I've had a good day today, started the analysis of the survey, figured out how to enter it all into excel. I worked with Richard, a Ugandan with some experence with Excel, who is great and will be doing all the data entry for the survey. We entered the first household's data together so that was exciting for me to see it come together.
I spent the morning with a community health nurse who works with AIDS patients. She goes to their homes and does education on all different types of things and ensures that ARVs are being taken properly. We walked through muddy fields up to our knees in puddles to get to the client's home, and got covered in mud. I slipped and fell on my butt right into the mud and got absolutely covered (typical for me..!). Everyone laughed really hard, including me. But then I was blown away after we got back, because they washed my feet for me. After they were done, my feet were cleaner than they've been the whole time I've been here, they cleaned each toe with so much care. It was an absolutely amazing, humbling experience. I have come here to give, and yet I recieve more from people who we think have "nothing" than I can ever give.
Then tonight I had a girls night with some of my friends here, as this is my last night and we made a Ugandan meal--I taught some of the visitors how to make Chapatis, which are a typical Ugandan food, so I was quite proud of myself. (I've been taught by some Ugandan friends).
They've all gone home now and the power was off and just as I was about to go to bed I walked into a corner of a wall (I'm staying in a new house and not familiar with the layout) and split my eyebrow open. So typical...I always end up doing these things to myself! After looking at it I've decided I'm ok and don't need stiches which is good because if I did, I'm sure there's no one to do them for me. Anyhow, I decided to check my email while I ice my forehead to try to downsize the already growing lump on my forehead. And now that I'm done writing this blog, I'm heading off to bed. I'm supposed to be getting up early tomorrow to meet a friend to go for a run. yuck.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Pictures of my last day at Joy Hospice
Me with Merab and Dinah, two of the nurses, and with a patient.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Survey is completed!
Today was the last day of the survey. I haven't acutally been going door to door doing the survey, because the chance of inaccurate results increases if a 'mzungu' is present--people are more likely to say what they think I will want them to say. So instead, I have been meeting with the people who are doing the survey every day before they go out and talking to them about the different problems they have encountered, and then taking them to the different areas they need to get to. After two days of the survey, we have surveyed a minimum of 408 people (I don't know the actual number due to a mistake some of the people made where they didn't record the number of children in each age group.) We are hoping to survey at least 600 people, so if we get another 200 today, then we will have reached our goal. If not, I may have to extend the survey one more day, which I am hoping not to do. Oranizing anything here is pretty much a nightmare, so this week has been quite stressful for me and I'm glad it's over now. I am very excited to see the results of the survey now, and next week will begin the huge task of analyzing the data.
When I was driving down the mountain today (Mooni is a mountain village), after dropping everyone off to do the survey, I took a wrong turn and ended up on a road that I realized was turning into not much of a road anymore. The roads are already terrible in Mooni--I may as well have been off roading--in fact that probably would've been easier than driving on the roads. But this road was quickly disapearing into just a little path. I kept driving for a bit, hoping that I'd find a place to turn around (the roads are also very narrow) and I wasn't finding
anywhere. Suddenly I came up to a really steep hill. I stopped, because if I went down I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to make it up, due to the muddy roads. So then my choices were to either back up all the way down the road until I came to somewhere where I could turn around, or to try to turn around where I was. On my right was a steep embankment up, and on my left was a ditch about a foot and a half deep. I did not like the idea of driving backwards down a muddy mountain road for a long time, so I decided to try to turn around. Of course it wasn't long before I went into the ditch. Both back wheels went over into the ditch. I thought I was really stuck then. Up in the middle of nowhere, by myself, and I had the only Jenga vehicle with me, because Robby had taken the Van to kampala. So I couldn't even call anyone to come up and help me.
Thankfully, I had asked one of the guys doing the survey to show me how to put the truck into 4 wheel drive right before I dropped him off because i was worried about the roads getting bad if it started to rain. So I decided to give it a shot. I got out and changed the setting on the front tires, smiling and waving at the crowd of at least 15 people who had now gathered to watch me. They didn't smile or wave back, they just kept staring at me. I got back in the truck and after stalling it about 4 times, miracle of miracles, I managed to get the truck up out of the ditch.
So that was my disaster eversion of the day.
I seem to have at least one potiential disaster a day here. Maybe it's just me. Probably. But a few days ago I sprained my ankle badly enough that I can't walk without a tensor bandage on it. I keep trying to take it off and walk without it because everyone keeps saying sorry and asking what happened and I feel really dumb telling them that I just stepped off a curb and my ankle rolled. I should make up an exciting story or something.
This has kinda been a rambling blog about nothing, so sorry about that. I need to get back to work now. Hope everyone's doing well and thanks to those that have emailed me, it's always great to hear from people. miss you all and see you soon!
When I was driving down the mountain today (Mooni is a mountain village), after dropping everyone off to do the survey, I took a wrong turn and ended up on a road that I realized was turning into not much of a road anymore. The roads are already terrible in Mooni--I may as well have been off roading--in fact that probably would've been easier than driving on the roads. But this road was quickly disapearing into just a little path. I kept driving for a bit, hoping that I'd find a place to turn around (the roads are also very narrow) and I wasn't finding
anywhere. Suddenly I came up to a really steep hill. I stopped, because if I went down I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to make it up, due to the muddy roads. So then my choices were to either back up all the way down the road until I came to somewhere where I could turn around, or to try to turn around where I was. On my right was a steep embankment up, and on my left was a ditch about a foot and a half deep. I did not like the idea of driving backwards down a muddy mountain road for a long time, so I decided to try to turn around. Of course it wasn't long before I went into the ditch. Both back wheels went over into the ditch. I thought I was really stuck then. Up in the middle of nowhere, by myself, and I had the only Jenga vehicle with me, because Robby had taken the Van to kampala. So I couldn't even call anyone to come up and help me.
Thankfully, I had asked one of the guys doing the survey to show me how to put the truck into 4 wheel drive right before I dropped him off because i was worried about the roads getting bad if it started to rain. So I decided to give it a shot. I got out and changed the setting on the front tires, smiling and waving at the crowd of at least 15 people who had now gathered to watch me. They didn't smile or wave back, they just kept staring at me. I got back in the truck and after stalling it about 4 times, miracle of miracles, I managed to get the truck up out of the ditch.
So that was my disaster eversion of the day.
I seem to have at least one potiential disaster a day here. Maybe it's just me. Probably. But a few days ago I sprained my ankle badly enough that I can't walk without a tensor bandage on it. I keep trying to take it off and walk without it because everyone keeps saying sorry and asking what happened and I feel really dumb telling them that I just stepped off a curb and my ankle rolled. I should make up an exciting story or something.
This has kinda been a rambling blog about nothing, so sorry about that. I need to get back to work now. Hope everyone's doing well and thanks to those that have emailed me, it's always great to hear from people. miss you all and see you soon!
Friday, August 3, 2007
More adventures on the Nile coming right up!
After a week of hard work, I am excited to be taking the weekend off. I have just arrived in Jinja, with Angie, and we are spending the weekend here. Angie's going to bungee jump today (I'm not quite crazy enough to do that!) and then tomorrow we are both doing a full day of whitewater rafting on the nile. I've never whitewater rafted before so I'm pretty excited but also nervous.
This week has been very busy as I have been working on the survey very hard and pulling together all the details. We are supposed to do a training day on Monday to teach all the surveyors how to do it, and then the survey will take place over three days. The rest of my time here--only a few weeks now--will then be spent analyzing and sorting the data gathered from the survey, along with continuing to volunteer at Joy Hospice. Joy has been quite slow lately, for some reason we have not had many patients coming in, which is unusual. But there have been many med students and various visitors there so it has been interesting still. Last week Dr. Jan went away for a few days to Murchison falls for a safari, where I will also be going at the end of August, and so Rachel, a British Med student, and I, were working with Jim Knox, a resident from the States. We had one patient come in with a facial tumor. She had only noticed it a few days earlier and already it had started to close one of her eyes due to the swelling. It was hard to know where it originated from, becauase we had no access to scanners, but from where it was located, on the bridge of her nose, it could easily cause her to lose her eyesight or go into her brain and cause death. It amazes me how much Cancer we see her, and how far progressed it is, it is so sad. I have seen so many tumours that are just open and hard and huge and there is nothing that can be done because there's no money to treat patients.
One of the things that I have really enjoyed doing is helping out a a Kids Bible club on saturdays. We sing songs, tell stories, and the kids are just wonderful. They are so beautiful.
I can't believe that I will be home in less than three weeks now, the time has gone by so fast. I am excited to come home but really sad to leave at the same time.
This week has been very busy as I have been working on the survey very hard and pulling together all the details. We are supposed to do a training day on Monday to teach all the surveyors how to do it, and then the survey will take place over three days. The rest of my time here--only a few weeks now--will then be spent analyzing and sorting the data gathered from the survey, along with continuing to volunteer at Joy Hospice. Joy has been quite slow lately, for some reason we have not had many patients coming in, which is unusual. But there have been many med students and various visitors there so it has been interesting still. Last week Dr. Jan went away for a few days to Murchison falls for a safari, where I will also be going at the end of August, and so Rachel, a British Med student, and I, were working with Jim Knox, a resident from the States. We had one patient come in with a facial tumor. She had only noticed it a few days earlier and already it had started to close one of her eyes due to the swelling. It was hard to know where it originated from, becauase we had no access to scanners, but from where it was located, on the bridge of her nose, it could easily cause her to lose her eyesight or go into her brain and cause death. It amazes me how much Cancer we see her, and how far progressed it is, it is so sad. I have seen so many tumours that are just open and hard and huge and there is nothing that can be done because there's no money to treat patients.
One of the things that I have really enjoyed doing is helping out a a Kids Bible club on saturdays. We sing songs, tell stories, and the kids are just wonderful. They are so beautiful.
I can't believe that I will be home in less than three weeks now, the time has gone by so fast. I am excited to come home but really sad to leave at the same time.
Sunday, July 29, 2007
More pictures
Here are a few more pictures of some of what I've been up to this past week. The first one is me in the IDP camp with some of the children that followed us around.
Today after church we went for lunch in a little indian restaurant (reminded me so much of home for those of you who've been to...haha I can't actually remember the name of the east indian restaurant we always go to in Burnaby!) Anyways this is a picture of me and Tim, a British short term Jenga volunteer, with Emma, a very lively ugandan girl who has been adopted by an Australian couple. They are leaving to go back to Australia next week so I will miss them.
The last picture is of us wading in a stream up in Sipi Falls, which was very very cold! Me, Tim, Jayne and Jonathan (another short term British volunteer with Jenga who is actually leaving on tuesday and will be missed).
Friday, July 27, 2007
Pabo IDP camp
I just returned from my trip to Gulu, which is a 7 hour drive from Mbale and in northern Uganda. We visited an IDP camp, called Pabo, with 43 thousand people. Very sad. There used to 64000 but some have gone home now because it has officially been declared safe for them to do so. It is the largest camp in the area. Many people still remain, mainly because they are scared that it isn't really safe, but also because they have been there for 11 years and it is not a simple thing to move back home where there is nothing left.
Gulu is also the place where the children used to come from miles around into the town to sleep at night--used to be about 15,000 children walking into town each night from the villages and sleep anywhere they could, because it is safer there. The LRA would raid villages at night and kidnap the children to be child soldiers. One of the workers with the ministry that we visited was a soldier with the LRA for 5 years. He was captured when the LRA raided his village when he was 14 and then worked his way to quite high up in the army. After being with them for 5 years, he was shot and left at a hospital to recover, and then left and went to a World Vision rehabilitation Centre in Gulu. I can't even imagine what he has been through...he didn't give me many details as he told the story and I didn't press him.
We also met a pastor of a church in the IDP camp who was captured by the LRA, which is quite unusual because normally they just capture the children and kill all of the adults. The only time the keep adults (or so I've been told) is when they have a specific purpose, such as carrying a load, so he knew that he had to escape or he would be killed. He managed to run away and escape at night and is now pastoring a church in the IDP camp.
The camp looked a lot different than I expected, it was more like a village with its own little shops, and even some schools and a health centre provided by the government. The only difference was that none of the people own any land, all the huts are built squashed together, almost on top of each other, on dirt ground. There are children, mostly naked or barely clothed at all, running around all over the place. Many of them are carrying babies on their backs, even though they only look like they are about 5 years old themselves. One little girl was struggling to hold a baby and was going to put her down on the ground so I reached down to help her and she grabbed the baby and ran away. Vinnie, on of the Ugandan Jenga workers who speaks their language (he speaks 20 languages--and that's only counting the ones he's actually fluent in!!) went after the girl and tried to talk to her but she ran from him also. The children live in fear. Their whole lives they have known nothing but living in fear. The LRA used to come and raid the camps, and although they have military protection, the military would hide because they are scared of the LRA, because the LRA would usually target the military first to get them out of the way so they could raid the camp.
Anyway now the situation does look more hopeful, the LRA has not raided this camp since 2004 I believe, and as I said, the people are slowly starting to return to their homes.
Gulu is also the place where the children used to come from miles around into the town to sleep at night--used to be about 15,000 children walking into town each night from the villages and sleep anywhere they could, because it is safer there. The LRA would raid villages at night and kidnap the children to be child soldiers. One of the workers with the ministry that we visited was a soldier with the LRA for 5 years. He was captured when the LRA raided his village when he was 14 and then worked his way to quite high up in the army. After being with them for 5 years, he was shot and left at a hospital to recover, and then left and went to a World Vision rehabilitation Centre in Gulu. I can't even imagine what he has been through...he didn't give me many details as he told the story and I didn't press him.
We also met a pastor of a church in the IDP camp who was captured by the LRA, which is quite unusual because normally they just capture the children and kill all of the adults. The only time the keep adults (or so I've been told) is when they have a specific purpose, such as carrying a load, so he knew that he had to escape or he would be killed. He managed to run away and escape at night and is now pastoring a church in the IDP camp.
The camp looked a lot different than I expected, it was more like a village with its own little shops, and even some schools and a health centre provided by the government. The only difference was that none of the people own any land, all the huts are built squashed together, almost on top of each other, on dirt ground. There are children, mostly naked or barely clothed at all, running around all over the place. Many of them are carrying babies on their backs, even though they only look like they are about 5 years old themselves. One little girl was struggling to hold a baby and was going to put her down on the ground so I reached down to help her and she grabbed the baby and ran away. Vinnie, on of the Ugandan Jenga workers who speaks their language (he speaks 20 languages--and that's only counting the ones he's actually fluent in!!) went after the girl and tried to talk to her but she ran from him also. The children live in fear. Their whole lives they have known nothing but living in fear. The LRA used to come and raid the camps, and although they have military protection, the military would hide because they are scared of the LRA, because the LRA would usually target the military first to get them out of the way so they could raid the camp.
Anyway now the situation does look more hopeful, the LRA has not raided this camp since 2004 I believe, and as I said, the people are slowly starting to return to their homes.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Swimming in the nile
This is a picture of me just after I'd climbed up out of the nile from swimming in it!
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Stories on the spiritual side
I thought I would share with you some of what has been happening in my life spiritually while being in Africa. God’s been speaking to me a lot about staying in his arms, all the time. The conference I was at, they talked about being at the cross, and how THAT is how no matter what happens to us, we can be safe, because he is protecting us. No matter what people do to us or what happens in our lives, we are safe there and can respond in love and not be hurt. I like to think of it as being in Jesus’ arms, though. In his embrace, with his arms wrapped around me, nothing can harm me. But coming to the cross is that aspect of laying down whatever it is that it burdening me and letting go of it—because if I hold on to it, God can not work. So that is my cry for me and you--that we may learn to constantly stay in his arms and be safe, so that no matter what happens, his arms are around me. but so often i find my self running out of his arms and trying to do things in my own strength without even realizing it! So it is indeed a journey.
God told me a few days ago that my job is to stay in His arms at all times—that’s all I need to focus on, and He will take care of the rest. But that is so much easier said than done. I find so often that without even realizing it, I have run off out of His arms to fix some problem or do something that is my own desire, not His. Obedience is what goes hand in hand with staying in His arms. I recently read an amazing book about a Muslim lady from India who became a Christian (which is very applicable to here, because there are many, many muslims here—all of Mooni is muslim.) Anyhow, in her book, she talks about staying in the glory of God at all times, in His presence constantly, and how when she had realized that God’s glory was not with her anymore, she could always trace it back to disobedience—somewhere, she had had a prompting to do something or not do something and she had not obeyed. She would repent and immediately God’s glory and presence would return to her, filling her with joy and peace, no matter her circumstance. So I think that is the secret of praying constantly, and being in the vine—Jesus says he is the vine and we are the branches, and if we remain in him then he will remain in us and we will bear much fruit. I am discovering how to remain in him constantly. It’s really hard. I mess up all the time. So often I feel the slightest nudge, just seems like a suggestion, not a loud, strong voice, of what I should do, and often for the smallest things that seem to make no difference, and I am used to just making my own decisions in small matters and asking God for direction on big decisions. But he is challenging me to look to him for everything. For example, when I go for a run, he directs me in which way to run. This morning, he told me to turn off the road and into the fields. I started to, but it seemed so crazy—running through little tiny paths in a corn field! I started to, then decided it was nuts and turned around. But again I had a sense that I should, so I turned back and did. I ended up finding a river and it was very beautiful, but beyond that I was not aware of any drastic purpose in it. However, that doesn’t matter—what matters is that I am obeying God.
When I was younger, I used to wonder how exactly I knew if God was speaking to me. I used to struggle with wondering if it was just my own thoughts, and how I knew. But I have found that the more I listen and obey, even if I am not sure—I just step out in faith and trust that even if I am wrong, God will honor me because He sees my heart is to obey—the clearer that voice gets and the more I can recognize when it is God. In a book I read recently, I really love the way the author put it: have you ever felt a nudge to tell someone about God or pray with some one? Well, listen to that, do it, and as you do, nudges will get stronger and clearer. If you ignore it, God does not force us, and I think maybe even he will become quieter, because he does not force himself on us—he waits to see if we want him to and want to listen to him.
Well those are some of the things I have been learning while being here. I hope that encourages some of you. I miss you all, I love you, and I pray for you. I pray psalm 23 over you: that God will give you your every need, guide you into a place of rest, no matter what your circumstances, that you will have no fear no matter what comes your way, because God is your comfort. That he will bless you in the presence of your enemies and that would be a witness to them and they would see Him! That you would be annointed, and overflowing out into every person you meet, that goodness and mercy would be with you always, and mostly that you would dwell in His presence continuously, forever.
I love hearing from you, and if you have anything you would like me to pray for you about, don't hesitate to email!
God told me a few days ago that my job is to stay in His arms at all times—that’s all I need to focus on, and He will take care of the rest. But that is so much easier said than done. I find so often that without even realizing it, I have run off out of His arms to fix some problem or do something that is my own desire, not His. Obedience is what goes hand in hand with staying in His arms. I recently read an amazing book about a Muslim lady from India who became a Christian (which is very applicable to here, because there are many, many muslims here—all of Mooni is muslim.) Anyhow, in her book, she talks about staying in the glory of God at all times, in His presence constantly, and how when she had realized that God’s glory was not with her anymore, she could always trace it back to disobedience—somewhere, she had had a prompting to do something or not do something and she had not obeyed. She would repent and immediately God’s glory and presence would return to her, filling her with joy and peace, no matter her circumstance. So I think that is the secret of praying constantly, and being in the vine—Jesus says he is the vine and we are the branches, and if we remain in him then he will remain in us and we will bear much fruit. I am discovering how to remain in him constantly. It’s really hard. I mess up all the time. So often I feel the slightest nudge, just seems like a suggestion, not a loud, strong voice, of what I should do, and often for the smallest things that seem to make no difference, and I am used to just making my own decisions in small matters and asking God for direction on big decisions. But he is challenging me to look to him for everything. For example, when I go for a run, he directs me in which way to run. This morning, he told me to turn off the road and into the fields. I started to, but it seemed so crazy—running through little tiny paths in a corn field! I started to, then decided it was nuts and turned around. But again I had a sense that I should, so I turned back and did. I ended up finding a river and it was very beautiful, but beyond that I was not aware of any drastic purpose in it. However, that doesn’t matter—what matters is that I am obeying God.
When I was younger, I used to wonder how exactly I knew if God was speaking to me. I used to struggle with wondering if it was just my own thoughts, and how I knew. But I have found that the more I listen and obey, even if I am not sure—I just step out in faith and trust that even if I am wrong, God will honor me because He sees my heart is to obey—the clearer that voice gets and the more I can recognize when it is God. In a book I read recently, I really love the way the author put it: have you ever felt a nudge to tell someone about God or pray with some one? Well, listen to that, do it, and as you do, nudges will get stronger and clearer. If you ignore it, God does not force us, and I think maybe even he will become quieter, because he does not force himself on us—he waits to see if we want him to and want to listen to him.
Well those are some of the things I have been learning while being here. I hope that encourages some of you. I miss you all, I love you, and I pray for you. I pray psalm 23 over you: that God will give you your every need, guide you into a place of rest, no matter what your circumstances, that you will have no fear no matter what comes your way, because God is your comfort. That he will bless you in the presence of your enemies and that would be a witness to them and they would see Him! That you would be annointed, and overflowing out into every person you meet, that goodness and mercy would be with you always, and mostly that you would dwell in His presence continuously, forever.
I love hearing from you, and if you have anything you would like me to pray for you about, don't hesitate to email!
Mountain village health clinics
This morning I went for a run and decided to veer off the road into the fields near my house. I followed small paths through fields of maize (similar to corn) and other various vegetation, getting stares and strange looks from all the people working in the fields. I’m sure they thought I was absolutely nuts. They’re probably right… I ended up on the bank of a small river/large stream ( I couldn’t decide which) that I hadn’t even known existed, almost in our backyard. It was absolutely beautiful. Mbale is so lush and green, it’s amazing. I’ve taken lots of pictures that I am looking forward to sharing with you all when I come home.
This afternoon Cindy, (dutch doctor I lived with for my first few weeks here), Aaron (Ugandan Jenga staff) and I drove up into the villages in the foothills of Mount Elgon, close to Mooni where we are planning on building the health clinic, to visit two government run health centres to learn about how the centres are run in the mountain villages, what services are needed, and what are provided. Again, I was absolutely amazed at how beautifully lush and green it is. The first health centre we visited was what they call a “Level Two Health Centre”, which means that it only does immunizations and very basic health care, such as prescribing malaria medication. The staff member there, who was a vaccinator, was thrilled to have us visit; they consider it a big honor to have Mzungu (non-African) visitors. All the children in the villages ran alongside the truck, laughing and shouting “Mzungu! Mzungu!” The primary function of this clinic is immunizations, because the staff are qualified a quite a low level.
The second health centre we visited was a Level 3 Health Centre, which had a delivery section for labour and delivery and was much better staffed, with a midwife, a diploma nurse, a clinical officer (similar to a doctor, but with less education—they are only in school for 3 years, compared to a Registered nurse, which is in school for 4 years. Often the Registered Nurses are better than the clinical officers.)
Both health clinics were very well organized in their documentation of patients’ conditions, I was impressed. There are only two health clinics serving about 15,000 people (at least), many of whom have to walk for hours to access a clinic. When talking with the midwife, we were told that they struggle with many of the same problems that we do with our healthcare system in Canada—understaffed and not enough money.
Mooni is on the other side of the mountain from these two clinics, and there are no clinics on this side of the mountain. The government has decided at this point to not build any new clinics until they are able to run their existing ones better, so there continues to be a great need.
The picture is of me, Jayne, the physiotherapist volunteering with Jenga, (one of the girls I live with), and Darlene, the daughter of Grace and Vinney, a Ugandan couple who work with Jenga and live in Mooni. Vinnie is a pastor and they are a big outtreach in Mooni as a christian family in a muslim area.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
More of this week
Yesterday we had our second official meeting with the Jenga people who will be on the committee for the health clinic. It was exciting to plan more of what we’re going to do, and see the vision unfold. Like I said before, I am in charge of the survey, which is the first part of the plan. We are going to conduct a survey of Mooni, asking about health status and what the people do when they are ill; living conditions; diet; income; and many other things to give us a more complete picture of the lives the people of Mooni live and what their needs are. Jenga has already done a similar survey in Namatala, the slum area in Mbale, so I have been writing a survey for Mooni based on the previous one.
Today we spent the day in Tororo, a small town about 30 minutes outside of Mbale, where we participated in a day prayer and worship, simultaneously with 1 million people in China and 35,000 people in America. When I arrived, I was asked to lead worship, which was a bit of a surprise. I had expected to maybe assist with the singing, but it ended up being just me playing piano and singing for at least an hour and a half, which was exciting but stretching for me because I didn’t know what songs the people knew, and their style of singing is so different than ours.
By the way, thank you so much to everyone who has been emailing me, my profound apologies if I have not had the chance to reply, I’m having a lot of trouble with my email while I’m here. I am going to switch back to my hotmail account again because outlook will not work with my telus account, so if you are sending me emails, please send them to gazingupward@hotmail.com. Sorry for the confusion, and even if I don’t have a chance to reply to your emails, they are always such an encouragement and I love hearing from you all!
Today we spent the day in Tororo, a small town about 30 minutes outside of Mbale, where we participated in a day prayer and worship, simultaneously with 1 million people in China and 35,000 people in America. When I arrived, I was asked to lead worship, which was a bit of a surprise. I had expected to maybe assist with the singing, but it ended up being just me playing piano and singing for at least an hour and a half, which was exciting but stretching for me because I didn’t know what songs the people knew, and their style of singing is so different than ours.
By the way, thank you so much to everyone who has been emailing me, my profound apologies if I have not had the chance to reply, I’m having a lot of trouble with my email while I’m here. I am going to switch back to my hotmail account again because outlook will not work with my telus account, so if you are sending me emails, please send them to gazingupward@hotmail.com. Sorry for the confusion, and even if I don’t have a chance to reply to your emails, they are always such an encouragement and I love hearing from you all!
My life this week (well, some of it...)
(Note: I wrote this blog on Thursday, but due to extensive computer problems, was unable to post it until now, saturday night).
Yesterday I was working at Joy, doing daily rounds with Jan and Dinah, one of the nurses, when I realized that the bed that had been occupied by Geoffrey the entire time I’ve been at Joy (the 18 year old boy with bone cancer that had progressed into his lungs) was now occupied by an older woman. I asked her what happened to Geoffrey, already knowing the answer. Death is all around you here; everyone has lost a close family members, it’s a part of life. Dinah told me that Geoffrey died on Saturday night. He asked for his Father and his Aunt to come see him, and told them that it was his time him to go home and to let him go because he was going to see his Father. A little while later, he died peacefully.
Today I spent the day at CRO: Child Restoration Outreach, which is an NGO (non government organization) that works with the street children in Mbale. Joshua, a guy I met while at the conference in Jinja, has spent the last two months volunteering with CRO, so he invited me to come and visit them. In the morning, we walked through the town looking for street kids and we collected 8, which is more then they normally do—usually it’s closer to 3 or 4. There are other street children in Mbale but they are not interested in coming because they want to stay where they can possibly find some work and earn a little bit of money, or because they are not interested in getting off the street.
We brought the 8 kids back to the CRO building where they were fed breakfast. Then, we interviewed the new children we had collected that day. The first little boy was 13, although he looked much younger, I would have guessed 8. He had left home 6 years earlier because his stepmother was abusing him and had told him he had to leave to find a job and pay for his own school fees. He ended up in Mbale staying with his cousin, finding odd jobs where he could to earn a little bit of money. His cousin sells Chapatis (an African flat bread similar to a pita but fried) on the street to make money and buys food for him but does not make enough for school fees or clothes for him. He told us that he wants to go to school and become a doctor so he can help people. Following the interview, Peter, the CRO worker who had interviewed the boy with me, told me that they would most likely enroll the boy in their rehabilitation program, where street children spend a year, and following successful completion of the program, CRO pays for the school fees and uniforms for the children all the way through university, if the child desires to go that far.
At lunch time, all the CRO children who were in school came to the office for lunch and devotions. There were about 150 children all together, it was so neat to see how many lives are being changed through this program—all of these children would have no future if it was not for CRO working with them.
Yesterday I was working at Joy, doing daily rounds with Jan and Dinah, one of the nurses, when I realized that the bed that had been occupied by Geoffrey the entire time I’ve been at Joy (the 18 year old boy with bone cancer that had progressed into his lungs) was now occupied by an older woman. I asked her what happened to Geoffrey, already knowing the answer. Death is all around you here; everyone has lost a close family members, it’s a part of life. Dinah told me that Geoffrey died on Saturday night. He asked for his Father and his Aunt to come see him, and told them that it was his time him to go home and to let him go because he was going to see his Father. A little while later, he died peacefully.
Today I spent the day at CRO: Child Restoration Outreach, which is an NGO (non government organization) that works with the street children in Mbale. Joshua, a guy I met while at the conference in Jinja, has spent the last two months volunteering with CRO, so he invited me to come and visit them. In the morning, we walked through the town looking for street kids and we collected 8, which is more then they normally do—usually it’s closer to 3 or 4. There are other street children in Mbale but they are not interested in coming because they want to stay where they can possibly find some work and earn a little bit of money, or because they are not interested in getting off the street.
We brought the 8 kids back to the CRO building where they were fed breakfast. Then, we interviewed the new children we had collected that day. The first little boy was 13, although he looked much younger, I would have guessed 8. He had left home 6 years earlier because his stepmother was abusing him and had told him he had to leave to find a job and pay for his own school fees. He ended up in Mbale staying with his cousin, finding odd jobs where he could to earn a little bit of money. His cousin sells Chapatis (an African flat bread similar to a pita but fried) on the street to make money and buys food for him but does not make enough for school fees or clothes for him. He told us that he wants to go to school and become a doctor so he can help people. Following the interview, Peter, the CRO worker who had interviewed the boy with me, told me that they would most likely enroll the boy in their rehabilitation program, where street children spend a year, and following successful completion of the program, CRO pays for the school fees and uniforms for the children all the way through university, if the child desires to go that far.
At lunch time, all the CRO children who were in school came to the office for lunch and devotions. There were about 150 children all together, it was so neat to see how many lives are being changed through this program—all of these children would have no future if it was not for CRO working with them.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
For the moments when I feel faint...
Just returned from Kampala, I went there for a few days with a friend I met here, Joshua. It's about a 4 hour drive, and as I was driving back, i put my ipod on and was listening to worship music. One song by Reliant K really struck me--because there is so much hardship and pain here, and no easy answers.
For the Moments When I feel Faint
Am I at the point
Of no improvement?
What of the death
I still dwell in?
I try to excel
But I feel no movement
Can I be free
Of this unreleasable sin?
Never underestimate my Jesus
You're telling me that there's no hope
I'm telling you you're wrong
Never underestimate my Jesus
When the world around you crumbles
He will be strong, He will be strong.
I throw up my hands
Oh the impossibilities
Frustrated and tired
Where do I
Go from here?
Now I'm searching for
The confidence I've lost so willingly
Overcoming these obstacles
Is overcoming my fears
Never underestimate my Jesus
You're telling me that there's no hope
I'm telling you you're wrong
Never underestimate my Jesus
When the world around you crumbles
He will be strong, He will be strong
Gather my insufficiences and
Place them in your hands
Place them in your hands
Place them in your hands
Never underestimate my Jesus
You're telling me that there's no hope
I'm telling you you're wrong
Never underestimate my Jesus
When the world around you crumbles
He will be strong.
When the world around you crumbles, He will be strong for you. You don't need to be strong, you don't need all of the answers. All I can do is offer myself, with all my insufficiencies, to Him, and let Him guide me to work for Him and allow Him to work through me. Look to Him to be strong for you, He is all you need.
For the Moments When I feel Faint
Am I at the point
Of no improvement?
What of the death
I still dwell in?
I try to excel
But I feel no movement
Can I be free
Of this unreleasable sin?
Never underestimate my Jesus
You're telling me that there's no hope
I'm telling you you're wrong
Never underestimate my Jesus
When the world around you crumbles
He will be strong, He will be strong.
I throw up my hands
Oh the impossibilities
Frustrated and tired
Where do I
Go from here?
Now I'm searching for
The confidence I've lost so willingly
Overcoming these obstacles
Is overcoming my fears
Never underestimate my Jesus
You're telling me that there's no hope
I'm telling you you're wrong
Never underestimate my Jesus
When the world around you crumbles
He will be strong, He will be strong
Gather my insufficiences and
Place them in your hands
Place them in your hands
Place them in your hands
Never underestimate my Jesus
You're telling me that there's no hope
I'm telling you you're wrong
Never underestimate my Jesus
When the world around you crumbles
He will be strong.
When the world around you crumbles, He will be strong for you. You don't need to be strong, you don't need all of the answers. All I can do is offer myself, with all my insufficiencies, to Him, and let Him guide me to work for Him and allow Him to work through me. Look to Him to be strong for you, He is all you need.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
adventures in the night!
Yesterday I moved into the other Jenga house because Robby, Bart and Cindy (the dutch couple) have all gone to Sudan for the week, so I would've been staying in the house by myself. And since there was somebody creeping around the compound in the middle of the night last week (I woke up in the middle of the night from a loud crash outside my window. At first i thought maybe it was from inside the house and Robby was up--he sometimes keeps odd hours--but then i heard someone moving around really quietly outside my window. i lay there for a while listening, to make sure i wasn't hearing things, but there was definetely (did i spell that right!) someone there so i got up and went and woke Robby up, which was a challenge in itself, but then told him and he found a broom--the only thing remotely near a weapon--and went outside and looked around a bit but didn't find anyone. The compound is completely gated but there was an area at the back that was not lighted and he couldn't see so he didn't go there.) So...I am not staying in that house by myself! At this house, we have 3 dogs and a guard. Every Muzungu (white person...when I'm walking anywhere, everyone shouts "Muzungu! Muzungu!! How are you?!" at me) has a gated compound an a guard staying overnight but we've just moved into the other place and are housesitting for a few months so there isn't one there. The house is completely secure, there's no way anyone could ever get in to it, bars on every window, but someone must've put a ladder up against the wall and gotten into the compound. So that was my adventure last week! Must get off the internet now, but when i get a chance, i will write more about my experiences working at Joy Hospice.
Saturday, June 23, 2007
Swimming in the Nile
Spent the week in Jinja this week at an amazing conference, right on the banks of the nile. I went swimming in the nile...haha quite an interesting expereince.
must run...trying to post a picture of me swimming...
must run...trying to post a picture of me swimming...
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Joy Hospice and the Clinic
This last week has been very busy. On tuesday I met Dr. Jan, who runs Joy Hospice, and went to a little clinic in a village about 35 kms outside of Mbale. It takes about 2 hours to get there, though, because the roads are so bad. Jan goes there once a week, every Tuesday, to see patients, and the other days of the week the clinic is run by two nurses. We saw many different patients, including lots of children. One girl was 16 years old and was quite sick. She had abdominal pain and was very anemic (not enough blood), so we took her back with us at the end of the day to the regional hospital. Diagnosing is difficult at the clinic, because we can not do any tests, but Jan diagnosed quite a few children with Malaria. The next day I spent the day at Joy Hospice with Jan. We saw one girl who is 20 years old and has sickle cell anemia. She was very sick, her hemoglobin was 6 (14 is normal), which is a critically low level of blood, so she desperately needed a blood transfusion. We have to get blood from the regional hospital, so much of the day was spent attempting to get the blood. The hospital was informed that we needed it and assured us that it was just being tested and should be ready soon. We finally got it about 4 hours later, when the girl's hemoglobin was down to 4. She could have easily died by then, so that was quite scary. But things like that happen quite routinely over here apparently.
Anyhow that's all for now, i tried uploading pictures but it won't let me, so you will have to wait until I get back to see them!
Anyhow that's all for now, i tried uploading pictures but it won't let me, so you will have to wait until I get back to see them!
Friday, June 8, 2007
up the mountain
Today we went up into some of the villages on the mountain and saw a goat project that Jenga is running. It is really neat, they are raising goats and giving them to widows. the people on the mountain are very poor, they have not much at all, and the widows have nothing. So when Jenga gives them a goat, they have income and milk. They have already given 60 goats since the project started this year.
I will try and post some pictures.
It sounds as though i will be working with Cindy, the doctor from Holland who arrived a few weeks ago, to set up a clinic in this area. There are about 20-30,000 people in the mountains and the closest clinic is JOY, which is about a 2 hour walk, so Jenga has been hoping to do this for a while and now with Cindy and I here, it looks like we are going to do it, so I'm really excited about that.
I will try and post some pictures.
It sounds as though i will be working with Cindy, the doctor from Holland who arrived a few weeks ago, to set up a clinic in this area. There are about 20-30,000 people in the mountains and the closest clinic is JOY, which is about a 2 hour walk, so Jenga has been hoping to do this for a while and now with Cindy and I here, it looks like we are going to do it, so I'm really excited about that.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
whoops...
so I just realized that I've been posting to the wrong area, so here are the last few posts!
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Fun with the camera
I can't remember what I said in my last blog, but here's some info on my living situation: I am living in a house with Robby, and a dutch couple who have just moved her two weeks ago. Cinday is a doctor and Bart is a nutritionist and involved in Argiculture. There are now two 'Jenga' houses because with my arrival, we didn't all fit in one house so the other 5 live in the other house. I have met Jayne, who is a physiotherapist from England here until september, and got on really well with her. All the Jenga people are so passionate about living 100% for Jesus, it's wonderful to be around them.
Yesterday I got up early and went up into the foothills of the mountain and met the wife of a Ugandan couple that works with Jenga, Grace, and her beautiful daughter, Darlene. We took picutres of Grace demonstrating proper ways to work while taking care of your back, to make a follow up poster from a class Jayne taught in the women's group about back care. Most of the women here have a lot of back problems. We also had a lot of fun taking pictures of Darlene, who is turning 3 on friday. She loved posing for the camera! And Jayne was fascinated with my camera and wants to get one herself now. I'll post pictures when I can, right now I'm on robby's computer, not mine.
Posted by Anna at 10:37 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
!!!
only have a minute to write but i already have African soil in my blood...literally. It was pouring rain and i had to go to the bathroom on the way to mbale yesterday so Robby stopped at a gas station and we were going to wait for the rain to stop but i said i didn' mind getting wet, what the heck...i'll dash for it. so i did. unfortunately the ground was this slate stuff and extremely slipperly, so i took a few steps and landed on my butt. Got up, brushed myself off...and promptly fell right back down again. This time after I got up, i stepped off the slate on to the gravel and walked VERY carefully. I hoped at least the second fall was far enough around the corner that noone had seen. Next i had my first experience with a hole in the ground toilet and no TP. fun times.
Got back to the car, and Robby was laughing. He saw me fall both times but informed me that no one else had. i now have a big nasty gash on my shin...still hurts!!!
Posted by Anna at 9:35 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Monday, June 4, 2007
In Kampala
I arrived safely in Entebbe this morning at about 8am ugandan time and was met by Robby, who's the leader of Jenga. We're stopped outside Kampala right now, we came here to pick up Robby's bags, he stayed here last night. It's a cute little place for backpackers and campers to stay and--bonus--has free internet!!! But unfortunately we are held up here because Robby just found out that the Jenga house where all the missionarys stay (including me) has a bedbug infestation. Robby says that this is the first time he's ever had this happen, it's quite unusual and the normal procedure to eliminate them didn't work. Fun stuff.
So, we are now waiting for the right fumicide (I'm sure I spelt that wrong!) to be delivered here before we head to Mbale. It's about a 3 1/2 hour drive from here apparently.
It's very green and beautiful here, not too hot. About the same as it was in Vancouver the past few weeks. Well that's all for now, I'm excited to get to Mbale and see what I'll be calling home for the next 3 months!
Posted by Anna at 12:23 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Sunday, June 3, 2007
one flight down, one to go
I'm at Heathrow Airport now, between flights. The first flight was fine, I watched a movie and then I was actually able to sleep some so I don't feel too bad. My back has been alright, it's sore but I bought these instant heat things that stay hot for 8 hours and that has been a lifesaver--as long as it's on, I'm not in too much pain. I love flying. Leaving Vancouver the view was absolutely astounding. For about the first hour I watched the sunset, the deepest red I've ever seen. It reflected off the snow on the mountains, making them glow red and yellow. Breathtaking.
Now that I'm halfway to Uganda, I'm getting really excited. I can't wait to get there!! Well since I don't have anything else interesting to say, that's all for now.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Fun with the camera
I can't remember what I said in my last blog, but here's some info on my living situation: I am living in a house with Robby, and a dutch couple who have just moved her two weeks ago. Cinday is a doctor and Bart is a nutritionist and involved in Argiculture. There are now two 'Jenga' houses because with my arrival, we didn't all fit in one house so the other 5 live in the other house. I have met Jayne, who is a physiotherapist from England here until september, and got on really well with her. All the Jenga people are so passionate about living 100% for Jesus, it's wonderful to be around them.
Yesterday I got up early and went up into the foothills of the mountain and met the wife of a Ugandan couple that works with Jenga, Grace, and her beautiful daughter, Darlene. We took picutres of Grace demonstrating proper ways to work while taking care of your back, to make a follow up poster from a class Jayne taught in the women's group about back care. Most of the women here have a lot of back problems. We also had a lot of fun taking pictures of Darlene, who is turning 3 on friday. She loved posing for the camera! And Jayne was fascinated with my camera and wants to get one herself now. I'll post pictures when I can, right now I'm on robby's computer, not mine.
Posted by Anna at 10:37 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
!!!
only have a minute to write but i already have African soil in my blood...literally. It was pouring rain and i had to go to the bathroom on the way to mbale yesterday so Robby stopped at a gas station and we were going to wait for the rain to stop but i said i didn' mind getting wet, what the heck...i'll dash for it. so i did. unfortunately the ground was this slate stuff and extremely slipperly, so i took a few steps and landed on my butt. Got up, brushed myself off...and promptly fell right back down again. This time after I got up, i stepped off the slate on to the gravel and walked VERY carefully. I hoped at least the second fall was far enough around the corner that noone had seen. Next i had my first experience with a hole in the ground toilet and no TP. fun times.
Got back to the car, and Robby was laughing. He saw me fall both times but informed me that no one else had. i now have a big nasty gash on my shin...still hurts!!!
Posted by Anna at 9:35 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Monday, June 4, 2007
In Kampala
I arrived safely in Entebbe this morning at about 8am ugandan time and was met by Robby, who's the leader of Jenga. We're stopped outside Kampala right now, we came here to pick up Robby's bags, he stayed here last night. It's a cute little place for backpackers and campers to stay and--bonus--has free internet!!! But unfortunately we are held up here because Robby just found out that the Jenga house where all the missionarys stay (including me) has a bedbug infestation. Robby says that this is the first time he's ever had this happen, it's quite unusual and the normal procedure to eliminate them didn't work. Fun stuff.
So, we are now waiting for the right fumicide (I'm sure I spelt that wrong!) to be delivered here before we head to Mbale. It's about a 3 1/2 hour drive from here apparently.
It's very green and beautiful here, not too hot. About the same as it was in Vancouver the past few weeks. Well that's all for now, I'm excited to get to Mbale and see what I'll be calling home for the next 3 months!
Posted by Anna at 12:23 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Sunday, June 3, 2007
one flight down, one to go
I'm at Heathrow Airport now, between flights. The first flight was fine, I watched a movie and then I was actually able to sleep some so I don't feel too bad. My back has been alright, it's sore but I bought these instant heat things that stay hot for 8 hours and that has been a lifesaver--as long as it's on, I'm not in too much pain. I love flying. Leaving Vancouver the view was absolutely astounding. For about the first hour I watched the sunset, the deepest red I've ever seen. It reflected off the snow on the mountains, making them glow red and yellow. Breathtaking.
Now that I'm halfway to Uganda, I'm getting really excited. I can't wait to get there!! Well since I don't have anything else interesting to say, that's all for now.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
The time has come...
Well, I've finally finished packing and will be leaving for the airport in about an hour. I have mixed feelings about going. Although I'm excited, I'm also nervous and sad to leave behind friends and family. I know this is going to be a life altering experience. When I come back, I'll be a different person--which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it is kind of scary. Mostly just because it's unknown, I think.
Anyways, thank you so much to all of you who have emailed me in the past few days, sorry that I wasn't able to reply to them all. I will try to post another blog as soon as possible once I'm there, but my computer has been having major problems today so I will have to see how that goes.
I'll miss you all!
Anyways, thank you so much to all of you who have emailed me in the past few days, sorry that I wasn't able to reply to them all. I will try to post another blog as soon as possible once I'm there, but my computer has been having major problems today so I will have to see how that goes.
I'll miss you all!
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