It's the end of Uganda as I know it

Sadly, this week is my final week in Uganda. Time has gone by very quickly. I remember thinking when I arrived in Uganda that this is just like a transfer of my mission, six weeks long. And just like a mission, it is over before you know it. But this post isn't about that. It's about all the things I have done here and how amazing this experience has been.

Uganda is truly unique. Since being here in Africa, I have had the opportunity to see two other African countries, Kenya and Rwanda. Uganda pales in comparison to development to both of these two countries. And the interesting thing about this fact, these two countries neighbor Uganda. What is it about Uganda that is so different, and why is it so far behind in development? I don't really have the answer to these questions, but I am glad these questions exist. If not for these two questions, I would not have had the opportunity to come to this great place and work along side the people here to improve the quality of their lives and eliminate poverty.

Two more members of our group left back for America today, which leaves us with only 9 volunteers left, and by next Sunday, we will have all left Uganda. When volunteers are close to leaving, I think that it is normal to reflect back on what exactly you have accomplished in the time that you have been working. I don't think that all of the things we have done this summer can be measured, or even should be measured, but I would like to reflect on a few things that I will always remember about my time in Uganda.

1) Orphanages - I love the kids here in Uganda. They are never not excited to see a white person. They will literally come running as fast as they can down the rod, yelling at the top of their lungs "Mzungu Byeeeeee!" or "Bonga" (Luganda for rock or "pound it"). They have so much love, it is hard to not love them back. And all of them have the most infectious laugh. I have spent a good portion of my time with the children at one of the Children's homes here in Lugazi called Capstone. The director, Mike, is a good friend of mine now. I will not forget him or his kindness to us, but mostly his kindness to the orphan children he looks after. At this children's home, we have painted, watched movies on a projector we brought with us, played soccer or football as they call it here, and just spending afternoons with the children. Whether that time was spent asking them questions, or them asking us questions, singing and dancing with them, I loved every second of my time there. One of the most memorable time with these children was taking a new orphan boy named Silvah shopping for his own clothes and his first pair of shoes ever. I wish I could take them home with me!

2) PWDs - People with Disabilities. In addition to our weekly meeting with the parents of these children with disabilities, I have assigned myself to visit 4 of the children on a weekly basis to help them overcome their disabilities. First is Sam. Sam suffers from hydrocephalus, water on the brain. He is also blind and has no ability to walk due to severe deformities in his legs. Sam is very poor and his family cannot afford a new wheelchair for him to use. Through our home visits, Sam has learned how to crawl. As a result of reaching this goal, HELP was able to provide same with a new wheelchair customized to his body and conditions to assist him in mobility. The goal was for Sam to be able to crawl to his new wheelchair, and be able to use the wheelchair all by himself, in order to give him the freedom of mobility. One thing I learned from Sam, In America, we see the wheelchair as a form of confinement, but in Africa, the wheelchair sets someone free. Next is Fiona. Fiona has a condition similar to down syndrome, but different. She is deaf and dumb. Through our weekly visits, Fiona has learned how to communicate through a communication mat. A place mat with different pictures of different items such as food, drink, bed/rest, latrine, and emotions to help her communicate with her mom better. She is the most active little girl I have ever seen and spend 5 minutes with her, she will wear you out. But once she sees how tired you are, she will come lay on your lap and give you the biggest hug and hang on until it's time for you to leave. Next is Sheila. Sheila has no use of her right hand, with some brain damage issues as well. She is able to communicate very well, but is quite a bit slower than the othre children. Through our weekly visits to Sheila, she has begun to be able to grip things with her right hand. While the grip is not strong, she is able to hang on to things if they have a strap or handle, making it much easier for her to help her mom around the house. Finally there is Diana. Diana has the exact same disability as Fiona, but more severe. With Diana, we have started to teach her how to write though, because she is able to hear, but she has no ability to speak. There is much work that needs to be done here, but at least she is learning how to write and that comes with many other hidden skills that might not be apparent yet. I love all of these kids and I wish that I was a qualified Doctor and could come back to Uganda to operate on them all for free. One of the great things about our PWD efforts here in Lugazi this summer has been a contact that we established for them. There is a hospital outside of Kampala called Katalemwa Cheshire Home (see previous posts for link). This hospital has agreed to come to Lugazi and hook up with our disability group here to properly diagnose these children and their disabilities, provide them with free medication where possible, and start all who need assistance with mobility on the right track to be able to walk or use certain limbs again.

3) Adobe Stoves - I never thought I would be part of this project from the start. But it has turned into something I love. I have spent a significant amount of email time and posts on this blog to tell you about these stoves, but I love them because they are something that you can really see is making an immediate difference in the lives of everyone who cooks in Uganda. Firewood is so expensive here and the health risks associated with the smoke at huge! The stoves reduce the amount of wood needs to cook food, therefore eliminating cost, and they funnel the smoke away from the cooks and children at the primary schools we have built them at. Overall, I think we will have completed 24 stoves here in Lugazi, but more importantly the knowledge we brought with us for these stoves has been shared with the community and we have already seen others start to build them on their own.

4) Volunteering at the Hospitals and working with the AIDS role models - There isn't much to explain here, but let it be known that a volunteer at the hospitals in Uganda is allowed to do many things that only Medical Doctors are allowed to do in the States. For example, change the bandages of multiple women who had c-sections, and change catheters. Both of which I have done. Disgusting, but memorable to say the least.

I love Uganda. The people are amazing and so welcoming to help. One thing that I have been thinking a lot about lately is the thing I would like to close this post with:

People in America don't believe in God because of suffering in Africa. People in Africa believe so strongly in God because there is suffering in Africa. The thing that I didn't really expect to happen, but am so grateful has happened while in Africa, is an increased faith in the love and blessings of our Heavenly Father.