NicolesLetters.org

Monday Day 3 June 23rd- Uganda Summer 2008

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