Jan 21, 2012
Spent night at Bomah hotel last pm in Kitgum. Met with Lucy. She has graduated from nursing school and is working in a hospital but her job ends at the end of January. Some way may try to see if we can get her to the farm to help Suzan in our new clinic. Otherwise she may have no job. Was good to see her, gave her seeds to plant a garden. Visited 2 orphanages. Prepared 1 garden and visited a school for the deaf blind and handicapped children. They were all on break except the ones who had no families so they stayed at the school. At one orphanage we gave more of Ozzys's clothing to the little boys. Even one of the girls got a pair of his shorts and put them on under her skirt. Got lots of pictures.
A little boy about 18mo old named “Robinson” , they got at the orphanage yesterday. His mother left him in Kampala, relatives sent him north because they didn't want him. His father was in Kitgum area and he didn't want him. When the orphanage got him he had welts on his back. The person they got him from had beaten him because he "pooped". Jessie and I held him the whole time we were there, wet nappies and all. He just clung to us. What a tear jerker, but he is in a safe place now and all the young girls that live at the orphanage will help take care of him. Such sad stories about the children. Not sure how these children survive such horrendous lives.
Heading to Kolongo now. Still have cell service for a bit. Will climb mountain tomorrow am. Tour hospital, then not sure of rest of tomorrow. Will start work at Wipolo village on monday. Will keep u posted as I can. Little Boscoe and Dennis headed back to farm today on bus. Jackson and Big Boscoe and Nadine will continue on with us. xxooxxoo hugs and kisses. Brenda
Note from Nadine:
We actually hired Lucy for the nurse job at NUCBACD. Her job at St. Joseph's was ending and the nurse job on the farm is not ready yet. She is struggling though as there was no housing available on site and she is walking very far each morning to get there. If anyone wishes to help support Lucy monthly, we are grateful!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Northern Uganda Orphanages
Jan 20, 2012
Hi again! Well, The team went to the game park, yesterday am and I headed up to Kitgum to have meetings with the directors of Tender Trust(TT), Kitgum Infant Orphan Care Center (KIOCC), and Northern Uganda Community Based Action for Children with Disabilites (NUCBACD). Hope 2 One Life has supported their medical care with quarterly funding since we began our oganization in 2007. As some of you may recall, we were introduced to these via Far Reaching Ministies and our Calvary Chapel church team on a mission trip in 2006. This is when we met Nancy and Bosco for the first time. One of our team members was so touched by the infant orphanage and the experience she has funded this area each year. We are incredibly grateful! Thank you Cheryl! It has not been without challenges trying to get the optimal care for all 3 places, however, all are willing to keep at it! As you may recall, last year I went up to re-vamp the care and we hired a doctor from Kitgum to see the kids each saturday. This still did not prove entirely the solution. I decided it was important to sit and discuss further options and since our time would be short when the team arrived I would go up early while they are at the game park.
Once again, I was so behind schedule as needed to sort some finances with Richard, and of course buy the beautiful quilted totes, purses, clutches, paperbead bracelets, necklaces etc, from the ladies on the farm for market through Hope 2 One Life events and sales in the US! I was planning on taking the bus again with Jackson (remember last years episode? I do, and was not really looking forward to this as I had craft and medicine tubs to tote again as the team bus was out of room). As fate would have it, we waited for a long time into the afternoon and all the buses were full. So ended up hiring a car to drive to Kitgum which was way more expensive than I had wanted for sure, but it was reliable and did not break down! What an easy trip!
The next morning I met with Lois and Terence. They all met with Sr. Teddy previously, as well. It has been determined NUCBACD really needs an onsite nurse. The doctor would see the same children each week and there was noone qualified to be sure they took their medicines as prescribed. Many were being sent to his office. Terence has since come back to run KIOCC and his knowledge in the nutrition centers in Kalongo and Kitgum is very helpful to KIOCC and their well being. Lois, is a nurse as well, so she is able to keep tabs on TT if they have provision for medicines. The decision was to use the some of the quarterly funding to provide a full time nurse for NUCBACD and split the remaining money for medicines and/or doctor visits needed for all 3 orphanges. Terence will be the designated person to send me the receipts and reports via email which he has done so well in the past. So, the search is on for a nurse! And possibly more funding!
I also met with Terence and a family and made arrangements to see and continue with some kids in school. It was a productive day and although I walked a lot, I didn't travel the dusty hot road this time! Jackson, as always, is a huge help and he did most of the traveling and escorting anyone I needed to see.
The team arrived at the hotel all excited about their game park trip and couldn't wait to tell about the lions!! I was so happy they had a good time as I was worried they were tired and worn out from the 1 am late night, finishing up the work on the farm. Plus, Kam was sick the day before they left, however he did great in the park and is well!
Tommorrow, the orphanage visits! We will see infants and young children at KIOCC. There are also some families who have taken back some of the kids when they were old enough to eat food and survive, that still come to the center for support. They have some health needs. So we will see these kids, Brenda and I, with the help of the others. The guys will assess the solar power and some water tank needs as well. We have some garden drip kits and seeds to set up also. It is here, we will utilize the other Ready Relief kit of medicines and supplies from Heart to Heart International. (The first Ready Relief kit we used on the farm for the village clinic and left the remaining meds with them to use. Also, we were able to give Nurse Suzan the doctor bag consisting of the sthethoscope, blood pressure kit, otoscope and opthalmoscope and the digital thermometer! The village healthcare workers received stethoscopes.)
We will also visit Tender Trust and their kids! If the KIOCC kids don't have a family to go home when they get older, the kids often graduate to TT. Lois has many special needs and disabled kids as well. Then on to NUCBACD to the deaf blind and disabled school!
This is the first time a big team has come to visit Kitgum since our team in 2006. Mike and Jenny came in 2007 and 2008 and Brian in 2010 but not a whole big team!
Subsequently, this part of the involvement H2O is in doesn't get much attention. Progress! Hallelujah!
Nadine
Hi again! Well, The team went to the game park, yesterday am and I headed up to Kitgum to have meetings with the directors of Tender Trust(TT), Kitgum Infant Orphan Care Center (KIOCC), and Northern Uganda Community Based Action for Children with Disabilites (NUCBACD). Hope 2 One Life has supported their medical care with quarterly funding since we began our oganization in 2007. As some of you may recall, we were introduced to these via Far Reaching Ministies and our Calvary Chapel church team on a mission trip in 2006. This is when we met Nancy and Bosco for the first time. One of our team members was so touched by the infant orphanage and the experience she has funded this area each year. We are incredibly grateful! Thank you Cheryl! It has not been without challenges trying to get the optimal care for all 3 places, however, all are willing to keep at it! As you may recall, last year I went up to re-vamp the care and we hired a doctor from Kitgum to see the kids each saturday. This still did not prove entirely the solution. I decided it was important to sit and discuss further options and since our time would be short when the team arrived I would go up early while they are at the game park.
Once again, I was so behind schedule as needed to sort some finances with Richard, and of course buy the beautiful quilted totes, purses, clutches, paperbead bracelets, necklaces etc, from the ladies on the farm for market through Hope 2 One Life events and sales in the US! I was planning on taking the bus again with Jackson (remember last years episode? I do, and was not really looking forward to this as I had craft and medicine tubs to tote again as the team bus was out of room). As fate would have it, we waited for a long time into the afternoon and all the buses were full. So ended up hiring a car to drive to Kitgum which was way more expensive than I had wanted for sure, but it was reliable and did not break down! What an easy trip!
The next morning I met with Lois and Terence. They all met with Sr. Teddy previously, as well. It has been determined NUCBACD really needs an onsite nurse. The doctor would see the same children each week and there was noone qualified to be sure they took their medicines as prescribed. Many were being sent to his office. Terence has since come back to run KIOCC and his knowledge in the nutrition centers in Kalongo and Kitgum is very helpful to KIOCC and their well being. Lois, is a nurse as well, so she is able to keep tabs on TT if they have provision for medicines. The decision was to use the some of the quarterly funding to provide a full time nurse for NUCBACD and split the remaining money for medicines and/or doctor visits needed for all 3 orphanges. Terence will be the designated person to send me the receipts and reports via email which he has done so well in the past. So, the search is on for a nurse! And possibly more funding!
I also met with Terence and a family and made arrangements to see and continue with some kids in school. It was a productive day and although I walked a lot, I didn't travel the dusty hot road this time! Jackson, as always, is a huge help and he did most of the traveling and escorting anyone I needed to see.
The team arrived at the hotel all excited about their game park trip and couldn't wait to tell about the lions!! I was so happy they had a good time as I was worried they were tired and worn out from the 1 am late night, finishing up the work on the farm. Plus, Kam was sick the day before they left, however he did great in the park and is well!
Tommorrow, the orphanage visits! We will see infants and young children at KIOCC. There are also some families who have taken back some of the kids when they were old enough to eat food and survive, that still come to the center for support. They have some health needs. So we will see these kids, Brenda and I, with the help of the others. The guys will assess the solar power and some water tank needs as well. We have some garden drip kits and seeds to set up also. It is here, we will utilize the other Ready Relief kit of medicines and supplies from Heart to Heart International. (The first Ready Relief kit we used on the farm for the village clinic and left the remaining meds with them to use. Also, we were able to give Nurse Suzan the doctor bag consisting of the sthethoscope, blood pressure kit, otoscope and opthalmoscope and the digital thermometer! The village healthcare workers received stethoscopes.)
We will also visit Tender Trust and their kids! If the KIOCC kids don't have a family to go home when they get older, the kids often graduate to TT. Lois has many special needs and disabled kids as well. Then on to NUCBACD to the deaf blind and disabled school!
This is the first time a big team has come to visit Kitgum since our team in 2006. Mike and Jenny came in 2007 and 2008 and Brian in 2010 but not a whole big team!
Subsequently, this part of the involvement H2O is in doesn't get much attention. Progress! Hallelujah!
Nadine
Murchison Falls Game Park
Jan 20th
Game park yesterday. Spent the night at a lodge in the park. Tons of lizards, I swear the king of lizards was on the tin roof above my shower along with all his friends and cousins. Fastest shower in history. Crazy, it is the dry season so the lizards are out in full force. Got up early, ate a real breakfast of scrambled eggs and fresh fruit at 5:30am. They also had corn flakes. The 2 farm boys that we brought with us had no idea what they were or how to eat them. It was pretty funny. Dennis (one of the boys) asked Stu if he had any of the really good honey. He was eating the maple syrup. Things we take for granted.
Yesterday we went up the Nile (river) on a boat and saw tons of crockadiles, hippos, all kinds of birds, elephants, then at top got off and hiked up to Murchison falls. A really good work out. It was awesome -got some really good pictures. Today we took bus across the Nile on a ferry and toured other side of game park. Saw two lions. It’s not fine to go off road but Roger, our driver, just took off across the grass, shrubs, bumps and drove almost right up to them. They were stalking a little deer of some sort. Took pictures then had to hurry to get back on road. Now headed to Gulu, then another 2 hrs till Kitgum. Lucy, a nursing student that I met in Kolongo 2 yrs ago is now working in Kitgum. She is waiting for me to get there. Pretty exciting. 3 orphanages and 2 gardens to do tomorrow. Will probably stay in Kitgum 2 nights, then go to Kolongo. Didn't have cell service yest or earlier today may not have it for next 4 days so will email as I can. Great team everyone is compatible. So far terrific time. Hot dry and dusty. Never been so dirty, but we all look alike so it’s all good. Love and kisses to all xxooxxoo
Brenda
Game park yesterday. Spent the night at a lodge in the park. Tons of lizards, I swear the king of lizards was on the tin roof above my shower along with all his friends and cousins. Fastest shower in history. Crazy, it is the dry season so the lizards are out in full force. Got up early, ate a real breakfast of scrambled eggs and fresh fruit at 5:30am. They also had corn flakes. The 2 farm boys that we brought with us had no idea what they were or how to eat them. It was pretty funny. Dennis (one of the boys) asked Stu if he had any of the really good honey. He was eating the maple syrup. Things we take for granted.
Yesterday we went up the Nile (river) on a boat and saw tons of crockadiles, hippos, all kinds of birds, elephants, then at top got off and hiked up to Murchison falls. A really good work out. It was awesome -got some really good pictures. Today we took bus across the Nile on a ferry and toured other side of game park. Saw two lions. It’s not fine to go off road but Roger, our driver, just took off across the grass, shrubs, bumps and drove almost right up to them. They were stalking a little deer of some sort. Took pictures then had to hurry to get back on road. Now headed to Gulu, then another 2 hrs till Kitgum. Lucy, a nursing student that I met in Kolongo 2 yrs ago is now working in Kitgum. She is waiting for me to get there. Pretty exciting. 3 orphanages and 2 gardens to do tomorrow. Will probably stay in Kitgum 2 nights, then go to Kolongo. Didn't have cell service yest or earlier today may not have it for next 4 days so will email as I can. Great team everyone is compatible. So far terrific time. Hot dry and dusty. Never been so dirty, but we all look alike so it’s all good. Love and kisses to all xxooxxoo
Brenda
Brenda's Posts to her Family
Jan 18, 2012
Tested village healthcare workers today. They did very good. All passed. We had 2 men and 5 women Some were a bit slower than others, but by the time we kept repeating over and over again they got it. They did excellent on wound care. If you have a wound by dang it is going to be scrubbed CLEAN...and they can take a pulse and know if it’s too slow or too fast! They can take a temp and know if it’s high. They all know how to prepare a balanced meal "kinda". They do know how to make oral rehydration solution and when to give it. They learned how to build a latrine. Some of the other stuff a bit hard. They think all fevers or sniffles is malaria. Trying to tell them it’s just a cold…they don't quite get it. ...overall they learned a bunch in such a short time.
Clinic all afternoon. It went until 9pm and we had to turn away 15 or so people that came after dark. Suzan will see them tomorrow. Girl with appendicitis. Had to call boda boda t(motorcycle) to come get her and take her to the hospital in town. Had an ankle abscess that I opened. 1 kid with malaria. Tons of kids with worms….Big old fat rotund distended bellies.
Leave for Murchison falls at 6am, will tour game park, stay overnight there and then head to Kitgum the next day. HOT day here. High 90's with not a breeze. Still very dusty. Getting a bit sleepy. It is after 1am right now. We have to be up by 5 and load the bus. We have 12 tubs, 100 jerry cans , rice, flour, oil and 2 Ugandan boys that are going with us. Needless to say our bus will be loaded down.
Hugs and kisses to all xxooxxoo Brenda
Tested village healthcare workers today. They did very good. All passed. We had 2 men and 5 women Some were a bit slower than others, but by the time we kept repeating over and over again they got it. They did excellent on wound care. If you have a wound by dang it is going to be scrubbed CLEAN...and they can take a pulse and know if it’s too slow or too fast! They can take a temp and know if it’s high. They all know how to prepare a balanced meal "kinda". They do know how to make oral rehydration solution and when to give it. They learned how to build a latrine. Some of the other stuff a bit hard. They think all fevers or sniffles is malaria. Trying to tell them it’s just a cold…they don't quite get it. ...overall they learned a bunch in such a short time.
Clinic all afternoon. It went until 9pm and we had to turn away 15 or so people that came after dark. Suzan will see them tomorrow. Girl with appendicitis. Had to call boda boda t(motorcycle) to come get her and take her to the hospital in town. Had an ankle abscess that I opened. 1 kid with malaria. Tons of kids with worms….Big old fat rotund distended bellies.
Leave for Murchison falls at 6am, will tour game park, stay overnight there and then head to Kitgum the next day. HOT day here. High 90's with not a breeze. Still very dusty. Getting a bit sleepy. It is after 1am right now. We have to be up by 5 and load the bus. We have 12 tubs, 100 jerry cans , rice, flour, oil and 2 Ugandan boys that are going with us. Needless to say our bus will be loaded down.
Hugs and kisses to all xxooxxoo Brenda
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