Last email - PLEASE READ

This will be my last email from Uganda, though I will follow up with some pictures and a note when I get home. I would like to share a few things with you, as I close out this year's mission.

The story of two of our newest librarians:
Betty from Wambwa School is 22 and truly beautiful. Her family lived where they were having war in the North. One of her brothers told the other brother that if he would take Betty to Mbale, where she would be safe, he would pay for her schooling. Betty had just completed 10th grade. The brother and his wife agreed and brought her to Mbale. This brother is a doctor - and a drunk. He kept the money and never allowed Betty to return to school. She has had to keep house, and is still amazed that the brother let her take this job as our librarian. He also didn't/doesn't want her to go to church. He will lock her out at times or beat her very badly if she goes - though she goes anyway. Her faith radiates from her. She shares Christ with anyone that will listen. Yesterday the school didn't provide lunch. Betty went home after school; there was no food, and she didn't have money to buy any. Tonight I sat beside her at church and listened as she sang and worshipped, understanding that she wasn't sure what would happen when she arrived home. Simply put - I sobbed throughout the service wishing I could put my arms around her and make everything better. What kind of deep faith must one have to persevere through punishment - with a smile - and still love Jesus with all your heart. I feel so short of that type of faith - but so desperately want to have it.

Wilber and I had not discussed Betty, but his sermon was truly a message from above. He preached that when you hold onto your faith, despite happenings, God will 'disturb' someone and He will use that person to work a miracle for you. I had talked to Sarah before church about helping Betty find a place of her own where I can pay the rent for at least a year. A single person here can get a room for 50,000 schillings ($25) a month. Sarah is concerned that the brother will come after Betty and beat her even worse if she leaves. I am telling you the story so that you will keep Betty in your prayers. If you met her, you would fall in love with her. I will send a picture later. Please pray.

Hajera, is our 21 year old librarian at Namakwekwe Primary. She is outstanding, already holding reading contests,etc. I took her with me today to Namatala Primary, as she is able to whip out schedules (even for 3,600 students), which would take me all day. She reminds me of Betty, in that she has such a sweet spirit about her. She is living with a younger sibling that she is trying to keep in school. Hajera had to drop our of school after 11th grade because she couldn't pay school fees. Her mother lives in a village, with four other young children; their father died last month. The school management committee said they would pay her a decent salary; her headmistress cut the salary to 30,000 schillings ($15) per month. Her house payment is double that amount, though the home is tiny with two small rooms (actually it is located in a rectangular building - each door being a different home. I will spend tomorrow visiting the management committee or the education office to see what I can get done about the salary. Other librarians are making 60,000 - 70,000 schillings a month, which is not bad here. But, Hajera and her sister cannot live on $15 a month. Please keep this situation in your prayers as well.

One funny note - remember the hats that I was so excited about buying for my grandsons. If you remember, I was babbling on about them to the policeman who stopped our van, because they have the colors of the Ugandan flag. Wilber looked at the hats last night and laughed. Not only do the hats say Rastafarian on them - the leaf prints all over them are marijuana leaves! Marijuana is illegal here, so if my bags were searched at the airport - it would not look good for me. Sorry, Tyler and Justin!

Time to close. Tomorrow I will be busy trying to make it back to all six schools, and then be packing in the evening. Friday, I will spend the night with Livingstone and Ruth Nkoyoyo in Mukono. Their school (which also has blind children) received one of our libraries this summer. Saturday I will be back in Kampala to take care of some things; Sunday I will pack; Monday it is off to Texas!

Am I anxious to see family and friends? Yes. Do I want to leave? No. I don't know how to describe it to you except that these friends and this culture seem to have, over the past six years, seeped deep into my soul. It is my calling; leaving plays havoc with my heart.

Thank you for listening. I know at times the emails were much too long.

May God bless each of you.

Trudy

Witchcraft, pigs riding a boda, and a BABY!

July 17-20

I will try to keep this short, but there is so much happening.

My eighth grandchild has been born - Daniella Marie Ortega. It was an interesting night.

Jennifer Martin remained in Uganda after the other volunteers left. She had been staying at Archbishop Livingstone Nkoyoyo’s orphanage/school in Mukono. Jennifer had been vomiting through the night and day, so I had a friend from the school bring her to Kampala and met them at the International Hospital. The doctor decided she had food poisoning, perhaps from something she had eaten at a restaurant. They were very professional, used sterile needles, etc., so the hospital visit was fine … though the sheet was stained with dirt, and the poor little doctor was wearing a coat that was totally frayed and tattered. Since Donita was having the baby the same night, I was dashing between checking on Jennifer and rushing outside to call and see if the baby was born. They released Jennifer at 2:30 in the morning. I arranged a private hire (taxi) and took her for a good night’s sleep at a nearby hotel. The hotel was decent, and we each had a single room for 16,000 schillings - $8.00. Donita had the baby about 4:00 in the morning Uganda time. Donita, baby, and Jennifer were all fine - praise God.

Now that my granddaughter has been born, I will share some sad news about a couple of babies. Our hotel manager in Mbale’s wife went to the hospital to have a baby while we were there. Also, his brother’s wife went the same night to give birth. Apollo’s baby was born healthy, but was dead the next morning. The brother’s baby died in the womb that night. Same doctor; same hospital. Our team took up a collection for Apollo to help with the burials. Sad!

Another night, a petrol truck flipped and blew up a short distance from our hotel. Even worse, a matatu crowded with people was following closely and drove into the flames. Many died. They showed a little boy the next night on television that looked totally burned. The picture has stayed with me and bothered me so much; I feel so badly for those people. A good friend, Margaret, works here in the burn unit. Their care is nothing compared to that in the States.

(**Our teams do not ride in matatus and we make sure our driver’s are careful.)

Our favorite carpenter in Kampala, Jaffer, wanted me to visit his home, which is where his workshop is located. He said it was close to Namirembe School. Margaret came to go with me, as we had agreed to spend the day together. (Margaret took a week off work when I first went to Uganda in 2001, stayed with me, and was my ‘tour’ guide. We had tons of fun as I adjusted to Ugandan life.) The three of us climbed into a crowded matatu, which whizzed down the road at a fast rate. When riding matatus (dilapidated white window vans), you have to be prepared because they stop often. The ‘conductor’ throws open the van door and yells out their destination. People are always crawling in and out, so you have to move about and adjust. The driver is off before the door is even shut - speed demons that they are.

We traveled for about 25 minutes and then got off the matatu, only to find we then had to take bodas (motorcycle taxis) to where Jaffer lives. The dirt road/path wound through numerous mud homes and small storefronts, and through banana trees. It was a great ride. For awhile, a boda was riding beside me. They had placed a piece of wood on the back. On the wood was two, big black and white pigs, each tied down with their heads facing different directions. Oh my!

Jaffer showed me the book cabinets that he has started that will be placed in Bat Valley and Namagoona Schools. He said they were delayed because he had been sick. He went on to tell me that someone had put some witchcraft spells on him. He even had to move out of Kampala to get away. However, he is better so he thinks he has almost rubbed them out. Jaffer is a Muslim, but has gone to church with us twice when we were building in Kampala.

I later ask our driver from the hotel, who is a Christian, about this. He became very serious and said that his brother-in-law that doesn’t like him took his shirt and pants and put a witchcraft spell on him intended to make him ‘mad/crazy.’ Emmanuel said he was scared and went to the church to have the pastor pray for him.

This is not unusual in Uganda. Many believe and practice witchcraft here. Sometimes people are stoned because others think they are putting spells on them. It is another reason we feel it is so important to share with them the story of Jesus, and God’s love for them, after the libraries are completed.

Saturday, I had finished visiting all the schools I needed to in Kampala. Wilberforce was coming to Kampala because Sunday was visiting day at their son’s boarding school. He picked me at Namirembe Primary, and we then spent the night in an odd place. A member of Wilber’s church is the Chief of Staff of all the Land Forces (military) in Uganda. Wilber had arranged for me to meet Charles once before in the States. Charles has a big insignia on the front of his large car and traffic moves over for him, plus police always help him as he passes. He met us at a restaurant and I was invited to ride with him, with Wilber following in his car. We had two army guys in the front seat, and another in a seat behind us. Charles and his wife’s home is on an army base in a nice barracks. They do have a large, comfortable living area and dining room, with rooms down the hall. They are planning on building soon. It was interesting to pass through the gates into the compound, etc. My room was nice with a bed with four posts. I think the mattress must have been military though - hard. :)

The funniest thing was that Charles was sleeping across the hall with his door shut. His alarm went off at 3:45, because he had to travel to an engagement. I thought it was my alarm, so I am sitting on the floor throwing everything out of my big bag. Finally, I found my alarm at the bottom - and it wasn’t ringing! (Charles was previously the Attache for the Ugandan military to the United States. His family is still in the States where he has two children - one graduated last year from high school; the other graduates this year.)

The next morning, two of his men attended church with us before we left for Billy Paul’s visiting day. I first met Billy Paul when he was 11; he is now 17 and an absolutely handsome young guy.

I will stop there, as I was hoping to keep this short. I visited three of our libraries today in Mbale, and all is going well … kids are reading many books. Sarah Okumu is finishing her final paper this week and then will receive her Masters degree in Education Administration. She would like out of the classroom and wants to work for the Ministry of Education.

My mornings are like this: I crawl out from under the mosquito netting, wash my clothes in a tub and hang them on the line, and then I am off down the dirt roads to schools. What more could I want :) - other than my kids and grandkids to be here with me. I do love it here.

Thank you for following my trip. I will be returning on the 28th. Continue to keep me in your prayers, as my days are long while I am working in the schools.

Love and best wishes,

Trudy

Brown feet and Libraries for 2010

July 14-16

You know you have been in Uganda for a long time when you wash your feet with soap and they are still brown! I have been busy in Kampala traveling between our six libraries and visiting the five schools which will receive libraries next year.

I wish I could tell you a long, sad story about how I am staying in the slums, starving, etc. Actually, my team might be starving if they were here, as I am having matoke (green bananas wrapped in banana leaves and cooked over charcoal) at least two and sometimes three times a day. Most team members just can’t seem to develop a love of matoke and groundnut sauce. I can’t imagine that!

I have been staying with Jane and Noah Semugoma. She is the headmistress of Namirembe Primary, and Noah is the headmaster of Uplands High School. Noah’s father was a friend of the King and extremely wealthy. The Semugomas have a beautiful home that looks like a hotel resort, surrounded by a large compound wall. It is not the typical Ugandan home. However, it doesn’t have our modern appliances. It has a cookhouse where they cook over charcoal or wood. Staying here works well because I ride to work with Jane each morning and then it is easy to move between the schools in Kampala from her school. I am up at the latest by 6:30 to get ready to go work. The house is nice at night - but then it is back to the dirt roads, schools, and local markets. I must admit, I am rather tired at present.

The Semugomas are Anglican. Last year I was here when their Bible study group met in their home. This year, I was thrilled that I was here on Tuesday night once again and was able to meet with the same group. The scripture/chapter for the week was Proverbs 11 - in case you would like to check it out.

July 15th: I met with the Commissioner of Primary Education. Sarah Baziwe accompanied me. He was very welcoming and wanted to know all about our work in Uganda. He asked Sarah (former headmistress at Bat Valley) to make an appointment to go with him to all of our schools and see the libraries. She is also to deliver a full report on the work of Libraries of Love - including our present libraries, and next summer’s prospects, by Friday of this week. He will be writing a letter to the Internal Affairs Board recommending that we be given the legal status of an NGO (nonprofit orginization) with the government of Uganda. After meeting with Dr. Nakaada, I then met with the Permanent Secretary of Education, so it was a busy morning.

I might add here that this is the first time I have been able to spend a large amount of time with Sarah. My time with her has always been when I have been busy training in her library. It has been wonderful to get to really know her. She is a delightful lady!

After the meetings, I spent the morning at Bat Valley Primary and afternoon at Uplands High School. Bat Valley’s library is being well used, plus teachers were going in and out borrowing maps and globes. At Uplands, I was thrilled to be able to attend the Christian Fellowship once again. It meets during lunch time twice a week. It is impossible (once more) to find the right words to describe the feelings as I listened and watched as these young people worshipped, their voices swelling upwards, in a room that was totally full. I had to wipe tears as one young lady stood and told how difficult it has been to pay school fees, and how thankful she is to be able to attend school. She then sang a song about two hands and one heart that she has given to Jesus. What can I say? I wish you could have shared the moment.

Libraries for 2010:

Library # 1: On the 14th, I spent time looking at schools for 2010. Kitebi Day & Boarding School has 1,324 students. A favorite person of ours, Henry Kitwandwe, who was the Director of Students at Namirembe Primary, has been transferred to Kitebi, and we know he would keep a library running well.

Library #2: The former headmistress of Bat Valley Primary, Sarah Bazawe, has been transferred to Kiasubi C/U Primary School, which has 1,227 students, so that is our second choice for 2010.

Library #3: Many of our friends in education recommended the Ugandan Martyrs Primary School. It is also a public school, which has about 1,000 students. This school has a young enthusiastic headmaster and is probably the most well-painted and cleanest school of any. We will enjoy working with this young man, as we put together the 3rd library next year.

Library # 4: We have been fortunate to have permission from the African Children’s Choir to use their music on our DVD the past three years. They are building a new school in Entebbe and are thrilled at the prospect of receiving a library. Our 4th library will be smaller, as the school only has 150 students.

Library #5: I traveled on the 16th to the outskirts of Kampala to Kings College - Buda, which is one of the top rated high schools in all of Uganda. Our former headmaster from Mengo SS was transferred to this school, so we are doing a library for Patrick Bakka Mele, a good friend. I just returned from King’s College. Patrick has offered to put the library in a wonderful old church, which was built in the late 1800’s. It is in great shape and will be perfect for a library. Our high schools tend to want to put the libraries in huge study hall rooms where students are reading textbooks. This building will be perfect. King’s College has 1,200 students.

Actually those will be libraries 14 - 18. :)

Have a great day. Love to friends and family.

Trudy

Africa - few funnies

Okay - I will just tell you! Jane Semengoma, headmistress of Namirembe School, just casually said, "Trudy, you have gotten fat since you have been in Uganda!." I walked down to the library where Sarah Baziwe, former headteacher of Bat Valley Primary sat. I asked, "Sarah, have I become fat since I've been here?" She laughed and said,"Yes, you have put on some fat. You needed to. Ugandan people love people who are bigger."

Now, for those who don't know me, I walk/jog every night at home, lift weights, and do about 50 sit-ups. I must admit - I did just meet Wilber today at a place called Nandos and ate a pizza and had ice cream! It was great!! And - yes, I did take my team there the last two days since we were in downtown Kampala. The ice cream lady even recognized me! Sad! Now you know - - the rest of the story. :)

When I have a team here and they stay in hotels, it seems every day - twice a day - they serve potatoes, rice, etc., all starches. This year, I have had two teams - so I have had hardly anything but starches for one month. Now I will move back into Ugandan homes, so perhaps the next two weeks will be considered a diet. NO - I will not send pictures!

The Illinois ladies left this morning. I will miss them. They are true servants - of God and people. I will miss their company. Jennifer is still here, staying this week at Besania orphanage in Mukono. I'm sure they are thrilled to have her with her educational background. She will finish setting up the library and have some classes borrow books. I appreciate her help.

Funnies:
I went to the laundry room at Namirembe Guest House to find the wash man in knee-high wading boots, doing a 'boogy-woogy' dance in a round washtub filled with clothes. He was stomping them good! It was really a hilarious sight. He says he only stomps the jeans to get them clean, but next to that tub was a tub of other clothes. Really, they came out great - perfectly clean! Maybe you should try it and save electricity!

I accidently walked in the wrong room at the hotel. There were two ladies, in separate twin beds. Each had a pop-up tent on top of the bed. They were inside their individual tents taking a nap. Now that is weird! The beds all have mosquito netting - so why a pop-up tent - unless they were worried about touching the sheets or bed. What an odd sight. I tried hard not to laugh as I backed out and went to my room.

Today I met with an attorney about filing as a non-profit with the government of Uganda. We need to do it to set up a bank account here and to make it easier bringing in items through customs. It will be lots of paperwork - but possible. Wilberforce needed to go to that attorneys office about something else, so he accompanied me.

But, let's back up a minute. Wilber picked me at Namirembe School in a van from an orphanage on which he is on the Board. We drove to the orphanage on the outskirts of Kampala. When we had finished visiting the orphanage, we walked down the road to catch what I thought would be a matatu to the attorney's office. Instead Wilber got us both a boda (motorcycle taxi). The attorney's office is in downtown Kampala! I have ridden many bodas around the outskirts of Kampala and in Mbale - but never through the downtown streets of Kampala! Only crazy people do that.

My driver was a speed demon. Wilber's could hardly keep up. We passed every boda on the roads! When there were two lanes of traffic almost touching, we were whizzing between cars/vans with me holding my knees in tight so I wouln't hit the vehicles on each side. If he couldn't buzz down the middle, he would almost scrape against the curb on the right - or left - and shove the cycle back in the middle of the traffic asap - but never stopping, always at break-neck speed. One bus, I was sure we had. I took my hand and shoved against the bus trying to lean us away from it! Unbelievable! Remind me to buy a helmet next time! Since I am still alive - I must say, I'm glad we did it! Wow!

Jane and I made a timetable for the next few days, so that I can return to our six Kampala libraries, plus those that are possibilities for next year (five). I will be on the move! Lots of works to do! Madame Marshall has been tossed out the window, and the teacher is now in place. :)

Hope all is well with you! A special hello to my teams! I can't wait to have more time to talk to you when I get back to share our adventures/memories once more!

Love,
Trudy

I think perhaps you'd better keep praying. :)

Hippo Happening - Africa

July 9^th - 10^th

I have been busy showing the team some new sights! We went to Bujagali Falls, which is an awesome series of rapids, not far from the source of the Nile River. Lunch in Jinji Town was fun, as it is a tourist town - African style. Usually, we stop on the outskirts of Jinja as we drive from Kampala to Mbale, but I had been in Jinja during a couple of trips, so thought the ladies would enjoy shopping. Then we were off to Lake Mburo for a safari. Highlights included having to stop to let zebras cross in front of us; watching a mother zebra feed her baby; and, stopping as a huge hippo sauntered across the road. While chugging along on Lake Mburo, our boat was driving slowly. All of a sudden there were big thumps under the boat and it tipped a bit. We had floated on top of a hippo! Thank goodness the boat didn’t go over, or we might have been hippo hamburgers.

The following might not be really worth mentioning, but we did see hippos and goats making babies today- I know, it doesn’t take much to amuse us. J

Jennifer is off to Murchison Falls, as she had been to Lake Mburo with the last team. She will return tomorrow evening. She will love the trip. It is always a favorite with teams.

The road we took back this time from Mburo wound through many, many villages. It is unbelievable how difficult life is here … always / everywhere mud hut homes. It seems everyone you see is getting water at a well, women are walking with huge loads on their heads or working with hoes in the fields; kids taking baths in front of the houses in small wash tubs; endless men pushing huge, huge loads up hills on bicycles as they struggle to walk. I saw one young boy, probably 11 or 12 years old, pushing a bike with five gallon water jugs tied to it. He had a small boy, perhaps two years old, on the seat of the bike. The little boy had his arm wrapped tightly around his big brother’s neck, while the brother tried to balance the bike, water jugs, and his little brother - while walking barefoot up a hill. I read yesterday in the paper that 1 out of 3 Ugandans don’t have enough food to eat on a daily basis. As we travel it truly is, like I have described many times, being sucked into a National Geographic video, as we see the difficult, daily lives of people here.

When we returned to Wambwa School, a young girl came running toward Jennifer and totally lit up with a smile. She was one of the children Bethany Methodist had sponsored, paying for her school lunches. Jennifer, with another team member, had visited in her home, when the team was doing home visits. As I watched the young girl, I realized how important the home visits had been to the students. Many, many thanks to Bethany Methodist for paying hundreds of children’s school lunches in the past two years. Sara Solomon, a parent at Laurel Mountain Elementary, has taken the lead in arranging these donations to our school children in Uganda. Bless you, Sara!

We also returned to Mbale High School. As we were walking up the drive to the school, one of the students ran over and asked if CJ DeHart was with us. How neat is that! I am always thrilled when people/students ask about our volunteers. It was especially nice to have a high school student inquiring. The girl said she and CJ had exchanged addresses, so she would write her soon. It can’t be said enough that the relationships we have built here are extremely important in the success of the libraries. The two intertwine.

Have a good day. We are relaxing a bit after many days of work. The team leaves in three days, so I will probably wait to write again until after that. Have a good weekend and thanks for following our adventures. I will miss playing the organ at Heatherwilde Assisted Living Center on Sunday morning. After 12 years of spending Sunday mornings with my friends there, I really miss them when I am on the other side of the world.

Remind me to bring more clothes next time! I have on some filthy white capris, a stretched out gray t-shirt, and a blouse I wear to church (to stay warm). I look like a street person! I lost my jacket in the London airport. Rather embarrassing …

Continue to keep us in your prayers!

Love,

Trudy

Bribery works - God forgive

Hello from Uganda,

Right to the point: We got stopped by the police again.

He came sauntering up to my window. I stuck my hand out to greet him and ask how his day had been. Then I commented that his police helmet must really be hot. He said it was, but that he was a boda-motorcycle cop so he had to wear it. Then he continued 'whining' and told me his uniform was also hot, that other police get to wear white uniforms. I sympathized all I could. Eventually, after I felt we were close to becoming friends (ha) - he asked my driver for his license. Unfortunately, Emmanuel only had a copy of his license. Actually, he lied to the police and said the original was in his office. Later, he told me someone stole it - so who knows. The police asked who he worked for and he said Namirembe Guest House. Since it is run by Anglicans, the policeman asked him who the bishop was at Namirembe Cathedral. Emmanuel, who is not an Anglican, didn't know. Next, the policeman asked him to show him some religious material. Emmanuel didn't have any. I grabbed my new Bible to show him I had something religious. Then I asked him if he was a Christian. He assured me he was. So I asked him a couple more times if he was really sure. Definitely, he said! He then started admiring my Bible. I had to decide - another ticket or the Bible ... not that I would really use a Bible for bribery. Just call it 'sharing' the word of God. It worked. He was happy with the Bible, referring to it as our weapon of spiritual warfare. We were on our way - after the policeman assured me he would spend much time reading. At this rate, we will get stopped again, so I need to work on something else to donate to the Ugandan police department. :)

********************
Moses, the principal of Wambwa School was discussing the age children were to start school. He said it was supposed to be six, but all the parents of five-year-olds show up telling him their kids are smart, already knowing everything, and should be able to attend school. He said there are then two ways to identify those that are ready for school:
First, the child must be able to reach across his head with his hand and grab his other ear.
Second, he must already be losing his 'milk' teeth.
** I thought I would pass that on to Jan, my principal, in case she wants to follow those guidelines for our new kindergartners.
********************

On the 6th and 7th, the team returned to check the libraries in Mbale at Wambwa, Namakwakwa, North Roads, and Namatala Primaries, plus Mbale Secondary and Mbale High School. We were busy people. The librarians at the two new elementaries are amazing! Hajera from Wambwa was busy teaching all types of lessons on the arrangements of books, the different types of books, etc. She had this written all over the chalkboard. They had had a library ten days - and classes had already come to the library twice. Wow! The Namakwakwa librarian, Betty, is going to be just as good. Of course, they don't have 3,000 to 4,000 students like Namatala and North Roads. Those librarians I have sympathy for! It was funny at Mbale HS, the librarian thought people were to use shelf markers to mark the spot for the books they took - and the shelf marker would remain on the shelf until the book was returned in two weeks! She had markers everywhere. Deborah is from the village and doesn't speak or understand English real well. I did arrange for Hajera to go to the high school and train Deborah, plus the staff and students. I have to always remember that they have never had a library. It is like learning a foreign language for them.

In the evening on the 7th, we split up in pairs and attended home Bible study groups with Wilber's church members. Connie and my group was large (perhaps 15 or more people). They arrived and visited a bit, sounding just like Americans. Many said their days were too busy. One lady started talking about receiving a computer scam email telling her that one of her co-workers was stranded in another country and needed money. She blamed the email on Nigerians. We had hot tea and groundnuts - which are somewhat like peanuts. It was a good evening as we studied about seeking the kingdom of God.

Wilber has been sick the last few days with malaria. He gets it because he stays on the front porch late at night praying and then gets up early (and sometimes in the night) to pray some more. Since he doesn't use deet - the mosquitoes attack. I arrived home to find him on the couch with an IV hooked up, the bag of liquid hung over a lightbulb above the couch. He had declined going to the hospital, so a nurse from his church had come over and hooked up the mixture of glucose and malaria fighting liquid. She had to prick him twice to get the needle in his vein. She said it was because he had too much blood. After the needle was in, she removed it and left a small piece of plastic in his hand, which the fluid flowed through. Brave Sarah changed it out in the night! Cheers for her. I told Wilber he now owed her his life. :) He was much better today.

Wilberforce does a 30-minute radio broadcast evey day from 1:00 - 1:30. On the 6th, he had the whole team in the studio and asked them questions, such as, "What part did God play in your coming to Uganda?" On the 7th, he was too sick to do the broadcast - so I did it ... after much prayer and study. I spoke on 1 Peter 4:10 & 11, and Eph. 2:10, which speaks of using the gifts God has given us to serve others, throwing in that the 1st Commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart. Serving others follows that - not to be reversed. So there you have it: Madame Marshall, the radio preacher ... I'm sure my daughters are laughing! Wilber and Sarah were quite proud and suggested that now I would be speaking at Pearl Haven. I think my librarian duties keep me quite busy enough. I'll leave the preaching to Pastor Okumu, who blesses my heart every time with his sermons!

Today, the 8th, the team left Mbale for Kampala. The ladies were totally in tears after saying goodbye to Wilber and Sarah. Most have now been to Uganda two or three times, so have formed a close relationships with them. Also, John Mary, one of the young Ugandan men our volunteers have paid fees for at the university, came to say goodbye, as well. The volunteers for the last two years have come to love and respect John. He has finished his law degree, but still has three 3-month terms to go. He now must attach himself to the Legal Counselors office in Kampala - spending time in courtrooms and learning to write briefs. We are all proud of his determination. His mother (a widow) has ten children in her care, many of them orphans from the extended family. John has always helped with the kids, so it is difficult for him to move to Kampala to finish his bar requirements.

I hope all is well in America. We are having a good time with lots of fun, great evening devotions, and lots accomplished.

We will be traveling the next couple days, as we go on safari. Please keep us in your prayers once more!

Trudy

Africa Saga, July 2-5

Family and Friends,

Heads up - the following will be a bit long, as I haven’t been able to get to an Internet café in the last few days. Consider it a four-day email and read part of it each morning with your Starbucks. You’ll have a laugh - yet see the things that touch our lives here! Please read. There is so much I want to share. Missing van, police stop, near miss ... things are great here!

July 2: Three of the ladies from Illinois have sponsored children from Namugoona Primary, which is the site of one of our libraries. Today we visited those children’s homes. For the sponsors, as well as the rest of us, it was rather heart wrenching. I accompanied Connie to visit the home of her sponsored child, which was a girl in 6^th grade. Maggie’s parents are not living and she lives with her grandmother. We cut through little passages off the dirt path to get to her door. As we entered the tiny one room home, we saw one twin bed, which was for the grandmother, against the back well, and a three-bunk metal bed against the wall on the right. It was shoved tight against the grandmother’s bed, leaving only a small space on the floor for sitting on a mat. There was no other furniture – no room for furniture. The room was probably a little larger than the size of many of our bathrooms. Maggie has three siblings who have been sent to other relatives in the village because the grandmother doesn’t have income to support them. Some are not attending school. Maggie remained because Connie is paying for her schooling. The grandmother was so grateful; she threw her arms around each of our necks and danced for joy.

Debbie and Jeannie’s sponsored children are orphans, as well, one living with a grandmother that has had a stroke; the other with an aunt. Debbie’s little boy sleeps on a short sofa that doesn’t have cushions. One house seemed somewhat nicer, with two tiny rooms - but the dirt/mud was crumbling off the walls leaving the limbs showing. None of the homes have water or electricity. The kids go to the local well to get water before they leave for school. What more can I say other than thank God for our many volunteers who have continued to good works after their trip(s). Through Libraries of Love volunteers, hundreds of students have had their school fees paid; others have received school lunches; our volunteers who have been to Uganda have/are paying college fees for two young men; they have provided a fence for a school; donated shoes to an orphanage, and continued to support Libraries of Love through funding and volunteer work. Truly impressive people!

In the afternoon, we ‘launched’ the opening of Uplands High School Laurel Library. I know, I keep saying these libraries are awesome, beautiful, amazing, etc. - but they truly are. Add in the new maps and globes in the libraries and they are quite impressive. The people here are even more amazed and their gratitude is overwhelming. The opening was perfect with singers, dancers, dignitaries, plus the team trying to stay awake during another one of Madame Marshall‘s speeches. J After 13 libraries, we are experts and can put them together quickly. However, as I tell my volunteers – the schools consider every library a miracle. Thousands of children would never have books to read, if we didn’t bring them and make it possible for the students not only to read in class, but to share the books in their homes.

The evening found us at the home of Noah and Jane Semugoma. Noah is the headmaster of Uplands H.S.; Jane is the headmistress of Namirembe Infants. They invited several of our friends and administrators for a delicious dinner. When I am alone in Kampala, my ‘home away from home’ is with Noah and Jane. They always have my bedroom available and make me feel at home. They have been good friends for the past five years.

July 3^rd - My kind of day!

Marsha and I got up early to go to the airport and collect the ladies ‘five day late’ luggage. The luggage was in her name, so they would only let her enter. She did an excellent job and was soon back with nine pieces of luggage, most containing things to give to children and adults here.

As we left the airport and was on the road into Entebbe Town, the police stopped our van at a traffic check.

I listened and watched as the police was pointing out three problems; our driver was licensed only to drive a lorry (truck) or a car (not true); part of the van’s registration on the windshield was covered (true) and, it was a passenger van - so the luggage should have been on top, with passengers in the seats instead of luggage (crazy). Our driver was getting nowhere, so I got out to visit with the police. He pointed on his paper to the violations with which we had been charged. I decided to try the friendly approach and soon talked him out of the luggage charge. The other two charges came to 85,000 schillings ($42.50). He wanted me to just give him the money and said I would receive a receipt later. I declined. Therefore, our driver had to take a boda (motorcycle taxi) to a local bank, where he would pay, and receive a receipt.

I saw local stores near so decided to walk to one to buy airtime for my phone. At the store, I found two really cute caps for my two grandsons. I had been looking for presents for them everywhere, so was totally thrilled to find these. We headed back to where the van and been; the van was missing, but the policeman was still there. He said the van driver had driven off looking for us. I excitedly pulled out the caps to show him, yakking on and on about my grandsons and how they were going to love the hats, plus my granddaughters. He found it hilarious that the missing van and the tickets didn’t bother me at all; I was just excited about the hats and my grandchildren!

We went back and picked up the rest of the team and headed for Mukono to create a library in the Martin Nkoyoyo Integrated School, which is home to sighted and blind children. It was founded by our good friend, Ret. Archbishop Livingstone Nkoyoyo. It was a small library (only 300 students), so took hardly any time. An amazing girl scout troop from Round Rock First Methodist Church had collected books, and the stuffed animals that correlated with them, from Kohl's department store over a year’s period. The plan is for the blind children to feel the animals as their teacher, or a sighted child, reads the books to them. However, the girl scouts recorded the books on cassettes tapes, also, so they could listen. The teachers and students were ecstatic! The library was extra special with all the stuffed animals sitting by their books!

Finally, we were off to Mbale Town, which is a 3 ½ drive from Mukono. When we arrived at the long bridge at Jinja, the traffic was lined up for miles, as they were working on the bridge. Ugandan traffic stretching for endless miles is different than ours. It is every type of vehicle vying for every inch of space. The two lanes become five and there is barely a few inches between the vehicles in the front, back and sides. Actually it is not really lanes - it is just crammed vehicles scooting in any possible slot. After awhile, I was bored! So, I collected the only candy we had in the van - starburst - and gingerly opened my door and stepped out, squeezing between cars, matatu vans crammed with people, and trucks with lots of people standing in the back. I slowly walked between these handing out the candy. It was hilarious! Everyone was laughing and reaching for candy; people were even getting out of cars to come and get some. When I ran out, I went back to see what else I could donate to liven up the wait! Aha - we had friendship bracelets that we give to the students at the schools, in a variety of colors. I started back down the tiny area between vehicles. I now have all sorts of new friends that will remember the crazy muzungu handing out things! Everyone was having a good time, but when I reached the truck with the people in back, I heard engines started and had to make a dash for our van to avoid being squashed.

Soon after, there was this crazy truck that looked like it was driving sideways down the road. Unbelievable! The driver signaled our driver to pass. When we did we were looking at headlights of a semi! Being the brave soul that I am, I was riding in the front seat. So, of course, I yelled (laughing) "God, I’m coming home!" I must say, after many summers here, I had faith that somehow my driver would save the day. The ladies in back were a bit in shock, but then laughter filled the van. For their husbands reading this - no worry. Really they are quite safe. God is on our side.J

There you have it - a day of arriving luggage, missing van, police tickets, traffic jam turned into fun, beautiful library, and a close miss! That is what I call a perfect day in Uganda! LOVE IT!

We arrived in Mbale and the team checked in at our regular hotel, where we have become friends with the management and staff the past few years. I left the team and went home to Pastor Wilberforce and Sarah Okumu’s home. After spending six summers in their home, it is truly no different than stepping into my home in Pflugerville. It is where I belong and I am always thrilled to return to share all our news and many laughs!

July 4^th

The next morning several of us walked to Namakwekwe Primary, which has now had a library for 10 days. It was Saturday, but many students still have classes that day. We couldn’t get in the library, but had time to visit several students. Their classes had already been to the library twice to borrow books and they excitedly told us books they had read. I then looked in the library window to see an enormous amount of cards in the file, meaning they had busy checking out books. Plus on the board was a lesson teaching the students how the spine label/fiction books are organized. I just wanted to dance! On the way ‘home’ later I was in the van and saw an older boy walking, holding a book. I had the driver stop and asked the young man to let me see the book. It had our spine label with the pocket inside. He said he was from Mbale Secondary and loves to read.

We celebrated the fourth at Sisiyi Falls … a bit of paradise.

I now have my boda (motorcycle taxi) driver’s number programmed in my phone. I do love to ride on bodas; it’s a crazy thing to do, but certainly livens up one’s life as you navigate through the traffic – definitely covering your eyes every once in awhile, while throwing up a quick prayer. J

Sunday – July 5^th:

We just had a service at Pearl Haven, our home church, pastored by Wilberforce and Sarah. Somehow God uses the services at Pearl Haven to totally ‘work-over’ my heart and life each year. The praise that raises the rafters just melts down through my soul. I had tears in my eyes almost the entire service and could hardly speak at the end of it to introduce the team. I can hear the second service now as I am typing; I wish I could send it to you through email. The presence of God in the service makes me want to bow down on the dirt floor and thank God profusely that He chose me to serve in this county.

Thank you for your prayers. Again, sorry for the long email – but it isn’t often this trip that I have time to get on a computer.

Trudy

Moving on - in Africa

Friends and Family,

I have enjoyed visiting with our second team of ladies. They are troopers. They arrived on Monday and still haven't received their luggage! We had hoped it would arrive today on a British Airways airplane, but now they say possibly Friday.

The ladies arrived and worked the same afternoon restocking our first library at Namirembe School. I try not to work volunteers the first day they arrive - after two days of travel, but we wanted the restocking done before the huge ceremony the following day! Monday evening, we were invited to the home of the Bishop (Anglican church) who oversees this area, to meet him and his wife - so still no rest for the ladies. :) We arrived at their beautiful home in our extremely dirty clothes from working all afternoon. We did enjoy the visit very much. Thanks to my friend, Richard Lubanga, in Virginia, who had arranged the visit.

The grand 'giveaway' of maps and globes was Tuesday - and grand it was! It was an impressive ceremony. All of the administrators from the schools that house our libraries were present, along with numerous other headmasters whose schools were receiving maps and globes. I can't even describe how thrilled they were when they saw the large amount of each (maps and globes) they would receive. They were letting out African whoops, some started dancing, others were just shouting and cheering! They were some happy Africans!

Patrick Bakka, Headmaster of Kings College, talked about the knowledge gained through the books, maps and globes. He compared it to popcorn. Students read - and study maps and globes. Perhaps nothing happens the first week, but then one of the 'kernels' pops, and learning takes place ... then another later, and then another. Eventually, all of kernals 'pop' and there you have it - the learning has exploded!

Students sang songs that had been written just for the occasion, others recited poems they had written, and two students gave books summaries that set everyone laughing. The Minister of Education of this District was the main speaker.

My first team was probably glad they weren't present to sit through another one of my speeches - though personally I'm sure the speeches must be quite wonderful. :)

I truly wish a rep from the Herff Jones Company could have been present, as the occasion was in place to express the schools' gratitude for the company's extremely generous donation. Maps and globes are not available for schools here, so for them it is a miracle. As I told the audience, there just aren't words to properly thank the Herff Jones Company for their kindness and generosity. If their company reps could have seen the smiles and enjoyed the 'noise' of those receiving, they would have truly understood the gratitude. We will send them many pictures as quickly as possible.

Today the team created our fourth library this summer in Uplands High School. It is hard not to be in tears when the room goes from empty to a beautiful library in a short amount of time. It is amazing. Tomorrow is the 'Grand Opening/Launch' of the library. The school has only 500 students, so we were able to spend a lot of time in the classrooms, which is interesting, as we build relationships. The students always are in awe at the possibility of actually borrowing a book, returning it, and taking another. Even those in 12th grade have never checked-out a book from a library, so they erupt with clapping when they hear that is possible. When we added that we had also brought maps and globes - there was more cheering and clapping!

While we were at the school, the Christian Fellowship Club met, and we were able to sit in on a meeting. They were singing and praising God. What a treat! Three former students return every Wednesday and Friday to hold the meetings. At the end they talked about a convention on Saturday for Christian young people. They were trying to raise money for it by auctioning a thermos. The kids were bidding from 500 schillings (25 cents) all the way up to 10,000 schillings, which is $5.00. Hey, they were so excited that somebody could bid that much. Actually, three kids joined together to bid that amount. I raised my hand and bid $100,000 schillings ($50) and the place went crazy! I was a thousand times more blessed than they were; I promise you! I was so glad I could do it for a good cause! I then donated the thermos back and they continued the bidding. Our teams also donated more money before they left; we will enjoy getting a report of the convention after it happens!

This evening we walked down the dirt road to Namirembe School in the evening to visit and sing with students who board at the school. It was relaxing; the kids are great company - always so friendly.

I will close for now. Thanks for your prayers. As they say over and over in Uganda - God is good...all the time!

Trudy