Got home last night and thought I’d write a quick close, wrap up any lose ends. I do also want to mention the third water well. I want to follow up with the people that donated money to the water well for the farm land… this is anyone that donated money towards a well from January forward…. This water well is going to support the farmland where they grow coffee and bananas. This land is 54 acres in total with 50 of that being for the bananas and coffee and 4 acres for the cows. Hey… one must have fertilizer to make this a success. Currently the water source for this is rain only. I’m no farmer but I imagine irrigation would help to yield more crops. That being said, the contributions made including from Dan’s St. Joe’s dinner and other individual donations made will go towards this. Most of the money has come in although due to the piping and irrigation supplies needed there is a bit more cost involved. Will keep you posted on the status. The crops from this location will be spread throughout the school, the kids will get matooke, often their favorite food made from bananas. The coffee will be sold and used as a source to provide.

Our return home:
The good byes at the school were sad on Monday morning. A lot of running around trying to find that one more child that people bonded with to say “see you next time”. There were tears, hugs and lots of love spread throughout Victor’s school. We were able to wrap up a few last profiles and pictures to ensure that the students on the trip found their child for sponsorship. A few last pictures a few last gifts given but the everlasting love there will never be forgotten. I turned my camera towards Scovia for one last picture and saw through the camera the tears in her eyes. I quickly put the camera away and bent down to give her hugs. She was so sad; she finally understands that this is the last day. We will miss them more than our words can ever describe.

The flights home were as to be expected. For the most part fine however in London, our not so favorite airport, they had our names in the system but they weren’t connecting to seats in the system. Go figure. We all ended up on the flight, a short 10 hours from London to San Francisco, then a hop skip and a jump to San Diego with happy parents, balloons, signs and lots of hugs and happiness.

Please say tuned for updates on fundraisers to come and more pictures.
Please contact Children’s Heritage Foundation if you are interested in sponsoring a child or making a donation.

Nicole

At the end of the service Pastor Stephen invited all of us to come to the front of the room to have everyone pray for us. I knew what was going to happen at this point. The whole team stood in the front and then he invited the children to come to the front and pray with us. We were crying and I was just trying to keep it together. It is a sign that the trip is almost over. Upon leaving the church, Bashir came to me and said his mother was there. He is the oldest of mom’s boys. It was so good to see her, she looked like she was doing okay. She was still very weak and I could feel her unsteadiness as she stood there holding my hand but all in all I think she is happy that her boys will be taken care of. She knows that now. As I walked out to the buses I tried to say that I would be there in the morning to say goodbye. I saw Angella and Sarah with Robinah. I was worried because I can always get Angella to smile but not always Sarah. I asked what was wrong, Robinah told me they were sad. They all started crying…Robinah, Norah, Sarah, Angella. I hugged them all in a big circle. I don’t think Scovia understands I am leaving tomorrow but she understood that all of the other girls were crying and then she started. I was so sad to leave them. I gave them all kisses and told them I would see them tomorrow morning.

We left for “The Source of the Nile” this is in Jinja. It took about an hour to get there and we passed over part of the road that had been washed away from rains earlier this year. When we arrived to the river, we took boats to “the source”. These springs in the river pump 200,000 gallons per second into the river that runs south to north.

Pastor Stephen baptized a number of people including an on looker outside of our group he just hopped in the water with them. It was great! Everyone was very excited. I’m not going to say the people that did it, I will let them tell you ? It was a very exciting experience.

So here I am wrapping up my last full day in Uganda of this trip. It’s very sad already to think of leaving tomorrow. It won’t be easy but you all know how I roll… I will use this energy into getting more kids sponsored and raising money for the much needed kitchen and dining hall. Are you in to help??? Thanks!!! Have to get going, need to pack and get some sleep.

Nicole

The time is drawing nearer that we will be leaving which is completely depressing.  It is now Saturday night and I was able to spend the day at the school with Sylvia, Grace, Karen and the rest of the gang.  Today was the day to play catch up on a lot of different things.  Sometimes I am conflicted, I know there is a lot to get done but I just want to play with the kids. I usually just have them follow me around to do things so I can continue the personal time with them.

There is a room near the office where the women make the beaded necklaces and that is where the kids are drawing their pictures.  Well, I can hardly stand to be away from them so while I was checking one of the lists that I have I sat on the ground with them on the woven mat to do my work.   There is basically a woven mat on the dirt ground.  I was leaning up against the wall and looking at some pictures to make sure I have all of the sponsorship pictures that we need.  The kids started to crowd around me to see the pictures and I was pointing out people.  It was a lot of fun.  They loved it.  One of my flip-flops fell off and little Scovia put it back on for me.  It was really sweet.  Probably the highlight of my day.

I had to play “mom” a few times today.  Kids were a little rougher today with each other.  One boy fell by himself but he was really upset and holding his arm.  I was so sad, he was hurt bad it seemed. He must have been three or four years old.  So I went to him to make sure he was okay and spent some time with him just talking to him and rubbing his back a little.  I finally took him to give him a juice box that I had purchased on the way to the school and he seemed a little better after that.  It was I think blackcurrant flavor, he liked it.

Heather, our little Norah was upset this afternoon too.  Well Karen finished the library today.  She did a great job and had recruited some of the volunteers and girls that are a bit older to help her and it was awesome!  The kids just LOVED it.  They love to read and they can’t wait to get their hands on them. They were all huddling around reading  Well little Norah got pushed off of the bench and was really upset.  I didn’t know it was her but I heard someone crying so I went out there and I still couldn’t tell it was her cause she had her head down and they all wear similar outfits.  So I was trying to make sure they were okay.  Then I heard someone say her name and I was upset.  I made sure she was okay and took her inside the book room where we were all working and let her sit there wit her own book to relax for a bit.. She chose a Dr. Seuss book.

The third event was when I was giving out some stickers.  The kids just bombard you whenever you have something cool like that… stickers, candy, etc.  So I told them to get in a line so each of them could get one.  Well some kids are just bigger than others, i.e. Scovia is so little.  Then I saw her standing  facing the wall and upset.  Tuns out someone was pushing her away out of line. Well that ended giving out stickers real quick.. Don’t mess with my girls.  Privileges are taken away quickly if people don’t cooperate.

Another fun activity… the kids just drop candy wrappers everywhere.  The adults here do it too.  It makes me crazy to see wrappers all over the place.  So I started to make the kids pick up the garbage.  I just asked them nicely to please help.  They do it with pleasure.  Then they are so proud to help. However, I asked one child to pick up some empty juice boxes well he did and then he just dropped them around the corner.  Go figure. So I then made them all pick up garbage and made it a game. I had them following me around and I would point at the garbage and they would get it. Then I led them to a garbage can and showed them where it goes.  I was very appreciative. I also told them that if they throw the wrappers on the ground that I’m not bringing “sweets” next time I come.  I think that will be more impactful.

Chad.. do you see the pictures of Justine?  She came to see me wearing the same dress she wore last November for her interview with me.  She was sooooo sweet.  She loved the picture of you and the letter and she found a yellow pair of TOMS that fit her.  She was so happy. I also gave her some socks, beef jerkey, corn nuts, etc. A variety of things. She was so happy all day she hung out at the school.  She was so happy to see me every time I walked around the corner she was smiling and I tried to get her to hang with the other kids but she is a little reserved.

Keith and Bridget.  Well we have been a witness to the kids wearing their “Big Headed” items. Robinah is wearing her sports top, and I have already seen other items hanging out on the laundry lines.

I met a few kids today for sponsorship. One boy wants to be a pediatrician, his name is Fred.  He was very nice, although a little reserved.

Michele I saw Henry today.  I have seen him around here and there, he’s a great kid. I was going to show him the video of you today and I ended up having to leave to go to the store with Grace and Karen.  I felt bad because I told him that I had something to show him.  So I told him that I would be back and that when he sees me back to come to me and I will show him. Well he sure did and  then he wanted to watch the video 4 times. He was so excited to see you!!!

All in all the profiles have been going… some kid’s stories are so sad.  We will need sponsors upon our return. There are so many children in so much need.  Please be a voice to your friends and family if you are touched by these children and their stories.   Please.  I have heard some stories that bring tears to my eyes to repeat.  A life unimaginable of so much pain and hurt and some just plain unbelievable.

The library was by far a huge blessing…the kids will embrace all of the learning and activities.  They especially like the variety.. from Sesame Street to Dr. Seuss.  The world map was a great addition also they can see where they are.

I mentioned earlier that we had gone into town today to get some things.  We ended up walking back to the school which I loved.  It was the evening time and the community was very busy.  I love to spend time where people are doing their normal day to day activities.  Well I also had kids looking at me like “what is that” they just stare and I wave. They are so cute. Can’t blame them. Maybe they have never seen a mzungu.  On our way back a man in a busy driving past us asked first if I had any sisters then he asked me if I would marry him.  On that note, I am going to bed. Good night.

Nicole

The students and chaperones went back into the villages today to continue working on the houses they are building. I have heard amazing stories about the villages, the treks to get there and the people that live there. I have heard they are well taken care of including good food and conversation.

I now answer to Mzungu, Auntie Nicole, Mummy and Sister Nicole. Everyone calls us Mzungu so that’s a given. The staff ladies and volunteer women call me Auntie Nicole to the children and mom’s boy Bashir called me mummy today. I think that they like visiting the school the couple of days that I am here. I hang out with them but they are pretty self contained. I had to do work for profiles and picture taking. I tell you… the book of pictures that I brought has given them hours of entertainment. They just look at everyone and point and giggle at times. It’s great. I have given out pictures to people if I see them and have a pic of their sponsor. All three boys came today all dressed in their school uniforms. I just knew to wear red today and we all matched. They were happy to see me and I was so excited because I had never seen the other two boys smile before. When I met them last November I tried and tried and tried to get them to smile for a picture and they just wouldn’t. I asked Grace, why don’t they smile, she said that they probably don’t know how because they don’t have anything to smile about. HOW SAD! This is the family that I was sobbing after I met them. They seem happy and healthy now. It’s great to see them playing with the kids and cruising around. Bashir walks around with my book of pictures all day. He’s the keeper of the book and I just send his brother, Kasoro, to get it when I need it. They are excited to come to church on Sunday.

I saw Judith Awuma this morning. I was so worried because the dress that Michelle sent was sitting on the couch with some other items when I arrived. I picked it up and asked why it was with the mosquito net and these other things. Sylvia said, “This is Judith”. I asked her how she remembered that this dress was for her? She said that I had told her, but that had to be on Monday. I couldn’t believe she remembers all of these things. Amazing. Judith was very excited to get her blue dress, green shoes and mosquito net. Thanks Michelle.

I also say Deborah, sponsored by Shirl Jones and family. I had mentioned that I wanted to see her if she was close. What I didn’t realize was that she doesn’t attend this school and they had to bring her from a different part of town. She was so excited to get the picture of her sponsor and a few other goodies I gave her.

I know I always talk about Scovia because she is so cute I am always looking for her. Plus she gets done with school early at about 12 so she is always just hanging around while I am doing things. She comes and sits with me while I interview people. She hits me up for sweets all the time. So today, I finished my lunch and still had some french fries so I took the tin to go container with the fries in it and took it to Kasoro (mom’s middle sponsor), the little boy(the younger brother) and Scovia. I gave her the tin in her lap and they all shared the fries. They were so excited. Well after that was over, she took the empty tin and walked over to the water well. This little one, she is about 4 or 5, pumps the water, captures it in the tin and uses it as a cup to have a drink. I couldn’t believe it. I thought it was the sweetest thing.

The students came back from the villages and the school erupted when the kids got out of class. They were running around, singing songs, playing jumprope and Reed even was spinning the kids around and he had a waiting line. You can tell the kids really love having everyone here to play with them.

That’s a wrap. I’m tired.

Nicole

Okay now really. I’m serious when I say this time that I won’t be up to write much tonight as I am tired and just bruised my arm from saving away a mosquito. I look like I have a rash on my foot from mosquito bites from sitting out here in the lobby (the only place the internet works) last night posting to the site.

Today was a good day. The teams of students went to the villages and worked on building mud huts for two families in need. One family I heard has a house (now that’s relative term, remember.) that is like the Leaning Tower of Pisa but somehow I think it isn’t quite as sturdy. One location was far off the beaten path. Really far including a small path and walking in the rest of the way. I heard it was very exciting! I’m sure Marty has great pictures of that activity. Everyone said the people in the villages were just amazing. They had brought shoes to give out to the people in the community but they didn’t feel there were enough shoes to start giving out only 20 pairs. We are all stocked up for tomorrow and I plan on going with one team in the morning to a village not very far to give out about 80 pairs of shoes to people that don’t have anything. The kids at the school are looking good in their new kicks. They are on to me now and they walk up to me and point to their shoes to see if I think they can get a new pair. Some I take into the “shoe room” aka office others not. Just have to use my best judgment.

Mom, gave Grace her earrings. She loves them, she wore them around all day and she is very grateful. Your boy was here today. Bashir Matova. He is the oldest of the three boys and I did not meet him last year as he was out working to support the family …..ready for this… at age 11. The story goes that last year I was doing interviews and Grace remembered a family and called to have them come for sponsorship interviews. I had no idea the absolute need in this circumstance. The mother, she is very, very sick came walking with her two boys (like I said Bashir didn’t make it). They walked for two hours, Kasoro the middle boy walked with no shoes for TWO HOURS!!!!!!! It’s not like the roads are nice… and sidewalks? Forget about it. Well I can’t get into the whole story but the short of is that the mother is dying and the father is already gone. The boys will have nothing when they are gone and no home to go to. So, now they are in the program and when their mother is no longer around they will all live at the school. Sad, but true. So, the reason I didn’t meet Bashir last year is because he had gone to look for food and hadn’t come back in time to walk with them. Turns out the mother used to work until she was so sick and then he had to go work in people’s “gardens” or farms (often people have small plots of land to cultivate their own food) he would work in these places and sometimes not get paid. So he would go and fetch water for people and get paid maybe 25 cents. Then he would go a buy a quarter kilo of corn flour to mix with water and that’s what he and his family would drink as a meal for an entire day…sometimes two day. Can YOU imagine????? I can’t. Meeting him today I never would have thought that was his life. After I met his mother and two brothers I went around the back of the building and burst into tears and was sobbing and just couldn’t stop. I was so sad and couldn’t believe that human beings actually have to live like that.

On a lighter note, I saw him today, he was very happy to meet me and I showed him pictures of his sponsor (my mom) and got him a pair of shoes. Turns out they are the shoes that my grandma donated and he said… this is my grandmother. He looked at that book of pictures all day. I asked Grace if he could hang out and spend the day with me. He just hung out was so mature and kind. He can speak a little English, enough to say a few things. I gave him a few snacks and a bottle of water. He walked to see me this morning. Throughout the day I took a lot of pictures of kids for sponsorship and of kids that received shoes.

I know you already know this but of course Norah, Sarah, Robinah and Scovia are hanging out all the time. It’s so fun to have them around. I was able to get the translator for the Gulu area kids and told Scovia that Monique, my friend of 18 years, is her sponsor and gave her a picture. She was very happy I really could just take her around with me all day every single place I go. She is just the sweetest thing I have ever seen.

Phillip Kasajja came this afternoon. He was happy to get the atlas and book on football. I shared with him the pictures and his letter but he is hard to get a smile out of. Poor kid. He was the same last year when I met him. He doesn’t live at the school but is in such need that he is in the program. He’s the only one I have seen that isn’t very different. But I could tell he loved his items.

We gave out some of the underwear today donated by Keith Davis with Big Headed Underwear. Although it’s a lot more than just underwear. Keith donated more than 300 pieces for this trip and the kids couldn’t get to it fast enough. Not only for the kids though he also donated tanks for the teachers and matrons (dorm moms). They were so tickled that someone though of them! Usually it’s all about the kids. They were very excited to get something special. See pictures below. The reason why we gave those out today is because there is a very special boy that came to visit. Enock…. Keith and Bridget’s sponsor child. By the way, he wants to know if you will come visit him here. I told him maybe one day. I have him the book they sent and the letter along with a picture and he went off to the side where it was quiet to look at everything. He was very happy. He hung out the rest of the day with me also. He is very smart and articulate. We had fun talking but mostly he wanted to finish his thank you note for the shoes he received. He was honored to know that so many people were pleased with the items that his sponsor sent. He loved the video too! He watched it about 5-6 times.

I can’t believe I didn’t mention this earlier…. My friend, Tamara, is sponsoring Gideon Mugabi. He is so cute. I saw him today and gave him the picture of Tamara and a letter from her. He also got a new pair of shoes, well…later in the day, Lynette calls me over and says, “You have got to see this!” She tells me that Gideon was carrying around a shoe polishing brush in his pocket and as he is running around the playground would every once in a while, pull out the brush and clean off his new shoes. Sooooo cute!!! See attached picture.

I saw also, Nakawangi Jacklyne and she loved the video and watch from the Gomez-Poinachik family. She couldn’t believe that her one wish had come true. Last year she told me that her one wish in the world was to have a watch. Nope they never say, an IPod or a new car… They wish for life, health and maybe a soccer ball or school fees……….

Good night.

Nicole

Enjoy…

Upon arrival we went inside the church and there was some time spent enjoying the amazing singing of the children. They performed multiple songs for us. It was GREAT! I remembered and was so excited it was one of my favorite times of last year. The kids are great at performing in front of a group of 700 people. I could never do that.

Immediately following we went outside to unveil the fresh water well supported from the fundraiser held on December 29th. Thanks to all of you and your contributions, the children no longer have to worry about wasting precious water. They can now use the water for cooling off in the middle of the day, today I saw a group inbetween class rinsing their heads off because it was so hot.

Pastor Stephen gave a speech about the well and also talked about how they are installing a mechanical pump which will allow the water to pump to many locations so the children will not have to carry heavy buckets of water all around for chores, cooking and washing. Now they can go to multiple locations on-site. Isn’t that GREAT?!!!

After the well, I went in so I could organize the shoes, luckily last night Karen and Janelle helped me sort the shoes in different bags based on sizes. That was a huge benefit today when we had kids rushing inside the small room to get a new pair of shoes. They were so excited! We gave the black shoes to the kids in the school today atleast 40 pairs just today, maybe more. These were given to kids that are attending the school and don’t have proper uniform shoes and their shoes are in bad shape. These kids were so excited, it was as if they couldn’t get their old shoes off soon enough. They were looking around in amazement of all of the shoes wondering which ones they would leave with. We used a piece of paper to see the size of their feet. We would trace their foot and match it to a shoe. Whatever works! Karen was a huge help today, Noreen, Christina and Margret (volunteers from the school) helped to organize the children also to ensure the children had the proper shoes. Tomorrow some of the shoes will be taken into the local village to be shared with the community. This should be very exciting. I hope to go but I have a lot to do for the profiles and you all know what an advocate I am for sponsorship and shoes! Hard to choose. Maybe I can do both.

At the same time I was participating in giving new shoes out…thanks to all of you …. the others were giving out mosquito nets to all of the sponsored children. It’s very exciting that the children get nets, that means about 250 kids got nets today to protect them from the malaria carrying insects!!! What about the others you ask?? Well we have to get them sponsored. It is expensive and it is difficult to get them to each and every person so… they need more sponsors. This is very close to my heart especially since like Mikey passed away the same night I met him last November from malaria.

We returned from lunch and the students and adults help to plant flowers around the school. It was such a great activity. How fun to participate in helping keep the grounds looking good. The children were loving the attention from all of the visitors, they were playing games, walking around and just hanging out getting attention.

Cammie, Janelle and I did sponsorship profiles this afternoon. I know they were both very touched by the experience of learning stories of individual children. I met one girl today with 10 siblings and her father does caual labor meaning that he earns next to nothing. I just can’t believe how precious these children are. It’s so easy to excuse problems and poverty when it’s outta sight outta mind. It’s another thing to sit there and be a witness to desperate people which have little to no means to get ahead in the world and are praying that their child receives a sponsor so they can have a better life. Pastor Stephen often talks about how they need to educate the children, the younger population, as they are the future of Uganda. They can change this country to be a better place with education. Many of the children as we interview them are worried about giving the right answer and pause while collecting their thoughts. They press their lips together, fiddle with their socks, cross their ankles while sitting in a chair that does not allow their feet to touch the ground and swing their legs back and forth. Trying to think of the right thing to say. Will someone pick me? We give them a “sweet” either a jolly rancher or a dum dum sucker. They might crack a smile then but most of the time they are so sad and lacking attention and a sense of purpose. The time when they feel like they have something is when they are in school. Can you imagine not being allowed to attend primary school because your parents couldn’t pay for it? Can you imagine a school administrator sending your child home because you can’t pay for them to learn? I met a child today that is 13 and in 4th grade. What happens is when people can’t pay the children might go to school for one term and then not for another year. Depending on when they can get the money for it. Then kids place in at another year maybe lower..they forget information. The inconsistency of the continual education is what is lacking.

On a lighter note.. Pastor Stephen introduced the children from Gulu today and was talking about how happy the children are being there at the school. He was talking about how these children had never slept on a mattress. Can you believe THAT??? Sounds so hard to believe. Little Scovia sleeping on a mat on the ground. Just breaks my heart. Especially being here with these kids, I just can’t imagine a life like that. Not knowing when you will get your next meal. Living in mud huts in a camp of 10,000 people in the displacement camp. Sorry… this was supposed to be the lighter note…. Here is some great news, when the children from Gulu came down, Pastor Stephen hired a woman that speaks their local dialect to translate for them so they can learn properly. A couple of the older girls from there speak a little English. Very little. Although Scovia can’t speak to me she seems to know I want to spend the time with her. She just appears. She also likes the attention. I was carrying her around today. She beams.
Kyla..Victoria is everywhere, in so many pictures. She is making friends with a bunch of the students on the trip. I see her with them carrying her around and her sitting on their laps. She seems really happy.

Jen… I forgot to tell you.. I know I told you I saw Barbra. She came over to the school with her dad on Tuesday. She was really bummed. I couldn’t get her to crack a smile for a picture. Turns out her grandmother passed away last Thursday and they buried her over the weekend far away in the village. Don’t think I will see her before I leave. Sad for her.

Rod.. I met Ian, he needs a new uniform. Turns out he is the son of the driver, Jerrard. Last year when we were here, he drove us all around town every single day. His wife of 10 years had just had a baby girl two weeks before we arrived in November and the poor guy worked so much. Probably good though to earn extra money. At any rate, Ian is his son and he needs a new uniform. Will get that before I go.

Luis.. I saw Samson, showed him the video he loved it. I think he watched it 5 times I couldn’t get it to post on the computer (don’t want to crash it) so I showed him on the recorder. He was really happy. He got his mosquito net and I gave him a big bag of beef jerkey and some candy. I think I gave him pencils also. Going to get him some new shoes in his size before I go.

Emelie.. I see Joyce everywhere, I gave her a picture of you today and she was sooooo happy!

I caught a glipmse of Juliet Ajulu today in passing, she has Ajulu embroidered on the back hem of her dress. I suppose it makes sense that when they do laundry they have to identify their clothes in some way.

Jane got her net, Tera. She was a happy camper today. No surprise.

Remember the necklaces? Today we met the women that make them. There are a number of women that make these to earn a living. They are all single moms and are just trying to get through the day and earn enough to survive. They are the necklaces with the paper beads..

I think that’s a wrap. No spell check..sorry it’s late. I’m tired.

Nicole

Today will be short and sweet. I’m exhausted and it’s already almost 2am. But I just wanted to check in and send a few pictures. I saw a lot of the kids today that have been sponsored by many of you! They are so excited and happy. I have to say that the difference that I have seen in some of the kids I met and interviewed last year is amazing! They are happy and running around. They are playing and have made good friends. It is easy to see they have more confidence. I just can’t believe the difference. I arrived today with Lynette, Robert’s wife, and we had quite the greeting committee. The kids were so excited. We couldn’t even get out of the van there were so many.

I saw Victoria Nabaterega, Kyla’s girl, right away. She was so cute, I had to follow her and get some pictures of her. I also saw Juliet Ajulu, I picked her out of the crowd right away. She ended up hanging around through different parts of the day. Norah was of course right there when I got out of the van, she follows me any place that I go. She is really sweet. Scovia is now part of the core. She is hanging out and has become a familiar face and loves to have her picture taken as you will see in the pictures! She may speak a different dialect but she sure makes friends easily.

When I made my way to the office, Jane was there and had just received a letter from Tera and Dave in the mail, included was another picture from their wedding and she was holding the picture in awe. Then I saw her many hours later still holding it in the school yard and rubbing her hand on it. I set it aside, it will get ruined because it’s so dirty here and their hands are wet and dirty a lot, so I need to find something to put it in, maybe I have a ziplock baggie to put it in to protect, otherwise it will last only a day.

I saw Paul and gave him the gift from Judy. He loved it! He was so happy. I also found out that both of his parents are no longer living and that his grandmother takes care of him along with six other children, not all of them blood related to her but that their parents have abandoned and now she cares for them. The three of them are up for sponsorship. The grandmother was so grateful for the sponsorship of Paul so he can attend school.

I also saw Marvin Ssewaga today. He is a boy that I met last year and I was so sad when I heard his story. When I asked him what his one wish was, he said to have friends. He had been living with his grandmother because his parents are gone and her shack burned down and her only means of income was a small section where she would sell items to earn money. So that was gone too. He was so sad. But he is now doing well and I saw him with friends so I am happy about that. Thanks Christine!

This afternoon I saw that there is a sign on the water well that I didn’t see before. It’s so great! Thanks everyone for participating in the fresh water well on-site at the school. The kids just love it they are so grateful! They use this water for everything..cooking, cleaning, laundry and drinking. Often times I see them grabbing a drink between classes. They just put their hands under it like a faucet. It’s the sweetest thing! The children come to me and say thank you all the time. They understand that it is my friends that supported them in this and they are so happy Thankfully this can prevent many water spread diseases. Hopefully there won’t be stories like little Mikey,from last year, that I met and three hours later he died of malaria. Thank you all for helping to prevent more illness and providing fresh water to a huge group of children that can have a better life now!!!!!!

I took many pictures of children that are in need of sponsors, many of them I couldn’t even get to smile. I was being so goofy and smiling at them, tickling them. Sometimes it just didn’t work. They are so sad. Last year someone said that when the kids are like that it’s because they have nothing to smile about. I can’t even imagine.

Really though, it’s really late and I have to get some sleep. Hope you enjoy the pictures!!!!

This morning was rough. It was a late night last night after getting most of the luggage about 90% I have here. That’s good news. Woke up this morning made my way to the fantastic Ridar breakfast. But I was so sleepy I dropped my coffee right out of my hand onto the table and wore a lot of it. So I finished my breakfast and changed. I ended up waiting a bit for my ride and made it to the school. I was excited and surprised to see a couple of the sponsored kids that live near Kampala. They came here to check in and leave letters for their sponsors. They are a brother and sister combo, Isaac Galiwago and Christine Naikberu. It’s unusual that two siblings are sponsored from one family as the sponsorship program hopes to help many families. This family is an exception as both parents are no longer alive and they need the support. I also saw Namubiru Jane. She was in the office when I got there. She is so sweet. I recognized her right away. I got out the pictures and gave her a picture of Tera (her sponsor). She was so happy. She walked around with it all morning. Every time I saw her she was looking at it.

As I was leaving to go back to the hotel to get the gifts their sponsors had sent, I noticed a girl. It was a wake up call. It was a reminder of the necessity of malaria medication for the children. She was doubled over outside of the classroom. All of the other kids were in class; she was the only one in the schoolyard. She was vomiting and miserable. I was told it was most likely malaria. She was very sick and next was being led by a teacher to see the nurse onsite. I didn’t see her the rest of the day.

I went quickly to the hotel and grabbed my entire suitcase and threw it in the van (okay I didn’t throw it in the van, Ronnie from the hotel did) but we went back to the school and were greeted by a slew of kids. They rush the van, “muzungu” “muzungu” (white lady). They all wave like I’m a movie star. It’s so sweet the chase the van until it stops. Then I open the door and couldn’t get out without running into them. I have a personal escort of about 20 children to the staff office. Right away Norah is close. I drop off my stuff and run up to say hi to the kids before they go back to class. I see Robinah and she says that my Sarah (one of my sponsor girls) is there but is hiding. She was being so funny and shy. That faded quickly.

I spotted Angela just before she slipped into the classroom and waved to the kids. They all just want a quick hello and man, are they happy to hold my hand (the little ones at least).
I spent a lot of the morning feeling like Santa Claus. The kids were really happy to get their gifts. They just can’t believe it. I gave out a lot of the letters sent today also. They are just beaming knowing that people are thinking about them back in the US. They keep saying “Thank you” “thank you”. They are so grateful. Sometimes they just sit there in awe for their letters. Many of the letters I have pictures from shoes or something that I have brought prints and am giving those to them also. They cherish those. I was hanging out in the girl’s dormitory this afternoon and one girl, Jacklyn, showed me a polaroid of she and I from in November. She asked me if I know her sponsor but I don’t. She is from the original group in November of 06 when Andy and Jim came here to initiate the sponsorship program. I told her she could write a letter to her sponsor and I will take it to them when I get home. She seemed satisfied with that.

On my way back from snapping a couple shots of the kids for sponsorship we got caught in the downpour. There was thunder and everything. Love it! Sylvia said that the people here don’t like it, I asked Pastor Stephen, and he said people fear being hit by lightening.

I met with and took pictures of a few kids for sponsorship. The kids seemed really sweet, the dad died in 1991 and the mom supports the family of 6 kids. I asked her how she earns money to support her family. Turns out she weaves mats and sells them. She takes about two weeks to weave one mat and she can sell it for $2. Yes, you heard me…two dollars for two weeks of work. Can you IMAGINE???????? I asked her how she manages since she must need more money to support all of those kids. She said that her sisters help her when they can. The girl’s dress was broken I just wanted to take her away to a store and get her a dress. She said that her one wish as a 9 year old is to have a new pair of shoes and socks. I gave her a pair of pink socks with butterflies and she couldn’t get them on her feet quick enough. She was very happy. I looked at her shoes and they looked fine (I think the word is out about the shoes). I think I will find kids worse off that will need the shoes that have been donated. If I have a pair at the end, I’ll send them her way.

There has been so much work done here. It’s great. They have poured concrete in some sections, which alleviates unstable ground and is much safer and keeps the kids clean. The concrete also prevents water erosion. Pastor Stephen said they are hoping to pave the rest of what is now dirt.

Perez made his way over this afternoon. He was sneaking around the steps as I peaked my head outside of the office. Perez is Ali and Steve’s sponsor child and we were all here together last November. He came in and hung out in the office for a bit while I handed out the letters that Andy sent to some of the kids. I saw Francis, Joel (the president-nominated by the children) and Andy’s whole gang. They were happy to get their letters from him. Perez just loved his stuff. He was just one big smile. He was glowing looking at his book and sat there and snacked on his goodies.

There are kids here from the IDP (Internal Displacement Persons Camp) in Gulu. I think 8 in total are at the school now. They are doing great. Pastor Stephen said one girl was upset about coming to the school. Makes sense, she was away from her comfort zone. I noticed that she didn’t want to be in pictures yesterday. She was shy got out of pictures. She has a scar from a burn on her neck and shoulder, an accidental burn from when she was young in the camp. Maybe that’s why…don’t know. Well she sure broke out of that today she wants to be in every picture. Pastor Stephen said that it took her a small amount of time before she became comfortable and adjusted to the school. They were brought here in February. A couple of the older girls and so funny… they run around and follow me with the camera. They want me to take their picture and then see it (like everyone else). Then they want their picture taken with Jessica (Pastor Stephen’s wife), Noreen (a woman at the school) and Godwin (they call him uncle Godwin). I saw Scovia a lot today. I think she is going to be part of the core. She is so, so cute.

I took a tour of the dormitory today. First we went to see Norah’s bed. Same bunk as last year. Top bunk of three in the back corner of the room. She hopped right up there. I climbed up to the top of the one next to hers so I could get a picture. I thought “Man! I am way too old do be climbing on bunk beds”. The girls just loved that I was hanging in the room. I went to visit Scovia’s bunk she is on the bottom of the bunk in a back corner, maybe because she is so young. She was so excited that I was interested. She has purple sheets with yellow and green flowers and a trunk for her stuff. Lastly I went to Angela’s bunk. She showed me “you can climb up here”. Yes, she is on the top bunk. They are all three high. I though, well here I go….I went up… She was very happy. I saw the backpack I sent her hanging next to her bed. She said she has received everything I sent to her. We hung out there for a bit and all of the girls were gathered around.

When I went back to the office to see when I had to leave, Perez was still sitting there eating his snacks. By the time I left, I saw Perez running around with his friends. He was easy to spot with his San Diego Padres ball cap.

Right now I am just waiting at the airport for Robert’s wife to arrive. It’s now 10:30. Must love the word doc to just cut and paste into the website.
Check back tomorrow for more.

Nicole