Opobo's Story

Opobos's story

(as narrated by Opobo)

The conflict started in 1985 when the LRA overtook the government regime. At that time, many of government regime forces (UNLA under Okello) fled the Ugandan army and were running into north passing into Sudan. These ex soldiers of the former regime (Okello) stayed briefly under arms support from sudanese government and then returned to war on (fight) the present government forces (still under Okello), calling themselves civil rebels. They were beaten from the border and attacked by the Ugandan army and then many scattered amongst the villages in north, esp of Palabek region. Later, they regrouped under leadership of Kony, calling themselves the LRA (the Lord's Resistance Army). The LRA started provoking villagers and wanted some food so they raided homesteads taking food by force and taking animals to feed their rebels. They started abducting very yound kids and youth. They even started abducting girls and boys in the schools to build their force. People were not supporting the LRA and tried to refused, but they were forced to join. When you refused you were killed. A good many children were killed because they refused. They also raped women and young girls. They and cut off arms, ears, lips etc. When they asked if you will like to go with them and you said "No", they then asked if you would like long sleaves or short sleeves? If you said short sleeves they would hack off your upper arm, if long sleeves they would cut off the hand at the wrist. When captured, they peirced the lips and put padlocks through, so the person could not talk. They cut off ears if the person did not listen to them. Or cut off their lips so cannot talk. Other times, they would cut off legs from knees so cannot walk and die there. When they come and you refuse, they may decide to kill you right then and there with big pangas. They started cutting from the head in crossways, leaving you there for dead or open you up from the chest, or put fire under a table and tie you on it so it would smoke you and burn you in the fire. If you refuse they gather all of you in a hut, lock it and set the hut on fire. Wide massacres. So, you see, they would kill you in different styles. About 1988 or 1989 they came to my place (Opobo'sWitty's in Lairobe, Gem Palabek). Opobo was very successful, had big land, many cattle and several sons. One son, 25 years old Edward, was captured and later he learned they killed him at the border of Sudan. Another, Odong Silvesto, ( born 1962) was killed there and and then in front of me as the LRA chopped him on the head. Banya Jackson, 30 years old, was killed there and then same way. The 4^th was Kamaketch Richard, 28 years old, and the LRA again, killed him there and then because he refused to go with them. They also killed many other neighbors. My 5^th son, Omot, was also killed the same day in the same way right in front of me. When that happened, I was so sad and afraid, I had to move away to protect the rest of my family. After that I moved to Kitgum and things worsened. The LRA rebels were attacking Kitgum and the night commuter children were swarming Kitgum looking for shelter. It was very bad. I called, Mama Richard, Sarah Angoma who put me through school when I was growing up, and she was in Jinja so I moved with my family to Jinja. Opopo came to Jinja first in 1992, then heard of Mama Sarah's land near Masindi and went to survey the farm, found it was good land and settled on the farm and began to clear some part of it for farming. Opobo became sick thinking of the issues in the north and of his family. He developed stress and hypertension. There was no hospital near the farm. The thought of the children of the lost sons in palabek, he was unable to gather them all and help them all. He was unable to feed the children orphans, as he was very sick. Some of relatives took some of them and uncles took some of them. Other girls (granddaughters) got married. Other boys (grandsons) are now in, S1 and helped by my other son and the uncles. When war was ending in 2007, I went b ack to try to settle them and stayed for a few years trying to re start some farming, digging in the dirt. No cows were left, the land was overgrown. I then got sick again after a few years and came here, to the farm and that is when you got me here, when I could barely walk. You helped me and I am very grateful..so so grateful.  Thank you so very much and tell all of the rest at home...thank you!

I met Opobo for the first time in 2006, when our mission team from Calvary Chapel through Far Reaching Ministries travelled to Northern Uganda and subsequently, visited the farm near Masindi. By that time, Richard Angoma (whom I met while volunteering with AOET) in 2003, had visited the farm where many other friends of his parents and refugees had come to the farm, a safe haven, as they fled the war and IDP camps. He too wanted to further the empowerment and recovery process of the war and was also interested in farming. She he moved from Jinja also and started Family Empowerment Uganda on Canaan Farm. At that time there was only muddy pond water to drink, many were sick. The women prayed for pots to boil their water in and blankets to keep their children warm. I remember Opobo was the farm manager and his face was framed by beautiful sunflowers while he was standing in the field working. Richard, had only asked for help with gum boots for workers in the fields. They plowed with oxen and plows the land little by little the farm began to form. Suzan, the nurse volunteering at AOET also began helping on her days off, bringing medicine to treat people. We held a village clinic in 2006, where it rained and rained and many women and children came very sick. We learned of the water situation and new that if the people did not have clean water they could easily die and all the medicine we dropped on them for two weeks of our team being there would not help at all. In 2007, Hope 2 One Life was formed and first clean water implemented with two boreholes and bio sand water filters.

Tom Osborne and his wife, Angie came on a trip in 2008 and Tom has been our hydrologist and board member ever since. Obobo was not on the farm at that time, many of the women and boys captured told their stories. In, 2011 when Opobo came back to the farm, very sick and barely able to walk, we did a home – hut visit on him with Brenda and then treated him and he improved. He always talked of the great need in Palabek also for water. So when Opobo told me of his story and the great need for clean water in his region, we finally visited with a team in 2012. They visited the muddy stream their only water source. The area was a complete bush and very remote. Families had eeked out something of a subsistence living by digging in the ground around their huts and planting what little they could. There were no NGO;s around, no ex pats, no missionary organizations. They were isolated and alone, however had lovely spirit and faith. We were deeply moved by the children as they sang. Messages of hope abounded within us.

The next task was to convince Tom of this great need and hope, thus the site for our next water project. This was not easy as weighing the distance, spreading the organization too thin...etc came up. So with the Kampla village well and Tom's trip to Uganda to oversee this well, we had barely time to travel to Kitgum and Palabek to view the site. Tom, was sold! Hearing the story and standing on the very sites the LRA tramped and murdered people brought an amazing energy field. Almost like a vortex or draw that calls one to do something to help. The feeling was indescribable and palpable. Tom, did his coordinates and we started the long process of planning that would include lots of fundraising and potential grant writing, as Tom also felt the call to develop a solar water system as well, if possible.

We had great moments of joy celebrating the clean water in Kampala village, with dancing singing and christening of the water all over us as we praised God. I posted this video on facebook and showed it at world water day and it moved..the earth...so to speak ...or at least some people's hearts. As donations came in, and a wonderful generous gift from one of Tom's classmates and good friends from his hometown past. In just 6 months we had the funds to explore the hydrology survey and plans for deep water well and potential solar system. It usually take us 3 years to raise enough for a simple borehole. Praise God!

So, with Angie present, we shared the good news with Opobo, and we all cried and he stood with his arms in the air, thanking God with tears in his eyes. A dream come true that he will live to see in his lifetime...joy and redemption after so much trauma and brutal death.....

May we all count our blessings and the cost. For God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son, to die for our sins...

Nadine

More to come as the site visit and hydrology survey unfolds..

Rosa Mystica Rest Home

Rosa Mystica Rest Home

Finally, I reached Sr. Vincentina by phone and planned the trip to Gulu to meet Dr. Sr Vincentina, our good friend from Kalong,o and Terence who had been researcing all sorts of clinic requirements in Kitgum and traveled to Gulu with all sorts of information and documents for the clinic. So after one day on the farm, I am off again, travelling on the public bus, with Richard and young Richard and also Opoppo (as I receive a call from Draco and they are ready for

the site visit and hydrology survey for Opoppo's place in war torn northern uganda – a subject for a nother post). We found a comfortable bus and off we went with just my packpack some paperwork for the clinic and a few clothes for what I thought was a couple of days trip. I was rested and looking forward to this meeting with Sr Vincentina and hopefully convincing her to become our "doctor" at the Emmanuel clinic, which for a health center 2 requires a visit only once a month. She insisted I stay with her in Gulu also, so that was the plan. This bus ride was uneventful and comfortable enough, although hot and dusty. As, we arrive, I call Terence who meets us at the coffee shop across from the bus park as we also waited for Sr. Vincentina. After the usual introduction and how are you's and catching up on past news, we talked clinic. Sr. Is actually doing well and looks rested and is embracing teaching at the univeristy medical school and govt hospital.

Terence had some paperwork to show us, and as we poured over it, Sr. Vincentina gave her knowledge and opinion and said, you only need a supervising doctor once and month if you have a full time clinical officer. It was at this time, I grabbed her hand and pleaded with her to be our supervising doctor for Emmanuel clinic!! She laughed and chuckled and said, "Oh I see now, you come with strings attached! She said, "How can I refuse after all you have done to help me". It was reluctantly however. As we all went our separate ways for the rest of the day and evening, I got in the small car Sr. Was driving, precariously I might add! She asked if I had brought seeds as in the past, but I did not as not much room in the tubs with just me travelling this time, so I offered to buy some. We went to the seed shop and bought 81,000 shillings (approx $35) worth of cabbage, tomato, onion, eggplant and sumawiki seeds. She would now take me to the place she was living with other sisters and my accomodation for the night.

Rosa Mystica Rest Home is the sign on the gate we entered, through a walled off compound. Inside was a fairly large building with a courtyard inside and grounds of vegetable gardens outside, a bit dilapidated and in some stages of building and repair. It is clear they barely get by, yet it is clean and comfortable. I could hear singing in the chapel as this was the time for evening prayers (they pray morning and night and a priest comes twice a day – who by the way was shot in both hands by the LRA war rebels and has crippled hands). There are 12 sisters living here all but two in their 80's and 90's. Two are in wheelchairs, two with walkers and a few with canes, others walking stopped over yet still walking and digging in the garden. Sr. Vincentina and another Sr. Emily are here as a doctor and nurse to help these elderly out somewhat. I am soon to find out, what they need and desire is food sources! After years of prayer they have also been recently given a large land to do some farming for food and income generation, in exchange for helping set up a health center and nursery. This is a remote area and much of it overgrown with bush from the inactivity during the LRA war time. The village is quite organized they report and they are thrilled and feel it is a miracle from God to recieve this blessing. After Sr. Takes me on a tour of the Lacor Hospital connected to the grounds of the bishops house and nunery's, I am taken to the dining hall to meet all of these precious sisters. They are overjoyed to have a visitor as it seems rarely does anyone outside visit. Sister Vincentina says an elaborate speech as to how we helped her with her medical check ups in Billings after her massive bleed that all thought she would die from or at least not recover from in Florida some years back. It was a bit overdone in my opinion but all were and are grateful for her life, Sr. Has lived a life of sacrifice and service for sure and God must have much more for her to do to spare her life like that! She then introduced all of the sisters and told their stories which were quite impressive, they all were influential in one way or another. One sitting next to me who became termed, "My friend" as she pretended she could not speak english, was even shot by the LRA protecting a young boy they were trying to abduct. Then sister brought out the seeds and you would have thought I gave them piles of gold or diamonds!! They were overjoyed and expressed the miracle God sent them and answers to their years of prayers, esp now that they were getting this land to farm. Now, I can't help but wonder how these sisters will farm this land, but I am sure they will find a way and Sr Vincentina is commited to helping them do it. Of course, they need water...!! So there it was, the sisters charged Sr. Vincentina out of the blue, with going to check on "Nadine's projects" for helping them with the seeds and visiting them. Little did they know, I had already hit up Sr. V for exactly this! Pre ordained I would say..this whole process! Sister Vincentina was now very excited to participate as our visiting doctor and the next day had animated talks with Terence and Richard as we waited for the bus to take us to Kitgum. The elderly sisters invited me to morning prayers, and professed, now you are a part of our community and we will pray for your and Hope 2 One Life and your projects morning and evening! When are you coming back to visit us and stay for a week next time! I must say, as I departed on the bus, remembering Rosa Mystica Rest Home, I thought of my grandpas, and grandma and all of the elderly people I cared for in nursing homes in the past and felt my heart and soul expanding to embrace these elderly sisters deeply. I felt enormous peace and comfort knowing they were praying and knowing their prayers are powerful...my guardian angels once again bringing in the saints to carry me along this ever unfolding african journey of hope...and restoration...and love and peace....and enormous human kindness. I am truly blessed! And honored to be here...

Nadine

PS, Tom..get ready to assess another water and farming project next time you visit..he hee! It is hard to pass by these sisters needs! You and all will be enriched and blessed by them as well!

Stay tuned for next posts relaying Opoppo's amazing story of tragedy and redemption regarding the atrocities his family has suffered during the LRA war and our next water development project in this remote northern uganda area. I am almost caught up on writing but will be out of internet service likely for a few days as I travel back through Kalongo to visit our friends briefly on the way to gulu to visit Sr. Vincentina again and show her the new info about the clinic and plan her visit to the farm and clinic. All is well, I am fine...tired and dirty and dusty and mosquito bite ridden but fine. Thank you for the prayers!! I am so grateful!!

N

Just a Day Trip - in Uganda

Just a day trip - The life in a day in Uganda..

May 6, 2014

5:30 am came very early and was still pitch black outside when, rap rap rap on the door, "time to go". I hurriedly, jumped out of bed, dressed in my usual skirt and shirt, the attire for women in Uganda, flip flops (I now wish I had packed that second pair) and my protein bar and water, one trip to the latrine and off we go in the farm truck with Richard. This trip from the farm to Kampala is to finish up the shopping that was not completed due to the "Holiday". The AIDSpirit team was also leaving on their nice comfortable bus today to go to some meetings in Kampala and head to the airport. The drive for me and Richard was on good road and we made fairly good time and 5 hours later made it to the bank. We needed some bank statements, to deposit some patient fee money and also to withdraw some of the budget for medicines and supplies. This took about an hour although the line was not long. Next we traveled to joint medical stores to pick up mosquito nets, de worm, medications, some supplies like gloves, safety boxes and jik (the clinic staff needed and was doing without). I had agreed to bugying some children's antibiotics as well. I had a list of needs like mosquito nets, weighing scale and apron for the AIDSpirit sickle cell clinic and nurse also. Surprise of all surprises was the bill and the long list on the order that was an extra sneak, even though 1,000,000 shillings was paid for out of the clinic budget and I had the additonal for mosquito nets and small items was another 600,000 shillings and they would not let me turn any of it back once it was packed. This is a wholesale medical store and pharmacy. So, there it is and yes, will go to good use, but I feel a bit of a pushover! I paid the bills, then while waiting for the AIDSpirit order to be packed we went to our next stop, planning to come back and pick up the medicines and supplies later. Since one can get stuck in a jam for hours, time must be maximized as much as possible, so I am always pushing to accomplish something else while "waiting", the name of the game in uganda...waiting! Next stop was the Nice House of Plastic for the 1000 cups for the school outreach we do with hygiene sanitation, handwashing and clean water. It has been three years since we did an official outreach but have provided all the classrooms and teachers of the Katamarwa primary and secondary school with bio sand water filters and they are using them well! Denis, our trained bio sand technician, has kept them serviced and last maintained and checked them in January. We also will provide 10 more bio sand water filters to replace a couple of broken ones and provide more for the community. Denis and Geoffrey are in school in Jinja now so another young main being trained up by Richard has been trained for this project. I also needed to stop at the bookstore to buy some more books determined to be helpful to the primary girls sponsored and nursery school, so this was a trip to the "mall" and aristoc. Following we journeyed back to joint medical stores and parked the truck with 9 boxes, 1000 cups and two bags of books, soap and jik in the back and paid a security guard to watch it while Richard and I footed it to a taxi to take us deep downtown Kampala to the Nakasero market where all the action is! The streets shops are all crowded and bustling with noise and people and cars and trucks and bodas (motorcycles). We weave in and out on foot, Richard confident and telling me to "walk, not run" across the street, so I don't get hit and me praying I don;t get run over! Ha! It is actually quite fun. We came to the usual fabric shop spot to find it torn down! So, we ventured to another building and I settled in with a very nice lady and chose colorful fabric for the apron order the AIDSpirit team made and also more aprons for us to sell this summer at farmers market. Ranae sent me with a list and a package of goodies and patterns for Suzan, the tailor and the ladies! They are excited! A stop for poplin and off we go buried with bags of fabric! Our truck was safely watched, we deposited the fabric, and set off to see about meeting Charles to give the AIDSpirit supplies, when Angie called informing us they were still at 1000 cups and could we meet them. So off we went through the jam and made it in time to exchange books and teaching manuels they had for us and supplies and mosquito nets I had for them. It was great to see them off and ready to go to the airport. I was a bit sad however also to see my lovely good, fun and positive energy friends go! Especially, since now I wil be on my own in this amazing and vast country, with its difficulties and at times simple ease of living, manuevering as best I can with the Africans. It is at these times, I now realize....I will be living and moving through the country just like an African. Travelling on the public bus and footing it because of the cost etc, and with minimal food at times (which is good for me!). I relish it for now, remembering the days of ole...back in 2003, my first visit on my own. After another 5 hours, we made it to the farm at 11:30 pm. You would think my behind with all the extra padding would absorb the bumpy roads and potholes but it was so uncomfortable and I was so happy to stand up and walk. Poor Richard had to drive the whole day and amongst all that Kampala traffic and late into the night. He is amazing!

So, as you can see, "Just a day Trip" in Uganda is quite an adventure! I am in my element but first a day of catching up and rest. I relish being back in my tukle on the farm...peace and tranquility

Nadine

Teaching the Teachers

May 5, 2014

Today, Gretchen, a special ed teacher with the AIDSpirit team, met with Agnes, the literacy teacher who is tutoring the two Scovia's sponsored in school during their school break, and Maureen, the nursery school teacher. She has found the students are reading at level P 4 and P 5 fairly well, except for some more complex words. Their phonics with certain letters put together such as, "ch" in chases, they want to pronounce with like a "ka" instead "cha". The leave off the "es" on the end and well as anything with an "s" and "ed". Certain pre fixes and suffixes, like -ily in luckily throws them off and the meaning is not understood either. Certain words with "ou" also is difficult. Gretchen suggests writing all the words down they do not understand when reading, then looking them up and practicing and owning the word, so then they now have it in their vocabulary. She suggests also developing word lists in like groups of phonics and pronunciations. The students are also taught to memorize exactly what will be tested exactly what will be on the national exam and these concepts are not seriously taught until P 6 or P 7 when they must take the exam. Stories therefore are not understood all too well, nor do they know how to tell a story or sequence a concept like, "water cycle" in meaningful sentences that can tell about the concept or story.

Gretchen is amazing and I learned a lot from her as well! She gave the teachers some good ideas, like writing a sentence with a blank in it and having the student write in the correct word for the nursery students by picking from a group of picture words for example. I had bought some books for both the nursery and primary students and she worked with each teacher on how to use them effectively. I had also brought some flash cards from home for the nursery students, bought some picture books here etc. The other difficulty is the teachers also speak in stilted english and they also talk in their native language while trying to teach english. Just getting them to teach in english will be a large break through. Gretchen stressed that if the foundation is layed well in nursery and kindergarten and early P levels, the student will be much more successful when reaching the higher P levels as well as in secondary school!! They will still need to memorize for the national exam however. It appears only the most gifted go on successfully, as they must learn innately, rather from much of what they are taught. Peter, for example, at Tender Mercies, is extremely gifted. He is a walking encyclopedia. He has memorized the entire bible and can recite verse and chapter, as well as recite correctly most anything you as him in regard to a science topic, etc. I also bought Rogers some workbooks and Peter was more than happy to work with him on these after I moved up the the farm. Oh, how Rogers needs his mind stimulated and with the illness missing so much school and the incredible different teaching system in Uganda, he has lost a lot of ground.

I was able to buy duplicates of the early P level english and science workbooks for the primary students that are far behind their actual level, and we hope they can improve especially during each school break learn more so that in school they will continue to move forward without repeating. The challenge for the nursery school is there are 37 students!! Books are relatively expensive and not provided in schools in Uganda. We may be copying some things from the set I bought and Ranae can also see next time she comes what to do about this. AIDSpirit donated some teaching manuels that have some good word lists and stories that can be cut up and put together for reading materials. We are so grateful!! So, as was the case, with the times I taught the tailoring teaching how to place a pattern along seams and sew an apron or purse, even though I am not a seamstress...I will now be charged with teaching the teachers, since the teacher Gretchen, also taught me.

Teaching the teachers was one of the missing pieces of the matrix of the PRESM community development model. With the literacy program developing over the last year under the direction of Ranae Parker and visiting teachers we look forward to seeing it's fruit!

The women are so so busy with their gardens and children home from school break, the adult literacy is not in session so far.

In the afternoon, we moved on to the vocational school. The ladies have been busy making the rest of our order. There was a misunderstanding so the tailoring teacher had the ladies stop after making two aprons. They turned out beautifully! The AIDSpirit team loved them and placed an order for buying for their grandkids and children, so back I was to the bustling market to buy more fabric for Aprons!! Ranae sent some patterns for headbands from the scrap material and "poof" 20 were made within an hour or so....these went back with AIDSpirit team so I had room for Aprons!!

All in all, there is great hope....

Nadine (not a teacher....ha)

Emmanuel clinic treats a burn patient

Emmanuel clinic treats a burn patient

May 4 2014

Shortly after we got back from the Kampala village visit, Suzan comes to our women's tukle and announces a burn patient has come to the clinic and it is "Bad". "She is in a lot of pain" Immediately our ears perked up and compassion and interest peaked. Angie, also a nurse; me, a PA who loves to treat burns, and caring Gretchen and Jean all headed to the clinic to see what was going on. Mind you this is sunday and the clinic is supposed to be closed on Sunday and Monday, hours being Tues – Saturday. Judith, the full time nurse was still around and Suzan of course available. The patient had been escorted from Kikumba, the nearby by town on the main road 13 km from the farm and Emmanuel clinic, as an afterthought when considering taking her over 2 hours away to a referral hospital in Gulu. Suzan and Judith were more than happy to accept this patient and help her. They placed her in the finished ward which is not an official inpatient ward yet, but has a bed. The patient needed to lay down for a good assessment of her left upper lateral thigh that was badly burned along the whole side. There was thick black eschar, a foul smell, and immense pain associated. Judith sedated the patient with valium and we proceeded to clean off the what appeared to be silvadene ointment applied by another clinic. Judith asked me if all of the black are needed to come off and I said yes. I offered to do it but she deftly took the blade and proceeded to debride the dead tissue as far as she could, while the lovelies (Gretchen, Angie and Jean) held the woman and sang to her, soothing her with "Kumbaya my Lord, Kumbaya" and other songs. There still remained a thick center of black eschar that could not be removed as it was becoming to painful and was still very attached. IV antibiotics and fluids were given and pain killers. She drifted off the sleep as we placed silvadene and gauze and dressings. Thank god for all the kerlix and gauze pads donated that I had stuffed in my tubs as i believe we will use every bit of the bandages I brought on this patient. She will stay overnight as needs to be monitored. More debridement will need to be done and she has a long way to go before able to care for this on her own and the transport to keep coming back is far and costly for these impoverished people. Through the process of treating her we found out she has epilepsy and HIV. She had a seizure and fell into a large cooking pot of boiling hot water when she had a seizure. Her family brought her medicine and Nurse Judith prepared herself to help take care of her throughout the night. And this is Judith's day off... this is the commitment this nurse has to the people and her job at Emmanuel clinic!!

Even though, we are struggling with the registration and learning the health center process after not so good leadership and advice, this clinic is serving a great purpose and need! Emmanuel clinic is seeing between 150 – 50 patients a month which is felt to be quite low and off the budget, yet it has helped this one life...this important and valuable life and deserving life. I asked Suzan if the patient will pay and she said, "don't mind...they will pay something as the family was prepared to take her to gulu and Lachor and pay a lot more. We don't turn any one away Nadine, you taught us that, we are here to serve even on our days off" Wow..if that was not a wake up call to me...!! So who was I sounding like? Just the same as the administration of the hospital I work for....all about numbers and money, which is not typically me at all as I struggle for a healthy and balance working life in the medical field in America. I co founded this organization on One Life, Kenny. We are Hope 2 One Life...and each and every life has value and worth and deserves dignity, respect and care. I am proud of Suzan and Judith, the faithful nurses of Emmanuel clinic!! They stand their ground and principles and refuse to relagate a patient or themselves to bowing to a number or a shilling. I am truly humbled. With humility, I pray for a light and path forward...God hear my prayer.

Suzan and Judith are asking for a nursing assistant as this kind of special care needed happens often enough. Suzan has even said she would reduce her salary in half if the clinic could hire a nursing assistant.

More to come on this, as Terence, Richard and I have a meeting in Gulu with our trusted and good friend, Sr. Dr. Vincentina Achora, formerly medical director of the Dr. Ambrosoli Hospital in Kalongo, who knows all about the community health unit system and the government medical system. 

Humbled and encouraged in Uganda...

Nadine

Kampala Village continues to celebrate clean water!

Kampala village continues to celebrate clean water

May 4, 2014

Hallelujah Sunday! After church and lunch we all made a trip to Kampala Village to see the new deep water well in action. This is Angie's first hand experience seeing the well and of course we wanted her to report to Tom! As it happened, Tom, ended up texting me while we were in the village as Angie's phone was off so I was able to send him the praises of the new well! After a series of talks, one by the assistant LC 1 (who asked for malaria treatment for the villagers seemingly not to know about the clinic?!) and then by the water board, they had us stand around and gave Angie the ceremonial key to officially "unlock" the well and provide water! With this flower petals were thrown at her. It was a time of great joy and celebration once again with singing and dancing and of course soda! We lined the kids up and Jean and Gretchen gave them all a chewable vitamin (my kind of "sweetie"). They were very grateful! It was good to see the elderly women again who prayed and prayed for this to happen. They have been using the well for almost 6 months and the neighbors are paying something small for the future maintenance we know they all will need. I counted the village board to be 7 in all and will be giving them all world water day T shirts to signify this important and great job of protecting the well! They also constructed a fine fence to protect it and we know this is so precious to them they will treat it well for a long time to come. We all wished to " Good Tom" could be there, but "Big Tom" readily rejoiced with all for him as did we all and especially Angie who was quite moved by the day, beginning with her experience at the church in the morning. Tom Osborne, you have done a great job in providing clean water, a source of life and great joy to the impoverished people of Kampala village! You are a legend in this area and loved much! Till you all meet again....Hallelujah...Amen!

Nadine

Tomatoes and more tomatoes! Microfinance success!

Tomatoes and more tomatoes!

May 3 – ongoing

Almost everyday, either a group of women, or a group of boys, begins picking tomatoes from the drip irrigated gardens, that are available for the solar water source and tank system Hope 2 One Life has implemented. The second tank added this year has helped the project immensely as there are now approx 2 1/2 acres of tomatoes irrigated and 1 1/2 acres of watermelon. Richard's tomatoe garden is about 1 1/2 acres and the drip lines he added in December when he found the great need for tomatoes in dry season. There are no tomatoes available in northern Uganda or southern Sudan during this time and the prices go up considerably. Richard has found a great market. Like the watermelon, the buyers now come to the farm to buy. Richard bought a more expensive seed to start with this first trial and it worked well. The tomatoes are picked slightly green with tints of red so they will ripen in transit. They are picked by hand and put into large basins piled high, placed on the head and carried to a tarpauline on the ground and emptied in a pile. They are then sorted and rotten ones thrown out. The buyer comes with crates and the tomatoes are loaded into crates, dried grass is placed on top to protect them and off they go to market. A basin of tomatoes sells for 20,000 shillings approx 8 dollars. A crate of high end tomatoes, sells for 200,000 shillings. A typical day of harvest yields 8-9 crates if done about 3 times a week now that they are ready. This has been a huge blessing and source of income for the farm and Richard and his family.

With the Family Empowerment Women's group we started a micro loan project at Richard's suggestion with this tomatoe garden idea. We bought drip lines in December and Richard helped them with seeds (the cheaper kind to start with initially). They prepared approx 1 acre of land near the clinic and 4 drip lines implemented. Seedlings prepared and then planted in the garden and irrigated throughout the dry season of January and February. There is approx 25 women and a few men who participate in the seedlings, planting and weeding. The fruits of their labor is in abundant tomatoes and more tomatoes, red and slight green tinge, hanging precariously weighted on the vine and begging to be picked! Finally, on Sunday, the ladies were called to come and pick as the buyers were coming. It was a beautiful sight to see, as they staggered throughout the garden inching down plant after plant along the long rows, picking and placing in the basin, then when full, hoisting the heavy basin to their head and gracefully standing very erect and slowly walking one by one with basins over flowing with bright tomatoes on their heads, to the tarpoline, emptying the tomatoes in the the pile and walking back for more. All afternoon they picked, walked, stooped, bent over, hoisting, basin on head, walking, emptying and repeat. Wagers were placed by Big Tom and Jasper as to how many crates the tomatoes would make. 9,10,12.....no it was 19!! These crates of this type of tomatoe sells for 115,000 shillings a crate. The ladies have made over 3.5 million shilling so far. They are writing it all down and had previoulsy agreed to pay back 50 percent of their drip lines cost - $500 over 3 years. They are prepared to pay back the first year of 418,000 shillings! This will be paid each year for 3 years, they will save some money for more higher end seeds for next dry season of planting and some for possibly more drip lines and then divide the income amongst them selves. There is still at least one or two more harvests of tomatoes left. For 3 months of labor a few times a week, they will an estimated 200,000 shillings each or $80. That is still less than a dollar a day but more than what they had and combined with the tailoring projects, they are immensely happy as this is much much more than what they had opportunity for in the past and potential to grow more prosperous each year. This in itself is the pure joy of providing this solar water project and tank system that we didn't even dream possible when it began. Angie, was here to see it all for Tom, who has spent many painstaking hours writing grants and mou's and plans for these water projects. Well done Tom, you would be so so proud!!

We are planning to take this to another level as well...at least this is my hope...and that is beginning an income generating project for the clinic with this solar water and drip lines and vegetable or fruit gardens....given the need to supplement the clinic sooner than later and the goat project will be a while before it is able to provide sustainable income to run the clinic.

Overall, this solar water system has enormous potential, it's full abillity yet to be tapped. Richard plans on piping water to the nursery school next as well.

Thank you God for the water and the sun and the rain and the soil.....and every living thing. We are all truly blessed.

Nadine

Gratitude in the Highest

Gratitude in the Highest

May 4

The AIDSpirit team arrives saturday late afternoon while I am in a clinic staff meeting. It has been two years since Tom and Jean Jacques have visited the farm and we think four years since Angie has been here. Angie's husband, Tom, our hydrologist, was here in December with me and the Rielands for the Kampala village water project. This is Gretchen's first time. Admidst all of the hello's with Richard and Susan and Abby, there is much to look at, new surroundings and new projects, buildings, gardens, water tanks etc and of course another addition to the clinic...the verrhanda. As the team settles in and visits in the community dining area, here come 3 surprise visitors – Bosco and Geoffrey's parents and Denis' mom. The Jacques graciously sponsor Bosco in university in Mbarra for development studies for the last few years. He has one year to go and they just love love him!! He spent a few days with them at tender mercies where he hopes to help out and gain experience upon graduation. They also sponsor his brother Geoffrey (a child abducted by the LRA and forced as a child soldier, subsequently escaped) this past year in tourism school. What a gift that has been to these boys for their future! We are so proud of them! Their parents,

Alfed and Evelyn are immensely grateful and come bearing the gift of a chicken! Jean did not want to have anything to do with holding the chicken so Suzan helped her as it squawked and tried to fly away! Tom had a great laugh! Angie and Tom Osborne and Leigh Taggart and Matt Hermann of H20 co sponsor Denis in university in developement studies. Alice, his mother, we have known for years as the leader of the women's empowerment group. She is amazing and also has survived much hardship during the war and takes care of orphans whose parents were killed in the war, as well as her own children. I sponsor one of the girl orphans, Scovia in primary school.

Denis, and the other boys, have been involved with our teams for years and have been mentored by us, as well as Richard and Suzan on the farm. Their parents expressed their heartfelt gratitude and highest praises to God for this blessing and opportunity for their children. Tears of joy and happiness we shed and lots of pictures taken!

Next came Richard's parents to greet us and also express their gratitude for the work!

And prior to that, was the visit from Apopo...I wanted to share the good news to follow with Angie present.

To be continued...

Meet Terence

Meet Terence

May 2, 2014

I have known Terence since 2006, when our team from Calvary Chapel Billings joined Far Reaching Ministries on a mission trip which included going to LRA war torn Kitgum and the Infant Orphan Care Center. Terence is an amazing man, who had a curious mind, even at a young age when he developed polio. He was crippled and had difficulty walking with one leg, yet still stived to go to school. Disabled children in Uganda are not thought worthy and thus money not spent on what is felt to be wasted school especially in those days, but Terence persisted and hobbled to school enthusiasitacally every day. He was very bright and eventually a catholic mission priest saw his potential and dedication and sponsored him. He completed his studies at the top of his classes. He became a nutritionist and worked at St Joseph's hospital in Kitgum during the height of the war and managed the nutrition and feeding center. Many babies were being abandoned at the hospital with no mother or caregiver as families were massacred and babies left behind living. Mothers died in child birth quite frequently. And, the war created such fear and poverty, many could not take care of their starving children so abandoned them. Extended families were also stressed with many orphans as the AIDS epidemic was also going on. The hospital was overcrowded and a very sad sad sight. Terence felt for these babies and children and decided to open a center to care for them in 1992. He knows a lot about a lot of things since then and has also worked with Goal in Kalongo at thier nutrition center, with unicef, world food programme and USAID. Hope 2 One Life has supported the Infant care center since 2007 with medical assistance, as well as Tender Trust, and the deaf and blind school. Terence overseas all of the accounting and reciepts for this and reports to me quarterly and on time, even better than any of the american missionaries have been able to do in the past! He also had to report to Far Reaching Ministries detailed reports. Therefore, when the accountant/administrator left Emmanuel Clinic early on and the reporting was not timely or accurate, I felt the need to come over and help straighten some things out. Terence came to mind, and thankfully he is between jobs and the infant care center will be closing by the end of this year.

He agree to meet and Richard and Suzan (who also knew him previously) accepted this idea to enlist his help graciously.

This has proven to be a Godsend, as Terence found our clinic registration was not correct and has a lot of knowledge about health centers and knows people we can consult if he does not know the answers. He has come up with document after document and procedure after procedure through his knowledge and contacts. Thank you God! More to come as we go along of these clinic challenges!

My next favor to call on, will be to Dr. Sr. Vincentina, our good friend from Kalongo, who is retired and now living in Gulu. I will be arranging a trip to Gulu to see her soon as well.

I love it when a path of light opens up and guides the way. Guardian angels thank you!

Nadine

Contrasts and Culture, First day on the Farm

First day on the Farm

The contrast between Southern Uganda and the cities and towns surrounding Kampala, Jinja and Entebbe to mid Uganda going north is sharp. The bustling cities with lots of noise, cars and motorcycles (boda bodas) weaving in a out everywhere, horns blaring, people moving, business in small shacks everywhere, sometimes using every inch of the land, including street children selling and begging as people are stuck in jams gives a person a feeling of constant activity. In the evening as it gets dark, and I mean dark!, the towns become alive with activity, everyone on the side of the road cooking, walking, visiting and selling. This is their social time as it cools down and the traffic jams go well into the evening. It is not uncommon to get stuck in a two to four hour traffic jam in the stiffling heat! Air conditioning...think again! Music is everywhere also, loud and louder to the point you cannot think at times. Imagine all of this going on while trying to drive through mud and rain and potholes, dodging people, goats, chickens, cows teathered to trees and yes lots of bicycles, boda boda's and other vehicles. The smells are alive and not always good as the sewer is a simple ditch flowing with debris separating the red dirt road with the shacks of shops. Jinja town has sidewalks in some places and is quite nice and touristy, yet comes alive at night similarly. There is an abundance of houses with tin roofs and bathrooms, and showers indicating more prosperous living and income generation ability for the local people as well. The missionary community in Jinja has become quite large and their is a lot of white faces around everywhere you go. For Beth, married to Kenny's brother John, this has been quite comforting. I relish in visiting them for a normal toilet, shower and bed after being up north a while and it is so nice to have "family" to stay with intermittently and bounce ideas off! Their son, Kiah, loves visitors too and loves to play games with "Auntie Nadine". I see them more in Uganda than I ever did in America!

My jet lag haze and brain fog has lifted and I relish in driving north out of Kampala and away from the traffic on the new good road with only a few stops for road construction! People are still walking and animals still on the side of the road but it thins out considerably, the air becomes fresh even with the oppessive heat, the green farm land abundant. Ah..beautiful wide open spaces! The houses become less and turn into more thatched huts as subsistence farming becomes evident. Still there are intermittent towns that look to be prospering more and more each time I come. One thing that does not change are the bugs...bugs and more bugs this time of year...my skin is a constant itch!! Our turn off is about 4 and a half hours north off the main road from Kikumba sub county of Kiryandongo district, and 13 km to Rakayata village and the Family Empowerment Uganda – Cannan farm, our partner and home away from home.

Terence, our new accountant and clinic administrator is with me and has already proved so valuable. Richard, as well. We have had a lot to talk about and are excited to start the work and see how the clinic is doing, especially. For this is the main reason I came back so soon and for so long. I think the american medical system is challenging, wait until you hear about the Ugandan medical system! I am thankful for good trusted ugandan friends I can call on to help. The learning curve is huge as I will soon find out.

I feel at home here....no matter how much struggle it is to get to Uganda and organize the work and projects and leave my job, Kenny and America behind....there is so much joy in returning to my home away from home. No matter how hard it seems in this extreme contrast of cultures, even the hardest day does not seem as hard as in america or maybe I am just more and peace and happier volunteering, serving and leading a simple existence by faith alone, rather than by my own direction in the US. Whatever it may be, I am grateful...thank you all for the support and prayers, I would not be able to take these journey's without each and every one of you.

I am excited to wake up tomorrow to the birds singing, roosters crowing and all kinds of farm smells! Stay tuned as the real work for me is about to begin. In a few days AIDSpirit team will also join the farm.

Nadine

Best Laid Plans

Best Laid Plans

May, 1 2014

After much preparation I was ready and eager to leave Kayunga and head up to the farm, finally! The initial shopping in Kampala and meetings were completed. I now had to pick up the orders from Joint Medical Stores, Nice House of Plastics, pick up Terence our new accountant and administrator for Emmanuel clinic, meet Richard, buy a few items for Rogers, a sewing machine and off we go. After much thought and a few negotiations with AIDSpirit it was determined best I use their bus for the trip as I had a lot of items to bring to the farm. Included with my 4 tubs were the printer and supplies for the clinic, books,  mosquito nets, medicines, water test kits, and 1000 cups for the school outreach and water cleanliness project we implemented a few years ago with bio sand water filters, hygiene, hand washing and sanitation. There was only 3 people and the driver going, however it was going to be a hassle for me to get a vehicle from Kayunga and then another one from Kampala. AIDSpirit would hire a van for them for the day. All was set and I was ready to go! We were a little late starting off as Charles had some things to finish up in Kayunga, eventually off we went. I heard from Richard an hour into the trip that he had arrived Kampala. We planned a meeting place and all was well. A few minutes later, I recieve another phone call and he tells me all is closed as it is a government holiday......labor day. Go figure. Joint medical stores and Nice house of plastics is closed. So now I have a bus enroute that is very expensive with little people and just my tubs printer and a few supplies. Now what to do. I could not see paying that large sum for fuel etc, so we juggled around and thought of a way to get all my tubs on public transportation which meant they would have to go on the roof. I talked with AIDSpirit and they graciously said they would bring my stuff up when they came in a few days...so I sent my stuff back on the bus with Charles to Kayunga and just kept my backpack and small suitcase. We then hired a small car to take the sewing machine to Grace and pick up Terence. Since this part of the trip was already costing over $100 I thought I should take the public bus so off we were headed to the bus park. Now Terence has a broken leg and is in a cast. I would also have to pay this driver. Out of the blue, I thought to ask him what it would take to drive us in this small car to the farm. He said he goes to Masindi every week to pick up people and would be glad to do it, has a car that makes the trip well and knows the road. I am so thankful for Ranae and her gift to me prior to leaving on the trip and remembered her telling me, if you get in a bind, don't struggle and take the public bus. Use this money. So, I did...and was so so thankful, I had that reserve. Now, I figured I would save it for later in the trip, not blow it all in one day early on...but it made it easier and i could make stops along he way to go to the toilet and buy fruits and vegetables, etc. We made it in record time, even before dark which was amazing. What is also amazing is that the Ugandans do not seem to have it on their radar when there is a public holiday!!! Lots of stores are open as in our country on holidays, but major businesses and the government are all closed similar to ours. I think as oblivious as I am to things at times, I would know it was a public holiday?!. So, the best laid plans....turned into..... when all else fails...go to plan B, C, D and all the way to Z if you have to!  And, I am digging deep within me for the grace and ease aspect of this day!  Thankfully, I only felt the panic and stress of the situation momentarily and moved on...to the bright side.  I am so looking forward to my first day on the farm!

Nadine

Sickle cell clinic

Sickle Cell Clinic

April 30, 2014

Ebony eyes, with yellow tinge slera are looking at me curiously and shyly from many a face with bony outlines of frontal bossing (enlarge frontal bones) and some with enlarged mandibles and puffy eyelids as they lined up on the bench awaiting the sickle cell clinic. I am reminded of my Kenny when he was younger, the characteristic features and complications of sickle cell plaguing him with severe hip pain. I still look at his eyes every time I see him and if the sclera is yellow I become the nagging mom...drink more water! Hydration is key to the prevention of sickle cell crisis. So, as these kids sit on the bench awaiting the doctors, I dole out cups of water and folic acid...and silently pray for their health and well being, remembering the health and blessings Kenny has recieved. It brings back many memories of my first trip in 2003 and Kenny's arrival to America in 2004 for his hip operations and healthcare!

100's of children born with sickle cell disease and their families look forward to this clinic every year. Villages far and wide are mobilized as Tender Mercies partners with the Sickle Cell Association of Uganda. Two doctors, nurses, social workers, counselors and educators come from Kampala each year to conduct this outreach for children and families who would have otherwise not had the opportunity for healthcare and education. In 2006, this sickle cell education began humbly with me and a few ugandans, then a combined team from the US with some medical providers and nurses and subsequently for the last few years, generously provided through a grant from the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth Kansas via Sr. Mary V. It is a huge blessing and wonderful community outreach. Now that Tender Mercies has a nurse, the sickle cell association has agreed to train her and the opportunity is there for sickle cell children to come for care in this region with the doctor's back up. I am charge with helping set this up. I am truly humbled...and in awe...these children suffer so so much....

Nadine

Mwambu

And... there is Mwambu

Mwambu (who I had previously called Youwabu) runs out of the door exuberantly in his cockeyed gate running, with his cockeyed smile grinning from ear to ear, then literally jumps in my arms and hugs and hugs, grunting his few words....all happiness and joy. Ah...all hardship is erased and every last sacrifice is worth it...for this boy is happy, happy, happy! Mwambu is the boy who was sitting behind the bush eating dirt in Bugogge village a couple of years ago. He was so cachectic and malnourished he looked like concentration camp victim pictures or famine pictures. His temples were sunken, his bones protuding even in his face, knobby kneed and limping to even stand with a boda belly of worms likely and kwashikor syndrome from malnourishment, naked save for a ragged piece of cloth that draped over his head barely reaching his chest. He looked at the ground ashamed and sad. He did not speak, only jibberish. His mother was mentally ill and only spoke jibberish and died and few years back and his father was killed, run over by a car while he was walking along the side of the road. I could not get him out of my mind, therefore, after exhausting all options sent him to live and rehabilitate at Tender Trust orphanage in Kitgum we support with medical care. He lived there about a year and improved, but not after being so hungry and animal like he grabbed at a plate of food his first meal with the other children and spilled hot porridge all over his head, lip and chest and burned himself badly. This healed as did many other scars. He also had never used a toilet and had dumping syndrome until his stomach was able to get used to food. Once Tender Mercies building was built a year later we brought him down from Kitgum with the mission team in Jan 2013. Four days he was with us traveling by the bus to Kalongo and through Mbale to Jinja and finally to Kayunga. It was a long four days and he tried the team at times. Since at Tender Mercies he has flourished with the other kids. They have taught him some words, played with him and settled him in at night like all the other kids. He goes to day school which in the beginning was quite a disruption. He is mentally disabled it appears so it is unclear what he can learn with reading and writing. Overall he has learned how to live joyfully, always helping out and hugging and laughing and smiling! Gretchen had me buy some basket balls on one of my shopping trips to Kampala and I was duped. When it was pumped up fully it was oblong and bounced off kilter, but that did not matter to Mwambu..he and Rachel played ball and laughed for hours. 10 year old Rachel has taken Mwambu under her wing and even wants to teach him letters and numbers. So, I bought some marker erase books for his to try. Regular books he might tear up and these can be reused. I hope he likes them! Mwambu, yes you are a child of God and deserving of love just as any other child or person....you matter and you are beautiful both inside with your sweet sweet heart and outside even with the scars cockeyed gait and cockeyed smile.  We love you!

I am amazed at how great Charles and Jackie are taking care of the kids!!  They all look healthy and transformed from starving wild village children to well behaved nice loving kids!  This could not have happened without all of the dedication of AIDSpirit support and unconditional love!  A wonderful testimony to loving one child at a time...

Nadine

AIDSpirit USA sponsor 60 children

As many of you may recall, AIDspirit sponsors many children. It started with 5 kids that Kenny asked shyly to sponsor through AIDSpirit in partnership with his brothers organization, Tender Mercies, in 2007, seven years ago. The sponsorship has now grown to 60 children, buying land, building a building, water projects and hiring staff...and with that comes growing pains and Ugandan govt rules to follow and partner organizations and town councils to mesh all in a diverse culture so odd to us and different from ours at times. The learning curve for me is still steep and for new leaders even steeper. Yet when the kids jump for joy, look healthy and happy it is all worth it!! The AIDSpirit team of 4 was incredible and spent a lot of time interviewing the kids and meeting many, many people involved in their care. It was quickly apparent the learning and teaching and school system in Uganda is very different than in america! Some are struggling quite a bit. Including Rogers. I first met Rogers in 2006 when he was brought to me in an outdoor Bugogge village clinic (before there was even a Tender Mercies office), emaciated with wounds open to the bones and the most painful look in his eyes, begging for a piece of meat.  He was starving and sick with massive skin infections to the bone of his flexed and contracted limbs.  Most of you know the story....since all medical options in Uganda exhausted for treatment of his TB spine, deformity and restrictive lung problems, brought to America for a very special spine surgery at St. V's. Subsequently he has been denied access back to America for his medical check ups and has suffered severe decubitus ulcers from pressure wounds as he is unable to feel anything below the waist, had surgery, was bed ridden for months and struggling every day to maintain some semblence of dignity while he is back in a land foreign to him in many ways. After being taught in the american school system, he is mixed up with trying to learn the ugandan way as their words and pronunciations different in english and much of the ways of teaching very strange. Rogers is quite discouraged about his dilemma. The team worked with potential student teachers and tutors for the children falling behind. I bought books for Rogers, with the hopes he can keep his mind stimulated and spirits up and learn...

We pray for all of the sponsored children's education and sponsors as this is their hope for a life out of poverty....

Greetings in Uganda

Greetings in Uganda

The plane trip was uneventful and went very well. One of the

AIDSpirit tubs did not arrive so we had a long wait to sort that out and as good fortune would have it the customs people left and we sailed right through customs without even having to show papers etc. What a blessing!

Outside, there was Rogers to greet us! A huge surprise. Angie's sponsored child, Steven, was also there with of course, Charles of Tender Mercies. At last we settled into the guest house just fine, slept well and were off to Kampala to change money the next day and do some errands, like shop for printers and meet with Draco Drilling to discuss upcoming water projects,etc. Finally, we reached Jinja, to have dinner with sponsored Denis and Geoffrey and Kenny's brother, John, his wife Beth and son Kiah. It was dark and late but so so good to meet up with all. Approx 10:30 pm we arrived Kayunga and the hotel. The heat is intense and the bugs abundant, as we try to sleep, tossing and scratching and itching, wishing the fan would work and the pipes would stop dripping...but alas this is Uganda. Rogers and Steven were exhausted and taken to Tender Mercies to sleep with the other kids as they happily anticipated the bright white faces of AIDSpirit with all their love and smiles to appear the next day. Let the work begin....

Uganda Mission 2014 - Trip Number Twelve - Home away from Home

April 23, 2014 – Departure to Uganda

Home away from Home

Dear all,

Even though I am going over solo from Hope 2 One Life, and packed four tubs (instead of 22 and a full team as in the past), the process of getting ready is still overwhelming! One would think the airport situation in Billings would go without a glitch after 10 years and 12 trips but that was not the case once again. The airline agent even though she was great last trip gave me a problem about the extra tub and it flustered me quite a bit. I am allowed three tubs for medallion status and I pay for one extra, she tried to insist I pay for two and I madly tried to find the rules...wouldn't ya know it I usually carry them with me but assumed a smooth sail...so didn't have them. As Dan was lookiing for internet access, the AIDSpirit team showed up and she flippantly said I will just waive the one. They all had 3 tubs each on Tom's medallion status and one extra and she didn't give them a bit of hassle. Oh....just that little bit of stress after very little sleep for days prior to the trip, coupled with many extra hours of work prior to save up to pay the bills while I am gone is enough for me to ask..."Oh God...why.. why is it rarely easy....why do I put myself through this?"

That is when I always remind myself....I am simply following my life's calling and serving God's work... doing what i can to help just one small miniscule fraction of orphans and widows, impoverished families and children in a suffering world. I remember the angels that guard me front and back through the years and all the prayers that carry me through as I am simply the messenger. Thus, as soon as I get on the plane and sigh a huge relief, I settle in to the peace and calm of the 34 hour travel in great anticipation of the journey to come....muster up every bit of perseverance and energy and place my sights forward on the work to be done and hope to be restored. On faith alone, leaving Kenny and my american world behind as I head for my beloved Uganda...home away from home.....

I am grateful to all of you for the prayers that will carry me and the many who have made this trip possible! St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation for providing my travel grant for the plane ticket. Without their help, I would have to work 4 jobs instead of three to pay for the time I am missing work. I am grateful for the ST V WIC staff, providers and managers for keeping their promise of allowing me to travel for this work to Uganda twice a year even though it leaves gaps in the schedule. I am grateful for the H20 Board of directors in their great assistance with many things while I am gone and in providing the guidance and help while I am over in Uganda, especially as I tackle some difficult issues by myself. I am grateful to Ranae so much for helping me pack, if not for Ranae I would have been in panic mode daily. I am grateful to Dan for saving the day once again and getting me to the airport and through the check in process. I am grateful to the AIDSpirit team, Tom and Jean Jacques, Jeans sister Gretchen and Angie Osborne (famously known of the wife of Tom Osborne in Uganda, our water expert!) as we travel together and partner in some of the work. They will be in Kayunga for approx 11 days and on then visit the farm for 3 days before flying out May 6. I will be on my own and living as a Ugandan for 3 weeks following for a total of 5 weeks which likely will be packed with many many adventures and amazing counters. With grace and ease...I pray I will move through every challenge with grace and ease.

Nadine

Last Days in Uganda - December 2013 Blessings

 December 19, 2013

The last few days have been a whirlwind, and as I sit here in an overstuffed armchair, surrounded by christmas decorations and the smell of cinammon, I am already beginning to miss Uganda.... Wait, I'm still here! We are spending the last two nights of our trip at John and Beth Musagala's house in Jinja. John and Beth are a wonderful missionary couple who work for Hope in the Land Ministry, bringing clean water, heathcare, and the word of God to the people of Mayuge District, one of the poorest regions in Uganda. They are taking us around Jinja today on a "touristy" excursion to the Kitenda Falls, and to a craft market in town.

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.

It is always a bittersweet depature from Uganda back to the US for me, however so happy to see Kenny and kitty soon!  I will be working all through Christmas and New Years and the adjustment is harder going back it seems.  Yet, the teamwork on this trip is very satisfying and with one step closer the the dream of the end of poverty for a small remote region.  God is good and I am grateful for all of the service and sacrifice of the team, Tom Osborne, Mariel and Heather Rieland.  May you be richly blessed with treasures in heaven.  Thank you with all my heart!  Thank you all at home for the prayers that carry us safely and wisely.

In deep gratitude,  

Nadine