WELCOME BAILY JO - and Happy Halloween

Yes, Curt and Jamie had their baby after a LONG day on October 27 - Baily Jo, 8 lb. 1 oz. So, the excitement is now over (for this year?). Four new grandchildren since June - total of 9 - all healthy and fine!!!

Since I've been back at Providence Home seems like there is so much more to write about - the place keeps everyone busy! I returned from training last Friday night - was so glad to be back to my apartment. I enjoy seeing everyone but I can only take so much socializing and sitting. Workshop was interesting, but I thought the material - about Life Skills Training - was pretty Americanized...workbook was written by Americans, basically for Americans. Ugandan counterparts contributed some,but felt they were holding back their opinions - we are definitely more vocal!!! Maria came Saturday around 9 a.m. So fun to have her here! Kids and Sisters really love her (me too). We had the mosquito net presentation ceremony in the afternoon - lots of dancing, speeches, etc. The kids love it! Maria is sending Gail some pictures and maybe some camera video - it's so hard to describe the festivities. The kids love to dance - there was even an elderly sister who came who really got into it!!! One of the shoe making students who is 25 and can't walk "danced" a long time on his hands!! Seeing all the people having so much fun is really rewarding - plus Maria donated sodas, cupcakes and hard candies! Much appreciated - along w. the mosquito nets. After it was over Kassuli managed the radio/CD player as DJ and the kids stayed and danced for another hour till it was time for 6 p.m. prayers (didn't leave quickly). Bakery people also got nets, and the priests and the elderly sisters - Sr. Felicitius gave a really nice talk about Maria's generosity - think she was embarrassed but it was a great gift.

Sunday Maria left very early to try to get back to Kbale - she made it to Kampala on time,but her bus broke down and it was a 14+ hour trip home! I went to Mass at the chapel, had a bagel from New York Kitchen, did some class preparation (going to read an article about malaria since we just got nets), re-did the Small Project Assistance grant budget (didn't know the limit was $2500 - I'd asked for $3300) , went to town to get new rulers - the kids love to use them but I've been "losing" some each coloring session! They love to color and use markers - I had a talk w. them about stealing today - the kids turned in one little boy in a wheelchair who was trying to take a ruler! They need them for school, but.... While in town (random aren't I), bought a fresh pineapple (.60), a papaya (.30) and yogurt (.30)!

I bought a bunch of books in Kampala - basic readers (i.e., like Dick and Jane, but Opio and Apio). I was able to find five books in Lugandan and the same book in English - they were a hit!!!
The mat making teacher didn't come (told her not to come Sat. but thought she'd come Sunday). Little kids had a good time coloring anyway and Kassuli had the radio out in the hall again so the big ones were still dancing!!

I finished "In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz" by Michala Wrong - very interesting Congo story of 1960 to late 1990s...Mobutu era (Kurtz is the antagonist in Heart of Darkness)...story of his kleptocracy - rule of theft. There are a lot more popular books on the Congo than on Uganda unfortunately. There's trouble in the east of the Congo again.

Monday, after English, we went on on of our marathon trips to Kampala. Didn't leave till 11:00 (flat tire on the truck). I'll try to tell the details briefly - on the way throught the sugar cane fields (short cut) to Lugazi Sr. J stopped a guy on a bicycle w. two huge bags of charcoal (they make it at home) and bought them, then we stopped at the Lugazi hospital to drop off a resident who needs a checkup there and insulin, dropped off another Sister in Seeta, left Sr. Veronica at ShopRite at Logogo to check out the new Bakery Truck, Sr. J and I went to Barclay's bank to get her on the PH account signature card, meanwhile Sr. V had forgotten bread to give the chairman of the board so the driver took it to her and we waited at the bank (the director of the Cheshire program stopped by to chat). Went to another suburb to Mukisa Foundation - they support our OT and have a day program for severely handicapped children - great work! Then we went to the Bishop's home to drop off the charcoal and pick up some communion wine - stopped for some yogurt since it was 4 (lunch - I always take Luna bars with me to stave off starvation). Sr. V was on her own trek and went home by matatu but Sr. J and I continued on to Katelemwa Hospital to meet w. the director about our NGO status, stopped there by the hospital's outreach director who wants to come to PH on the 25th to do a clinic (great). On the way back we stopped to see the place where the red truck is being repaired in Kampala, stopped in Mukono to get some bananas for matoke, then back to Lugazi for sugar for the bakery - got back to PH at 9!!! I'm exhausted and I just rode along!!!

Tuesday Corky called at 6:30 a.m. (your 10:30 p.m. Monday) and said Jamie had been in the hospital all day but no progress. I went to the Sister's 6:45 a.m. Mass and when I got back there was a message that he'd called - called him and learned about Bailey Jo's brith!!! YEA!!

We had our monthly CBR meeting - lots to cover - upcoming clinic and lots of pending activities. We need to start up outreach to get people to come to the Katelemwa clinic - they said they could see up to 60!! (team of four people). Moses told me the sad story of a neighbor who has a 2 year old that is severely malnourished - mom drinks all day and leaves her and dad is mainly absent. He's threatened to tell the police. He's taking me to see her on Sunday.

Math class was good - getting better - but I'm tired by 2:30 when it starts! I might be helping the slow ones too much, but many barely can count. Nice visit w. Holly in the p.m. as I tried to use the hospital internet (but it was busy)....

Wednesday a.m. got to use the Bakery computer - yea!!! They paid for another month. Then went to check on the tailoring class and got VERY angry about the mess in the cupboard, missing equipment (scissors, machine parts) and just generally sloppy work! The teacher said that last week the kids "broke" 10 sewing machine needles - he needs to supervise them....I'm not sure some of the stuff isn't going to his tailoring business. I really lost it - think I scared them. I feel bad today...not sure how to make them more accountable w/o sitting there all afternoon. Sr. Goretti said she'd stop by when she feels better - she's has a BAD chesty cough since training.

In the afternoon Holly and I went to Mukono - she mailed baskets and I sent my Christmas box....we were shocked to find that the old postmaster has been fired.....he admitted he was running a side business in the office - a secretarial pool - and the guy who sat in the back building distributing the mail is in jail!!! They say they don't have a key for the back building where the mail is sorted and they store packages so they haven't used the back building for a week - so no one is getting mail and we can't get packages - for a week!!! Don't people complain?

Internet cafe was too slow to use so we returned to Nkokonjeru. I'm back today to go to see some people in Mukono at a rehabilitation center - Sr. J was going to come with me, but she was in Kampala again yesterday for another long day, and is going to stay at PH and do some work. So, gave the kids an English assignment, left and am at the internet cafe earlier - it's faster early. Then I'll be off to Cherub. Dr. Antonio is there today for a monthly orthopedic clinic we are hoping we can access - much shorter trip for our parents than the hospitals in Kampala. Still would have to go into town for surgery, but would know what their options are after assessment.

Again, Congrats Curt and Jamie - I'm looking forward to getting some pictures. Gail sent some of Ellie - also one of Naomi's mom (Renee) holding Henry - I'm so jealous!!!

Hope things go well for the elections. I thought about going into Kampala to hear results, but would have to file paperwork for vacation days and it's not worth that, so will listen to BBC - might sneak on the Sister's TV Wednesday a.m. Good luck Montgomery/Lonsdale w. the school referendum and Gail with your bid for School Board!!!

Thanks again all for your letters (hope we can get into the PO soon - new guy appears to never have been in a PO before ???). I really appreciate all your thoughts, prayers, letters, everything...it's been a tough fall, but at least I'm keeping busy and feel semi-productive!!!

Happy Halloween!