THE RISING SUN IN UGANDA

 THE NEXT STEP FOR the HOME in UGANDA

One of our volunteers- Daniel- has been giving his time to
teach a class of students of the 60+ resident & local
children without the privilege of school

With food more sustained with the farm, we considered new growth (i.e. a second home), but decided to focus on improving the education of the children.Some facts: only about 1/2 of the homes children go to actual school, the rest are taught by volunteers (Patrick, William, the others). They don't have desks, and lack teaching supplies. (Space is also a challenge). And since school fees are rare, we're wondering if its the best use of funding, and we decided a progression into a school would be the way to go. 

Starting with a primary grade, we'll hire a teacher ($75 per month, full-time. I know... sad, we're considering offering more than the average wage) and the any volunteers can cotinue to sustain schooling for the children.

We're hoping to have an official school in 7-8 years, one where kids can prepare to integrate at later stages.

Let us not lose perspective and fail to remember the work we're doing- together- is making an eternal impact, in the lives of children. It's bringing tangible hope in every rising sun in the future of Africa. What better way?

NEWS OF THE HEN-HOME: The deal in a nutshell UPDATED

FINAL DAY OF CONSTRUCTION?

The day has come. left are the door, the ramp on the stairs (so the chicks can climb to one of the few second stories in the village) and some small coverings on the sides.

We are hoping to finish up. Lots of setbacks have happened, but our vision is enduring and we're all eager to see our mission accomplished.

JUMA THE CONTRACTOR:

Juma's a cool guy, but we're no so sure we'll use him for future construction. When we ask for a ramp (for the chicks to enter the 'henven above'- aka 2nd floor) and we get a staircase (no way they can climb it)… we aren’t exactly doing service for the people supporting the cause. So there were a couple similar matters we've had to iron out to try to stay on budget, but all in all, the general construction has received lots of praise b/c as you can see it’s mighty fine’. Solid, more than anything, but ‘space’ appeal both for room and the roof that looks like a spaceship (no thanks to another unapproved modification). Anyways, it’s good & will do the job well- and LAST long.

IN OTHER NEWS:

We chilled tonight (Dec 22nd) and together with 3 international volunteers, Patrick & Willaim (who help lead the ducklings) we met and pondered about the new growth that has to take place at the orphanage to see the lives of these once-street children be enriched & strengthened. It was a good & necessary talk.

A look around the Chicken Farm!

YOUTUBE VIDEO <CLICK HERE>

   Okay, so things are progressing here in rural Bulenga, Kampala. The hen-house looks great so far, with only a few final touches to add and items to finalize. OFFICIAL completed pictures to follow asap, but for now, please enjoy some of the moments leading up to now:

it appears there are one or two people happy about the idea of a hen house

what makse it all worthwhile

"Uncle Patrick" as they call him, with young people crowding to watch his every move, lol. they love him

smile. life is a blessing

stairway to henven (it's what we got when we clearly told Juma to construct a ramp, lol. It is built well though!- and ramp to come!)

the broad side of a barn (combined picture)

if the other smile didn't make it worthwhile..

at night, the floor eagerly awaits the completion of construction, and then to be home to 250-300 chic'kains

At first I wasn't sure if our contractor worked hard. But I am going to start judging people by their gut. Sadly, yesterday Juma fell off a ladder, possibly in his furvor (despite heeds to 'slow down!'). He is currently recovering, and soothing sore ribs, cheekbone and tail bone (& a bruised wallet from the hospital as well. He will bo ok though, and set to finish Friday!)

more construction

this much wall, this much wire. Perfect!

Again, although it's still not quite complete, we want to give a big, sincere thanks to all those who made this possible, especially Randeep & the Sodhi family. I cannot think of a better way to honor the late Mrs. Dalvir Sodhi, than to erect this building for sustainable food production for the home of these children, our brothers & sisters, neices & nephews.
                                                THANK YOU AGAIN!! BE BLESSED!!


Peace & love
Jamie

Foundations & Dedication

The building is nearly complete! As we reflect on the work which will touch the lives of children, we want to turn the focus on how this was made possible.

The farm has been erected & will be established in honor & lasting memory of Mrs. Dalvir Kaur Sodhi. She is the mother of my former (Canada wrestling) teammate Randeep Sodhi, who, together with the support of his 3 sisters & brother-in-laws, and with support from relatives and close friends, raised the entire funds for the project. The chicken farm is 26' x 17' and will house 250-300 egg producing hens on it's two levels.


The family thanks all of the special people who have supported them in this project & making this great sustainable opportunity happen for over 100 children in difficult circumstances. They send a big thank you to volunteers, construction workers, and to Patrick, William and Jamie for helping arrange it.

The day-attending children dance with Patrick & other volunteers committed to educating & feeding them

                     

From the streets to the loving shelter of the home, the farm will serve to produce eggs for children to get the single biggest source of protein added to their diet, as well as sustain an income for other foods.

                                               .

Update: Progress at the hunger-quenchin' hen farm

< YOUTUBE VIDEO > (click here)

The hen-farm from the road

Juma is a great construction manager to work with; he is humble & positive (and hard working). His work isn't perfected but he's always willing to learn.

pass me some wood, would ya?

if there are good hard working men, I think they can finish the work on time. They need to be attentive to instruction and organized to do it though. And apparently have good balance!

... but if they don't, they can always take lessons from this guy (he was 'walking' by the site on stilts he made [which better not be from our wood!])

Sideview: the hen house's two stories. (yes, I've more than once considered living here, lol. It will be rougher looking once it's done though, if that makes sense)

THIS IS NOT OUR CHICKEN FARM Lol!, but I walked by it and snapped it for comparison. Ours is geared to house a coup of 250-300 hennies (and designed to last forever!)

Chicken farm progress: a vision taking shape

Juma and Jamie, tasked with managing the construction

Patrick and the other workers pose for for a snap

am I the only one that thinks these ladders are so cool?

a high "hi!" 

Patrick is so happy about what this will do for the children. "Thank you thank you thank you donors!!"

Left overs: Sunday

Had left over potatoes from fellowship, didnt want to throw them away...

talking bout' giving to the poor at fellowship, I couldn't waste this food.. and really felt led to follow that trail..

So I stepped out in faith, with the conviction that if I followed the leading it would all work as it should.
It was a challenging experience, because after a while of looking for food-needy people (who disappear when YOU look for THEM- but not the reverse, apparently) Doreen & I found someone, but then they were gone after we decided to grab water(for them)  from a store they were next to.
I actually started feeling discouraged, because I felt like I was totally putting myself out there, following this conviction, it was late at night, and it seemed we were getting nowhere. Then, just when I let go of my grumbling, and with encouragement stepped on, we met...

Shaban. Shaban had been wrestling with alcohol, and when he saw us had a bottle in his hand.. but a craving in his eye for something deeper, a craving I could relate to. I told him, through Doreen in Luganda (language), that I felt led to share my potatoes & not waste them, they were untouched- asked if he wanted them. Sure!

 I'd go on to be humbled and yes- led by- him as things went on. He sensed a love that was deeper than our own, and was knew there was a source of our love. He knew it was Jesus. Did I say that- I thought? No man, we didn't say anything about God or religion that I recall. We just followed our conviction, and loved. And when I felt he.. wanted more than booze, I said "Dor, we should give him the water"- when it came out of the bag and met his eyes, I saw and felt his spirit let go, & accept that he was loved, that he was heard, even the whispers of his heart. He accepted the water, but much more- the love... His fears were gone, he was liberated. An I'll never forget the peace in his eyes, the calm as he gave up all that once held him. Forever. Without looking back.

He had asked me to `pray for him`but I told him to talk to his Creator on his own behalf, and I became a part of his radical spiritual journey, humbly admiring his bravery and abandonment of all else for True Love.

This night was amazing, and God showed me what little He could do with just a little faith. He provided all I needed, I just needed to listen to my conviction.
Doreen & Shaban, and Tom (his neighbor- who loves God as well, working in city to pay for his grade 9 schooling) and I spent many nights together after, really being blessed by God's presence. I felt like I was 100% open and so were they, and it was amazing feeling & seeing how clearly & strongly we were speoken to through the Bible, eachother, etc. It was probably my sweetest time in Uganda.

It'd get rivaled, of course- by an Enemy working & using the world- after a few weeks of ridiculous peace I sadly regret our fellowship slowed and we each grew weaker because of it- forgetting the ever-humbling, awesome presence that had rocked our worlds like nothing else in life had ever come close to, and so deeply.
Shaban is still feeding off the reality (recorded history) of his Maker's effect of love in people's lives- loving learning to read & tackling scripture, from what I hear, continuing to be encouraged by the way it's shaped & changed the world so much. I would & do continue the simple task of faith: remebering how loved I am & we are; Shaban also does too. This takes the form of turning back & forth to the world- him alcohol, me food (I shouldn't eat, for my diet- same effect). Anyways, this experience was a blessing, one I hope I don't ever forget.

life of farm- day 2am, the rise of coopopolis

I want to send out a words of thanks again for the supporters f the chicken coop for the children. In all my time in Uganda, this could be one of the most worthy causes, as it  will capacitate not only nutritiously feeding the former street kiddos, but it will also capacitate Patrick to eventually expand so the movement can facilitate more children coming in off of the streets.

Ultimately the reason I believe its a worthwhile investment is because these children grow with a genuine love and authentic faith. So much more than physical needs get met here- so effectively I hope the future has plans of exposing me to this environment on a longer-term basis (i.e. moving in?). Time'll tell

raw timber poles, soon to be raw awesomeness

ahh, the soon-to-be study walls of fort cluck

Our chicken coopster is 25 x 17 squared feet of madness. In this pic, the poles go up

      

I'm pretty sure they dug each of the 21 holes with this machete. <=-o

SOLD!! To the Man in Surrey

CHICKEN FARM PROJECT: Underway...

We met with a man yesterday who won my confidence in the well-contested battle to compose Raising Up Hope's first chicken house. He's a local carpenter who, very honorably cares more about solid building construction than he does money. I think he's a faithful Muslim. Props for walking the faith brother.

Then a man over 5000 miles away had something laid on his heart. Having lost his mother, and moving together with the support of the family, a former wrestling comrade and buddy- with the help of another builder in the BC wrestling community, vowed to see the chicken farm through financially, from start to finish- whatever it required.
Ok, so that's all. Props to the donors, one for giving in the name of his mother- for the sake of love, of humanity, of selflessness, the other wanting to aid when he heard of the cause!

thehenhousebuildingplanningprocessinACTION!!

Our OTHER bro Patrick, from a home geared at improving young (parentless) children's lives through sport. They have a poultry projects and were helping us with the logistical/legal/cost-balancing part of it

this is Robert, another one of the guys helping us establish the farm. He told us about the structure and we came up with a slam-bang design (double decker) with him. He also added to Patrick's knowledge of rearing chickens- Patrick has experience which is perfect, since he'll be around

Chickens from Robert's farm, some of manymanymany

I ask a lot of questions and though I didn't know much when I began, am understanding what a chicken farm requires and what it provides (so much for these young people).

For 3000 shillings (or 1.50) we can get a chicken that'll generously donate an egg a day (for up to 2 years) to hungry children (who can consume or sell it!). SWEEeeettt, what a blessing! Wanna buy one for a child? Visit the place where you can give @ http://bit.ly/aArXgG

WHen you help a child...

When you help a child..
YOU're  really.. MOVING the earth

you're rocking not just one world, though
-that of the child-
but making a statement of love; of
........purpose
...joy
......strength
...endurance
..and setting an standard
through them to the world
a statement of a faith
- in what you believe in- in action.

Consider committing to a child- there are 4-5 that I know could use it.
-instead of selling sugarcane to earn an impoverished living
-at school, boarders get food & shelter guaranteed (sweet!)
-HAVING A FUTURE
-feeling like a somebody, like people care, like never before
-to be blessed (yeah you!) Seldom do we have a chance to impact such significant change on mankind/earth than through investing in the education of a child that I think is a guarenteed investment.                                          ..Let me know if you're interested, I'd love to share with you'll some profiles.
-Consider sponsoring one, in somebody's name, as a Christmas gift.
- it costs about $200 per term (includes all meals, school fees, housing), and I have selfless volunteers here who've helped me with logistics, making sure the kids supplies are met & they're visited @ school
-for non-boarders it'd be about $75 per term, as they 'd still need to buy supplies (which are actually way more than at home- because they stock the school themselves)


Thanks for your time & thought/prayer about this!
I hear there's lots of snow backhome. I can't decide if I want to request a snow-angel, or an igloo... hmmm. Do something in my honor, with snow- for me! (Snowballs work ok too  <=-o)


I'll be home soon anyways (sadly,  a little too soon). December 14th.

CHICKENS & THE WORD ON THE STREET

The clock has struck twelve, and I wanted to take people through my typical evening.
I was to meet Patrick at 6pm, to talk about the chicken farm & see whats up. I was late (to my shame) 6:40. We walked to a not-so-nearby restaurant from a bustling, crowded, not so organized bus station.
We talked about food- the kids diets, after he re-produced the quotes he'd gotten for the chicken farm. We met a guy named Yasin, who ran the restaurant we went to when he conficated a card that asked for help- from a deaf guy.  He would later contribute good ideas like alternative/collective schooling, and some other stuff.

Patrick & I are trying to find a sustainable, cost-effective diet that DOESN'T CONSIST OF CORN-FLOUR 3x a day. Maize is their cheapest 'grain'/grain substitute, and the flour mixed with water & heated is what they give kids for lunch at school, with beans (which are ten times better than Heinz back home, btw). EVERYDAY FOR LUNCH. Breakfast is porridge (which after 5 months of thinking it was oatmeal I discovered it was again...: CORN FLOUR!! mixed with a touch of sugar, and boiled water- just more than what they get for lunch).
Of course, when the kids come home to the orphanage, they get: POSHO & BEANS- the sustainence food.

Patrick was kind enough to remind me, after 2 hours of wracking my already blood sugar depleted mind (which I addressed with a plate of fries.. not supposed to eat- how can wrong taste so right, I wonder?) the set-up of the home-phanage:
1 group: 43 in #- goes away to school at 8am (gets breakie, lunch- mentioned above) and comes home later in the day
2 group: comes to home-phanage at 8am and stays till 4- they are actually 60 community children who can't afford school, whom they feed breakfast (though it's ideal b/c its seldom there) and lunch (POHSO & beans it is!)- it's what they can afford.
We looked at cost effective ways to make more of things.
We produced the following priorities:
1. all meals are had
2. main meals are varied (i.e. not POSHO & BEANS) whenever possible
3. that they get ANY vegetables
4. that they get some fruit

Right now they are struggling with the first priority.
But get this- someone from the Netherlands (friend of a volunteer there) just pitched $250 towards them, refusing to be named. So now the children have food. My guess is that it can take them about 2- 2.5 weeks, ish.

With this tying them over for a while, I want to build something sustainable: CHICKEN COUPE (COOP) (COUPE)?? (CUP?) (CUP-A-SOUP?)

ANyways, the list is posted on my comments, so you can see which components are needed/how much they cost.
A few people have come out of the woodwork, really seeming to have perspective & trust towards this endeavor. Thank you for joining the team. I intend to keep us all informed as things roll out- but I want the chicken farm for this next week to be up- before I scoot. (WHAT A CHRISTMAS PRESENT!!). True Christmas

The way home was through dark, wide, downtown streets to the bus station. They were litterally littered in a littersome way. We passed a lot of people, but Patty caught these two boys & had to talk, an addiction of his. Our convo ensues:
[to come! sorry, technical issues- basically Patrick talks about living on the street and how they had to eat scraps & scavenge, spoken as we walk through the dark dirty streets]

CRAZY EH?!

-He's really good about keeping legitimacy & cooperation (of parents & authorities) in the home. Looks like we'll have 45 (plus the 60 day-timers) to feed.

Then I took a bus- nope, can't find one- BODA home. Guy had glossy eyes and looked.. scary to a judgemental, overcautious Jamie, so I made sure I knew the way he was taking home. My pocket knife- how ridiculous is this- was open in my side pocket. On the ride, you think about things like: how best to not let your guy crash- talk or not talk, how-if ever- I would even actually use the knife, and how I' react if he took a de-tour (I've thrice hopped off the back of one for that cause, only once may have been legit).
I gave him some g-nuts (peanuts but littler) when we arrived down the homestrech on a used-to-be-garbage site on one of Kampala's many large hills. I jogged to a man at a bbq, out front of a shanty bar with men enoying their favorite corporate pasttime- watching English Premier league football, to get 1 dollars worth of goats meat- enough to satisfy- and brought him back my change to pay for the ride (3000 shillings or $1.50).

I got home to several sleeping people, there was Kennith, Jja Jja and Amos all in different spots in the big bedroom, where I entered out little comfy abode, and Bubeada had come to let me in before retiring to the small room, which is hers right now. Dora- the pastors wife- was at an all night prayer service- devout as she is, she needs a job and wants direction, and has been devoting herself in prayer.
Me- I sleep on the couch, which is good, because the most functional of our 3 power outlets is next to it, and I have my space here. The mosquitos find me, but the little super guys help clean them up. (I have geckos that run all over walls & ceilings- they're cool)
I swat a lot still though, and as I mentioned I sweat a lot too- like  right now. "Canadians hate showers when they come to Africa" said my old roomate Elvis- but thats because the "shower" is a bucket and cold water.
Super-cold stuff comes out of the shower head we're blessed to have, but last time I got a cold, so I avoid.

Anyways, so my task list for tonight- which began 30 minutes ago with two bowls of cow peas/oil and this blog, is underway- including a letter to CGC about a ongoing problem that hasn't been addresses, putting up some info on the chicken farm, and taking my turn on conquerclub,com- aka RISK (strategy board game), amongst a few other things.

Ok, be blessed & have a hay day today- thanks for tuning in.
PS I hear someone out side.
Usually when this happens, I pick up a [I LEAVE, I RETURN] knife and poke my nose out back. Three murders in this little area in the past 2 months, although 2 of them were by mob justice- basically the general public hating theives so much to beat them to death in the streets. It's a wild place I live in, and people still don't get it that although I'm white umm.. I LIVE IN THE GHETTO!! There's manisons after mansions not far from here, although Im not in one I'm still try to be aware of little impressions I give people.
I know if my heart is genuine, something true in it will win them over, but not all. I accept what fate comes, as long as I'm doing my best. SO when I'm not- and people are given the right impression of a guy being wrong inside his envionment- slacking, being around all day, not working but eating like it's leisureland.. then I get worried.
And rightfully so. Life is short & judgement, I feel more & more- since I've been here- will be based on what we have been given.
To him who's been given a little, a little is expected.
Much, much is expected. EYE OF THE NEEDLE basically concludes my typically philosophical/existential/spiritul thoughts to close the night, though my night has just begun...

Paint a picture by numbers

I was invited to share my thoughts on any topic of my choice on a Sunday morning with a group of very open minded villagers; they were almost all below middle age and there was children- about 25-30 in total,  They really impressed me with their charachter & wisdom, there was a lot of genuine people I met.

I shared my feelings/thoughts about hypocrisy in Christians with the church, and them being what the Bible says (the 3rd commandment, for example, or Chirst's hard-core warnings) is the worst thing a person could do, and which composes the current mission Christians have to address. A Christian first must walk a life worthy of the high claim it is to say one is "following after Christ" before trying to convince others of doing the same. I'm still trying to figure out what it all means though, and I know that Jesus sought out genuine people over self-rightous or overly-religious ones. I'm trying then, to be the former first; there's a lot of top-heavy people- of which I am one- with minds full of the knowledge of God, but whom know themselves very little. 
It makes people like lolly-pops- good stuff up top but sometimes just kind of bare bones down below.
____________________________________________________________________________


Pastor Moses by numbers:

18- the number of wives his dad had. He was a Buganda tribal prince, people like to get close to power

83- bothers & sisters, of which he was the last-born. His mom left his father for (get this) lack of attention, and our young Pastor man ended up with one of his aunts

14- the age he was kicked out of his aunt's home, for having Christian beliefs. (His Prince father was a Muslim- who apparently & conveniently didn't believe in schooling children.

6- the number of year he worked between his grades 1 and 6

6 - the number of years he was educated (nick-named pa-pa at school, he'd work one year, and school the next). And we complained about our walk to the bus stop..

17- still living in the slums of Kiseni (see my pics for some snap-shots), the age he set in his mind the truest purpose he could have is serving others spiritually

7- the number of churches he's planted, getting some solid movement going

34- the man's age; Moses is married, though with no children he's got 5 living with him

2 of his children were 'given to him' by their parents, saying "You've spoiled them, they don't respect our shrines anymore. You can have them now then"

29- the group size on the morning I went. some cool people there

(I want to join forces with this joyous man, and all that is being done through him...)

SwEEtTTT!! Mo' lives in an old converted witch-doctor's house (he had to dig up & burn some funny charms- armpit hair & snakeskin, chicken skulls..) but evenmoreso do some casting out to clean the place up; apparently all the neighbours didn't believe he'd slept there. Nobody would go near the place- the fruit would fall off the trees & rot, even the landlord halved the rent. So far 2 other doctors have left the village (complaining to the local council that their power/influence has been waning because of him) & he's claimed the village in the name of all God. [Child sacrifices still happen here in Uganda, amongst other evil things, at the hands of witch doctors. I think that sometimes we can be too logical here in North America. Evil is.. afterall evil, and this guy's leader is putting it to rest through him. I find him to have a great choice affinity and incredible perspective. And hes a chillin guy who smiles when he talks, but not creepily- its real, you know?

Today I saw...

a man, begging; he had no feet or fingers
I tried to help him, through a translator, by initiating conversation about a sustainable trade/income that he could manage 
(I met a similar man in Rio/Brazil who made a living from drawings)
but he only wanted money...
he needs understanding and his next meal, right now, so I left him with meat and my open offer to help find work


a child, sweetly sitting on the sidewalk, with dirty feet and no shoes
a busy city sidewalk... not like the one in my childhood neighborhood
I thought.."not money" and realized I'd bought water. 300 shillings or 15 cents = 1 bottle
then I turned back and left sweet crackers as well. 220 shillings or 11 cents = 1 pack
total expenditure = $0.26 (twenty six cents) + 1 child's day is revived




a large delivery truck with an adage on the side (not uncommon)
"promote Jesus' name"
and I wondered if that's what the world needed
not whether or not they needed Him, but
whether or not we need people throwing out his name, from 'rightous' lips (for doing so)
The third commandment (that's top three, remember)
Jesus' cautions (READ THIS)
He came to chill with the down-to-earth, & broken hearted, and those who knew themselves
as many of the religious were too much for even Him (in my view- you can check it out, i.e. John)

I think & talk too much

And do too little.
Its time for



(action)

The village cycle of poverty? Eeek

UPDATE: Met with Patrick this AM, and after establishing there was a need gave 50,000 shillings (25$) to sustain them with the better part of a big bag of maize(corn) flour. They make 'posho', but this is 1D aid- it fills an emergency need, but is not long term (2D) or comprehensive (in the community- 3D).

Some good news! 2 donors came forward- in the Emtages from back in Ontario, and a commitment to pledge in general from my buddy Josh Schug, who will work in North Alberta and share the dough he rakes in working so very hard. Sweet. Also recieved was a 100$ cheque from the great mother-daughter duo (AND FAM) Tanya & Celita. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU (this goes towards Jja Jja's leg surgury fund). We also had a secret donor from the British Columbia Indian community offer strong support should Jja Jja need it for her leg. And Kellie for E-stuff & encouragement! (Am I forgetting anyone.. maybe? SORRY-if I do, forgive me!)
OKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKOKSOOO:
There's a young chap (a:15)
who sells cassava (like potato) wedges across the road for 5 cents a serving.
his family- brothers & sisters & mom
also sell charcoal, which he sifts through with his hands
from like.. 6am until around 10 pm, (on a day without school)

I WANT TO HELP THEM DO BETTER FOR THEMSELVES: checking out microloans
But in the meantime, the boys pasttime & passion is Rugby- his possible way out of the cycle of ridiculous poverty. He is strong, has charachter, and Uganda has a good Rugby system. He should be at a 2 week camp right now, but his mom keeps preventing him with excuses and more work.
I think she's scared to let go (aka CODEPENDENT), something I saw rise in our family through the ages.
So, she's crushing his dreams. We had a heart to heart where i told him to be honest with her about how important it was and is to him. I don't know if he mustered the courage.

Fear (of not being loved) is the glue holding the wheel of poverty in place, I think.

I see the problem, but how do I help? Since the cure for fear of conditional love is Unconditional Love, I reminded him He was Created and is cared for, in a true way. It seems superficial on the outside, but if he accepts it, he will find in the moments he does such a hope- from the light of faith/positivity (call-it-what-you-want) in his life, no matter what. And that will see doors open, I believe- doors that might otherwise be missed by negative inferences & (more heavily) actions

The Word with the JJaaJ Jja

*THIS NOTE IS FOR ALL THE PEOPLE SUPPORTING IN HELPING THE OLD WIDOW/G-MA I FOUND NEGLECTED WITH A BROKEN LEG (BUT NOT HEART)
__________________________________________________________________

Ok, she's doing well: because she's in our house (and has been 3 weeks now)
-she's become a member of the family (we're starting to get her to contribute, by knitting & selling- soon)
-she is very grateful, but she not perfect (I can go into her struggles & story in comments, if you are interested)

her leg was put into a cast after 1 week (loong week)
-at first we were going to take her to a private clinic, but Amos (one of 3 of us adults in the house) connected with a public hospital doc and said we can get her surgery for free (it's been a LLOONGG 3 weeks, 2 visits, and other attempts though)
- I am growing impatient with the system
(and.. ITS CLEAR to see why she'd been booted from the ER with a still broken leg, the system for emerg here is struggling- they didn't even make sure she got back to where she was staying. With all her money taken (common if you get hit unconcious- I've seen it 2 times) she was left on the street after being turned away from hospital (for not having 'someone to stand for her'), only to sprawl on the sidewalk and be passed by.. thousands. I'M GLAD YOU CARE FOR HER- FROM ALL THE WAY OVER THERE.
BLESS YOU.

-There will still be surgery fees, so you can stay excited ( =) ) about continuing with your commitment (in financial support). THANK YOU. She's sweet and she's very grateful. But if she wasn't we'd still try to help

FOR NOW.. I'm going to check again with the hospital, to advance to the next step (so far we've made progress each time, but the process is subject to subjectivism). Fewer fees though I'm triple checking on that*

Jja Jja thanks you for caring!

STARVING

I'm starving, because the madam (my friend Amos's wife) who lives in our family didn't have dinner ready by 7 as she said. but like 10:30. In a nutshell they live with me here- we live in community, and we serve eachother & everyone has their role. Mine is more rent related, but truth be told when all things are well the load is equal.

But far worse than my meager longing-for-supper-hunger is the surprise I got in a phone call to my man, Patrick. I'll tell you more later maybe, but he's a 20 year old orphan, trying to care for as many street children as he can. Blessed to be given a home, he houses 43 of possibily the most inspiring young people (below grade 8) I've ever met in one go.

But tonight things weren't so well. The sacks of rice/posho(ground corn)/beans which they feed from were all but empty this morning, so they haven't eaten today. WOWZERS.

(Patrick is assisted by a few others- another F/T teacher - to ANOTHER 60+ community children who have no school fees- whose name is WIlliam, and also lives at the house, as well as a mother who lost a child but stayed on to help, and a volunteer couple from northern Europe who are mostly teachers).

ANyways, I'm mad at Patrick for not caling me- as I told him to- but I know he goes hungry along with the kids. It may SOUND irresponsible, but these kids are still 10x better off at an orphanage that lacks food once in a while than being on the streets and all that goes with that (starvation included!).

Sooo... thats what going on tonight.
Thanks for tuning in.

(Oh, I plan to.. yes, call a church in the morning to see if they'll want to help.If they say no, than I'll turn to other sources, like a family back home (The EMtages!) and other faithful/compassionate supporters who come out to help out. This is only emergency action though, we're building a chicken farm/raising support for it, and I hope to be helping organize. This is little too, a lot of people I know are realizing their pot'l & doing much- i.e. my former manager Hannah of CWG Canada facilitates about 80 kids school fees getting sponsored. So COOL!)

-PIC: we sent this to Tele-company (Orange) after they donated left over shirts. Yeay!

WELCOME!!

Namaste, Cle Kio, Welcome

Ok, basically I want to share some of my experiences in the closing weeks of Uganda in this blog. SOme things will be surprising, like the extent of poverty, ignorance, and perhaps humility in the people & places I encounter.

I want to keep it short, sweet, and positively controversial.
Hope you become a part & enjoy.

Peace & war (which brings peace, necessarily at times)
Yours truely,

Jamie