Last Day on the Farm

Tuesday was our last day at the farm, and we really had a blessed time. Nadine and I took a morning walk with Geoffrey to see little John, a boy with severe disabilities who is being supported by Far Reaching Ministries. He had a big smile on his face when we showed up, and it was amazing to see how joyful and Spirit-filled he is, even in the face of so many challenges. He reminds me of Tiny Tim from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. After we walked back to the farm and had lunch, we had another training session for the VHTs, this time on maternal/child health and nutrition. As we trained them, many community members started to arrive, so we repeated the lessons a few times to ensure everyone understood. Judith, the new nurse at Emmanuel Clinic, gave an engaging and informative lecture on the importance of visiting the clinic for antenatal checkups.

We climbed the ladder to the water tank-the view of the entire farm was breath-taking. To view the school, Emmanuel Clinic, the tukels (huts we sleep in,) the Nook where beyond delicious meals were served and where many conversations took place, the diel ott (goat house) and the fertile fields. The irrigation drip lines coil like black snakes in the soil-symbolizing the potential for dry season production and business opportunity for the villagers. It is bittersweet to leave the Utopia of Canaan Farm. I say good-bye to the Cockatieu that sang to me above my shower and to the lizards that scampered about in our living thicket roof. I say a lingering farewell to the Queen of the Night tree outside our tukel that blessed us with its amazing aroma where its blossoms open only in the evening to bless us. The hardest is to say good to our gracious hosts Richard & Susan Angoma and their 3-year-old daughter Abby. To be so openly welcomed in their home and hearts is humbling. Richard was our chaperone, translator & negotiator with others for us at H2O Life. We our forever indebted to them and I count them among my best of friends. Wishing God's Blessings on their special family and all the amazing workers/friends at Canaan Farm. Heather R.

All I Can Say is "Wow"

All I can say is wow! I was so encouraged and uplifted by all the work done today, both at the clinic and in the classroom. Nadine and I (Mariel) had a training session with the Village Health Team, including one new member, Godwin from Kampala Village. We used the new training manual I developed this summer during my internship with H2O Life, and they really responded well to the new format (Including the large, laminated pictures they can use to show the villagers). We talked about hygiene and sanitation, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and methods for community mobilization, among other things. Another big highlight was giving 4 VHTs their new bicycles, which they used to communicate to the villagers about our community health sessions today and tomorrow.

In the afternoon, we had nearly 100 village members gathered outside the clinic for a health education session led by the VHTs! They used their new manuals to teach all about hygiene and sanitation, dental care, diarrhea, and malaria. Nadine, Susan, and I acted out a skit comparing a smart mother who bought a mosquito net for her family and a stubborn mother who refused to buy a net, but got her whole family sick. The people loved the illustration (complete with Nadine and a few ladies dancing and singing under their net), and at the end we announced a special gift-we gave everyone who attended the training FREE insecticide-treated mosquito nets, soap, toothbrushes, and deworming pills!! They all promised to take very good care of their new nets, and one man gave an enthusiastic thank you speech. He said he has 8 children and could not afford a mosquito net for all of them, so he was so thankful for Hope 2 One Life's work in bringing nets to the community. I am so blessed to witness and participate in the incredible work God is doing through all of the members of H2O Life/Family Empowerment-Uganda!

-Mariel

All I Can Say is "Wow"

All I can say is wow! I was so encouraged and uplifted by all the work done today, both at the clinic and in the classroom. Nadine and I (Mariel) had a training session with the Village Health Team, including one new member, Godwin from Kampala Village. We used the new training manual I developed this summer during my internship with H2O Life, and they really responded well to the new format (Including the large, laminated pictures they can use to show the villagers). We talked about hygiene and sanitation, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and methods for community mobilization, among other things. Another big highlight was giving 4 VHTs their new bicycles, which they used to communicate to the villagers about our community health sessions today and tomorrow.

In the afternoon, we had nearly 100 village members gathered outside the clinic for a health education session led by the VHTs! They used their new manuals to teach all about hygiene and sanitation, dental care, diarrhea, and malaria. Nadine, Susan, and I acted out a skit comparing a smart mother who bought a mosquito net for her family and a stubborn mother who refused to buy a net, but got her whole family sick. The people loved the illustration (complete with Nadine and a few ladies dancing and singing under their net), and at the end we announced a special gift-we gave everyone who attended the training FREE insecticide-treated mosquito nets, soap, toothbrushes, and deworming pills!! They all promised to take very good care of their new nets, and one man gave an enthusiastic thank you speech. He said he has 8 children and could not afford a mosquito net for all of them, so he was so thankful for Hope 2 One Life's work in bringing nets to the community. I am so blessed to witness and participate in the incredible work God is doing through all of the members of H2O Life/Family Empowerment-Uganda!

-Mariel

Contrasts in Uganda Drastic

The contrasts in Uganda are drastic: the fertile, flourishing South vs the dry, challenging North. One woman dressed in the full chitenge dress w/ African fabric and head scarf vs a man in jeans and an Orange Crush t-shirt. The languages: Acholi, Luganda, Swahili, Lugishu, English, Alur, Lubwara, Kinyoro, and many more vying for prominence. The peaceful, hazy, safe environment vs the inconceivable atrocities that occured in the North.

We experienced more joy, dancing and singing- the theme/heartbeat of Kampala Village-yesterday. It was touching to see the children excited about their crayolas and coloring paper (a picture of hands washing to prevent sickness-educate, educate!)

Today my 20 students worked hard to get English into their brains. It touched me to see an 80-year-old woman spread her arthritic hands across the Primer and carefully sound out 'b-a-s-k-e-t.' One's age is never a limitation to the zealous possibility to learn and expand. We followed with a Bible study on love-how we can love only because God invented love and loved us first. Also we had great discussion on what loving our brothers and sisters looks like-literally being Jesus' hands and feet.

I am planning on packing up my toiletries, journal, clothes and the Ugandan friends I've met to bring home with me. I just can't adequately describe the depth or gregarious nature of my friends, so I must have you all meet them...if only this was possible, our home would be full, happy and never dull. #gratefulinUganda -Heather R.

Joy among Challenges

Good morning Sunday! Today the sun is coming up brightly through some haze – people must be burning some fields nearby after their harvest. The breeze whistling through the trees is cool and refreshing. The bows are rippling as brids sing, children coo and the cooks are busy preparing. Their kitchen is blessed with clean water piped from the solar borehole, they use a bush as a drying rack. We gave them christmas pots holders and towels and they were so happy. They now have cupboards in their lean to kitchen and the solar lights the Grace Bible team installed is still working with the same panel years later! Richard has added solar lights to the huts we stay in and guest latrine as well! There is a new kitchen being built for the Emmanuel clinic staff and it will be shared with the nursery school. Cooks will be hired under the Emmanuel clinic budget for the clinic staff Tues – Sat for breakfast and lunches. They need pots and pans for their start up so this will be added to their start up budget. The full time nurse and accountant/administrator also need their own huts as they stay on the farm tues – saturday and have families in distant towns. This will allow privacy for their families to also visit them here. So far the nurse, Judith, has shown a great heart for the impoverised people of this region. I had two challenging meetings with the Suzan, clinic staff and doctor yesterday. This revolved around budgets, projected patient numbers and fees to match the budget for sustanability and the fee structure. It was soon apparent their understanding of fee for service (itemized bill) and the american term was interpeted quite differently! I was for the teir system of 5, 000 shillings, 10,000 shillings and 20,000 shillings depending on the cost of the medicines, the series of visits needed for the problem or if a procedure/IV etc was involved. Another cultural misunderstanding ensued, as we all are a little stressed about meeting the budget especially early on...as the patient numbers are quite low so far. It appears they cannot afford even the 5,000 shillings very well. They are used to coming in the droves when the clinic provided medications and services for free while our teams worked under trees or in the partially built building. Suzan had provided free services as well for so long prior to this opening. In order for the clinic to be sustainable long term for generations to come, a paradigm shift will be needed. It may take some time but all in all the staff are good people and here for service. We hope and pray for mobilization and some training for the local economy – this is where the soil testing and the fertilizer or legume project may come in well. Meanhwile, Tom, did a good job assessing the land for the goat sustanability project to sustain Emmanuel clinic long term after H20 subsidizes for 3 years. Tom left us a few days ago after a whirlwind 6 days trip in Uganda, but all of his expertise and time was so valuable and well recieced. WE thank you Tom! The water projects are coming along beautifully! The passion fruit orchard amazing, more drip irrigation plots are being plowed that will be piped from the solar water – including our first micro loan for drip lines project with the FEM Women's empowerment group and some few men – a dream come true as well and part of my vision – or should I say- God's vision through me, as I feel all of this has been given to me as the messenger. What do I know about mico loans - ha, ha- (can't hardly balance my check book!). It is really an honor and a privelege to see how grateful and happy the people here are for the opportunity and it empowers them to work and and gives such amazing hope!

Meanwhile, I have also met with the building contractor and we will be completing the second ward and verrhanda within the budget, with a passage door added. The microscope fuse and centrifuge blew some parts as they did not know how to use the converter. Now we will add a step down unit and I was able to get Joint medical stores to fix both! The lab tech loves her lab! They are using the frig for reagents and we are doing simple tests. The glucometer works! We need a hemoglobin machine and will see how that goes at the 6 month point as it is quite expensive, same with HIV tests. Praying for guidance and wisdom as this new limited resource concept unfolds! The Clinical Officer and Nurse were amazed with the vital signs machine and had no idea what the oximeter for oxygen saturation readings were...some very new things for them, which they like a lot. The challenge will be quality care, consistency among providers, safety and cost effective use of medications and supplies that are subsidized. I learned something about this at Riverstone and it has come in handy! I simply need to be here for a few months I can see.... Chart reviews were quite interesting to begin with! Thankfully Leigh will be here in January. I hope and pray I can get away from work again soon. The mentoring process for success may be quite crucial. I am also reminded that our American ways are much different than the African ways, so must be very careful to lead well without them feeling intimidated – giving freedom for open communication...not just every thing, "My Way". It is truly such a joy to be here and they are all trying very hard to serve well and faithfully. Keep praying for Emmanuel (God with Us) clinic!

This afternoon, we will go back to Kampala village and teach on the protection of the borehole, hygiene and sanitation and handwashing. Mariel and Heather are looking so forward to this outreach and so am I. Geoffrey surprised us and came to the farm last night and sang and played his beautiful music..we were so blessed! He is doing well in school, thanks to the Jacques sponsorship! Heather is teaching some of the kids in school break sponsored either by a few individuals or the farm...they love it are learning a lot with the individual teaching! Mariel has dove right in for all projects, pictures, videos as well! We cannot wait to start using her village healthcare manuel this afternoon, tomorrow and tuesday!

I have also been involved with the vocational tailoring projects and crafts – new to me! Usually we have very talented creative team members who head this project! I had to even figure out a pattern, cut it pin it – on folds etc and teach it to the tailoring teacher – this goes way way back for me! My mom and sister tried to teach me but I was not so teachable in the past! I blame it on being left handed and the scissors hard to use – and this was definitely the case here! I could not cut with their sewing scissors! All is well and we are overcoming challenges with this project as well. They are learning and the new crafts are beautiful! Cant wait to show you all!

Most importantly, I am reminded to remain humble, respectful, serve and do well, no matter what is happening around me. Enjoy, slow down, relax, listen, breathe and be patient. All will be revealed and the correct path and wisdom will be provided even and especially with "waiting" on God for the perfect triming, perfect way........... I am eternally grateful to all of you for your love and support and prayers!

- Nadine

New student, Dennis, joins Heather's school

It is overcast on the farm. People are commenting on the cold- it is 65 degrees (it's all relative.)

I awoke from my peaceful sleep to men's voices yelling. How strange on our peaceful, utopian Farm. I grabbed Masaba coffee from the nook and headed down the fruit orchard. Four mighty oxen with intimidating horns were plowing a field with one man working the plow and the other using a switch to guide the bovine team, who were the reluctant recipients of switch and sharp commands. In contrast the hulking tractor sat in the barn. A highlight was Mariel's picking of passion fruit for us, cutting them open and digging into their sweet contents-black seeds and all. A 16-year-old boy Dennis joined our school. He had only smiled when I addressed him previously, but I delightfully discover that he writes and speaks some English-so he is joining our fast-paced train of adverbs, tenses and reading comprehension. Heather R.

Mariel in Awe....

12/13- As I sit drinking passion fruit juice and freshly brewed lemongrass tea at the Canaan Farm kitchen, I am in awe of all I have experienced today. We awoke this morning to a rosy dawn after a long bus ride from Kampala last night (including a lovely two hour traffic jam). Heather spent the day teaching english lessons and playing games with her girls, and Nadine had several meetings at the clinic with the staff, finalizing disease protocol charts and sustainable pricing structures. I took lots of pictures and videos, helped with the english lessons, and took a "boda boda" (motorbike) into town with Susan to pick up some items for the vocational training school. It was a beautiful day

of fellowship and hard work, and I look forward to the next few days of seeing how God is working through Hope 2 One Life! -Mariel

Education continues...Micro finance project begins...redemption through tragedy gives Hope

Education continues in the classroom at Canaan Farm with my students progressing in their Workbooks-on to the next level-exciting! I helped lead a Bible study with 20 women/2 men. The topic was prayer and you could feel God's presence as His Word was read in Acholi & Swahili & English. Then outside there was more dancing, singing & drums after a village meeting at the Farm that announced H2O Life was helping them buy an acre to farm & drip irrigation for vegetable income generation project. H20 gifted them half of the irrigation drip lines and is starting a samll micro finance project with this as they have had business training and they will be paying back the second half of the drip line costs with a loan they will pay back with profits at 3 years or sooner. We are excited as this empowers them and gives responsibility and endless possibilities to bring their families out of poverty once succesful.

We awoke at 4:30 this morn & cruised (rather bounced on rough roads) to Kitgum to look at a potential well site. We were in the heart of land devastated by the LRA war & Kony. We toured Kitgum Infant Care Center & met with the Director of a 100-child Tender Trust orphanage. I am overwhelmed by the kindness, hospitality, & joy of the people I have encountered. Redemption grows delicately toward the surface through soil of tragedy to see hope blossom..So grateful for all of you. Heather R

The LRA Murdered Five of His (Opobo's) Sons before his Eyes

This is from Tom, written from the Boma hotel in Kitgum, in the far north of Uganda.

    I would echo the wonderful uplifiting emotions we felt at the celebration of the first water from the Kampala Village well. I was the one who received the ceremonial and honorary chicken, along with a bowl of eggs, which is a traditional offering of thanks from the community. The chicken was all dressed up in a little purple embrodery robe. Thankfully it was relatively well behaved and I could carry it around for the rest of the evening. We enjoyed the chicken at our dinner the following evening. This experience culminated over two years of planning to obtain the funding and implement the project. It served as a springboard to our travel up to Kitgum early this morning. 

We made a six hour trip from the FEM farm north to Palabeck, northwest of Kitgum. It is very close to the border with South Sudan. It is much dryer here than in the south, with afternoon temps of about 90 F. The landscape is gentle with occassional large hills. It is classic savannah grassland-bush. We visited the small isolated village of Opopo Witty an elder from the FEM farm originally from this village. As we walked the bush trail to his former home, he described the time that the LRA rebels invaded his area and attempted to force his sons to join them. They all refused. But as a consequence, the LRA murdered five of his sons in front of his eyes that night. It was deeply moving to stand there at the very site as he described this. We met a couple of his grandchildren who still live on this land. With their help we located a 2-acre area on his property that appeared to offer to offer the best possibility of a new well. This area is dry, and people currently have to obtain their drinking water from a couple small streams that go dry. Installing a borehole would let more people re-settle this area after having been displaced by war for over 20 years and greatly improve everyones health. We hope to write a grant and are praying about this future possibility for clean water to help in post war recovery for this region. Thank you all at home for your continued prayers...we shared with the villages your support and they are praying for us and all of you at home!

Tom O

Grateful to God

It's difficult to capture in words the emotions of this day. We were greeted by the Kampala Village people with great fanfare and the elder women shaking gourds and dancing and singing in traditional grass skirts (one woman in a wooden mask acted as a comical diversion.) In contrast, the series of speeches that followed were very formal and serious with prominent speakers from the Water Board, Councilmen, teachers, Village Pastors, Village Health Trainer. Several themes emerged: the grateful attitude of everyone to God and His provision, and also to H2O Life and their gracious giving.

Also, my students' bright smiles keep drawing me eagerly to the classroom. They are voracious readers who pour over all the learning materials I put in front of them. My students are a reminder that education is a key that opens doors of exciting opportunities and that it is also a privilege.

#blessed-to-be-on-Canaan Farm Heather R.

Dreams Come True - Prayers Answered

Dear all,

The last couple of days have been filled with great emotion for me as after years of planning, praying, struggling to find funding, sweat and tears, plans changing, budgets changing, etc etc...Emmanuel clinic is officially open in a limited resource model to help the most poor and vulnerable impoverished people in the Kiryandongo sub county region of Uganda, Rakayata Village.  Staff has been hired and I have met with them all!  Suzan is managing well.  We have had meetings with the Village Healthcare workers team...all are on board with the struggle to keep Emmanuel clinic alive and well under this model.  Fee structure is under a tiered system of payment that the villagers told me they could afford, so as not to select out and the poor still have no access to healthcare.  We had one mishap with the lab microscope and centrifuge.  The technician tried to plug them in before I arrived and may have blown the fuses so we will take them in and see how to fix them. Otherwise so far all is smooth.  In the first 2 days we saw 27 people and we know it will be growing.  Education days are planned.  We are introducing the VHT manuel Mariel designed...so grateful!  Tom and I and Richard have been in big discussions about implementing the goat sustainability project for Emmanuel clinic and are getting closer with the help also of our Ugandan lawyers advice (which he donated).
We are so grateful for all of the support and donations to build this clinic and see it come to fruition by the grace of God.

Years of planning and fundraising and grant writing for Kampala village well has also answered prayers by many of the elderly women and villagers.  It was such a joyous sight to see and feel clean water flowing freely!

The team is great!  Tom has been so busy with the water well testing etc and other well testing as well as soil testing and more!  It is so wonderful to see the fruits of his labor!  Thank you Tom for the years of service and love for these wonderful people of Africa!

Heather is so amazing with her teachings of the school children, playing with the kids, conversing with all people and generally helping out so much!  Thank you!

We dont have very good internet so will keep posting when possible.  Tomorrow we head north to Kitgum and Palabek where Tom assesses a possible future water project and we visit the orphanages and deaf school we support in medical care. Stay tuned!
Nadine

Amazed in Uganda

We have all hit the ground running here at Canaan Farm-or as I have labeled it "Canaan Utopia." I started my day dodging a cricket in the shower-to realize he was only seeking to serenade me, then I looked up to see a cockatieu in a papaya tree twittering his unique symphony to me. Later Kampala Village women shook gourds and captured great joy in their singing. And as I sauntered past passion fruit groves, I heard singing from the grounds chapel: certainly music is a theme running through Ugandan life. I gathered my students to begin a day of learning. They were bright, eager and attentive. They were very good at pronunciation. I took the Charades approach and "acted out" words. They thought the word "monkey" was quite hilarious. Their zeal to comprehend and do well touched me deeply. Smiling and laughter truly is the ultimate universal language. I am privileged that God would trust these girls to my care #amazed-in-Uganda

 Heather R.

Rich Fulfillment

The following day after our arrival, Tom and Nadine headed to Kayunga to celebrate Rogers Birthday and Heather went to Mukono to celebrate Mariel's semester abroad at Uganda Christian University and meet her host family. It was a wonderful celebration for all  30 people attended Rogers birthday and he was very happy! He is recovering well from recent surgery and hopes to be back in the US for much needed medical care soon!  Tom assessed a potential water site in the area..finally after meetings in Kampala we made it to the farm..home away from home...and partner Family Empowerment Uganda.

Dear Readers- today was a day of rich fulfillment for the people of Kampala Village and for me as well. The first water from the very first water well this village of 5,000 has ever seen came to the surface and we all rejoiced and splashed and danced and sang together. And we all praised our Lord for the blessings he delivered to us His people. This well was several years in the planning, grant writing, funding, scheduling, and finally drilling. When the first two borehole attempts failed, the ladies of the village cried, fearing they would have to return to using the mudhole in the creek bottom. But DRACO honored their committment and the third attempt was successful. I got a good cross-cultural laugh when I filled my bush hat with the well water and then dumped it over my head- twice. Then the ladies also splashed the water all over themselves, and then of course the children got in the act. In the end it was a communal baptism of new water and new life. -- Reveling in Uganda, Tom O.

Winter 2013 Mission - Trip Number Eleven. Good God in Heaven!

On Dec 3, 2013 Hope 2 One Life Team of 3,  Heather Rieland, Tom Osborne and Nadine Hart departed a very snowy Billings Montana for Uganda!  It was a close call getting on the plane, closest ever but we managed to get boarding passes and 9 tubs of medical supplies, water testing kits, literacy supplies and more!  Once again I was up all night packing and getting through unfinished business. Had some great help last minute from Ranae and Kenny...thank you both so much!  Wouldn't have made it without you!  We are grateful for all of the supporters - family, friends at home who have made this trip once again possible.  Some exciting  work ahead with Emmanuel Clinic opening and the Kampala Village water well drilled, plus some new projects.  Stay tuned and we will try to write often!  Internet is a bit sketchy at times so keep checking.  You can view the blog also from the Hope2onelife.org homepage and click on mission trip blog.  We are also posting on Facebook. Search Hope 2 One Life or Nadine Hart and like us!

Bless you all ...more to come!  We are in Amsterdam  now. This is Tom's 4th trip and Heathers first trip. It is always so fun to see it anew from fresh eh eyes.  Have a great day!