Monday, June 29, 2009

New team arrives; luggage doesn't


The team from Illinois is, from left, Marsha Mayner, Connie Lovelace, Debbie Rhoades, Jeanne Bell and Shannon Wingler.

Friends and Family,

The first team left this morning for the States, and the second team arrived. None of the luggage for the second group arrived with the airplane. However, we always tell our volunteers to pack a change of clothes, etc. - just in case. There was a large group of young people on the same flight. Everything they brought was in the bags they checked, so they arrived with nothing. Another airplane arrives on Wednesday, so hopefully the luggage will arrive at that time.

The first team was absolutely great ... amazing, hard workers and fantastic company. They accomplished many things, including creating the three libraries. Important as well, were the many games (netball, soccer, basketball) they played - and lost. :) They have made friendships that will last over time with many people. The kids love the volunteers and, after the first day, it was especially fun to watch our young people just automatically reach down and scoop up kids, or grab their hands and start playing with them.

This weekend the group visited the Watoto Orphanage Homes. The Watoto Choir tours the US during the year to raise funding for the homes/villages. They will be at my school in January, so it was nice to see where they live and visit one of the houses. Each home has eight children and one 'mother.' It is a huge operation with the homes located in two places. Churches around the world bring teams in to construct a home, so that more children can be added. On Sunday we attended the Watoto Church, which has about 10,000 members. They had a huge choir. It was a bit like being at the Erwin Center for an African concert, featuring praise and worship in English and native languages. The special speaker was an Australian from America. Great service!

Then, of course, it was the end of the trip, so time for the muzungus to go shopping. :) There are some really great craft shops in Kampala. I must admit, after six years of looking at the crafts, they all run together. I have a hard time remembering what I have taken home for gifts previously, but we had 16 people here for the first time, so they loved shopping.

For the families of our first team: thank you so much for allowing them to travel to the other side of the world to share the blessing of their friendship and God's love with those here. They definitely have my highest respect and love for all they accomplished.

Please keep us in your prayers as the second team tackles the creation of two more libraries, restocking of our first library, plus helping as we train the Ugandan librarians and students how to organize their libraries, plus how to borrow and return books. I am grateful they are willing to help with the training, as I have done it alone the last four years and it is a huge job. We are also happy to still have the company of Jennifer Martin, who was with the first team, but is remaining for three weeks.

Yesterday I left the group and wandered off by foot through a poor area where I spent a lot of time during my first trip in Uganda. I was in tears as I stepped through the rutted dirt paths, through yards - and moved around. The first summer when I traveled alone, staying in Ugandan homes, was a time that was so unusual that it is hard to describe. Coming from America and immediately being totally immersed in a different culture really changes one's life. It makes that culture simply seep into your bones and remain there as a part of your life forever. I feel so fortunate that I am totally comfortable here, and because of God's calling, realize that I am where I am supposed to be to - serve His purpose.

From across the world, I send my love and good wishes.

Trudy

Friday, June 26, 2009

Another bonus post from Melissa

Today, we went to visit Bat Valley School. It was great to be back there. Our time was short, but there were several teachers that it was great to see. They did a little mini-assembly for us and I led them in a few songs. Also, a group from Watoto was there too (I'm not sure why) but they were fun to watch. Then we went to visit King's College, which was one of the top high schools in the country. The headmaster was at Mengo Secondary where we put a library in '07. It is a great facility, mostly for the elite, but they still do not have many books. They just opened a new building two weeks ago. It's five stories high and the top two floors are set up for middle school and high school libraries, so they were trying to convince Trudy to set up libraries there next year. It's run by the Anglicans and a very neat place. After that we went to Namirembe (the first library) for a very native lunch and then we visited classrooms and then played net ball and basketball. You would have been proud of my net ball skills... I was the center, which means I had to run up and down the court the whole game!!! We lost, but it was fun. My jean capris are sooo dirty, they look brown now.

Mitch (Wilbur's 15 year old daughter) got to come see us for a little bit today with a man from her school. They were picking up some maps and globes that we are donating to them. Then Trudy convinced her teacher to let her spend the weekend with us. She goes to a strict boarding school, where they are not normally allowed out except for once per term. She is so excited and our teenage girls are excited about spending time with her and sharing their clothes. It's funny how teenagers act the same around the world!

Tomorrow we'll go visit the Watoto village and then go shopping, so it should be a pretty easy day. Then tomorrow night we'll have dinner at Herb and Ellen's house (Trudy's missionary friends that we stayed with 2 years ago). It will be a great night.

Our mini-safari was fun. We saw a ton of zebras and monkeys and lots of other animals too. During our boat ride across the river, our boat stalled for about 15 minutes and then started taking on water. Our group was in two separate boats, and we were grateful those on ours were not afraid of water. I sat and watched a big group of monkeys playing near my hut that night. It was really fun, and I was wishing you all were there to see it too. During our game drives we got to get out and walk around, because they only have a few lions and they don't come out around people. It was fun to get to see the tracks and things close up and for our guide to show us how they track them. Where we stayed was pretty rustic....that's a good word to descirbe it. The other ladies were too scared to take a shower, but I decided I really needed one, so I would give it a shot. It was a little hut/building in the middle of the camp. The hot water was heated with a fire. It was the best shower I've ever had in Uganda. No one believes me, but it was. It was the perfect temp. and great water pressure!!

As I sit here right now typing I can look at over the city of Kampala. I hear the Muslim Call to Prayer and my heart breaks for the people of this city. So many lost and hurting people.

Pray for us as our time here winds down. Pray for more opportunities to minister and for safety in our travels home.

Thanks again! I'm off to eat a BBQ buffet.. it should be interesting, not sure what it entails, but I'm pretty sure there's BBQ sauce involved.

~Melissa

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Uganda - Trudy

A few funnies from Uganda along with news:

A man in the back of the church Sunday morning yelled, "You're preaching GOOD!" Wilber yelled back, " I know I'm preaching GOOD. God gave me this sermon!"

Laurie Thelen was riding in the front of the van. She commented that it was like being at the movies - only it was real!

Scott was a the camp this morning and washed his face. He then went outside and saw a baboon drinking out of the water source. He was hoping it was the toilet water source and not what he just used to wash his face.

I love it that the team has had many 'opportunities' to use 'squat pots' that are tiny retangular holes in the ground. When they are lucky - they are long drops instead of short drops. Now figure that one out:)

We left Mbale for Kampala on Tuesday stopping by Besnia Orphanage, which was founded by our friend, Retired Archbishop Livingstone Nkoyoyo. It is an orphanage for blind children as well as sighted. They have build a new school on the grounds, in honor of his son, Martin, who died of cancer a couple years ago while attending a university in Colorado. We will be providing a library for the school next week. It was so good to see him and our friends at the orphanage. The kids are precious. The blind children sang for us. It was touching. One little girl about two had great English and sang and danced up a storm. I would have liked to take her home for my grandchildren, so they could play with her. They would love that.

We are staying at a guesthouse ran by the Anglican Church. It has a beautiful view of the the city - which is built on seven hills. Our first library / school is within walking distance down the hill. It is our baby - after a wonderful relationship with the teachers, headmistress, and librarian over the past five years time.

Tuesday - the 24th, we headed for Lake Mburo, for some relaxation. It is a long five hour drive over roads that I think someone described once as swiss cheese roads because of all the holes. For those new, it is unbelievable. It is a game of bumper cars/vans/buses/motorcycles/and bicycles racing and crowding - making lanes where there are none. The roads are either dirt - with a sea of potholes, or some tarmack - also with a sea of potholes - or, they are working on them and you have miles of fresh gravel that blows up dust so you can see to drive. Personally, I think it is a great adventure - but I have a sick sense of humor. :)

At Lake Mburo we took a boat ride and walked through the bush to see animals, as well as riding in the van. We saw Ugandan cobb, waterbucks, bushbuck, topi, African cape buffalos, hippos, crocks, baboons, monkeys, zebra, and wart hogs galore. Our boats were interesting, with half in each boat. Our's spluttered along...barely chugging. The other one stalled out, plus took on a bit of water - - but it was just a bit, so thats okay. :) Dave laughed and said that the time they were stalled - about 15 minutes - was the most restful time they had had in three days!

While we were at the open air cafe at the edge of the lake, a group of students arrived. There were 34 in a van the size of one of our mini-vans at home. Now the group believes me since I had told them I had rode in one of the matatus with 24 other people. All things are possible in Uganda!

There were ten of us in bandas (little lodges with 3 - 4 beds) and the rest in some tents down the road. We were feeling sorry for them until today we found out the tents are great and sit up on platforms, with comfortable cots. Plus, they had a big campfire and visited late into the evening. We complained and said they should have invited us instead of just yelling Marco across the bush, so that we would yell Polo back.

I forgot to mention Sarah Okumu accompanied us to Lake Mburo. It has been nice to have her company a little longer, so the group can have time with her. We left Randy Sisk and Kaitlin in a town called Masindi. They will go visit a child they sponsored through World Vision and join us tomorrow evening.

It is difficult for me, even after six summers in Uganda to see the poverty ... so many kids that should be in school can be seen along the road carrying large water jugs, endless mud homes with many children playing outside, women and men carry water jugs, as well - sometimes with many heavy jugs attached to a bike that they are desperately trying to push up a hill. I have stayed in homes here before that didn't have water, so though it is common here, it still bothers me. It is hard to put yourself in their place. We are so fortunate.

This is getting long, so I will sign off and write more next time. Everything is going well. Thanks for your prayers and support.

Trudy

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Finally, email from Trudy



From email sent to supporters


Note: This is too long, so please forgive. We have been busy from morning to evening. Plus, the lack of electricity has been a problem in using the Internet. I will try to send shorter segments after this … the key word is “try.”


There aren’t words to describe our first six days - so many sights, so many happenings, and so many wonderful old and new friends to visit.


The three new libraries - Wambwa Primary, Namakwekwe Primary, and Mbale High School - are truly magnificent, for lack of a better word. We started work on Tuesday, completing one library per day, which includes beautiful, fully stocked shelves, flooring, and library posters to decorate the walls.


The team worked long hours, along with our many Ugandan friends who joined in the “fun.” Our group did find time to play games/ sports, visit classrooms, sing, share, and give presents to each student.


The schools planned smaller “grand openings” at Namkwekwe and Mbale H.S, saving the large one for Wambwa Primary. Our driver informed us he heard about it on the 8 a.m. news on his way to pick us (as they say). He told me over and over how huge the gift of the libraries truly is to the receiving schools.


The headmasters and deputies were in attendance from all six schools that have received libraries in Mbale. It was a grand event with a head table for the dignitaries and Libraries of Love team, tent, cakes and drinks, special songs and dancing by the children welcoming us, plus a song by three girls sharing the importance of the their library. The main speaker at each event was a Commissioner, whose “boss” is the President of Uganda. I understand he would be like a senator in the U.S. I must tell you that in his speech, he promised “Madame Marshall” some land if she would move to Uganda, along with government assistance. The team decided that probably meant they might throw in a mud hut and goatJ. It gave us all a big laugh - after the fact. He then invited the team to a dinner tonight (Sunday). I will let you know how that goes.


One speaker said this: Through you friends, we would like to send our best regard to HIS Excellency OBAMA, our son. (We are now trying to decide which team member can carry out this request.J)


Thursday evening we were invited to the home of the former headmaster of North Roads Primary, who is now a district official of over 101 schools (and proud of itJ) They had a small covering (tent) set up in the back yard with chairs inside. Philip, and his wife Jennifer, had prepared a feast. It was delicious. Several Ugandan people I knew were in attendance, as well. We enjoyed the dinner; then Philip led us in some rousing, Christian choruses. We were clapping and moving. What a fun night!


Friday afternoon after the grand openings, we played soccer against Mbale Secondary. We were hoping we could repay them for the stomping we received last year. We even have five high school students and one college student with us this time. Unfortunately, it was a repeat. Our team played hard, with some doing crazy things on the field for laughs (D J DeHart), but alas - they couldn‘t pull it off. At the end our team and the Mable SS team were great friends, with hand shakes, hugging, and a great photo shoot with the two teams together.


Later that evening, after cleaning up, Libraries of Love sponsored our own “grand event.” We invited ten representatives to come from each of our six schools for snacks and sodas. We hosted them at the study center of Mbale SS. Seating was arranged in groups of six so that our team and those from the schools could visit in smaller groups. Our headmasters and librarians were in attendance, which was nice. Scott Porter and I explained the process of preparing the books in America. Melissa Busby talked about why she comes to Uganda and what the trips have meant to her. Wilber talked about bringing the status of librarians up equal to that of teachers and how important the books should be to the teachers and administrators, as well as the students. I then shared the story of the beginning of Libraries of Love, which includes my friendship with Wilberforce and Sarah Okumu. Simply put, I shared how it was truly a calling from God. Without God’s blessing on our work, it would not happen. He truly changed my life one night in Wilber’s cane-pole church during a pouring down rain storm. Otherwise, there would only be one library in Uganda instead of 13. The evening was a great success in building relationships with our Ugandan friends.


Saturday we did home visits to students from Wambwa Primary. Bethany Methodist Church has been a strong supporter of Libraries of Love the past few years, and this year had sponsored school lunches for many students at Wambwa. Eight members of Bethany are part of our team. Our group had already seen a sea of mud and stick homes, children without shoes, tattered clothes, etc., but actually holding hands with school children and accompanying them to their small one room homes will leave a lasting impression. Many of the homes were round, thatch roofed huts. Most of the children were orphans or had lost one parent. Children going to school from 8:00 - 5:30 without any food is beyond my imagination. The families were/are very grateful for the assistance. One funny thing: We all had to cut through the forest, over rutted paths, to get to the children’s homes. Melissa and Kendra’s girl lived miles down the road. When they arrived, the school had forgot to notify the mother and she wouldn’t let them in the house. She couldn’t imagine what two muzungu (white skin) women were doing trying to enter her home. When Melisssa mentioned paying for school lunches, she wanted to know if they would pay for the other 20 or so children standing around! Melissa and Kendra then jogged back the long distance to where we were to meet, with another story to tell!


After the home visits, we traveled with Dr. Patrick and Helen Mutono to see their clinic. In the children’s ward, three children shared each skinny bed, with hardly any room between the beds. Mothers were sitting on the floor. I saw one young boy (probably two years old) with an IV in his hand. His mother had to hold the needle in with him on her lap, as there were no “poles” for holding the bag of fluids. Dr. Patrick had everyone take off their shoes, walk down the hall and watch through a door as doctors were performing a hysterectomy. That is not what we expected to see in Uganda!


We then went to Sisiyi Falls, which is owned by the Mutonos. It is like being in Hawaii. They had tables and chairs under the trees and we were served a huge buffet, including chicken and beef. It was great to be joined by Lynne Dobson, a friend from Austin, her son, Luke, and one of her friends, who is a photo journalist from New York. Lynne raised money which supplied 550 wheelchairs to Ugandan people. She works closely with Patrick and Helen. Lynne and I visit at Starbucks in Austin, so thought it would be fun to meet in Uganda.


The majority of the team climbed to the top of Sisiyi Falls, which is a huge climb! At the top, they found thousands of people living in huts right along the edge of the falls. Kids were skittering up and down the paths leading to the falls and playing right on the edge. Oh my!


Today will be church at Pearl Haven (the Okumu’s) at 8:00am. The Okumus and I have been friends for nine years, so it is great fun to razz Wilberforce. I told him the team had paid a lot of money to come to Uganda and hear his sermon, so it had better be good! He just laughed. Our team will hold a children’s service at 2:00, complete with a great puppet play and skit. 5:00 pm, will find us hosting a youth service. Last year one of the team laughed and said it was like a dance competition, as the Ugandan young people love to dance to the music in church. Then in the evening, off to dinner at the commissioners.


As you can see, we are fitting everything in we can during this team’s two weeks! I must add that we have met every evening to share and talk about the day. I don’t even know how to describe this team, other than to say I feel fortunate to be a part of the group. While watching them interact with the kids, I have had to walk away to hide tears. It is overwhelming to see their love for these children, as they have laughed, held hands, scratched backs, and given hugs. There are many stories to tell about individual team members, but with nineteen, I will let them share their stories when they return.


I will close to the sights of Uganda - which I love ever so much: clogged dirt roads holding bicycle taxis, motorcycle taxis, crammed public transport vans, streams of people, cows, chickens, and goats. Endless children walking to school in their various colored school uniforms, many which we recognize. Ladies and children sweeping their dirt yards, carrying huge holders of water on their heads, and babies on their backs.


Everyone on the streets at all hours of the day and night, our many friend‘s faces. …


Thanks for listening! Please keep us in your prayers and thoughts!

Trudy

Friday, June 19, 2009

Bonus Post from Melissa Busby

Following is an email sent to her supporters by Melissa Busby, a Kansas pastor's wife who is on her third volunteer trip to Uganda with Libraries of Love:

Hello! So sorry to not have written more this past week. We've been very busy and have not had much time or electricity for internet use. Hopefully, next week will be better in Kampala.

Here is a brief recap. Our trip here wsa pretty uneventful. We had a rushed, but fun tour of London. The plane rides were long and we were completely exhausted, so we were very glad to arrive in Uganda.

Monday, we spent getting through the airport, exchanging money, and then driving for 5 hours to Mbale town. We ate dinner, took showers, and went straight to bed that night.

Tuesday, we went to work early in the morning on the library for Wambwa Primary School. It took a little bit for everyone to get the hang of the building and sorting, but after that we really got in a good system and we knocked out the library fast. So a lot of the afternoon we got to spend playing games with the children, singing songs, and passing out the gifts (pens/pencils, bracelets, a paperbook, and a gospel tract). Many of the students at this school are very poor and their English is not great, so the teachers helped to translate for us and explained that we came to Uganda to share the love of Jesus with them.

Wednesday, a few people (most of the KS ladies, minus me) went back to Wambwa to finish up the last details, while the rest of us started on the library at Mbale High School. It's a nice big room for the library and the men really were able to work very quickly on the shelves. The great thing about this team is everyone's willingness to help and pitch in wherever needed, so we've been able to complete our work quickly. The students at Mbale High were very happy to see us. We felt like rock stars as they led us around with their friends and had us take pictures with every one of them. They loved us taking their pictures and then they wanted to see them right away on the camera. We got to meet with all of the student body after lunch, outside. It was getting ready to rain, so I kept praying that God will hold off the rain long enough for us to be able to share with the students. I led the kids in a few songs, they introduced the whole team, and then Dave gave a great gospel presentation. A few of us were able to get together beforehand and pray, and I really think that helped to give him just the words to share. The students were attentive and seemed to enjoy it. They loved the giant "Cross Talk" display of the gospel. I pray that some part of the message really touched a few of the students. There were many muslim students at this school, and I just pray that a few of them will look at christianity in a new light. We then split into groups with some passing out gifts in classes and the rest of us went into classes to just meet and answer questions. The class I went into asked many interesting questions. They wanted to know about our engagement process, polygamy, circumcision, elections, crops, construction, music, politics, and that was just a few. I even got asked about why don't I convert to Islam.

Thursday, we worked at Namakwekwe Primary School. This school is very close to our hotel so it was interesting to walk there and take a look at the nieghborhoods, homes, and people. The toddlers wandering around are just adorable. I spend that day out with another lady from our team shopping for the flooring for the three libraries. It was quite an advnture. We went to exchange money, to about 6 different stores, and then bought the wrong size and had to go back and then go deliver all of the carpets. I think we wore out our poor bus driver. That afternoon we passed out gifts and it was fun to share with each class. They kids also sang many songs for us. We also played "net-ball" it's sort of like basketball. I was the "defender" and I almost knocked over the goal. Geez, I'm such an athlete. But it gave the students a good laugh. Then Thursday night we were invited to dinner at the home of a headmaster from the school we worked at last year. He is now a district supervisor. It was very nice. He had a tent set up outside and a big meal. It was a nice time to visit with everyone.

Friday (today) We had our grand opening. It was supposed to start at 10 and it started at 1. You've got to love Ugandan time. It was a very nice ceremony. Then we had a soccer match against the High School we were at last year. I was able to get out of playing, ha! I'm sure I'll be playing later in the trip. This evening, we had a meeting with teachers from all of the Libraries of Love Schools in Mbale. It was a great time to share with them and get to know them. They asked a lot of questions about how our school system works. Then Trudy, and Pastor Wilbur shared, and I even got to speak!

Tomorrow, we will visit Sisisyi Falls. I can't wait. We also will visit where a lady from Austin, TX is having more than 500 wheelchairs put together for people here and we'll also visit a medical clinic.

A few interesting things that have happened... we've eaten lots of "matoke" (national dish of steamed bananas), ox liver, jack fruit (tastes like cantaloupe with a bad aftertaste), goat stew, milk tea, and lots of beans and rice. We feel like we are carbo-loading. We crammed 20 people into a 10 passenger van (that's Ugandan style). My favorite seat is the "perch" in between the driver and passenger seats sitting backwards. Don't tell my girls, no seatbelts are used. :) Outside our windows we see goats, cats, roosters, motorcycles, huge trucks, people cooking over charcoal, laundry lines, and people walking everywhere! I don't even know how to describe the sights and smells.

What an adventure! The rest of the Kansas team sends their love. Everyone is doing well, and they all will hope to email or call you soon (so don't worry moms!, :))

Thanks for your prayers and keep them coming. We're planning for the children's services for Sunday!

Love,
Melissa

3 libraries completed in Mbale

Message to Paul Ortega from Pastor Wilberforce Okumu in Mbale, Uganda:

The three Libraries were all commissioned today. The invited guests went over to Namakwekwe, then to Mbale High and finally to Wambwa where the main opening ceremony was held. In the evening the team played soccer with Mbale SS and at 7:00 pm the group has an interactive meeting with school administrators, teachers and librarians of all the six schools with libraries in Mbale. It was a great time. I am sure Trudy will write to you about it.

T
he feeling of joy at the completed work can not be expressed and we have to thank God for each one of you who have labored so much to share your love through the provision of libraries.


Tomorrow morning the team goes on home visits of the children on the Wambwa feeding programme. Then to Sisiyi Falls.

In all this I know that back there some one/people are praying.


From the blog of volunteer Jennifer Martin, a teacher at Maplewood Elementary in Austin, who is on her first trip to Uganda (www.maplewood2uganda.com/uganda):

19 June, 2009:

... As we entered each school grounds, students were lined up, singing to welcome us and the other officials to their school. I took many pictures of that and will have them posted but I’m sorry, things aren’t getting posted in order because of the difficulty getting internet access here.

Some students sang for the officials and us at the final ceremony and I took a few movies of that and the singing and students are so beautiful. Of course, tears came to my eyes ... .

18 June, 2009:

... I can’t believe we are able to build a completed library in such a short time but we are. The students are so excited about having books and when we gave them their very small gifts (a lanyard bracelet, a pencil, and little pamphlet) they were so grateful. We also gave every student a paperback book to keep and they loved that, too.

Being a teacher, I went out after work and read with the students in the lawn or on the ground and they were so focused on our reading. There were at least 20 students hovering around me and one little girl and 8-10 of them read along with me. We read Green Eggs and Ham and 2 other books. I can’t tell you the feeling you get when there are so many children who just want to be next to you. ...

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

No electricity but work goes on

Trudy called today to report great progress on the libraries in Mbale, even though power has not been restored. (The gas-powered generator is proving its worth.)

Volunteers have finished 2 of the 3 libraries in Mbale, and were going to start on the third one before calling it a day on Wednesday. They are doing great, getting the libraries done, and still getting a lot of time with the students, Trudy said.

There is still no electricity; therefore, no emails going out.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Travel Team Arrives in Uganda

This message is from Paul Ortega, Libraries of Love Facilities Director in Austin:

Trudy left a quick message on the phone stating that all is fine and they are now in Mbale, Africa. She asked to message this on the website so that family and parents won’t worry. They would have sent it through email, but at this time Mbale is without power; therefore there is no way to email. Will this affect the build of the Libraries? No, that's why I sent a generator. J

Thanks

Paul Ortega