Adjustments

One week ago today, we were dealing with the physical effects of extreme heat. Now we are dealing with the physical effects of jet lag. 

We are also dealing with the effects of adjusting to life at home after all we have seen and experienced over the past month. 

Many times during our stay in Uganda we said, "There is no way for anyone to understand what it's like here without seeing it for themselves."  

The poverty. The living conditions. The beautiful smiles. The dust. The smells. The spectacular sunrise. The intense heat. The constant noise. The joy of squeezing three little ones onto your lap and wrapping your arms around two others sitting on each side of you. The needs. The hope. The hunger (physical and spiritual). The frustration of language barriers. The faith. The fatigue. The dedication. The gratitude. The...

This has been one of the most amazing and humbling experiences of our lives and we have been changed because of it. 

Our bodies will get used to the cold temperatures. Our sleep/wake pattern will eventually normalize. 

However, it's the changes that have occurred on the inside that are more permanent. We can't just say good bye and forget all that God has given us the privelige of experiencing in Uganda. We now pray He will help us to share our adventure in a way that impacts and challenges others. 

And we pray He will use this leg of life's journey to prepare us for the path ahead. 

So Long Africa

As you might expect today is a tough day. Saying goodbye is never easy. 

The past four weeks have been overwhelming in many ways. We feel like our bodies, minds, emotions and souls have been bombarded and challenged daily by all that we've seen and experienced. 

God has used and is using Uganda and Sanyu Babies' Home to bless us and teach us beyond measure. 

May we cherish and use wisely all that we've been given and taught. 

Humbled

We are down to our last couple of days here and our hearts are heavy at the thought of leaving. 

While our focus has been on the care and well-being of the precious children here at Sanyu Babies' Home we have been priveliged to work side-by-side with some amazing and dedicated staff. 

We have been given a bit of insight into the lives they live. Most, if not all, of them struggle financially. Yesterday we were able to talk with the administrator about how we may be able to help meet some of their needs by using the money God supplied through the generosity of many of you. 

We were able to assist with an immediate need. One of the mamas has been unable to afford a visit to the doctor and the blood pressure medication she requires.   We were able to supply enough for the doctor's visit and the two medications she needs for one month - all for $21.79. 

What a humbling privilege to use God's money to bless others. 

List

We are far from being seasoned missionaries but we've learned a few things over the past few weeks. We have been making a list of things to bring on a short-term mission trip. Some things we brought and are glad we did. Others we didn't bring but wished we had. 

Eye mask. It helps you sleep when your roommate has the light on while waiting to help with the midnight feeding. 

A bar of Sunlight laundry soap. 

Dark-coloured car chamois. These are very versatile. Can be used as wash cloth, towel, sweat wiper, body cooler...

Fingernail brush.  Cleans much more than fingernails, including sandals. 

Small Bible. 

Wrap/sarong. 

Tape. 

Glue stick. 

Water bottle. You need to fill this many times a day. 

Clothes pins. 

Safety pin or lanyard. For carrying keys when you don't have pockets. 

Recipe cards. These are multipurpose, especially useful when presenting educational seminar. 

Outdoor thermometer. To prove there is a reason for the constant dripping of sweat. Thus the need for the sweat-wiper mentioned above. 

Packets of Gatorade powder. There may be a need for replacement of fluids and electrolytes. 

Scissors. 

Original green Palmolive. It's a great stain remover, especially when it comes to grease. 

Envelopes. A variety of sizes. Great for keeping track of cash designated for specific purposes and come in handy for other things too. 

Large bold Sharpies. Helps keep track of who owns what in the refrigerator. 

Small blank note cards. 

Light-weight dress. For staying cool while hanging out at guesthouse. 

This is by no means an exhaustive list.  It will likely grow even longer during our final days here. 

We've been writing lists for months now. It's a hard habit to break and should be helpful when preparing for the next time we...

Safari (And Other African Adventures)

We returned last night from a three-day trip north of Kampala to Murchison Falls. Our main purpose for going was to enjoy a safari, also known as a game drive, at the national park there. However, the trip to and from our destination was as much a part of our journey as seeing the animals. 

It is impossible to describe all that we saw and experienced. Once we escaped the hustle and bustle of this busy city we soon got a glimpse into the rural village life of Uganda. 

The strength and stamina of the people of these villages is unbelievable. Women carry huge bundles of wood, on their heads for the most part, to their homes to be used for cooking meals. Children carry large, heavy jerry cans filled with water, also often on their heads, to supply the family's needs. Men (also women and children in some cases) work the land using only manual labour with simple hand tools. 

Along one stretch of road a water line was being installed that will extend for several miles. The digging to lay the line was being done completely by pick and shovel. The trenches appeared to be about chest deep. 

Each neighbourhood consists of about 5 - 20 small thatched "huts" made of mud or bricks and sometimes one or two larger buildings. 

We can't imagine what day to day life must be like for these people and wondered out loud if they feel hopeless or happy. 

The safari was amazing. Again, it's impossible to convey the experience adequately in words. Seeing the incredibly beautiful, cute and ugly animals (the warthog is so ugly it is cute) in their vast natural habitat was awesome. And God blessed us with a lion-sighting. Just as we were about to leave the park our driver, Robert, spotted one.  It turned out to be one of a family of four - a male, a female and two cubs.  We had been warned that many people don't get to see lions so we were especially thrilled by the privilege. 

The trip back to Kampala was yet another adventure. Our bodies didn't respond very well to the extreme heat during our expedition. Let's just say we experienced using various types of toilet facilities during the eight-hour trip...and got to use our travel-size roll of Charmin. 

We have rested well overnight though and feel refreshed to complete our last few days here at Sanyu. 

A Busy Day

Had a mixture of experiences today. 

We spent the morning at Bullrushes Babies Home which is operated by Watoto. Many of you will know name in connection with the children's choir that tours in North America from time to time. Visiting there had been a dream of Cheryl's since she and her husband hosted some choir members in 2009. 

We enjoyed the opportunity to see another facility that cares for orphans and to play with some of the precious babies living there. Bullrushes is starkly different from Sanyu. The difference in the level of funding is very evident. 

This afternoon a visitor arrived to pick up a gift to be delivered to a special little girl I helped care for more than 8 years ago at a babies home in Nairobi, Kenya.  I have been able to stay in contact with her adoptive family who has a friend here in Kampala. I am delighted to be able to give her a personal gift after all this time. 

Later in the afternoon we went to visit one of the Sanyu babies who was admitted to a nearby hospital yesterday with asthma (our diagnosis).  We were able to walk there, with 13-year-old Stella as our very capable guide. 

This little boy is in a very small room with 3 other babies, each with at least 1 care-giver who stays with the child throughout their stay to provide their basic needs including bathing, meals and water.   He is improving some but is still quite sick and remains on oxygen. Please pray for him as well as Rachael, the mama from Sanyu who is staying with him. 

Somewhere in the day we also spent some time with the babies at Sanyu. 

Tomorrow we are heading on an adventure within our adventure. We will travel to Murchison Falls area and on Friday enter the national park to enjoy a safari. 

We may not have WiFi, so tales of our animal encounters might have to wait until we get back to Kampala on the weekend.  Okay giraffes and elephants, here we come!

Training Day

Today we had the opportunity to do some "training" with the staff. We have identified several things that could be done differently to provide a better environment for the children. We decided to focus on the importance of hand washing and reducing choking risks. 

It was interesting to do the presentation through a translator. 

We had prayed for wisdom as to how to approach the subjects without sounding accusatory as we have noticed a lack of hand washing and found many small items in little mouths. 

As it turned out what we had to say was very well-received and prompted many excellent questions and suggestions regarding implementing what they'd learned.  

One question was about what to do if an object blocks a child's airway.  Though we hadn't intended to, we ended up teaching the Heimlich maneuver and methods of dislodging objects from the airways of children and infants. 

With regard to washing hands we observed the staff put into practice almost immediately, what we had taught them. As we were helping to feed babies under the outdoor shelter, a volunteer arrived to assist. When she began to approach a baby one of the staff asked her to first wash her hands. The staff member was very pleased when we gave her the thumbs up. 

We are hopeful that what we were able to teach/reinforce today will stick and that as a result, the children at Sanyu will be safer and healthier. 

If We Had a Million Dollars

The babies' home obviously has a constant need for funding just to operate from day to day.  It also is in need of refurbishment. Many basic items, like high chairs are lacking.  If we only had a million dollars!

This is back-to-school week in Uganda. There has been a real sense of stress and concern among the staff regarding being able to afford the fees required for their children to return to school.  If we only had a million dollars!

Some of the staff are wearing tattered dresses and worn out shoes.  They are in  such need. If we only had a million dollars!

One of the staff had a heart attack last year and currently needs medicine she is unable to afford. If we only had a million dollars!

We don't have a million dollars and we are overwhelmed by the needs staring us in the face each day. However, we pray for wisdom about how to help with what we have available to us as a result of the generosity of so many people at home who are part of this journey. 

Thank you. 

Strange and Unusual

We have discovered in a very short time that most things don't work or happen the same in Uganda as they do at home. We've made a little list of things we've done or experienced here that would never happen at home. 

-- We answer to different names here. At the babies' home we soon realized our names were impossible for many of the staff to pronounce. We are now known as Sherry and Maureen. 

-- Each baby has two names that are often used interchangeably - one is Ugandan and one is English. Distinguishing one child from another has been a challenge.  After being here for two weeks we still couldn't tell Mark and Anatole apart. We then discovered he is the same boy. 

-- When crossing the street look neither to the left or to the right. Just find a Ugandan who is crossing the street and stay on their heels like your life depends on it - which, in fact it does. 

-- In Jinja we used a toilet that was flush with the floor. 

-- We frequently hear the whistles of traffic cops, especially during busy times ( which means busier than the usual busy). 

-- Many things are more complicated and time-consuming here. Like brushing your teeth and trying to remember not to use the tap water, trying to use our already-challenging communication devices and getting the mosquito net in place before settling for the night. 

-- In the afternoons the infants lie outside under a thatched shelter. It always seems strange to us to see the hens and roosters strutting around right beside them. 

Ahhh Africa!  It's an amazing journey.