Thursday, July 13, 2006

Our Ugandan librarian, Sarah




Friends, I thought you might enjoy this picture of our Ugandan librarian, Sarah, having her first storytime with kindergarten children.
:)

Saturday, July 08, 2006

Travel ... Maasai ... home!


Friends,
I have quite a lot to write again as it has been so long since I posted a travelogue. If I were you, I would run it off, pretend it was a book, and read it before you go to sleep. :)

I flew from Nairobi on Wednesday. It is a 17 hour trip; however, I sat on three airplanes that weren't moving for an extra 3 1/2 hours. With the lack of sleep, yesterday everything struck me as funny. Today I ran a few errands. I went into Sam's to have film developed. I looked at the huge TVs, computers, etc. Then I sat in the car and looked at film of children who don't have shoes or enough food - and cried! I do want to go ahead and write the news of the last several days I spent in Uganda and Kenya. I will be writing from my journal.

The Kenyan border town is a 'happening' all by itself! It is swarming with trucks, cars, people, buses, bicycles, vendors pushing carts, cows, goats, dirt - more dirt, wooden slat wheelbarrows, and yellow water jugs.

My first job when crossing the border was to check in at the immigration office to obtain that 'must have' visa for a donation of $30. The man sitting behind the barred window wanted to know when I would leave Kenya. I replied that I would catch an airplane on the 5th of July. A mischievous look came across his face, and he told me I had better not be in Kenya on the 6th or the police would come to arrest me and put me in jail. I laughed and told him I hoped they did. In fact, I hoped they would beat me and put me in chains also, as it would make good stories for my grandchildren. :)

His face broke into a huge smile, and he started laughing. He then charged me only $20, and when I checked my visa it was for three months.

Wilberforce and I had to wait about two hours at the bus stop. It does have a porch with a roof and benches. Now, it wouldn't be a newsletter (at least one from me) without a toilet story! I knew I would be getting on the bus for approximately a seven hour ride; therefore, I decided I had better find a toilet. I asked the nice man at the bus depot where I should go. He replied there was a toilet in back of the station. I trekked around following a stream that look suspiciously like toilet water/waste. As I arrived in the back, some people cooking with charcoal burners asked for a $1.00 to go to the toilet. I didn't have any Kenyan schillings, so I started unbuckling my trousers and told them I was going to use it there where they were cooking. Their startled look was worth a million. They were quite happy for me to proceed to the toilets for free.

There they stood in front of me: door one, door two, and door three all in a row. The dark green toilet doors all were secured with locks! As I started to leave to obtain a key, a man came rushing past me holding the 'prize' key in his hand. I reached for it but he kept heading for the door! "Five minutes," he said, rubbing his stomach. Ten minutes later he finally made his way out the door. I again reached for the key, but he shook his head and pointed to the door he had left open. You guessed it! The man had a severe case of the big 'D'! Due to a lack of toilet paper, he had used massive amounts of newspaper to clean himself in the tiny room.

Door number three was definitely not the 'lucky' door! Oh my! I rolled up my pant legs, went in, looked at the squat pot (which wasn't a flush toilet) and tried to have an out-of-body experience, imagining I was at home in my bathroom. It doesn't really work, but at times like this, you have to try. :):) Lindy, Donita, and I did once use an almost comparable toilet at the Polish border, but this might be the grand prize winner! I just hate I didn't have anyone with which to share this delightful experience. :)

The bus finally came, and the man at the depot yelled that it was our bus. Truly, the bus didn't stop, and Wilber and I had to circle to the other side, run beside it and make a flying leap! Then the crazy man stopped a couple minutes later and made everyone get off. We had to form a women's and men's line so he could check out tickets! Very strange!

As we traveled, I read in the Ugandan newspaper that 6,000 babies are born each year with HIV, which probably means many, many more, as those in the villages probably wouldn't be counted. Another news item: 90% of girls going for water down rural roads near villages are raped in Uganda. Too hard to think about ... .

While we were riding, I was relaying the news of my bus ride from Jinja to Mbale to Wilberforce. He was amazed. He said God had to be truly protecting me. It seems it is safer to catch a bus from the road in Kampala or Mbale than at Jinja. Wilber said that many times when they yell the name of a town like Mbale, it simply means they are traveling that direction. They then veer off into small villages, and at times you even have to vacate the bus and find a different transport. He said at times women have even disappeared off the bus. I told him the speed the bus had been going in km, which he said was between 75 and 80 mph. Dirt and partially tarmac roads teeming with every type of vehicle and life are definitely not intended for such use! So, once again God (and my overworked angels) kept me safe! In Nairobi, I was told that if van drivers are fortunate enough to have a Muzungu as a passenger, they put him/her in the front seat as their chances are much better at not being stopped at police checks.

Our bus to Kenya was a larger bus, though not Greyhound size. Kenya has high hills. We would go up the hills and then turn into a roller coaster coming down without using brakes! We passed one huge truck lying on its side. People were emptying its cargo and placing it in a different truck. Just a few minutes later, to our horror, the 18-wheeler in front of us lost control on a hill and plunged cab down over the side. Smoke bellowed upward. Somehow it stopped before going all the way to the bottom, perhaps because of trees, I could only pray that somehow the driver survived.

Kenyan countryside is lush and green. One spots many circular thatch-roofed huts along the sides. There are many donkeys pulling wooden carts. On the carts are various items, but one item which one sees often is big, blue, barrels that contain water. The person 'driving' sits on top of the barrel and controls the donkeys.

At times, we were driving over what would seem more like a dry, rock creek bed! I wasn't sure what qualified it to be a road! Twice we stopped and women swarmed on the bus with cabbages, carrots, etc. trying to sell their produce. This was a first for me. Usually people swarm the outside of the bus.

We arrived in Nairobi after dark. A Massai pastor, Peter, his driver, and a funny, skinny little man, Isaiah Kool, met us at the bus station. We then headed for Maasai land, which is approximately an hour or longer trip. As we journeyed in the pitch black, our car lights shone on a huge sign that said: 'Steep escarpment' - with an arrow pointing downward. We passed three or four trucks that were barely traveling, hitting their brakes constantly as they started down from the high hill. We passed them and started down. It was so dark it seemed we were in a tunnel with no light.

All of a sudden - our car lights went out and the car died! I admit - this happening was about one to many for me! I knew if the truck behind us arrived quickly, we would be pushed over the side. I debated whether it was better to jump out and head for the side of the road away from the edge or stay in the car and take my chances. I decided to get out. The Maasai men hopped out, threw up the hood, and started tightening things by flashlight. Soon, we had lights and our journey continued before the first truck arrived Whew!

We eventually left the road turning onto a dirt path/road that runs through bush country. We drove for miles, miles, and more miles in the dark. I finally joked to Wilber that perhaps they were really taking us out in the middle of the bush to sacrifice us. I was thinking there was no chance of showers or toilets!

I should stop and provide information about Peter, as well as the Maasai. You can tell Maasais because of the holes in their ears. Most have low hanging ear lobes with big holes or decorations. Also, when they are about seven or eight, two teeth are extracted in front. Since they don't have hospitals available, the 'holes' serve as places people can be fed when they are sick.

Peter is a true Massai warrior. After young men become of age, they are circumcised and sent to live in caves as warriors for four years. There they steal cattle, sometimes eat raw meat, drink milk and blood mixed, and each tries to kill a lion, which the pastor did with a spear. Peter has never been to school, even though he is self-educated, speaking and reading three languages! Even now only about 1/4 - 1/2 of Maasai children go to school.

Sometime after becoming a warrior, an evangelist came and Peter heard the gospel. Eventually when he became a Christian, he returned to the cave. There he spent 21 days with only water, praying and committing his life to Christ. He is quite a guy! He and Mary are probably in their mid-thirties and have two young children.

After the endless miles, we hit paved road again and arrived at a gated community called Pipeline! It seems a Kenyan pipeline company has a base in the middle of Maasai land. Those who work for them are allowed to rent a 'townhouse,' with the company paying their utility bills, as it is considered a hardship assignment. Because Peter and Mary pastor a church within the compound, they also have a small townhouse for their use.

Wilber and I were given rooms in different townhouses that were rented by people who attend Peter's church. It was hard to believe, but the homes had hot water, electricity, and regular toilets! Amazing! Not only that, the company provides a 'dish' so they have television reception in the bush! Our first night we watched gospel music at the White House with George and Laura Bush! Who would think?!

Once out of the compound, one sees a totally opposite side of life. On Saturday, July 1st, we traveled back through the bush to Namuncha Primary School, which is located - as we would say - in the middle of nowhere. It is a long rectangular building built of old lumber and tin with just openings for doors and windows. Peter had arranged a two-day ministry seminar in which he would preach first, followed by more singing. Wilber would then be the guest speaker.

Quickly after we arrived, Peter was off walking into the countryside letting people know we were ready to start the meeting. Soon they started entering the room with their bright wraps, huge beaded necklaces, and bead work through the holes in their ears. Most of the men had long hanging earlobes with huge holes; however, some of the men fold their ears. Soon the room became crowded as people arrived.

The service: Oh how I wish I could share the sight and the sounds through the computer. The people sang loudly in their Maasai language with one leading and the others repeating the phrase. The beautiful sound seemed to bounce off the walls and vibrate skyward! I just wanted to absorb it, absorb it, absorb it into my mind and heart so I could recapture it over time.

They not only sang worship songs, they danced. At one time, it looked like a Texas line dance. Soon everyone in the room was dancing and praising God, many with their hands lifted. What an amazing sight - Maasai men and women in their traditional garments and beadwork dancing before Him. Wow! Wow! Wow!

Next, Pastor Peter preached in Maasai language while a young man translated into Swahili. However, the fact that I could not understand either did not matter at all! Peter reminded me of the stories of the old-time preachers who preached the 'fire down from heaven'! He bent over, squatted down, stretched upward, threw his arms in every direction, kicked up his legs, shook, and shimmied! I can't even begin to properly describe his body which became a part of his sermon! He was quiet, loud, funny, and serious! I sat in awe at the power that came from God through this Maasai young man!

Later, we had more wonderful singing, and then Wilberforce preached. For those who haven't heard Wilber preach, you have missed something! He is an absolutely outstanding minister! Every time I hear him, my heart is touched and I gain a new understanding of scripture. That day, even for a person who doesn't sit still well, it was such a pleasure to once again hear Wilber, and also listen as Peter shared.

By the end of the service, I didn't just think I had been to church - I KNEW I had been to church! What an experience!

Early Sunday morning as we had breakfast with Peter and Mary, a Billy Graham crusade, when he was much younger, was playing. George Beverly Shea was singing a truly old song, 'I'd Rather Have Jesus (than anything).' My father, Jim Harris, died at age 30, but I remember hearing him singing that song. The last time I heard it was at the opening of Namirembe Laurel Library in Kampala where it was blaring over the speakers as we made our way to cut the ribbon. How awesome! After all these years of not hearing the song, I have now heard it in Uganda and Kenya!

We drove back through bush country to the site of the school once more. As we arrived and looked out over the bush, we couldn't see any homes. The Maasai homes of cow dung, mud, and water, are built so low that they can not be easily spotted.

There were many people already gathered under a tree. The crowd was so large it would not fit in any of the rooms in the school, so we had church outside. Some people sat on benches that had been taken from classrooms; others sat on the ground. A person began playing a drum in the service. The drum looked like a tambourine, with the lady using a stick on one side and her hand on the opposite.

Soon everyone was standing and singing. The majority of the group moved to the center, and the dancing began. They danced in unison out into the bush one direction, turned, and as a group returned to the center, and then off into the bush a different direction, singing as they went! Many of the Maasai men, including the pastor, were moving their necks/heads downward, backward, and forward, as is unique to the Maasi people, with some doing throat-singing as they sang and danced. All of the men had long sticks (in case they ran into animals in the bush) and some had huge knives. Lines of people continued appearing from various directions.

A children's choir of eight moved to the center to sing and dance. We had met one of the young girls previous to the service. She had on a headband designating that she would soon be married. Recently she had been circumcised and her parents had assigned her a husband. She knew the home in which she would live, but didn't know who her husband would be, or whether he would be old or young. The girl was very shy and couldn't have been over 13.

The children have tattered clothing and dirt covering them from their head to their feet. It is the first time I have seen African children with flies crawling in their eyes and noses, in which they didn't try to swat them away.

The service lasted until 4:00 in the afternoon! We heard three small choirs, which was wonderful. The 'kukooyus' (written as it sounds) own land next to the Maasai. Both tribes attended the service, each having people sing. I will always treasure each minute of the day - so inspiring!

Monday we went to visit schools. We visited Najile Primary and Najile Secondary School, plus Ewauso Kedong Primary. The buildings were made of stone. The primary schools had 300 and 700 students. The secondary had 260 students. The classes have an average of 50 students per class. The government provides teachers, but not enough, so they charge parents for extra teachers. School has been free since 2003, but the students are expected to provide paper, uniforms, etc. The ages in a class can range from 8 to ? :), as Maasai in the past haven't attended school, and now some are starting to attend. Isaiah said he only attended elementary school. He started for school in the dark and walked for a couple hours each morning through the bush.

The administrators would very much like to have libraries in the ten Maasi schools. Now that's a unique concept, isn't it? A people who just recently began the process of schooling their children - being provided thousands of books to speed the process! Think on that! :)

There is a small town, Ewauso, in the heart of Maasai land. People arrive there once a week on foot, piled into huge trucks, and driving cows and goats, etc. It is market day in Ewauso! People spread out blankets on the ground and the place comes alive with the many items being sold. We were fortunate to visit Ewauso on the right day and enjoyed the sight of the Maasai selling items around town.


Wilber and I traveled on to Nairobi and stayed at a pastor's home that he preached in last year. He spoke Tuesday night at a prayer service at the church. I tried to fade into the woodwork as I had on a filthy pair of jeans and not one clean piece of clothing to wear. Unfortunately, the assistant pastor thought he was being nice and called me to the front to greet those in the service!

There probably aren't words to sum up the trip. Each time I go I wonder if my life will be touched and changed again. Each trip - it is! How could it not be?

For next summer, we are discussing five projects, which we will share more about later. If you would like some adventure in your life, as well as the most rewarding experience ever, consider joining us!

If we decide to tackle five projects, we will need several volunteers. We will be staying with the missionaries in Kampala most of the time, so you will have clean, modern facilities. You will be with the group and transportation will be provided by the Herb and Ellen, our missionary friends. If anyone feels really brave, you could even stay on longer and keep me company! Of course, my daughter Kim would once again say, "Mom, you're crazy! You tell them the things that happen to you when you are there alone and then ask them if they want to travel with you!" Funny!

We are looking at ways to spend the time we have free such as fishing in the Nile once again, spending a night at chimp island so we can actually play with the baby chimps, perhaps taking a trek to see the mountain gorillas, a game drive through Murchison Falls Park, missions work, and/ or ... ? I must tell you though, it is the children that will make every minute of your trip worthwhile! Once you see their eyes and smiles, you will be so grateful that you decided to make the journey!

Once again, thanks for taking time to read these long journal notes. Because I wrote the notes in the present, tried to type them in past tense, was always in a scrunch for electricity, and had to pay by the minute, I'm sure at times it was difficult to follow.

To God be the Glory: amirembe, namirembe, ameana. Until next year ... .

- Trudy

Thursday, June 29, 2006

Time to move on


Friends and Family,
I just told all the children and staff at the school goodbye and caught a bicycle taxi to this Internet cafe. It was very difficult to say goodbye when every class greets you with huge grins and a loud welcome! The headmistress held a farewell dinner and gave me the gizzard of a chicken, as that is supposed to be for the honored guest that is leaving. Ugh!

I have about 50 minutes of power so I must write fast. The library is a smashing success. The children are still in awe and their eyes dance as they walk in and look at the books. Last week, I trained all 3,225 children in the lay-out of the library and procedures for check-out. This week, I started meeting with classes again. I met with 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classes and the students checked out for the first time in their lives! Amazing. They were wonderful about choosing books they really liked. I was impressed. The library is constantly busy with teachers checking out books, also. Or, if there is time between classes, there are always teachers sitting around on the floor reading books. As I said before, what we wanted to happen - has happened!

We have learned quite a lot this year. Last year, one person staying and training 850 students wasn't too bad. However, one person training 3,225 students and staff was a bit of overload. Since my group left and I returned to Mbale, I have worked six days a week, 12 hours a day. It has been a tremendous task trying to fit in the library with computer training, also! Next year, we will plan differently, so that we at least have the computer training finished and some of the student training, also, before the group leaves. But it has been a fantastic journey and I am so thankful to have been a part of these precious children's life. Thank you for your part in enriching not only their lives now, but in the future, also.

Things have been a bit crazy at Okumus'. Wilber's brother died in another town. The family was responsible for traveling to Mbale to a blood bank to bring blood for the brother. By the time they had money for travel and reached Mbale, he died.

Coming back from Rwanda three days ago, Wilber was passing a van. A bicycle with two people lost control and the people landed in Wilber's windshield. They were taken to the hospital in critical condition. Wilber was detained by the police for some time, but eventually allowed to leave after posting bail.

Sarah Okumu went this morning for some surgery. She was in the 'nicer' part of the hospital. The small corridor had dirty walls and was very dark. Her room (in a ward) was set apart by large torn curtains. The room had not been swept; there were still the remains of the last persons lunch everywhere, and her sheets had not be cleaned. The walls were filthy dirty as was the ceiling. She was to have surgery at 8:00. At 1:00, they informed us because we didn't have electricity today, they could not sterilize the tools for surgery, and the doctor said he didn't think they should go ahead. He had already sent Wilber to the pharmacy, as you have to provide gloves for the doctor and his helpers. The problem was he needed size 71/2 gloves, which took Wilber forever to find. You also have to supply your own syringes. Oh, my! That is the Okumu news from my home away from home!

Mercy Okumu, their six-year-old daughter, is adorable. The other day I came home around 6:30 just exhausted thinking crazy thoughts like I wasn't sure I could teach 1,000 kids the next day. :) Mercy met me at the gate and said, 'Welcome, Auntie.'
She then followed me in the house to sit down. She put her arms around me, gave me a backscratch, then kissed me on both cheeks and said, 'I love you, Auntie!" From there, I retired to the bedroom, had a good cry, and spent time in prayer and Bible study. The first verse I opened to in the Bible was 2nd Timothy 1:24 - And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle to all men (children and women :), apt to teach, patient!

After a chaotic day, I needed that reminder! By the next morning, I was ready to go once again!

My life has taken on a normal Ugandan procedure. I try to sleep through the 5:00 wake-up call from the Islamic University for prayers. Next the roosters start in fairly early. Later, Sarah is up, with a big rag mop, bending over mopping the floors with the rag in her hands. This is the only way I have seen things mopped here.

Then my day varies according to whether we have electricity. The days we don't, I wash out my clothes in the tub and hang them on the line. The next day when it comes on at 6:00 in the evening, I iron the clothes. I wash my hair on alternate days so I can use the hairdryer when we have power. Though we should have electricity on alternate days, even on our good days, it goes off about three times in the afternoon anywhere from 1/2 hour - one hour. You just never know. Keeping things refrigerated is definitely a problem. Would you believe they actually don't refrigerate eggs or butter?! Milk can be boiled on a charcoal burner to make it last longer. Actually, the scent and light of the kerosene lanterns is rather relaxing after a long day. I can now even take cold showers without gasping!

Mercy and I leave for her school at 7:30. I drop her off and keep walking down the dirt road. There is a bicycle taxi driver, (slightly 'slow' young man) who thinks it is funny I want exercise, so he joins me in the mornings for a short walk with his bike. Then at the next corner, on some days, there are two secondary school guys that like to walk with me to ask me questions about America. Last, I stop in at the local kiosk/store by the school to say hello and grab fresh rolls for home when he has them. I have forgotten to bring pop bottles back three days in a row, so he always waves and yells, "Tomorrow?" I reply, "Tomorrow!" :)

The sights on the roads to school are many. There are chickens everywhere, goats at times, women carrying their babies on their back and items on their heads, children darting out in the road from filthy cement homes, with no doors - just dark openings, carrying large water carriers which they will take to the local well to get water for their homes before going to school, many school children in uniforms - many uniforms totally full of holes and dirty, children with old shoes or barefoot, etc.

The school is built like a compound in a retangular shape. All the classrooms have windows. The proper way to learn is to yell your lessons as you repeat them back to the teacher. When you have several classes with over 100 students each yelling lessons around the compound, one feels like he/she must be at a UT football game! Often, one or two of the classes will be singing songs as well! The teachers' desks are located directly outside of their classrooms. They assign lessons and sit outside! The children attend school from 8:00 until 5 or 6:00. Only the youngest ones get to go home earlier. When they arrive in the morning, everyone participates in cleaning the compound. The boys cut the grass with machetes; girls and boys use stick brooms to sweep the cement rooms, as well as the dirt around the outside of the classrooms; floors are mopped; and trash is picked (as they say).

So is life in Mbale, Uganda! Each day as I have devotions, I am so grateful that I have had the honor to spend a part of my life in this wonderful country, with these wonderful people, who so much appreciate all that everyone from America has done in making their lives brighter!

Tomorrow morning at 8:00, Wilberforce and I will catch a bus at the Kenyan border. We will then be with the Masai Tribe where he will be preaching for a few days. I believe I catch an airplane next Wednesday, with a day stopover in Washington, DC, to visit my Ugandan 'grandkids' and their parents.

Take care. I will write a wrap-up letter when I return if not sooner. Be sure and check the website for pictures of the library: www.librariesoflove.org

Love and best wishes,
Trudy

Saturday, June 24, 2006

Time to catch up!


Having free time, electricity, and Internet access is for me like winning the American lottery while in Uganda! I woke up at 5:00 in the morning, as though it was Christmas, wishing the time would arrive to walk to town. On the way I was afraid the place would be shut or there would be no power! I have quite a lot to write - everything from teaching over 1,100 kids a day to the ride from Hell. You might want to read it in two settings, however.

Beside the lack of electricity, we have not had water for two days. We had someone bring some and it is in a large barrel by the bathroom. Using lanterns is one thing, but really - we need water!

After the team left last Friday, I spent two days with my friend, Margaret, a Ugandan nurse, and a friend of hers. Sheila's husband is an "ambassador" from Uganda to Italy, so they have a nice home. Also, Sheila has a car! I took time to go see Richard and Tabitha's families (they are Ugandan friends in America), took care of some things at Namirembe School, and visited the secondary school into which Namirembe feeds. That sounds simple, but it is not. Due to the roads and traffic, things that should take an hour, turn into half a day of frustration. Those four visits took the entire day. Sunday was interesting. Sheila is Muslim and Margaret is Anglican. They decided they would take me to a large church near Sheila's home. It turned out to be KPC, Kampala Pentecostal Church. It probably has a membership of 15,000. It was like being in the Bass Concert Hall with an amazing choir performing. The choir had red, gold, and black, dresses and shirts! Fantastic music!

Monday, I caught a ride with a man from Canaan Orphanage near Jinja. The pastor who runs the orphanage has an amazing story. He and six pastors were rounded up in the middle of the night by Idi Amin's men. They were put in prison and told to renounce God. When they wouldn't, they were lined up and shot. When the bullet was fired at Pastor Isaac, he slumped and fell over. The bullet went through his arm. The bodies were thrown in a huge pit full of other dead bodies. After the soldiers left, Isaac climbed out and was tended to by two "cowboys." This is the short version of the story ... more later.

My stay at the orphanage was wonderful. I had a room to myself and finally had time to have some quiet time and recoup from our whirlwind schedule. That evening a group arrived from a Baptist church in Fayetteville, North Carolina. There were four women and two men. The women moved in my dorm, and it was comparable to being at a ladies retreat. We totally enjoyed each others company and stayed up late visiting. During the next two days, we had plenty of time to play with the kids, which was wonderful. The group's leader was a wonderful man that has organized contributions over a seven year period for Canaan. The day I was leaving, I shared with the group the beginning of Libraries of Love, and Pastor Isaac shared his story. We were all in tears and it was a special time.

It was time to move on to Mbale, so I needed to find a means to travel. In Kampala. I take public transport vans which are white window vans, which are stuffed with people, and not really safe to ride. However, it is not how one would want to take a long trip. Jinja to Mbale is approximately 2 and 1/2 hours if all goes well. The roads fluctuate between horrible to not bad. I told the pastor I would like to take a costa, which is a larger bus. He, however, had a van of five people waiting on him to go shopping. Since he knew I had traveled before (at least I am rationalizing that is the reason), instead of taking me to the city park where I could have caught a larger bus, he dropped me beside the road. He then looked uncomfortable not knowing whether to stay until a bus came or leave with the others. I told him to go. He said he would check on me in 30 minutes, but by African time that could be three hours! So, yes I was left by the road once again - hard to believe, isn't it? :) At least there were about seven people and I wasn't totally alone!

Before long, a public transport van arrived, the caller threw open the sliding door, and yelled, "Mbale." I had a choice to go or wait until ...? I stepped forward, looked inside the van, and knew there was no room! Usually, I travel with one bag. The group had forgot a suitcase of puppets, so I had my bag, a bag of clothes, small suitcase of puppets, and a bag with two big puppets. Believe me, this is not the way to travel here! However, they had seen me move forward, and soon I was being helped to the third row of four rows of seats. Picture the van: a long, wide strip of sheep hair across the dash, huge gold tassels from the mirror, and leopard fur wrapped around the rollbars over the windows. On the van it says: seating capacity 14.

The van was totally filled, with people standing in the doorway leaning over the others. I counted - 24 people, not including me! I counted again, still 24 people! Suffocation was definitely a possibility. My bags were stacked on my lap and my suitcase had been handed to somebody in the first row. I couldn't breathe or see anything except a sea of heads! We were soon flying down the road. I tried to keep my eyes closed as I was petrified at the way the guy was driving from one side to the other. Everytime we had a "pit" stop, we were swarmed by people trying to sell us food, etc.

After thirty minutes, the driver swerved to the side of the road and stopped. He yelled, "Muzungu (white person) - front seat!" Believe me, the only thing worse than being in the third row, is being in the front right next to the glass where you can really see what is happening! I thought about screaming and begging for mercy. Was he putting me in front so in case of a wreck, I would be sacrificed first,or to be nice? I was going for the first explanation!

My driver was a young, arrogant Muslim man. He seemed to know every driver on the road. It was a challenge for them to pass each other and it didn't matter if it was safe or not. At times, when we were supposed to be in the left lane, we made a lane two lanes to the right. We whizzed between huge trucks and other vans. It was like a cross between bumper cars and demolition derby - add in huge holes - and it definitely became the trip from hell!

I thought you might enjoy the progression of my prayers and thoughts as we flew along the road. I wish this were a joke - but it wasn't!

  • Dear God, please get me to Mbale safely.

  • (begging) Please, God, the children in Mbale still need me! Please!

  • Just don't let us hit any petro trucks - no fire!

  • Don't let me lose any limbs, please!

  • Please don't let any more goats or cows wander into the road. OK, it is a chicken, that's fine, we can just squash it!

  • Keep these rivers of beautiful children walking along the road safe from my maniac driver.

  • Lord, we shouldn't be passing on this hill and curve. Please take care of it!

  • (As we created a center lane between a truck and van) If I am going home, Lord, just make it fast! I wonder if they will put in one of those funky Ugandan caskets with the glass on each side and on top of the face.

  • I have got to take my mind off of this trip. I know, I will count the men urinating by the road. They say to avert the eyes, but I won't! I will count them like we count volkswagens in America!

  • Mbale - 50K. I may make it alive. When I get off the van, I am going to kiss the ground.

I'm safe. I then traveled with my many bags from the main road, down the dirt road, and "home"!

I journaled the above by lantern light. It was then time to put the mosquito netting down and thank God for his protection. Some of Paul's last words to me were, "Be safe! Don't do anything crazy." Really, I am trying, Paul!

June 21st: I woke up early so I could walk Mercy - Wilber and Sarah's six year old - to school. Then on to Namatala! I arrived at school to find they had dumped in the library the 6,000 extra paperback books that we were to give students and teachers. That was not going to work, as I needed to teach. I hurried and got the list of classes and the number of children in each class. Sorting began. Later, an American friend that is here for a few months, Jessica, arrived and took over the organization, so that I could begin teaching the students how to use the library.

Jessica returned several afternoons and was a HUGE help. She cut and taped all the identifying signs on each of the shelves to make it easier for book placement, and she helped with children as they came into the library to maintain order. She was a life-saver as we were showing children the information needed on cards to check out books, which was difficult with so many children doing so at once. All in all, Jessica was a Godsend and I appreciated her help so much!

The younger classes I taught in their classrooms, but the five older grades came to the library in groups of 60. The first day I taught three kindergarten classes (sizes: 135, 125, 111) Then, I met with first grade (249, 243) and three sixth grade classes in the library (103, 103, 120) for a total of 1,189 students. I then taught kindergarten, first- and second-grade teachers. By 6:00, I was exhausted. I walked to get Mercy and then home! The electricity came on at 7:00, but I was too tired to wash my hair and use a hairdryer. Hopefully, it will stay on tomorrow. I did wash my clothes (in a round, rubber tub). We have to hang them down the hall on the clothesline, as we aren't home during the day so they might be stolen.

The next morning, Mercy and I were off at 7:15 again. It was an emotional day, perhaps because I was still tired. I taught second-grade classes (170, 183, 173), third grade (171, 165, and 157). In the afternoon I met with fifth grade (144, 134) The electricity was on for about an hour so the teachers came in on my break and I taught computer skills. My days are running from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m.

A teacher had plants in her room as that was the unit they were studying. I went to the library and checked out books for her on plants. The word went around the school and teachers were scouring the shelves for their subject area. By the end of the day, we had many books checked out by teachers. The teachers even came in at the end of the day and the floor was full of teachers reading books. Awesome sight!

The third day, I met with fourth-grade classes - a total of 497 students, so it was a light day. :) The rest of the day was spent teaching the teachers of the older grades. The teachers have asked me to come back today (Saturday) as the electricity is on until 7:00. They want to learn how to use the computers.

I would be less than honest, if I didn't saying it has been overwhelming meeting with one class after another. But, when you receive their wild cheering, hand claps, and watch their eyes dancing as they look at the 8,500 books in their library, it is worth every bit of effort!

Starting Monday, we will begin the schedule for students to actually have library time and check out books. I will work with the libarian for two or three days until she is comfortable with her job.

Keep me in your prayers that I will get everything accomplished before I leave for Kenya next Thursday.

Love and best wishes sent your way. Enjoy your hot water, regular toilets, and electricity! :)

- Trudy

Friday, June 23, 2006

Wow! To God be the Glory!


Volunteer Julia Acord shares her impressions of the trip to Uganda

The library is done!

It was so exciting to be able to give such a gift to the children in Mbale. There are actually no words that capture the entire experience.

The sea of endless people,
  • the kids with big smiles on their faces on the side of the heavily traveled dirt roads saying "Muzungu" (white person),

  • the waves of homes intermingled from just a mud hut or shacks to a brick/concrete home with a wall topped with barb wire or broken glass around it,

  • 2 lane dirt roads that become 4 or 5 lanes in a blink of an eye,

  • the poverty of the people in the midst of such a beautifully rich land,

  • the adaptability of the people in the midst of many power sheds (no electricity), and I could go on and on.


  • The children at the schools so happy to see us, some of them wanting you to sponsor (help) them. It was very obvious the teachers were thrilled with us being there and wanting to know if they could help in any way. The hard thing is seeing all the children that have no parents, and even if they do, not seeing the parent/child interaction. (There are a some exceptions.)

    I have two children of my own. I can't even imagine never holding/hugging them, playing with them, really doing anything with them except telling them to go fetch 5-10 gallons of water a mile down the road barefoot, not to mention how my kids would feel on the receiving end of that.

    In the midst of all the above, it was awesome to be able to share Christ with them by way of interaction, song, puppet show, playing with them, talking with them as we built the library, etc. Watching their faces as they watched us through the windows as we put the library together.

    In contrast from a people who have nothing and still smile to Americans who have so much and are not content, I am so spoiled. The whole experience was quite exhilarating, fun, rewarding, tiring, sad, funny, and most definitely spirit filled.

    I know the depth of my experience has just begun to sink in, and I am most grateful for the opportunity.

    - Julia

    Thursday, June 22, 2006

    My thoughts


    By Donita Ortega

    The trip was amazing, exciting, adventurous, hilarious at times, overwhelming, breathtaking, emotional and mind boggling. Getting to see all of the animals, the view from the top peak at Lake Mburo, catching the Nile Perch, big and small, finally seeing the Namirembe Library and meeting all of the people I felt I already knew, was what was so amazing, breathtaking and very exciting. Going to the schools for next year, seeing the poverty, dealing with the electricity on and off was overwhelming and emotional and a little mind-boggling. Being able to laugh at the van in a cape buffalo wallowing hole, Paul frantically trying to stop his lure from getting away, and running home in the dark in the rain in Mbale gave us great laughs. The rain storm on Lake Victoria, getting stuck on the rock in the lake, having a hippo eat dinner a few feet from us, being charged by a cape buffalo, driving through several herds of long horned cattle, riding a boda boda bicycle taxi in Mbale, sideways, in a skirt, trying not to flash all of the people on the street was quite adventurous. Being a part of seeing the library transformed from a room full of desks, dirty walls and floors to a beautiful, functioning, modern library was overwhelmingly amazing. Click to see finished library.

    At the Canaan Orphanage, the presence of God was so incredible. You could tell that He was the one truly running and supplying the needs in that place. It was remarkable to me, when Paul pointed out that, we had wanted to do the library first, and then do all the fun stuff. We were really quite disappointed that it didn’t work out that way. Thanks goodness God is in control and His plans are always better than ours. If we had gone to Mbale first, we would not have gotten to do anything else. When we arrived in Mbale the second week, the men from Wilber’s church were outside sanding and staining the first set of wood. If we had had it our way, we would have been there with no wood! Again, God is so amazing!

    In our free time, we got to spend time with the children. They were so happy to have us there. Many would not go home until we left. Some of us had planned a couple of days of Children’s Church. We got to sing with them, showed a video, and did a puppet show. Many of the kids came walking in from the rain. So different from here in America, if it rains, it is a good excuse not to go to church. I spent lots of time at the school blowing bubbles for the kids and singing with them – the excitement of the children was so amazing, I couldn’t stop grinning from ear to ear.

    The last night we ate at the Diplomat Hotel. The eating areas here are on tall peaks overlooking all of Kampala. It was – WOW! With the entire city lit up at night and the sun setting behind it, it almost makes you forget about the poverty, the dirt roads, the people cooking on the side of the roads and the public transport vans, boda boda motorcycle taxis and the hordes of people walking along the side of the road all jockeying for space to get by to get home.

    The whole trip was marvelous. I was excited to get home to see my girls, but I can’t wait to get back and help bring more joy to the wonderful children of Uganda.

    Our fishing trip was so much fun!


    Lake Victoria Fishing
    (Item submitted by Donita about the volunteers' fishing trip on June 7)

    We started the morning by watching the sunrise over Lake Victoria, as we waited on our captain. The sunrise was amazingly beautiful. Out in the distance, in the stream of sunlight, was a long wooden fishing boat. The Ugandan fishermen were headed out for a long days work. They had no motors, just oars and nets. They had several trout lines set up throughout the lake.

    Here is some information about Lake Victoria. Lake Victoria is the second largest freshwater lake, the largest being Lake Superior. It borders three countries: Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. It is the source of the longest branch of the Nile River, the White Nile. What was most exciting to those of us going fishing was, it is also home to the Nile Perch. These are not like Texas Perch. The Nile Perch grows as large as 300 pounds – Let the adventure begin!

    Some people on our trip were a little too anxious to get started. As the Captain, Moses, was leaving the dock full throttle to get us out to where the fish were about 7:30 in the morning, Paul just couldn’t wait. He cast his line and we have the great story of The Lure That Almost Got Away. The lure that Paul and Robert were using is one that, the more you pull on it, the deeper it dives. As the boat is leaving the dock, full throttle, Paul casts his lure into the wake of the boat. You can image his panic when he can’t stop the reel from spinning and all his line being dragged out into the lake. He was trying to get it under control, but couldn’t. Then Robert, with no gloves, tries to help by bare handedly grabbing the line as it rips through his hands at top speed. Thank goodness the captain looked back and saw our dilemma and stopped the boat. By this time, all 150 feet or more of Paul’s line had been pulled out, and he was going to have to completely re-reel his line. Needless to say, Julia and I were laughing quite uncontrollably.

    After that excitement, we headed for the Ssese Islands. Around these islands are where the captain said was the best fishing. We got out and started fishing! Between the time we started and about noon we managed to catch 3 Nile Perch. Technically, Paul “caught” all three. Paul reeled in the first fish, weighing in at about 16 pounds. Then, while I was taking a quick picture and Paul was holding my pole for me, my pole caught a fish. I got to reel in about a 6-pound perch. Then, the big one! Again, Paul was holding the magic pole. He gave the pole to Robert to reel in the fish. This one was about a 40-pounder and was almost as tall as Robert. It was awesome! Shortly after this was some more excitement, by way of a rainstorm.

    Earlier in our fishing expedition, we looked out to our right and asked about the rain we saw in the distance. Moses, our captain, insisted it was just fog. Around noontime, the fog turned out to be a major rainstorm with thunder and lightning. Paul and Robert had originally stayed on deck and tried to fish, until they were drenched from head to toe, and Julia and I told them no more. We didn’t think it was a good idea to be holding a fishing pole in a lightning storm. We had to drop anchor and wait it out. What an experience. It was a great time to sit and think. I kept thinking of the story in the Bible where Christ was asleep in the bottom of the fishing boat and the storm came up on the disciples. All Christ had to say was “Be Still.” I think I had a slight sense of how incredible that must have been.

    After the rain stopped and the fishing continued, we headed for Ngamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary. On our way, when we were close enough to see the island, but still a good distance, the boat became lodged on rock. We were stuck! The captain must have missed the shallow water on his GPS system. I got nervous when Paul told me to put on a life jacket. I was not planning on swimming in water that could have families of crocodiles living in them. It didn’t take too long for the captain and his first mate, to get us unstuck – thank goodness. On to the Chimp Island. It was about 2:00 when we arrived. We ate lunch here, and then we got to watch the chimps get fed. They were very cool. One section is for the older chimpanzees. They would stand there with there hands out asking for more food. The next section had the younger chimps in it. Each section was fenced off where they are feed, but the rest of the island is free for there enjoyment. Here is a funny. There was only one baby chimp in the sanctuary. He was the only that has actually been born there. The chimps name is Surprise. This is because, all of the female chimps have contraceptive implants, one figured out how to take it out, and thus they had a Surprise. They seemed to be rather intelligent. After they ate, several just sprawled out in the hot sun to relax. They were incredible to watch. You can actually stay on the island, and then go into the jungle area and spend time with the chimps holding and playing with them. That may be our next adventure.

    After the island we headed back to the boat about 3:30 and fished until about 6:00. No more fish were caught, but the day had been so much fun and was just totally amazing. The next night we ate the fish. Talk about good taste. The Nile Perch has to be about the best tasting fish I’ve ever had.

    - Donita

    Friday, June 16, 2006

    Prayer one answered.
    Prayer two - just once again, please!


    June 16, 2006

    Greetings! The team has started their journey back to Texas. They have an overnight stay in London, so will not arrive back until Tuesday evening at 6:30. The time went extremely fast!

    Trying to get emails home has been a major problem. In Kampala, at Herb and Ellen's, the computers are so slow the majority of the time I give up before I get one sent. There is also the problem of sharing the computers with other teams that are here. In Mbale, one has to walk a few miles into town to the Internet café. We managed to do it once, but just couldn't make it back, as we were so busy. So, this has been unusual.

    I am still at Herb and Ellen's for today. We all love our time at their comfortable home with their great company! My friend, a Ugandan nurse, will "pick me," as they say, this evening. We will be off on public transport and real Uganda life. I am planning on returning to the Cook's home late Sunday. The pastor who runs Caanan Orphanage at Mukono, will be in town Monday. I will catch a ride with him to his orphanage and remain there at least a couple days. Then I will try to figure out how to travel on to Mbale, which is approx. a three hour trip.

    In Mbale, I will spend five days at Namatala Primary. The first three, I will be in the classrooms with lots of books, shelve markers, etc. teaching the students how to care for books and the arrangement of the library. I would love to have them come to the library but there are 3,225 children. The classes are huge. Three second grade teachers share 500 children. If I have all the classes come to the library for check-out in the first three days, then the librarian would have that many coming every two weeks. So, I will try to train them in the classroom. I will then take two days to meet with the younger grades in the library, which will begin the regular schedule for library time. Also, meetings are being set up with the teachers, as well as teachers in other schools. It seems a monumental task, so keep me in your prayers!

    Then I will be off to Kenya and a few days with a Masai Tribe. Later, I will be in Nairobi where Wilberforce will be preaching. The journey between Mbale and Nairobi is quite long, about 8 hours on a public bus, plus one has to get through the border.

    I am typing in Word on an extra computer, so I will save this and later try to hook up to the Internet and send. The problem being I have sent two emails, plus already saved one on Wilber's computer, which he forwarded, but I haven't managed to read again to check what I wrote. That is to say, I am not sure what you have read concerning the trip, and am not sure where to start!

    I will write some about Namatala Laurel Library and the grand opening, try to find a usable computer later, check over what I have sent, and then fill in the gaps. The team will also be sending their thoughts about the trip as soon as they settle in at home.


    Namatala Laurel LibraryThe library is indescribable. It is a large room with 8,500 books filling every bit of space on the bookshelves! The shelves wrap around three walls, with the computers across the fourth wall. We had a great time decorating the room with magnificent, huge, canvas wall hangings (posters) that say Reading is Magic, which have pictures of books and "fairy dust." These are purple, gold, and white. We placed colorful posters showing the various sections of the Dewey Decimal System, as well as cards identifying the sections of the library (easy, fiction, nonfiction, reference)

    Hanging at the windows are purple curtains, with matching heavy "plastic" on the floor, which comes in rolls. We were hoping to put in carpet pieces, but many of the children don't have shoes, so dirt being tracked in will be a big problem. With plastic, the flooring can be mopped. When you walk in, it is breathtaking. It is a modern "American" library, set down in the middle of a third world country! How amazing is that?! One of the speakers mentioned that this is the only library of its kind in all of Uganda, which means, of course, he doesn't know about Namirembe Laurel Library!

    The evening before the opening of the library, our team met in the library with all the Ugandans who had helped build shelves, cooked for us, and sorted books - for our own dedication. It was a special time as we reflected over the last several days. The grand opening was indeed grand! They had a large tent erected for the "honored" guests. They also put up a tent to shield the teachers and pupils as they managed to squeeze together in the shade. Several of our team stayed busy filming and shooting photos. I had the privilege of sitting between two of the men I most admire in Uganda - Wilberforce, and the Archbishop! We had several speakers, and the students did skits about the library, as well as singing songs. Some of the teachers decided to dance with the students, letting out "whoops"! My crazy son-in-law decided to join them and was doing a great job of shaking his bootie to the delight of the entire audience, including the children! It was truly funny!

    The highlight was when the Archbishop began speaking. He was in his robe with his official hat perched on his head. The minute he spoke, he was as I remembered at the Martyrs Day Celebration in 2001. Archbishops from all the neighboring countries had shared, but when Archbishop Nkoyoyo started speaking, the whole place came alive! I don't know how to describe it. He gets this mischievous look on his face, gravitates from being hilarious to serious, and totally holds the audience captive.

    He asked Wilber to translate as he spoke, so to watch the two of them together "performing" was a great treat - an awesome experience for all of us! The Archbishop asked the choir to return, and a couple times during his speech, he started singing and moving, joined by the choir. Once he interrupted his speech to tell some kids to quit standing on the window ledges. I must insert that the windows were all broken out, so they were holding on to bars. He told them he hoped they treat the library better than their school. Reflecting on his entire speech - it was moving, inspiring, and truly funny. Hopefully, we can share on our website.

    After the ceremony, they had a feast for all the honored guests. Funny note: the evening before they had dumped mounds of rice on an outside concrete floor (quite dirty, of course) at the school. They had many children on their hands and knees picking out the bad rice, so it could be cooked for the dinner. We tried not to think of that scene as we ate.

    The team noticed a big difference between the "poverty" level of students at Namirembe and Namatala. At Namirembe, students may have only one school uniform for the year and shabby, sometimes mismatched shoes, but most of the uniforms are still together. The student body at Namatala is much poorer. Many of the children didn't have shoes, and their uniforms were in shreds.

    The guys managed to get two basketball goals put up and three swings attached to the poles yesterday. You should have seen the kids' faces - total excitement!

    I think you will find the team that returns quite changed from when they arrived. Sometimes it takes time to process all that you have seen and experienced, but in the end - time here has a profound effect on one's life.

    There is probably more I should write, but as were the others, I am somewhat exhausted. We were busy every day from early morning to late night. As I sit and think about what all God accomplished through each one in our group, I am overwhelmed. Each person had his/her talents, which we combined with the talents of our Ugandan friends, and together we accomplished a God-size mission for over 3,000 precious children.

    What can be said but, "Wow, we did it! To God be the glory amirembe namireme a-meana!"

    Trudy

    Prayer: Please God help this go!!!!!!!


    Written June 12

    I can't even begin to describe my frustration right now. I have tried to get on the computer for two days and haven't been able to open Yahoo. I had Herb drop me at this Internet place today. I have now been 45 minutes trying to copy and paste this message I typed at Wilber's. The first of it is missing and the markings are weird. I'm sorry. I just can't fix it now. After I had started typing here, the power went off and I had to wait for them to start the generator. I will need to catch a boda motorcycle taxi home in rush hour! Yikes! Sorry to unleash my lack of patience!

    I am going to try to send this (and if the gas doesn't run out) and try to send an email I wrote this morning in Word at Herb's! Say a prayer! This computer must have been one of those first produced and the mouse is not working right! Help!

    Mbale:
    It has been raining and the dirt roads and paths are filled with ruts and
    mudholes. Last night, the group left in a rain and lightening storm from Wilber and Sarah's to walk to West Inn where they are staying. It isn't a long distance, just a few blocks, but seems farther when you are walking in the dark and on these paths. The group thought it was a ton of fun, however. If we want to grab a soda or food, it is not possible, as we would need to take time to walk to town, and we
    don't have the time. The school has been good about furnishing lunch, and we take our evening meal at Wilber and Sarah's. We work from early in the morning until it is dark, or if we have electricity (generator), until much later. But we are actually having a great time working and enjoying the company of our Ugandan friends working along with us.

    Now having told you only a few of the problems, I must say things are starting to come together. We do have the "Everybody" books already on shelves and
    the nonfiction section sorted. I wish I could import my assistant, Betty! Betty, where are you when I need you!? The school began painting and cleaning the
    room the same day we started working, so a lot is happening at once. The opening of the library is set for Wednesday, so today and tomorrow we are praying
    for electricity as there is still so much that needs to be done. The team has been outstanding.

    Mary Lou and Celeste are the queens of the non-fiction, spending hours sorting the books first by numbers and then by author! It is a huge job! Donita and Julia tackled the Everybody section and the guys are busy with shelves. We have had tremendous support here. When we arrived late one evening, five young men from
    Wilber's church were out in the moonlight sanding and staining 14 ft. planks of lumber, which were braced up against a fence. They did have generator going so had
    some extra light, even though it seemed really dark.

    Since the first day, we have constantly had the company of these young men as they have worked along with Paul and Robert. In fact, the joke is that Paul and Robert have to keep asking if they can do something to help! On Friday, the teachers at the
    school were off for Hero's Day. There was a huge group helping us sort books throughout the day.

    Ladies from Wilber's church have stayed at their home late at night to have food prepared for us, and then have been nice enough to stay and clean. Cooking here
    is not that simple, as they do it outside by moonlight on a charcoal burner. Just having food here is a problem, as with all the loadshedding, one has to buy
    food daily. Since the Okumu's don't have a car, I'm sure getting to town to buy our food has been a task! The ladies who cooked last night wanted to leave about 10:00, but they were on foot and it was raining. As I said, there are so many things we take for granted!

    Yesterday (Sunday) the team thoroughly enjoyed services at Pearl Haven, Wilber's church. The singing, dancing, and Wilber's sermon (with Sarah serving as translator) were a treat! There is nothing like African worship! The church is made of cane poles and lumber, with a dirt floor. But for us who
    attended, we would have preferred it to the Crystal Cathedral in the States! We stayed for the first service and the beginning of the second, also, to be
    introduced. Paul sang in both services, and then we excused ourselves and headed to the school to work.

    On Saturday and Sunday, several of us took an hour off and held services just for children. Sunday the kids came through the pouring rain, but we still had a huge
    crowd. We had lots of fun singing songs like, "If You're Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands!¨ We then showed a Veggie Tales movie, followed by a puppet
    show. Our biggest problem was trying to get the kids to go home (well, except for the load-shedding).

    Watching the kids clap, sing, and laugh, plus the team interact with them, is what it is all about! It doesn't get better than that!

    Trudy

    Tuesday, June 13, 2006

    Mbale Town


    First, I would like to apologize for the length of time since writing. We have not had a chance to use the Internet, as we have not been in Kampala. At present, I am in an 105-degree Internet place hoping the generator continues running.

    I will write things backwards from yesterday, but will not be able to cover much, as it is a long walk back to the school and I need to be working.

    Wilber described Mbale this way: You are in a third world country, Uganda, and then Mbale is even more of a third world country. So true.

    In a hurry - this is a picture of the last few days:

    On the way from Kampala we stopped at two orphanages, one being the Archbishop's. (He visited us in Texas last month.) More about those later. I am sitting on a board at the top of the Internet place and the whole thing is shaking. I hope I don't crash!

    Here is life: First the great news! The library is fantastic, beautiful, outstanding, classy looking, and amazing! We still have some shelving to go, but the books are in order and ready to be placed. Most of the decoration is done and the computers are in. You will think it is awesome! (I am sweating to death trying to type!)

    Here are odds and ends, which is the best I can do with my time counting down:

    Try to picture this:

    • Using a squat pot in the night by candle (just remembered - that is just me ... the others are at an Inn)

    • Constant load-shedding so we seldom have electricity. Cheers for lanterns!

    • We arrived late at night and guys from Wilber's church were in the yard, remaining until midnight, staining our lumber.

    • We couldn't get the stain in Mbale - off for a 3 hour trip to Kampala.

    • The lumber yard didn't have enough lumber - off to Jinja Town.

    • We stored the lumber in a school room but the windows were all broken out so we have prayed for the rains to stop.

    • We walk everywhere down the dirt paths and roads - trying to ditch the huge puddles and bicycle taxis.

    • The team left Wilber and Sarah's in the pouring rain last night - it was the only way to get "home."

    • One of the Ugandan guys took Paul's hand last night as they left. It is normal for them as a sign of friendship. We were cracking up!

    • We all took bicycle taxis home from church Sunday - a long line of muzungus, which the natives thought funny!

    • The church service Sunday was so wonderful. There is nothing like African worship - singing and dancing, along with Wilber's preaching.

    • We did a two-day children's church (an hour each day) Sunday we had about 200 kids even with a bad rainstorm. We had Veggie Tales movies, songs and puppet plays.

    • Ugandan teachers show up in the library, stop us from work by singing - we join and dance with them!

    • The children are in every square inch of space peering in the library windows and door with their big beautiful eyes.

    • Mary Lou and Celeste are the queens of the non-fiction! Julia and Donita tackled the everybody books. Mary Lou is our caretaker. Her bag seems to have anything we have forgotten!

    There is so much I want to write but I am down to 12 minutes and 20 seconds ... so I will hurry!

    Guys from Wilber's church have practically lived with us helping with the carpentry. Children at the school have helped shovel books between rooms. Two ladies from the church have stayed at Sarah and Wilber's until late, when we have trekked in dirty and tired, to serve us suppper and clean up as well. There cannot be enough said about the Ugandan people and their kindness to us.

    The library's opening ceremony will be tomorrow for 2 and 1/2 hours. Every important person in the surrounding muncipalities, including parliament and the mayor, will be in attendance. Archbishop Livingstone Nkoyoyo has agreed to be our guest of honor, so that will be great!

    The group will be returning to the States on Friday. I will see them off and then decide my plans for sure. I have to go back to the school to train the teachers and students.

    I have to go! Love to you all! I am so sorry I can't write more. Perhaps I will send my journal home with Donita and let her type it.

    Later,
    Trudy

    Wednesday, June 07, 2006

    Greetings from Uganda: June 3-6


    Greetings from Uganda, where life is one adventure after another! :)

    It is hard to imagine that a year has passed and it is time to post a travelogue again! For those who are new, I will pass on an important message: When I am in Africa typing, I am usually paying for the use of time on the computer, plus I know that any minute “power shedding” may happen, and I will lose everything. Therefore, I type as quickly as possible, do no proofing or editing, and hit the send button. At times also, the writing may be a bit long if a lot has been happening, so I apologize, but hope you will enjoy reading the group’s activities anyway!

    We have been meeting in the evening to discuss the day. So, much of what I will write will be the group’s impressions. It is fun to listen to them as some things I have become used to, but then enjoy remembering what it was like to be in Uganda for the first time.

    Our flights went smoothly. The time in London was a bit hurried as we only had five hours before we needed to head back to the airport. They were working on some of the subway system, so we had to take the sub, transfer to a bus, back on the sub, etc. However, while trying to figure out the sub-system, a young lady who was waiting on the platform, Louise, answered a question for us. Then, she decided just to ride with us to make sure we arrived in downtown London as quickly as possible. We managed to see the Parliament buildings, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. Louise was wonderful and saved us so much time! Cheers for friendly Britons!

    I should throw in one funny happening. Last year, it was Ruben who was searched at the airport. We joked that it was because he looked suspicious with his Hispanic skin coloring and facial hair. This time we were betting if anyone was searched, it would be Paul. So, Paul shows up for the trip all clean shaven with a short haircut trying to pass the stereotype test. By now you have guessed! Paul was the one searched, and it was quite a thorough search. We were all watching and laughing. I talked Julie into filming it a bit. We got caught and were instructed to turn the camera off, which we quickly did. Now we just need to make a short DVD featuring LOL’s “most wanted”! Next year, Ruben is going again, so we will be taking bets on which will be the star of this continuing saga.

    We arrived at Entebbe around 7:30 a.m. in pouring-down rain. We quickly went to Herb and Ellen’s and were ready to leave for Lake Mburo around 12:00. I will take time to insert the group’s impressions of the sights as we flew down the road in the van.

    Impressions on the road
    · Dirt everywhere, mud-brick homes, dirt paths and roads, dirt in front of stores, etc.
    · Women carrying babies on their backs.
    · Chidren and women carrying heavy items on their heads.
    · Streams of people — walking, walking, walking!!
    · Children of all ages walking beside the roads to and from school in their various colored uniforms while cars, vans, and trucks went screaming past.
    · People with huge loads of goods, such as bananas, which totally cover their bicycles. The bicycles then being pushed down the roads and up the hills.
    · Stuffed public transport vans so full you wonder how the people breathe.
    · Small dirty clay-brick or cement storefronts as one passes through towns, along with many vegetable stands made out of tree limbs or old lumber.
    · Beef hanging in the open on stands along the road.
    · Children spotting us and then smiling and waving as we pass.
    · Huge slum areas with single, small mud-brick homes or long row homes with each door housing a different family.
    · Two lanes that become four lanes of traffic, with people, motorcycles, and bicycles weaving their way through the jammed traffic.
    · Trucks who turn on their right signal to say don’t pass; no signal: pass at your own risk; left signal: go for it!

    Now you have the picture; it is a different world. One feels like he/she has jumped headlong into a National Geographic magazine!

    Our ride to Lake Mburo was approximately four hours. Riding in Uganda is like being part of the world’s largest “bumper car game.” Combine that with Herb’s real calling — that of being a NASCAR driver, and it is the ride of a lifetime! Herb swears he only goes about 55 or 60, but with the condition of the roads and traffic, it seems more like 105 for those riding. We did drive on a paved road (comparable to our bad country roads) to the lake. However, the endless potholes were so huge, it seemed that the whole front or back of the van might be sucked down into the earth! I wish I could share the huge eyes of some in the group as they watched vehicles pass at the top of hills and around curves, as well as right through the middle between cars.

    Oh my! On top of that excitement, Paul and Robert decided to scare their wives. As we are rumbling along, they both screamed and jumped out of their seats. We were all shocked. They absolutely couldn’t stop laughing after that ... speaking of two year olds!

    We stopped at the location in which the equator passes through Uganda. There is a big circular sign where one can stand with one leg on each side of the equator. There is also a young man there who demonstrates the difference of force on each side. He has a basin full of water with a funnel under it. He places a flower in the middle of the water and then stabilizes the water. On one side of the equator, the water swirls clockwise as it progresses down the funnel; on the other side, the water flows counter-clockwise. Directly on the equator, the water flows straight down. Feel free to think on that a bit, as we did!

    Ugandans swear it is for real! Hummmmm.

    We were at Lake Mburo for 1½ days. The game drive was great with us viewing the following animals up close and personal: impalas, Crested Cranes (national bird of Uganda), herds of zebras, and cape buffalo, yellow beard storks, topias, water bucks, reed bucks, wart hogs, tons of monkeys and chimps, banded mongoose, and bush bucks.

    I might add I mentioned up close and personal because our fearless driver loved to spot animals and then just head off the path straight for them. We should have great photographs! We did have one cape buffalo decide to charge our van before he backed down!

    One slight mishap: Herb accidently drove right into a cape buffalo mudhole! Stuck is the right word to describe our van! However, we had Moses, our security guard/game ranger traveling with us. He and the guys shoveled mud and broke off branches to put under the tires. Then Herb “revved” and we shoved. Before long we looked as though we had all wallowed in the mud with the cape buffalo, but we were free and off for more adventure.

    That night we stayed in rooms in individual small buildings in the park area. The beds were quite comfortable. Our rooms didn’t have electricity, so we used lanterns. The toilets (squatters of course) were in the “out-house” back behind the buildings. Many of the group used mosquito netting for the first time. We ate at a café located right on the lake. The cafe was “open air” with a thatched rooftop. There were long boards for the lower part of the walls.

    We enjoyed beef, french fries, and cabbage salad. The amazing part was the cooks cooked on charcoal burners behind the café by moonlight — once again, no electricity! There were several hippos in the water. One came walking out of the water and decided to eat supper (grass) right next to the café. It was quite a sight!

    To end this part of our travels, we climbed out of bed at 5:30 to travel to the top of a mountain in the park to Kazooma Lookout point! It is hard to describe a sight this awesome! Picture standing on a mountain at daybreak looking upon a vast valley that stretches out and surrounds you, with its many numerous, beautiful lakes. Over and over those in our group talked about how inspiring it was to witness God’s magnificent creation on this morning! Personally, after we returned to the café, I went and sat alone on a log, spending time in tears — visiting with the creator of what we had just witnessed.

    Yesterday evening we spent shopping at a place called the African village. It was fun, but of course, we need to return for more shopping!

    The group is off today (the 7th) for a day of fishing on Lake Victoria and will be visiting Chimp Island. I will fill you in on details later. I am having fun visiting with Ellen.

    Today, I did a drop-in visit on last year's library! I was thrilled with what was happening. A schedule is in place so each class comes to the library every two weeks. As I walked in the library, Damallie, was teaching a review lesson to about 55 students on how to use the library. She would pause and they would fill in the blanks. For instance: If you look at a page and you do not know how to read five words, then you know the book is not on your ... "level" The class easily gave all the answers and then were quite efficient in using the library. Next, they sat on the floor and shared their books with each other before returning to their class. As I looked through the cards, almost all of the books I checked had been checked out many times from the children's section. I didn't have time to look at the non-fiction or fiction yet, so I will check that tomorrow. The students have free reading time every morning when they arrive at school.

    Jane, the headmistress, has arranged for me to meet next week, after we return from Mbale, with the entire staff. I want to review with them ways to use the library books in their lessons, as well as various ways to encourage the students to read a variety of books.

    In summation: I was amazed again at the physical beauty of the library and ecstatic that it is getting the use for which it was intended! Cheers once again for our first Library of Love - Namirembe Laurel Library!

    We will head to Mbale on Friday to begin work on the library! We are all anxious to start!

    In the meantime, we are making the most of every minute!
    Keep us in your thoughts and prayers, and I will try to keep you filled in on our days as they happen!

    Love and best wishes,
    Trudy

    Monday, June 05, 2006

    We're in Kampala

    Hello from Kampala! We arrived this morning around 6:00. We had a really good day in London yesterday. We took the ‘tube’ system from the airport to downtown London to view the Parliament buildings, Westminster Abbey, and Trafalgar Square! Only Paul and I had been to London before, so everyone really enjoyed the afternoon.

    It has been wonderful to see Herb and Ellen again! We are going to Lake Mburo for the night. The park has a lot of game – zebras, etc.

    I will write more later, but just wanted to let you know we are here and looking forward to a great time!

    Love you all,
    Trudy

    Monday, May 29, 2006

    I'll Fly Away - once again




    Friends, once again I am counting down - 5 days to go! For those who don't know, I have a fantastic group of six people accompanying me this this year. My daughter, Donita, and her husband, Paul, are going. Paul went last year, also.

    Others going include:
    Julia and Robert Acord, who have a video business and are the ones who made our DVDs to share from last year's trip.
    Mary Lou Fraga - She and Paul both work at Dell. Her daughter, Celeste, is a professional photographer.

    We are so excited about the trip. Then, I have to think about the excitement of the 3,000 children and the staff at Namatala School who must be equally excited as they wait for their new library, computers, and sports equipment! We are so fortunate to have such a strong base of support, including many of you, who have been willing to donate and help collect books and computers, work countless hours in preparation, plus help raise the funding necessary for book preparation, shipping, and building materials. Thank you so much!

    One of the many enjoyable parts of our trip includes time spent with the kids, when we are able to take time off from work. Our group has been practicing puppet plays to do for the kids and will be taking Veggie Tale videos to show. I will also be taking my accordion so there will be lots of singing, which will be fun! Our pastor friend, Wilberforce Okumu, is setting up a time on Saturday and Sunday afternoon for us to share with the children from the school, as well as his church. Our biggest problem is that those practicing with the puppets get carried away and before you know it the lion is biting the elephant, people are making up new script lines, and then everyone is laughing so hard the practice comes to a halt! Hopefully, they will be able to get through puppet plays while in Uganda!

    We will leave the 3rd and the group will return to Texas the 16th. Our first four days will be sightseeing at Lake Mburo (which is home to most animals except lions and elephants) and the Sesse Islands, where we will be fishing in Lake Victoria and visiting a 'chimpanzee' island. Then we will be off to Mbale for long days of working to build bookshelves and put a library together! While books are being sorted and shelves are being built, I will be meeting with students in the classrooms to give instructions on the use of a library.

    After the group returns, I will be staying with Ugandan friends, which I love! It gives me a chance to spend time in the downtown markets, ride the crowded public transport vans, etc. In other words - live Ugandan style! Then I will be joining three others, including Wilberforce, who will be preaching a week's conference in Rwanda! Having never been to Rwanda, I am rather excited about the prospect! After that it will be back to Uganda, repack, and head for Kenya. We will be staying in Nairobi for a few days, and then spend time with a Masai Tribe.

    Please keep all of us in your prayers for the next five weeks! I will send emails whenever possible, as I manage to find Internet cafes. Once again, for those new to the list who are wondering, this email list includes: old friends from my hometown; those I taught with previously, librarian friends; friends and family of those going on the trip; many people who have supported and worked with us; many from my school, church friends, etc.

    Take care and thanks for listening to my ramblings over the years:):)

    Trudy

    Sunday, May 07, 2006

    Welcome from Libraries of Love


    Namatala Primary School
    We have created this blog in anticipation of our June trip to Mbale, Uganda, to install a library for children at Namatala Primary School.

    We plan to provide daily updates and get your comments during our stay in Uganda.

    We leave for Mbale on June 3rd.

    - The Libraries of Love Team