I landed back in the States 3 weeks today from Uganda. I’ve been home 3 days, the rest of the time has been spent on the road working. My world 3.5 weeks ago is a lot different then my world tonight.
3.5 weeks ago I was in a hotel, like I am tonight, but that’s where the similarities end. Hotel Roma had about 25 sleeping rooms in Gulu, I was in a room with a queen size bed. Did I ever mention that Beth and I shared a bed for the 2.5 weeks we were together in Gulu. Did I mention there was no air conditioning and we slept often in our skivvies because at night the air would be so still and stifling, that our fan brought us little relief. Or that we were arrogant and lucky enough to be on Malarone, a $6/day pill that wards off Malaria, that we didn’t bother to sleep under our mosquito net because it just made it hotter. Or the day after we left Gulu, they didn’t have power for 3 days, THREE days, not because of a major catastrophe but because it’s Gulu and often the infrastructure fails.
In the past three weeks, I’ve been in a Westin, a Hyatt and a very large Vegas hotel. I have had a king size bed every night, a thermostat at my fingertips to adjust the temperature of the room, lamps within reach to make the room, lighter or darker…oh and the bathtubs and dual headed shower heads. I heart Westin shower heads! The first morning at the Westin, I had only been back in the states four days and I giggled with glee as I stepped into the shower, not only would there be hot water, there would be water pressure from TWO shower heads. But the giggling only lasted but a few seconds as I remembered only days before what a shower was like in Gulu.
Tonight I ordered room service, French onion soup, and a sparkling water, my meal with service charge, tax and gratuity came to over $20.00. Christmas Eve, I bought lunch for 16 people in Gulu for less than $20.00.
The paradox of the life I live is not lost on me. I’ve been afforded the opportunity to do some amazing things because of my job. I’ve stayed in phenomenal hotels and dined on fancy dinners and drank expensive wine that I haven’t had to pay a nickel for. I’ve met famous athletes, singers, actors and actresses, been to the NBA All Star Game, worked Four Super Bowls and been to two of the games. I went to China for the Olympics, I’m going to Vancouver for the Olympics. I played on Torrey Pines South…and I don’t even GOLF! I’ve been to more closed theme parks for private functions than I can shake a stick at and yet I’m plotting. Plotting to do exactly what and exactly when that’s all being worked out, but if someone said to me today “April you can walk away from all your financial responsibility and choose what life you want to live” I’d choose Africa, with cold showers, rice and beans and lots of kids in ratty clothes to hang out with, don’t get me wrong I’d long for those nights in fancy hotels, high count thread sheets and room service with expensive wine. I am still in fact American.
Friday 29 January 2010
Tuesday 19 January 2010
Photos from Uganda
Finally photos from my trip!!
Grab yourself a drink and enjoy!!
The photos were all snapped by me...unless of course I'm in them.
Click here on April's Photos
Grab yourself a drink and enjoy!!
The photos were all snapped by me...unless of course I'm in them.
Click here on April's Photos
Monday 18 January 2010
Sweet Sleep Begins Emergency Bedding Campaign for Haiti
This is a press release going out in Nashville...please pass along to any people you know in Middle Tennessee and of course if you want to donate monetarily please do.
NEWS Contact:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jon Merryman
615-730-7671
jon@sweetsleep.org
URGENT: BEDDING DRIVE FOR ORPHANS IN HAITI EARTHQUAKE
Sweet Sleep Collecting Blankets, Mats, and More for Thousands of Displaced and Newly Orphaned Children
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (January 18, 2010) – Right now, the people of Middle Tennessee can help the youngest victims of the earthquake in Haiti by donating bedding supplies to the island nation’s many orphans. Sweet Sleep, an international nonprofit organization headquartered in Nashville, is hosting an emergency bedding drive at two locations in Williamson County.
More than 2,000 displaced or newly orphaned children are currently being moved to a safe location on six acres of land outside of Port-au-Prince by The Global Orphan Project. Sweet Sleep is a partner in this effort and is now collecting blankets, sheets, mats (camping, yoga, school, straw, etc.), and other bedding items to be delivered to these children so they have a place to sleep.
BEDDING DRIVE FOR HAITIAN ORPHANS
Location #1: CoolSprings Galleria
Sears Parking Lot
Franklin, Tenn.
Wed., January 20
10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Location #2: Brentwood Baptist Church
7777 Concord Road
Brentwood, Tenn.
Today – Wed., January 20
All donations should be new or in like-new condition. Bibles will also be accepted. Items will be shipped to Miami, where they will be loaded into a freighter for Haiti on Friday.
Even before the earthquake, there were an estimated 800,000 orphans in Haiti, which is why Sweet Sleep expanded its global mission to include the impoverished nation late last year. The organization’s work with these children is not limited to the earthquake recovery effort but will continue for years to come.
Middle Tennesseans who are unable to participate in the bedding drive can still assist the effort with a monetary donation. Simply visit www.sweetsleep.org/donate and type “HAITI” in the special comments box.
Sweet Sleep is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Sweet Sleep is a member of the ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability), which is dedicated to helping Christian ministries earn the public’s trust through adherence to their standards of responsible stewardship. Sweet Sleep is registered with Guidestar, which provides information that advances transparency in nonprofit practice in order to encourage charitable giving.
Sweet Sleep is a Nashville-based nonprofit organization which provides beds to the world’s orphaned and abandoned children. According to recent estimates there are more than 210 million orphans worldwide, and every day 5,760 more children become orphans. Sweet Sleep works closely with indigenous staff as well as U.S. churches and businesses to provide beds and bedding with a goal of providing “a bed for every head.” Since 2003, Sweet Sleep has provided thousands of beds for orphans in Moldova, Haiti, and Uganda.
For more information about Sweet Sleep, visit www.sweetsleep.org.
NEWS Contact:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Jon Merryman
615-730-7671
jon@sweetsleep.org
URGENT: BEDDING DRIVE FOR ORPHANS IN HAITI EARTHQUAKE
Sweet Sleep Collecting Blankets, Mats, and More for Thousands of Displaced and Newly Orphaned Children
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (January 18, 2010) – Right now, the people of Middle Tennessee can help the youngest victims of the earthquake in Haiti by donating bedding supplies to the island nation’s many orphans. Sweet Sleep, an international nonprofit organization headquartered in Nashville, is hosting an emergency bedding drive at two locations in Williamson County.
More than 2,000 displaced or newly orphaned children are currently being moved to a safe location on six acres of land outside of Port-au-Prince by The Global Orphan Project. Sweet Sleep is a partner in this effort and is now collecting blankets, sheets, mats (camping, yoga, school, straw, etc.), and other bedding items to be delivered to these children so they have a place to sleep.
BEDDING DRIVE FOR HAITIAN ORPHANS
Location #1: CoolSprings Galleria
Sears Parking Lot
Franklin, Tenn.
Wed., January 20
10:00 am – 7:00 pm
Location #2: Brentwood Baptist Church
7777 Concord Road
Brentwood, Tenn.
Today – Wed., January 20
All donations should be new or in like-new condition. Bibles will also be accepted. Items will be shipped to Miami, where they will be loaded into a freighter for Haiti on Friday.
Even before the earthquake, there were an estimated 800,000 orphans in Haiti, which is why Sweet Sleep expanded its global mission to include the impoverished nation late last year. The organization’s work with these children is not limited to the earthquake recovery effort but will continue for years to come.
Middle Tennesseans who are unable to participate in the bedding drive can still assist the effort with a monetary donation. Simply visit www.sweetsleep.org/donate and type “HAITI” in the special comments box.
Sweet Sleep is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Sweet Sleep is a member of the ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability), which is dedicated to helping Christian ministries earn the public’s trust through adherence to their standards of responsible stewardship. Sweet Sleep is registered with Guidestar, which provides information that advances transparency in nonprofit practice in order to encourage charitable giving.
Sweet Sleep is a Nashville-based nonprofit organization which provides beds to the world’s orphaned and abandoned children. According to recent estimates there are more than 210 million orphans worldwide, and every day 5,760 more children become orphans. Sweet Sleep works closely with indigenous staff as well as U.S. churches and businesses to provide beds and bedding with a goal of providing “a bed for every head.” Since 2003, Sweet Sleep has provided thousands of beds for orphans in Moldova, Haiti, and Uganda.
For more information about Sweet Sleep, visit www.sweetsleep.org.
Thursday 14 January 2010
Gulu Wrapped Up
Tomorrow will mark exactly one week since I left Uganda, wow time flies quickly doesn’t it!?!
Here are a few final stories to wrap up the trip…I said wrap up the trip, I didn’t say finish the blog. I’ll continue to blog about Uganda, about my travels, about social responsibility, about whatever is on my mind and heart, you may or may not agree with what I’ll talk about, I don’t care. In fact I kinda like it when people don’t agree with me, intelligent debate is thrilling to me. But back to Uganda….
Sunday afternoon came upon us too quickly, the hotel staff was sad to see us go, Jerry and Candis were sad, William the Internet Café guy was sad, we were sad, while it seemed like we had been in Gulu forever, our trip seemed too short all of a sudden. Our trusty driver Jack, had driven up from Kampala that morning to pick us up and whisk us back to the city.
That morning a few of us were sitting on the front veranda, when these 3 little girls walked past Hotel Roma. I had met them before, as they live down the street on the corner, that Beth insisted on cleaning up not once but twice. You see in towns and cities of many third world countries, garbage pick up isn’t on the priority list, hell I don’t even know if it’s on a list. But this corner, really got on Beth’s nerves, so Christmas morning, she went down there and started her own “Beautifying Gulu” project. These three girls who were walking past us lived in a house on that corner and they had been roped into the project the first day Beth cleaned up and then again on the second day. Now I’m not knocking Beth I think what she did was admirable, but I’m also afraid it was futile (that corner is right across the street from a bar- which generates a bit of trash), you do have to start somewhere, and that corner is where Beth decided to start. Anyway, this damn story isn’t even about the trash pick up…get to the point Gulley. So on the second day of Beth’s clean up, she and I were headed to Home of Love to hang the swings, finger paint, etc. I went down to see if Beth was ready to go, these three little girls were helping Beth clean up. The littlest girl (she is probably 4 and I now know her name is Nile) drops the box she is holding, runs over and hugs my knees, totally spontaneous, first time I’ve ever met her. I of course was like “oh my god- I want to take you home with me” then bent down and gave her the biggest hug. Fast Forward to our last day in Gulu, these same three little girls are walking to church on the other side of the road. I get up and walk into the road to call them over and say hello…Nile comes blazing across the street (look for cars what?- I almost had a heart attack as she was running across the street), I bend down and she gives me the biggest hug. My heart totally, completely, utterly MELTED. I picked her up and we chatted for a bit and took a couple of photos, which I then printed and took to her mom. Here’s one of the photos, couldn’t you just eat her up!?! So sweet.
After our final lunch of you guessed it Rice and Beans, we packed up the van and were getting ready to leave for Kampala. I’m sitting up front with Jack and I realize he is talking to someone at his window telling them “no”. I then see it is this boy who actually had approached Beth and I not once but twice…while we were walking through Gulu in past weeks. There is a fine line between helping and enabling, the first two times Beth and I encountered him we ignored and continued to walk on. When I realize who it is, I holler to one of the guys who is riding back with us to Kampala to dig a granola bar and some cookies out of a box we have in the back. I hand them to Jack who hands them to the boy, I then proceed to watch him devour the granola bar and then start on the cookies. I am ashamed that this was the first time we had fed him, he has crossed my mind regularly since last Sunday.
Our trip back to Kampala was almost uneventful, until we got a flat tire about an hour outside of the city. We pulled over to the side of the road, luckily Jack is a pro, but we also had Lou in the van who is another driver for the Adonai house. While they expertly changed the tire, I snapped photos of all the children who lived right along where we stopped, it was so fun watching them watch us.
Monday morning comes and Jack picks me up so I can be dropped off at the meeting spot, to hop on the Rafting outfitters bus to get to the source of the Nile in Jinja. I was excited and nervous. I’m in a boat with 3 Americans, 2 Germans and a Canuck guide. Two of the Americans are National Guard guys, so of course they are like go extreme, woohoo and I’m thinking in my head “oh lord, how many times am I going out of the boat?” We go barefoot, because if you go in with your shoes on, you’re probably coming out with them off. My little princess feet are not cut out for long walks barefoot, but I lived. As soon as we get in the boat there is a small class 2, our guide wanted to see what we were made of, so he intentionally flipped us. I got stuck under the boat, which is okay because there are air pockets, but when you’re cruising down the Nile and you’re stuck under a boat it’s kind of hard not to panic. We all got back in and continued down the Nile. We then came upon Bujagali Falls, which is a Class 5, next thing I know the front of the boat is coming towards the back of the boat and we all get dumped in. When you flip you’re supposed to hold onto the rope of the boat, but that is sometimes easier said than done…I ended up cruising down the river on my own for a little bit. The rest of the day was fairly uneventful, we didn’t see any crocs or hippos, which apparently don’t hang out too much in that part of the Nile, thankfully. We did receive the tip that if you do encounter a hippo when in the water, to swim down to the bottom of the river and hold onto some weeds, apparently hippos can’t see under water…just a little tip for you if you’re ever in the unfortunate situation of being in the water with a hippo at the same time. The safety kayakers did say they saw a cobra in the water, we never saw it though…a few times when we went swimming in the water, it took a bunch of nerve not to freak out at the thought of what was swimming around in the river.
I’m so glad I rafted the Nile that day, Uganda is building a dam that is set to open September 2010 and all of the rapids I ran will pretty much be gone after it opens.
Tuesday was my final day in Uganda. At the beginning of the trip it felt like I was going to be there forever, but by the last day it was hard for me to believe it was all over. The first thing we did that morning was head to Greater Life Orphanage, where we were greeted by screaming and clapping children before we ever reached the gate. I swear people in third world countries have a secret way of communicating a person’s impending arrival. These kids didn’t know we were coming, yet they were standing at the front gate bounding around way before they could even see our van coming up to the gate. As soon as I got out of the car I had many small hands anxiously looking to grab on to mine, so I gave a finger to each kid that was near me to hold on to. Sweet Sleep took a mission team to Greater Life this past summer, so Jen and Stuart wanted to drop in to see how the beds, nets, blankets were holding up and how the kids were sleeping. While they were researching, I was playing “head, shoulders, knees and toes”, along with snapping lots of photos of the kids.
At one point Jen says to me this is where Tasha and Bernie live…here’s the backstory this summer the photographer that was traveling with Sweet Sleep took this great picture of these two little kids, wearing dresses holding hands. My sister Katie and I decided to give them names, Tasha and Bernie. So I of course start scouring the crowd for the rockstars Tasha and Bernie….I see this wee one wearing a super holey shirt, with no pants on and his little wee wee hanging out…I go uh Jen I think this is Bernie and Bernie’s a boy. I was sooo excited to meet him, hug him and play with him…I seriously want to take “Ernie” (as Katie now calls him…since Bernie doesn’t work out so much anymore) home with me. Tasha as we call her wasn’t at the orphanage that day, so I only got to meet one of the famous duo. But it was a great way to end my trip to Uganda.
Ernie formerly known as Bernie
The afternoon took us to lunch and then I hit the market by myself, while Jen, Stuart and Josephine went to a meeting. I bought a great piece of artwork (Yes Mom- I bought it for myself but you can have it) and met the artist. He took me to the framer’s shop, which was done the street, around a corner into a bit of a shoddy back alley. I of course get off on adventures like this, but it was pretty uneventful. Ashraf the artist assisted in helping me get a boda boda and I was off on the streets of Kampala on my way to meet up with the rest of the gang. I realize bodas are dangerous and in the US I’d never get on one with out a helmet, but there’s something about being on a motorbike in insane traffic, dodging and weaving that makes me feel so alive!!
That night we headed to dinner with Josephine, her husband Jonathon, their children and Jack. Jack and I were sitting next to each other and I asked him what he was going to order and he said the tilapia (which was 16,000 shillings or $8US). He then said “oh is there pork on the menu?” I said yes there are pork chops so I show him what page they were on and he says “oh no I can’t” and I said “why”. He points to the price 20,000 shillings or $10US. I said “ah who cares Stuart is paying”. I finally convinced him I would eat some and he should order the pork chops if he wanted them. This 5 minute dialogue has stuck with me over the past week. What a different world we live in, to consider not ordering a dish because it’s $2.00 more than another. Unlike America, many people in this world eat out of a necessity to live. It’s not an event like most of us make it, here in the states.
It was sad to say goodbye to Josephine and her family, plus Stuart and Jen at the Adonai House. Jack and I got stuck in a jam on the way to the airport, it was a little nerve racking, but I was leaving it up to the universe if I didn’t make my flight, but I did. After giving Jack a big hug and a promise to come back to Uganda, I was on my way back to the States. While waiting at the gate, I started chatting up with this guy sitting next to me, I was telling him how I had spent the past few weeks in Gulu. He had grown up in Kampala but lived in Belgium, he was highly impressed I had been to the North. He said “Gulu is like the end of the earth to me I’ve never been there. You don’t go there”. He then thanked me for the time I had spent in the North. I was humbled by his appreciation.
My trip to Uganda was amazing and I loved every minute. Even when it was hot and we didn’t have electricity and I was eating rice and bean for the third time in two days. Some people have said to me “wow what a trip of a lifetime” or “that was a once in a lifetime trip”. And to some it may have been once in a lifetime, but for me it’s just the beginning….
Here are a few final stories to wrap up the trip…I said wrap up the trip, I didn’t say finish the blog. I’ll continue to blog about Uganda, about my travels, about social responsibility, about whatever is on my mind and heart, you may or may not agree with what I’ll talk about, I don’t care. In fact I kinda like it when people don’t agree with me, intelligent debate is thrilling to me. But back to Uganda….
Sunday afternoon came upon us too quickly, the hotel staff was sad to see us go, Jerry and Candis were sad, William the Internet Café guy was sad, we were sad, while it seemed like we had been in Gulu forever, our trip seemed too short all of a sudden. Our trusty driver Jack, had driven up from Kampala that morning to pick us up and whisk us back to the city.
That morning a few of us were sitting on the front veranda, when these 3 little girls walked past Hotel Roma. I had met them before, as they live down the street on the corner, that Beth insisted on cleaning up not once but twice. You see in towns and cities of many third world countries, garbage pick up isn’t on the priority list, hell I don’t even know if it’s on a list. But this corner, really got on Beth’s nerves, so Christmas morning, she went down there and started her own “Beautifying Gulu” project. These three girls who were walking past us lived in a house on that corner and they had been roped into the project the first day Beth cleaned up and then again on the second day. Now I’m not knocking Beth I think what she did was admirable, but I’m also afraid it was futile (that corner is right across the street from a bar- which generates a bit of trash), you do have to start somewhere, and that corner is where Beth decided to start. Anyway, this damn story isn’t even about the trash pick up…get to the point Gulley. So on the second day of Beth’s clean up, she and I were headed to Home of Love to hang the swings, finger paint, etc. I went down to see if Beth was ready to go, these three little girls were helping Beth clean up. The littlest girl (she is probably 4 and I now know her name is Nile) drops the box she is holding, runs over and hugs my knees, totally spontaneous, first time I’ve ever met her. I of course was like “oh my god- I want to take you home with me” then bent down and gave her the biggest hug. Fast Forward to our last day in Gulu, these same three little girls are walking to church on the other side of the road. I get up and walk into the road to call them over and say hello…Nile comes blazing across the street (look for cars what?- I almost had a heart attack as she was running across the street), I bend down and she gives me the biggest hug. My heart totally, completely, utterly MELTED. I picked her up and we chatted for a bit and took a couple of photos, which I then printed and took to her mom. Here’s one of the photos, couldn’t you just eat her up!?! So sweet.
After our final lunch of you guessed it Rice and Beans, we packed up the van and were getting ready to leave for Kampala. I’m sitting up front with Jack and I realize he is talking to someone at his window telling them “no”. I then see it is this boy who actually had approached Beth and I not once but twice…while we were walking through Gulu in past weeks. There is a fine line between helping and enabling, the first two times Beth and I encountered him we ignored and continued to walk on. When I realize who it is, I holler to one of the guys who is riding back with us to Kampala to dig a granola bar and some cookies out of a box we have in the back. I hand them to Jack who hands them to the boy, I then proceed to watch him devour the granola bar and then start on the cookies. I am ashamed that this was the first time we had fed him, he has crossed my mind regularly since last Sunday.
Our trip back to Kampala was almost uneventful, until we got a flat tire about an hour outside of the city. We pulled over to the side of the road, luckily Jack is a pro, but we also had Lou in the van who is another driver for the Adonai house. While they expertly changed the tire, I snapped photos of all the children who lived right along where we stopped, it was so fun watching them watch us.
Monday morning comes and Jack picks me up so I can be dropped off at the meeting spot, to hop on the Rafting outfitters bus to get to the source of the Nile in Jinja. I was excited and nervous. I’m in a boat with 3 Americans, 2 Germans and a Canuck guide. Two of the Americans are National Guard guys, so of course they are like go extreme, woohoo and I’m thinking in my head “oh lord, how many times am I going out of the boat?” We go barefoot, because if you go in with your shoes on, you’re probably coming out with them off. My little princess feet are not cut out for long walks barefoot, but I lived. As soon as we get in the boat there is a small class 2, our guide wanted to see what we were made of, so he intentionally flipped us. I got stuck under the boat, which is okay because there are air pockets, but when you’re cruising down the Nile and you’re stuck under a boat it’s kind of hard not to panic. We all got back in and continued down the Nile. We then came upon Bujagali Falls, which is a Class 5, next thing I know the front of the boat is coming towards the back of the boat and we all get dumped in. When you flip you’re supposed to hold onto the rope of the boat, but that is sometimes easier said than done…I ended up cruising down the river on my own for a little bit. The rest of the day was fairly uneventful, we didn’t see any crocs or hippos, which apparently don’t hang out too much in that part of the Nile, thankfully. We did receive the tip that if you do encounter a hippo when in the water, to swim down to the bottom of the river and hold onto some weeds, apparently hippos can’t see under water…just a little tip for you if you’re ever in the unfortunate situation of being in the water with a hippo at the same time. The safety kayakers did say they saw a cobra in the water, we never saw it though…a few times when we went swimming in the water, it took a bunch of nerve not to freak out at the thought of what was swimming around in the river.
I’m so glad I rafted the Nile that day, Uganda is building a dam that is set to open September 2010 and all of the rapids I ran will pretty much be gone after it opens.
Tuesday was my final day in Uganda. At the beginning of the trip it felt like I was going to be there forever, but by the last day it was hard for me to believe it was all over. The first thing we did that morning was head to Greater Life Orphanage, where we were greeted by screaming and clapping children before we ever reached the gate. I swear people in third world countries have a secret way of communicating a person’s impending arrival. These kids didn’t know we were coming, yet they were standing at the front gate bounding around way before they could even see our van coming up to the gate. As soon as I got out of the car I had many small hands anxiously looking to grab on to mine, so I gave a finger to each kid that was near me to hold on to. Sweet Sleep took a mission team to Greater Life this past summer, so Jen and Stuart wanted to drop in to see how the beds, nets, blankets were holding up and how the kids were sleeping. While they were researching, I was playing “head, shoulders, knees and toes”, along with snapping lots of photos of the kids.
At one point Jen says to me this is where Tasha and Bernie live…here’s the backstory this summer the photographer that was traveling with Sweet Sleep took this great picture of these two little kids, wearing dresses holding hands. My sister Katie and I decided to give them names, Tasha and Bernie. So I of course start scouring the crowd for the rockstars Tasha and Bernie….I see this wee one wearing a super holey shirt, with no pants on and his little wee wee hanging out…I go uh Jen I think this is Bernie and Bernie’s a boy. I was sooo excited to meet him, hug him and play with him…I seriously want to take “Ernie” (as Katie now calls him…since Bernie doesn’t work out so much anymore) home with me. Tasha as we call her wasn’t at the orphanage that day, so I only got to meet one of the famous duo. But it was a great way to end my trip to Uganda.
Ernie formerly known as Bernie
The afternoon took us to lunch and then I hit the market by myself, while Jen, Stuart and Josephine went to a meeting. I bought a great piece of artwork (Yes Mom- I bought it for myself but you can have it) and met the artist. He took me to the framer’s shop, which was done the street, around a corner into a bit of a shoddy back alley. I of course get off on adventures like this, but it was pretty uneventful. Ashraf the artist assisted in helping me get a boda boda and I was off on the streets of Kampala on my way to meet up with the rest of the gang. I realize bodas are dangerous and in the US I’d never get on one with out a helmet, but there’s something about being on a motorbike in insane traffic, dodging and weaving that makes me feel so alive!!
That night we headed to dinner with Josephine, her husband Jonathon, their children and Jack. Jack and I were sitting next to each other and I asked him what he was going to order and he said the tilapia (which was 16,000 shillings or $8US). He then said “oh is there pork on the menu?” I said yes there are pork chops so I show him what page they were on and he says “oh no I can’t” and I said “why”. He points to the price 20,000 shillings or $10US. I said “ah who cares Stuart is paying”. I finally convinced him I would eat some and he should order the pork chops if he wanted them. This 5 minute dialogue has stuck with me over the past week. What a different world we live in, to consider not ordering a dish because it’s $2.00 more than another. Unlike America, many people in this world eat out of a necessity to live. It’s not an event like most of us make it, here in the states.
It was sad to say goodbye to Josephine and her family, plus Stuart and Jen at the Adonai House. Jack and I got stuck in a jam on the way to the airport, it was a little nerve racking, but I was leaving it up to the universe if I didn’t make my flight, but I did. After giving Jack a big hug and a promise to come back to Uganda, I was on my way back to the States. While waiting at the gate, I started chatting up with this guy sitting next to me, I was telling him how I had spent the past few weeks in Gulu. He had grown up in Kampala but lived in Belgium, he was highly impressed I had been to the North. He said “Gulu is like the end of the earth to me I’ve never been there. You don’t go there”. He then thanked me for the time I had spent in the North. I was humbled by his appreciation.
My trip to Uganda was amazing and I loved every minute. Even when it was hot and we didn’t have electricity and I was eating rice and bean for the third time in two days. Some people have said to me “wow what a trip of a lifetime” or “that was a once in a lifetime trip”. And to some it may have been once in a lifetime, but for me it’s just the beginning….
Saturday 9 January 2010
I promise there is still more to come!!
Oly Otya!!
I've been back in the States for 3 days, but to be honest today was the first day I didn't nap- hey it's 20:40 and I'm still up, that has to count for something.
I've started to go through my photographs...there's a lot, over 2,000. So far I've decided about 300 are good for viewing..I also have to tell you all about rafting the Nile, meeting Bernie (who's actually Ernie) and my flight home and interactions with a few Ugandans from Kampala while flying home.
Since I've been home, I've been working through all the emotions, you go through after traveling to a third world country and having such a pivotal experience, the main thing that keeps circulating, is how can I still be involved and how soon can I go back...
Thank you thank you to all of you who have followed along, kept me in your thoughts and prayers during the months of December and January...other than two MINOR vehicle issues (dead battery at Murch Falls and a flat tire on our way back to Kampala) our trip was flawless, no illnesses and no injuries (as long as you don't count the wicked bruises I got from rafting the Nile). A very deep and heartfelt thank you.
Stay tuned!!
xo
I've been back in the States for 3 days, but to be honest today was the first day I didn't nap- hey it's 20:40 and I'm still up, that has to count for something.
I've started to go through my photographs...there's a lot, over 2,000. So far I've decided about 300 are good for viewing..I also have to tell you all about rafting the Nile, meeting Bernie (who's actually Ernie) and my flight home and interactions with a few Ugandans from Kampala while flying home.
Since I've been home, I've been working through all the emotions, you go through after traveling to a third world country and having such a pivotal experience, the main thing that keeps circulating, is how can I still be involved and how soon can I go back...
Thank you thank you to all of you who have followed along, kept me in your thoughts and prayers during the months of December and January...other than two MINOR vehicle issues (dead battery at Murch Falls and a flat tire on our way back to Kampala) our trip was flawless, no illnesses and no injuries (as long as you don't count the wicked bruises I got from rafting the Nile). A very deep and heartfelt thank you.
Stay tuned!!
xo
Sunday 3 January 2010
The New Year in Photos- Gulu
Napping by the fire, while "momma" cooks at an orphanage.
I was spinning around with the kids...here is the aftermath.
Clothes drying on the beds, while their mattresses dry out in the sun. Most kids in orphanages are bed wetters, the need for vinyl covers is tremendous.
Baby Crib
Staples in Gulu: Approximate cost in US Dollars- Sugar $1.05 Salt $0.25 Soap $0.60 Posho (like a really thick Cream of Wheat) $.70
New Year's Day
Lots of Baggage- No Shoes
In every country, happens at least once but usually more...little kids think they have to get super close to the camera..always produces funny photos.
Gulu Market
Counting Beans
Watching TV
this old guy had been chopping wood...I was like oooo you're strong!!
Reading his Christmas Card on his new bed
All Smiles
Kitchen
So happy for her new bed!
Kids at the last camp we visited.
Gulu Sky
I was spinning around with the kids...here is the aftermath.
Clothes drying on the beds, while their mattresses dry out in the sun. Most kids in orphanages are bed wetters, the need for vinyl covers is tremendous.
Baby Crib
Staples in Gulu: Approximate cost in US Dollars- Sugar $1.05 Salt $0.25 Soap $0.60 Posho (like a really thick Cream of Wheat) $.70
New Year's Day
Lots of Baggage- No Shoes
In every country, happens at least once but usually more...little kids think they have to get super close to the camera..always produces funny photos.
Gulu Market
Counting Beans
Watching TV
this old guy had been chopping wood...I was like oooo you're strong!!
Reading his Christmas Card on his new bed
All Smiles
Kitchen
So happy for her new bed!
Kids at the last camp we visited.
Gulu Sky
Saturday 2 January 2010
Happy New Year from Gulu!
Happy New Year from Gulu!
The other day I was going to start my blog “and then there were two”, but really there are four now in Gulu. On Wednesday, we waved goodbye to Beth and waved hello to Stuart and Josephine. Stuart is Sweet Sleep’s VP of Operations and Josephine is SS in country staff person, she lives in Kampala, but came up for a few days.
Before Beth left, she and I hopped on Boda Bodas (motobikes) and cruised on over to Home of Love. Boda Bodas are always an experience in any third world country. I like taking them, but they can be dangerous, Uganda is no exception. You always see families on a two person boda boda, Dad, Mom, four kids and a chicken, it seems, but they are an experience you should have, if you get the opportunity.
Beth wanted to hang the swings she had made and I wanted to do some finger painting and drawing with the kids one last time. I’m sad to say that Patrick and Fa Fa had been picked up by their mom for a few days, so we missed them, but all the other kids from Christmas were at the orphanage. Now I know you are wondering what these kids from an orphanage are doing with their mother, but she is basically unfit to take care of them, however she has the right to pick them up for a few days if she wants. I’d love to tell you more about these kids but in the interest of not exploiting them, I can’t tell their story.
Beth is in the process of getting the swings hung with Bosco (HOL’s full time social worker and all around great great guy). I’m in the nursery school getting the paints and paper out with Catherine, Moris, Junior, Alan and little Moses. I’m demonstrating doing hand prints when I realize I have nothing to wipe my hand on, so what do I so just wipe them on my pants, the kids thought that was hysterical. I told them to wipe their hands on my pants, until we could get a bucket of water for them to wash their hands. Catherine, Moses, Alan and Junior all did some great painting…Little Moses (who I found out is 2 and seriously eats like an NFL linebacker thanks to ringworm) proceeds to pick up a jar of paint (I have my back turned to him), unscrews the lids and dumps almost the entire contents onto the concrete floor. About 10 minutes later, I’m helping Jasper with a painting, so I set my camera down, I then say “oooh Catherine, I want to take a picture of you with your painting”…”where is my camera?”…oh yeah about 2 millimeters away from being in little Moses grimy hands….I’m like slow motion “noooooo”. Later on Bosco is sitting with Moses, oh yeah moses is eating some blue colored pencil….I’m like Bosco- Moses is eating colored pencil… got some great shots…err I mean snaps of blue pencil oozing out of his little mouth.
Once Stuart and Josephine arrived from Kampala, they were picking up Jen and then heading out to HOL, to drop some of the bedding supplies they had brought with them for HOL from Kampala and pick up Beth and I. I didn’t have my phone, so Bosco had to text Candis (I’ve been spelling her name wrong in this blog the whole time btw) to get Jen’s number (I wasn’t sure Jen knew how to get out there), then he didn’t have any airtime. Quick side note- in Uganda, no one has a phone plan, you have to buy airtime, X amount of Shillings at a time. They sell airtime all OVER creation here. HOL is a bit out of town, so I say to Bosco, I’ll give you 5,000 shillings, can you go buy airtime. He says “yes I’ll be right back” I kid you not he was gone for less than 10 minutes, where in the world he bought that airtime I have no idea, but it’s funny to me that airtime is so readily available anywhere in Uganda.
The team made it to HOL, we offloaded mats, nets, bibles and blankets. The mattresses for HOL are due to arrive on Tuesday, unfortunately we will be back in Kampala and won’t be able to help with the installation of the beds. BUM-MER!
We then said goodbye to the kids, unfortunately, it will be the last time we see them this trip. However, I’m traveling with an AWESOME photo printer and just printed off about 50 snaps to give to Candis and Jerry to give to the kids.
We also had to say goodbye to Beth, but not before she tracked down the only vet in Gulu to get eyed drops for a dog named Wendy down the street. Beth has the biggest heart for all animals, you could call it a curse and a blessing. Beth pet and attempted to feed every stray dog that we came across. Along with picking some MONGO- ticks off one dog with her bare fingers….grrrrroooosss.
So it’s not Saturday night and I’m just getting back to working on this blog…so let me summarize the past few days.
Thursday, Jen, Stuart, Josephine and myself headed to the Obiya camp with the Village of Hope crew to deliver our last 110 beds to the IDP camps. The hardest part about giving these beds away in the camps, is not everyone gets one. The kids who receive the beds from Sweet Sleep are enrolled in Village of Hope’s program, so there are many kids who are still in the camps, yet don’t receive anything from us. I think that is one of the hardest things being over here. The need is so immense but you have to focus on one need and then you can’t give it to everyone, because the funds simply do not stretch that far.
We celebrated NYE here and boy did we go all out. I blow dried my hair and put on my jeans with my Merrells that give me just a little lift. We had dinner at Kope Café and then went back to Roma for a round of Phase 10, while the rest of Gulu drank their faces off and bumped the bass like nobody’s business. Seriously, Gulu has no infrastructure and sometimes we don’t have electricity, but these people know how to “pump up the jams” via generator. You really have to hear it for yourself, to hear exactly how loud it can be. As the clock struck midnight, three different locations shot off fireworks….for those of you following along closely, you know that it’s only been a year-ish since the LRA stopped all the fighting up here and there’s still a risk…the first firework went off and Jen and I jumped so high and then almost hit the ground. It was sorta funny and sorta not.
New Year’s Day we were invited to Candis and Jerry’s house and then we played a few games of Phase 10. It was pretty low key. Oh Jen did pluck my eyebrows for me, she was sick of looking at the caterpillars growing on my forehead, you know they are bad, when Jen is offering to pluck them for me.
This morning we went to an orphanage to check out their beds and needs. Until you see it for yourself, your comprehension of what it’s like to be raised in a third world orphanage, is hard to even fathom. Don’t get me wrong, I think this orphanage is doing the best they can with the resources and funds that are available to them…BUT….well BUT.
We were greeted as we got out of the car by a bunch of 3 and 4 year old who were excited to shake our hands, hold our hands, yearning for some kind of loving touch, along with looking at themselves in the rear bumper of the car. Brenda this little girl immediately latched onto my hand and walked with us into the Matron’s office. As soon as we had met the Matron, I asked if I could take photos, but she said she wanted to chat first which is understandable, before I started snapping. While we were in her office, I put Brenda on my lap and had so much fun just hugging her and bouncing her around. We then walked around the orphanage looking at all the beds, bedding etc. We had about ten 3-4 years olds following our every move…during that time I pulled a button out of a little boy’s mouth, that he was chewing on, a piece of wood from another one and a rock from another. Is it because of their age they all had something in their mouth or is it because they are hungry? I’m not sure I can answer that question.
This afternoon, we headed out to the Amuru district to learn more about the people who are still in the IDP camps out there, who are still waiting to be resettled. We were greeted by approximately 20 senior citizens, I was honestly shocked by how old some of them were, due to the fact there has been a war going on in this part of the country for the past 20 year. Some were as old as 90….most were women and all of their stories were the same: taking care of their grandchildren or other orphans, there own daughters and sons “slaughtered” by the rebels, not killed, not murdered, but slaughtered. There’s something about the word slaughtered that sends chills down my spine. Things they need: shelter, food, water, they aren’t asking for much but, the Amuru district is way the heck out in BFE and I’m not even kidding, even if these seniors were in shape to make a living, I’m not sure what they would do, the gap between old and young in this area is tremendous. The kids aren’t able to go to school out there yet, because there isn’t a teacher to teach them, as you can see you’re head could spin off your neck if you started to look at all of the needs there in Amuru District. Yet as we were coming into town, we passed a Boda Boda with a big ass speaker and sound board strapped to the back of it….at least the NYE party was bumping
Not today, but in the next week or so, I’ll discuss my opinion on the NGOs working in Gulu and the importance of SUSTAINABILITY when working in a third world country.
It’s midnight here in Gulu and I’m tired. My hotel room is one gigantic hot mess and we leave around noon tomorrow for Kampala.
Today I was looking at my photos and my heart was heavy, I’m looking forward to being home, but I’ve definitely left a piece of me here and I suspect I will be back, hopefully sooner rather than later.
The other day I was going to start my blog “and then there were two”, but really there are four now in Gulu. On Wednesday, we waved goodbye to Beth and waved hello to Stuart and Josephine. Stuart is Sweet Sleep’s VP of Operations and Josephine is SS in country staff person, she lives in Kampala, but came up for a few days.
Before Beth left, she and I hopped on Boda Bodas (motobikes) and cruised on over to Home of Love. Boda Bodas are always an experience in any third world country. I like taking them, but they can be dangerous, Uganda is no exception. You always see families on a two person boda boda, Dad, Mom, four kids and a chicken, it seems, but they are an experience you should have, if you get the opportunity.
Beth wanted to hang the swings she had made and I wanted to do some finger painting and drawing with the kids one last time. I’m sad to say that Patrick and Fa Fa had been picked up by their mom for a few days, so we missed them, but all the other kids from Christmas were at the orphanage. Now I know you are wondering what these kids from an orphanage are doing with their mother, but she is basically unfit to take care of them, however she has the right to pick them up for a few days if she wants. I’d love to tell you more about these kids but in the interest of not exploiting them, I can’t tell their story.
Beth is in the process of getting the swings hung with Bosco (HOL’s full time social worker and all around great great guy). I’m in the nursery school getting the paints and paper out with Catherine, Moris, Junior, Alan and little Moses. I’m demonstrating doing hand prints when I realize I have nothing to wipe my hand on, so what do I so just wipe them on my pants, the kids thought that was hysterical. I told them to wipe their hands on my pants, until we could get a bucket of water for them to wash their hands. Catherine, Moses, Alan and Junior all did some great painting…Little Moses (who I found out is 2 and seriously eats like an NFL linebacker thanks to ringworm) proceeds to pick up a jar of paint (I have my back turned to him), unscrews the lids and dumps almost the entire contents onto the concrete floor. About 10 minutes later, I’m helping Jasper with a painting, so I set my camera down, I then say “oooh Catherine, I want to take a picture of you with your painting”…”where is my camera?”…oh yeah about 2 millimeters away from being in little Moses grimy hands….I’m like slow motion “noooooo”. Later on Bosco is sitting with Moses, oh yeah moses is eating some blue colored pencil….I’m like Bosco- Moses is eating colored pencil… got some great shots…err I mean snaps of blue pencil oozing out of his little mouth.
Once Stuart and Josephine arrived from Kampala, they were picking up Jen and then heading out to HOL, to drop some of the bedding supplies they had brought with them for HOL from Kampala and pick up Beth and I. I didn’t have my phone, so Bosco had to text Candis (I’ve been spelling her name wrong in this blog the whole time btw) to get Jen’s number (I wasn’t sure Jen knew how to get out there), then he didn’t have any airtime. Quick side note- in Uganda, no one has a phone plan, you have to buy airtime, X amount of Shillings at a time. They sell airtime all OVER creation here. HOL is a bit out of town, so I say to Bosco, I’ll give you 5,000 shillings, can you go buy airtime. He says “yes I’ll be right back” I kid you not he was gone for less than 10 minutes, where in the world he bought that airtime I have no idea, but it’s funny to me that airtime is so readily available anywhere in Uganda.
The team made it to HOL, we offloaded mats, nets, bibles and blankets. The mattresses for HOL are due to arrive on Tuesday, unfortunately we will be back in Kampala and won’t be able to help with the installation of the beds. BUM-MER!
We then said goodbye to the kids, unfortunately, it will be the last time we see them this trip. However, I’m traveling with an AWESOME photo printer and just printed off about 50 snaps to give to Candis and Jerry to give to the kids.
We also had to say goodbye to Beth, but not before she tracked down the only vet in Gulu to get eyed drops for a dog named Wendy down the street. Beth has the biggest heart for all animals, you could call it a curse and a blessing. Beth pet and attempted to feed every stray dog that we came across. Along with picking some MONGO- ticks off one dog with her bare fingers….grrrrroooosss.
So it’s not Saturday night and I’m just getting back to working on this blog…so let me summarize the past few days.
Thursday, Jen, Stuart, Josephine and myself headed to the Obiya camp with the Village of Hope crew to deliver our last 110 beds to the IDP camps. The hardest part about giving these beds away in the camps, is not everyone gets one. The kids who receive the beds from Sweet Sleep are enrolled in Village of Hope’s program, so there are many kids who are still in the camps, yet don’t receive anything from us. I think that is one of the hardest things being over here. The need is so immense but you have to focus on one need and then you can’t give it to everyone, because the funds simply do not stretch that far.
We celebrated NYE here and boy did we go all out. I blow dried my hair and put on my jeans with my Merrells that give me just a little lift. We had dinner at Kope Café and then went back to Roma for a round of Phase 10, while the rest of Gulu drank their faces off and bumped the bass like nobody’s business. Seriously, Gulu has no infrastructure and sometimes we don’t have electricity, but these people know how to “pump up the jams” via generator. You really have to hear it for yourself, to hear exactly how loud it can be. As the clock struck midnight, three different locations shot off fireworks….for those of you following along closely, you know that it’s only been a year-ish since the LRA stopped all the fighting up here and there’s still a risk…the first firework went off and Jen and I jumped so high and then almost hit the ground. It was sorta funny and sorta not.
New Year’s Day we were invited to Candis and Jerry’s house and then we played a few games of Phase 10. It was pretty low key. Oh Jen did pluck my eyebrows for me, she was sick of looking at the caterpillars growing on my forehead, you know they are bad, when Jen is offering to pluck them for me.
This morning we went to an orphanage to check out their beds and needs. Until you see it for yourself, your comprehension of what it’s like to be raised in a third world orphanage, is hard to even fathom. Don’t get me wrong, I think this orphanage is doing the best they can with the resources and funds that are available to them…BUT….well BUT.
We were greeted as we got out of the car by a bunch of 3 and 4 year old who were excited to shake our hands, hold our hands, yearning for some kind of loving touch, along with looking at themselves in the rear bumper of the car. Brenda this little girl immediately latched onto my hand and walked with us into the Matron’s office. As soon as we had met the Matron, I asked if I could take photos, but she said she wanted to chat first which is understandable, before I started snapping. While we were in her office, I put Brenda on my lap and had so much fun just hugging her and bouncing her around. We then walked around the orphanage looking at all the beds, bedding etc. We had about ten 3-4 years olds following our every move…during that time I pulled a button out of a little boy’s mouth, that he was chewing on, a piece of wood from another one and a rock from another. Is it because of their age they all had something in their mouth or is it because they are hungry? I’m not sure I can answer that question.
This afternoon, we headed out to the Amuru district to learn more about the people who are still in the IDP camps out there, who are still waiting to be resettled. We were greeted by approximately 20 senior citizens, I was honestly shocked by how old some of them were, due to the fact there has been a war going on in this part of the country for the past 20 year. Some were as old as 90….most were women and all of their stories were the same: taking care of their grandchildren or other orphans, there own daughters and sons “slaughtered” by the rebels, not killed, not murdered, but slaughtered. There’s something about the word slaughtered that sends chills down my spine. Things they need: shelter, food, water, they aren’t asking for much but, the Amuru district is way the heck out in BFE and I’m not even kidding, even if these seniors were in shape to make a living, I’m not sure what they would do, the gap between old and young in this area is tremendous. The kids aren’t able to go to school out there yet, because there isn’t a teacher to teach them, as you can see you’re head could spin off your neck if you started to look at all of the needs there in Amuru District. Yet as we were coming into town, we passed a Boda Boda with a big ass speaker and sound board strapped to the back of it….at least the NYE party was bumping
Not today, but in the next week or so, I’ll discuss my opinion on the NGOs working in Gulu and the importance of SUSTAINABILITY when working in a third world country.
It’s midnight here in Gulu and I’m tired. My hotel room is one gigantic hot mess and we leave around noon tomorrow for Kampala.
Today I was looking at my photos and my heart was heavy, I’m looking forward to being home, but I’ve definitely left a piece of me here and I suspect I will be back, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
