Saturday and Sunday!

Saturday, July 14, 2012

 But first! two photos from Friday at the distribution of the Pillowcase dresses:

More adventures today. We had the ACT Muko Board Meeting today. It was supposed to start at 9am and end at 12:30pm or 1pm. It started at 10:30am and ended at 4:00pm. It was a good exchange on the topics discussed among the U.S. Team and the Ugandan board members.

Of utmost importance was the ACT Empowerment Center. We had a great deal of discussion about lessons learned, what next steps might be and waited for Dave to arrive back from Muko after having visited the site with the Team of Marion (the woman from the UK who builds schools all over the world). They will be bringing us a proposal with costs for completion of the building tomorrow. We also discussed schooling for the Muko HOPE kids and what future plans might look like.

Sue presented 30 minutes of board training covering the topics of the eight basic board responsibilities, the board member job description and the legal duties of nonprofit boards. The board members seemed to appreciate the new information. It is the first time for most of the board members to serve on a board. One of ACT MI board members suggested our MI board could benefit from it as well.

The highlight of the meeting was the changing of the guard – Charles handed over the Chairmanship to Lydia Komugisha. There was celebration for what Charles has contributed for four years being the first board chair of ACT Muko. Lydia gave a speech about her upcoming tenure and the excitement she has for ACT. We also formally said good-bye to Fr. Bruno Byomuhangi, with great, great sadness. He just cannot attend the meetings with his workload at the Diocese. We will miss him very much (munonga, munonga!)

The ACT U.S. Team spent 20 minutes practicing bells to play for the ecumenical service tomorrow in the village. We are joined on the bells by Charles, Lydia and Generous. Then, part of the team headed to the village to pick up some items left in the office that we needed and walk through the Muko market. We purchased three beautiful fabrics but will add to them in Kampala. Driving out of the village, we dodged piglets, cows, chickens and kids. Christopher is so amazing as a driver and a man. “Just a rock”, one of the team said.

Tomorrow, Sunday, we will be worshipping alongside our Ugandan friends at 5 different churches and in the afternoon at the ecumenical service. So far, everyone on the team is well, healthy, and surprised at how beautiful it is here – the weather, the sunshine (not a drop of rain yet). They are appreciating the warm showers, the decent hotel rooms, and the food.

We pray all of you are well. We really have no idea what is happening in the world but life will go on without us knowing…

Sunday, July 15, 2012

The day was full from sun-up to sun-down of worship and fellowship. As Sue shared with the congregation at the ecumenical service this afternoon, this was the MOST important thing we came to do!

We were informed this morning that Aine, the driver of the Turniwe van, had gotten very, very low on gas and they were in the village! So, we spent some time trying to find petrol for him in Kabale before leaving town for the village. There is a shortage of petrol in Kampala and it is beginning to affect Kabale as well. Fortunately, the ProRide van, with Christopher, runs on diesel.

Today was the first time the team got to go up the mountain in the village to the Ikamiro Church of Uganda, the clinic and the VIP latrine.  By the way, VIP does not stand for Very Important People, it stands for Ventilated Improved Pit! It is lovely by the way. Our money was well spent here. We did not have time to go into the clinic as the church was awaiting our arrival for the baptism of Joash Turinawe. Karen and Dave Viele were asked (while still in MI) if they would be Joash’s Godparents. They were thrilled. When we arrived in Uganda, Generous also asked who on the team would like to be Joshua’s Godparents, son of Mabel, Generous’ sister. Some of you may remember her daughter had a heart condition and died last year. This is her younger child. Karen and Dave stood in as Godparents for both of the children. It was a moving ceremony – all in Rukiga.

We then were welcomed by the congregation and thanked for all we have done for the village. Unfortunately, since we have six churches here in Muko who are partners in ACT, we need to make appearances at them all so we left before the main service started and went down the mountain being dropped off (we split up) at all the other partner churches. This was about 11:30. The last service ended at the Pentecostal church at about 2:45pm. The ecumenical service in the Muko market area, sponsored by ACT, was supposed to begin at 2:30pm. They had prepared a huge lunch for us so we sat and ate together and the service started at about 4:00pm. Such is Ugandan time. Many of the village schools and church choirs had prepared songs for us – one even did a drama and Boaz Twikirize, Kapina and Mike Williamsen’s orphan was a star in the drama. They we as a team played handbells for two songs. The villagers had never seen handbells. Another curiosity.

Curt did an outstanding job as pastor for the service. He used a bit of his slight-of-hand to make points about Jesus’ teaching. The crowd loved it! It was being translated to ensure everyone was understanding. At the end of the service, ACT Muko volunteers presented each MI partner church with a basket. What a good idea. We will proudly bring those back to our churches to be presented. The service ended at about 6:30pm and we are now back at the hotel – really tired waiting for our dinner which typically takes about 1.5 to 2 hours to prepare. Such is Ugandan time…

We wish all of you blessings! Thanks for reading along about our journey.

Friday, July 13, 2012

Call Katie Brinklow shoeless. In the afternoon, we journeyed to the top of one of the mountains – really. Lake Bunyonyi was microscopic from where we were. We went to the home of Agnes, the auntie of Alex Byaruhanga, the Brinklow’s orphan. Agnes is 27 years old and unmarried. She is afraid of what might happen to Alex if she marries. You see, if she married, the man she married might reject Alex who would be homeless then. Alex’s father died and his mother remarried and the new husband rejected Alex so Agnes, the aunt stepped in to care for him.Agnes works in the field digging to earn money. Agnes says she is being harassed by neighbors who are upset because her nephew, Alex’s, school fees are being paid for through the Muko HOPE program.

Another woman who had been in the back of the van riding along with us turned out to be Oscar Atwine’s Mom so Lazara and Karen spent time with her greeting her and being joyful.

Dave, Charles and Curt spent the day in Kabale meeting with Marion, a woman from UK who runs an organization for African children. She has a builder who has worked all over the world building schools. They drove with she and her builder Chris, to Muko to evaluate our building. They also stopped and saw some of his work. They have trained plumber, carpenters, etc. that they work with. The quality of their work was similar to standards in the U.S. The latrine they saw was dug 50 feet. They actually were watching the bricklayers laying bricks. They understood our situation and what our choices might be to move ahead. They will meet with Marion, Chris, a plumber and engineers about how much it will cost to complete the building salvaging what has been so poorly done. They basically concurred with the assessment of the evaluator ACT Muko has already hired. The ACT Muko board will discuss this tomorrow during their meeting. One of the water taps in the village was broken open and continuously draining. Dave is taking a plumber to fix the tap for the village.

Sydney was in charge of the project of handing out 384 little pillowcase dresses. It started out pretty well handing out packets. The parents who had been segregated from the children began to intermingle and push and push toward us. It was mayhem. Karen played her violin to entertain the parents while we tried to set up for the distribution.

We got to ready to leave and as the team began to get in, the bus was completely full of Ugandans. We had to pull some of them out to get our team in. We drove to the top of the mountain to visit Froelidah who is being sponsored by Dale Anderson. She is the guardian of her younger siblings living alone. She walks two hours a day to and from school. Dale gave her some gifts and paid her school fees for the next term.

Karen, Dave and Sue went back to Kigezi school to teach a music lesson. Dave describes how the kids came out and grabbed his hands and remembered his name. We handed out recorders and books and she gave them a lesson on their recorders as well as showing them how to play the handbells. Because we met outside for the music lesson, Dave held out his arms and had the music charts duck-taped to arms and chest to facilitate the meeting.

We arrived back at the hotel for dinner and are just finishing our debrief. We deserve a good night’s sleep!

No pictures today, sorry! But we will try to post the shots we have of the girls in the dresses tomorrow! So cute!

Thursday, July 12, 2012

“We are very happy to receive you..” were the lyrics of the songs the Ugandans are all singing each day to us. “Welcome vistas (their pronunciation of visitors)” What a warm, joyful people we encounter each day wherever we go. This was the first day we split up as a team. Curt stayed in Kabale to work on the Internet and ended up meeting a woman from UK. She may be very helpful to us with builders and construction in the future. Everyone else journeyed to Muko (about 40 minute drive). We have lovingly named all the speed bumps on the highway, “Christopher’s massages.”  As I write this, Katie and Sydney and I (Sue) are in the back of the van in the cargo going over a very bumpy road.

Before we left Kabale this morning, we picked up Lovina, our handcraft quality manager, who has taken it upon herself to enroll in a school to learn to read and write. She is physically disabled with no use of her legs which are drawn up under her. In her late twenties, she has never attended school before. She is our very best basket-maker and usually makes the lidded baskets. It has been with her meager salary from ACT that she could afford to enroll in school.

We took Lovina with us because today was MEP day – meeting with the women and men who make the handcrafts. It was a productive meeting. We discussed wages they earn for the handcrafts, the time they spend on making the different size baskets, and shared with them the new project ideas from MI. After the meeting and as a spur of the moment thing, Dale worked with the women to make some fabric coasters. They appreciated the work and learning. Sue worked in the office with Alexander sorting all the baskets and deciding which ones to bring back to the U.S. We marked each basket with the woman’s name who made it – something we have wanted to do with regularity. After helping Dale, Sydney and Katie went outside and played with village children for (as they are describing it) hours and hours and hours. More and more came along as school let out. The played Frisbee, ball, and Duck, Duck, Goose. They even enlisted Christopher, our driver in the game.

All the while Dave, Christopher, Charles Tuhaise and Josiah, our new Operations Manager measured the windows and doors in the ACT Empowerment Center. They drove all the way back to Kabale to find a supplier and order a sample which they will pick up tomorrow. Their goal is to get all the doors and windows ordered so that they can have them installed by next week and get our building secured. They then sent Christopher and Josiah back to Muko so he could bring us home.

Karen was busy all day giving music lessons at two of the schools. She managed to arrange getting the kids at far-away schools to come to the other schools for their lessons. Not only did she do recorder lessons but she used the bells with the kids as well.

We are waiting for our supper and recounting our day with each other. God is good.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Today we finished distributing all orphans except one. We will take this student’s gift and recorder and music book to him on another day. We covered four schools.

Karen and Dave distributed the recorders they donated and the music books on how to play the instrument. At the third school, Karen and Dave and Josiah, our new Operations Manager, stayed behind the team to teach the first music lesson on the recorders to three students (John Bosco, Isabel Akanduhura, and Apophia Birungi) They were smiling and their eyes were happy! Karen taught, Dave demonstrated on his recorder and Josiah interpreted for Karen because they sometimes struggle with English. It was a great success!

Curt did his program at 3 of the schools for the following approximate numbers of kids: 400 kids at Kigezi; 200 at Hornby; 150 at Central High School.  After the rest of the school went back to their classes, a 3-year old girl walked up to Curt with no one around and looked up at him and turned around obviously for him to pick her up. He did, they danced. She was satisfied and walked away.

Katie saw Alex, her family’s orphan. Alex had not been verbal before and Katie was really worried about this. He spoke to Katie quite a bit. What a joy! Sue and Katie also went to the dormitory to see Rogers, Katie’s uncle’s (Dave) orphan. He was sick but greeted us and we took pictures and gave him his package.

Karen sat in the grass to show a couple of children some photos from home. She was so completely surrounded by little kids we couldn’t see Karen anymore.

Hornby Girls’ school, also has governmental money to support and educate blind kids. The kids are mixed into the classrooms with sighted kids. These kids were so attracted to the music – like moths to a flame.

Karen and Dave got to meet Grace Kihembo, their orphan for the first time. Lazara, Karen and Dave spent time with all the Holt Presbyterian orphans taking many pictures.

Sue got to see, hug and love on her and John’s orphans – brother and sister, Miracle and Dishan.

At the schools once again, the children performed their welcome songs and we danced with them.

At the last school, the team met Francis Girukwayo. His sponsor is Janice Smith in Columbus, OH. Janice asked Sue which orphan, out of the remaining, would be the hardest to get a sponsor for. Sue responded that Francis would be because of his age: 20. In his photo he has a small mustache. She said, “Then, that is the one I will sponsor.” When I met Francis today, I learned his story. He was 7 years old at the time of the genocide in Rwanda. His family fled into Uganda and in the journey his parents were killed. Francis survived and made his way to Kabale, Uganda – about 10 miles North of the Rwandan border. He started school for the first time at the age of 10. He is a very good student and is very, very smart and speaks English really well. He was so appreciative of Janice, as his sponsor, that he got emotional as he spoke of her dedication to his success. He asked me to tell him about her. “He said, words cannot express the gratitude I feel for her love of me.” I share this one story with you so that you each understand the incredible impact you sponsors are making in the lives of these children.

*We had no connectivity last night so here is yesterday's blog this morning! It is a beautiful morning in Kabale - sunshine and about 55 degrees this early morning.

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Today we finished distributing all orphans except one. We will take this student’s gift and recorder and music book to him on another day. We covered four schools.

Karen and Dave distributed the recorders they donated and the music books on how to play the instrument. At the third school, Karen and Dave and Josiah, our new Operations Manager, stayed behind the team to teach the first music lesson on the recorders to three students (John Bosco, Isabel Akanduhura, and Apophia Birungi) They were smiling and their eyes were happy! Karen taught, Dave demonstrated on his recorder and Josiah interpreted for Karen because they sometimes struggle with English. It was a great success!

Curt did his program at 3 of the schools for the following approximate numbers of kids: 400 kids at Kigezi; 200 at Hornby; 150 at Central High School.  After the rest of the school went back to their classes, a 3-year old girl walked up to Curt with no one around and looked up at him and turned around obviously for him to pick her up. He did, they danced. She was satisfied and walked away.

Katie saw Alex, her family’s orphan. Alex had not been verbal before and Katie was really worried about this. He spoke to Katie quite a bit. What a joy! Sue and Katie also went to the dormitory to see Rogers, Katie’s uncle’s (Dave) orphan. He was sick but greeted us and we took pictures and gave him his package.

Karen sat in the grass to show a couple of children some photos from home. She was so completely surrounded by little kids we couldn’t see Karen anymore.

Hornby Girls’ school, also has governmental money to support and educate blind kids. The kids are mixed into the classrooms with sighted kids. These kids were so attracted to the music – like moths to a flame.

Karen and Dave got to meet Grace Kihembo, their orphan for the first time. Lazara, Karen and Dave spent time with all the Holt Presbyterian orphans taking many pictures.

Sue got to see, hug and love on her and John’s orphans – brother and sister, Miracle and Dishan.

At the schools once again, the children performed their welcome songs and we danced with them.

At the last school, the team met Francis Girukwayo. His sponsor is Janice Smith in Columbus, OH. Janice asked Sue which orphan, out of the remaining, would be the hardest to get a sponsor for. Sue responded that Francis would be because of his age: 20. In his photo he has a small mustache. She said, “Then, that is the one I will sponsor.” When I met Francis today, I learned his story. He was 7 years old at the time of the genocide in Rwanda. His family fled into Uganda and in the journey his parents were killed. Francis survived and made his way to Kabale, Uganda – about 10 miles North of the Rwandan border. He started school for the first time at the age of 10. He is a very good student and is very, very smart and speaks English really well. He was so appreciative of Janice, as his sponsor, that he got emotional as he spoke of her dedication to his success. He asked me to tell him about her. “He said, words cannot express the gratitude I feel for her love of me.” I share this one story with you so that you each understand the incredible impact you sponsors are making in the lives of these children.

In case anyone would like to call us on the team, please dial 011-256-775-072-710. This is the phone Sue is carrying. Please feel free to call. When we are in the village we might not have a signal the whole time.

Village School Day

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Dear friends of ACT,

We have arrived at our hotel in Kabale at 8:30pm for our dinner. A wonderful day in the villages. We started at the temporary ACT offices preparing to go to the first school for Curt to do his program for the kids. On the way, we drove by the ACT Empowerment Center but did not have time to go through it yet. Dave Viele went in and spent some time scrutinizing the workmanship and taking many, many photos.

We met the students at Muko Martyr’s school first. There were about 200 kids from kindergarten to P7. They were sitting outside in the grass as Curt started. Per usual, the kids were very silent and attentive and fairly non-participative – until Curt started…  They suddenly came alive and could not have been more delighted at his tricks and ventriloquism with Gerbert the puppet. My oh my, were they amazed. Generous assured us they have never, ever seen anything like what he presented. By the time. As part of the presentation, Karen Viele played her violin and the kids were so happy. They performed for us dancing and singing. Katie and Sydney got up and danced with them. That delighted them immensely. We handed out the Book of Hope to the kids. They heard the gospel in the most creative way.

During this first program, the next door neighbors, All Saints school, requested we come there as well. We added them in. There were about 100 kids. They loved Curt’s program and Karen’s violin.

The third program was at Muko High School. We had the primary and secondary schools combined. It was amazing – 300+ kids in their courtyard. They started off quietly as well but were quickly engaged. They did a drama for us and sang their school anthem. Their voices are beautiful. We again, handed out the Book of Hope to the kids. It was the Curt and Karen show! While Karen was playing her violin for the students, one of the students went and got his instrument – a Ugandan endingidi. It looked a bit like a half lyre and it was covered in goat skin. He snuck up next to Karen and started playing Amazing Grace. She immediately joined in and it was a wonderful moment!

Our fourth school was Good Hope Kindergarten through P7. We went straight down a big hill across what was a stream previously or in the rainy season and back up a very, very steep hill of hard-packed dirt to the school. We were joking about walking to school every day uphill both ways! We got all the way over to the school and Curt realized he needed something else from the van. He returned and as he came down the hill to the ravine (we were all watching him approach). As he got halfway across a huge turkey appeared and began chasing him. He was swinging his wires for the equipment at the turkey trying to escape. Needless to say, it was very funny. The turkey finally waddled off gobbling. The kids at Good Hope were about 150 and again were so very happy with the program and their Books of Hope.

Our last school (it was now 5pm and the Headmaster kept all the students there for the program) was Mulore private school. It is actually on the road on the way back to Kabale. What a great school. The grounds were very nice and the owner is a young man probably in his 30’s and we were all so very impressed with his demeanor and communications skills. His students have been ranking very high in the National tests – better than the other schools were Muko HOPE orphans are. Generous and I talked about bringing the kids to this school. Headmaster. There were about 450 students! They were very animated during the program. They also performed songs for us. We thought it was so late but they begged Karen to get her violin and play it. She did. Another wonderful program.

At each school following the programs, we met with the Muko HOPE orphans to distribute the sponsors’ packets and bring greetings. Lazara took wonderful pictures of the kids (482 pictures!) Sydney and Katie measured the heights of each child and used a legal pad to draw around their feet to measure their shoe size. Karen handed each of them a recorder she has purchased for all 70 kids in Muko HOPE and a book of music about how to play the instrument. She plans to go back to the different schools each day while we are here at 4pm to teach them the music.

We got a call from Richard who is still in Kampala telling us about a severe gas shortage. Christopher has some concern about the ability to have petrol here in Kabale and enough to get back to Kampala. We bought two jerry cans and filled them with extra petrol when we returned to Kabale this evening. We are finishing our dinner and just had a rousing chorus of Happy Birthday to Curt!

Dear ACT friends,

We have arrived safely in Kabale after another very long day. It is 12:30am and I am very tired. I finished typing the blog a few minutes ago and the computer spontaneously shut down without saving my document. So, I will say good night for now and share more tomorrow when I am fresher!

Just a teaser: we had a very, very productive day in Kampala before leaving for Kabale!

Blessings,

Sue