I know my countdown system is probably not the best for morale, but it's nice to know we are now in single digit "months to go" - and 24 days till my visit home!!! YEA!
Thanks to all for your response on the 5K - Holly is delighted!!! I forgot to add that she and the anestheologist at the Hospital have started a girls' running club - 5:30 a.m. and p.m. They are training w. students at the local Primary Teacher's College and the girls are really doing well!!! Quite a committment. I'm curious to see how Nkokonjeru will react to the 5K - entertainment for the day and talk for a month!!!
Am reading through Proverbs now and loved 16:3 "Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed" and 16:9 "In his heart a man (or woman) plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps".
Sunday, was "Moses" day (our CBR Volunteer) and a very nice day. First, I went to Church w. Moses. He belongs to a really small Baptist Church (mostly Roman Catholics around here). The congregation was started in 1907 by an Englishman and the church was built in the 70s up on a beautiful hill. It's a sturdy stucco building, but not in very good repair. Congregation was excited to see me (I had to speak - but briefly!). Only about 25 people there, but very spirited. The have a female pastor (Ugandan) who lives in the parish house which is really unfinished! She's a good sport. If there is a Baptist congregation out there (the big "out there") who would like to partner w. a church in Uganda they'd love to have you - even if just to pray w. them and energize them. Just e-mail me at kathywesterman@hotmail.com.
I biked out to Moses to meet him for church - haven't been biking since I've been storing my bike at PH - it was HARD. Decided to lock it back on my veranda and if it gets stolen at least someone will be riding it!!!
At 4 (or about) we picked up Moses and his mom, wife and two daughters and took him to COMBRA where he'll be taking classes the next 2 months. It's really a BIG step for him - away from farm and family for 2 months!!! (he'll get home some weekends).
Monday at English we started simple letter writing - everyone except one copied the sample on the board. One boy wrote a letter to Sr. Juliet about stealing in the dorms - it's really a BIG problem and it was a good letter!!! She agreed!
We have a big "crew" at PH right now - two Brothers on "internship" for a month, a Brother on Holiday, 2 Sisters on Holiday and one young man (hard of hearing) doing a Social Work Internship (he was turned down 5 places because of his hearing loss - and he's great - everyone gets in at PH!). Nelson also just got 2 OT interns studying at Mulago - busy place!!!
After English I helped Sister and the two Brothers to go through all the old, dusty folders in the office looking for something about some land (not found) - what a mess! Helped w. the "movement group" in the afternoon - lots of frisbee, ball, etc. for the more seriously handicapped. The sewing machine repairman returned w. parts (YEA)....doing good work but has to come back again w. some more and to fix the shoe machine (all part of the SPA grant). Did some weed pulling w. the kids in the cabbages (in anticipation of the visit Tuesday of the Mother General - the "top nun"). Ended w. going to the market w. Sr. Goretti - it was dark and the place was crowded, noisy (several bullhorns pitching stuff plus radios), and stuck me as just so typically Ugandan. Came home and made mac and cheese (Kraft box) - spiced up w. onion, garlic and tomato - and a Spam single (they are the best!).
Tuesday CBR was slow as usual - everyone knows we aren't paying anymore - just giving advice!!! The Mother General came (leader of all the Little Sisters in E. Africa) - very impressive woman! Alysious (the SW intern) wanted to teach a class so he took my English class - nice break for me and the kids!!!
Wednesday Fred and I went to Kampala to order the layers - it took awhile - lots of walking from store to store - delivery dates at some were too far out! But it's done - we pick them up July 27! I stopped to see Moses on the way home - he needed a letter verifying his employment at PH - seems he dropped his ID down the latrine!!! Did my Mukono internet, P.O., Bank and Supermarket thing and got home about 7:30.
I'm reading a book making the PC circuit - The Master and Margaurita by Mikhail Bulgakov - very Russion and VERY strange, but I can't put it down.
I thought Thursday would be slow, but Sister J invited me to go along w. the visiting Brother to see Lake Victoria and visit the convent at Kavule. We went to a fishing village (Sennyi) on the lake - they are all so poor - stopped at the convent (it was build by Mother Kevin in the 30s and is very run down, but has a gorgeous view of the lake - think it would make a wonderful retreat house if fixed up). The Sisters also run a little clinic there - 3 nuns at the end of the world!!! We stopped at Sr. Juliet's home and met her grandfather (and lots of other relatives) and saw her old Secondary School! We had to visit every classroom and since I took a picture in the first one had to take a picture in every one!!
It's sad that the forests in that part of Uganda (and everywhere) have been decimated by cutting for charcoal, firewood and timber and no re-planting - they look green but it's all small trees, bush and banana trees...very few mature trees - not a government priority!
Today (Friday) Math went well - did a "store" again - counting money and making change - even w. the faster group - they all enjoyed it and came away w. some bananas, crackers, pens and of course "sweeties"...
Tomorrow the two Brothers and I are going to see Josephine at St. Balikudembe's for visiting day (nearby in Kisoga). Sunday the muzungus have been invited to a goat roast in honor of the Duke kids who are starting to leave - I'll miss them - they are a great group! There are two new volunteers (women in their 30s) staying at RASD who've been down to PH to play w. the kids - they are from NYC - took 3 weeks off their jobs. Really outgoing ladies and the kids enjoy the extra attention!!!
Guess that's all for now - Wish Corky a Happy Anniversary - July 13 - 41 years!!!
Things go well here but I'm really eager to see everyone at home - Gail said that Riley said it was a "long time" till I come tho - "two weeks" - it's longer but that may be what he envisions as a LONG time!! It's going fast and will be even faster as we get to the First Aid classes next weekend (Holly's grant project) - we're having one two-day session at PH for Moses' community health workers the 16th and 17th and then two others for her Project Hope people, the 5K, finals and report cards - YIKES! And then off to Minneapolis (via Amsterdam).
Hope you all have a good weekend. As always, thank you to everyone for your thoughts and prayers - your support means everything!!!
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