Uganda Mission

Village Clinic

2012-01-31T21:32:00.000-08:00

Jan 18, 2012

The morning began with our usual morning walks and we hustled to get back to get ready for the village health workers testing!! They did oral testing with each of us, some through interpreters and some spoke english. Then, all posed for pictures with their certificates! We are proud of them, they learned a lot and we hope they will take this with them to help their fellow villagers in time of need. We equipped them with a backpack of supplies. The backpacks came from those discarded in the maternity ward of St. V's by patients who did not want them. About 15 village health workers have backpacks from St. V's from over the years!! Also, they were equipped with the stethoscopes donated by Welch allyn, through Heart to Heart International. It was a beautiful sight! They all had assignments to help with during village clinic also. Triage, vital signs, crowd control, wound dressings etc. The afternoon came real quick and people were lined up for clinic since morning! Brenda, Suzan and I saw patients. Melissa and Jessie and Sam did pharmacy, wound care and anything else needed. It was hectic for sure, but much cooler and easier to do in the new clinic! A lot of painstaking work also went into setting up the clinic, painting the inside and then scraping the paint off the new floor! Melissa and Jessie and Brenda you rock!

The guys were still working on the solar..needed more wire and also needed to hook up the tank float switch as it was overflowing and also the lightening rods for the roof. Many kids have died because lightening strikes the metal roof and then goes to the kids who are grounded with their bare feet!! We have a huge roof! Therefore wanted to be sure all was safe!

It was clear as dark came we were not finishing anytime soon, so on went the lights!! Yipee! We saw patients until 9pm! Brenda saw a severe leg/ankle abscess which we suspect had a foriegn body and suspected osteomyelitis. I also have pt in severe abdominal pain we suspected had appendicitis and sent to the hospital. Our clinic bed brought over on the container was used for the first time...and the wheelchair!!

We all broke for dinner at 9pm, then the guys went back to work until 1am!! We all packed and sorted and packed and sorted for the next leg of the trip!

Good thing the team was going to get a break by going to Murchison Falls game park and hiking the falls! I was heading off to Kitgum to meet with the directors of the 3 orphanages we fund for medical care. The team will meet me there in 2 days.

6 am came mightly early!!

Next stop..Kitgum and the Northern Uganda Orphanages!!

Jubilee!!

2012-01-31T21:29:00.000-08:00

Jan 17, 2012

Emmanuel Clinic Celebration:

Jubilee was the dream of Mama Brenda!! Little did she know how big this celebration would become! Originally, We thought it would celebrate the opening of the clinic, however, we learned there is politics and procedures to follow in Africa as well! Ha, should have known it wasn't going to be that easy! The clinic will need to be registered, inspected and staffed with qualified nursing, clinical officer (similar to midlevel provider) and eventually a doctor! We also need to add a lab, which we have planned for the next build out of the 4th end section of the building. So, Jubilee became the celebration of the building of the clinic in progress. Villagers from all around were invited, as well as the mayor and other political officials in the district. Two of the political guest of honors were women!!

Jubilee began with Brenda's idea of a health fair for the adults and games and hygiene/handwashing training for the children. There were 8 stations for the adults and they rotated through the various stations every 10 minutes and was indicated by a drum beat. This began the morning. There was about 10 people in each station to begin with and this grew as people straggled in after their morning chores and long walk to the farm. The stations were held in the shade or under a tree and were as follows:

Handwashing: Kam and Melissa (the hotel soaps and shampoos everyone saves was given out to each person who rotated in this station)

Bio-Sand water filters and clean water: Geoffrey Alara trained technician

Neck and Back stretches: Tyler

Dental Hygiene and toothbrushing: Sam (toothbrushes given out here)

Latrines and sanitation: Stu

Malaria and prevention: Alice, alumni trained village health worker

Diarrheal disease transmission and prevention with ORS: Jennifer and Christine, trained village health workers, alumni

Nutrition and Gardening: Nadine and Bosco (seeds donated by Vision Beyond Borders given here)

Children hygiene/handwashing and games/face painting: Brenda, Jessie and Maureen - new village health worker

It was great fun and we finished by 1:15 just in time for lunch! The whole village stayed for lunch. We soon realized after lunch there was a much bigger agenda than we realized. A formal written agenda was produced with an MC, PA system was plugged into the clinic solar power now up and running, sodas were distributed. Chairs were lined up in a semi circle and we all were sat in seats as other village officials and Richard's family were guided to their seats. Guest dancers and singers and drummers were invited from neighboring villages and from various tribes. They performed various tribal dances and it was amazing! Once introductions occured, the politicians were taken on a tour of the vocational school, Alice's garden with the bucket drip irrigation and Alice's household bio sand water filter, the deep water well, solar well and tank, larger garden irrigation, clinic etc. Following there were numerous speeches! Brenda and I even had to get up there! The team was introduced as well. The politicians expressed support of the clinic and said would help with staff etc, however later, Suzan thought this could be all talk...sound familiar? It was fun and dancing occurred until dark! Overall it was a very satisfying day!!

Now to get ready for testing of the village health workers tomorrow morning and then village clinic in the afternoon! Stay tuned!

Sunrise Village Walks

2012-01-29T23:55:00.000-08:00

Throughout the week on the farm, we got up early each am between 6 - 6:30 am and walked as the sun came up throughout the village areas. One day we went on the road to Katamarwa school (where the Love Covers and Love Packs blessed the nearly 1000 children and later the 1000 cups with bio sand water filters, learning with clean water and hygiene and sanitation outreach took place). The road is not well travelled at this hour, a few people out with their cows and goats. School is still out of session so there is few children around the school. We love these walks and it is a great way to start the day (unlike the lightening speed we start the day with in America!). The exercise and air felt good, even though it was going to be a hot and buggy day. One day, we went passed the school and walked through Katamarwa village. As we were walking back, a women called out to us in a very cheerful voice and beckoned us to come over and in. She was so friendly and animated so we all walked over and she introduced us into the church made of mud and sticks with a thatched roof. Pretty soon children started peering in. We all introduced ourselves and then she asked us to pray for them. Everyone looked at me, so we formed a circle holding hands and invited the many children in who also held hands with all of us in a large circle filling the space and I prayed for them all. It always touches my heart and God speaks to me mightily each time this happens. I still remember the first time the ladies on the farm sat me in the brick shell and dirt floor church on the farm and asked me to pray for them 5 years ago. This seems like a lifetime ago now as at that time they prayed for time pots to simply boil the muddy pond water in and blankets for their children who were sleeping the cold wet dirt floor as it rained and rained. 5 years later, the development and progress that has occurred is astonishing! Glory be to God! Hallelujah! This was also our first opportunity to invite everyone in the village to the "Jubilee" clinic celebration!! We knew this word of mouth will spread better than any internet or social network in this area!

Another morming also brought us through Rakayata village and many familiar sites. We take this opportunity to do some house visits also. This day we walked passed the village center and went to see John, a 17 year old boy living with hyrdrocephalus and basically floor ridden for years. We first met John in 2006 with the Calvary Chapel team and the village clinic. I have followed him since and even bought him a mattress and sheets to get him off the dirt floor. Also, when the container came over I brought him a hospital mattress with the thick vinyl protection. Far Reaching Ministries, Wes and Vicky have also helped this boy and paid for a shunt surgery in Mbale, a caregiver and a solar CD player. His mother also has another disabled child, a girl, Harriett. Keti tries hard and was told to through the kids away years ago, however she could not and did not. I know she has done the best she can do and rarely do I find any bad wounds or big sores on John when I visit, however, each time his mattress is gone!! We found him lying on the ground on a thin matt and dirty blanket, very cold, but with a huge huge smile! "Hello, How are you?", He says cheerfully! When asked what he needed or wanted, he said a "toy motor car". So we set about getting him his wish...a toy motor car with wheels! And now I am about the task of getting a 3rd mattress, this time a child mattress with a bed frame. It will be way too small for an adult to sleep on it and unfortunately too small for Harriet to sleep on it too (the other mattresses fit both kids and two big ones would not fit in the hut). Maybe, just maybe the adults will not take John's mattress now?! We had a stern talk when I brought back the hygiene supplies and scalp shampoo and clothes. I can only hope and pray they also give the boy the blanket we left at the farm when the bed is finished! This is Africa! Reminds me so much of how we used to find Rogers in Kayunga some years back! The needs are great for all! These kids are incredibly tough to survive against all odds! All are God's children...may he continue to protect them.

Nadine

Shining Light - Emmanuel Clinic

2012-01-29T11:25:00.000-08:00

"Let there be light!"
Yesterday the men finished the solar panel and electrical work and the clinic was lit up like a christmas tree! It was truly amazing! I am in awe how the blessing of "light" will bring so much to the farm! I am so very blessed to be here in Uganda! Each day brings a new experience and opportunity to help those in need. The Family Empowerment Farm ceases to amaze me every day! Everyones hard work at home in the United States and here on the farm has truly paid off. I can't wait to continue on our travels and see all the smiles of those we pass!
God Bless everyone and thank you for all your hard work in getting us here and helping these people who truly deserve it!

Jessica Gilmore

Note from Nadine: Jessie is the epitomy of "light". She cascades it all around her wherever she goes, giving freely of her love and kind gentle spirit! Just ask Baby Robinson! Thank you Jessie for completing the team, you were the glue that held us happily happy together (and carried Stu's ball the whole trip!).

From the Guys - Short and Sweet!

2012-01-29T11:09:00.000-08:00

Tyler Heffner - A great week with a lot of accomplishments and a lot of creative solutions. Its pretty amazing how things get done around here and how hard it is to find proper equipment and parts. Its a great thing that we have a great team. We managed to get the entire clinic wired and powered up with the solar, we got showers, tap stands, and sinks piped up to the water tank. We fixed one of solar pumps that just happened to quit during our stay at the farm, we fished frogs out of the tanks, and shocked the tanks with bleach. One of our last projects is to install lightning rods on the clinic. Things are going great.

Sam Ausen - Everyone is so friendly and appreciative if our help. And there is a good turnout. The team members are all so awesome and we are getting along just great. We love the hot weather and miss all of you at home and send our love. We are preparing to go to the jubilee celebration.

Stu Stevens- We have been working very hard every day and it feels gratifying! The team and people here are great. The farm is developing into a well oiled machine, I can't wait to see the fruit of everyones labor.

Note from Nadine: If you could have only seen all 4 of the guys in action!! I joked about them in the previous post, but seriously, it was amazing synchronization! They each had their special gifts and we needed each and every one to round out the projects for completion! I could not have designed a better team if I tried! But then again, the creator designed it...the good Lord knew who we needed and why and made it possible. Thanks to Mama Brenda who recruited her clan as well! Thanks also to Bob Wright, an amazing man who lives in Karamojo with his family at the presbyterian mission (also supported by Rocky Mountain Community Church of Billings), who contacted us after we both recieved a grant from NWGREF and offered to be our wholesale water and solar project dealer and consultant guy! After several emails and phone calls in country we finally met him on the last day! Another Godsend!

Our young newlyweds

2012-01-29T10:56:00.000-08:00

Uganda is a beautiful country filled with outstanding people. Through our mission trip we have met some amazing loving people, who have changed our lives. Their welcome was so genuine through their singing, our hearts were filled with joy and has sparked our compassion for others. Since our stay here Kam has got all the lights finished in the clinic, and we had our light show last night. It has brought so much joy and hope to our mission. While Kam has been working hard I have been teaching our healthcare workers, and it has been a joy for me to get to know the women of the village. I feel like I have made an impact to these women through my teaching of wound care. They are eager to learn and could recite every word I taught them! While traveling to another village nearby, we meet some amazing people. The children gave us the warmest welcome anyone could ever receive. The sang their hearts out, and we felt very blessed to be apart of it. We got the opportunity to give all the children vitamins, and play with them. They loved the bubbles and pretty much mauled me. They also were obsessed with the camera and seeing the pictures we took of them. They had the greatest laughs, it brought so much joy to everyone. We had an amazing time. As a gift they gave us the sodas. I wish everyone could of saw Kam's face when he saw the mountain dew, don't worry I got a picture of Susan giving it to him. What an amazing experience we had, I wish everyone in the USA could be as kind and giving as these people, we would live in tranquility. We have learned selflessness and compassion through our trip so far but we are looking forward to moving on through our adventure. What a blessing it is that we have got this opportunity. Today we will be doing our celebration of the clinic, and I am doing the prayer in front of the hundreds of village people, keep me in your prayers, I am very nervous! : ) We will keep in touch.

God Bless everyone,

Melissa and Kam Christensen

Note from Nadine: Melissa and Kam were amazing and made an impact and were impacted for sure! Even when they didn't feel well, they served with grace and perseverence. The village pastor actually came, so he did the prayer which relieved Melissa as there were hundreds of people and some political folks! Everyone took turns praying at the meal blessing and if they led the prayer they got to eat first! Now at times that was incentive. Ha! The celebration was quite the deal, much more than we expected! Brenda and I had to make speeches and that was scary!! More about "Jubilee" to come...

Mama Brenda

2012-01-29T10:50:00.000-08:00

Jan 18, 2012

Wow what a busy week. So much accomplished. We have been blessed with an amazing team. Everyone has contributed such a great deal. The farm has changed so much since I first came to Africa 4 years ago. Progress. A new clinic (Emmanuel clinic - Hope 2 One Life), a vocational school (Far Reaching Ministries), and a new school being built (Yobel Market), plus many new faces, new tukel's, solar power, and showers....But the best of all was greeting old friends who have made us a part of their families and lives. It is us who reap so many benefits from being here. I thank the good lord that I have been blessed with the opportunity to be a part of this.

Brenda Gilmore

Note from Nadine: Brenda saw her namesake - twin Baby Brenda now two years old and walking for the first time!! Twin baby Leigh was missing her auntie Leigh! The ladies love love Brenda and Leigh who are the best health teachers ever!!

Family Empowerment Uganda - Canaan Farm; Our Home away from Home!!

2012-01-29T08:18:00.000-08:00

Jan 18, 2012

Hi all!

We spent 8 nights on the Family Empowerment - Canaan Farm with our beloved friends and director Richard, nurse Suzan and baby Abigail Angoma. Also, with our good friends and interpreters, escorts, right and left hands and all around great help...Young Richard, Denis, Geoffrey, Jackson, Bosco, young Bosco and more! It was great to see the ladies again in the women's empowerment group. 5 returned for our village healthcare worker refresher course (Alice, Jennifer, Keti, Evelyn, Christine) and what started with 3 new ones, quickly grew to 7 new people, including two men! Kampala village was represented, as well as Apopo's daughter from Palebec village north of Kitgum. The previously trained group started off by teaching the "pig story" to the new students! Brenda organized this all! We missed Leigh immensely, especially since Suzan threw away all of the previous posters and teaching flip charts thinking Leigh was bringing over new and better ones! Leigh saved the day by sending us the certificates to be copied (we forgot to bring them!)Thanks! All the ladies sent a warm greeting to Ja Ja (Carol) and Sara!

Training topics included:

Vital signs and first aid: Brenda, Jessie and Melissa
Hygiene and Cleanliness: Nadine
Handwashing: All
Latrines and sanitation: Sam
Wounds and burns: Melissa
Nutrition: Nadine
HIV and STD's: Jessie
Diarrhea and oral rehydration: Brenda
Malaria: Nadine

They were fantastic and real sharp! Others were in the tailoring school and making paper beads to sell for their income generating projects. They have some great new things made! We can't wait for you to see them! Lives are improving through these gift sales that keep on giving!

There was also a lot of activity around piping the water to the clinic, kitchen, bath house and latrines from the new solar deep water well. Tom Osborne traveled over in Sept to over see this project and we got to see the fruits of his labor and fundraising for this incredible project! The tap stand was completed by the time we arrived. People were just turning on the tap and drinking cups of water!! Already the farm had added a box and outlet for drip irrigation of a large garden plot! Richard finally was able to use the irrigation pipes he brought from Kenya years ago! These were the only vegetables growing in dry season, along with the other garden irrigated by the pilot smaller solar well! We added a plan to irrigate the banana, pineapple and passion fruit orchard behind the kitchen also! Toward the end of the week, we had showers for the first time ever! Cold water showers but with great water pressure and it was all gravity feed through pipes in ground trenches! We added sinks at the latrines for handwashing too! Hard to stop once it all got started...the water accessibility was so awesome! Can you imagine cooking and bathing and washing without having to haul water?? Well you all reading this probably can, but for those who walk far to fetch water and for those who simply prayed for tin pots to boil the muddy pond water, once upon a time, 5 years ago...this is a miracle!

The guys did an incredible job setting up the solar power for clinic as well. I had to shut my eyes when they were on the roof and climbing the tank tower!! At least some of the time they were tied off! Other times all I could see was Stu's legs in the air as he fished for frogs that climbed in the new water supply tank! Then there was Sam welding with some kind of makeshift glass shield he held up and on the roof no less! How we lectured on safety! Good thing we had some climbing monkeys! Melissa was begging Kam to tie off! Ty was the ring leader and master mathmetician giving orders from the makeshift ladder! The good lord saw all through with out a hitch. The only injury was when Stu stumbled out the back of the truck and twisted his ankle! In the midst there were a couple trips the ugandans made to kampala for more supplies. They also were on hand to help out in every way possible and learn all they could!

Plans went from A to____, but not quite to Z! This included moving the big sink from room to room in the clinic 3 times!! The bricks and mortar demolition team (gals) helped out the poor guy re-doing it and even cleaned up the mess! We are happy with the room plan now and have a plan for the lab in place and more! It also included the inverter smoking out and making the decision to get a new bigger capacity and better one! (Bill don't be shocked when you see the accounting!). Then the float switch warped when the tank lid was off in the sun...thus all over again and at 1 am the guys were trying to fix things before we had to leave! All took it in stride though and it went smooth! The team worked great together! What a blessing and gift they have been! (I can tell these stories now as the team is almost home safely while I am still in Uganda and finally have internet access!)

The following posts are excerpts from the team and a few highlights while on the farm! Thank you to all those at home who made this possible through prayer, financial assitance and faith!

Uganda Mission 2012

2012-01-29T06:00:00.000-08:00

Jan 11, 2011

Hello all!

Brenda and I are back in the saddle with a new 2012 Uganda Mission team! 5 members from St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings, Montana and their families and friends! All geared and ready to teach public health, nutrition etc, get the solar power up for the clinic and plumbing/piping of water from the new solar deep water well. We could hardly wait and the 30 some hours flew by!

WIN SOME LOSE SOME

It all started off with a pleasant surprise after a smooth packing and 17 tubs of supplies etc. we got them all through the Billings airport free (United was going to charge $70 for second luggage each!).
The flights went very well even with this being a different route from previous. I was surprisingly calm and settled even after being up all night finishing the last of the packing and home arrangements. The team is awesome and very very easy to travel with. Thank you God!

I was stopped in Brussels and all went through as well. Jessie and Brenda had to check their carry ons and Jessie's did not show up (later it was found and a few days later she got it on the farm). Customs at the airport has gone smoothly in past years. This year, however, we hit a snag! They wanted to see the manifests and asked if we had medicine. They wanted to check the medicine tubs. We were also the last ones out of the airport as Jessie was filing her lost luggage claim. I was so flustered I asked for tub B and gave the Ready Relief Box document. I then asked if the others could go on as we had a ride waiting and they would be concerned we had not arrived on the flight due to the long delay and noone else coming out of the airport. They granted us that and the others went on ahead. Brenda stayed with me as tub B had her personal items in it. At first they wanted to keep the whole tub and have us pick it up at the Drug Authority warehouse. We said no way! It went on and on. Finally the customs lady produced a razor blade and we cut the ties. Lo and behold it was all of Brenda's personal items and a few meds and vitamins she bought from St. V's pharmacy. So we convinced the gal to let us keep the tub and she kept a bag of medicine (some of which was Rocephin...a very valuable injectible antibiotic!). Then the gal saw the cart a ways away from us the team accidentally left behind when they went ahead and wanted to search them! Thankfully another official told her to let us go. I fairly ran out of the airport pushing the cart and was so grateful that was all they got! Once outside, the hot night air and familiar Uganda smells hit me....home away from home. Good to be back!

Richard Angoma picked us up with the hired bus. We stayed at a new guesthouse and filled the place up with our team. All slept well and adjusted well the following day. It was a day of seeing the bustling city and getting a taste of shopping in Kampala! There was a business strike so a lot of places were closed. We still managed to find two sinks and supplies, buy Jessie some new clothes...etc! Then on to the farm with a 5 hour bus ride.

Note: I am having to post these all quite delayed from actual date of the trip as internet access has still proven elusive up north, no matter how hard I try and no matter which satellite modem I buy!

Next post: Family Empowerment Uganda - Canaan Farm

Learning Electronics .... not my calling!

2011-02-09T21:09:00.000-08:00

HI again,

Since the container of equipment and supplies were shipped last year and the xray and processor set up successfully by the Grace Bible team, there have been some new developments. The processor worked great until a few months ago when the dryer assembly roller end broke some spikes of and no longer turned properly to expel the film. Prior to that it worked great! They were very happy to have an automated processor rather than hand dipping the film. They are back to hand dipping the film!
Also they are out of developer and fixer chemical Jeff sent and are unable to find the same kind here in Africa. Also, they could not find the manuel for the xray machine, so fiddled with it and now have apparently disconnected it from the power source. So, after getting some information from them...sending a "Help" message to the Grace Bible team, with Jeff so kindly responding...giving me further instructions and questions to ask for more information, we are slowly figuring out some solutions to the problems! I even looked through the manuel and sorted the entire tub of extra supplies for parts. There were more rollers but not the right ones...so plan B was to take a picture and send it to Jeff to see if a part can be found. We have found a potential solution for the chemical. As far as the volts, amps..etc..it is all greek to me..so I just relay it to Jeff...and he tells me the power is there...so they will have to figure out what they disconnected with the xray and fix it themselves! There other xray is now working however so they are not without! Seems that is how it is here. They have about 4 different ways to take xrays and pray one of them works on any given day..imagine that?!
On a bright note..the ultrasound is working beautifully! Dr. Hinshaw is using it a lot and also Dr. Patient and the Japanese surgeons! It was the fuse on the converter that blew and was easily reparable...whew! The colposcope donated by my sisters company Welch Allyn, was a demo so quite new and is working beautifully!
Dr. Hinshaw set it up and is teaching on it and using it well! They are so grateful! Sr. Vincentina tells me story after story of women coming in with advanced cervical cancer and dying, leaving many orphanged children. This is a huge blessing! Thanks Sue and Welch Allyn! We are so grateful they moved the earth, really to get it to me in time to take over while Dr. Hinshaw would be there to set it up and teach!

Well, I better go..am in Kitgum which has much better internet service! However the morning is going by and I must get on the road back to Kalongo! We had a great outreach in Awal camp yesterday, not without mishap and adventure of course...will need to relay this in another blog! We also visited a very poor school with Ashley near Kalongo a couple days back...there are so many ideas for community health education and needs as well..so Dr. Patient, I and the nursing school are putting our heads together to figure out a way to get the teaching and knowledge to the people at the community level. As, Dr Patient says...when the 3 year contract for the surgeons is over, it is over, the surgical service they provided would have helped some people while here, will be gone after they leave, and the community will be the same. Prevention is the key! Which goes back to our Post War Recovery Model! Now just need a grant, time and a lot of prayer! The need is so great and we have the ability to train and teach...need the resources to do it with. Wipolo is a great example, and the farm as to how successful even a small amount of knowledge can make a huge difference in prevention of illness and death.

Thanks everyone again for following along and for the prayers. They are sustaining me and our team. I feel very strong this year as far as my energy and ability to do all of the work and travel required without tiring easily. God is good!

Nadine

Wipollo Bears Fruit

2011-02-08T21:22:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

I am backtracking to Saturday....when we went to Wipollo village to visit the family of Sr Mary Rose. This area is about 45 minutes from Kalongo and is probably 16 km. The roads are so bad it is slow slow going! Terry and I visited a few years back when everyone was still in the Paimol IDP camp. It is refreshing to see people are moving back to their own land and trying their best to start over and begin again with re-newed hope for their future and faith in God. The needs are great, yet they presevere! A couple years ago AIDSpirit bought the oxen, cow and plow to begin farming and this has helped with some income generation for sure...and the family shares with the Wipolo village of about 100 families. Last year we trained Paula in village healthcare worker training and in gardening. Vinturnio, Sr. Mary Rose brother learned some farming and bio sand construction as well as atteded the village lectures on hygiene, sanitation etc. One of the older daughters has since been admitted to the St. Bakhita vocational school for tailoring, another older son is in carpentry training. Vinturino has great ideas for income generation with rowing ongions this year and wants t start a small barber and phone charging business. Their youngest daughter, baby Rose..Mary Rose Atuu named after Sister,has sickle cell...so I am very involved with her and educating the family. We arrived for an unannounced visit which was nice as it is easier to assess when less of the villagers are around. Of curse, culture and tradition is ingrained in them and they made a meal we shared with fellowship and prayers and sharing about our families, etc. It was very nice! Through the discussion, Sr. vincentina relayed the epideic of the Yellow Fever outbreak in Kalongo district. 14 people died in the hospital and many people became sick. Since there has been a mass immunization effort. The village next to Wipolo had one of the highest incidences of the outbreak and should have spread to Wipolo. Hoever, with the training and knowledge they have recieved last year....Paula and Vinturino went to all of the homes in the village and instructed them on how to make latrines and on good handwashing. All but 4 households made latrines and started using them! As a result there were no incidences of yellow fever!! Thank God! Sr. Dr. Vincentina was amazed! This is music to my ears and makes every hardship and struggle to impart knowledge in these remote rural areas well worth it and encourages me to keep on! We also found some mistakes they were making with the treatmen of malaria for baby rose and the need for her health in prevention of her sickle cell crisis' she has been having so it was a great visit! They have even started building me a hut! Ha! Me who is so nervous of eating the village food! We plan another visit with the AIDSpirit team when they come as well. More to come...including my adventures trying to be the "electronics person" for the xray! Ha! I miss you guys!

Thanks for the prayers! Love Nadine

Baby dies, Mother struggled in Childbirth

2011-02-07T06:33:00.001-08:00

This is Nadine again...

The last post was from Ashley but I think it was cut off...will see if she can try again and finish.

I am writing to report for Dr. Hinshaw. He has been very busy in the hospital, delivering babies, doing c-sections, D $ C's etc. The ultrasound works great! Thank you! He was also able to set up and teach the colposcope and it works great too! He has trained Sr. Vincentina and will train the others. He is working with an intern also...Dr. Charles. I think it has been a bit of adjustment in the "theatre" operating room without anesthesia and they have been using ketamine.

The other night a mother arrived after pushing unsuccessfully at home for many hours with a village midwife. Upon arrival she was fully dilated with feet coming through wrapped up in the umbilical cord and head stuck. Dr. Hinshaw and Dr. Patient took her to the "theatre" and did a c-section emergently. The babies heartrate was low but after taking out the heartrate came back up, baby was suctioned, given dextrose IV. The only oxygen available was by Nasal cannula with a mask to go over. This was new to Dr. Hinshaw. The baby was retracting but stabilized on the oxygen, was transferred to the "special care unit". When Dr. Hinshaw did rounds in the am, he found the baby had died in the night. It was hard...and easy to second guess..."what if there was a ventilator here? What if they had ET tubes available?" And of course..."What if the mother had come in earlier and not depeneded on an untrained midwife?" God only knows...? This child was the mother's 8th baby. She is being treated for a uterine infection due to the ruptured membranes and prolonged delivery and doing well.

Meanwhile, Leigh, Ashley, Jackson, Bosco and I went out to Wipolo village, Sr. Mary Rose's family home, and had a wonderful time. Stay tuned...more later.

Nadine

Wipllo

2011-02-05T01:46:00.000-08:00

When we arrived in Entebbe late on the 26th you could already hear and feel the energy of Uganda. There was no doubt we had just arrived in Africa w/ the warm air and the welcoming chants of the women dancing out side. The people here are so beautiful and full of life which has been very refreshing enviroment to be absorbed into. They are so positive and thankful for everything that they have and their families units seem so strong form an outside point of view. Which sadly in the US seems at times to be almost none existant. But, I have been working with a wide array of the public in an urban setting so maybe I have just seen too much at home lately. The most eye opening thing I noticed in Uganda is the lack of water. You see it on tv, hear it on news, see products in the US that donate money to the cause and hear of even celeberties promotion the cause. But, actually seeing how many people live in these villages with not only enough water for washing and cleaning but, nothing clean to drink in this heat amazes me that their population is as high as it is. The only thing I missed from home here in the first week was my shower but, now I miss my washing machine possibly more than I did for the 3 years I didn't have one at home in undergrad and I feel guilty for that knowing all thes millions of people have never seen one.

Apwoyo!!

2011-02-05T00:06:00.000-08:00

Apwoyo!! That is 'greetings' in Acholi, the local dialect that is spoken in Northern Uganda. I can't believe I have been here for over two weeks, and it is nearly time for me to head back across the ocean. It has been a fantastic trip, and so great to reunite with old friends and meet new ones. There are so many highlights, I don't know where to begin.

The Farm looks fantastic, with all kinds of new buildings going up, including the Clinic, the Vocational School, a teachers quarters, and many new tukels for all the help that is part of the Farm community. We christened the Clinic building with a small medical treatment day. Only about a hundred people showed up. It was supposed to be primarily pregnant women and small children, but you know how that goes, so we worked until it was too dark to see the medications. It has inspired us to strive for solar panels so we can see in the evenings!! All in all, it was great to be working in the space of the new clinic!! So many more works days to come in the future.

The seven women from the Village Healthcare Training are doing fantastic. Alice, Christine, Pauline, Evelyn, Katie, Paula, and Jennifer arrived once again with work bags in hand, ready for more learning!! Brenda, we missed you, it was not the same!!! Richard helped me translate, and everything we reviewed they had in their memory!! Last year Jennifer was pregnant during our sessions. She had twins in the spring, two girls and they named them Brenda and Leigh!!! What an honor!! They almost did not survive as Evelyn was there and had to perform CPR on both babies. The story was unbelievable!!

As I said there are so many stories, I can only tell a few. However, I must share the adventure of Murchison Park. Another highlight because we got to see the lions!! Two cubs that were resting under a tree while there mother was off hunting. It made us a little late to meet Str. Vincentina(I was afraid I might be in trouble), but was so exciting for Ashley, Jim and myself!! Everything worked out fine in the end. We also spent a night at the Red Chili inside the park, and took a boat ride to the bottom of the falls. From the boat we got up close to the elephants, the crocodiles and tons and tons of hippos!! From the advise of Suzan we also got out at the falls and hiked to the top. Bosco accompanied us, and showed us all the places he had worked in the Park. Everywhere we went he knew people. We felt very safe!!

Finally, I want to share our arrival to Kolongo. Str. Vincentina and the whole community have been so gracious. Immediately they put Jim to work, while Nadine, Ashley and I have been visiting with the nursing students and planning our trip to Wipolo. This morning we hiked the big hill behind the hospital. We were up at 5 am and were accompanied by Bosco, Jackson and Lucy one of the students! We saw the sun rise and it was very beautiful. That should be all for now. Alex, a friend here has joined me for a conversation so I had better go. Apwoyo to everybody!! I hope you are all well and staying warm!! Leigh

Onward to Kitgum

2011-02-03T07:52:00.000-08:00

2/1/2011

It is time for me to move on to Kitgum and assess the Northern Uganda Orphanages Hope 2 One Life supports with quarterly funding for medical care. Far Reaching Ministries has graciously accepted the responsibility of our funding through the help of their missionary in Kitgum who then sends reports back and reciepts. They have downsized their ministry in Uganda and are concentrating more in Sudan, therefore have asked I find another way to send the funding and coordinate the care. One of the orphanages, Tender Trust, is run by a New Zealander, Lois Ford. I have met her some years back and have good communication with her as well. She was leaving for her furlough and rest back to New Zealand the morning of Feb 2nd, therefore I needed to get up to Kitgum before she left. Leigh and the Hinshaws remained on the farm to finish up the last of the teachings and get the next jewelry/craft income generating project going. Then they were on to the game park at Murchison Falls. We will meet up in Kalongo on the 3rd. Dont worry, Sr. Vincentina is picking them up in Gulu and escorting them all the way to Kalongo...safely!

I, on the other hand, decided to take the bus to Kitgum as it is a lot cheaper! Jackson graciously volunteered to escort and help me as I was carrying 4 tubs of supplies and medicines with me. Originally, I was told the bus left at 7am..but that was probably a matatu that would stop many places along the way and then have to change in gulu. Suzan recommended the direct bus to Kitgum that comes by Kikumba around 11 am or so. At 9:30 am, I left the farm after hurriedly packing,to wait for the bus. Suzan had called letting them know I was expected so they could save me a seat. Well, the bus was delayed, no surprise. We ran into Gilbert who works with Connect Africa in Kikumba (our connection and consultants with bio sand filters). They are coordinating a rain water collection system for the roof of the tailoring building being built via Far Reaching Ministries donation. Therefore, I thought it good to do a little business while waiting and discuss our ideas for the clinic rain water collection system we plan on having. All went well and another person from Connect Africa also came over to chat. They are going to draw up plans and a budget! Yeah!

Well, the bus was even later..I decided to wait by the side of the road. It finally came and there was no room for me! Now, I was forced to take one of the other buses. So Jackson got us on a bus to Gulu. We made it to Gulu fine and then could not find a bus to Kitgum. Finally, a small coaster was going to Kitgum but they did not have ability to carry luggage! I ended up paying for the whole back seat of the bus to put the 2 tubs, me and Jackson. This was also after they informed me they were going to squeeze another person back with us because usually the back sits 5 people even though there was only 4 seats! Ha! So I paid for 5 seats! Still it was about $25 and worth it to me to get to Kitgum. We waited and waited in Gulu in the blistering sun and finally left. On the dirt Kitgum road...all of a sudden something flew off the front of the baby coaster..then a large panel above the driver fell open! They stopped the bus and went back to look for the part. This all took about another hour in the blistering sun! Finally, just as it was getting dark I pulled into Kitgum. Lois met me at the bus station. We talked briefly about the arrangements she could assume for the medical care and coordination and talked about other needs. I stayed with Summer and Zane McCourtney and family..who I know well from CC Entebbe. I stayed with them each year in Entebbe as well. They have 2 children with sickle cell, so we have become good friends.

After a restful night of sleep, the following day began with visiting the Kitgum Infant Care Center (KIOCC). A lot of new changes for the better have occurred. They now have 10 infants 2 and under and 2 mamas to care or them. A new manager also who is very organized! I was impressed with their log of the medical care and inventory! I saw a few of the sick children and taught a few signs to look for in the childen. Also, needed to get Rabunga Kenny, the HIV child we have followed since 2006 and also caregiver, Michael back in school. Next, I went to Northern Uganda Community Based Action for Children with Disabilities (NUCBACD), the deaf and blind school, and met with Sr. Teddy. There was some confusion about the medical care there which was clarified when I met with the doctor who is going out weekly to both sites. Overall, I am very encouraged and feel the medical support for these vulnerable children can continue! Hallelujah!

Needless to say, I was going to go back to the farm, to meet FRM, and then go to Kalongo the next day, however after the first bus experience, I decided to take the easier way of travelling direct to Kalongo..on the back road of course!

Leigh and the Hinshaws had an experience of their own, however were just fine. Sister picked them up in Gulu, they had lunch with her family late and just arrived Kalongo very safe, just as the sun was going down. I insisted she be sure they don't drive in the dark! Although, Sr. V can talk her way through any situation as she managed all through the war. There were no worries! All is well! We will be seeing the hospital tomorrow and keep you informed!

Thanks for the prayers! We are very blessed!

Nadine

1000 Cups...

2011-02-02T20:50:00.000-08:00

Jan 31, 2011

Hi again...catching up on news from a few days ago when I did not have internet access!

Monday, the day after the clinic...we did a follow up outreach at Katamarwa Primary School. This is the school all of the kids on the farm go to and those of neighboring Rakayata Village and Kampala village. A total of 957 kids! This is the school where the love covers outeach, VBS and Love Pack distribution took place with partners Far Reaching Ministries and Calvary Chapel Billings. As you may recall, I was not able to go as planned as Kenny was in the hospital with a serious sickle cell crisis. The outreach was fantastic and pictures great!

Since we had the 1000 soaps and toothbrushes to go with the packs...we decided to do a follow up with hygiene/sanitation and handwashing. Leigh and I had also talked with Tex last year about school benefitting from bio sand water filters, and learning better when well hydrated. Most children do not eat breakfast or drink water before coming to school. Many do not even get lunch or drink water throughout the day..so no wonder they have headaches and have trouble concentrating! So we also introduced the bio sand water filters to the school! And will be implementing 2 at first with the goal once they are successfully learning and using it we will implement one for each of the 7 classrooms. It was suggested the kids could share cups for drinking the water. Right away...I thought..they should each have there own cups! It is not healthy to share drinking cups and we teach not to do this. So, one of the stops in Kampala was at Nice House of Plastics, the same place we bought the clean water Jerry cans for the bio sand filters last year. At first they said they were out of inventory and to come back next week. I was..oh no..we are doing the outreach on monday in masindi...could they be ready early am. Finally, a very nice woman...must be the manager, said" Give to them" So we piled 1000 brighly colored green, blue, and red plastic cups on the roof of our van (along with other items) and away we went...north the the farm in Masindi! And they didn't fall off! Mostly because we added a tarp and some rope partly enroute! Ha

We were so excited for the first day of school to do the outreach! It was also a chance for the village healthcare workers to teach in public. Pastor OJ began with John 4:9 and telling the story of the woman at the well. Following, ladies began with the diarrhea, worm, intestinal illness transmission story..with the animals pigs around the compound, playing with children and mothers cooking all contaminated with feces. Then the whole family gets sick! This was all with pictorials! It was great! Then I quizzed them and summarized about prevention of illness. Ashley went through when to wash their hands..before...and after...eating, using the toilet, cooking etc. Dr. Jim utilized kids from the audience and gave a great analogy of the older kids looking after the younger kids when encountering danger of motor bikes, cobras etc...same..should look after them washing their hands as diseases are a killer! It was fantastic! Leigh went on to cover the importance of clean water and hydration. Following the Uganda bio-sand technicians we trained taught about the bio sand water filters. They will follow the school, install the filters and tippy tap and report the progress. It was fun and we hope impactful. During the outreach, the kids sitting in from were noticed to be eating paper and leaves...they were so hungry! Another thing to tackle!

When we returned to the farm, there was a surprise visit from Wes, Vicky and crew from Far Reaching Ministries! They were on there way to Kampala and wanted to see baby Abigail! Suzan and Richard's one month old baby...she is so so cute and the best dressed baby in Africa! They thank everyone for the gifts!

Sr. Mary Rose's family from Wipolo had also previously joined us on the farm for continued training and also for me to check on Baby Rose who has sickle cell..she was recently hospitalized and had a transfusion. Thankfully was doing well and eating well and drinking water now. Also, one of their son's had a hyrdocele problem that was operated on and became infected..so Dr. Jim saw him and some more OB patients in the afternoon.

Overall, it was a very blessed and fruitful day! We are grateful!

Next post will include my travel to Kitgum...ugh..another adventure on the bus! Leigh and the Hinshaws are off to the game park and will meet Sr. Vincentina in Gulu for transport and escort to Kalongo. I will meet them in Kalongo after I assess the new medical program in Kitgum. Stay tuned...

Emmanuel clinic is innagurated!

2011-02-01T20:15:00.000-08:00

With the foundation complete, the walls up...the rooms divided...the roof on...Emmanuel clinic is shaping into a usable space and we held our first clinic! There are no doors or windows and the floor is still dirt and the ceiling rafters. However, in the brick shell, Dr, Hinshaw saw OB patients and even found a breech! I saw the others and Leigh did the pharmacy. We saw about 100 people in an afternoon. Dr. Hinshaw saw more the next day. He and Leigh had done a lot of community teaching before I arrived. It was great! Ashley helped us in the clinic and kept us well hydrated! One of the families..was Jennifer's one of our village healthcare workers who was pregnant last year..and was having a tough time with leg swelling. Well, she had twins and delivered on the farm! And guess who the twins are named after? Brenda and Leigh!! They brought me the 4 year old child who is very sick..had medical records showing hemoglobin of 4..so I wonder if the child has sickle cell? Mom, Brenda and Leigh are very anemic so put them on vitamins and iron...and talked with dad about family planning! All is well...tomorrow is the school outreach..stay tuned!

Maternal Child Health - Family Empowerment - Canaan Farm

2011-01-28T19:14:00.000-08:00

HI all,

The Hinshaws and Leigh arrived the farm to another amazing welcome with singing and dancing by the ladies and children as they pulled in...all to the beat of homemade drums and instruments! Oh how I miss the beautiful sound!

After a long morning walk at beautiful sunrise and tour of the farm the
following day, Dr. Hinshaw..."dove in" and taught maternal child health to the 40 women in the women's empowerment group! He taught until 6:30pm to a very attentive and engaged crowd! Ashley held the flip charts as it was very windy. Suzan and Leigh pitched in with additions, interpretations etc. They told me it went fantastic!

I am in Bugogge village/Kayunga assessing the bio sand water filter project that needed some re-vamping and further training to ensure the success of delivering clean water to the elderly and HIV/AIDS families most in need. 31 have been implemented by the technicians we have trained, Geoffrey and new technician Collins. They have done a superb job and I am once again a proud "Mamma"! Tex and crew came down as our expert consultants and found a few areas of need for those getting water from muddy superficial dug wells nearby. We are making sure they filter the mud first now before pouring in the filter. So these 4 had to be cleaned and back flushed in order to use again. They guys stayed out until dark both nights working! All so far have tested well. No E.coli! The families are happy and report no illnesses over the past 3 months these have been installed. More testing needs to be done. 9 more to make 39 will be installed to complete the filters previoulsy made and placed in the homes last year.

Today, I was to get up at 5 am to begin the ride back to Kampala, more errands than make my way to the farm. However, Geoffrey set my alarm and it must have gone off at 11pm or so..just an hour after I went to bed...so up I was. In the shower, packed..out to the desk to pay our hotel stay...to find out it was only midnight! Go figure! No wonder I felt a little groggy after 1 hour of sleep! Needless to say I did not sleep well the whole rest of night wondering when I was really supposed to get up!

Leigh and crew on the farm will get the jewelry craft projects started today and then will begin the village healthcare worker training for the 7 ladies we taught last year...which of course, will include the expertise of Dr. Hinshaw - OB/Gyn. Our family of Sr. Mary Rose from Wipolo/Kalongo will be joining them on the farm as well. For further training and Baby Rose with sickle cell had been hospitalized recently for sickle cell crisis and has not bounced back quite as she should so I want to take a good look at her too! Can't wait to meet baby Abigail Suzan and Richard's baby! Ashley will have fun with the kids today..so all should be in full swing when I arrive the farm! I am so excited to be back home in Uganda!

I will visit the congolese refugee family from last year...remember my stories of their family? There is new developments..so stay tuned!

I thank God for each and every moment, the small great team and the days to come.

Nadine

Uganda Mission 2011 - Trip # Seven

2011-01-26T00:08:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

This is trip number 7 for me...and once again not without it's share of struggles getting out of town! With Grandma Dot(resting in peace now) passing away 2 days before I was to leave and Kitty Noah getting sick, it added a lot more to do! However, all is well, and many people helped me out to be able to leave town. Thank You! Thanks to my dad, Bill, who came a day early and who always comes to hold the fort down while I am gone! And it took staying up all night before leaving to be fully prepared...I feel fine and slept on the plane ..yeah! We were blessed getting through the Billings airport with the tubs of supplies and medical equipment..which was a little touchy initially even though we had it all pre-authorized..or so I thought!

I am blessed to travel with Dr. Jim Hinshaw OB/GYN and his daughter Ashley! They have been fantastic and troopers with this whole packing process, carrying tubs over,etc. We are eager to reach Uganda and it will be fun for me to see their reactions and experience through their first time eyes...in Uganda! It will surely bring back memories of my first trip in 2003! Leigh Taggart arrived a few days before us and she, along with Richard Angoma and Kenny's brother Prichard will meet us at the airport. We are in Amsterdam now..and thankfully I remembered with some struggle how to get into the blog again this year! The previous posts are from last year and year before. Leigh and the Hinshaws will head to the Family Empowerment Farm first off, after we all get situated in Kampala. I will head to Kayunga first to assess the bio-sand water village project in Bugogge village with the trainers and consultant we hired. Then will meet up with them on the farm. After 4 or 5 days on farm will head to Kalongo and Dr. Ambrosoli Memorial Hospital. Will do my best to keep you all posted. However, you know how it is..just when I think I have connection...then we don't Ha! Thanks for the prayers!

Nadine

Upside Down

2010-02-25T22:00:00.000-08:00

HI again,

I must say, I thought I could post better at home...not the case...I have been upside down!! Turned around with the time zone and in a fog. The night I returned I thought it would be slick....Kenny picks me up at the airport, could just go to sleep for the night after getting off the plane at 10:30 PM...well good and fine except for the awake cycle in the mid night. I should know better right?
The following day was a deadline for World Water Day.
So, I placed my carefully cared for drivers licence, cards, etc. in my brand new purse from Uganda (carefully guarded in Africa..no problem)...and proceded to drive downtown to two places..the insurance company and the city of billings office..that is all! Well....all was lost. Drove back twice..then in the brain fog..gave up and went home to sleep. The lost was forgotten as I really needed sleep! Next day to work for 3 1/2 twelve hour shifts in a row. I wanted to sleep so badly at 4pm every day...would get off at midnight and then was up at 5 am!! Oh my..yet I made it through. Also, our church had a dinner and auction for Uganda and the founder of Far Reaching Ministries, Wes Bentley speaking on Saturday night...amazing and I love his wife so much..they help all in so many aspects.
Good old grandma...(she only woke up enough to eat 5 chocolates I brought her!).
Another day...so...Jeff, and all..taking it easy? Yes, I know I promised or you tried to make me promise or you at least prayed ...for me and all would be less.

Well through the week, amazingly...I have been extremely calm about the storm, including.... now the furnace had gone out and a water was leaking downstairs...
They were like..how long has this heat been out...I said, " Well, you know, I have been in Africa for 6 weeks and it was "solar cooker oven hot..to the tune of 100 degrees" and since I have been home..it is freezing no matter how one feels or looks at it..your 50 degrees, 37 degrees..it'a all cold to me. So when I am on a long, work stretch I cannot be accurate on when the heat may have gone out...I am just in survival mode once again. I just don't know.

This all reminds me and places into focus...the really.. and the reality..and the " Hey...what up?"//. God is giving me more challenges and Satan is trying to ruin the good...so..I am grateful for the challenges, and happy I will not be swayed to the darkness and am so thankful this re-entry is fully ready with battery charged energy as I really need it! No chances for the negative...got it you guys have carried me.
God's blessings,

Nadine

PS: My drivers license and cards, etc. have been deposited in a couple post office boxes througout Billings and have been recoverd! Still missing one check..but oh well, it is all still amazing anything is recovered.

Thank You Grace Bible Team and Families!

2010-02-18T06:36:00.000-08:00

Feb 14,15

We made it to Amsterdam! The flight was good. I am surprisingly more rested than I ever remember being on this leg of the previous trips! This is a good thing, as I have a long lay over and no airport lounge or Yostel to stay in this time! The airport lounge in Entebbe was a treat however, (new to me…thanks Brian!) and the hot shower, which I am sure is the saving grace! Otherwise I/we would have continued on in the red caked dirt on our skin, clothes and hair…so grimy on the plane!! It is amazing the small things one becomes thankful and grateful over after living in the remote areas of Africa! I actually ate real western food (salami ciabatta, croissant, brie cheese) and coffee this am! The guys are off to Amsterdam for the day/night even if it is 5:30 am! I am so grateful for them…they carried me the last week…literally! And accomplished so so much! Their servent hearts, hard work, dedication and resilience in this foreign land is a true testament of missionaries!
Just wait till you see all the beards and you will reallze they did without most of the time…without water, food, clean clothes, lights, communication access…and definitely there was no comfort in sleeping/resting or travelling! Yet, I don’t think I barely heard a complaint! There was a lot of smiles and laughter and singing and praising and praying! Their sacrifice and yours (families at home) sacrifice was apparent and a huge gift. Thank You!! It was an honor and joy to serve with this Grace Bible Church team, Brian, Rooster, Don, Jeff and Nate! Their gifts and talents were amazingly balanced and matched…and so easy for me as they manage themselves, are flexible, movtivated and self starters, gracious, generous, respectful and get along wonderfully! I sure learned a lot and was immensely blessed! It was a joy and a blessing having young Nate on the trip…I think he is our first teen/young adult! He definitely blessed the young African boys/men…Geoffrey, Bosco, Jackson, Dennis and the rest… plus I wasn’t so homesick for my kids…got to mother a little! What a great attitude even when not feeling well …Fantastic!
Our last night on the farm before leaving…we sang and praised the Lord. Jeff is an amazing worship leader and his rhythm section of Africans and Americans are sounds to behold! (except for me who has no rhythm or tune!) It is very apparent…” Across the African plains…God Reigns!” We give all the glory and paise to Him.

Thank You from the depths of my heart! May you all be richly blessed!

Nadine

PS: I will try to right more about history of certain areas, so you are more informed…I am sure there is lots of wonder and questions. Everything all moves so fast (or rather slow may be the better description !) for us on the ground and the lights go out early if any…so there is not always much time to expand…so stay tuned.

FANTASTIC!!!

2010-02-14T10:33:00.000-08:00

Eleven days ago we landed and got the shock of humidity in Entebbe. Being greeted by some amazing locals and our fearless leader Nadine. Stayed the night in a hotel in Entebbe and headed into the deadly streets of Kampala the next morning. Me (nate), Nadine, and two of the locals, "Action Jackson" and Prichard headed to the place where the container was stored, and the rest of the guys headed into the deadly maze of the city to look for parts for the solar project. After the container Dilema was solved we headed back to town and met the others and headed off the the farm outside of Masindi. The people at the farm were amazing, and greeted us with a local song and dinner. After Meeting and greeting everyone from the farm they showed us to our hut and we tried to fall asleep, but this was a difficult task due to Brians snoring. The rest of the time on the farm was great, they fed us well and did everything possible to make us comfortable. Vbs went great, due to Jeff and his "organized chaos" called Shepherd and lion. We left the farm and made our way to the Kalongo hospital where we the hilarious local nuns took care of us. Over the next few days we somehow installed an x-ray machine with some help from god, and got a processor up and running. Jeff did some much needed Ultrasound work for the doctors, and on the last day we had a feast fit for a king prepared by the nuns. complete with live music and dancing by the students of the local girls school. We spent the last day back at the farm and ended the trip with some great worship. This trip really couldn't have gone any better!

-Nate

the trip from Kalongo to Masindi

2010-02-13T09:38:00.000-08:00

We spent our last night at Kalongo last night. The sisters and all of the students had an amazing ceremony honoring and thanking us. Some local girls did local dancing. We ate two feasts, one with the students and one with the sisters! I was so touched I really can't describe it. They have had almost no help from the outside most of the years of the war. They were so greatfull! The today we got up and travelled to Masindi and back to the farm. I love these people so much. And I am overwhelmed with a sense that nearly all of my prayers from three years ago have been answered. An orphanage that was just one room with thirty children in it now has a new building with their own well. A baby boy who was on deaths doorstep three years ago with HIV is now a happy, hearty kid. The people of Kitgum who seemed so filled with fear and despair back then are happy, working building new homes and buildings. I just praise God in all his glory and thank Him with all of my heart.
Brian

flinging photons in Kolongo,(xrays)

2010-02-12T08:10:00.000-08:00

wow what a day, God showed up thats for sure. yesterday wewere able to get the x-ray film processor up and working, films looked great but not so much for the xray machine. We had error codes we did not know what do to with and were very frustraded. But Don Russell, whome may i say worked miracles in figuring out wiring for this thing,had made a contact in the states before we left with a man who worked on these old machines and told us to call him if we needed help, so we did. HE E-MAILED US BACK THE ANSWERE he knew exactly what was going on so this morning we got right to it and sure enough the error code left but still no exposure from the unit and now a new error and we did not have clue.
we are leaving Sat morn so we were getting nervous the last thing we wanted to do was leave without this thing working. We e-mailed him again but it was 1230 in the AM and did not think we would get a resoponse till late in the day when it might be to late. We recieved a e-mail from our pastor, Chris Hallock, earlier in the morning and he reminded us to not to forget to pray because when you get busy that tends to happen. so we stopped and we prayed we didn't no what else to do, funny how God does that to you, we finished praying and don recived an e- mail stating that this guy had stayed up late and to give him a call so we did and low and behold he had the answer and we went back to the dept. made the change and we now have working machine. God is awesome. We are all so relieved and thankful so the x-ray machine and processor are working well, once again we learn to depend on God instead of ourselves, thank goodness.

The school here gave us welcome and thankyou celebration, they sang and danced and fe4d us it was great they are so warm and friendly and so greatful for everything, a great lesson for us all. WE are all wearing out a bit and are looking forward to seeing our families but will never forget this time and hope to repeat it sometime in the near future. We head baCK TO THE FARM TOMORROW then to crazy Kampala on Sunday and a day in Amsterdame on Monday and home late tuesday night. Thankyou all for your prayers

Be God's
Jeff

Kicked Out of Xray - on my way to Kitgum!

2010-02-10T21:14:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

We are doing just fine! The guys are working hard and have made a lot of progress and have some more they are working on!

I thought I'd relay a funny tale...

When we left the farm to head to Kalongo, I warned them it would be a long day...
and we would have to leave very early. Well as it is in Africa time..we were very late leaving. The cows would not load..and Brian was out helping Richard (which led to his tub being left behind!) . The guys were ready but then Richard wasn't ready...so on it went. Then the kids came with their uniforms on for school...so of course we had to take them to school in our bus with their new clothes and backpacks! They all wore their Jesus bracelelts and definitely stood out amongst the others in the smartest new clothes and shoes! Well this lead to even later. Finally we got on the road...
Good thing they brought their beef jerky and trail mix! We arrived Pajule and then on to Awal IDP camp where Nancy and Bosco family are from. I had promised them a visit every year with news of the kids when I started their adoption process a few years back..so in keeping with my word, it lead us a few hours off the beaten path the Kalongo. Suzan and I wanted to attempt a short cut. Richard and the guys, esp Richard thought we should go the road we know, which was another 3 hour journey around !
Bosco and Nancy's family were okay, but very remote. They are struggling with the drought affecting their ability to have enough food so were malnourished and some sickness. The plow was still there from last year and some seeds...this year we brought the 2 oxen and milk cow and calf, as an attempt toward their recovery process after the 20 year LRA war. Granpa Paustino is getting older and had some sickness. They need help with scholastic supplies, school uniforms for the children and healthcare. However, since last year's visit they had worked very hard to build the new huts on their land. They are definitely trying. We brought them vegetable seeds and will implement a small drip irrigation kit for their garden. Also some clothes.
They welcomed prayer and worship and the faith by hearing bible tape. They are so remote the visits are always very very short as the day turns into evening in a very long journey. We finally arrived Kalonog at night, very dusty and tired.

This did not stop anyone from getting up early in the morning and ready to get started. After a hospital tour, we went to the Xray dept where all of the boxes, supplies and xray equipment was off-loaded. I and Susan proceeded to look through all of the boxes and sort and send to the various areas for collection and accounting.
Meanwhile, on our tour we came accross the ultrasound ...Jeff quickly unwrapped the plastic and said "Where are the transducers and probes..?" Oh Dear..since I don;t know what they looked like, I feared we left them behind. This is the case after unpacking... (Guess that means another trip! Ha). They guys quickly got to work with plan B, wiring the processor and also adapting the room for xray. Good thing Russ is here for the saftey checks...ha ha. They decided to look at the ceiling to see if something could be bolted. As I watched Don climb this wooden/shaky ladder I reminded him the ladder was probably built for Ugandans which are half our size! He said, "Are you calling me fat?" I said, no ..it's just that they are built for efficiency..you know lean and strong and light weight...all the better to run from the lions...get it?!
Then Jeff decided to climb the ladder into the attic...and I said, "Watch out for the critters!". Don got his hairs on his neck standing up..guess he doesn't like critters. By that time Sr. Vincentina was having a fit at the ladder provided and ordered the Ugandans to get the metal one. Jeff continued to climb..as we yelled ..wathc out for the broked rung! Once up in the attic...I kept calling out...watch out for th ceiling...as plaster kind of flaked a little down. From below, I commented..well lets hope he doesn't step wrong and go through...don't want to do orthopedic surgery here! He relayed later...it was all the wires everywhere and where I was putting my hands..! All went well. Later, as they were mounting a piece of wood onto the ceiling, I again put my two cents worth..."Did you have it treated for termits?" At this point..Don, say..it will take 2 decades for termites to eat through this wood (it was mahogaony!) and then he ordered..."OUT". All of you...then added..Nadine it is not just you..but we need only 3 guys so we can get this done.

So, I was kicked out!! No more commentary from me...all who know me will laugh and laugh. Later Don apologized thought he hurt my feelings and I laughed...all who know me will understand as it is usually me who has to take the deep breaths when someone is driving me nuts!

So, I respectfully have stayed away and off to other work. Yesterday we went back to Wipolo and they are doing wonderful..and got Baby Rose tested (she has sickle cell). More later on this as it was a wonderful day.

So, now 3 of us are off to Kitgum to see the orphanages H20 supports in medical care. Brian is going with us..as he was there in 2006. So the electronics, xray guys are left in Kalongo for peace and quiet as they work..with Russ praying to God..for safety!

We will be back in Kalongo tomorrow. Thanks for the prayers..!

Nadine

The Guy's Posts = Finally Internet Access!

2010-02-10T08:39:00.000-08:00

Hey all,

We are back! Hope you didn't give up on us yet~internet is hard to come by much of the time. Catching you all up on the news. These guys have been amazing and a huge blessing to all in Uganda! Enjoy ...

February 9, 2010
Russ Lowe

Well it has been quite a week so far. I am sitting outside on a porch using wireless internet to email you. Temp is about 75 with a nice cool breeze. It is 8:30 pm Uganda time. Half way around this little world of ours and they have wireless internet. Also, called Mom this evening at work using a cell phone. You get cell phone service better anywhere in Uganda than the US. You can be sitting in a small village in the middle of nowhere and they have cell phones and service. Maybe no electricity and not enough food, but they have cell phone service and it is cheap.

The people here are wonderful. An are very friendly and intelligent. Most everyone speaks english. Even in the villages there is always someone who can interpret.

When we first fly into Entebee it was night so didn't get to see much. Nadine our leader met us at the airport. Everything got thru customs ok. Spent the night in a inn somewhere around Lake Victoria and the UN head quarter base. The inn was ok. Got up in morning and went into take a shower and no water because we were on the 3rd floor. Did a sponge bath. Headed for Kampala the next morning.

Next day we headed into Kampala. Very, very, very fast paced. Makes NYC or LA look like slow motion. Drive on the wrong side like in Japan. Even makes that look slow. No stop lights not traffic signals and always cutting across traffic lanes whenever. Don't seem to be any rules. Every inch of the road is taken up by trucks, buses, mini vans, pickups, motorcycles, bicycles. Pedestrians have not right of way and risk life and limp if they don't get out the way. Spent most of the day buying supplies and getting money exchanged. Exchanged $500 and got 2,000,000 Ugandan. Stuck it in my money belt and I looked like I was expecting. The change in culture was really exciting. I have been to other places in the far east and Mexico but this was so much more different. Finally headed out for Masindi Farm around 7pm. This is a farm where families from the LRA civil war came to find a new life. About 500 acres and 40 families. About 100 childre n in school here. Richard is there leader along with his wife Susan. Small church there that is center of life. Team GBC upgraded the solar panels and and plumbing for their only deep well. This doubled capacity. We also installed the first lighting system on the family. Used to have on kerosene laterns. We four men held VBS for the school children. That was an experience for most of us. It was fun and rewarding. Did Bible teaching and crafts for them. After the VBS the children received school clothes, backpack, books, health packets, mosquito nets, etc.

Currently in Kalongo but don’t have time to complete my blog part tonite. A lot has happened this first week. Helping to install X-Ray machine at hospital here. Running out of time, lights out at 9 pm.

In His Creation – In Africa

Russ Lowe, Team GBC

Jeff Fordham
2-9

Greetings from Kolongo, northern Uganda. What an amazing trip. Kampala is nuts, 7 million people all moving at the same time, crazy.
We have been on the go, The farm was great, the people there even greater. I cannot say enough about the hospitality, thanks Richard and Suzanne God has truly shined on them. The water pump now runs on batteries powered by the sun, 24volt System, doubled the flow. Solar lights in the dinning area, 12 volt, now we can attract bugs. Speaking of bugs, I saw my first mosquito today and the weather has been great. Very talented musicians at the farm, great time of worship.
I did six ultrasounds today at the hospital, they just lined them up and away we went. X-ray equipment seems to be going fine.
This is a great team to be with. We have all gotten along great and we work well together so I am very thankful to God for choosing them.
The People her are great, there is so much to say about this place, so much to think about I don’t know how to put it into words at this time.
There is great joy and great sadness, I don’t think it has all set in yet.
Just a few days left to take it all in, so I will leave it at that.

Jeff

Brian Lucas
2/9/10
What an amazing trip. The voyage went really well. We had no problems and arrived without event. We were met at the airport by Nadine, Richard, Susan and Pritchard. We had a great reunion at a hotel in Entebbe. The next day we shopped in Kampala. What a crazy place. Then we travelled to the Family Empowerment Farm at Masindi(Richard and Susans home). We managed to upgrade the solar power on their water system then use the old setup to provide lights and battery power in the kitchen. What an amazing group of people. I have been filtering everything through the lense of my last trip here three years ago. The love and hard work that these people have put into this slice of Eden overwhelms me. The last time I was here the people were walking long distances to get drinking water from a fish pond. The water bourne disease was unbearable. Now there is fresh water from a well with a pump running into a big tank. They have a tractor now and have increased the production of the farm by an order of magnitude. All the people are happy, healthy and working hard. We next travelled to Kalongo to the Dr. Ambrosoli Memorial Hospital. I believe this is the best hospital in Northern Uganda. We are installing an x-ray film processor, an x-ray machine, and an ultrasound machine. Some parts for the ultrasound got accidently left behind which was heartbreaking. The other stuff all seems to have arrived. I can’t begin to say how proud I am of the whole team. Oh well, It is late and tomorrow Nadine, Susan and I are going to travel to Kitgum. Please pray for all of us and our work. God bless and good night,

Brian

All are God's Children

2010-02-10T07:24:00.000-08:00

Feb 5th,

After walking away from the bus taking the guys to the farm, feeling sad…and then going back into Achumi market to find some fingernail clippers (so much dirt under the nails…and for some reason I couldn’t stand it any longer…this was my focus back to sanity..I needed to cut my fingernails!). Once that was accomplished, my nails cut and some water bought. I lifted my head up and said to Prichard and Jackson. ..”Let’s walk…I can’t bear to go back to the hotel and sit in that room again. Thankful Brian had given me some shillings and the church sent over some to cover the container, so I was back in business again…
So, we walked the streets of Kampala..and Prichard decided to take us to a corner I remembered before near the parliament when they play music and had wireless internet. We sat outside…as it grew dark, the city became alive! It seemed everyone was outside…cooking, talking, singing, selling their wares…etc. The various lights flickered among the darkness and sounds were everywhere. We also called Prichard’s girlfriend in America (I just found out about her! And since I am mom he wanted to introduce her..ha!) and also we called Kenny. I was so happy to hear from us and was fine, thankfully. As, I was looking around..I noticed two children on the corner…dancing…then darting away…then re-appearing behind a parked car…dancing some more…then gone. In the shadows I could see their clothes were tattered…their feet were bare and their arms and legs very thin. Yet, the joy of listening and dancing to the music brought them closer and visible in brief moments.
I turned my head to speak to Prichard and ask him about them…he said they were street children…I turned back and they were gone! Since we were ready to catch a special hire (taxi ) to the hotel…I said to Prichard, “I cannot leave until we find those children” We turned the corner and saw them by a restaurant picking up empty soda bottles from a crate….one by one tipping the bottles to their mouths and drinking the last drops of the soda left in the bottle. A guard was nearby and all seemed used to these children. As I approached them, they flinched and would have ran but I asked the guard to allow them to stay, I wanted to see them. They had beautiful smiles, through the dirty thin faces and rags they wore! They were living on the streets and sleeping in verandas when the city quieted at night and were scavenging for food scraps.
There was a chicken place….so I bought them each chicken and chips. They wanted a soda but I insisted on water; the cashier did not even charge for the water. She told me she would pack the food to go as they want to share with their friends who are also living on the streets.
She instructed them how to say thank you in English, the guard and all smiled and really thanked me. As I looked around I also realized, I was the only white person around and the only one I saw the whole evening… I guess I was in a part not frequented by tourists.
Everyone was so grateful and nice about helping the children. It was they who actually helped me…in the midst of the struggle earlier with container…all is put into perspective….as we are all one in the eye’s of God and all His children. These children were so beautiful to me….they vanished into the night as silently as they came and were no longer lurking in the shadows, however they will lurk in my mind and heart for a long time. The lesson of sharing with their friends even though they are so desparately without, inspired me and brought to mind the commandment of “loving thy neighbor as thyself”
I slept good last night and prepared for the long day of wait today as the clearing agent worked with the customs department all day! At 4:55 pm I received a call…their was another issue…imagine that! The issue was that of the shipper owned container (donated by Peirce and AIDSpirit and would be staying on the farm – a much needed water tight storage place on the farm!). So, then it became more money requested for the customs to “overlook” the tax that should be paid (supposedly). Prichard has a friend in the office and she did not think it the case…but the customs at the shipyard needed to let the container go out tomorrow and it could hold it up even more I was told. I was to meet the agent tomorrow morning and I vowed to be there right on time so as to get that container out finally! Later, I received a call from Sr. Vincentina of Kalongo Hospital who wondering when I was coming with the team and I told her the saga…she was so upset and kept saying..we have tax exemption..they should not be charging you at all! She immediately called someone she knows on the board of minister of finance…texted me his number and I was to call him in the morning to help out. As it turns out, I called him 3 times in the morning. We finally got the container moved to multilines and sorted for delivery and off it was on the road by 1 pm. I also took the backpacks and books (for Love Covers) and mattress (for John who has hydrocephalus) and off I went on the road to Masindi..spending my last shillings once again!! Multilines also gave me an invoice for a refund of $339 but as it was a Saturday there of course was no money available! Arrangements have been made to get it however. ..
The guys have called a few times and were preparing for love covers and the VBS. I heard the Lord provided more water through the sun and even lights through the sun! I’ll let them tell you about it all! I arrived the farm in record time ….to see them doing the love covers…playing the “shepard and the sheep” and big bad lion game. All 5 guys and all the kids! It was amazing. It was in time to explain how 13 year old Rachel from Billings started the book drive and the love the kids in Billings have for the kids in Uganda …half a world a way. Another expression of unity…of one in the world and with the world. Hallelujah!
Rachel’s story and strength and will to persevere with the book drive, even after a year….touched the Ugandan’s deeply. The Love packs were beautiful..the donations from many for the items in the packs...hygiene kits, school supplies and the cost of the shoes, mosquitoe nets, blankets, uniforms etc... including the colorful backpacks from Dave and Office Depot were a huge blessing. The ladies worked so hard making the uniforms on sewing machines that are the antique treddle machines…in solar cooker oven Heat! The kids received their first books ever…one by one. Thank you everyone at home for sharing the love! Wish you could have been here…and to see the guys teach the kids and play with the kids….beautiful…God is good and we are grateful! At that moment the hardship of the container has become a distant memory as the work we have come to do goes forward. You will hear from the guys soon, so I will save some stories for them..they are awesome!

Love, Nadine

Raining...Grace, Praises, Prayers, Gratitude, Energy

2010-02-04T10:44:00.000-08:00

HI all,

This morning awoke with the Grace Bible Team really ready to roll! And I was renewed again after a decent night sleep. I am grateful for the McCourtney's in Entebbe for always putting me up and putting up with me! As we settled the guys in the hotel the night before..I warned them of the intense heat...well today it rained...a welcome reprieve! It has been so hot I have been praying they brought icicles from Montana. No icicles, yet much better, lots of blessings and energy! We started the day with loading up the bus (coaster)..always the tough one..getting everyone on. These guys are great team ... exceptional...it was I on Africa time! After filling them in on some of the details from the container, projects, etc.. , Jeff lead the team, coaster and us in prayer and then worship on the bus trip to Kampala! It really lifted me up hugely to face the next phase of the container! Giving Praise and Glory to God, up to the heavens..and back.

Keep sending the angels and prayers,

Love, Nadine

On the way I found out..yes we could meet with the drug authority and so they dropped myself, Nate and Prichard (Kenny's brother) and Jackson (the farm manager) off at Maersk ICD terminal. Our lovely african friends who have now opened and unloaded and loaded this container 3 times were present. They all know me well by now and they just loved Nate!! As you can imagine..Nate got a break through on Africa...wait...wait and wait..and this was not bad!! He was amazing and very helpful! As we were waiting and travelling I recieved a few message about the congolese refugee family..all good..everything was working out well to get Arsene registered in Uganda...and Bertine had actually registered his family on his re-settlement papers from Mozambique and Kenya many years ago!! This is the best news as they may be re-united through this process much more quickly! Hallelujah! The Office of Prime Minister actually called me back today about the issue of the registration and they are fast forwarding the finaly approval...Hallelujah! Lots to be thankful for and grateful for..!
Conrad our wonderful drug authority agent ( I am not being sarcastic) he really is..finally met and showed up after I was told they were in a "meeting" (everyone here in any type of businesss is in a perpetual meeting). We looked for the items in question which they accused us of hiding (not the case and since I was not present the first day..I had no idea what exact box was in question). Well anyway it opened up a can of worms because he did not check all boxes the first time. So, much more was found and I accepted it as some of the items definitely should have not been sent or imported over..my mistake for not checking all the boxes or learning the restrictions prior. I did get the guidelines yesterday which only related to medications which we did not bring over..so it is still an enigma on some of it in relation to the gloves denied and the needles and syringes. Well...I must say, I did not handle the rejection of the needles and syringes as they were not expired. All I could think of was 8 year old Steven with sickle cell and know we found he has hepatitis C...and Raymond who was 6 years old and died of AIDS and his twin sister...and all of the other kids I have buried over here in the past...even shoveled the dirt over the grave after many days of prayers with the family in 2003. These needles, syringes and gloves would save someone of contracting these deadly illnesses...as I have been there in the hospitals when there were no gloves and heard the stories of them re-using the needles and syringes. So, in the middle of the ICD shipping part, I started to cry and carry on about these children, etc. Thankfully, there was mercy (I must have fairly scared the guy ...because here life is not so valuable)... and he put back the needles and syringes but still made some of the gloves be placed in the "burn" and "fine pile" In the end, we ended up with 30 more kgs of items to burn and about $75 fine, which still is not bad. I calmed considerably and even took some pictures with all.
Next we met up with the rest of the guys..did not want to sit around and wait..so gave Nate a treat ride through the city on a matatu (ask him if it was a treat, but at least it wasn't a boda boda and safe!) Then off to meet the rest at the solar panel place then off to more drill buying etc.
In the end, it was a great day! I sent the 5 guys off to the farm with Richard..as they have a lot of work to do with all they bought today! And I still have to finalize the next steps for the container. I can say..I was very sad as they left...
However, I have been blessed with Prichard, Kenny's brother to keep me sane in Kampala! I have spent way too much time in this city this time..and scary I even know my way around somewhat. I have certainly learned a lot for sure..always something new..

Pray for the guys on the farm..I know they will love it ...and it drives me nuts I won't be there to boss everyone around (kidding!). They are in great hands with Richard and Suzan. Pray for the container finalizing tomorrow and the congolese family. I know I am supposed to be here in Kampala..at least that is the way God has arranged it, so I will make the best of it..just need to have a few moments once in a while and ask for grace, courage, strength and faith...and keep up the "never give up and perservere" attitude that has shown us the paths directed for H20 thus far, some of the mountains, valleys, streams, lakes...dry drought areas, famine and harvest.
Thank you all for the support and prayers!!

Love Nadine

A Miracle - A Setback- Not giving up!

2010-02-04T00:35:00.000-08:00

Hi all,

The saga of the container goes on and on... I thought it was hard packing and setting up the container shipment, finding the funds and then doing the monumental task of the packing list etc. The I thought it was hard when the wrong seal number was placed on the documents, then I thought it was hard when the container was sent to Seattle and the dock was closed for holiday and the trucker had to stay overnight (at an extra expense that had to be covered..and was thanks to angel Dick). Then I thought it was hard when the container got lost in Seattle...thankfully it was found in time to be shipped on time! Then it was a breeze and a break as the container moved through the oceans and countries of china, Odom and Kenya. There was the joy of a breakthrough with it potentially arriving a little early and cleared from the border without going through the customs in Kampala ICD terminal. This was short lived however due to the diversity of items in the container. I packed the container carefully also to avoid a lot of customs charges...knowing though anything can happen. So when they gave me a figure of $1000 when we arrived ...and angel Dick helped out again. Then I was crestfallen when they added another $500. But, I just prayed for strength and have been thankful I have a lot of fat to lose!! Then we had great news of the container arriving in Kampala..Maersk ICD yard! The appointment with the Uganda Drug Authority was hard to come by but Multilines our agents have worked very hard. Monday the container was opened and the drug authority found some needles that were expired so they requested the container be moved to the bay and the whole thing be unloaded fully and spread out to search the boxes. I arrived with a padlock and the next day we arrived to unload the container for inspection. I was also trying to call Kalongo to get the sisters to talk to the drug authority people as they wanted to use some of the expired items for teaching purposes in the nursing school. Finally, I reached Sister Carmel and she was on her way to Kampala! Hallelujah! She made it to the Maersk yard and the drug authority agent was understanding. She fought and I fought for the items needed. Can you imagine they were going to burn them?! And charge a fine. They even took one box of gloves that had one torn glove and another!! Tried to say all the gloves were expired which they were not! In the end we were happy to get by with most things accepted and 11 kg of items going to the burning place and pay about $20 fine. We felt it was a miracle from God!! To back track, I was notified about the possible problem with expired items coming into Uganda when the container was already packed...so I took out items in all of the boxes I could reach. The decision was to leave the rest (the forklift had already been rented 3 times! In addition the hospital had two large sterilizers with which to sterilize instruments and surgical equipment, needles etc and we did not know about the burning and fining issue. Anyway we were blessed with favor. Then the following day we get a call that the drug authority agent that opened the first box the first day and saw some vacutainer needles that were expired..he did not find them in the discard/burn box so theb it went back to the fact he wanted those needles found and out of the container!! The other agent was in Entebbe working for the day..so we had to wait until today! So, for the 3rd time we are waiting to unpack the container and find the small items in one small box, load the container again and clear customs officially so everything can be brought to their destinations. Once again, every one is in a meeting so here we sit...hours upon hours!
Thankfully the satellite internet is working so at least I can keep occupied as we wait in this shipyard. I notified Sr. Carmel of the problem and she is in meetings today that she cannot miss...her last words ..."Don't give up"! So, I am not giving up...I have renewed strenght today as it rained so it is not as hot...or I think I'd melt!!
The Grace Bible guys from Laurel all arrived well!! And have brought renewed energy which I desparately needed! We have a great prayer this morning and Jeff sang worship songs on the bus, which lightened my heart immensely and has given me strenght. Nate has been good to volunteer to sit out this miserable process at the shipyard...the Lord is grooming us all in patience! The others are off buying solar panels, etc, etc for the farm.
Please keep us in your prayers and ask for favor with this customs/drug authority process! Stay tuned! Next post I will give more info about the congolese refugee family..have had a few breakthroughs!!

Love, Nadine

The Container has arrived!

2010-02-01T07:45:00.001-08:00

Hallelujah...the container is here in Kampala and our multilines agents have been very diligent in getting the appointment with the drug authority. So today was the day! I was in Kayunga however when I got the call to come and have a look. Luckily Prichard and Richard were ready to go. Since I was then travelling alone I did not feel I could manage the matatu with the luggage, squishiness, and jams with all the people going back to school today. So about midday Terry had Charles take me to Kampala, thankfully. Well on the way I was getting calls that the drug authority found a few expired items of needles, catheters etc...which I was afraid of but did not search all of the boxes before the container left Billings as it was already packed. I guess...it almost cleared when he found those items. So now they loaded the container back up and I reached to seal it with a padlock and tomorrow I will need to go back and have it unloaded and spread out so each and every box can be inspected. I explained there is a school who could use the items for training and also the surgical instruments are to be re-sterilized in different packs and that Kalongo hospital has a large sterilizer to do this with. Pray they find favor with that explanation otherwise I am told they will burn the items and charge me...
I have faith though as everyone was nice..not mad at all...and it actually has been fairly quick in getting this far! Still time to clear all by the time the engineers and electronic guys from Grace Bible church from Laurel arrive to set up the xray etc.!
Keep up the prayers!

Nadine

Family Found

2010-01-30T21:45:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

The Giselle and Arsene are found! Brother and sister to Bertine who lives in Wyoming.
They are in Kampala staying with a very nice person who has helped them for about a year now. He found them living in a tent city by InterAid offices about a year ago.
They are healthy although a bit reserved and one can see the trauma in the young man's eyes. They do not know how to speak english but speak french and swahili fluent (also congolese of course). Spent one day looking for them, then met at Uganda Red Cross. We applied to have messages sent to their family in Congo to see if anyone there is still alive. We were able to print out the picture of their brother (Bertine) and his wife and give them a few items, like soap, tea, sugar, bread, etc. Arsene was very emotional when he saw his brother and kept touching the photo...he and Giselle slept with the pictures I am told and could not stop looking at it...they were so happy to hear news of their brother after 14 years! Then it was off to see about their registation status in the country of Uganda and paperwork. Well..lets just say I should not be surprised right?! It is a long process of standing in lines in multiple places and ending up at Office of Prime Minister who grants the final assylum for refugees to stay in Uganda. Giselle's paperwork was filed last year and so she is registered. The number I was given for Arsene from the Senator's office in America is not him...this they wanted to see him and accused him of lying etc. Oh it was awful. I nearly cried too..but somehow we convinced them to look further and they agreed it was not the same person (after hours of sitting with no water in the heat!!) His appointment for registration is for March which will miss the meeting for assylum acceptance so I am trying to get the info from the states to push the appt forward. It will not be good for the brother and sister to be separated in an application process again..should be as a family. So keep up the prayers.

Next, I stayed in Entebbe at CC-Entebbe Summer and Zane McCourtney's guesthouse to save some money and take their latest baby with sickle cell and Steven (sponsored by AIDSpirit and Angie and Tom Osborne) to sickle cell center as he was found to be very anemic again and was transfused last week. More later, as he we investigate the underlying cause. Keep him in your prayers!

I am on to Kayunga to see the Tender Mercies, kids...Roger and the others sponsored by AIDSpirit, spend time with Prichard (Kenny's brother) and see the school where the kids are attending. Rumor has it they are only getting porridge, posha and very few beans. No fruits and vegetables...which is not good for the sickle cell children like Steven at all.! Will try to start a vegetable garden there also..thanks for sending back more seeds.

The container is another story but in Kampala..pray the drug authority check Monday goes without problems! The customs taxes are paid and of course even more than the first amount quoted over 3 weeks ago! So I will be back in Kampala for that. I look forward to seeing the Feb Laurel team Wednesday night and am making the arrangements!! Whoo hoo!

Most of all, I feel God's presence carrying me and have been blessed immensely and able to get things done! Thank you so much for the support and prayers!

Love, Nadine

Searching for Bertine's Family - Congolese Refugees

2010-01-26T20:33:00.000-08:00

HI again,

Leigh and I just spent the last 4 days travelling to Masaka and then to Mbarara which is in the southwest of Uganda. We had an overnight at a refreshing Lake Nagubagu) where I was also able to see Jenny Moore's parents...Robin and Jim Fruehan of Jireh Ministries for a little while. It was so good to see them! It was not planned to go that direction. As usual...not in my plans, however...One day prior to leaving Billings, I received a call from a Senator's office in Wyoming asking if I might be able to help one of their constituents locate his family who were found to be in Uganda as refugees from the Congo.
A little correspondence ensued and I relayed I would need as much as information as possible and I would try to look into it. Well, in the airport in MN, on our way over to Uganda, I happened to recieve a phone call from Bertine...a congolose refugee himself who was granted assylum in the US over 10 years ago. The story he told was amazing and touched my heart so much. Bertine was living in southern Congo near the Rwanda border and attending secondary school. The Hutu tribe from Rwanda was also living in Southern Congo( you may recall the genocide in Rwanda...or saw the movie Hotel Rwanda..well the Hutu's fled to Congo and were gaining an army to fight back).
As is the case in many of these countries...in order to build an army of forces...children are abducted and forced to become child soldiers. Bertine was abducted 14 years ago from his secondary school and forced to become a child soldier for the Hutu army. Eventually he heard of a way to escape, through a wood boat that was leaving to go down the river...where he did not know. In the night he escaped and hid in the bottom of the boat which winded around and eventually ended up in Zambia. He was told in the night to jump out at the beach and hide in the bushes. Somehow he made it to Mozambique and a refugee camp. An Aide worker interviewed him and through the processes he was granted assylum and relocation to America 10 years ago. He re-located in Maryland and went through the schooling etc for refugees to learn the language. He started cross country running and eventually recieved a scholarship to the University of Wyoming for cross country. He has since graduated as a math teacher and teaches math at a high school in Gilette Wyoming. He is married and expecting his first child. As you can imagine..the trauma and pain he went through. And now always praying and wondering where his family is, if they were alive even? Recently he had word from another congolese who was re-located to Denver Colo and let him know his brother and sister were in Uganda in a refugee camp. So he located Lutheren Services which led to a search through the UNHCR and found them registered in Kampala in 2008.
He was advised to contact the senator's office for help...who then contacted me once they found out have and do go over to Uganda.
After recieving the phone call...He told me they were in Nakavali refugee camp and were congolese (the senator office thought Sudanese...I immediately called Leigh (in Seattle on her way to Uganda)..and asked her to call Colleen, a ST. V ICU nurse who volunteered in a congolese refugee camp in Uganda last year. Amazingly, Colleen worked in the same refugee camp! The path was written..and I felt led to follow it. Colleens contacts with Medical Teams International led to contacts with the UNHCR and a visit to Nakavale refugee camp near the border of Tanzania..southwest Uganda. Search as we all may..the family was nowhere to be found. They were not registered in the camp of 50,000 and there was no record of them since 2008 in Kampala. So, I tried to contact Inter Aid which led to Red Cross Uganda...meanwhile an e-mail came through from Bertine..with a name and number of a person who may know where his family is. This turned out to be crucial..as I was sitting in Mbarara thinking of what to do next...this man was in Kampala and was helping Bertine's brother Arsene and sister Giselle as the time they came the conditions in the camp were terrible (much better now as we saw first hand). This morning I am back in Entebbe after a very long bus ride yesterday..yes, it was the public bus..but I felt in my element...love to travel with the locals! (Except when they keep stepping on me, elbowing me and sleeping on me!..kidding sort of).
I an off to Kampala to finally meet the family...I hope and pray! I'm not sure where the meeting will be yet..so I have learned not to get my hopes up too high...yet I will not give up. I feel so attached to this family already..
I'll keep you posted. Thanks for the prayers..I sure need them as does this family!
Leigh was a trooper to travel this with me and is now staying with a friend in Kampala and will fly out tomorrow.

Love, Nadine

Village Healthcare Worker Training and Kampala Village

2010-01-25T20:43:00.000-08:00

Hello Family and Friends,
Greetings from Uganda. I cannot believe this is my first correspondence since arriving nearly three weeks ago. There is so much to write about, but I will try to keep my story-telling to a minimum. It has been a fantastic trip and I will fill in all the details when I get back to America.

There are two particular experiences I would like to share. The first is our success of the Village Healthcare Worker training course that we provided over a ten-day period. Happily, everybody succeeded and we had our first graduating class of 2010.

Suzan, the nurse at the Farm, had identified seven women who have shown a strong interest in the medical field and whom she thought would be dedicated to attend the classes. She was right on in her choices. The ladies included Alice, Evelyn, Jennifer, Christine, Paula (from Kalongo), Pauline and Katie. They arrived every day ready to learn, notebooks and pens in hand, and minds open. Their enthusiasm made it fun for Brenda, Nadine and me to teach.

Our syllabus included teaching the Four Vital Signs, First Aid including choking, nosebleeds, and bleeding control, Malaria, Hygiene and Sanitation, Nutrition, Maternal/Childbirth, Body Mechanics and Personal Safety, Wound Care and Burns (Carol- we missed you!!!), Skin Rashes, Diarrhea and treatment with ORS and Pharmacology review. It was an ambitious agenda. Let’s just say we got through some of it, but surely not all of it. However, what we covered, they really understood for the final test on the last day.

The highlight for me was watching the women learn how to use the stethoscope. They quickly picked up the anatomic locations for the different heart sound, lung sounds and abdominal sounds. Finding the pulse at either the radial, brachial and carotid was successful by everyone. The blood pressure proved to be a bit more difficult, but by the end of the session, they each had their stethoscopes hanging around their necks like they had been professionals for years. They were so happy. And finally how can I forget Richard, our translator. These women all speak Acholi, with minimal English. Without Richard’s dedication and enthusiasm to learn the material, I don’t think the class would have been such a success. Thank you Richard!!!

The second highlight of the visit to the Farm was the return to the village of Kampala. While it shares the same name as Uganda’s capital city, there is no similarity. The village sits about a 45 minute walk from the Farm, and is home to some of the women who have participated in the Family Empowerment program. The village is very poor. The nearest water source is a hole in the ground that provides their drinking water. The children barely have clothes on their back and shoes on their feet.

Last year I visited this village and we installed four drip irrigation systems and planted gardens to help the women provide nutrition to their families in the dry season. Upon returning this year, it is very apparent that despite all the adverse conditions and struggles these women face, their dedication to providing for their families is amazing. Their gardens are doing very well. Some of the mamas had designed ingenious techniques to maximize their drip system to double the production of food. Some of the items they are growing include squash, sweet potatoes, cucumber, tomatoes, radishes, eggplant, cassava, and zucchini. (Thank You Vision Beyond Borders for the seeds!)

As we wandered from household to household the crowd grew. Every child and women and even some of the young men joined us as we visited the families. By the time we were to head back to the Farm, there were forty or more walking side by side. Alas we visited the final garden. It was the home of one of the elderly women, Jaja I called her. We gathered all the children who would be attending the Katamarwa School and took their photo. They will be receiving the Love-Pack’s this fall. It was so apparent how badly these children needed the supplies in those packs. A clean set of school clothes, some sturdy shoes, a blanket to ensure they stay warm in the wet season, and school supplies to help them with their studies and a mosquito net to prevent malaria and more... What a great treat for these children.

Finally, as we were getting ready to leave, Jaja presented us with a live chicken as an expression of her gratitude. It was an amazing act, as a chicken for these people is a very valuable item. As I held the chicken with the pink tie around its feet, we swiftly decided to name her ‘little bow pink’. She has found her new home in the chicken coop on the Farm, and will be part of a nutrition and chicken project for one of the boys. She will lay eggs that can be used to provide good nutrition for many people, or the eggs can be sold to help pay for their school. As we left, we all felt the love and care these folks have and vowed to continue to return to Kampala Village to visit and try to help them in the future.

Leigh

Thank You Team!

2010-01-22T10:25:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

Wow, over 2 weeks have passed, the first large groups from both H20 and AIDSpirit have arrived back in America..safely, I here...with a slight illness..though nothing too bad. I am always amazed, after the stress of getting all of the team supplies/tubs packed..family and life that goes on while away situated...travel here...through customs...initial business and travel here..then the work and fun begins. Each person adds their own gifts, service, heart, passion, quirks and uniqueness to the group dynamic. It is very different each year and always such a blessing to see each grow in their element, experience the culture, love the people, develop their projects/passions. THANK YOU ALL very much for a great time and great work!! None of the success and effectiveness of the projects implemented with our partners would occur without each of you! It is a huge sacrifice, your service invaluable. I am very grateful and the people of Uganda are grateful! And as you have seen, you have made a big difference!!

A recap: The gardens are growing abundently through the seeds and drip irrigation implemented last year and is continuing this year. New foods like squash, peas, watermelon, zucchinni, spinich, beets, radishes, okra, pumpkin...and more have made a big difference in the health of the children and women especially. The clean water through the bio-sand and wells have previously shown the health improvements, and we continue to learn more about the biosand filters, maintanence and water storage. Assessing the water quality helps see where the needs are. With the development of these two projects in particular is the development of the two young men who are now the experts...Geoffrey, formerly abducted by the LRA war...and Bosco. They run these projects and implement them so very well and are now branching out to train other areas as we have seen with our first family in Kalongo. All of the crops in Kalongo died during the drowght and their is no food avaiable...so we hope to help them with some drip irrigation also. It was beutiful to see them all work together to help others from different areas of Uganda. Dennis...another young man..who helps Tom and Dave and Bryce with the water projects is learning a lot also..and we took him for more training in the last couple days in Kampala. The solar tank system for the well that had sediement is truly a gift from God and we look forward the seeing how the cash crop passion fruit orchard will flourish this next year. A new project with the Village Healthcae Worker training week went extremely well...5 women from Rakayata village and one from Kalongo attened. They were empowered and learned a lot.Leigh and Brenda are the best teachers! This will help Suzan, the nurse on the farm a lot when the clinic is built and functioning. Oregon team added a dental component for flouride treatment which is so needed also. Reading glasses were again distributed...many were reading their bibles. Some success stories from clinic last year emerged..the thumb we operated on healed and was functioning great! Christine died however some months later from end stage AIDS. Leigh added more great training on HIV STD and alcoholism, affects and complications.
The farm is growing with the tractor and they had a great crop corn and a new bin was built from last year. Tom even taught them how to grade the road full of pot holes and impassable this year! The income generating projects are moving toward making colorful purses. Some paper bead jewelry was continued. Market last year helped with many of the kids first term school fees. Bosco is selling green peppers also! Overall there is a dream for a vocational and tailoring school...

Thanks all for the prayers..God is blessing the hard working self less people of Uganda all chilcren of God. They are becoming nore self sufficient and have more self worth and dignity and are now sharing with others in unity, caring and passion and love.!

Leigh and I went to view some more bio-sand training with the guys at Tex's and met some great folks, went on the Lake Victoria Island Mission yesterday and are off toward Masaka, Mbarra and eventually Rakavali refugee camp to find Bertine's family. Stay tuned! Keep up the prayers!

Nadine

Brenda's Posts

2010-01-21T11:31:00.000-08:00

Uganda..... Its like u r living in a whole other world..step back several decades anD slow down and u r there
With a bunch of happy children with very little wants or needs just u being there playing with them makes them happy.

The women r making purses. Rode the Boda Boda (motorcycle) to the market. about 10 kil away and bought fabric (Leigh and I ) can't wait to bring some back if u travel u will love them. popcorn, fresh mango and fresh pineapple for breakfast, a very unual combination. the popcorn was cooked over the fire so a little well done but very good beans for lunch.
Trenches dug for clinic and dedication today which meant the farm village celebrated with dancing and we ALL filled the trenches with rock. next comes the cement over the rock. 13 thousand bricks already made here on the farm(made from clay) only 1...3 thousand to go. Rice for supper with veg. that r now growing on the farm. another great day :)

went on night tukle call (house call) last night walked 1/2 mile in dark with headlight thru bushes and grass along a tiny path to a tiny dirt floor hut to see a woman with infection. she basically had her breast filleted at the hosp for "infection" the entire top portion of her breast was cut off with a dirty soaked g...auze on wound which had been left on at hosp for 4 days. they basically butchered her. so so sad

sunday drive thru murcheson falls game park animals out in full force, lots of elephants,wart hogs..giraffes, water buffalo,baboons, hippos and about 20 different species of gazelles and a lion.great day.hot and humid.

popcorn and bananas for brkfast. they slaughtered a goat for us this morning. So goat for lunch and goat and rice and beans for supper.walked over 5 miles today in fried egg on asphault pressure cooker hot weather. josephine (breast girl) is doing better today. smiled and said pain is less. wound still very bad. should have grafts. another great day.

another great day in Africa. Hot and humid. Great to be outdoors all day. start the day at 6:30am by going for a walk return for breakfast then begin the day.Everything is outside except sleeping.It's GREAT..

on our way to Kolongo about 25 kilometers from Sudan border. on bus with IDP family biosand filter bundles of corn. beans rice and sugar live chickens in back of bus and 3 boys from farm and Suzan from farm. about a 5 hour bus ride. will check out hosp and Take family home to IDP camp (internationally displaced person... camp)listened to music around fire last night,INCREDABLE..Drums and harp made with bamboo and strin
also taking drip irrigation and seeds will prepare and plant a garden and set up drip irrigation.

still traveling on bus to get back to farm. just crossed the Nile River it is raging. Had a snack of ground nuts and sesame pieces that the nursing students sent with us. we r now on paved (but bumpy) rd. It is dark and 2 hrs to go. looking forward to getting back to the farm.

We r on our way to Kampala then to entebee. I fly ro amsterdam tonight Leigh and Nadine will stay. Left farm this am will miss all The people here. Such a different slower lifestyle. I Love it here.

Too good to be true - technology fails us!

2010-01-21T11:01:00.000-08:00

HI all,

So sorry for the delay in posting! I thought we had great internet connection....but too good to be true! The modem broke after a fall...(not lights on the farm). Then we couldn't get the SIM cqrd in with the new one..so there you go...! We sure kept busy though! I am attaching an excerpt from Tom Osborne the Hydrologist on the team and hope to attach some others to catch you all up.

Hello all,
Our Ugandan trip group just made it to Amsterdam very early this morning, the 21st. It was a bit over an 8-hr flight from Entebbe.
There has been a rush to get showers by all the group, as many haven't had a chance, or passed on the cold shower- no soap option in Entebbe. It usually takes multiple scrubbings to shed all the African red dust from the knooks and crannys. Everyone is doing well and glad our return is now well underway. It was hard saying goodbye to our sponsor child Steven yesterday. He got to spend a special day hanging around with me in Kampala as we transacted business all over town for ongoing and future water development projects. He was at my side the whole time, and it was hard to part. He is in very good hands there at Tender Mercies.
There is much exciting work going on at Tender Mercies in Kayunga, the main focus of the AidSpirit team. They started teh porcess of clearing 1/2-acre of property for a new dorm for the kids. Hope 2 One Life's efforts on the refugee farm near Masindi have paid large dividends in the health of the 56 families and 125 or so children there. The drip irrigation has allowed introduction of fresh vegetables into their diets during the dry season when otherwise it would be only ground maize and kasava root. The childrens skin is now "glistening" and healthy. I am elated that the solar water pumping system we patched together at the last minute really worked in the field. We already purchased a 24 volt solar panel to replace the smaller one I brought and that will allow production of 3,500 liters of "free"water from the well on a sunny day. The two teams combined to make the long trip on all dirt roads to Kolongo in northern Uganda, where we visited the Dr. Ambrosolio Hospital and school. THis is were most of the medical equipment shipped in teh big container is going. It was much larger than I envisioned, and serves a huge area of N. UG, and southern Sudan. The nuns there were a complete joy, gracious, and interested in us. It is no small miracle that they and the hospital survived the 20 year LRA war that raged around them. God really protected they little enclave.
We will be assessing how we might help there- it is a very dry part of the country and their crops failed this year. So we are thinking of introducing drip irrigation.

Some of us may take the train into Amsterdam since we have 9 hrs. I unfortunately forgot my laptop and cell phone at teh farm in the haste of leaving yesterday. It will be brought by the remaining team later I hope.
Well, love to all and looking forward to seeing you all,

Tom Osborne

Water from the Sun

2010-01-12T07:49:00.000-08:00

Today, God gave us water from the Sun! This is Tom. After much and very hasty planning and shopping before leaving the US and several days of toil under the African sun here on the Farm, we got the solar water pumping system installed. Our African friends flipped the switch with us holding our breath and lo- water flowed up from the earth. The pumped worked all day, at a rate slightly above 4 liters per minute, the maximum expected with this 12 volt system. We may purchase a second solar panel and we can double the rate with this pump. We figure this could be sufficient to drip irrigate 2-3 acres of passion fruit orchard. This unique experience has been greatly amplified by the joy and expectation this work brings to the wonderful people living on this Farm. There is more to do of course. Two of us drove the rough dirt road to Masindi today and purchased a 1500 liter tank to store the water. Now we have to hook it all up.
God bless you all. Tom

2010-01-12T07:29:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone!!!

This is Bryce and I's first time here in Africa! We are so excited to be here and experience this wonderful place!! We have been on the farm for almost a week now and can't explain how much we are enjoying our time here. Everyone is so wonderful and the food is amazing. Rice and beans, beans and rice, okra, eggplant, jalapenos, and popcorn and almost all grown here on farm. A couple days ago we got to tour the national park of Murcheson Falls. We saw giraffes, wart hogs, elephants, bamboos, hippos, and other wild anmials. It was along ride in the van but well worth it! I have have been making paper beads out of magazine clippings that last couple days and Bryce is busy getting the drip irrigation set-up off the well. Today they were very successful and have been able to use solar power to operate the drip irrigation!We are starting to feel so at home here and we already know it will be very hard to leave. We hope you are all well in the states!
Love-
Bryce and Sara

Hallelujah...we have connection!

2010-01-12T05:59:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone,

How the time flies in Uganda! I think I have finally figured out how to sort of get this new blog set up....the older posts from last year are attached to the previous blog..could not seem to get them to separate..FYI.
All is very well! After arriving Entebbe airport with all luggage intact and sailing through customs..it was wonderful to smell and feel the sweet warm air of Uganda...like home to me by now! We had a restful night...then organized our travels in the morning. The AIDSpirit team went in one bus,to Kayunga. Brenda, Leigh and Bryce and Sara in another bus to the Family Empowerment Farm with all of our many many tubs! Via Kampala to change money, do a few errands, etc. Tom, I, Richard an Prichard were off in the to meet with MultiLines Int..our clearing agent for the container, Tex Tychon of Connect Africa..and our bio-sand water filter connection in Kampala...and Draco Drilling to arrange the deep water well assessment on the farm (has lots of sediment and found not to be constructed right originally). All went well with these meetings. MultiLines was happy to meet me to see we/I am serious! I gather I had a huge learning curve in this shipping business...The container arrived Mombasa Jan 10th and will be heading to Kampala in another week or so. They have warned may be a some extra costs...not too surprising..I hope it is just the amount they say in the end! Tom scheduled Draco to come up to the farm and they did assess the well...needed a lot more gravel pack to get the sediment out which affects the flow..but it seems will work. Tom can fill in more..

I stayed over a day also to pick up the Oregon nursing team and also buy medicines for the village clinic and the AIDSpirit/Tender Mercies Sickle Cell outreach with the Sickle Cell Association of Uganda. Oh boy...want a long day...5 hours waiting to get it all packed..but this is Uganda...slow way way down! Everyone kids me...Action Nadine in non-action Uganda... I really rested yesterday however and it felt good. So, I will slow down...

We are all on the Family Empowerment Farm in Masindi...Team Montana and Team Oregon.
After a morning tour for the newcomers and (oldcomers)some introductions, a ground breaking ceremony was held for the beginning of the clinic build "Buy a Brick" project. It was very moving and powerful..and Glory was given to God, as this seems miraculous to all...imagine..the first time I visited...they refugees from the LRA war simply prayed for tin pots to boil the muddy pond water...and blankets to keep their children warm..and 4 years later... Bricks, bricks and more bricks have been made locally here on the farm. Carol, baby, this is your dream... The clinic was officially christened "Emmanuel" (God with us). Thank You Bob and Linda..this is for you! Thank you to everyone...we are so grateful and none of this could be accomplished without the support, generosity and prayers from all of you at home.

The other projects are also going on very well! Here is some of what we are doing...1) Village Health Worker Training School 2) Bio-Sand Water filter construction and training 3) Drip Irrigation and garden planting 4) Jewelry Making 5) Children's Ministry 6) Clinic Build 7) Deep Well Re-vamp..solar pump system for passion fruit orchard irrigation 8)Patient Healthcare and village clinic.
And do we have some stories! I will let the others tell them though. We are so busy hopefully we can keep the news flowing. Especially now with the satellite internet connection on the farm! Yes...connection!

Everyone is well and happy and healthy..

Nadine

Here We go Again...2010

2010-01-06T00:04:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Here We go Again...2010
Hi all,

This is Nadine here...testing this blog to see if I have it converted right...(techno challenged!)

The teams left the airport am of Jan 5th on our way to Entebbe Uganda. All went well and we are very very happy! All went well at the airport. More later..if this works!
Posted by Uganda Mission 2010 at 12:27 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Lake Victoria Island Medical Outreaches
Hi again,

I am on the last leg of this year's mission trip....last but not least is my visit to Lake Victoria Island Outreaches - facilitated by Calvary Chapel Entebbe and their nurse Dianne. Hope 2 One Life sends quarterly support to this mission, so it is good to visit and see for myself what is going on.... a lot and amazing.

Lake Victoria is a very large lake and borders several African countries...Uganda being one of them. It is here that we are accessing the lake via the church property at CC-Entebbe...who also supplies the boat to reach these islands.

The islands are inhabited by very poor people, predominantly fishermen and their families, transients and those running from the law. There is no infrastructure on most of them to speak of...as in no running water or clean water (the lake is also totally contaminated!), no electricity, no sanitation, very little hygiene or garbage control and no health care. The children have been known to be very very sick, there is a lot of HIV as you can imagine in small island areas...and no money to even get a boat ride to the mainlands for medical care. Usually they are near death or have died when they have arrived the hospital. Then the patient is dropped off and left without any help or food or money....only to maybe be checked on or picked up in 2 weeks again when another boat arrives the mainland...and that is a big maybe. There are no schools either. So you can just imagine....

Nurse Dianne and member of Calvary Chapel Entebbe church has had it on her heart to begin outreaches in the islands for a long time and started this in 2007. She organized the ministry of health to provide vaccines, malaria meds, vitamin A, and de-worm medication. She also organized Mildmay International to provide 2 nurses and HIV meds, prophylaxis, general medical treatment, testing, counselling and education. It has been going on well and many have been impacted. I will be writing a full report.

The day began beautifully with big bright sunny blue skies....as 12 of us embarked on a wooden boat made by hand in a canoe like fashion. Yes, it was leaky but if floated! The engine mostly worked and an hour later we arrived on island where half of the team consisting of nurses, a medical officer and volunteer got off to do that island outreach of vaccinations and medical treatment. The rest of us in group 2 continued on to the adjacent island...smaller and even poorer if you can imagine. This image coming up to the islands are with boats all wooden in the shape of canoes, many makeshift nets, children and people in and out of boats and water....and fish along the shores. The houses are made of wooden slates and plastic with garbage on top of the roofs...I think to hold the plastic down. In fact there was garbage every where!

We set up in a small area with a small bench. ...tubs of supplies and even a hanging weight with a seat to weigh the babies with! We walked through the area with trails of children holding my hands of following behind to let them know we were there...and little by little the mothers or fathers with children arrived carrying their immunization cards. The team kept medical books on all of them and registration books so as to keep track of records. Amazingly, none of these kids were immunized prior to these teams coming out to vaccinate and treat them! Yet you could see by there cards, they came faithfully each time the team came (monthly) for the boosters of polio, tetanus, MMR etc as needed. I worked on evaluation of the sick ones....and most were children with GI complaints which was not unusual given the lack of clean water, sanitaiton and hygiene. I wanted so badly to start teaching right then and there....however, did not want to step on toes....
It is difficult at best in this setting I am told for anyone to comply as the population is transient especially in off fishing season.

The track record shows dramatic improvement in the health just with the vaccinations and ealier treatment of illness. The outreaches make a huge difference and the administer of the hospital tells me there is much less admissions in Entebbe and much less sick patients being dropped off practically dead. He is very supportive of continuing the support from Minsity of Health with providing vaccines etc. However, Mildmay has lost their funding so they will not be participating at all anymore...which affects these efforts greatly. The funds we send will go toward a much needed new boat and also can last for 4 more months, however...I am challenged with looking for more funding...as in grants!! I know it is possible ...I can't imagine this outreach not continuing...it is the only one that has sustained and made a difference for even these couple of years! So, pray for open doors in this area as I research it.

I will teach tomorrow the widows on hygiene, sanitaiton, cleanliness...hand washing, nutrition etc. I miss my team of nurses and volunteers....that is for sure! Thanks to all for the help! The teams were fantastic this year and really made a difference. Monday will bring me back to the sickle cell center....collecting some medical records on Roger and then on the home stretch.

Thanks for the prayers. I am well!

Nadine
Posted by Uganda Mission 2010 at 3:19 AM 0 comments
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Two in a row!
Hi again,

So far this is working for a few minutes at least.

Kitgum was very tiring with a lot to do in a short period of time, however most everything was accomplished. I visited the infant care center where we found Nancy and Bosco in 2006. Terrance was back and getting things back on track. The Mc Courtney's were able to get Tabu living with them, praise God. Interesting I found info about Rabunge Kenny, the HIV child all held that we thought would soon die...he is alive and well and living with his father....and ready to go to nursery school...so I put him in school, knowing Cheryl especially would want me to. He was so cute and active and healthy looking. Also visite the disabled school, stocked everyone up on their meds. Saw Nancy and sisters and mother ...Bosco and sister had already returned to america for school.
The highlight was going out to their village Awal camp again and visiting their grandfather and family in the camp. They came running with big smiles and jumping for joy....hard to believe I am priveliged enough to even be remembered as a part of their lives after all they have been through with the LRA war. Grandfather Paustino has started moving his family to their own land....clearing it...putting up new huts etc. It was so exciting to see the hope in them return. We were able to bless them with the news of the two oxen, milk cow, plow and seeds coming ....I'm told Paustino nearly fainted....at least he was speechless. The was the perfect timing for their life to begin anew again on their own land. We also delivered seeds, clothes, shoes etc. We all prayed together and it was wonderful....the land and atmosphere was so beautiful. Thanks to all of you who donated from your hearts to make this happen....my visit was simply and extension of you all! It was so joyful and made a difference.

I was pretty tired after all of this travel, however, got on the 5 am bus to Masindi where I stopped on the farm again, took a much needed afternoon rest. Also, went and saw the gardens and they were growing! The cow peas had come up well and some of the others, especially the tomatoes! Thanks to VBB for the seeds...they have all made such a difference!

Next moved on to Kampala, so I could take 5 children to the sickle cell center in Mulago hospital to see the professor. He was kind enough to take us right away, then spent the day getting the lab tests, xrays and meds....all went well however. Tom and Jean will be happy to know Rachel does not have sickle cell! Then back to Kayunga to help Terry get the kids in school and sort out some of their medical needs with the school nurse. Aunt Vicky's well is working well and Bugogge village is completed, just waiting the finishing cement work. Everyone was so grateful!

Then on to Jinja to see Kenny and Prichard's family and distribute the gifts from Kenny. All love the thoughtfull items Kenny sends with me since he is unable to go himself. Then on to Kampala with Terry to do some errands, get lab results....work on some of the process for Roger...pray the process goes smooth for his medical care in the US. Also, Dave, a surprise for you.

I am headed to Entebbe to CC and to go on the Lake Victoria Island Medical Outreach. Well, time is up....more later.

Thanks again for the prayers...they are sustaining me!

Love, Nadines
Posted by Uganda Mission 2010 at 3:54 AM 0 comments
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Thanks for Understanding! Finally another post
Hi everyone!

I must say this has been my most difficult challenge...sending e-mails and posts! Sorry it has taken so long to write! And thanks for understanding!

Well, a lot has happened since we left off. The Oregon team went on to Fort Portal, the AIDspirit Montana team arrived and we met them in Kayunga at Tender Mercies where the kids are sponsored by Billings families. We did a lot of health, hygiene, sanitation, disease prevention and nutrition teaching, played with the kids, taught hand washing, danced, sang, made bio-sand water filters. We had one last amazing village day in Baswana...a high percentage of sickle cells children....I did a lot of teaching, the families asked a lot of questions and we held clinic for the sickle cell children. They were all so humble and grateful....and had suffered deaths of children born with sickle cell disease. It really got to me, especially as Kenny was recently so sick and near death himself. They truly wanted to learn how to give their children and better life and obviously loved these kids unconditionally. God's grace is so amazing...it brings tears to my eyes just writing about it and no explaination could give it justice...just knowing angels are among us.... t

The borehole (deep water well) in Bugogge village, donated by Atkinson Foundation was started the day Brenda and Carol left for america. Dave stayed with Terry...(something about being too sick to travel!) and oversaw the borehole drilling and the rest of us travelled to the family empowerment farm in Masindi district. Tom and Mike promptly worked on the tractor, while Jean and Leigh worked on gardens and the drainage design of the water run off of the one borehole. Nancy worked on bio-sand water filters. Of course I supervised....or at least took lots of direction from Suzan! Dave and Terry and Charles came up later to add more help with the fish pond test pits, tractor etc. Brenda will be happy to know the ladies exhausted her supply of magazine papers and beads and a lot of necklaces were made! We had another market! My tub is full of stuff to sell! I found John....the child with hydrocephalus...we treated with the team in 2006. He was laying on the ground...no bed to rest his heavy head and with wounds on his head also, but was surprisingly well, and happy even though crippled, unable to sit or hold his head up.
His smile was so huge and he spoke in english.." Hi, How are you? I am fine" After going back and bringing him a mattress and sheets I asked him what color he wanted, He said, "yellow". However, I only had green or blue so he quickly chose blue. Amazing, how grateful he was to have something soft to lay on compared to the hard dirt ground...never once complaining. I pray for rest and comfort for him. He had a crippled 3 year old sister also. So hard for the Mom, yet she loves them and takes great care of them! She even took care of Christine, (our ICU patient )night and day while she was critical. Pray for them!

The other Billings ites left for america and Terry, myself, Suzan and Jackson and Charles ventured north to Kalongo, Sr. Mary Rose's home district and family village. This was Terry's first time experiencing travel through the LRA war torn areas....and a bumpy ride it was! We had a good car however and it was actually the best ride I have ever had through the remote country and camps! Once arriving Kalongo, we found an oasis at the foot of a mountain. It was so beautiful and so hard to imagine the devastation fallen these wonderful people and church mission hospital from the war. The sisters were amazing and Sr. Francisia (mother) took great care of us! The italians are that founded the mission hospital are pulling out their support as the "emergency is over". So they are in great need or the hospital will fold. The archbishop even visited while we were there...so we hope and pray for help for them. Small needs include help with sewing machines for the vocational students; milk for the children born from mothers with HIV/AIDS (many as men have raped and infected many women...so sad and terrible...another type of atrocity aimed at these acholi people), food for TB patients, fuel to run the oxygen for children with pnuemonia. Larger needs include new xray machines, echo and ultrasound. Doctors to teach the midwifery school, doctors to consult and work as there is no money left for wages. We stayed in a very guest house, the infrastructure of the hospital and premises were amazingly good since a Dr. Ambrosolini form Italy founded it 50 years ago. It is very very good for all of Uganda, however, even if they raise the fee to be seen from 200 shillings (20 cents) to 500 shillings (50 cents) the people cannot afford it. Pray for funding and a solution!

We also visited the village where Sr. Mary Rose is from..Wipolo...her brother still resides with his family in the camp. We saw their land where a church is built over a valley. It is so beautiful! They were so happy to hear of the oxen and plow and seeds coming to begin their ablility to farm their land once again and sustain themselves, giving self independence and self esteem and sustainability. We saw the lines waiting for World Food Programme handouts...which has been threatened to go away soon anyway, now that the emergency is over. The mother sister believes the LRA are still waiting and watching for an opportunity to come back. She relays, " Everyone, everyone has been traumatized....everyone has a story to tell".
We were served a feast in the middle of the day these people could not even afford....amazing respect, generosity and sacrifice.

From there, Terry and Charles went back to Kayunga to put the kids back in school. I went on to Kitgum to check on the Hope2OneLife health projects, visit Nancy and Bosco's family in the Awal IDP camp etc. More on this later! If the internet works. Not even sure this post will take...I hope so as it has been long in writing.

Love to all and thanks for the prayers, it is keeping me safe! Only had a few breakdowns with car batteries and tires in the middle of the bush! Luckily I had a lot of bubbles and vitamins (sweeties) so as to entertain the camp children...or better yet myself while in the heat awaiting the repairs!!

God Bless you,

Nadine (Abey...my new name)
Posted by Uganda Mission 2010 at 3:33 AM 0 comments
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Sabbath Sunday
Back from the farm and onto Kayunga with the children sponsored by Billings families via AIDspirit, partners in Uganda with Kenny's brothers organization Tender Mercies outreach ministries....we were greeted by 10 children singing sad songs of loss and no parents who care...and there was not a dry eye! Bio-sand training, village teaching ensued and we hope for the deep water well to be drilled Monday, more village training on healing with clean water, bio-sand filters, village clinic, sickle cell clinics etc...all is sooo good and today was a day of rest and fun in Jinja!

Here goes from the team...

Hello once again. This is Brenda.Cant describe the experience in Africa. Will start work again in early am doing village teaching and clinics tomorrow afternoon. Will post more later.

Hello, this is Tom and Jean from AIDSpirit Montana and to say we are having a wonderful time is a mild understatement! We arrived in Kayunga onm Wed and we were greeted by several smiling faces of the wonderful children many of you sponsor. I took little time for Jean and I to choose our child, Rachel and make her ours. Se was rescued from a very hostile environment and she is now safe at Terder Mercies. Today Jean and I went shopping for her and tomorrow we will take her to the clinic for a check-up. Please keep praying for us as we do the work that we came here to do on your behalf.
Tom and Jean Jacques

Dave here...can't believe I leave in 3 days! The experience has been incredible...from Richard and Susan and the kids on the farm, the Oregon nurse team, the Billings team, and especially the People in Africa that I have met and am working with ! I love this place and need to figure out how to get back here....
Had a down day in Jinja .. paddled on the Nile River for a half day ...ran class 5 rapids - one flip but what a great trip!
Walked around Jinja this afternoon and shopped (as much as I could shop!). Heading back to Kayunga early tomorrow to oversee the borehole....hopefully everything goes as planned...
That is all for now...Peace
Dave
Posted by Uganda Mission 2010 at 10:21 AM 0 comments
Friday, January 16, 2009
Back from the Farm
Hi! We have had a fabulous week on the family empowerment farm in rakayata village near Masindi. All went amazingly well and we have been very blessed! Thanks for the prayers! They sure have carried us and those we have met along the way. Next stop is seeing crippled Roger and then on our way to Kayunga to meet up with Kenny's brother Prichard and the second montana team from AIDSpirit. The internet is terrible so will write again when possible..

Here are a few posts from the team....

\hello every one...what a great experience....the people the country Richard and Susan are terriffic \hosts....they have taken care of all of us...\nadine is a great organizer...\love to all Carol ie jaja..

Greetings from the Oregon group!--

Words cannot grasp the incredible experience we have had in Masindi at Canaan Farm. Beyond all the troubles and strife the families have faced, they are amazingly warm, happy and beautiful people. We are all honored to have met such strong and inspiring folk.

We are also thankful for having this experience to build our nursing foundation on. The Montana group has been wonderful teachers and letting us participate in health care. It is so fortunate that we all clicked so well and were able to work well together. Although we are parting ways (Oregon is off to Fort Portal to work with orphaned children), this is certainly not the last time we will be together...

Hello all this is Brenda. Time is flying by here. You know how they say time fly's when u r having fun. We have been doing LOTS of very rewarding work. But also have been having an experience of a lifetime. We have prepared and planted gardens and completed them with drip irrigations, have built biosand filters and treated many sick people. We have left the farm today and are now starting second phase of mission. Have so many stories to share but will stay brief for now.

Leigh here.... emailing from Africa seems to be a big challenge, so I will say a quick hello to everybody. Uganda is an amazing country filled with beautiful countryside and beautiful people. I can't wait to share all our pictures when we can!! I hope all is happy and healthy at home, and I have to say I am not missing the cold weather. Hugs to all.

More from the rest later....will post this before the power goes down!

Love to all, \nadine
Posted by Uganda Mission 2010 at 6:00 AM 0 comments
Thursday, January 8, 2009
Hallelujah! We made it to Uganda!
We met up with the 5 graduate nursing students from Oregon, joining us on the first leg of the trip to the Family Empowerment Farm....Graham, Beth, Maura, Rebecca, Rachel.
All of us, the tubs etc made it in one piece amd customs was a breeze. We stayed in Entebbe overnight and are now in Kampala doing the money change, some shopping etc.
This internet is soooo slow so will keep it short.

Next step is on to Masindi in our own hired bus and all the stuff!

All are feeling very well and happy to be here!

Nadine