Wipolo Village outreach "How did the chicken cross the road?"

As we move up north to our Kitgum base, we continue to be entertained by Maggie who is teaching Denis and Bosco and Terence American silliness. Every time an animal darts in the road in front of us (which is very often) she exclaims, "How did the chicken cross the road? Because Terence is driving!! Then roars in laughter which is contagious to us all. Then it is "Why did the goat cross the road? Why did the cow cross the road?  The pig? The dog? HahahahahHa!! Woot!  Then there is OMG there is a mountain!  It Is so beautiful! I was getting tired of just seeing grass after grass along the road!  Look at that sky!  All the way to Wipolo village (which means heaven), to our first village outreach, one of the villages we have been implementing our community development model for post war recovery, empowerment and sustainability  (PRESM). First off, we walk to the borehole (deep water well) recently repaired through our Billings world water day, walk for water fundraising. We met the water board who oversees the care and maintenance of the borehole. The water
Board Committee receives world water day t shirts for their service and reports on how they are taking care of it and the village contributing
to a fund that sustains any repairs needed. They are off to a good start, their borehole and fence and area is immaculate! Last January we sponsored a farming gods way training In Gulu and sent 2 persons to train from all of our projects (32 people and a total of 85 attended the 3 day training). We donated vegetable seeds and start up crop seeds with the requirement they use this technique, as it is proven successful and yields bountiful crops.
The Wipolo community farming group consists of 60 people, 8 different gardens, 2-5 acres each. They saw the advantages of farming god's way technique through a very successful ground nut crop, very successful sunflower and peas. They grew very big onions and egg plant and cabbages as well as these massive pumpkins! The maize did not do so well due to too much sunshine early on and army worms, which we have found to be typical. Their work plan for 2018 is chicken rearing to diversify and offset the farming risk due to weather conditions or other unforeseen issues (which we encourage). 32 acres of sunflower and soya beans as there is a good market for this and a company actually comes the village looking for these commodities.  This farming group has been supporting an orphan in school and the income they have raised has paid school fees for her in senior 4. They are hoping to find help or raise enough to send her to nursing school, to which she has been accepted. In addition, we are training 2 more persons from this village as VHT's. One was trained years back as her daughter had sickle cell disease, same genetic blood disorder my Kenny has. Today Rose is growing tall and smiling singing and dancing.  Latrines have been implemented in every household. They all received mosquito nets with our prior large distribution and malaria prevention program. Today the VHT taught handwashing and hygiene and asked for demonstrations back for which one adult and one child volunteered. Followed by a handwashing song. You wash hands before....and after....The children colored handwashing pages as well. It truly makes a difference!  Illness is reduced, malaria prevented and all have better nutrition with income potential to send their children to school and live a better life! A rise out of poverty!  Plus they learn unity and giving back. The law of the harvest: you reap what you sow. Love thy neighbor as thyself is the theme of all of my messages this year, peace on earth!  Last
and certainly the most fun is dressing the children with these amazing gifts of love from long time great family friend Marilyn Magelitz and her amazing friends!! Maggie loves loves to squeeze these kids!  Just look at these beautiful children receiving dresses, shorts backpacks and dolls!! The colors,  the special touches of many hands made with much love gives such joy, encouragement and hope! Love reigns!  Listen, can you hear their songs of gratitude!  Just wonderful! Hallelujah!! We sing praises!   Come Along my friends...Maggie keeps saying, "Just when I thought it could not get any better it does!!"
- with Margaret Prindle (Magpie)

#lovethyneighborasthyself