Welcome Eleanor May!

I see someone posted on October 7th so bet Gail put on some pictures of Bert and Naomi's new baby - Eleanor May - Bert said he's still infatuated w. Ellie May from Beverly Hillbilies!!! She looks beautiful - takes after Naomi!!

Today, October 10, marks 6 months at site - 1/4 done - still have 18 mos. to go and that seems long, but it has gone fast!!!

Always a matatu story - when I was coming back from Mukono last Sunday, the road was really greasy from the rain and someone was on the other side and our matatu slipped into the ditch...leaning at a 45 degree angle against the bank!!! I was getting claustrophobic, but people appeared quickly to push - it took awhile, but we got back on the road. I was impressed w. all the good samaritans, but saw the conductor giving all of them a coin - still, I appreciated their coming!!

Monday was National Teacher's Day and no school in most schools, but we had school - kids get bored if we don't. Wrote out a very brief summary of Uganda's recent history (Thursday is another holiday - Ugandan Independence Day) and we read it and discussed (a little - they are not big on discussion). Found out after that I got a few facts wrong - i.e. said 1952 instead of l962! Will have to correct that before the quiz.

Was going to play w. Nelson's kids, but there were too many other kids around and I got roped into being hostess for two elderly Irish nuns (one of whom works in Uganda) who came to Nkokonjeru to see Mother Kevin's grave (our Irish founder). They were in their 70s, I'd guess, but really fun to talk to. One had been in Uganda during the Idi Amin days and said the country was destroyed - she's also been in Zimbabwe. Had conversations ranging from the Pope to Mother Theresa's "dark night of the soul"! Then had tea w. a Ugandan priest who was visiting - he's been a missionary in So. America for three years and studied in America and was also very interesting. Guess I'm the social director - or the least busy person at Providence Home.

Had a nice walk w. Holly in the evening - haven't been getting them in lately.

Tuesday was CBR day - busy one! Started at 8:30 w. a mom with a cleft palate baby that we referred for surgery. Moses had to leave with some consultants for the Cheshire Inclusive Education program but Kassuli was great! He did an amazing job talking to a mom with a 2 year old who has CP - pretty severe - can't hold his head up, but she said she'd been doing exercises and he was improving! Congratulated her a lot. He can really relate because he's disabled, too (polio at age 3). Another man was here on a mission to get University fees for one of his 11 children. Dr. Antonio's wife is finding someone in Italy who will do it but needed a letter from Sister Juliet recommending the family and some background. He's written up such a sad letter - has 3 severaly disabled children (one died in March), he had to quit his job, his wife left them - but he's sending them all to school! Pretty impressive - he cuts and sells firewood! I want to go out and meet them all. Success and misery hand in hand.

Math class went well - Corky called me during class to tell me about Bert and Naomi's baby - who at that time was named TBD. I was so excited and the kids kept staring at me!!! Got some great packages from Mukono via Holly and she even got me some yogurt - good day all around!

Wednesday I finally got to spend some time w. Nelson's kids (the really handicapped ones - many are non verbal and either don't walk or use walkers and wheelchairs - significant mental retardation in most). In the afternoon I did some typing for Sr. J. and even designed a new form AND was able to rotate it (to "landscape") on my own!!! I'm impressed w. me!

One of "Nelson's kids" is a boy Andrew (about 13) who I just love - he's very crippled (CP?) but walks lurching forward and is very smart - loves to do math problems. He's hard to understand but speaks English - lots of palsy, too. He drools a lot but has a WONDERFUL smile and disposition. Wednesday tho' he smelled really bad (sweat and urine) and I asked Sr. G if he had a caretaker child and she said "no". After Mass Wednesday nite I thought he looked better and mentioned it to him, but he told Sr. Goretti he would bathe but doesn't have a basin or soap! I felt just awful for talking about his odor in front of him forgetting he speaks English! So I got him a basin and soap to ease my conscience. A lot of the kids don't bathe well or wash their clothes well....you get used to it usually.

THursday was Independence Day for Uganda and no school! Sr. Juliet and I were going to Kampala to see Dr. Antonio and his wife to deliver some papers so they could proceed w. fund gathering...bank account nos., registration, etc. We were going to leave at 8 but of course it was 10 before we left Providence Home.....series of visitors, crises, etc. We were walking down to the Nkoko taxi park and met the driver (Hassan) leaving the convent with the convent car...going to Mukono to pick up something. He gave us a lift to Mukono and in Mukono as we were walking to the taxi stage (pick up area)and another car stopped - it was the regional superior sister who Sr. J had to see today anyway. She offered us a ride to their home so she and Sr. J could meet and then she let us use her car and driver to go to Dr. Antonio's home (UP the hill). Providential day!! Dr. Antonio and his wife and four kids (12-18) ive in a nice home owened by an Italian currently in Thailand. Got our paperwork done and had a wonderful lunch - 3 kinds of pasta, beef fillet, green salad , freshly grated parmesan cheese (from Italy), ricotta and bread, plus fruit and Italian coffee and chocolate - a real feast!! And such nice people. Walked w. Anna to the main road and got a matatu to the dreaded taxi park, then home to Nkokonjeru. Lots of time to talk w. Sr. J - a bonus! Very fun and productive day!!!

During our stay I had a nice talk w. Anna about malnutrition in Uganda. I'd read that 38% of the children here are mentally impaired to some degree becasue of malnutrition....and Dr. said it's the cause of many deformities (also, prenatal malnutrition). 38%!!! She's advocating mashed ground nuts in porridge, adding greens (which are plentiful, but not used), and also, they have tiny, dried silver fish that are pretty inexpensive and could be eaten whole in sauce over posho to increase nutritiional value drastically - they have them in huge piles in the market - smell bad, but guess they are good for you. People just need to change their children's eating habits. Her idea is to start some mothers using better nutrition and get them to convince other mothers....there's nothing like a mom on a mission!

There were no celebrations or flage for Independence Day in our travels , ...all the stores were open except government offices, banks and schools!! I missed the flags and frieworks! Sr. J. said people are too poor to care...they just keep working!

One of our conversation topics on the trip was the PH gardens which Sr. is really working hard on - she thinks PH could be growing all their own corn and vegetables by mid 2009! Grow cassava, beans, banana trees, maize (corn), and yams (we need to add green and ground nuts, too). The big garden is about 20 minutes away by truck....property of a recently deceased Chairman of the PH Board he just lets us use. Sister would like to have the kids work in the garden more, but transport is a problem...we have an OLD red pickup but it needs a lot of work - battery, tire, turn signal, etc., so she has to hire gardners. Don't think the kids could do it all anyway since they only work on Saturday and in the a.m.

Now it's Friday and I'm finishing up. Worked w. Nelson's kids for a few hours and then Sr. J got the idea to REALLY clean Nelson's room - she's like a tornado. Had a bunch of the girls sweeping and scrubbing. It really looks nice now!

So, things are continuing to go well. The 19th-25thwe have PC training on Life Skills at a hotel near Kampala and Sr. Goretti is going w. me to the training....she's so much fun! Hope she enjoys it. Continue very busy with school and CBR and planning new things.

Not good news on BBC about the American economy - it's really scary in fact. Am patiently waiting for my absentee ballot - at this point will probably take it to the Embassy to assure it gets to Mn. on time. Lots to vote on! School Board, School referendum - plus the Presidentail contest.

Things go well....I'm really bummed about not seeing the new babies - and the old kids. Help to keep busy and feel like I am making some contribution here. Thanks again for your kind thoughts and prayers.