Inspiring meetings with headteachers & librarians

Headteachers from Libraries of Love schools gather for meeting in Mbale.

Aug. 27, 2011 - Headteacher’s (Principal’s) Seminar: Our Kampala area headteachers arrived Wednesday afternoon (Aug. 24) and toured three schools in Mbale, spending time in each school‘s library. Thursday was a special day, as I met with 21 of our 23 headteachers, plus two assistant headteachers (deputies). What a thrill to have them together! I shared ‘all things library’ - including organization, Dewey system, spine labels, borrowing system, shelf markers, schedules, etc. From training, each headteacher should be able to walk in his/her library and tell within minutes if students are reading consistently and if the librarian is doing an excellent job. Wilber talked about our volunteers and supporters, including the work in the States. Our first headmistress,

Jane, shared the plan for daily silent reading time, DEAR - ‘Drop Everything and Read,’ which has been successful at her school. Other speakers also shared.

The secondary and primary headteachers met in separate groups to discuss what is working well, and the challenges of their libraries. The headteachers have formed committees and plan to meet regularly throughout the year!


Librarians from Libraries of Love schools gather for meeting in Mukono.

Librarians Meeting: Believe me, the 25 librarians that met were a hoot! Oh, my goodness! We did have a serious workshop, with great discussions about their job - the positive side, and the various obstacles they face. Classes of 100-250 students is definitely what one would call an obstacle! Low salaries because the government doesn’t fund libraries, and headteachers have to get the money from the parents - definitely a challenge! However - there were endless amazing reports of the great things happening in their libraries. During my time, I emphasized that these are Libraries of Love, which means they should be a safe haven for the kids. As I shared - if their lives are difficult, they can have joy and a smile while reading a book. If they never leave their town, they can travel around the world. They should love to read, and love their library.

A laugh: Many of the librarians have had civil ceremonies (not church weddings), others are living with a person, and a few are single. Together they cooked up this grand scheme of having a huge Libraries of Love mass church wedding ceremony next summer! As we were introducing ourselves, and each one gave his/her name - the others would yell, “Are you a candidate for the LOL wedding?” Then they would die laughing!! The poor single people were informed they needed to find mates in time for the wedding - and that others would help them in their search! Two of the ladies want muzungu (white) husbands. They decided I should take video of them and show it to people I know!!!

On Sunday evening, before the actual librarians meeting on Monday (Aug. 22), we were together and had a wonderful 'singspiration' (Is that a word?) Three of the librarians even sang specials (2 guys and one lady), which was great! Believe me, these librarians can sing and dance the roof off - as only Africans can! It was an amazing time - truly a time of bonding!

The headteachers and librarians send their thanks for your support and love. I only wish you could meet them and understand the depth of their gratitude!

In summary: Both meetings were a complete success.

- Trudy


Head librarians:
Irene,coordinator in Mbale; Damallie, lead Libraries of Love librarian;
Hijera, librarian trainer for Mbale; and Michael, librarian liaison to headteachers.

How can I leave them?

Grace (mom), Leah, Florance, Grace’s grandson Michael, and Damasco

Friends, I know the popular way to write is to make it in short news bytes - as on Facebook. However, how do you describe three children's lives in a short paragraph? I have spent time in Uganda for 8 years now. In that time, I have been around masses of children - all wonderful, beautiful children that we are helping through our libraries.

This is the first time, that I have simply lost my heart to specific children that I am sure I will be involved with for many years. There are six - Rachel (of the clunky boots story), Damasco, Florance, and Leah (this writing), and two brothers - Jackson and Sylvestor. These children have been my 'life-changing' experience for this trip.

My writing is 1 1/2 typed pages - so not too long. Perhaps it can be your bedtime reading - your 'Chicken Soup for the Soul' story for the day. :)

Please read!

***

My serious thoughts: How can I leave them? How can I not jump on a boda and head to the bush to wrap Damasco, Florance, and Leah in my arms, letting them know that someone cares, instead of boarding an airplane soon headed away from them.

Damasco: 13 yrs., ranked 3^rd in his 7^th grade class of 50, high level vocabulary, short.

Florance: Damasco’s sister, ranked 5^th of 120 in 5^th grade, laughs all the time, cute.

Leah: A cousin – both parents deceased – 10^th of 120 in 5^th grade. Leah has had to miss two years of school. Her life has been painful … as seen in her eyes.

Shy with a beautiful smile. Damasco and Leah’s father is also deceased. They live with their mother, along with Leah.

Damasco came into my life last year. His mother, Grace, a sweet, quiet lady, was begging a headmaster to let him set for exams, though they hadn’t paid fees. The headmaster replied no, in a harsh voice, and sent her away. I asked if it was about fees. He said yes, so I ran after her, had her come back, paid the fees, and gave her extra money to keep.

Fast forward to this summer: Our Mbale LOL coordinator, Irene, said that she and a teacher were concerned about five children – three in one family, two in another, that were very intelligent – but had no source of income to pay fees. They had been sent home repeatedly, though the teacher kept sneaking them back in class.

Damasco was back in my life. I understood it must be a ‘God thing.’ I went to Wambwa Primary to meet the kids. They begged me to come to their home. On Saturday, I met Damasco at school and we headed to the home in the bush together on one boda. The kids walk 1 ½ hours to school, so it is some distance.

Soon, Damasco said, “Here it is.” I glanced, but kept looking, as I thought the small, mud structure must be a cooking hut. It wasn’t. We had arrived. The walls inside the tiny house are crumbling, showing the pole structure. The only items in the living area are yellow containers to collect water from a well – not one chair. The living area also serves as Damasco’s bedroom. He sleeps on the dirt floor. What can I say? To be truthful, I can’t change their situation totally, though I would love to. Instead, I have to look at how I am can help them – in that situation.

Being able to sleep comfortably seemed huge to this muzungu. I collected Damasco and went to town to shop for a mattress, quilt, blankets, and sheets, plus shoes, as he had on his mother’s gold flip flops. He only has school shoes, so usually stays barefoot.

To let you know the real Damasco, who has shouldered too much - and seems like a little man, let me share a bit. I offered to buy 3 blankets; he said no – one would be enough. We looked at a large ball. He saw the price and said it was too much. He then found a smaller one and said it would be good. As we were walking, he said he needed to tell me a secret. He said the headmaster was not a good man. He had charged me double the year before for his school fees, so he must have kept some.

Damasco then told me that they hadn’t had food for two days; the extra I gave his mother bought food. I cry thinking about it. I have made several trips back to their home. The kids love hugs and back scratches. Plus, we sing songs together and laugh.

Partial solutions: I have three wonderful daughters – and 8 grandchildren. Each group of grandchildren (each family) has decided to adopt/sponsor either Damasco, Florance, or Leah! The grandkids will pay the kids’ school fees out of their own money, plus buy school uniforms. I gave the Damasco, Florance, and Leah an 8 by 10 picture of my grandkids, letting each one know who will sponsor him/her.

They are three of the 45 students that Bethany Methodist provides funding for school lunches. Blessings to that amazing church, and Sara Solomon who heads up this project!

The evening before I leave, I will be back at their home taking food, candy, hugs, and love. May our God protect them and keep them in His loving hands until we meet again … along with my adorable Rachel in her ‘clunky’ books!

- Trudy

Richard, and Rachel ... of the clunky-clompy boots

Rachel

I may have shared before about being in front of our hotel one day, when this precious little girl came by in a filthy, torn school uniform, held together with pins. What caught my eye was her short, dirty, black boots that were two sizes too big for her. She was simply 'clunking - clomping' right along - looking very unhappy.

I stopped her and ask where she was going, guessing she didn't have money for school fees. I was right, Rachel was being sent home. She didn't have money. Her little face was so sad. I took her hand and led her back to the school, which was only a block, to pay fees. The fees are only 15,000 schillings, which is around $7.00. All that grief - for the amount of money we spend on lunch at the Sonic! After that, every time I have been at the school, when other kids are around, she will stand silently looking up at me, until I spot her eyes. She then says, "I'm Rachel.' I smile and say, "I know!"

She is small for 11 years old, and simply adorable.

Last week, she shyly asked if I would visit her home and see her grandmother. I agreed. A good friend who is a teacher, James, agreed to go with us, as I wasn't sure the grandmother would speak English. Rachel and I rode one boda, with James on a different one. It was about a 10 minute ride - going full throttle (yikes). It seems Rachel walks 45 minutes to school every morning from her small, neat mud home.

Her story: Rachel’s father is dead and the mother left Rachel and her two sisters with the grandmother, and moved to Kampala. The grandmother has five other children to raise - orphans from her deceased brother. Life is difficult. The grandmother was married to a man of a different religion, who had four wives. When she became a Christian, he kicked her out of the home.

She said the night before I paid the fees, she had prayed for a long time asking God to somehow supply the money for Rachel, though she didn't see any possible way. I am so thankful that God had Rachel walk past the hotel just as I stepped outside. I'm sure He must love her a lot. He's that way, isn't He?! I'm sure Rachel and I will continue to meet. :)

Richard

I was walking Saturday through downtown from the Internet cafe. The young man walking in front of me had the worst shoes, barely held together at the toes. Back-tracking a minute, I should confess to you that the evening before, I had purchased the bike for Caroline. During dinner, I had joked with Wilber and Sarah and said, "OK, tomorrow is my - 'not do good deeds day' because I have got to quit spending so much money!"

Then - there is this boy walking for about two blocks right in front of me. I am thinking, “Buy shoes; not buy shoes. I can't do something for everyone. Buy shoes; not buy shoes.” He stopped and went into a shop. I followed him inside. When a man asked what I needed, I said, "Nothing, really," and turned to leave. As I started down the stairs, I remembered the scripture in Matt. 25:35, where Jesus said - I was a stranger and you invited me in. I needed clothes and you clothed me. ... I realized what I needed to do - and do gladly - so I went back in the shop and explained. Richard's eyes and smile lit up his entire face.

There are many places along the street that sell shoes, but Richard kept passing them until he stood in front of one. There was a feast of bright, colorful canvas shoes. I had envisioned black, sturdy leather shoes that would last. But, one look at his face - and I knew he needed a pair of these instead. He picked out some bright, red, leather and canvas, high tops, as he grinned from ear to ear. I had to laugh.

There you have it – Rachel and Richard - God's blessings in my life. As our volunteers always realize - we are the ones who are blessed during our interactions with people here. I find that true each day. To God be the glory.

- Trudy

Libraries - really that is what I do :)

I must admit - I am already panicked that I will run out of time to work in the libraries. A couple examples of my average days:

In Mbale, we have two new librarians who had never been in a library. Prisca had mixed all the books together - fiction, easy, and nonfiction. I had to redo the whole library. The next day at North Roads: Fred, also new - without training, had decided it was too much trouble to have students select every time (3,200 students), so he put books in a jumble on the floor. They could select from those and when the next class came - their books were added to the pile ... a sort of 'recyle' library. My large team helped with this, but Fred had put many returned books back on the shelves - totally not in any order. Many books were still missing, so I reshelved every book, leaving various shelves for display. I now need to relabel shelves in three of our schools in Mbale. Usually I arrive at a library thinking - okay, just a 1/2 day here. The next thing I know, it is 6:00 and I have to force myself to quit and go home.

It is hard to imagine librarians - and teachers - who have never been in a library, but it is a fact here. Every library needs various things done, and redone. The fantastic part is that the students ARE reading! I have to remind myself of that when I look at the quirky things that happen to the 'proper' library organization.

As I have mentioned, I am VERY excited about the upcoming librarian and headmasters meetings! Our head librarian, Damallie, and I met and worked out the schedule for the librarians, which will be on August 22nd. I will go to Mukono a couple days early to purchase food and set up the rooms, with help from Bridget, our librarian at the host school.

On Monday, our lead primary headmistress and secondary headmaster will be meeting to give me input on their meeting, which will be the August 25th here in Mbale. There is so much I want to cover with these principals. My brain is a jumble. I want the meeting(s) to be informative - yet enjoyable, so they will look forward to meeting the next year, as well. It is important to the Libraries of Love Board that our schools are cohesive and work together, as we promote literacy through the libraries.

I will send pics of the meetings when they happen. Can't wait. Wish you were here!

My best wishes to you from Mbale town!!

-Trudy

Painful night - mud hut ... read to the end, please ...

Aug. 5, 2011 Imagine: Your elementary school daughter leaving home in the morning with no breakfast, walking over 2 hours to school, being caned if she is late, having no lunch, and walking back around 5:00. Meet Caroline ... before. Bethany United Methodist Church in Austin (which is home to many LOL volunteers) has sponsored lunches for 45 children at Wambwa Primary for three years. Caroline is one of the lucky children. Our agreement: I wanted to experience what this wonderful sixth-grade girl's life was really like. I had her teacher tell her to ask her parents if I could come home for a night. They were not to do anything special. I would eat what they eat and sleep where they sleep. It was agreed. The walk: Yesterday, Caroline and I, plus one other young lady started walking. The other young lady was one in whose home my team had planned to visit, but simply ran out of time and couldn't. She cried at that time, so I told her since it was on the way, I would visit this time We passed through two villages walking the dirt roads. The walk places one in National Geographic - women carrying babies on their back and items on their heads, children everywhere, men with huge loads on their bicycles, people in long lines to get water at wells, etc. **The children and adults we met found it hilarious that the 'muzungu' was walking down the roads, and they always shouted out greetings. I was my own parade! We fast-walked endless miles. Caroline kept saying, "We have to walk fast. It's a far distance." I wanted to yell about every five minutes, "Are we there yet?" Finally, the second girl said her house was down a path off the road. It was - adding probably an additional four miles to the trip. :) Her guardian (both parents are dead) came out of the field. Words can't express how grateful he was for the food for the girl. He said he would never have been able to provide the money. Caroline and I walked on - sometimes joined by other children. We left the road and walked many more miles through paths deeper into the bush. The fast-walk was from 4-6:30 pm in the heat! What can I say!!! The family and home: Caroline has a mom, dad, and two sisters. They live in a mud/wattle rectangular home. I entered, stepping down into the bedroom/living area. The mud is packed hard and smooth on the walls and floor, and the small room was as clean as ours at home. There is a wall that separates this bedroom from the parents. It has a small opening in the wall, covered with cloth to enter the other room. The chickens stay in the parents' room at night. There is also a small thatch-roofed cooking 'house'. Next to it is a structure out of limbs (open) with a small cement slab in the middle. After dark, you squat on the slab and pour water over you to bathe - unless you are this muzungu. :) Behind the house is a small, mud/wattle structure, with a cloth over the doorway. One has to bend to enter - and presto, there is a small hole cut in the earth ... honestly, a nice clean toilet, better than some I have used lately. :) Caroline's parents don't speak English, but her grandfather does. The extended families' mud-thatch-roofed homes all surround Caroline's. I had a great visit sitting out under the stars with her grandfather. Nice man! Dinner: Around 8:00, they handed me a bowl containing about 10 potatoes. I told Caroline it was too much, so we shared. The painful night: One skinny, old, piece of foam was on the floor, which Caroline and I shared. I should add, she is much taller than me. Her two sisters usually sleep on this with her, but they were nice and slept on mats on the floor. We were so scrunched that my back was totally pressed against hers. The mosquito netting was smothering my face, and my nose was probably 1-2 inches from the dirt wall. Did I mention I am claustrophobic?! I felt like I was smothering. Also, the house was totally dark - like being in a cellar without light, and no air. It was everything I could do to lie there, and not go screaming for the outside. I kept my eyes closed and prayed for peace, thought about each of my grandchildren, ask God for peace again, thought about grandchildren again - all the time wanting desperately to run out the door and get fresh air. However, I knew I would not be able to explain that to this nice family who gave me their best. I can't truly describe this to you. I still can't think about that solid dirt in front of my face. It bothers me. Finally, a cool breeze somehow came blowing through, probably God helping me out again:) It was a rough night to say the least. In the morning, the parents let the chickens loose. They came flapping in by the bed. When I started to pull the velcro on my tennis shoes, there was a big wad of poop on it! Yuk!! The brick truck ride: School was out for the break, so Caroline was free for the day. I told her I would take a boda-motorcycle taxi back, so we started walking to find one. I had forgotten how many miles we were in the bush. Endless miles - no boda...an hour had passed and still walking. Finally, I saw a small truck coming with mud bricks stacked in the back, and men sitting on them. I just knew - that was my ride. I stood in the middle of the road and flagged them down. They said they were going to Mbale and another town. I told them I would ride in the back with the bricks. However, a nice man got out of the cab and I crawled in.Yahoo - off we went. I was telling the man in the front that I go to Pearl Haven church in Mbale. I thought they were going to a different town first, to unload bricks - but all of a sudden ... there was the church! They were unloading bricks right across the street. Wow! I had prayed asking for a boda - but God, being a God of surprises, gave me something better! I just had to laugh! Funny Note: I had shared the various things in my small pack. The thing they laughed at the most was the small roll of toilet paper. It seems they use leaves. :) The gift: Today I bought a beautiful, solid, blue girls bicycle for Caroline and the family to use! It has a place on the back for a passenger, a bell, a mirror for seeing behind, and a basket in front! The roads and paths are flat, which is good. I can just picture her whizzing to school, and the family using the bicycle to go to the village when needed. I called the grandfather and he met me in town. The last I saw of him, he was pedaling the bike headed out of the town of Mbale - back to the bush! What an honor to be able to bless these people! Love to think of their excitement when the grandfather arrives! Thanks for listening once again... Really I am working 8-hour days in the libraries. I will write more about that next time! My best wishes! - Trudy

1 flat - 2 flats - 3 flats ... four & the Easter parade!

I had decided I would not send any more transportation stories, but this is a 'doozie,' as we say!

In leaving Kamwenge, Faida and I decided to take a public transport van (window van) to a larger town, Mbarara, and from there board a large bus. The ratty, dilapidated matatu (van) picked us up at 6:00am. Faida and I sat in the front with the driver (no seat belts, of course). I had a seat and Faida had a half seat in the middle over the gear shift. The front glass had several huge cracks and the defroster didn't work, so Faida had to keep wiping the windshield for the driver. For part of the trip, we had a third person, a large man, crowded with us on our 1 and 1/2 seats.

Leaving Kamwenge, we sped over the dirt road for about 15 minutes - and then heard a large 'whoosh' sound. The front right tire lost its air! At the same time, the back right tire blew! Bam! Two in one! The driver only had one spare, so he called for a boda-boda motorcycle taxi to bring a second. I grabbed a book from my bag, went and plopped down in the road to read. A few minutes later, a man on a bicycle stopped and laughed. He said, "The muzungu likes to sit in the road and read?" I looked around. The other ladies were nicely squatted, sitting on their feet!

That tire was fixed and off we went. Shortly, I heard the driver and another man saying that when vans roll very few people live. I was, of course, wishing they would talk about something else! Finally, we made it to a town. The driver pulled into a tire place. It seems the second front tire had blown right after being put on, and we had been whizzing the many, many miles on the washboard roads, over the hills, on the rim! No wonder the ride was rough - and they had been talking about the van flipping!

While waiting for that tire change in the town of Ibanda, I spotted a small restaurant. Faida and I went to grab a roll for breakfast and then sat in front on a bench to eat. It was Sunday morning and we had the most amazing treat. Ibanda has a road coming down off a hill that leads into the main town. The road was totally filled with people walking into town for church. It was like the Easter parade - an absolutely beautiful sight of men, women, boys and girls dressed in their finest, all going to worship! This sight in itself would have been worth the trip!

The third tire was fixed and we started again. However, the van was bouncing all over. The driver announced he didn't think the tube in the latest tire was any good - oops!

We made it to Mbarara and onto the larger bus. There were five of us in the very back, long seat. It was a nice group. One man broke his roasted corn (on the cob) in half and gave me half. It was good, and then Faida bought us some meat on a stick, and berries, from one of the people who surround the bus, selling food and drink. For my part, I bought an orange soda - drank half, and passed it to the man who had donated the corn. He just grinned and drank it. My new friends.

What can I say but "thank you God" once more for keeping me safe - and thanks to all of you for your prayers! God must just grin and go - her again?!

Every day, every minute, through the bad rides and the good, I am thankful that I serve in this country! It is an honor!

Love and best wishes,

Trudy

Inspiring weekend - hello from Uganda

A Ugandan friend who lives in Austin, Father Isidore Ndagizimana, suggested I should see the hills of Western Uganda and visit his hometown, Kamwenge. He said that his family had guest rooms, and would be happy to receive me. After many weeks of work - and because I love new places, the idea jumped at me!

Fr. Isidore's nephew, Faida, traveled with me from Kampala. We first had to sit in the big bus for two "blasted" hours until it filled so we could leave. After two hours of waiting - and six hours to go, the muzungu fear kicked in - how soon will they have "short call," and where? I must say, it was worth the wait and ride. Western Uganda is truly picturesque, to say the least. The landscape: rolling hills, thousands of banana trees, tea fields - plus many other types of fruits and vegetables can be seen that are grown there. It stays green the entire year, with plenty of rainfall. The small village in which the family lives reminds me of a small town in Arkansas that used to be our vacation site when I was young. Clean, small, quiet, set high in the hills amid beautiful foliage - just a fantastic village. Absolutely loved it.

Father Isidore's family (my hosts) - a brother, Patrick; his wife, Prudence; their two-year-old son, Michael; nephew, Faida, and his father, are the type of people that make you smile as you think about them, knowing God has smiled on you in letting you meet such wonderful people. Micheal is full of pep and energy and has the biggest, mischievous grin. He is adorable! I was so glad I went for a visit!

While there, I walked to a nearby secondary school, and found they had received many boxes of books. Books for secondary students were mixed in with adult novels and nonfiction. Of course, I couldn't have that. The young librarian, Dinah, and I went to work pulling all those appropriate for the students and created a good - but smaller library, organized, and ready to use. Dinah was inspiring. She and her husband gave up good jobs with Watoto Church in Kampala, as they felt they should move to Kamwenge and start a church. Her husband teaches in a secondary school, as well as pastoring now. They really have an amazing story of how God has provided for their family. I will try to share it later, with a picture of her. During the day, we erupted in laughter often, talked about our families, shared God's miracles in each of our lives, shed tears, and held hands for prayer - PLUS put the library together! All in a day's work ...

It was a totally refreshing weekend.

Next email - the trip home. One flat, two flats, three flats, four ... . Really, I couldn't make this one up!

Love and thanks for the prayers. Keep them coming! I seem to need them constantly!

Trudy