Friday, March 28

We're here! Actually, Christine, the PCV who's at Providence House now, and I are in Mukono - the nearest town. I was going to get a PO box here, but need 3 passport photos to open one....was going to get them but the power is out, so I can't. So, no PO box number today. Just the way things work here!

Impressions: It's so hard to describe...I'm glad Corky is coming because I'm really not sure what's "normal" anymore...normal American anyway. Ride out was about 2 hours from Kampala...last hour was BUMPY, but the scenery is gorgeous...hilly, green and lots of trees. Nkokojeru is small but has a wide main street and is really clean....not all the trash that we see in Luweero. We are staying w. Theresa, the other volunteer who has a two bedroom house - very nice but no longer available for PC. I'll get some prints made in Kampala tomorrow and send them to Gail......I'm not sure how to do it here and these computers are slower than Luweero - on generator tho'.

Providence House serves 120-150 people - children, adults, elderly. Most are disabled in some way....epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, hydrocephalic, missing or deformed limbs, mental illness, retardation....you name it (they say "retarded" and "deformed" here - was trying to get translations for nicer sounding words, but there're aren't any). It's a bit overwhelming at first...have I said that before? The Franciscan nuns who run it don't have a good funding source (any?)...so the services are slim, but at least the people have a place to stay. It's a walled compound and is nicely kept. The buildings are pretty plain...they boys dormitory burned down two years ago, but a group from Holland gave $ to build a new one.....doesn't have enough beds yet, but what else? The old shell is still there and the adult males sit on the steps all day watching whatever is going on in the compound.

There is a bakery on the compound that makes bread, cakes, donuts, etc. and sells them in Kampala and brings in some income but it's not nearly enough. We were going to meet w. Sister Juliette Thursday a.m. but she texted Christine and said they were out of food and she was going to try to "find" some. She did and we met later...not sure where she "found" it. They were getting food from the World Food Program, but that group pulled all their committments in central Uganda to focus on Sudan and northern Uganda where there is fighting....so the sisters scrounge. Generally meals are porridge in the a.m., posho (a maize "bread"...more like a dumpling).and beans for lunch and supper. The residents get some medical services when they can go to Kampala, but there is nothing that can be done for many - Cindy, I keep thinking of Erin at Courage Center! The little kids w/o legs just scoot around on the ground...some of the older residents have really old wheelchairs. They requested some wheelchairs from the Rotary, but haven't come yet (6 mos??). Things get done so slowly here if at all. Christine does a wonderful job of greeting everyone and you can see how important it is to them....if that's all I do for the next two years it will be time well spent.

But it probably won't be.....they have no written plans for the residents - some just sit there for years. The old administrator has just retired after 12 years and the new gal, Sister Juliette, wants to change things. We talked about writing up plans for each resident with goals and objectives (sounds like school). Also, Christine managed the Community Based Rehabilitation program - people come in, or they go to homes, for rehab...there is one OT and one PT who come some days. The sisters try really hard to serve everyone who comes to the gate, but it creates an overload. They have little organization - even for Uganda. They need a better structure, mid-level management, accounting.....I think then they might be able to attract a donor. Not sure what I can accomplish, but I'm going to try. I don't have a job description yet, but she said she'd work on it. Christine has worked really hard and is just tried of fighting.

I'm going to be staying in the Guest House on the convent grounds for a month and then take over Christine's apt. It's only one room - bed, table, 2 chairs, a few bookcases and a table w. a two burner gas stove and a self contained bathroom w. running water!! Has electricity, too. Heaven! It's across the road from Providence House and at the end of the convent and the grounds are beautiful. They had a bigger place I could have had, but it is now occupied by two volunteers from Holland who are leaving in may also. But, it's on the grounds as part of the boy's new dormitory and doesn't have running water! I really wanted to be able to get away at night. The sisters have to rent my apt. from the convent for 30,000 ugandan shillings ($18)/mo. but they were willing and will leave the other as a guest apt. I'm really happy....I will pay them the rent since $ are so short. We don't have to pay utilities as do most volunteers. Christine is going to give or sell me the stove and the furniture(it's nothing special) and her pots and pans and left over staples....so it's a good start!! I'd like to paint it, but the ceilings are about 12 feet high...really. It's a dark aqua now....not sure if I could paint it, what kind of ladder they might have either. If the sisters were O.K. w. it I could hire someone, but you never know when it would get done!

Holly is going to be living across the road in the hospital compound in a larger apartment with a real bedroom so we're close.....she has water and electricity, too. Sheri wasn't quite so lucky, but she's a trooper. She's in town in an apt. w/o running water but they promise electricity!

The PCV's at our spot are really fried. They are excited to be going home May 8 - neither of them has been home for two years and this place can definitely wear you down. They were going to travel at the end but decided to just head home for Mother's Day!

So, my apt. is in a VERY safe spot.....surrounded by nuns, noviatiates (nuns in training), a wall, trees and next to the nun's chapel. Providence House will be a challenge, but anything I do will be helpful. Sister Juliette seems very good to work with if you can catch her! Such dedication and hard work!

I'll work out a list of things to send if anyone wants to - it's totally optional. They have a resource room for PT that has a few things, but could use more. It's expensive to ship, but there may be a way to get books, like childrens illustrated books from the library sale, art supplies....I'll know more in a week or so. I would be thrilled w. anything - esp. instant rice packs, soups, choc. chips, taco mix, books, whatever you think would be fun to eat in a down moment. You can get a lot of stuff in Kampala, but treats are fun!!

Hope all are well and it's finally warming. Happy Birthday Curt!!