Ja (Carol) and Sara!
Training topics included:
Vital signs and first aid: Brenda, Jessie and Melissa
Hygiene and Cleanliness: Nadine
Handwashing: All
Latrines and sanitation: Sam
Wounds and burns: Melissa
Nutrition: Nadine
HIV and STD's: Jessie
Diarrhea and oral rehydration: Brenda
Malaria: Nadine
They were fantastic and real sharp! Others were in the tailoring school and making paper beads to sell for their income generating projects. They have some great new things made! We can't wait for you to see them! Lives are improving through these gift sales that keep on giving!
There was also a lot of activity around piping the water to the clinic, kitchen, bath house and latrines from the new solar deep water well. Tom Osborne traveled over in Sept to over see this project and we got to see the fruits of his labor and fundraising for this incredible project! The tap stand was completed by the time we arrived. People were just turning on the tap and drinking cups of water!! Already the farm had added a box and outlet for drip irrigation of a large garden plot! Richard finally was able to use the irrigation pipes he brought from Kenya years ago! These were the only vegetables growing in dry season, along with the other garden irrigated by the pilot smaller solar well! We added a plan to irrigate the banana, pineapple and passion fruit orchard behind the kitchen also! Toward the end of the week, we had showers for the first time ever! Cold water showers but with great water pressure and it was all gravity feed through pipes in ground trenches! We added sinks at the latrines for handwashing too! Hard to stop once it all got started...the water accessibility was so awesome! Can you imagine cooking and bathing and washing without having to haul water?? Well you all reading this probably can, but for those who walk far to fetch water and for those who simply prayed for tin pots to boil the muddy pond water, once upon a time, 5 years ago...this is a miracle!
The guys did an incredible job setting up the solar power for clinic as well. I had to shut my eyes when they were on the roof and climbing the tank tower!! At least some of the time they were tied off! Other times all I could see was Stu's legs in the air as he fished for frogs that climbed in the new water supply tank! Then there was Sam welding with some kind of makeshift glass shield he held up and on the roof no less! How we lectured on safety! Good thing we had some climbing monkeys! Melissa was begging Kam to tie off! Ty was the ring leader and master mathmetician giving orders from the makeshift ladder! The good lord saw all through with out a hitch. The only injury was when Stu stumbled out the back of the truck and twisted his ankle! In the midst there were a couple trips the ugandans made to kampala for more supplies. They also were on hand to help out in every way possible and learn all they could!
Plans went from A to____, but not quite to Z! This included moving the big sink from room to room in the clinic 3 times!! The bricks and mortar demolition team (gals) helped out the poor guy re-doing it and even cleaned up the mess! We are happy with the room plan now and have a plan for the lab in place and more! It also included the inverter smoking out and making the decision to get a new bigger capacity and better one! (Bill don't be shocked when you see the accounting!). Then the float switch warped when the tank lid was off in the sun...thus all over again and at 1 am the guys were trying to fix things before we had to leave! All took it in stride though and it went smooth! The team worked great together! What a blessing and gift they have been! (I can tell these stories now as the team is almost home safely while I am still in Uganda and finally have internet access!)
The following posts are excerpts from the team and a few highlights while on the farm! Thank you to all those at home who made this possible through prayer, financial assitance and faith!
Uganda Mission 2012
Jan 11, 2011
Hello all!
Brenda and I are back in the saddle with a new 2012 Uganda Mission team! 5 members from St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, Montana and their families and friends! All geared and ready to teach public health, nutrition etc, get the solar power up for the clinic and plumbing/piping of water from the new solar deep water well. We could hardly wait and the 30 some hours flew by!
WIN SOME LOSE SOME
It all started off with a pleasant surprise after a smooth packing and 17 tubs of supplies etc. we got them all through the Billings airport free (United was going to charge $70 for second luggage each!).
The flights went very well even with this being a different route from previous. I was surprisingly calm and settled even after being up all night finishing the last of the packing and home arrangements. The team is awesome and very very easy to travel with. Thank you God!
I was stopped in Brussels and all went through as well. Jessie and Brenda had to check their carry ons and Jessie's did not show up (later it was found and a few days later she got it on the farm). Customs at the airport has gone smoothly in past years. This year, however, we hit a snag! They wanted to see the manifests and asked if we had medicine. They wanted to check the medicine tubs. We were also the last ones out of the airport as Jessie was filing her lost luggage claim. I was so flustered I asked for tub B and gave the Ready Relief Box document. I then asked if the others could go on as we had a ride waiting and they would be concerned we had not arrived on the flight due to the long delay and noone else coming out of the airport. They granted us that and the others went on ahead. Brenda stayed with me as tub B had her personal items in it. At first they wanted to keep the whole tub and have us pick it up at the Drug Authority warehouse. We said no way! It went on and on. Finally the customs lady produced a razor blade and we cut the ties. Lo and behold it was all of Brenda's personal items and a few meds and vitamins she bought from St. V's pharmacy. So we convinced the gal to let us keep the tub and she kept a bag of medicine (some of which was Rocephin...a very valuable injectible antibiotic!). Then the gal saw the cart a ways away from us the team accidentally left behind when they went ahead and wanted to search them! Thankfully another official told her to let us go. I fairly ran out of the airport pushing the cart and was so grateful that was all they got! Once outside, the hot night air and familiar Uganda smells hit me....home away from home. Good to be back!
Richard Angoma picked us up with the hired bus. We stayed at a new guesthouse and filled the place up with our team. All slept well and adjusted well the following day. It was a day of seeing the bustling city and getting a taste of shopping in Kampala! There was a business strike so a lot of places were closed. We still managed to find two sinks and supplies, buy Jessie some new clothes...etc! Then on to the farm with a 5 hour bus ride.
Note: I am having to post these all quite delayed from actual date of the trip as internet access has still proven elusive up north, no matter how hard I try and no matter which satellite modem I buy!
Next post: Family Empowerment Uganda - Canaan Farm
Hello all!
Brenda and I are back in the saddle with a new 2012 Uganda Mission team! 5 members from St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, Montana and their families and friends! All geared and ready to teach public health, nutrition etc, get the solar power up for the clinic and plumbing/piping of water from the new solar deep water well. We could hardly wait and the 30 some hours flew by!
WIN SOME LOSE SOME
It all started off with a pleasant surprise after a smooth packing and 17 tubs of supplies etc. we got them all through the Billings airport free (United was going to charge $70 for second luggage each!).
The flights went very well even with this being a different route from previous. I was surprisingly calm and settled even after being up all night finishing the last of the packing and home arrangements. The team is awesome and very very easy to travel with. Thank you God!
I was stopped in Brussels and all went through as well. Jessie and Brenda had to check their carry ons and Jessie's did not show up (later it was found and a few days later she got it on the farm). Customs at the airport has gone smoothly in past years. This year, however, we hit a snag! They wanted to see the manifests and asked if we had medicine. They wanted to check the medicine tubs. We were also the last ones out of the airport as Jessie was filing her lost luggage claim. I was so flustered I asked for tub B and gave the Ready Relief Box document. I then asked if the others could go on as we had a ride waiting and they would be concerned we had not arrived on the flight due to the long delay and noone else coming out of the airport. They granted us that and the others went on ahead. Brenda stayed with me as tub B had her personal items in it. At first they wanted to keep the whole tub and have us pick it up at the Drug Authority warehouse. We said no way! It went on and on. Finally the customs lady produced a razor blade and we cut the ties. Lo and behold it was all of Brenda's personal items and a few meds and vitamins she bought from St. V's pharmacy. So we convinced the gal to let us keep the tub and she kept a bag of medicine (some of which was Rocephin...a very valuable injectible antibiotic!). Then the gal saw the cart a ways away from us the team accidentally left behind when they went ahead and wanted to search them! Thankfully another official told her to let us go. I fairly ran out of the airport pushing the cart and was so grateful that was all they got! Once outside, the hot night air and familiar Uganda smells hit me....home away from home. Good to be back!
Richard Angoma picked us up with the hired bus. We stayed at a new guesthouse and filled the place up with our team. All slept well and adjusted well the following day. It was a day of seeing the bustling city and getting a taste of shopping in Kampala! There was a business strike so a lot of places were closed. We still managed to find two sinks and supplies, buy Jessie some new clothes...etc! Then on to the farm with a 5 hour bus ride.
Note: I am having to post these all quite delayed from actual date of the trip as internet access has still proven elusive up north, no matter how hard I try and no matter which satellite modem I buy!
Next post: Family Empowerment Uganda - Canaan Farm
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