We all made it and are having a great time. The weather is a bit cold (30's), though warmer than Minnesota. We've seen a lot in the couple days we've been here so far and will do a tour of Windsor, Stonehenge and Bath on New Year's Day. Happy New Year!!
-Gail
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Merry Christmas
Hope everyone had a great Christmas....I'm at the airport waiting for my flight to Naoribi (and thence to London)....Sisters wanted to bring me to the airport (also see the airport) but they had a lot of errands so we went early and I have a wait (which is fine w. me).....also, the airport has a great internet cafe!
We had a really good Christmas at PH. There was a group of PCVs who came and they interacted w. the kids so well...dancing,singing, playing soccer, talking....just like PCVs should be! The kids were thrilled w. the attention and of course, the food and the presents (thanks to Maria's friends and all the kids who brought stuff...e.g. bubbles, bouncy balls etc.) We filled the stockings the tailoring girls made (the girls still thought it was a waste to use that nice material for something that couldn't be worn, but that's O.K.) and everyone (kids, old folks and in between) got one plus a stuffed animal! It was really great. I was worried that it might not go well but heard one of the boys tell his mom on the phone that night that it was "awesome".
We went to 10 p.m. Mass at the Sister's chapel on Christmas Eve and they liked that too...great singing! At the end of his sermon Father asked the "visitors" to sing a song and after a few seconds of disbelief that he's asked that, we sang "Joy to the World"...not bad either! Mary and Joseph (both women) were led down the aisle after that by Ugandan dancers and African drums....the power went out just after the offeratory and we all thought it was part of the special effects till a nun brought in a lantern so the musicians could see the music!!!
Hope you all had a great day.......I don't miss the cold (London at 40 will be bad enough for me). Best wishes for a wonderful year in 2009!!
Short blog - do you believe it? Don't have my ususal notes!
We had a really good Christmas at PH. There was a group of PCVs who came and they interacted w. the kids so well...dancing,singing, playing soccer, talking....just like PCVs should be! The kids were thrilled w. the attention and of course, the food and the presents (thanks to Maria's friends and all the kids who brought stuff...e.g. bubbles, bouncy balls etc.) We filled the stockings the tailoring girls made (the girls still thought it was a waste to use that nice material for something that couldn't be worn, but that's O.K.) and everyone (kids, old folks and in between) got one plus a stuffed animal! It was really great. I was worried that it might not go well but heard one of the boys tell his mom on the phone that night that it was "awesome".
We went to 10 p.m. Mass at the Sister's chapel on Christmas Eve and they liked that too...great singing! At the end of his sermon Father asked the "visitors" to sing a song and after a few seconds of disbelief that he's asked that, we sang "Joy to the World"...not bad either! Mary and Joseph (both women) were led down the aisle after that by Ugandan dancers and African drums....the power went out just after the offeratory and we all thought it was part of the special effects till a nun brought in a lantern so the musicians could see the music!!!
Hope you all had a great day.......I don't miss the cold (London at 40 will be bad enough for me). Best wishes for a wonderful year in 2009!!
Short blog - do you believe it? Don't have my ususal notes!
Friday, December 19, 2008
MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL 12-19-08
I may not write again till the New Year, so hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a great start to 2009!! I'm at the Bakery Computer now - Sr. Juliet reinstated the internet and no one else is on today so will give it a shot. I always feel a little guilty writing here - like I should be "doing" something!!! Lest I gave the wrong impression last week re: donations. I give all the money I get from outside (you all - and thanks!!) to the Sisters (or earmark it myself) for immediate use - and goodness knows they can use it!! But, I got some good advice from China (the PhD student here in April who'd been in Uganda 11 months) to not give ANY money to individuals until lthe day before I leave - otherwise you'd be bombarded with requests...many of them very good, but NO is easier to say if you're consistent! (If I feel really compelled I give it through the Sisters who are sworn to secrecy). I'm never sure if I should re-arrange this blog from today to past events, but will continue on the old format. The big event when I left off last week was the Christmas Program. Saturday practice was dismal - no power and the keyboard guy didn't come. Josephine was so nervous....she sounded like me! The kids worked hard all morning cleaning up the compound and hoeing around the shrubs and slashing grass. But, at 6 p.m. the power went on and the keyboard guy came (he'd been at a funeral) and they (not me) practiced late. They also had to peel bananas for matoke (cooked, mashed bananas - taste to me about good as that sounds, but it's a staple central Ugandan food), peeling potatoes, cleaning chickens, etc. Most got to bed around 1 or 2 a.m. I got here Sunday a.m. at 7 and they'd been at it for two hours, cleaning, cooking, decorating....we had Mass here at 8:00 and then the fun began. We had a nice group of parents (and the first parent meeting ever at PH), lots of Sisters (including the elderly) and the kids did a WONDERFUL job!! The play was good, the program moved well (and only 3 hours!!)....the singing was fantastic, dancing was great - just so good.. Then the kids served lunch to all which was much appreciated. Frequent comment was "I can't believe PH put on such a nice program"....the kids were really proud of themselves and rightfully so! Certainly proved that "Disability is not Inability". I left at 7:00 p.m. and they were doing dishes (no paper plates here). Monday I helped put away costumes and decorations (not nearly as much fun). Kids were still going home. Simon (a 20 year old, shoemaking student who has no function in his legs at all) learned that the grandmother he lived with on Holidays died Sunday(last relative)...very sad. Josephine, bless her, who is in a wheelchair, but can get around on her hands (w. flip flops) and knees said she felt so sorry for him and added "at least I can crawl"! How many times have we said "at least I can walk!". Being here can be very humbling. We had a really productive CBR meeting on Tuesday - reviewed all the meetings with the various groups that want to work with us (and they seem to be many lately - everyone wants to get into community based programming - must be where the $ are). The Katelemwa pepole had commented that our guys did the best job they've seen of mobiliziing people (getting them to the clinic in November in an organized fashion!) - literally patted them on the back...they are never sure how to take me. Wednesday I washed clothes and cleaned - it's labor intensive but good to get done. It's been very hot and still - hard to get motivated. Holly and I went up to RASD to see her Kilimanjaro pictures..it was beautiful but looked like a LOT of work - not for me! Thursday the power was out again - started w. what they call "Phase I" (out of 3)....very limited juice. I went w. Sr. Juliet to Kampala - quite the trip (again). We had along 3 sisters from the convent who were going shopping, 2 kids and Nelson going home, and Nantale (the girl w. the leg casts) and her grandfather (who'd never been in Kampala). Lots of stops, but everything got done. China's mom died unexpectedly this fall and left a memorial to PH and China felt she would want it used to upgrade the little kids dorm room (she visited China here last Feb.), so we got 12 new mattresses, pillows, and paint (and will get new bedding and small foot lockers). Lots of back and forth getting it all done plus drop off and pick up at Katelemwa - traded off w. the truck with the other sisters sometimes switching to matatus....a full day and back at 9 p.m.! When we were gone one of the elderly men here died...he'd had a stroke several weeks ago and was being cared for here by Nelson and some of the older boys. While I went home last nite, Sr. J (and the residents left and the other sisters) were holding an all night vigil in the PH chapel w. the body (because "you can't leave a dead body alone"). Today was the funeral.....mass early, and a short service at 1:00. Then everyone walked to a small cemetary behind the big church where they bury people w. no family. The big boys had dug the grave and they took the wood coffin there in the back of the red pickup. Lowered it on ropes and everyone threw in a stone and they sang. They covered it and left....very intimate ceremony! At 4:30 last nite, I'd had it w. a cockroach who's been under my bed for a week (I can hear him but try to tell myself I don't). Got up and "Doomed" (insect spray) under the bed and he came out and I got him!!! Then decided to look in my suitcases under there, got out my "winter" clothes I brought last Feb. and sorted them out for the trip to London!! Leave in a week!!! Gail said it's 40s there - cold for me; warm for them!! Maria has collected donations for a fabulous Christmas feast here - there are about 50 people still here, 8 sisters and we think about 20 PCVs might come....so we'll give the kids gifts in the a.m.(everyone is being so generous) and all have dinner together! Should be fun! I miss the snow and the Christmas tree and everyone gathered around it, but having something to do and knowing that I'll see some of the family soon helps. We all are a bit down, but coping together! I heard "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" on the radio and nearly lost it!!! At least it wasn't "I'll Be Home For Christmas"! Keep telling myself the weather is more like Bethlehem than Minnesota is.....not sure it's working. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas where ever you are and whoever you are with! It's truly a magical season....May be awhile till I write again...will be gone Dec. 27 to Jan. 5 and Sr. Juliet's Final Profession is here January 6....lots to do yet before school starts Feb. 9. So, have a good New Year, too. |
Friday, December 12, 2008
One Third Through!!! 12-12-08
First, thanks to Gail for posting the pictures...first set of CDs got lost in the mail so it was a LOT. Hope you enjoyed them!!!
We are officially through 8 months at site and 1/3 of the way through the 2 years! Don't know if that's healthy way to look at it, but it works for me! I could wax philosophical but the blog is long and I'm not very good at being philosophical....it has gone fast. Gail said someone asked if I'd changed - and I sure hope so!!! I think I'm more patient and tolerant - you have to be here or you'd go crazy! (or maybe I'm just crazy).....it's been a great experience so far though I miss home a lot (especially at this time of year).
Will review the week - it's gone SO fast. Last Thursday was the Epilepsy Clinic. The nurse saw 46 people!! 10 new!! She is amazing - I was exhausted! Seizure disorders are so common here.
The kids are working on a Chistmas Program for the 14th....they have put so much into it. THere will be dancing, singing, and a Nativity Play (Black Nativity?).....Josephine and Kasule are working very hard. I've mentioned Josephine before...she's about 18, in a wheelchair, will be a Senior next year at a good school, bright, sings beautifully and is incredibly talented. She's composed some original songs...one in English I'd like to send to Michael W. Smith!! I broke my "no donations till the day before I leave" rule, and sprang for some material for costumes (Sr. Goretti and Sr. Sara are sewing like mad), a keyboard guy an a sound system guy (all very cheap).....determined to give them every advantage. They really want to prove that disabled kids can put on a quality program - and if rehersal is any indication, it will be great. Pray for us Sunday (14) - esp. that the power doesn't go out!!!
Holly sent a message that she and her friends summitted Kilimanjaro Weds. a.m. for sunrise....she said it was the hardest thing she ever did mentally or physically (and she'd just finished the Marathon the week before). Last day they woke at midnite, hiked 8 hours to see the sunrise at the summet, hiked down 5 hours to camp, slept 1/2 hour and then hiked another 3 hours down to lower elevation. The lack of oxygen was really draining she said! BUT THEY MADE IT....
Friday I went w. the Sisters Nairobi, Kenya....of course, we started late (anyone who reads the blog won't be surprised). I got to the Sister's house at 5 a.m. ( as arranged) and they were frying chicken and making chipatis for the trip! We did leave at 5:45...got to the connect point (Jinja) at 7:00 (meeting time) but the matatu didn't come till 8:45 (they rented two matatus instead of a bus)....again, no surprise - no one even gets upset (which still surprises me). What was a surprise was that I had to get a visa at the border which slowed us a bit and that the roads in Kenya were SO bad. Apparently many of them were badly damaged during the violence last January after their elections....from Jinja to Nairobi is 350 miles and it took us 15 hours!!! And very bumpy and dusty.
But, the scenery was beautiful on the trip - lots of small mountains (Great Rift Valley)...at the tops of the hills there were groves of pine trees (made me think of no. Minnesota)....massive tea plantations...miles and miles as far as the eye can see broken only by villages of workers' huts. It seems very peaceful though we went through some burned towns and UN tent cities....
We arrived in Nairobi about midnite - downtown is lovely - two lane roads and tree lined streets, parks, stores w. plate glass windows and manikens w. fashions (it's funny what you really don't miss till you see it again), but also enormous, awful slums. We got lost and got to the convent at 1 a.m.!!! I roomed w. a nun who's a nurse at Nkokonjeru Hospital (55?)...was a bit akward at first but she's really great.
The Profession ceremony was absolutely fabulous - worth every bump on the road. It lasted 5 1/2 hours - the sermon was given by a Kenyan Cardinal who talked for an hour!!...but it didn't seem long. Lots of dancing and singing - more like a cultural event. Except for three elderly priests I was the only muzungu!!! and that doesn't seem strange anymore. Sr. Veronica seemed very happy to see everyone - we got to meet her parents. Her village had hired a bunch of matatus and they were all there!!! Lots of speeches and food!
The trip back was slow - got home about midnite. Can't tell you how much fun the sisters have together. Lots of time on the matatu for me to ponder the strangeness of me taking this journey w. 13 Sisters - and how comfortable I felt about it!!!
Monday was a holiday - another of the rotating Muslim holidays (end of Haj). They never are sure what the actual date will be till it happens (???). Pretty slow day for me....spent some time reading Omnivore's Dilemna (thanks Jessica)...really interesting but he's pretty down on "conventional" farmers....he doesn't know the ones I know!!! Tuesday we had a visit from Dr. Antonio's assistant...lots of great suggestions for improving our CBR program - my head hurt after that one!!! Wednesday was another whirlwind trip to Kampala w. Sr. J and Sr. Melody....both had a LOT of business to accomplish, but our major task was to take a little girl to the orthopedic hospital and meet there w. the supervisor at 11 a.m. (more about CBR and outreach....it's apparently the buzz word now - esp. sponsoring parent groups to help other parents of disabled children - it's a good idea, but will take some time and work). The little girl's grandfather refused to go with her as a caretaker (as he'd promised) so Sister finally found an aunt who'd go which made us 2 hours late for the meeting (surprised?) but it went O.K. After the hospital we went downtown for various things but Sr. Melody and I got caught in a downpour while shopping for material for costumes! Didas went also (the shoemaking teacher) to check out a little store where Sr. J had taken some shoes for sale - the guy sold them and is very interested in getting more, so that was good news.
Most of the time at PH otherwise is helping where I can w. the program....had supper w. Holly and Shari last nite to plan our Christmas PCV get together in Nkokonjeru. Days are never dull! I'm waiting for the Holiday lull actually.....
Hope you are all well and Christmas plans are progressing. We hear lots about the economic problems in the U.S. (and elsewhere).....our thoughts are with you guys and hope everyone can hang on. Best wishes to all for a wonderul holiday season w. family.
Thanks so much for cards, letters, packages, thoughts and prayers......they mean SO much. I'm really glad I have the London trip (to see the Skluzaceks) December 27 - makes missing Christmas easier. Give every little one a hug for me!!!
We are officially through 8 months at site and 1/3 of the way through the 2 years! Don't know if that's healthy way to look at it, but it works for me! I could wax philosophical but the blog is long and I'm not very good at being philosophical....it has gone fast. Gail said someone asked if I'd changed - and I sure hope so!!! I think I'm more patient and tolerant - you have to be here or you'd go crazy! (or maybe I'm just crazy).....it's been a great experience so far though I miss home a lot (especially at this time of year).
Will review the week - it's gone SO fast. Last Thursday was the Epilepsy Clinic. The nurse saw 46 people!! 10 new!! She is amazing - I was exhausted! Seizure disorders are so common here.
The kids are working on a Chistmas Program for the 14th....they have put so much into it. THere will be dancing, singing, and a Nativity Play (Black Nativity?).....Josephine and Kasule are working very hard. I've mentioned Josephine before...she's about 18, in a wheelchair, will be a Senior next year at a good school, bright, sings beautifully and is incredibly talented. She's composed some original songs...one in English I'd like to send to Michael W. Smith!! I broke my "no donations till the day before I leave" rule, and sprang for some material for costumes (Sr. Goretti and Sr. Sara are sewing like mad), a keyboard guy an a sound system guy (all very cheap).....determined to give them every advantage. They really want to prove that disabled kids can put on a quality program - and if rehersal is any indication, it will be great. Pray for us Sunday (14) - esp. that the power doesn't go out!!!
Holly sent a message that she and her friends summitted Kilimanjaro Weds. a.m. for sunrise....she said it was the hardest thing she ever did mentally or physically (and she'd just finished the Marathon the week before). Last day they woke at midnite, hiked 8 hours to see the sunrise at the summet, hiked down 5 hours to camp, slept 1/2 hour and then hiked another 3 hours down to lower elevation. The lack of oxygen was really draining she said! BUT THEY MADE IT....
Friday I went w. the Sisters Nairobi, Kenya....of course, we started late (anyone who reads the blog won't be surprised). I got to the Sister's house at 5 a.m. ( as arranged) and they were frying chicken and making chipatis for the trip! We did leave at 5:45...got to the connect point (Jinja) at 7:00 (meeting time) but the matatu didn't come till 8:45 (they rented two matatus instead of a bus)....again, no surprise - no one even gets upset (which still surprises me). What was a surprise was that I had to get a visa at the border which slowed us a bit and that the roads in Kenya were SO bad. Apparently many of them were badly damaged during the violence last January after their elections....from Jinja to Nairobi is 350 miles and it took us 15 hours!!! And very bumpy and dusty.
But, the scenery was beautiful on the trip - lots of small mountains (Great Rift Valley)...at the tops of the hills there were groves of pine trees (made me think of no. Minnesota)....massive tea plantations...miles and miles as far as the eye can see broken only by villages of workers' huts. It seems very peaceful though we went through some burned towns and UN tent cities....
We arrived in Nairobi about midnite - downtown is lovely - two lane roads and tree lined streets, parks, stores w. plate glass windows and manikens w. fashions (it's funny what you really don't miss till you see it again), but also enormous, awful slums. We got lost and got to the convent at 1 a.m.!!! I roomed w. a nun who's a nurse at Nkokonjeru Hospital (55?)...was a bit akward at first but she's really great.
The Profession ceremony was absolutely fabulous - worth every bump on the road. It lasted 5 1/2 hours - the sermon was given by a Kenyan Cardinal who talked for an hour!!...but it didn't seem long. Lots of dancing and singing - more like a cultural event. Except for three elderly priests I was the only muzungu!!! and that doesn't seem strange anymore. Sr. Veronica seemed very happy to see everyone - we got to meet her parents. Her village had hired a bunch of matatus and they were all there!!! Lots of speeches and food!
The trip back was slow - got home about midnite. Can't tell you how much fun the sisters have together. Lots of time on the matatu for me to ponder the strangeness of me taking this journey w. 13 Sisters - and how comfortable I felt about it!!!
Monday was a holiday - another of the rotating Muslim holidays (end of Haj). They never are sure what the actual date will be till it happens (???). Pretty slow day for me....spent some time reading Omnivore's Dilemna (thanks Jessica)...really interesting but he's pretty down on "conventional" farmers....he doesn't know the ones I know!!! Tuesday we had a visit from Dr. Antonio's assistant...lots of great suggestions for improving our CBR program - my head hurt after that one!!! Wednesday was another whirlwind trip to Kampala w. Sr. J and Sr. Melody....both had a LOT of business to accomplish, but our major task was to take a little girl to the orthopedic hospital and meet there w. the supervisor at 11 a.m. (more about CBR and outreach....it's apparently the buzz word now - esp. sponsoring parent groups to help other parents of disabled children - it's a good idea, but will take some time and work). The little girl's grandfather refused to go with her as a caretaker (as he'd promised) so Sister finally found an aunt who'd go which made us 2 hours late for the meeting (surprised?) but it went O.K. After the hospital we went downtown for various things but Sr. Melody and I got caught in a downpour while shopping for material for costumes! Didas went also (the shoemaking teacher) to check out a little store where Sr. J had taken some shoes for sale - the guy sold them and is very interested in getting more, so that was good news.
Most of the time at PH otherwise is helping where I can w. the program....had supper w. Holly and Shari last nite to plan our Christmas PCV get together in Nkokonjeru. Days are never dull! I'm waiting for the Holiday lull actually.....
Hope you are all well and Christmas plans are progressing. We hear lots about the economic problems in the U.S. (and elsewhere).....our thoughts are with you guys and hope everyone can hang on. Best wishes to all for a wonderul holiday season w. family.
Thanks so much for cards, letters, packages, thoughts and prayers......they mean SO much. I'm really glad I have the London trip (to see the Skluzaceks) December 27 - makes missing Christmas easier. Give every little one a hug for me!!!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Pictures!
I finally got the picture cds that Kath sent. There are 228 pictures so check out the Flickr site when you have time (there is a set titled Novmber Picture CD). Here are just a couple...
Drums
Dancing
Fire in the new stove.
Kath swimming in Lake Bunyoni
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
December 3, 2008
I am up at RASD (it really is UP the hill)....had to try to connect to the blog four times but it finally worked...I'm trying to practice my patience!!!
Busy week gone by - Holly's friends from America arrived in Nkokonjeru on Wednesday - Lorraine was a PCV in Togo in 2004-6 and came w. her brother David to join Holly in the Kilimanjaro climb! Wednesday nite we ate in a local restaurant so they could try Matoke etc. then Thursday we had dinner at the convent w. Sr. Juliet and Holly invited some of her co-workers so we got to explain Thanksgiving (easier than explaining Halloween). Holly and Lorraine made a great apple pie over their gas stove -latice crust and all!!!
Was so excited about the success of the clinic last week, but in retrospect we have some problems. I didn't know they were bringing technicians to measure people for appliances (CP chairs and stands, caliphers, wheelchairs, etc.) and they ordered them right there....unfortunately we can't pay for them (and neither can the guardians)...now we have a problem of expectations. Sister J and I are meeting w. the Katelemwa people next Monday to see what we can work out....we should have been clear that people would have to contribute (which some cannot) - and they need help with how to use them. Bummer!!
Friday Holly and her friends left for Tanzania - quite an adventure. I left for Sorotti (NE).... got on the 6:30 a.m. matatu, got to Kampala at 9:00 and got on a bus which left at 10:30 (when full)....but it made a LOT of stops...in Mbale we had to get out and get a matatu to Sorotti...got there about 6:30 p.m. - hot and dirty!!! You get one stop to pee (outside) and at one stop where the vendors rush the bus to sell stuff - water, grilled meat on a stick, even pineapple on a stick (like the State Fair!).
It was fun to see everyone and the meal on Saturday was great....grilled turkey, mashed potatoes, fruit salad and macaroni and cheese (?). Also apple and pumpkin pies - very good!!!
Lots of good talk and played a game of bocce shoes - they didn't have balls so they improvised! Lavera's house is huge - I still like my little apartment tho'.
Left on the 6 a.m. bus Sunday(they come right to the house and pick you up)....got off in Mukono to use the internet and was back in Nkokonjeru by 4:00 - again, tired, hot and dirty!!! Went down to check out what's up at PH - Josephine is back from school and has started to work on the Christmas program set for Dec. 13 or 14....she's a real go-getter. They are even going to have a Nativity Play - our own Black Nativity!!!
I had left my Math exam to be copied when the power went back on ...got back and it wasn't on, but the lady had taken my exam to Kampala and copied it (great customer service) so we had it Monday a.m. Power was offfrom Tuesday till Tuesday nite - story is some people were cutting trees illegally and knocked down the poles and ran. The electric co. had no idea what was going on and had to survey the lines - finally found the three down poles, but had to get a crew from Jinja who came only in the afternoon every day (after lunch) till dark....so it took a week. It was very hard on the bakery!
Crazy Tuesday (yesterday)...oops...the power just went out but my draft saved to this point. YEA! Power re-appeared so am trying to finish! Back to Tuesday...it was CBR day and we got started, then the nurse came from PC to check my housing and visited at PH for a bit. Sister and I developed a job description for a business manager and then interviewed a guy who's been doing some bookkeeping for her and looks very promising. Then went w. the Sisters and Moses and Nelson out to see the little girl (16) who was at the clinic and got her legs casted. She's supposed to go to the hospital but grandparents said they couldn't go with her (you have to have someone go w. you to bathe you, do your laundry, cook, etc.) - Sister really argued w.them and finally the Grandfather said he'd go - so they will go with us Monday when we go there for our meeting! All the kids had so many jiggers on their toes - toes were almost twice normal size - has to be painful!! I soaked my feet in bleach water when I got home!! We also stopped to see another 8 year old girl w. "floppy" CP- mom said she was "born w/o bones!"....So many disabled children - seems like every other hut had a disabled child (and LOTS of children)! It's overwhelming!
Tomorrow is epilepsy clinic and Friday I'm going w. the Sisters for the weekend to Nairobi for Sr.Veronica's Final Profession of Faith...I'm excited to see Kenya (and hopefully get my passport stamped from Kenya) even if it is a short trip.
Hope all had a great Thanksgiving....be thankful for whatever you have....I am really learning to appreciate the good health of our children and grandchildren! It's not a given in many parts of the world!
Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers. Someone is waiting to use the computer (only one in the "cafe") so I'll close...more next week. Things go well....it's hot and dry but nites are still O.K. Better than the cold for me!!!
Busy week gone by - Holly's friends from America arrived in Nkokonjeru on Wednesday - Lorraine was a PCV in Togo in 2004-6 and came w. her brother David to join Holly in the Kilimanjaro climb! Wednesday nite we ate in a local restaurant so they could try Matoke etc. then Thursday we had dinner at the convent w. Sr. Juliet and Holly invited some of her co-workers so we got to explain Thanksgiving (easier than explaining Halloween). Holly and Lorraine made a great apple pie over their gas stove -latice crust and all!!!
Was so excited about the success of the clinic last week, but in retrospect we have some problems. I didn't know they were bringing technicians to measure people for appliances (CP chairs and stands, caliphers, wheelchairs, etc.) and they ordered them right there....unfortunately we can't pay for them (and neither can the guardians)...now we have a problem of expectations. Sister J and I are meeting w. the Katelemwa people next Monday to see what we can work out....we should have been clear that people would have to contribute (which some cannot) - and they need help with how to use them. Bummer!!
Friday Holly and her friends left for Tanzania - quite an adventure. I left for Sorotti (NE).... got on the 6:30 a.m. matatu, got to Kampala at 9:00 and got on a bus which left at 10:30 (when full)....but it made a LOT of stops...in Mbale we had to get out and get a matatu to Sorotti...got there about 6:30 p.m. - hot and dirty!!! You get one stop to pee (outside) and at one stop where the vendors rush the bus to sell stuff - water, grilled meat on a stick, even pineapple on a stick (like the State Fair!).
It was fun to see everyone and the meal on Saturday was great....grilled turkey, mashed potatoes, fruit salad and macaroni and cheese (?). Also apple and pumpkin pies - very good!!!
Lots of good talk and played a game of bocce shoes - they didn't have balls so they improvised! Lavera's house is huge - I still like my little apartment tho'.
Left on the 6 a.m. bus Sunday(they come right to the house and pick you up)....got off in Mukono to use the internet and was back in Nkokonjeru by 4:00 - again, tired, hot and dirty!!! Went down to check out what's up at PH - Josephine is back from school and has started to work on the Christmas program set for Dec. 13 or 14....she's a real go-getter. They are even going to have a Nativity Play - our own Black Nativity!!!
I had left my Math exam to be copied when the power went back on ...got back and it wasn't on, but the lady had taken my exam to Kampala and copied it (great customer service) so we had it Monday a.m. Power was offfrom Tuesday till Tuesday nite - story is some people were cutting trees illegally and knocked down the poles and ran. The electric co. had no idea what was going on and had to survey the lines - finally found the three down poles, but had to get a crew from Jinja who came only in the afternoon every day (after lunch) till dark....so it took a week. It was very hard on the bakery!
Crazy Tuesday (yesterday)...oops...the power just went out but my draft saved to this point. YEA! Power re-appeared so am trying to finish! Back to Tuesday...it was CBR day and we got started, then the nurse came from PC to check my housing and visited at PH for a bit. Sister and I developed a job description for a business manager and then interviewed a guy who's been doing some bookkeeping for her and looks very promising. Then went w. the Sisters and Moses and Nelson out to see the little girl (16) who was at the clinic and got her legs casted. She's supposed to go to the hospital but grandparents said they couldn't go with her (you have to have someone go w. you to bathe you, do your laundry, cook, etc.) - Sister really argued w.them and finally the Grandfather said he'd go - so they will go with us Monday when we go there for our meeting! All the kids had so many jiggers on their toes - toes were almost twice normal size - has to be painful!! I soaked my feet in bleach water when I got home!! We also stopped to see another 8 year old girl w. "floppy" CP- mom said she was "born w/o bones!"....So many disabled children - seems like every other hut had a disabled child (and LOTS of children)! It's overwhelming!
Tomorrow is epilepsy clinic and Friday I'm going w. the Sisters for the weekend to Nairobi for Sr.Veronica's Final Profession of Faith...I'm excited to see Kenya (and hopefully get my passport stamped from Kenya) even if it is a short trip.
Hope all had a great Thanksgiving....be thankful for whatever you have....I am really learning to appreciate the good health of our children and grandchildren! It's not a given in many parts of the world!
Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers. Someone is waiting to use the computer (only one in the "cafe") so I'll close...more next week. Things go well....it's hot and dry but nites are still O.K. Better than the cold for me!!!
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