Sorry it has taken so long to update the blog. We have been very busy. We are sitting at the St. John the Baptist parish dining room with Charles, Fr. John Bosco, Fr. Paschal, Fr. Kikabi, Daniel, Philipp, Gabby, Luke, Lorene, Al, Michele, and Jill. We have just finished a wonderful dinner as a farewell for Jill, Michele, Lorene, and Gabby. What a busy week! Al, Luke, Lorene, and Gabby arrived well on Sunday evening then we travelled to Makondo on Monday after visiting the verbet monkeys at the botanical gardens in Entebbe.
Tuesday we had an amazing celebration of music, dance, drama, and Bible reading. It was an inter house competition. The four houses competing were: Bazira House, Frommel House, Bbuye House, and Maria Camp House. The adjudicator or judge was the music director from the Diocese of Masaka. The students presented a variety of performances ranging from Bible reading, Sight singing, choir performance, traditional dance and drumming, and original composition. Each performance was judged and graded and given points. The house with the highest points overall won the competition. The four houses were grouped into two teams: Bazira and Frommel against Maria Camp and Bbuye. The theme of the competition was: HIV/AIDS and education in Buganda. Guess which house won!!!!! Maria CAmp/Bbuye won by two points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Since the competition was very stiff, both groups won a goat. The goat was not very happy. The winning team was overjoyed and they jumped and screamed for joy. The event was very well organized and well attended by the school community and parents.
We also dedicated the boys' dormitory and broke ground on the Rotary water project for St. DEnis and St. AGatha. Busy day!
Wednesday Gabby and Luke were students for the day. They did not get into trouble and did not have to go to the headmasters office. But they did get lots of red marks in their notebooks. They made many friends and had much fun. After school, Al and Luke and the two german volunteers gave a baseball clinic to the students who were interested. Over sixty students showed up to learn how to throw, bat, and run the bases. It was much fun!
Michele and Jill gave their human sexuality workshops. This was a huge hit. They had great visuals and materials to pass out to the Senior 3 and Senior 4 students. The students asked many interesting questions and very important information was shared.
Lorene worked with thirty students on jewelry making. They did a great job.
Today we went with Sr. Josephine to visit different families: the Yigas, Xenobia, Francis, and Clementia. All have disabilities of various degrees. It is amazing to see the joy in some of the children despite their disabilities. IN the afternoon we visited the Send a Piglet Home students. One pig had eight piglets that were two weeks old! The students who have sold piglets have been able to purchase mattresses, soap, scholastic materials, books, pens, school bags, etc.
We had a quick farewell with the students and are now finishing our day at the rectory.
Charles says: So far so good, keep praying for success!
Fr. John Bosco says: Thanks for the good work done, and we pray that the good Lord will grant you your hearts desire.
Fr. Paschal says: Thanks, God be blessed for the spirit endowed on you. May it keep burning. Be blessed.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
We can see clearly now and the rain has come!
Wow! Our fourth day in Makondo already. Seems like time is just slipping by. The rains have returned after a brief absence and everyone says we brought them with us. Hard to believe as today the sun is beating down with fierce intensity. Two nights ago we had a lovely, long, and much needed rain.
So, here's a brief report:
Day 1: Wednesday, March 17, St. Patrick's day.
After a grueling and brutal drive from Entebbe, we arrived just in time to celebrate St. Patrick's day with the MMM sisters. They are a group of Irish sisters who have created a small paradise in Makondo. They have a clinic and run a mobile health unit. We brought them green caps with "Kiss me, I'm Irish" and "Everyone loves an Irish girl" written on them. They loved the hats and wore them all evening. The road from Kampala to Makondo was a nightmare. Normally taking 3 hours, the drive took 5 hours because of non-stop road construction. Every bone in our body got rearranged. I think my femur is in my shoulder now. Jill got to ride shotgun so she could have a better view of the uncomming traffic. She really enjoyed gripping the sides of her seat and wondered how she would bail out of the van if the approaching truck decided not to move aside. Michele and I stretched out in the back seats, thinking we really should give Jill a break and switch seats. We didn't.
Day 2: Thursday, March 18, Tour of St. Denis
After a wonderful rest in the new flats at the sisters' compound (mine has hot water!), we headed over to St. Denis. Jill could hardly contain her excitement as we eagerly headed to meet the students. The students lined both sides of the dirt road leading up to St. Denis. Three boys on decorated bicycles escorted us to "Bishop Dungu Boulevard" the main path leading up to the school campus. Once we reached the school grounds, the student body greeted us with traditional singing, dancing, and drumming. We met Christina and Jamie, the two Teach a Man To Fish Project Officers. Christina's tour is up on Sunday, and Jamie will stay for one year. After a brief welcoming celebration, Headmaster Charles (from now on known as "HM") took us on a tour to see the progress at St. Denis.
We saw the beautiful boys dormitory freshly named the "Shultz-King" Dorm and the two wings, "St. Albert the Great, The Cororado Room" (they will repaint the spelling), and the "St. John Bosco, The Evergreen Room." The building is lovely and almost ready for students. With HM, Fr.Kasoma, the two project officers, Jill, and Michele, we toured the St. Denis Self-Sufficiency Projects: the dairy production business, the matooke plantation, and the new school supplies store or canteen. The transformation that has occurred over the past year is truly amazing. The school staff, in collaboration with the TAMTF project officers and the Into Your Hands Uganda staff, are changing the culture of the school from one of dependency to one of self-sufficiency.
I also got to meet with the contractor who built the dormitory. He gave me a complete financial report on the construction of the dormitory. James, our Project Manager, and Fr. Kasoma did a fantastic job ensuring that the dormitory was built according to our expectations.
That night at the Fr. Christopher Renner Library, we had a going away party for Christina and a welcoming party for Jamie where we met the new St. John the Baptist parish priests. The new sound system which Jill officially dedicated that morning was put to use for the first time. The sound system was purchased for St. Denis with the Student Christmas Fund Into Your Hands donated last December.
Day 3: Friday, March 19, Vision Screening at St. Denis
The library was transformed into a vision screening clinic, courtesy of Jill and Michele. Over 190 students plus about 20 teachers and staff (including HM, Fr. K, and Fr. John Bosco). The staff was particularly intrigued by the sunglasses. Freddie, the computer teacher, looked dashing in his new shades. Sr. Toni, a local Ugandan sister from the Daughters of Mary, came to follow up on the students identified for further treatment by Jill and Michele's screening. Sr. Toni is an amazing optometrist. She examined at least 60 students, some of which were prescribed eye-glasses or medication for allergies or eye infections. She was also able, with her very quiet but authoritative presence, calm the excitable spirits of young teens waiting for new eye-glasses. Through Jill and Michele's hard work and the dedicated team of volunteers in Evergreen, we were able to bring about 360 eye-glasses.
Out of these eye-glasses, 45 of them were distributed to students according to Sr. Toni's prescription. Thirty eye-glasses will be made by Sr. Toni's clinic for the students who were not accommodated by the glasses available. The remaining glasses were given to Sr. Toni who will be able to use them for others in need. The day went smoothly thanks to the help offered by Christina, Jamie, Daniel, and Phillip, who are two German volunteers teaching at St. Denis for one year. Their help was invaluable.
After lunch, I met with the Into Your Hands Uganda staff, Christina, and Jamie, in the new Into Your Hands office in Kyamukama. Much to my delight, the young man running the store next door was Lugemwa Aloysius, our first vocational training graduate. He is running the convenience store and is employed as a mason.
Day 4: Saturday, March 20, Day of "rest" and "relaxation" and surprise visitors.
Got up early this morning and headed to St. Denis to take the HOH student photographs with Jamie. As we were rounding up our sponsored students, a strange individual came walking up the school path. "Bloomers" made her way to the school, much to the delight and strange amazement of the children in the vicinity. The St. Denis students were much perplexed by the appearance of this surprise visitor. Dressed in fancy flowered bloomers, and wearing a much too small hat for the fierce sun, "Bloomers" made everyone smile and giggle. Too bad Jill (known locally as Gel) was so lazy and stayed in bed at the hostel and missed out on all the fun. The students gave "Bloomers" a big welcome as she toured the classrooms were the students were practicing for Tuesday's big Traditional Dance and Drama inter-house competition (think Griffindor and Hufflepuff in Harry Potter.) Tonight we go to the rectory for drinks and a final farewell to Christina.
Personal Thoughts from Jill and Michele
Michele: Even though this is my second visit and I thought I was prepared for the immense inner beauty of these people who live in extreme poverty, I continue to be overwhelmed by their happiness, generosity of spirit, and peaceful gratefulness. I am also awestruck by the MMM sisters. They don't seem to stop.
Jill: I am amazed at how much is accomplished with so little. We talk about making a "green" world. Here they make use of everything, from using the matooke leaves for mulch to the cows and goats grazing the sweet grass by the side of the road. Their gentle hand clasp as they say our name in greeting speaks volumes to the gratitude they feel towards our contribution to their well-being. There is a real playfulness, sense of humor, and light-heartedness that contrasts to the harshness of their daily life. Above all, what brings me joy are the smiles and a waves from everyone we come accross.
So, here's a brief report:
Day 1: Wednesday, March 17, St. Patrick's day.
After a grueling and brutal drive from Entebbe, we arrived just in time to celebrate St. Patrick's day with the MMM sisters. They are a group of Irish sisters who have created a small paradise in Makondo. They have a clinic and run a mobile health unit. We brought them green caps with "Kiss me, I'm Irish" and "Everyone loves an Irish girl" written on them. They loved the hats and wore them all evening. The road from Kampala to Makondo was a nightmare. Normally taking 3 hours, the drive took 5 hours because of non-stop road construction. Every bone in our body got rearranged. I think my femur is in my shoulder now. Jill got to ride shotgun so she could have a better view of the uncomming traffic. She really enjoyed gripping the sides of her seat and wondered how she would bail out of the van if the approaching truck decided not to move aside. Michele and I stretched out in the back seats, thinking we really should give Jill a break and switch seats. We didn't.
Day 2: Thursday, March 18, Tour of St. Denis
After a wonderful rest in the new flats at the sisters' compound (mine has hot water!), we headed over to St. Denis. Jill could hardly contain her excitement as we eagerly headed to meet the students. The students lined both sides of the dirt road leading up to St. Denis. Three boys on decorated bicycles escorted us to "Bishop Dungu Boulevard" the main path leading up to the school campus. Once we reached the school grounds, the student body greeted us with traditional singing, dancing, and drumming. We met Christina and Jamie, the two Teach a Man To Fish Project Officers. Christina's tour is up on Sunday, and Jamie will stay for one year. After a brief welcoming celebration, Headmaster Charles (from now on known as "HM") took us on a tour to see the progress at St. Denis. 
We saw the beautiful boys dormitory freshly named the "Shultz-King" Dorm and the two wings, "St. Albert the Great, The Cororado Room" (they will repaint the spelling), and the "St. John Bosco, The Evergreen Room." The building is lovely and almost ready for students. With HM, Fr.Kasoma, the two project officers, Jill, and Michele, we toured the St. Denis Self-Sufficiency Projects: the dairy production business, the matooke plantation, and the new school supplies store or canteen. The transformation that has occurred over the past year is truly amazing. The school staff, in collaboration with the TAMTF project officers and the Into Your Hands Uganda staff, are changing the culture of the school from one of dependency to one of self-sufficiency. I also got to meet with the contractor who built the dormitory. He gave me a complete financial report on the construction of the dormitory. James, our Project Manager, and Fr. Kasoma did a fantastic job ensuring that the dormitory was built according to our expectations.
That night at the Fr. Christopher Renner Library, we had a going away party for Christina and a welcoming party for Jamie where we met the new St. John the Baptist parish priests. The new sound system which Jill officially dedicated that morning was put to use for the first time. The sound system was purchased for St. Denis with the Student Christmas Fund Into Your Hands donated last December.
Day 3: Friday, March 19, Vision Screening at St. Denis
The library was transformed into a vision screening clinic, courtesy of Jill and Michele. Over 190 students plus about 20 teachers and staff (including HM, Fr. K, and Fr. John Bosco). The staff was particularly intrigued by the sunglasses. Freddie, the computer teacher, looked dashing in his new shades. Sr. Toni, a local Ugandan sister from the Daughters of Mary, came to follow up on the students identified for further treatment by Jill and Michele's screening. Sr. Toni is an amazing optometrist. She examined at least 60 students, some of which were prescribed eye-glasses or medication for allergies or eye infections. She was also able, with her very quiet but authoritative presence, calm the excitable spirits of young teens waiting for new eye-glasses. Through Jill and Michele's hard work and the dedicated team of volunteers in Evergreen, we were able to bring about 360 eye-glasses.
Out of these eye-glasses, 45 of them were distributed to students according to Sr. Toni's prescription. Thirty eye-glasses will be made by Sr. Toni's clinic for the students who were not accommodated by the glasses available. The remaining glasses were given to Sr. Toni who will be able to use them for others in need. The day went smoothly thanks to the help offered by Christina, Jamie, Daniel, and Phillip, who are two German volunteers teaching at St. Denis for one year. Their help was invaluable.
After lunch, I met with the Into Your Hands Uganda staff, Christina, and Jamie, in the new Into Your Hands office in Kyamukama. Much to my delight, the young man running the store next door was Lugemwa Aloysius, our first vocational training graduate. He is running the convenience store and is employed as a mason.
Day 4: Saturday, March 20, Day of "rest" and "relaxation" and surprise visitors.
Got up early this morning and headed to St. Denis to take the HOH student photographs with Jamie. As we were rounding up our sponsored students, a strange individual came walking up the school path. "Bloomers" made her way to the school, much to the delight and strange amazement of the children in the vicinity. The St. Denis students were much perplexed by the appearance of this surprise visitor. Dressed in fancy flowered bloomers, and wearing a much too small hat for the fierce sun, "Bloomers" made everyone smile and giggle. Too bad Jill (known locally as Gel) was so lazy and stayed in bed at the hostel and missed out on all the fun. The students gave "Bloomers" a big welcome as she toured the classrooms were the students were practicing for Tuesday's big Traditional Dance and Drama inter-house competition (think Griffindor and Hufflepuff in Harry Potter.) Tonight we go to the rectory for drinks and a final farewell to Christina.
Personal Thoughts from Jill and Michele
Michele: Even though this is my second visit and I thought I was prepared for the immense inner beauty of these people who live in extreme poverty, I continue to be overwhelmed by their happiness, generosity of spirit, and peaceful gratefulness. I am also awestruck by the MMM sisters. They don't seem to stop.
Jill: I am amazed at how much is accomplished with so little. We talk about making a "green" world. Here they make use of everything, from using the matooke leaves for mulch to the cows and goats grazing the sweet grass by the side of the road. Their gentle hand clasp as they say our name in greeting speaks volumes to the gratitude they feel towards our contribution to their well-being. There is a real playfulness, sense of humor, and light-heartedness that contrasts to the harshness of their daily life. Above all, what brings me joy are the smiles and a waves from everyone we come accross.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Just arrived!
After a relaxing hot shower and a restful sleep, we woke up to a symphony of nature. The guesthouse is absolutely beautiful. A paradise of flowering bushes and trees, lush green lawn, and a cacophony of birds and insects. What a delight to the senses. Jill was moved this morning because she said this was the first time in a long time that she could actually hear the birds, roosters, and insects. Jill is severely hard of hearing. What a blessing she was given this morning. Our rooms are delightful, with insect netting to protect us from the pesky mosquitos.
We slept well and are going to eat breakfast in a few minutes. This morning we will take a walk by Lake Victoria while we visit the Entebbe Botanical Gardens.
Blessings to all. We will post more photos later.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Ready, set, go!
After months of preparation, Monday, March 15, is just around the corner. Suitcases are packed, loaded down with soccer jerseys, cleats, and balls; baseball equipment; school supplies; gifts for students and teachers; eyeglasses and charts; workshop materials for Michele Homburger and Jill Garrou; and art supplies for Lorene and Gabby Joos. Hard to imagine we are ready to go! Monday will mark my 5th trip to Uganda since 2004 and this year's trip promises to be the most exciting. My husband, Al, and my son, Luke, are travelling with me for the first time. They will get to experience first hand what Into Your Hands has been doing in the Makondo area for the past four years. What am I looking forward to the most? Finally dedicating the new boys' dormitory, breaking ground on the Rotary International funded water project, and sharing my passion with my husband and son. Can't wait to see all my friends at St. Denis and the sisters at the Medical Missionary of Mary compound!
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