Last Day on the Farm

Tuesday was our last day at the farm, and we really had a blessed time. Nadine and I took a morning walk with Geoffrey to see little John, a boy with severe disabilities who is being supported by Far Reaching Ministries. He had a big smile on his face when we showed up, and it was amazing to see how joyful and Spirit-filled he is, even in the face of so many challenges. He reminds me of Tiny Tim from Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. After we walked back to the farm and had lunch, we had another training session for the VHTs, this time on maternal/child health and nutrition. As we trained them, many community members started to arrive, so we repeated the lessons a few times to ensure everyone understood. Judith, the new nurse at Emmanuel Clinic, gave an engaging and informative lecture on the importance of visiting the clinic for antenatal checkups.

We climbed the ladder to the water tank-the view of the entire farm was breath-taking. To view the school, Emmanuel Clinic, the tukels (huts we sleep in,) the Nook where beyond delicious meals were served and where many conversations took place, the diel ott (goat house) and the fertile fields. The irrigation drip lines coil like black snakes in the soil-symbolizing the potential for dry season production and business opportunity for the villagers. It is bittersweet to leave the Utopia of Canaan Farm. I say good-bye to the Cockatieu that sang to me above my shower and to the lizards that scampered about in our living thicket roof. I say a lingering farewell to the Queen of the Night tree outside our tukel that blessed us with its amazing aroma where its blossoms open only in the evening to bless us. The hardest is to say good to our gracious hosts Richard & Susan Angoma and their 3-year-old daughter Abby. To be so openly welcomed in their home and hearts is humbling. Richard was our chaperone, translator & negotiator with others for us at H2O Life. We our forever indebted to them and I count them among my best of friends. Wishing God's Blessings on their special family and all the amazing workers/friends at Canaan Farm. Heather R.

Here We go Again...2010

Hi all,

This is Nadine here...testing this blog to see if I have it converted right...(techno challenged!)

The teams left the airport am of Jan 5th on our way to Entebbe Uganda. All went well and we are very very happy! All went well at the airport. More later..if this works!

Lake Victoria Island Medical Outreaches

Hi again,

I am on the last leg of this year's mission trip....last but not least is my visit to Lake Victoria Island Outreaches - facilitated by Calvary Chapel Entebbe and their nurse Dianne. Hope 2 One Life sends quarterly support to this mission, so it is good to visit and see for myself what is going on.... a lot and amazing.

Lake Victoria is a very large lake and borders several African countries...Uganda being one of them. It is here that we are accessing the lake via the church property at CC-Entebbe...who also supplies the boat to reach these islands.

The islands are inhabited by very poor people, predominantly fishermen and their families, transients and those running from the law. There is no infrastructure on most of them to speak of...as in no running water or clean water (the lake is also totally contaminated!), no electricity, no sanitation, very little hygiene or garbage control and no health care. The children have been known to be very very sick, there is a lot of HIV as you can imagine in small island areas...and no money to even get a boat ride to the mainlands for medical care. Usually they are near death or have died when they have arrived the hospital. Then the patient is dropped off and left without any help or food or money....only to maybe be checked on or picked up in 2 weeks again when another boat arrives the mainland...and that is a big maybe. There are no schools either. So you can just imagine....

Nurse Dianne and member of Calvary Chapel Entebbe church has had it on her heart to begin outreaches in the islands for a long time and started this in 2007. She organized the ministry of health to provide vaccines, malaria meds, vitamin A, and de-worm medication. She also organized Mildmay International to provide 2 nurses and HIV meds, prophylaxis, general medical treatment, testing, counselling and education. It has been going on well and many have been impacted. I will be writing a full report.

The day began beautifully with big bright sunny blue skies....as 12 of us embarked on a wooden boat made by hand in a canoe like fashion. Yes, it was leaky but if floated! The engine mostly worked and an hour later we arrived on island where half of the team consisting of nurses, a medical officer and volunteer got off to do that island outreach of vaccinations and medical treatment. The rest of us in group 2 continued on to the adjacent island...smaller and even poorer if you can imagine. This image coming up to the islands are with boats all wooden in the shape of canoes, many makeshift nets, children and people in and out of boats and water....and fish along the shores. The houses are made of wooden slates and plastic with garbage on top of the roofs...I think to hold the plastic down. In fact there was garbage every where!

We set up in a small area with a small bench. ...tubs of supplies and even a hanging weight with a seat to weigh the babies with! We walked through the area with trails of children holding my hands of following behind to let them know we were there...and little by little the mothers or fathers with children arrived carrying their immunization cards. The team kept medical books on all of them and registration books so as to keep track of records. Amazingly, none of these kids were immunized prior to these teams coming out to vaccinate and treat them! Yet you could see by there cards, they came faithfully each time the team came (monthly) for the boosters of polio, tetanus, MMR etc as needed. I worked on evaluation of the sick ones....and most were children with GI complaints which was not unusual given the lack of clean water, sanitaiton and hygiene. I wanted so badly to start teaching right then and there....however, did not want to step on toes....
It is difficult at best in this setting I am told for anyone to comply as the population is transient especially in off fishing season.

The track record shows dramatic improvement in the health just with the vaccinations and ealier treatment of illness. The outreaches make a huge difference and the administer of the hospital tells me there is much less admissions in Entebbe and much less sick patients being dropped off practically dead. He is very supportive of continuing the support from Minsity of Health with providing vaccines etc. However, Mildmay has lost their funding so they will not be participating at all anymore...which affects these efforts greatly. The funds we send will go toward a much needed new boat and also can last for 4 more months, however...I am challenged with looking for more funding...as in grants!! I know it is possible ...I can't imagine this outreach not continuing...it is the only one that has sustained and made a difference for even these couple of years! So, pray for open doors in this area as I research it.

I will teach tomorrow the widows on hygiene, sanitaiton, cleanliness...hand washing, nutrition etc. I miss my team of nurses and volunteers....that is for sure! Thanks to all for the help! The teams were fantastic this year and really made a difference. Monday will bring me back to the sickle cell center....collecting some medical records on Roger and then on the home stretch.

Thanks for the prayers. I am well!

Nadine

Two in a row!

Hi again,

So far this is working for a few minutes at least.

Kitgum was very tiring with a lot to do in a short period of time, however most everything was accomplished. I visited the infant care center where we found Nancy and Bosco in 2006. Terrance was back and getting things back on track. The Mc Courtney's were able to get Tabu living with them, praise God. Interesting I found info about Rabunge Kenny, the HIV child all held that we thought would soon die...he is alive and well and living with his father....and ready to go to nursery school...so I put him in school, knowing Cheryl especially would want me to. He was so cute and active and healthy looking. Also visite the disabled school, stocked everyone up on their meds. Saw Nancy and sisters and mother ...Bosco and sister had already returned to america for school.
The highlight was going out to their village Awal camp again and visiting their grandfather and family in the camp. They came running with big smiles and jumping for joy....hard to believe I am priveliged enough to even be remembered as a part of their lives after all they have been through with the LRA war. Grandfather Paustino has started moving his family to their own land....clearing it...putting up new huts etc. It was so exciting to see the hope in them return. We were able to bless them with the news of the two oxen, milk cow, plow and seeds coming ....I'm told Paustino nearly fainted....at least he was speechless. The was the perfect timing for their life to begin anew again on their own land. We also delivered seeds, clothes, shoes etc. We all prayed together and it was wonderful....the land and atmosphere was so beautiful. Thanks to all of you who donated from your hearts to make this happen....my visit was simply and extension of you all! It was so joyful and made a difference.

I was pretty tired after all of this travel, however, got on the 5 am bus to Masindi where I stopped on the farm again, took a much needed afternoon rest. Also, went and saw the gardens and they were growing! The cow peas had come up well and some of the others, especially the tomatoes! Thanks to VBB for the seeds...they have all made such a difference!

Next moved on to Kampala, so I could take 5 children to the sickle cell center in Mulago hospital to see the professor. He was kind enough to take us right away, then spent the day getting the lab tests, xrays and meds....all went well however. Tom and Jean will be happy to know Rachel does not have sickle cell! Then back to Kayunga to help Terry get the kids in school and sort out some of their medical needs with the school nurse. Aunt Vicky's well is working well and Bugogge village is completed, just waiting the finishing cement work. Everyone was so grateful!

Then on to Jinja to see Kenny and Prichard's family and distribute the gifts from Kenny. All love the thoughtfull items Kenny sends with me since he is unable to go himself. Then on to Kampala with Terry to do some errands, get lab results....work on some of the process for Roger...pray the process goes smooth for his medical care in the US. Also, Dave, a surprise for you.

I am headed to Entebbe to CC and to go on the Lake Victoria Island Medical Outreach. Well, time is up....more later.

Thanks again for the prayers...they are sustaining me!

Love, Nadines

Thanks for Understanding! Finally another post

Hi everyone!

I must say this has been my most difficult challenge...sending e-mails and posts! Sorry it has taken so long to write! And thanks for understanding!

Well, a lot has happened since we left off. The Oregon team went on to Fort Portal, the AIDspirit Montana team arrived and we met them in Kayunga at Tender Mercies where the kids are sponsored by Billings families. We did a lot of health, hygiene, sanitation, disease prevention and nutrition teaching, played with the kids, taught hand washing, danced, sang, made bio-sand water filters. We had one last amazing village day in Baswana...a high percentage of sickle cells children....I did a lot of teaching, the families asked a lot of questions and we held clinic for the sickle cell children. They were all so humble and grateful....and had suffered deaths of children born with sickle cell disease. It really got to me, especially as Kenny was recently so sick and near death himself. They truly wanted to learn how to give their children and better life and obviously loved these kids unconditionally. God's grace is so amazing...it brings tears to my eyes just writing about it and no explaination could give it justice...just knowing angels are among us.... t

The borehole (deep water well) in Bugogge village, donated by Atkinson Foundation was started the day Brenda and Carol left for america. Dave stayed with Terry...(something about being too sick to travel!) and oversaw the borehole drilling and the rest of us travelled to the family empowerment farm in Masindi district. Tom and Mike promptly worked on the tractor, while Jean and Leigh worked on gardens and the drainage design of the water run off of the one borehole. Nancy worked on bio-sand water filters. Of course I supervised....or at least took lots of direction from Suzan! Dave and Terry and Charles came up later to add more help with the fish pond test pits, tractor etc. Brenda will be happy to know the ladies exhausted her supply of magazine papers and beads and a lot of necklaces were made! We had another market! My tub is full of stuff to sell! I found John....the child with hydrocephalus...we treated with the team in 2006. He was laying on the ground...no bed to rest his heavy head and with wounds on his head also, but was surprisingly well, and happy even though crippled, unable to sit or hold his head up.
His smile was so huge and he spoke in english.." Hi, How are you? I am fine" After going back and bringing him a mattress and sheets I asked him what color he wanted, He said, "yellow". However, I only had green or blue so he quickly chose blue. Amazing, how grateful he was to have something soft to lay on compared to the hard dirt ground...never once complaining. I pray for rest and comfort for him. He had a crippled 3 year old sister also. So hard for the Mom, yet she loves them and takes great care of them! She even took care of Christine, (our ICU patient )night and day while she was critical. Pray for them!

The other Billings ites left for america and Terry, myself, Suzan and Jackson and Charles ventured north to Kalongo, Sr. Mary Rose's home district and family village. This was Terry's first time experiencing travel through the LRA war torn areas....and a bumpy ride it was! We had a good car however and it was actually the best ride I have ever had through the remote country and camps! Once arriving Kalongo, we found an oasis at the foot of a mountain. It was so beautiful and so hard to imagine the devastation fallen these wonderful people and church mission hospital from the war. The sisters were amazing and Sr. Francisia (mother) took great care of us! The italians are that founded the mission hospital are pulling out their support as the "emergency is over". So they are in great need or the hospital will fold. The archbishop even visited while we were there...so we hope and pray for help for them. Small needs include help with sewing machines for the vocational students; milk for the children born from mothers with HIV/AIDS (many as men have raped and infected many women...so sad and terrible...another type of atrocity aimed at these acholi people), food for TB patients, fuel to run the oxygen for children with pnuemonia. Larger needs include new xray machines, echo and ultrasound. Doctors to teach the midwifery school, doctors to consult and work as there is no money left for wages. We stayed in a very guest house, the infrastructure of the hospital and premises were amazingly good since a Dr. Ambrosolini form Italy founded it 50 years ago. It is very very good for all of Uganda, however, even if they raise the fee to be seen from 200 shillings (20 cents) to 500 shillings (50 cents) the people cannot afford it. Pray for funding and a solution!

We also visited the village where Sr. Mary Rose is from..Wipolo...her brother still resides with his family in the camp. We saw their land where a church is built over a valley. It is so beautiful! They were so happy to hear of the oxen and plow and seeds coming to begin their ablility to farm their land once again and sustain themselves, giving self independence and self esteem and sustainability. We saw the lines waiting for World Food Programme handouts...which has been threatened to go away soon anyway, now that the emergency is over. The mother sister believes the LRA are still waiting and watching for an opportunity to come back. She relays, " Everyone, everyone has been traumatized....everyone has a story to tell".
We were served a feast in the middle of the day these people could not even afford....amazing respect, generosity and sacrifice.

From there, Terry and Charles went back to Kayunga to put the kids back in school. I went on to Kitgum to check on the Hope2OneLife health projects, visit Nancy and Bosco's family in the Awal IDP camp etc. More on this later! If the internet works. Not even sure this post will take...I hope so as it has been long in writing.

Love to all and thanks for the prayers, it is keeping me safe! Only had a few breakdowns with car batteries and tires in the middle of the bush! Luckily I had a lot of bubbles and vitamins (sweeties) so as to entertain the camp children...or better yet myself while in the heat awaiting the repairs!!

God Bless you,

Nadine (Abey...my new name)

Sabbath Sunday

Back from the farm and onto Kayunga with the children sponsored by Billings families via AIDspirit, partners in Uganda with Kenny's brothers organization Tender Mercies outreach ministries....we were greeted by 10 children singing sad songs of loss and no parents who care...and there was not a dry eye! Bio-sand training, village teaching ensued and we hope for the deep water well to be drilled Monday, more village training on healing with clean water, bio-sand filters, village clinic, sickle cell clinics etc...all is sooo good and today was a day of rest and fun in Jinja!

Here goes from the team...

Hello once again. This is Brenda.Cant describe the experience in Africa. Will start work again in early am doing village teaching and clinics tomorrow afternoon. Will post more later.


Hello, this is Tom and Jean from AIDSpirit Montana and to say we are having a wonderful time is a mild understatement! We arrived in Kayunga onm Wed and we were greeted by several smiling faces of the wonderful children many of you sponsor. I took little time for Jean and I to choose our child, Rachel and make her ours. Se was rescued from a very hostile environment and she is now safe at Terder Mercies. Today Jean and I went shopping for her and tomorrow we will take her to the clinic for a check-up. Please keep praying for us as we do the work that we came here to do on your behalf.
Tom and Jean Jacques

Dave here...can't believe I leave in 3 days! The experience has been incredible...from Richard and Susan and the kids on the farm, the Oregon nurse team, the Billings team, and especially the People in Africa that I have met and am working with ! I love this place and need to figure out how to get back here....
Had a down day in Jinja .. paddled on the Nile River for a half day ...ran class 5 rapids - one flip but what a great trip!
Walked around Jinja this afternoon and shopped (as much as I could shop!). Heading back to Kayunga early tomorrow to oversee the borehole....hopefully everything goes as planned...
That is all for now...Peace
Dave

Back from the Farm

Hi! We have had a fabulous week on the family empowerment farm in rakayata village near Masindi. All went amazingly well and we have been very blessed! Thanks for the prayers! They sure have carried us and those we have met along the way. Next stop is seeing crippled Roger and then on our way to Kayunga to meet up with Kenny's brother Prichard and the second montana team from AIDSpirit. The internet is terrible so will write again when possible..

Here are a few posts from the team....

\hello every one...what a great experience....the people the country Richard and Susan are terriffic \hosts....they have taken care of all of us...\nadine is a great organizer...\love to all Carol ie jaja..

Greetings from the Oregon group!--

Words cannot grasp the incredible experience we have had in Masindi at Canaan Farm. Beyond all the troubles and strife the families have faced, they are amazingly warm, happy and beautiful people. We are all honored to have met such strong and inspiring folk.

We are also thankful for having this experience to build our nursing foundation on. The Montana group has been wonderful teachers and letting us participate in health care. It is so fortunate that we all clicked so well and were able to work well together. Although we are parting ways (Oregon is off to Fort Portal to work with orphaned children), this is certainly not the last time we will be together...

Hello all this is Brenda. Time is flying by here. You know how they say time fly's when u r having fun. We have been doing LOTS of very rewarding work. But also have been having an experience of a lifetime. We have prepared and planted gardens and completed them with drip irrigations, have built biosand filters and treated many sick people. We have left the farm today and are now starting second phase of mission. Have so many stories to share but will stay brief for now.

Leigh here.... emailing from Africa seems to be a big challenge, so I will say a quick hello to everybody. Uganda is an amazing country filled with beautiful countryside and beautiful people. I can't wait to share all our pictures when we can!! I hope all is happy and healthy at home, and I have to say I am not missing the cold weather. Hugs to all.

More from the rest later....will post this before the power goes down!

Love to all, \nadine