Week one in Uganda

My two month break was wonderful.  I was able to meet so many new people and get all of the boys "special friends".  Every boy in our home now has two families that are supporting him in prayer and help.  The boys love receiving letters (don't all kids).  I wrote to them all twice while I was back in the US.  I was able to tell stories at MVBC for all of the services in March.  I also spoke to several Bible study groups and of course to all of the great kids at Moon Valley!  But really the time went by too fast.  I was anxious to get back to see the boys but very sad to be leaving my family. In early March what I had originally thought was going to be just a visit to Vangie and Josh in Colorado ended up being a moving trip as they moved down to Phoenix. They are staying in my house.  Scarlett, my oldest granddaughter is really at a great age, 19 months.  She is talking and of course mimicking everything she hears. Ruby was born in early March as well and she is cute as a button.  I was able to get sod laid at my house and we were able to enjoy it for a few weeks before I left.  I spent many fun hours with my precious friends and family.  But still I knew I wanted to return.  So as the temperatures were rising in Phoenix I left for Africa.  I arrived on May 8, Mother's Day.  I was greeted at the airport by a group of the wonderful women from our program and Amanda.  Too fun!  Monday I started back to work.  A Perfect Injustice expanded the programs to the street kids.  They hired three additional Ugandan young men to help. One of the young men is named is Abdul, he is a youth Pastor and works at a home for boys.  The other two were street boys themselves, David and Lawrence.  They were bead boys.  They are all such sweet young men.  They now do something with the boys every day except Saturday.  Monday Wednesday and Friday they have a full program that includes a mini clinic, (bandaids and ibuprofen), a lesson, a Bible story, games and a meal of posho and beans.  Tues and Wednesday the program includes medical clinic, a Bible story and porridge (porridge is dilute corn flour, water and sugar).  Amanda runs this program and their is another missionary from Chicago named Cara who works with her.  I did medical with her and told the Bible story one day.  Friday was jst one of those days.  It started with me taking Peter to the hospital with swollen lymph nodes.  I was afraid that he had strep throat.  I did NOT want that to be passed around the house.  Then I went to the street program.  Amanda was already doing medical.  Laying on some plastic on the dirt was a little boy named John, 3, crying and covered with flies.  So I picked him up and found the guy who usually takes care of some of the boys in Kivulu, Robert.  Robert is a woodcarver and he exploits the boys by training them to carve and then not paying them and he is known for beating them and smoking weed in front of them.  Great Huh! But none-the-less John stays with him. So I gave him a bath and Robert gave me some clothes for him and I took him to the clinic.  The poor baby just clung to me. He had a very high fever-malaria.  They gave him IV fluids and medicine.  Some of the best $18 I have spent in a long time.  After that I left little John with Robert and went to find Amanda.  She had taken another VERY sick little boy, Yahayah, about 8 to the hospital.  He had typhoid fever.  I got to hold him too while the nurse tried 6 times to find a vein that would not collapse to give him an IV.  Amanda went to get him some clean clothes and I sat with him.  He was eating a piece of fried donut called a mandazi.  And he wanted to share with me.  I almost cried.  Generosity in spite of such a horrible life.  Saturday we went to a play put on by a school and took ten of the street boys.  After the play, one of the boys, Richard started spiking a fever and had chills...typhoid as well.  Amanda took him to a clinic and then spent the night with him there.  Amanda truly is gifted in working with the boys on the street.  Sunday I took another boy to the clinic because he fell and I think he broke his wrist. Oh brother!
But I have done some fun things as well.  I went to the market with a couple of our boys from the house and we had lunch out.  I also went out to lunch with Amanda and Cara at an Ethiopian place.  I also ordered a desk for myself and a new chair.  I have had a great time hanging out with our boys and uncle Alex.  I really missed them. I bought the boys a couple of new movies to watch: Rio and Megamind.  Both really cute movies.  Several people donated money specifically for a sewing machine and I can't wait to go and get it.  I haven't used a treadle machine in a long time.  The boys on the street and in our house have SO many clothes that need repairing.  I also replaced a lock on a door.  Funky, but it works.  I brought a few tools.  I just can't imagine living without at least a few tools.  I need a few more and I will start to collect them as I go along.  This leg of ministry is six months long.  I return to the US on October 28.  Thank you all for your support!

Here in Uganda

I arrived safe and sound in Uganda, Sunday night at 10:30 pm.  That is ten hours later than Phoenix.  I had a long layover in London and DID NOT miss my flight (thank you very much).  But I arrived late in the afternoon and by the time I got to my hotel it was very cold, damp and dark.  so I holed up for the night.  Tourist attractions are not open at night in the winter.  But I did walk to the white stag pub and have fish and chips.  The meal included mushy peas, their words not mine.  Not my favorite new food.  The fish was very good and the chips were the fat soft kind.  I also rented a remote, nothing is included at easyhotel.  Ha!  I watched slum dog millionaire again and really enjoyed it.  I got to my plane with plenty of time to spare and was able to have a Starbucks coffee, good but not Einsteins.  On the flight to Uganda I watched Shrek forever after.  Very cute movie.  Today has been probably a pretty typical day except the boys are not in school.  They are on holiday until January.  What a long break!  And like every other kid on the planet they are already running out of things to do.  HA!  I bought a teach yourself Lugandan CD that I will start and brace myself for all of the boys laughing at my horrible accent.  I went to the market today with David but quickly ran out of money.  I bought a web stick and a Uganda phone.  Number to come later.  So I still need the basics: soap, shampoo, and a curtain.  The guys here have made the cargo container very homey.  I have a space just over the size of my twin bed for my "room".  I brought some red sheets from home and it feels great.  The boys asked me today to ride one of their bikes.  Funny stuff when a 50+ woman gets on a kids bike!  Of course disaster was not far behind as I promptly fell into a puddle.  No harm done though.  I also have been helping the boys learn about the computer.  We had four computers donated and I brought them all, wrapped snugly and dispersed in my bags.  Praise God, they ALL made it.  I almost lost the printer though since the terrorist bomb scare in ink cartridges.  But they let me through.  Kampala is warm and humid and I am happy!  You can text me on my us phone at 602-326-5025.  Please don't call.  Thank you for all of your support and I will keep you posted.   GJ

Less than a month to go...

As I prepare to go to Uganda, one of the things I am doing is starting a photo album.  I have been scrap booking off and on for a number of years.  I am not really passionate about it, but I do enjoy it.  This photo album will be small and will be just photos with a small place for a written description.  The album holds 100 photos.  My dilemma is how do you reduce a life of 51 years to less than 100 photos.  Seems easy but it actually is difficult.  I have baby pictures of me and all of my kids, pictures of my wedding and pictures of my friends.  But if pictures were the only way to describe your life what would they look like for you?  I am finding then terribly inadequate and my memory that way as well! ha  When was this photo taken and who is that person?  Wish me luck as I narrow down the boxes of photos to only 100 and make a coherent story.
I am all moved in to my little house in Phoenix.  Please pray that the house in Cave Creek sells quickly.  I am looking forward to the weekend of November 26-28.  I will have all of my kids with me again and that will be my last weekend at Moon Valley.  I have packed most of my things to go and only need to purchase a few items.  One of my goals is to have clothing and shoes that I can readily give away.  So I have been shopping at my usual suspects of thrift stores.  I have found some excellent buys on shoes and outfits.  I also have found lots of games and crafts to bring and I am looking for roller blades to bring to the boys too.

Here is the picture from my prayer card.  I will be sending those out to soon.  Thank you all for your prayers and support. GJ

Update on the Boys in Uganda

I got a letter from Abby with several new pictures. I wanted to share them with you. The ministry to the prostituted young women also began a couple of weeks ago. The volunteers were praying for six women to come to the first meeting in the Kivulu slum and 16 came. Wonderful and yet overwhelming. I will be working with these young women when I am in Africa. Here are the pictures.

Send Off Celebration

This coming Sunday evening, September 26, is a send off Party at Moon Valley Bible Church for Pastor Jeff Bauer and Me. If you are reading this, PLEASE consider this a personal invitation to attend. It will be a potluck that starts at 5:00. There are more details on the webpage www.moonvalleybible.org I would love to see my friends and share an old tradition of a potluck. Greenbean casserole here I come. I am getting excited about going in December. Here is an update that I got from Abby about several of the boys:
Kato Edrick
Kato loves singing and playing the guitar, he has a cheerful
personality and is very endearing. He was very happy to be living with
us now in the house and not in boarding school. Kato is very smart and
enjoys studing for school and practicing his English which he is good
at.
Davis
Davis is a hard worker and natural leader with the other boys. He is
confident and loves helping others. He is always wanting to wash my
clothing or wanting to iron the clothing of the uncles or help mama
Dan cook. He enjoys taking responsibility for other children and for
animals and for making sure that people's needs are being met.
Dennis
Dennis is our only boy now staying in boarding school. He lost his
father and 11 of his step-mothers (his dad had 12 wives) but he
remains with his mother who is sick with AIDS. he stays in boarding
school and then goes back to his village in Mbarara for his holidays
so that he can be with his mother. This however is going to be his
last semester in boarding school and he will be going back to his
village to help care for his mother. (We will pay his school fees so
that he can study from home). Dennis is growing so quickly! Dennis is
a thoughtful boy and carefully considers things before he makes a
decision. He has a good memory and learns things quickly. He is very
responsible young boy.
Bogere Monday
Monday is one of the most passionate young men I have ever met, he has
so much love in his heart and is such a sweetheart. Monday is a loyal
friend and will stick up for his friends and people that he loves no
matter what. Monday loves to laugh and sing and is a very good dancer,
especially for the traditional Ugandan dances.
Godfrey
Godfrey is a very hard-working young man. Godfrey is so helpful. He
will often ask if he can be given extra chores and he takes a lot of
joy in helping other people. Godfrey has a smile that can light up a
room and takes delight in making other people happy.
Amos
Amos is one of the youngest boys in our home and is doing so well. He
is a peaceful young man and never fights with anyone. He loves to
cuddle and is extremely teachable. Although he will stand up for
himself when he needs to he never starts a fight and treats other
people very well. He is an extremely smart boy and is doing very well
in school. He is also very disciplined and loves being clean and
keeping his things tidy.

Heartbreaker huh! Please pray for the boys. There are 17 now in the house plus the bigger boys that make the beads live in their own tiny apartment.

This is the letter I received from Abby in Uganda

As some of you know, God has opened a new chapter in my life and I am so excited. I will be going to Uganda to teach former street boys how to read and write and speak English. I also hope to help with a new ministry to prostituted girls. Here is the latest letter I recieved from the missionary already there on the field. My Thoughts will be in parenthesese:

Hey Gina,

So much has changed, we are really looking forward to you coming!

During devotions the other night we asked the boys, "Do you remember jajja Gina?" and they ALL cheered, when we told them you were coming back they were SOOOO excited and cheered louder. I just thought you would want to know! =-)

That would be great if you were to come in early December, I will be leaving December 26th and will get back the 1st of March or so as I am fundraising in America. Moreen of course will still be in Uganda working with as you as well as all of the other boys and staff and perhaps other volunteers, who knows. It would actually be wonderful if you were there for that time, especially for the boys, while I was gone but I didnt know if you were aware that I would be gone then or if that was okay with you. (Yep Abby, I knew you would be gone!)

The landlord doubled our rent last week out of the middle of nowhere and so we found a new place and moved the boys out of Kivulu. We are now staying in a beautiful new house in town in an area called Wakalega in a good area. We found a place that has guestrooms seperate from the house where Moreen, me, and the other female visitors will stay. We were hoping you would want to stay there with us? (Of course silly- I CAN'T WAIT) If not we can still find you an apartment but Moreen and Carla will be staying in the other house I beliee. We can still give you your own room. (YAY-I snore, no-one wants to sleep with me) Then hopefully not far off we will have our own place and land. Please let me know what works best for you!

That would be great if you brought laptops for teaching, the boys will be so excited! Even the aunties and uncles will be wanting to learn! IT really sounds like you are putting everything in place to come and help Gina, if you want we can also inexpensively find you a Luganda tutor while you are here. There are many people that would love to help teach you (or you can exchange for lessons on the computer, etc-) I would suggest you ask my dad helpful books to read before you come here that can help prepare you. I would suggest, "Cultures of Poverty" by Payne, "When Invisible Children Sing", and "African Friends and Money Matters" (already had and read one of the books and the others are on order)

I guess that is about it, if you have any other questions please let me know

God bless

Abby

The Cat is out of the Bag!!!!!

What a crazy few months I have had! Jeff's mom passed away on the fourth of July and I drove back to Ohio with Jim and Vicki. We drove straight through-CRAZY! We arrived Wednesday at 12:30 and the viewing was at 5:00. I loved having the time with Jim and Vicki. We didn't talk as much as Vicki and I wanted, we were all too tired and stressed. This past Spring our Executive Pastor wanted me to take a class at Phoenix Seminary called Mending the Soul for Pastors. I did and really loved it. Plus I know that I would benefit from it. I ended up signing up to go through a program of Mending the Soul. It is a 14 week group and we go through a book. It is designed to heal people who have suffered mental, physical, sexual or spiritual abuse or neglect/abandonment. I have learned a lot about myself and I hope I have developed a tender heart for people who have suffered abuse. I know I have a VERY different view of abuse now, from when I started. I am praying for increased compassion and understanding. I also am learning to set healthy boundaries and to say no.

So why the title, "the cat is out of the bag"? Sunday our pastor announced to the congregation that I am considering joining a mission group to do social justice work in Uganda. Specifically I am planning on teaching reading and writing to abandoned kids, really young men and women who have lived on the streets and have been unable to go to school. Just read through some of my posts from Africa to get a feel for life there. I plan on going there for 4 months and then coming home for 2 and then returning. I am getting my house ready to sell and I am looking for a small one to buy. Jeff and I talked about this kind of work last year when he was so sick. He encouraged me to go, we both just assumed it would be to Mexico. So here I am! Scared, happy, excited, nervous...all together. We will see! I will write more later. GJ

pictures

The pictures in this post are from my trip to Uganda. You will see the church that sponsors the street programs, Grace Fellowship. You will also see a boy sitting and listening to a Bible story. He is sitting on his bed...a piece of cardboard. You will see the beds where the boys sleep in the Kivulu house. Triple bunk beds with mosquito netting. There is a picture of a toilet.You will also see a picture of the youth Pastor preaching to the street boys with their dinner waiting for them in the corner. There is a picture of the market and the last one is a young man making beads to be sold to support the street programs.

still in Uganda April 9

Today is Wednesday and the rainy season has started in Uganda. Monday night it started to rain and it rained HARD for a couple of hours. Most of the city can handle the water but here in the slum it is really muddy. I went to the market with Abby and Uncle Julius. (remember uncle is a term of respect here). I remember hearing once that all of the clothes from Goodwill and Savers that did not get sold were baled and shipped to Africa. Well I can now say with complete confidence that it is absolutely true. We went shopping for clothes for the boys in the street programs. Abby drives a hard program and was able to buy 65 pieces of clothing for about a dollar a piece. We barely made it back to the house before it started to rain. We rode motorcycles, bodas. At some points I honestly had to close my eyes but we made it back safely! I bought an African outfit in the market with Abby's and an Ugandan woman's help. I will wear it to our dinner on the 24th. Most of the money I brought I have been using to help Abby. I want to go back to the market and buy an outfit for all of the boys in the house. If you would like to contribute to this, simply write a check and attach a note that says Uganda. You can buy a complete outfit for under $5 less than the price of a Starbucks. (no pressure or anything-HA) I also know the word for white person, it is Muzungu . I heard it a million times in the market today.
I am trying to understand the culture and religion of Uganda. It is probably 85% born again Christian. The next major religion is Islam. The Catholic church is not held in high regard here and is not considered Christian. There is a very small amount of Mormons. There are Bible verses written on all of the Taxis and on many walls.But polygamy is alive and well here. Don't ask me how that fits in. Over 80% of the people are under 30 years old. War and AIDS have taken a heavy toll.
The Ugandans say that politicians are corrupt. I know many Americans would say the same thing about our government. A man tried to pick pocket me but was caught by the police. He was severely beaten in front of me. I think I should have said thank you but I was simply frozen in disbelief. Uncle Julius pulled me into the taxi and we sped away. He explained to me that thieves are considered the lowest of the low here and are not tolerated.
So what is Abby and the Ugandan team doing here? They are helping (loving) as many of the street boys as possible. They may or may not have already heard the Gospel but they definitely have not experienced love. The kids in the slums have it better, and when you see the picture you will wonder how?, but at least they have some sort of family. But these boys wander the crowded dirty streets, huff a cheap type of airplane fuel, and become thieves. And you know what the people think of thieves. in addition to being fatherless, the boys in the Senge house have all been physically and sexually abused. When God says that He is a Father to the fatherless, who but us can be His loving arms here on Earth?

A few Days later in Uganda-April

In Arizona it is lunch time and here in Uganda it is 10:30 PM. I have had a couple of truly amazing days. Sunday we went to a church, Calvary Chapel, that has an American Pastor. This church spoonsors a program called Front Line and is a ministry to street children. They have a lot of British and American volunteers come and help. They seem to stay anywhere from four to six months. It takes that long to aquire a little Logandan and to gain the trust of the kids. We took the kids from the house to church with us. We then went to lunch with some Ugandan and American and British leaders. That afternoon we went to the pool with all of the boys. They had so very much fun. Just like all kids do on a hot afternoon. They boys really consider themselves a family and the Ugandan men that are counsellors at the home are their mentors. The boys call the men Uncles and the women, like Abby, Auntie. They call me Jajja which means grandmother. I am honored. Then Sunday night we went to the orphanage in Senge. It is run by African Hearts. Abby volunteers with them. They are a Ugandan group that works with street boys too. But it was late when we arrived and I wasn't able to really meet the boys. The next morning they left early to go to school and I was still sleeping. We then returned to The Kivulu house, the safe house, in Kampala. I spent the afternoon using the wonderful facepaints that you donated with the street kids, but they had to bathe first. I really had fun and they did too. Monday, Wednesday and Friday they have a program for the kids, they have a short school lesson, then they feed them, play games with them and tell them a Bible story. The boys can also get soap, clothes and recieve medical care. Then tonight I told the Bible story to the boys. I watch thirty or forty boys curl up on cardboard, or a plastic burlap sack to go to sleep. Some had towels or sheets, but they all layed on a hard dirt floor. But at least it is safe. Abby has hird two guards to watch them. Tonight she had to remind them to not sleep. One of the boys gave me a bracelet to wear. I will wear it with joy. I ate posho and beans for dinner, the same thing the boys get almost every night. They had pineapple and they shared with me. Generosity in the midst of great poverty. It just goes to show that poverty of the purse does not mean poverty of the heart. Please pray for the boys and Abby and her team both Ugandan and American.

Arrival In Uganda April 7

Today is Saturday and I am here in Uganda. I spent my first night here at the safe house (Half way House) for the boys who are off the street and attending school. There are 13 of them. I also attended a program on Friday for the street boys. They played games, heard a Bible story and had a nutritious lunch. Kampala is a bustling city filled with motorcycles, walking people and Toyota minivans. The streets at one time were paved but have never been repaired, so they are a mess. The colors and smells are vibrant and pungent. The people friendly and the weather warm and humid. I have already taken some great photos and I will try to post some later. I am sort of in a hurry today as Abby and I and some of the Ugandan staff are taking three boys to the zoo. This is a VERY special treat that they earned. One boy consistently keeps his bed neat and clean and takes good care of himself, one was the top of his class in school, and the other is the most self disciplined. Abby and the staff were thrilled to see the items that I brought (that the church gave). They were the most excited about the soccer balls, pumps, and art supplies. Note to self...Abby likes foo-foo tea and coffee! HA! Tonight I will be going to the Senge house and stay there for at least a day or two. I am excited to see another part of Uganda. The Safe house is truly a refuge in the storm. It is located in a slum surrounded by trash, bars and violence. They lock the doors tightly and regulate who can come in.
Abby bought all of the boys athletic suits (pants and t-shirts). They were thrilled! The three boys are, of course, wearing theirs to the zoo. Tonight we are taking all of the boys swimming and I will try to videotape as much as I can.
I love you all and I will write more when I can

here is an old post-April about my trip to Uganda

On my way to Uganda tomorrow. I leave Monday, April 5, at 7:20 at night on a direct flight to London-Heathrow. I will then have an eight hour layover and get on a plane to Uganda. I arrive there at 7:30 on April 7. Whew! The purpose of this trip is to investigate the efforts there in Kampala and see if that is a project we would be comfortable partnering with. I will be visiting Abby Tracy and her Ugandan co-workers as they minister to street children. My prayer is that I would be a blessing to Abby and the whole team, and I can't wait to meet the kids. I have all of my clothes in a carry-on and I have 5 bags! The bags have clothes, school supplies, and fun stuff like soccer balls and art supplies. I am also taking bandaids and antibiotic creme. I will be returning to Phoenix on April 20. I am hoping that I will be able to use this blog to communicate with you all. If not, I will definitely update it as soon as I get back. So check back often and pray for the ministry in Uganda.