Mukono 8-15-08

Am in Mukono to go to the post office and to see some people from an orphanage here about cooperating w. the Doctors from Katelemwa to have some of our people come to a clinic they hold here and wanted to do the computer thing - but have just about used up my patience on e-mail...used 45 minutes to send 4 e -mails!!! But, have no other options at the present. Bakery hasn't paid their bill again and probably won't till Sr. Veronica comes back in Sept. and went up to RASD (Sheri's site w. the new "internet cafe") and spent 15 minutes sending nothing!! Sometimes I think the internet here is more trouble than it's worth....although at times it works O.K. You just never know. Will see how the blog goes....

O.K., on to more positive subjects. Had to vent there for a minute. Had a great weekend w. Maria in Kbale...bus trip was long, but actually, the easiest part of the trip....the trip to Kampala from Nkoko and the taxi park were the bad parts for me!! We had lots of great talking time, went to Lake Bunyoni (resort area), had lunch at an island resort, took a boat ride, a short swim (cold), and just had a good time! The area is much hillier than here but fewer trees...the hills are terraced for farming to the very top....like Rwanda, which makes sense since they are only 1/2 hour from Rwanda (which is very densely populated) and probably there are a lot of Rwandan refugees in the Kbale area.

When I got back no power yet - talked to Sr. Felicitas (my landlady) and she said the sisters don't miss it - YIKES. Did get it back later in the week - YEA! But my lightbulb blew out...I couldn't figure out how to get it out and had to have help from a young girl who's very tall - she's part of the UC Davis group that is at RASD (Rural Agency for Sustainable Development - Sheri's site) now - the Duke kids go home tomorrow. I needed her to stand on the table and see how to get the bulb out - they don't screw...have two prongs that have to be moved. I did get the new one back in tho' by myself and felt a terrific sense of accomplishment - love the light!!!!

Tuesday was CBR day (Community Rehab)...the guys had done some outreach last week and did a village "sensitization" meeting on Sunday at a nearby village....good to have some $ for transport and supplies!!! They do follow ups to people we've seen before and try to let people know what can be done for the disabled in Uganda.....also encourage epileptics to come to the clinic at PH. Lots of good work. One sad case came in today (they are all sad, really). 6 month old girl who was one of twins - her left side didn't develop - short arm and no hand and some other deformities. Don't know what really can be done....and after she was born the dad left the mom (6 kids total) because she had a deformed baby!!! (couldn't be his??) I really think the only thing to be done is exercises to strengthen her left side because her head rolls that way....mom can't get too far so are going to wait till the Doctors come to PH in the fall. She was such a cute, bright, little girl. All of you be grateful for the healthy kids you have!!!!

Had supper Tueday night with the RASD folks and the new people from UC Davis and the "old" group from Duke...quite the group. UC brought two professors who brought some other people to see Uganda for a few weeks. Nice bunch...two wives are former teachers and one professor brought her 15 year old daughter (the tall girl mentioned above), and they want to come down to PH to "play" with the kids - bring it on!!! Sheri does a great job promoting PH!

Wednesday we had a marathon trip to Kampala....I was tired from the weekend, had a bad nite's sleep from the malaria meds (happens one nite every week) and it was a long day....I really have to describe it - it was so typical of an African adventure. I was able to use the CBR funds donated to pay for the trip - we had an appointment with the Italian Doctor who was then at Mengo hospital at 1:00 and I really wanted to make that!!!

I was determined to leave as close to 8 as possible (wanted to leave at 6 but the sisters wanted to go to 6:45 Mass)....got there and with a lot of prodding and clapping, we left at 8:25...quite good actually!! Group included myself and the driver, Sr. Goretti and Sr. Melody, Kassuli (he's a 25 yr. old recent university grad who's finishing his Senior Research paper - very smart, but also very disabled - in a wheelchair), Kassuli's helper, Nsulu (she's a 13 year old who lives at PH; had a HUGE tumor removed from behind her eye 2 years ago; the wound is still raw after all that time - I've seen the hole - the eye is gone and lots of tissue - it has been bleeding lately so she had to go to Katelemwa Hospital), Veronica (24 - she's been working at PH, but going back to college), and 3 kids who were going to Kampala on their way home for break - so 11 of us (four in back), plus baggage, wheelchair, etc. I wish I'd have brought my camera. Dropped Sr. Melody off near downtown so she could go around on bodas (motorcycle taxis) to visit a friendly NGO to borrow $ for Veronica's tuition and get it to the college; we took the three kids to the taxi park and Sr. G got them sent off (lots of stuff!), dropped Kassuli and his helper at Makere University and from there Veronica and I rode in the back to protect her stuff - it's SO crowded in town whenever you stop (and it's often), people steal things out of the back!. Took Nsula to Katelemwa - out of town a bit - she had to stay till the weekend, but picked up a dad and his 5 year old daughter who were from the Nkoko area who were at the hospital (she has CP and was referred in FEb. from PH) and needed a ride back... they had a suitcase, a CP chair and a CP standing frame !! Also, picked up a new wheelchair for another resident. We got to Mengo Hospital on time - our driver is amazing - and Sr. G and I met w. Dr. Antonio. He was only able to raise about 1/2 the money he hoped to, so we need to find more or seriously limit referrals...but at least we have some now! However, he agreed to start coming out to PH to do quarterly orthopedic clinics to assess patients and see if they need surgery - it's a HUGE help to the people out where we are - going to Kampala is really scary (I know) and expensive. His group (an Italian Christian organization) is building a new orthopedic hospital south of Kampala and think surgeries there will be free to the poor - should open in January he hopes....so mainly good news. He's so nice!!! Will probably start coming to PH in October - I need to line up some things with the hospital for X-rays and blood work.

While we were there Sr. G got a call from Sr. Melody and she said the college wouldn't accept partial payment for Veronica - she was devestated and started crying!!! So we wnet down to pick up Sr. Melody in town, they went to the a bank to get the money they had and we went to the college anyway. The two sisters convinced them they could and should take Veronica - they are SO persuasive!!! So, she unloaded all her things - foam mattress, gerry can, several suitcases, etc. Then went to a place way out to get printed plastic bags ordered for the bakery, back to Makere to pick up Kassuli (he's gotten his paper ready to print), and off for home, stopping in Kisoga (1/2 hr. from Nkokonjeru) to pick up two girls at a secondary school there who needed to come back to PH for break - plus their luggage and another wheelchair!!! So, returned with me, driver, 2 sisters, Kassuli and attendant, dad and little girl (in my lap) and the two girls....plus 3 wheelchairs and all the gear!!! We really utilized our gas $ that day....plus everything got accomplished and we were back by 8:30.....Sr. G said the dad and girl could stay overnite and have dinner at PH which was really nice. And, as we drove by I could see lights on at the convent - God IS good!!!

I know that's a confusing narrative, but really that's how things work here...plus imagine the streets full of vehicles, people, dust......when you lose the people you get goats and cows!!! I was exhausted and I did little!!! It costs 60,000sh to go to Kampala - gas and driver - and the Sisters try to maximize the value - Sr. Goretti even had a list of destinations for the driver when we got in so he could plan the route!!! I was so proud!

Thursday I was really slow...did some forms on the computer, tried to use the internet, played with the kids with the 15 year old - they loved her - did drawing, had treats and balloons (thanks St. John's and others). Didas, the shoemaker, put new heels on my brown sandals....wore them down to the leather - a testament to how much we walk! So, a good day all in all.

Family was up at Lake Vermillion this week...I really missed seeing all the little ones play together (hope it was good), Jean and Kody were driving from Portland - him to Mn, her on to Chicago.

Got some great packages and letters this week...thanks all !!! Will check at the PO today and see what we all have! Thanks so much for your thoughts and prayers. It's going well - the break helped....still lots to do and plenty of books to read!!! Plus I have electricity!!! How can I complain? Take care and will probably write again next weekend from Kampala - we have a PC training all week from the 25th to the 31st! I'm looking forward to seeing everyone from our class, but not a week of sitting at lectures! And I really miss PH when I'm gone! Never a dull day!