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Published: October 11th 2007
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Ssekyewa Henry (3)
One of Josephine's grandkids, in his 'new' t-shirt I am feeling extremely refreshed as I write this. Refreshed but exhausted. I just had a shower after two days of having no water. We have been working out in the field for most of this week so this was not the best time to have no water. It has been off a few times already since I’ve been here, as has the electricity, which was also off for almost two days. Thankfully, these two events did not occur over the same few days!
I feel like I have been in Uganda a long time already because we have done so much. Unfortunately for me, on Monday morning I found myself with my hands deep in cow dung. We were at St James secondary school, working on a crop project that was started by previous volunteers. We were digging holes (with hoes), adding the manure (yes - unfortunately - with our hands), mixing it, and then adding maize seeds. This was fun for the first day but became extremely exhausting extremely quickly. My farming skills leave much to be desired. The school kids would work in the evenings and put us to shame with the amount and quality of work
Kids
A few of Josephine's grandkids, with kids from the neighboring house they would do. I am no good with a hoe. I tried though! I am not sure how much I told you about St James school but it is one of the RACT projects. All of the kids at the school have been orphaned due to HIV/AIDs and/or are from vulnerable families. Most of them board there so they are looked after all year. Crops will be used to feed the school children and surrounding families. Seeds will also be given to the children to take home and plant themselves. There is no shortage of land here in Africa, and most of the children were left huge areas of it by their parents.
Yesterday the school children did a performance for us. People here are incredibly welcoming. We were treated to traditional African music and dancing. Unfortunately we also had to put up with a Kenyan preacher. His cousin was visiting from Canada and they were at the ‘welcoming’ with us. I am not sure of their exact involvement with St James but they came out to the field with us in the afternoon. We went back to visit Oliver, Aivani and Davis. The preacher told us all to
Josephine's grandkids
Two of the three who are at school. We gave them an exercise book (10 cents) and pen each. I have never seen anyone so happy. Sorry I don't have their names - African so difficult to remember. Have them written in my diary. Will tell you next time! hold our hands out towards Oliver, and pray (or listen to him pray). Bear in mind there were 5 volunteers, the preacher, 2 Canadians and 3 RACT workers at the house. Oliver held her hands out aswell. I’m pretty sure she had no idea what was going on.
We went back to Josephine’s house today. We took along a few gifts with us (including food). The two wash basins caused Josephine to jump up and start dancing around, waving them in the air. We gave a mini box of Smarties to each of the kids. They absolutely loved them. They each took one and put the rest away. Two of the older kids came home from school and we gave them each an exercise book and pen. I have never seen such happy kids. We told Josephine (well, Peter did, in Lugandan) that we would like to try and help her, and asked her what she would like most, both short and long term. Short term she asked for a saucepan. That’s it. The one she has is small and she has to cook two batches of everything to feed them all. Long term the problem is, of course,
Josephine's grandkids
Two of the children who live with Josephine (and whom we hope to be able to do something for). their shelter.
I want to say thanks to everyone for all the donations so far. So many people have responded to my plea for help so quickly, and so generously. Next week I will be able to fill you in on how much has been raised and what I plan to use it for. There are so many options but I have something in mind. I will keep you posted! Oh yes - San Diegans, or more specifically those who work at Gen-Probe, please contact Mindy Malan if you can help. Thanks!
Tomorrow I am off to Jinja, the source of the Nile. We are going to stop by the equator on the way back. Apparently, apart from the white tacky sign, there is a guy with some water, doing a little experiment to prove that water does indeed spin in different directions North and South of it.
I really have to go for now. There is a crazy bug roaming around the floor where I’m sitting right now. It is one of those ones that likes to take off and fly sometimes so I’m not sure what its next move will be. It’s a pretty ugly
looking thing. It looks like a cross between a cockroach and a caterpillar. I will have to show you pictures of a few of the bugs here sometime. Yesterday morning I was scared to go into the kitchen because there was a huge yellow and purple moth on the door handle. When I say huge I mean that it was the size of my hand. Wish you were here???!
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Neil
non-member comment
hey
hey sis, sounds like you're working hard. hope you're doing well. neil x