28 libraries serving over 45,000 students

By Trudy Marshall

Executive Director

In reflection, I simply shake my head and think - incredible. As we have provided libraries the past 9 years, the administrators have constantly commented on the difference reading has made in concentration, expanded vocabulary, improved writing skills, and general knowledge.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “The things I want to know are in books. My best friend is the man who gives me a book I haven’t read.” The books are changing lives, but the continued friendships and love that are shared through LOL are changing lives as well.

The Libraries of Love volunteer team works at Bombo Road Primary school.

Texas, Illinois, and Kansas groups arrived in Uganda in June. While here, they created four new libraries, containing 12,876 books total. They also added 9,977 books to two of our previous libraries. You can imagine, it was quite a feat – putting 22,853 books in correct Dewey order, plus folding in an additional 5,000 books already received last year at our two previous schools. Top that with decorating the libraries and labeling each shelf, and you know the team probably should have gone home wearing ‘Wonder Woman’ capes. They have my highest respect for a ‘job well done,’ as is said in Uganda.

The librarian in the newly completed Mothercare Preparatory Laurel Library drew an example on the chalkboard of how to complete checkout cards.

While here, the book club at Mengo SS held a meeting with the team. As various students stood to tell about

their favorite books, love for reading shined though their faces and voices. The students shared a book that was their favorite and/or had changed their life. Some of the books mentioned were Pilgrims Progress, Matilda, Twilight, Harry Potter, Bible, Found, and a Thousand Splendid Suns. One student shared that Timothy, the librarian, also had taught them to be well spoken. BillyPaul Okumu inspired the students, speaking about how LOL is about libraries, but also God’s love for others. He challenged the students to make the most of the opportunity.

Volunteers play netball with students.

I arranged for the team to have fellowship with our Mbale headmasters and librarians. We had a great time (39 people) singing, eating, sharing personal information, and visiting. We had four solos, two by men who

will be new headmasters in 2014! What an evening! The team also had a great dinner at the Okumu residence the evening before returning to Kampala. Sitting in a circle in the yard, I know each person was thankful that God had chosen them to spend this time in Uganda.

A boy is absorbed in the first library book he borrowed.

It is all about these beautiful, deserving children.

I am looking forward to a two day meeting of our 28 headmasters (principals) in Mbale next week. It will be a time of finding new ways to encourage reading, as well as bonding as an LOL family.

At the opening of the four new libraries, a 7th grader sang a song containing the words, “Thank you for giving to the Lord. I am a life that was changed.” When I think of those words being sung, emotions come, because that says it all. May God bless our many supporters and volunteers who have changed and continue

to change thousands of lives in our beloved Uganda.

June 12, 2013 - Update: 440 boxes of books unloaded in Uganda

By Trudy Marshall
Executive Director

A happy site as the truck rolls in to the school yard

May 27, 2013 - After 10 months of collecting books, weeding to only send those new or like new,  checking to see if each book is appropriate, typing spine labels, and typing information needed to place on pockets and cards for borrowing, the books were sent. After 2 ½ months on a ship, and a week traveling overland through Kenya, the container finally chugged through the gates of Mengo Secondary for unloading. The 24,000 books / 440 boxes have now been distributed to four new schools, which will receive libraries. Included were 9,000 books to add to existing libraries - Mengo SS and Bugonda Road Primary.

High school boys from Mengo Secondary help unload
boxes of books destined to 2013 project schools.

First of two volunteer teams arrives on June 17

Next Monday (June 17), our first Libraries of Love 2013 team will arrive. There are four new libraries to
create and two large ones to finish. Lots of work … but oh, what a good time we will have watching the kids
watching us, as they see thousands of books being put on shelves! Do I hear a cheer for the Dewey system? New libraries; happy faces!

Students enjoy story time recently in the
Namatala Primary Library of Love.

Texas third-grader's note encourages Ugandan students

Elementary school principal found this letter in her mail box:
Dear Namitali Primary School,
I hope you liked our books that we gave you. We wanted you guys to make sure you could read like we could. Now you do know how to read. I was in the same problem. I had to miss pre-school because of cancer. It took me three years until the doctor made sure it would not come again. He was right! It never came again, but I had to catch up on school and sports. So, I did but it was really hard because I did not
know how to read until first grade. I caught up in second grade. It felt so good to read and write and have good grades. Maybe you will be able to read, have good grades, and have a good day. That is my story.
Sincerely,
Jackson
3rd grade

29 librarians from 7 cities meet and share

It was an extraordinary two days (May 29 and 30) – 29 librarians from 7 cities meeting to discuss libraries, perform skits (good librarian / bad librarian), singing, laughing, sharing, problem solving, and proposing wonderful new ways to encourage reading. The meeting was a huge success. The librarians have become a “family.”

Notes from librarians about their libraries and students:

“I introduced a readers club towards the end of term one and it’s this term that we are to take it ahead and for the last-term on our two assemblies, I organized two pupils who came forward before other pupils and told them what book they read about and the lessons they learned from it.” Vincent / Mary Kevins Primary
***
“I invited a doctor, lecturer, and social worker to read and encourage my children to read books and take education as a priority, using the theme: No Reading No Success.” Favour – Librarian / Luwanda Children’s Home
***
“In my school, things had not begun very well – teaching pupils about the LOL services seemed to be very hard for them. Some pupils even dodged lessons claiming to be sick. Some could borrow books but to return them back was very hard for them. Then God answered my prayers. I got two pupils very friendly to me. One is in P3 and the other one in P5. They became very close to me. We meet every day. They hated reading books at first, but as I talk now, they really love reading. They read to me stories and write to me interesting letters. Oh! I feel very good for my two friends. One is called Peace and the other is Kizito. They always tell me that I stay a person full of love because their reading culture has really improved and hence
scoring good marks in class.:” Now I will reach more students. Esther – Librarian / Bugonda Road Primary
***
“In the Mengo SS Library of Love we have a readers club that has helped promote a reading culture in this society. We have reading sessions twice a week and this year we had our first reading competition. Teachers and students attended sharing their passion for books and we became one big family of book lovers. There are young people who have significantly grown at the skill of reading. Some came when they were only interested in reference / nonfictiion books and now they are interested in fiction, as well.” Timothy – Mengo SS

Why we do what we do – changing lives one book at a time.

 

“Ian is a boy who did not want to come to the library. His performance was very bad, even his teacher could complain about his character. His people at home used to come to school to ask why their boy was performing badly. I talked to Ian and advised him to get interest in the library. He started coming. Now he can read and performed well in the last term examination. My headteacher has interest in the library books, also.” Bridget – Martin Nkoyoyo Primary
***

“In the past the teachers never had the morally and the attitude toward borrowing books and usage of the library. But now their interest is very high whereby they borrow books on a daily basis. Teacher Nsubua always borrow the social studies book and uses which has helped other teacher to gain interest. Even the headteacher also borrow the books for reading.” Sophie – Kusubi Primary
***
“Performance in P7 last year (national exam year) in was excellent because of the library. Victoria didn’t know how to read, but now she is in a position to read by herself.” Ruth – Uganda Martyrs Primary
***
“We have the reading competition among the classes from P4-P6. As pupils come into the library, some read to their friends so they get interested in reading. Some 5 pupils in P5 didn’t even know how to read a sentence, bus as I identified them and started giving them easy books, for now they can do beginning reading.” Prisca – Joyce Primary
***
“I have a group of students, Assumption and friends, who read and act out some of their story books for others. Assumption is an active reader of the LOL books. He and his group of friends have inspired me. I love my work because of students like these.” Samuel – Mbale SS
***
“Ahmed is a girl who joined us last term 2013. She is a Kenyan who found it hard to read, but since she took my advise especially to read different simple or easy books that I identified for her, she ended up loving reading and borrows often. Her smile makes me want to do even more for other pupils.” Samuel – Namakwekwe Primary

Look at those faces – and those books!

What is there to say!
They simply love reading – and I, of course, love that they love reading.

By Trudy Marshall
Executive Director
I heard this class singing the Uganda national school song today, so I went to their classroom
and sang it in American English – which they thought was really funny, especially when I
danced a bit to the part of the song that says, “singing and dancing with joy together.”

If a day is hectic for me – I take time to go into a classroom to read and sing with the kids.
They bring sunshine into my day! They are worth every effort, all the time, and every penny of
funding needed to make a difference in their lives.

Books making their way to Uganda on cargo ships

March 6 – Container full of books left Austin, Texas for Houston
March 16 – Left Port of Houston aboard MSC Stella
March 19 – Left port of New Orleans for Bahamas, where the container was put aboard MSC Natalia and shipped back to Charleston, S.C.
March 26 – Left Charleston en route to Capetown, South Africa
April 29 – ETA in Capetown, where the container will be put aboard another ship en route to Mombasa, Kenya. From Mombasa, it will travel overland to Uganda.

Easter Outing with Jackson and Sylvester

Jackson (18 yrs) asked if he and Sylvester (14 yrs) could spend Easter with me. Iagreed. So, after church I treated them to lunch. Afterward, I asked if they wanted ice cream. Their faces look puzzled. After they ate one bowl, they wanted more! They hadn’t tried ice cream before! Where is a DQ when you need it!

I then suggested a road trip – or in this case – a foot trip, as they didn’t want to go home yet. There is a store here, Bam, that is fairly ‘westernized’, which I knew they would find interesting. The guys hadn’t seen the majority of the appliances before, so much learning took place. Then, to live up to my crazy Gran status, I decided they should try on wigs, funnels, etc. – which sent them into gales of laughter. On seeing blankets, they both just stopped! Then Jackson talked about how cold they were at night with no blankets. Sad.

As we were checking out, a person cut in front of me, putting their items in front of mine. At another store, two people tried. I said “nedda” (no), picked their items up and moved them back. Luckily, the people
were buying hardly anything – so I included their items in what I was buying – to their astonishment. This sent Jackson and Sylvester into fits of major laughter once again. It was time to part.

They both kept repeating, “This is an Easter we will never forget.” That night they slept snuggly in their new blankets – after eating Pringles and candy, of course.

Great day – that it was!

Who would have thought ...?

One day, I noticed an elderly, gray haired lady carrying two water jerry cans – one small and one larger. She would set the heavier one down, pause, pick it up, and continue.

I decided to help carry the heavier of the two. After lifting it, I knew I had made a mistake. I thought my arm was breaking. The sweat was rolling down my face. Finally, I put the lady and her jerry cans on a boda. Before paying and sending her off, I ask the driver to remember where she lived, so I could find her
again.

The next day, I found the lady, who lives in a tiny round hut in a large slum area. She was shocked to see me. The boda driver ask if there was anything she needed. She replied that she needed a radio, clothes, shoes, and a water basin – in that order. Off we went on two bodas to shop; she in her bare feet. After arriving
back with the items, she slipped into one of her two dresses and her new shoes for a picture.

As we were driving off – with all the neighbors staring after us, I looked back and she was waving her hand in the air and letting out African whoops! I had to laugh when my driver told me that she was using the water in her hut to make home-brew!

Another day in Uganda!

'Walk to Read' simply inspiring

By Trudy Marshall
Executive Director

Laurel Mountain Elementary students.

Principal Jan Richards.

Remarkable indeed – students helping students!

 

The Libraries of Love Board stands amazed at the results of an event, ‘Walk to Read’ which was conceived by Jan Richards, principal at Laurel Mountain Elementary, where I served as librarian for 10 years. LME helped facilitate the first Ugandan library in 2005 and has continued their support through kind words, books, and funding each year.

The recent ‘Walk to Read’ event integrated learning, physical fitness, and philanthropy. Students in area  schools learned about children who have no books, and decided, yes, they could join others and do something to change that situation. Round Rock ISD elementary schools participating were

• Blackland Prairie
• Canyon Creek
• Elsa England
• Jollyville
• Laurel Mountain
• Old Town
• Spicewood

Posters of Ugandan students with books were displayed at each school. Lessons plans and materials were provided by Libraries of Love so that each day the students learned new facts about the daily life in school and at home of students in Uganda. Also, I had the pleasure of showing a video and sharing information about Libraries of Love at an assembly at each school.

INSPIRING CULMINATION EVENT 

 

The entire student body at each school carried a book and walked for a distance around the school track to signify students in Uganda who hurry to school to read first thing in the morning. After walking, the students all sat down, opened books, and read together. How I wish I had been there! What a sight that must have been - entire student bodies, all ages, sitting together outside and reading.

We are humbled that these wonderful students /school communities not only donated hundreds of books, but also donated over $19,000 to help with the expense of shipping and cost of four new libraries! The Board and LOL team are extremely grateful to these generous students, and their families and friends. They not only
understood the need, but took action. We send a special thank you to Jan Richards for sharing with other administrators, resulting in ‘Walk to Read.’

Students at Ugandan Martyrs Primary school read books provide by Libraries of Love.

Kampala school librarians meet

 

The 17 Libraries of Love librarians in Kampala were thrilled to be together again recently. Listening to them give examples of students who love to read made my day. We spent the afternoon discussing ways to encourage reading and what needed to be taught to students. I can’t say enough about these precious young ladies and men who love their jobs, and love being part of the Libraries of Love-Uganda family. We are fortunate and honored to have them serve as our librarians.

2013 books begin journey to Uganda

By Trudy Marshall
Executive Director

Volunteer Director Scott Porter with one of the pallets of boxes, decorated with pictures
of volunteers.

Can you imagine? 23,000 books in 440 boxes are in a container floating over the ocean headed for Uganda!
Over 17,000 of those books have spine labels that were typed by volunteers, while other volunteers did typing for the cards and pockets.

One by one – 17,000 plus books needing preparation … a monumental task, an incredible amount of work.

What can one say except may God bless our dedicated volunteers who work weekly to make this a happening. Many thanks also to Dell groups who have come consistently for many years to prepare books.

I will be happy to receive the container here in Uganda in approximately two months! Thank you to Scott Porter, volunteers director, for tackling the shipping process this year! Fantastic job!

Now, it's time to start preparation for 2014.

Great to be busy, busy in Uganda

 

Love that Namirembe Primary, which houses our first library, painted great reading pictures and signs on the outside of the main building, like this “Readers are Leaders” illustration. The library is in this building.

I am extremely busy here in Uganda. At present, I am meeting with the staff and administration of our 15 Kampala area schools to share the story of Libraries of Love, and visit with them about the organization of their libraries, and how to use them to their fullest potential.

I also spend days in our libraries, observing, helping with classes, and offering suggestions. 

Busy, yes, but extremely rewarding as I spend time with children who have come to love reading.

Color: Daisy   Sizes: S, M, L, XL   Ladies Cut: S, M, L, XL

On a different note: We had a graphic designer prepare the Libraries

of Love t-shirts this year. They are extra nice. They are for sale until

April 1 for $10. To order one, please contact board member Sara

Solomon at solozone@att.net with the number and sizes you'd like,

along with your shipping address. She will provide payment details.

You can be our walking billboard for Libraries of Love.

Great idea, don't you think!

Pastor Peter in front of the new school/church building in Mosiro.

A quick follow-up to my mission in Masai land for Pflugerville Community Church

On Sunday, March 10, the following took place:

• In Mosiro where there has never been a building, people met in their new church. School started in this building the next day.
• In Olorropil, the people met for 7 years on top of a hill, under a tree. The congregation met under the tree on Sunday, sang worship songs, and then marched down the steep hill into the doors of their new church. School also began in this building the next day.
• In Ewuaso, in the new all-purpose building, a stream of children entered the doors and experienced a first - children's church.
• Next week, a water holding tank will be placed in Mosiro.

Totally inspiring – only God could orchestrate all of this, definitely.

Trudy in Masai Land: Mission Accomplished

LOL Director Trudy Marshall has successfully ended her private mission trip to Masai Land in Kenya to oversee construction of three buildings funded by Pflugerville Community Church. She is now in Uganda and will spend the next 6 months working with Libraries of Love’s 24 existing libraries and four new ones that will be created in June. Below is an update on her month in Masai Land, including some harrowing experiences – which seem to be part of “Trudy Travel.”

Regards,
Eddie Roach
Media Director, Libraries of Love
www.librariesoflove.org

* * * * *

Mission Accomplished

Combined school/church buildings completed

By Trudy Marshall

March 1, 2013

I have completed my private mission trip to Masai Land in Kenya. I am now in Uganda where I will

spend the next 6 months working with Libraries of Love libraries. I was in Masai Land to oversee

construction of three buildings funded by Pflugerville Community Church near my home in Texas. I

loved my time in Masai land and became close friends with many wonderful people. It was an honor to

spend time with them. I am looking forward to returning in April with Pastor Okumu, from Uganda, for

a pastor's conference.

During my month in Masai land, a school/church was built in Mosiro and another in Ewuaso. The third

building, next to the Ewuaso church, will be used as an all purpose building: a seminary, Sunday

school, youth services, conferences, etc. In addition, 83 Bibles were purchased in the Masai language, 5

in Swahili, and 5 in English.

Pictured is the completed school/church building at Mosiro.

 

Feb. 18 – Yesterday, Pastor Peter and I went to
Mosiro in a worn out pick-up ... bald tires, left
window handle was missing, the right window
stayed up if a screw driver was inserted between the
window and door. With the windows up it was
suffocating … down you were covered with dirt. I
know I have tried to describe the roads before, but
yesterday it dawned on me; they are like a lava
flow – only covered with dirt.
Peter asked if I wanted to take the long hike to see
the only source of water for Mosiro. It was far and
down the hill, over many, many rocks. I was glad I
went. The water is filthy – light brown with a darker
brown scum. The cattle drink from here – as do the people … without boiling. Hard to imagine it is the
only source of water. Sad!

A rainwater holding tank with concrete poured under it will be installed at Mosiro this week. It will be a life saver for sure.

***

Travel with Trudy in Masai Land – an adventure full of blessings

(Note: Trudy joined Pastor Peter and others at a four-day gathering of Masai Christians from various churches all over Masai land. The conference was in Oloitokitok just outside Amboseli National Park, a harrowing six-hour trip from Ewuaso. Oloitokitok is near the border with Tanzania within sight of Mount Kilimanjaro.)

The Trip

Map shows A-Ewuaso and B-Oloitokitok.

We left on a tire that had rope stuck in a hole in the side. It went flat. We changed to the spare, which had the gold cord showing all the way around. Both tires went flat again. We found places to air them – once using a bicycle pump. After leaving Masai land we were on a busy, busy blacktop road with endless trucks traveling from the port at Mombasa to Nairobi. The driver was the worst I have had in 10 years traveling in Africa.

If I'm totally scared, you know it is worse than bad. We had bad tires; the brakes were metal against metal; the hand break didn't work, and
the driving was so dangerous, even with my yelling at him “popole, popole” – “slowly, slowly.” We were driving on mountain roads – with no rails. We finally made it to Oloitokitok. Amazing! I told Peter I would take a bus back to a town called Mai-Ma Hio, then contact someone to come for me on a boda to get to Ewuaso. Bless Peter's heart, he went and bought two new tires for the car.

Return Trip

Tires were better. Breaks were not. Driving terrified me. I couldn't believe the risks the driver was taking. Finally, this mzungu lost it! The driver was going 75 mph when the roads were crowded, passing on hills and curves. I confess – I lost it. I screamed childish things like, "You drive stupid!” Then I laid down in the seat
because I couldn't stand to watch. OK, I have confessed. Now you know. I did have to apologize later for my outburst, though I told the driver that I would never ride with him again. Peter arranged for another driver to meet us in Nairobi – and we switched drivers. I wanted to kiss the ground of Ewuaso town!
What can I say?!

Hospitality Masai Style

In Oloitokitok, the women had carved out a huge
area under tree branches with brush for a circular
fence. They had big black pots for cooking rice,
beans, potatoes and meat – with charcoal for
making chapatti, a kind of flat bread. While the
women cooked under the tree awning, the men sat
above on a rock area enclosed by trees. The men
stay separate from the women … though they did
invite this mzungu into their enclave. Of course the
women brought them tea and then lunch.

This was by a small church.

The two nights before reaching the church, we stayed in a small village at the Grand Savannah Hotel.
The small hotel was owned by a cousin of a pastor who traveled with us. It was good - and actually had
hot water for a shower – next thing to heaven! The toilet was a sit-down … without a seat. Humm!

This was also where we had roasted goat in the bush. The men were in the bush cooking a goat they
had killed. They took parts of the goat; stuck a stick through it; stuck one end in the dirt, and the other
over the fire. The women had a small, metal cook shack with a dirt floor where they used charcoal and
wood.

After we had goat at 10:30 pm., we had a worship service with about 40 Masai men and women under
the stars from midnight until 1:30 am. It was beautiful!

An Exciting Night

Trudy did not get a photo of her Masai 

Moran police warrior. guards. This photo 

from www.wildlife-photo.org shows a

Moran in full dress.

Copyright: Vadim Onishchenko.

Feb. 21 – There is no town at Oloitokitok … It is just a place with a wooden church – and dung-covered homes called “enkaji” dotted across the open space. The day before, a lion had killed a Masai Moran (one of the police warriors) near where I was, so we had two warriors guard us and the animals.

There was a late-night service. I had to admire the women. They
walked across the open spaces for probably two miles at 8 pm to
attend the evening service that lasted until 1 am. It was packed. The church was full with people outside as well. I decided not to attend because it was conducted in the Masai language.

I was escorted by the warrior guards to a vacant house. The house
was of old wood, but decent. They had built a stick wall around the compound with the house, goats, cows, and sheep inside the wall. The problem was the latrine was outside the wall. Since a lion had killed someone here the night before, and I wasn't sure the guards were outside, I decided I could do without the latrine in the middle of the night. Even though they told me I would be alone in the house, later a women, Ester, came and brought me tea, and she
spent the night with me.

Frightening as it was, I made it through the night. It was quite a sight to see the Masai warrior police leaving in the morning with their long metal spears (as tall as they are), bow and arrow, knives, and all their gear. I wanted to take a picture, but I only got them as they were walking away.


A young singer, Mike Ole Parsaoti traveled with us to the conference. He spoke good English and kept me laughing. About the lion, he said lions were used to black skin, so the lion would want something new – mzungu skin. Then he laughed and said that was okay. Since I was older, I had already lived a long life, but he is still young (32) and his wife and two children need him. Mike was like that the entire four days. I loved his company.

The local pastor said the people hadn't seen mzungus and would want to touch, feel my skin, etc. But
after seeing all the vans of white people going by into the National park, I would guess the locals have
“seen” plenty of mzungus – perhaps just not interacted closely with them.

What a blessing that I got to meet an enjoy the company of these wonderful people.

Fun photos and interesting facts

Main street in Ewuaso town. Great little place.

Masai are still very much polygamous, and they practice female circumcision. There is a Catholic work here in Ewuaso that rescues girls as young as 12 years old who are being married to old men,
and for girls trying to escape circumcision. I admire their work. Many of the girls are promised as babies to men, and then must marry at an early age. Christian pastors preach against both practices.

***

The Masai around Ewuaso pull one of a child's lower front teeth at abut age 3. That way, if they child gets sick, they can still give them milk and medicine.

***

Masai use sticks from any of 7 trees to clean their teeth. They insist it works better than a toothbrush.

***

At Mosiro, a Masai man broke a cactus and took a lick of the juice inside. He handed it to me. I took a lick of the same place. He said Masai use the juice inside to cure pneumonia. Also, if you apply to it your face, it will get rid of pimples. What a deal!

***

Where we were nearer the Tanzanian border, the Masai tattoo children when they are 5 or 6 – putting a circle about the size of a dime on their face with a hot iron. It burns the outside ring, but doesn't burn the skin inside the circle. Also, the ladies near the border wear what we think of as Mexican bandanas.

***

In Ewuaso, we had a Texas tornado – Kenyan style. The night was pitch black. It truly sounded like a tornado, but it was a dirt storm. They sky was totally, totally filled with swirling dirt. An electrical pole was shooting huge amounts of fire into the air. The girls and I stood on the balcony near the door to watch. Really, a strange sight. The only thing I had to compare it with was a sandstorm I experienced once in when in China. Goodness!

This was in the goat pen near the house I stayed in that was guarded 

by the Masai warriors. Aren't these some cute kids?

Love this picture of the grandchildren of a pastor in whose home I stayed. 

They live in the small building with their grandmother - right next to 

the sheep pen.

Feb. 25 – Last market day before next Monday's election ... Let's try to get some votes! Perhaps it will dawn on the politicians we could use some roads in Masai land! Our small town of Ewuaso was crowded beyond recognition.

Sunday morning, a young pastor preached on elections. He said the election / leader(s) lay a foundation. Sometime is a good foundation. Other times, the foundation is not built with integrity or in God's will. However, others continue to build on the bad foundation and reason that it must be good since the leader laid it. Finally, it becomes 'normal' to the people though it is not with God's blessing.

We pray for peaceful elections though there are already isolated reports of shacks being burned in Nairobi and fighting … tribe against tribe. Following the last national election in December 2007, violence took the lives of 1,300 people, and 600,000 were forced to flee their homes.

***

Google Map Links:

Ewuaso, Kenya

http://goo.gl/oHBFf

Mosiro, Kenya

http://goo.gl/hfeom

Oloitokitok, Kenya

http://goo.gl/nkV10

Ewuaso to Mosiro

http://goo.gl/SuXzT

Ewuaso to Oloitokitok

http://goo.gl/t1rLr

Trudy in Masai Land: Miracle at Mosiro

Libraries of Love Director Trudy Marshall is on a private trip to Kenya to oversee construction of three buildings funded by Pflugerville Community Church. Two will be schools that double as churches. The third building will be used as a seminary to train local pastors. She asked me to post the following update because many of you have expressed interest in this side mission. She sent the update on Feb. 7 but asked me to wait to post it until she could send pictures – a challenge because of poor Internet connectivity.

She will travel to Uganda on March 1 to work with Libraries of Love’s 24 existing libraries and four new ones that will be created in June.

Eddie Roach
Media Director, Libraries of Love
www.librariesoflove.org

Pastor Peter, a teacher, and a parent that wanted in the picture join the children of Mosiro watching construction of their new school - and the visiting mzungu (white person).

By Trudy Marshall
Feb. 7, 2013

To leave Ewuaso town where I am staying, it takes about an hour to drive out of Masai land to a main
road. There aren't words to describe the “roads.” Think the worst - and you will be correct. I will just
refer to them as non-roads.

To get to Mosiro, we left Ewuaso and drove to the main road. After thirty minutes on the main road, we
turned back into the bush. One hour and 45 minutes later, traveling into one of the remotest parts of the
bush, we came to the Mosiro area. There are 500 people who live here, though it is hard to tell. Their
dung homes are hidden throughout the bush. There isn't a town, just a small market back toward the
main road. There is no water anywhere near. The people take donkey carts far away, and bring back
water in barrels.

The people of Mosiro have never had a building for a school or church. They have always met under a tree. Flies are so thick, many of the children have faces half covered with flies. They don't bother to swat them away. The flies would just return.

Two Masai women - one said to be 100 and the
other in her 90s - wanted their picture taken.

Children at Mosiro.

The men of Mosiro have always said that church was for women and children. Now - the rest of the story.
Pastor Peter and I stayed at another pastor's home high on a hill a distance from Mosiro, so he could order material from a nearby town. Materials can't be ordered and just sent to Mosiro. The drivers would never find it, as at times you drive over land instead of a path or road. Peter was gone one night until 2 in the morning delivering materials - the next night until late again. I didn't go with him to order materials, as the price would go up if they saw the mzungu (white skin). Peter has earned my highest respect on this trip. He is organized and dedicated to his people and the work here.

After two days of construction, I went back to Mosiro with Peter. I was in awe as I saw the frame almost complete. To build, Masai put up the frame first; next, comes the metal siding; pouring the cement for the flooring is third; and last, the doors, windows, and latrines. At the back of the structure, is a small room with tin sides big enough for a bed. This will be the teacher's room.

The parents and kids were watching as the structure went up. The men who said church was for women and children came and told Peter - in their words, "The building is a miracle. We will come to church.”
I can hardly write the words without tears. When I think of the children going in the building for
school - leaving the flies outside, and people worshiping in that same building, it is overwhelming.

Today we will have a chalkboard delivered.

If we have enough funding left, we want to put a contained water tank at Mosiro to collect rainwater.
That would be a huge blessing, as people here drink rainwater.

That is Mosiro - miracle #1. Peter and I will go back next week to take pictures of the students in
school, and hopefully be there for a service. May God bless the congregation of Pflugerville
Community Church for their compassionate hearts in supplying funding.

Phoebe, a 10 year old, is my teacher.

At Pastor Jane's home, one of her granddaughters, Phoebe, decided to be my companion - even overnight. She taught me many things. I asked her why the shepherds were in the sheep pen (right in front of the house) late at night. Phoebe replied, "The shepherds have the sheep come through the gate one at a time, so they can count them. If even one sheep is lost, they will go into the dark to find the sheep. (Do I hear an Amen?)
Then they put the small sheep in a front pen. Next is milking time." I asked Phoebe if they drink sheep milk. She said no - they use it to make tea.

There you have it! Now I have had many, many cups of sheep milk tea!

On the way back from Mosiro, Peter, our driver, Jack, and an elder in the church stopped at a small butcher shop. The shop had skinned animals hanging in the front window from big hooks. We went in the dark little room with one long table. Peter ordered. They brought meat to the table and started chopping it into small pieces - goat meat, and goat intestines. The intestines were circular and sounded crunchy when they
chopped them. They put all the meat on one plate - and the four of us dug in with our hands. OK - I ate almost as much as the guys.

Do I highly recommend goat intestines? No, but it was worth it … stories for my grandkids!

In closing, would I trade places with you so I could have hot showers, sit-down toilets, food I am used
to? Not for a minute. I know I am where God has placed me at this time. Life is difficult - especially
travel here, but what an amazing journey. Today materials are being ordered. Building #2 will begin
here in Ewuaso tomorrow.

Another miracle. I am blessed to be here. Thank you for listening.

The building in Mosiro after two days work. It is now finished. The little room at the back will be for the teacher, with a bed.

Trudy arrived in Kenya

Just wanted to let everyone know that Trudy arrived in Nairobi, Kenya, on Thursday. She called family about 12:30 p.m. Texas time to let them know she had been picked up by a pastor friend and was en route to Masailand. I’ll try to keep everyone updated as we hear from her. She doesn't expect to have Internet access in Masailand. She plans to stay in Kenya until early March and then go to Uganda to work in our 24 libraries. The 2013 project team will travel to Uganda on June 15th. (Posted by Eddie)

Off to Africa

Dear Friends,

I will be leaving Wednesday, the 30th, to my other home across the ocean. I wanted to share with you about the upcoming trip.

In Uganda, I will be working in our 24 libraries. The team will come June 15th. We will complete two libraries started last year and create four new ones. I am looking forward to my two-day meeting with headmasters, and later two days with all of our librarians.

Before going to Uganda, I will go to Kenya. This is not a Libraries of Love trip … simply a ‘Trudy’ side mission. Last year, as I wrote in a newsletter, after leaving Uganda, I went to see a Masai pastor friend, Peter, in the remotest part of Kenya. We visited places where school and churches meet under trees. After returning, I shared the situation with the pastor of Pflugerville Community Church. Their church is now donating funding to build three buildings in Masailand. Two will be schools – also used for churches. The third was Peter’s request, as he needs a building  to use as a seminary to train the approx. 60 pastors under his care.  **May God bless PCC and their pastor, Steve Clem, for this incredible donation.

Peter had shared that the pastors needed Bibles, so I posted the need to Facebook. With the help of friends and New Life Baptist Church in Pflugerville, I will be able to purchase around 100 Bibles in Nairobi, which will be in the Masai language. There will be some happy pastors! Peter has a pastors’ conference in April. Wilber, my Ugandan pastor, is going to preach at the conference, so I will go to Uganda the first of March – and return with Wilber for the five day conference.

There you have it – by the time I return in August, there will be two new school – churches, one seminary, two completed libraries, and four new ones. How incredible is that?!  I am so thankful for the donors and volunteers that make it all possible.  Amazing people they are!  As always – all the glory belongs to God.

I will try to stay in touch and plan on returning August 15.

May our God keep us until we meet again.

Trudy