Saturday, June 29, 2013
Moving On
GAMES are finished. This last week was a challenge coming up with ideas to keep the children busy. They are pretty creative in in playing games without a lot of equipment. They didn 't need a swimming pool to play " sharks and minnows.
Our RAFIKI HAS TALENT show was fun. The children all arrived in their Sunday clothes and sang and danced for us. The children have beautiful voices and were very creative in their ideas. I thought it was rather cute when one of the bigger boys was playing a white missionary. He did not do anything to make himself look white.
All in all GAMES went well. We had a picnic under the trees. To Americans, not an exciting picnic lunch, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with a bit of lettuce in the sandwich, potato chips, popcorn, a small banana, and a "sweet", which is candy. To them it was a special treat, they get peanut butter but the jelly was special. The cooks were happy, they did not have to cook lunch for over 120 people.
Time has passed quickly though I feel like I have been on a retreat. It is quiet here, sometimes I can't tell if the noise is from the near by recreational center or the children on the village.
The village is beautiful and well kept. The children are kept busy with cleaning and gardening chores besides keeping their cottages clean
The electricity has been in and out all day. It seems every afternoon we are without power for 3-4
hours. If we are not on the ball, our desire for soup at lunch is whisked away and it is back to tuna. I am somewhat tired of tuna even though we have found ways to change it up. It is healthy and satisfying. Something to be thankful about. I have lots to be thankful here. Being in Africa always reminds me of how simple I can live.
I am 99% packed. Tomorrow we leave for Ethiopia. We leave the village at one o'clock for Entebbe which is one and a half to two hours away. Our plane leaves at 5:30 in the afternoon. We arrive in Addis Abba about 7:30 pm. We will overnight in Addis. Someone from the village in Ethiopia is scheduled to pick us up in the morning and take us to the village. We are dreading that drive as it a slow scary trip. It is the only road to and from Dubai. It is one truck after another. We pray for safety in our travel.
I am looking forward to Ethiopia. I was at the village before they had any children. I organized a small pharmacy . Last year we went through everything and reorganized so we would not have any
unnecessary medications. I have bought some nice containers and labels and I hope it will be more user friendly.
I am ready to begin the long journey toward home.
Friday, June 21, 2013
The Fine Art of Dining
Every evening, except Sunday, we have our dinner with one of the cottages of anywhere from 5-10 children and their mama in the dining hall. Technically that is with 105 children plus their mama or their dad. We have one dad who with his wife is in charge of 17 teenage boys. We also have one mama who is in charge of 14 teenage girls. That is what I call a super sized challenge! The rest of the cottages have 5 - 10 children from the ages of 3 to 13. Most are in the 5-10 age group.
The Ugandans are very soft spoken people. It is hard to hear them. It does not help when your own hearing is fading. The young boys and girls all look alike because they all have their heads shaved. I remember this when I was here to do medical clinics. They do not have a word in their language for male or female.
We have dinner with one family for 3 evenings so can familiarize ourselves to the children.. Some have nice English names, some the challenging Ugandan names.
At dinner the children and there mama, portion out the food. The guest table is set with a tablecloth and cloth napkins to match. We wait in an area close by until one of the children comes to take you to their table. Some will have you stop at the sink to wash your hands before sitting down. Sometimes the mama says grace and sometimes one of the children will say grace in their very soft voices. The meal time is in silence or only necessary talk. Classical music is playing and the children eat very, very slowly. We have asked for smaller portions so in order that we do not finish too soon it has come to cutting the food in smaller and smaller portions, one bean at a time. How many bites can you get out of a bit size piece of pineapple.
The first night I was here I was served more than I wanted. I didn't realize the reason there was a
plate covering my food that before I started eating I could put what I did not want onto the extra plate and it would be divided up and served to the children who might want more. That first dinner I couldn't help thinking, " there is a poor child in Africa who may not get dinner, I can't waste this."
The meals have been good. The meal has its protein, carbs, vegetables and fruit. I have had plenty of avocado, papaya and mango. Oh, I must not forget, sweet, sweet pineapple. We did have liver one evening and I am sure I will get that treat again as they rotate the meals every 2 weeks.
After dinner the first week we went to our assigned cottage to read to the children . The week of games we read before lunch. Then we are done for the day. Elaine and I got all the eye checks done over 3 afternoons.
The first week of GAMES went well, but every evening we have to tweak the schedule. We have older boys we sent them for a 2 hour walk one day. The older girls are helpful, but the boys just got the smaller ones riled up.
Next week anther mini missionary is coming. Our expectations are high. He is younger and a coach so we are praying he will get us through the next week. We are to old to remember the games we played when we were young. This is a creative adventure as we do not have a whole lot to work with.
The Internet here is a challenge, some times we have it and sometimes not.
This week we are staying in the village as there was rioting a couple in Kampala. It is Saturday so it will be quiet and I can nurse my cold.
The Ugandans are very soft spoken people. It is hard to hear them. It does not help when your own hearing is fading. The young boys and girls all look alike because they all have their heads shaved. I remember this when I was here to do medical clinics. They do not have a word in their language for male or female.
We have dinner with one family for 3 evenings so can familiarize ourselves to the children.. Some have nice English names, some the challenging Ugandan names.
At dinner the children and there mama, portion out the food. The guest table is set with a tablecloth and cloth napkins to match. We wait in an area close by until one of the children comes to take you to their table. Some will have you stop at the sink to wash your hands before sitting down. Sometimes the mama says grace and sometimes one of the children will say grace in their very soft voices. The meal time is in silence or only necessary talk. Classical music is playing and the children eat very, very slowly. We have asked for smaller portions so in order that we do not finish too soon it has come to cutting the food in smaller and smaller portions, one bean at a time. How many bites can you get out of a bit size piece of pineapple.
The first night I was here I was served more than I wanted. I didn't realize the reason there was a
plate covering my food that before I started eating I could put what I did not want onto the extra plate and it would be divided up and served to the children who might want more. That first dinner I couldn't help thinking, " there is a poor child in Africa who may not get dinner, I can't waste this."
The meals have been good. The meal has its protein, carbs, vegetables and fruit. I have had plenty of avocado, papaya and mango. Oh, I must not forget, sweet, sweet pineapple. We did have liver one evening and I am sure I will get that treat again as they rotate the meals every 2 weeks.
After dinner the first week we went to our assigned cottage to read to the children . The week of games we read before lunch. Then we are done for the day. Elaine and I got all the eye checks done over 3 afternoons.
The first week of GAMES went well, but every evening we have to tweak the schedule. We have older boys we sent them for a 2 hour walk one day. The older girls are helpful, but the boys just got the smaller ones riled up.
Next week anther mini missionary is coming. Our expectations are high. He is younger and a coach so we are praying he will get us through the next week. We are to old to remember the games we played when we were young. This is a creative adventure as we do not have a whole lot to work with.
The Internet here is a challenge, some times we have it and sometimes not.
This week we are staying in the village as there was rioting a couple in Kampala. It is Saturday so it will be quiet and I can nurse my cold.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Uganda , June 2013
It seems I can never make a flight out of Denver uneventful. The plane was late getting into Denver and there was a door problem. I barely made my connecting flight. If I hadn't had a first class ticket I would have missed my flight and not got into DC till 10:30 pm. I made the flight but my luggage didn't . I must have watched the same luggage go around the conveyer belt several times before I realized mine was not there. We had to come back later to retrieve my luggage which thankfully came in on the next flight.
I spent the next day in DC with my son. We visited the areospace Smithsonian, then walked around to see the congress building and the White House. I connected with Elaine in the evening. We spent the night in a hotel near the airport. Our plane left at 1115 am out of DC. A great plane ride on Boeing 's 787, the Dreamliner. We flew to Addis Abba with a short layover then on to Entebbe. We were very exhausted. I slept most of the 2 hour drive to the village. The driver dropped us off and picked up the village director and his wife to take them to the airport. It was a hello/ goodbye greeting.
We had dinner with the mamas and children, a little conversation with the rest of the team and off to bed. I slept we'll till 3 am.
Sunday was quiet. The day was spent resting with some orientation for the next 3 weeks.
There are 5 of us, ages 65,70,71,72, and 75. A young man in his 40's will join us in 2 weeks. We all are thankful that God has given us the ability to serve. Yes, we are tired when it is over and think we can not do this again, but we all know given the opportunity we will be back.
Today, I spent the day planning for GAMES next week. In other words keeping the children busy while they are out of school. Our best idea, I think, is is going to be RAFIKI HAS TALENT. It will be fun to see what the children will come up with. There are 105 children here ranging from the age of 3 to 15. In the evening , after dinner, we go to a cottage and read to the children.
Curfew is 6:30 pm. The heavenly lights go out and out comes the mosquitoes.
Amazingly, I have Internet. If I hurry this may get posted.
Goodnight!
I spent the next day in DC with my son. We visited the areospace Smithsonian, then walked around to see the congress building and the White House. I connected with Elaine in the evening. We spent the night in a hotel near the airport. Our plane left at 1115 am out of DC. A great plane ride on Boeing 's 787, the Dreamliner. We flew to Addis Abba with a short layover then on to Entebbe. We were very exhausted. I slept most of the 2 hour drive to the village. The driver dropped us off and picked up the village director and his wife to take them to the airport. It was a hello/ goodbye greeting.
We had dinner with the mamas and children, a little conversation with the rest of the team and off to bed. I slept we'll till 3 am.
Sunday was quiet. The day was spent resting with some orientation for the next 3 weeks.
There are 5 of us, ages 65,70,71,72, and 75. A young man in his 40's will join us in 2 weeks. We all are thankful that God has given us the ability to serve. Yes, we are tired when it is over and think we can not do this again, but we all know given the opportunity we will be back.
Today, I spent the day planning for GAMES next week. In other words keeping the children busy while they are out of school. Our best idea, I think, is is going to be RAFIKI HAS TALENT. It will be fun to see what the children will come up with. There are 105 children here ranging from the age of 3 to 15. In the evening , after dinner, we go to a cottage and read to the children.
Curfew is 6:30 pm. The heavenly lights go out and out comes the mosquitoes.
Amazingly, I have Internet. If I hurry this may get posted.
Goodnight!
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