We have been working hard all week doing interviews and trying to find the perfect person to be the health coordinator for the kids in the Cornerstone family. After six interviews and a ton of deliberation, we offered the job to a lady named Wilter this moring and we are so excited!! Wilter is a clinical officer (which is like a hybrid RN/NP with a little training in both roles). We are so happy that God provided her and that we will have something to leave for the kids when we go home to the states. She is starting on October 6th, so we will have some good to time get her aquainted.
I took a girl to get HIV/STI tested yesterday. Got got to sit with her for a while and talk about her life and her family. Both her parents have died and she is an only child. She doesn't know a family member in the world. She looked my in the eyes, ask me if I had a mom and dad and then went on to tell me how lucky I am. Wow, can you imagine. I really feel so blessed to be given so much in the world. It is really a challenge to us to remember others, to consider where they are coming from, and help.
We are going to Rwanda tomorrow to see the genocide museum and visit the cornerstone programs there and then heading to a lake that is supposed to be beautiful in s.w. ugandan for a two day vacation. We are pumped. Pray we will be safe.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
HIRING!!!
We have been working hard all week doing interviews and trying to find the perfect person to be the health coordinator for the kids in the Cornerstone family. After six interviews and a ton of deliberation, we offered the job to a lady named Wilter this moring and we are so excited!! Wilter is a clinical officer (which is like a hybrid RN/NP with a little training in both roles). We are so happy that God provided her and that we will have something to leave for the kids when we go home to the states. She is starting on October 6th, so we will have some good to time get her aquainted.
I took a girl to get HIV/STI tested yesterday. Got got to sit with her for a while and talk about her life and her family. Both her parents have died and she is an only child. She doesn't know a family member in the world. She looked my in the eyes, ask me if I had a mom and dad and then went on to tell me how lucky I am. Wow, can you imagine. I really feel so blessed to be given so much in the world. It is really a challenge to us to remember others, to consider where they are coming from, and help.
We are going to Rwanda tomorrow to see the genocide museum and visit the cornerstone programs there and then heading to a lake that is supposed to be beautiful in s.w. ugandan for a two day vacation. We are pumped. Pray we will be safe.
I took a girl to get HIV/STI tested yesterday. Got got to sit with her for a while and talk about her life and her family. Both her parents have died and she is an only child. She doesn't know a family member in the world. She looked my in the eyes, ask me if I had a mom and dad and then went on to tell me how lucky I am. Wow, can you imagine. I really feel so blessed to be given so much in the world. It is really a challenge to us to remember others, to consider where they are coming from, and help.
We are going to Rwanda tomorrow to see the genocide museum and visit the cornerstone programs there and then heading to a lake that is supposed to be beautiful in s.w. ugandan for a two day vacation. We are pumped. Pray we will be safe.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Ranch, Rats and AIC
This week started off with a spend-the-night at the Mengo girls home. This home is very dear to us for so many reason--the girls are sweet, the mentors are dedicated and though some don't speak good English, they are accepting of us. Their garden is fabulous (little rows of maybe 2 inch tall greens...carrots, tomoatoes, colard greens, etc.) It is fun to see them taking so much ownership in this initiative. We decided to accept their invitation to spend the night earlier this week. We danced the night away, or at least tried. Leah and I looked like something to the effect of jittery legs moving like a grasshopper to a completely different beat than our upper body. At least we gave the girls a good laugh. Florence, a beautiful mentor, inside and out, allowed us to share her bed while she slept on a mat on the floor. Despite a rat under our bed keeping us up all night (like inches from our head) we had a great time with the girls.
We have spent much of the week receiving applications and scheduling interviews for the nursing position Monday and Tuesday of this coming week. In conjunction with the 2 staff members helping us with the interviews, we have created a structure to the process as well as a grading formula to score them fairly. This has been a great learning experience and we are so excited to see how the interviews turn out. Please continue praying for God's guidance in this process.
Leah and I also got to go up to the Cornerstone Ranch, Ekitangalla, to see all that is being done up there. It was a great getaway from the crowded, polluted city of Kampala. We were able to go with 2 of our new friends, Kristen Vogal and her friend Liz as well as Eric Kreutter. We were able to see their cow cattle (large milking ranch), fish farms, primary, secondary and Leadership Academy plus much more. It was a blast and a whirlwind of a very quick 1 night trip.
Tonight we are preparing for our big day tomorrow. We have invited the "AIDS Information Center" to conduct a training day for all the mentors. They will talk about transmission of AIDS, facts, and STIs. Most importantly, they will be talking about what it is like to live in homes with some positive and some negative kids. This is laying the groundwork for being able to test the kids in the future. Circumstances are tough with group living and the high possibility of stigma that could ensue once the testing is done. We are trying to go about this the best way, as we believe not testing someone is more harmful, but we recognize the sensitivity. We are providing tea and then lunch for all the mentors, notebooks and pens. Thanks to all your continued support. We look forward to sharing tomorrows outcome with you.
Also, side note--we went to Kibuli boys home tonight to teach a little health class on clean water and germs. We brought them their kettle (thank you) that will actually make it feasible to boil water to make it clean. Sweet Saddam (Kibuli is in a primarily muslim community) is a follower of Jesus who is also a muslim. He decided to pray for the kettle in the middle of the room. It was awesome!
We have spent much of the week receiving applications and scheduling interviews for the nursing position Monday and Tuesday of this coming week. In conjunction with the 2 staff members helping us with the interviews, we have created a structure to the process as well as a grading formula to score them fairly. This has been a great learning experience and we are so excited to see how the interviews turn out. Please continue praying for God's guidance in this process.
Leah and I also got to go up to the Cornerstone Ranch, Ekitangalla, to see all that is being done up there. It was a great getaway from the crowded, polluted city of Kampala. We were able to go with 2 of our new friends, Kristen Vogal and her friend Liz as well as Eric Kreutter. We were able to see their cow cattle (large milking ranch), fish farms, primary, secondary and Leadership Academy plus much more. It was a blast and a whirlwind of a very quick 1 night trip.
Tonight we are preparing for our big day tomorrow. We have invited the "AIDS Information Center" to conduct a training day for all the mentors. They will talk about transmission of AIDS, facts, and STIs. Most importantly, they will be talking about what it is like to live in homes with some positive and some negative kids. This is laying the groundwork for being able to test the kids in the future. Circumstances are tough with group living and the high possibility of stigma that could ensue once the testing is done. We are trying to go about this the best way, as we believe not testing someone is more harmful, but we recognize the sensitivity. We are providing tea and then lunch for all the mentors, notebooks and pens. Thanks to all your continued support. We look forward to sharing tomorrows outcome with you.
Also, side note--we went to Kibuli boys home tonight to teach a little health class on clean water and germs. We brought them their kettle (thank you) that will actually make it feasible to boil water to make it clean. Sweet Saddam (Kibuli is in a primarily muslim community) is a follower of Jesus who is also a muslim. He decided to pray for the kettle in the middle of the room. It was awesome!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Safari, Aerobics, and
Well, Ellen and I just got back from Murchison Falls. 7 hours in a van to get there, but totally worth it. We went on a game drive and saw a lion and lionese, and all the other standard animals... elephants, giraffes, buffalo. We also went on a boat safari which was breathtaking. We saw crocidiles and hippos, and ended at the fall which were so beautiful. This morning we went on a hike up to the top of the falls and then drove home. We welcomed the break for sure.
My birthday was fabulous. I wore the standard american birthday hat and had a cake and everyone from the office sang the ugandan birthday song to me. Thank you for all of the emails and thoughts. I felt very loved.
This week, Ellen and I are going to all of the homes and teaching about clean water and leaving the large kettles to boil water in as well as jerry cans specifically to store the water. We hope that this will make it more convienient to drink clean water. We have gotten another application for the job and have a couple of others interested. All three applications we have are from people who seem very qualified, so we couldn't be more excited about interviewing and finding a person to work with the kids.
On another note, ugandans take their aerobics seriously. Ellen and I went to this absurbly fun class the other day at a hotel that was floor and step aerobics taught by this crazy man who was the ugandan version of richard simmons. Hilarious. So funny too, this class would be totally taboo in the U.S. for a man, and it was full of men and they were so into it.
I thought I would leave you with something I have been thinking about: The church. I have loved to see the working of the international church. God's church goes so beyond formulas and straight to the heart. We have loved to see people praises Jesus and retaining their unique cultural heritage. Last sunday, a large family sat in front of us in church in traditional indian attire. It was great to see our similarities in Christ. Ellen and I were very taken by it growing up in a church that sometimes takes on a one dimensional face. It is great to remember, that with God, he looks straight at our heart and he wants everyone to know Him.
My birthday was fabulous. I wore the standard american birthday hat and had a cake and everyone from the office sang the ugandan birthday song to me. Thank you for all of the emails and thoughts. I felt very loved.
This week, Ellen and I are going to all of the homes and teaching about clean water and leaving the large kettles to boil water in as well as jerry cans specifically to store the water. We hope that this will make it more convienient to drink clean water. We have gotten another application for the job and have a couple of others interested. All three applications we have are from people who seem very qualified, so we couldn't be more excited about interviewing and finding a person to work with the kids.
On another note, ugandans take their aerobics seriously. Ellen and I went to this absurbly fun class the other day at a hotel that was floor and step aerobics taught by this crazy man who was the ugandan version of richard simmons. Hilarious. So funny too, this class would be totally taboo in the U.S. for a man, and it was full of men and they were so into it.
I thought I would leave you with something I have been thinking about: The church. I have loved to see the working of the international church. God's church goes so beyond formulas and straight to the heart. We have loved to see people praises Jesus and retaining their unique cultural heritage. Last sunday, a large family sat in front of us in church in traditional indian attire. It was great to see our similarities in Christ. Ellen and I were very taken by it growing up in a church that sometimes takes on a one dimensional face. It is great to remember, that with God, he looks straight at our heart and he wants everyone to know Him.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Hoeing around in Kampala
So we have now successfully planted gardens at two of the houses, Makerere and Mengo. In typical boy style, the Makerere boys wants to plant as soon as they had half way finished tiling the land. The Mengo girls did all the tiling last week, and wanted it to 'rest' for a week before we planted. Girls are so patient. We made seed beds at both houses for tomatoes and eggplants--basically a small area with sticks planted in the ground all around it with banana leaves laying over them to shade the seeds from the sun. Fortunately, it also keeps the chickens out (chickens that are the neighbors typically just roam around all the houses, what could be detramental to the gardens...). We were also informed by a Mengo mentor that she had to stand by the garden all day to keep the goats out. It will be a miracle if anything actually grows.
We planted carrots, tomatoes, eggplants, collard greens, dodo, and nakati (both greens) at the houses. Today, we are going to Kibuli to see what we can plant. This is the transition house where the kids are freshly off the street so it will be interesting how it all works out.
We have also planned a teaching day for the mentors on Sept. 20th where the AIDS Information Center (AIC) is going to spend all day talking to the mentors about HIV, STDs, transmission, and how to incorporate a person who is positive into a group living situation. We hope this will lay the foundation for AIC to then test all the mentors and youth at a later date, this is just a very sensitive issue that has never been dealt with here.
Today is a national holiday in honor of the King of the tribe around Jinga that just passed away last week. All the businesses are closed and all the members of that tribe are going back to Jinga today for the burial.
Wednesday, in honor of Leah's birthday (everyone should try to email her happy birthday, or call at +256774696413) we will be going to Murcheson Falls for 2 nights of camping, hiking, a sarafi ride and a boat ride! We are very excited.
Please keep praying for the Health Coordinator we are trying to hire. We have now sent out 5 copies of the application and have 2 more people we have heard are very interested. We would love someone with a background in health who also has experience teaching. One person in university is already interested in interning without pay with whoever we hire just to get some experience. Keep this person in your prayers as there is no way Leah and I can find this person on our own.
We planted carrots, tomatoes, eggplants, collard greens, dodo, and nakati (both greens) at the houses. Today, we are going to Kibuli to see what we can plant. This is the transition house where the kids are freshly off the street so it will be interesting how it all works out.
We have also planned a teaching day for the mentors on Sept. 20th where the AIDS Information Center (AIC) is going to spend all day talking to the mentors about HIV, STDs, transmission, and how to incorporate a person who is positive into a group living situation. We hope this will lay the foundation for AIC to then test all the mentors and youth at a later date, this is just a very sensitive issue that has never been dealt with here.
Today is a national holiday in honor of the King of the tribe around Jinga that just passed away last week. All the businesses are closed and all the members of that tribe are going back to Jinga today for the burial.
Wednesday, in honor of Leah's birthday (everyone should try to email her happy birthday, or call at +256774696413) we will be going to Murcheson Falls for 2 nights of camping, hiking, a sarafi ride and a boat ride! We are very excited.
Please keep praying for the Health Coordinator we are trying to hire. We have now sent out 5 copies of the application and have 2 more people we have heard are very interested. We would love someone with a background in health who also has experience teaching. One person in university is already interested in interning without pay with whoever we hire just to get some experience. Keep this person in your prayers as there is no way Leah and I can find this person on our own.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
what do choking, gardens, and kettles have in common?
Today we did our teaching with all of the mentors who live at the homes with the kids. Ellen gave a little bible lesson on what god says about the body and keeping it well and then I taught about clean water, handwashing, and choking. Choking turned into me giving ellen fake CPR when they kept asking... what would we do next? It was pretty hilarious. They loved all of it and asked so many questions. We didn't get through nutrition or first aid, so we are going to teach another day. Then, we went to the market and bought seeds and organic bug repellent for the gardens. We are working on the Makarere home on friday and the mengo home on saturday. One of the mentors Florence, who is just a heart of gold, came up to us after the meeting and said that her home, the mengo home is going to make their garden a community service project and give extra to the other homes and to their neighbors each month. I thought that was a beautiful picture of generosity. Ellen and I also picked up five large kettles to make boiling water more convient for all of the homes. We had our taxi driver go bargain for the price while we hid our white faces under the window. It was pretty funny.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Vegetables
Last night we went to Ntinda to play soccer with some of the girls. It was funny because half the girls had cleats on while the other half was barefoot. It was painful to watch a cleated girl smack shins with one who was barefoot though they never complained. If anyone has any extra cleats (smaller than my size 9 1/2) Leah's dad could bring them in October to even out the playing field!! Anyway, it started pouring down rain on the dust field, so needless to say, we were muddy. Actually, we were covered in mud.
After soccer we decided to stop at a vegetable stand and try and break our large, 20,000 shilling bill (about $12.50). We purchased:
5 tomatoes
4 green peppers
2 eggplants
4 onion
3 limes
1 avocado
5 carrots
It cost us 5,000 shillings or about $3.00. Can yall believe that? There were a few mice running around the vegetables so that's a little downfall. Otherwise, we love to cook around here!
After soccer we decided to stop at a vegetable stand and try and break our large, 20,000 shilling bill (about $12.50). We purchased:
5 tomatoes
4 green peppers
2 eggplants
4 onion
3 limes
1 avocado
5 carrots
It cost us 5,000 shillings or about $3.00. Can yall believe that? There were a few mice running around the vegetables so that's a little downfall. Otherwise, we love to cook around here!
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