July 18 - In London Now

How strange - Uganda in the morning and London at night. It has been a long day. I apologize for not add to the blog more often, but the internet in Ugand is slow at best and most days - not available. If you think a phone modem is slow - you should see a connection by satellite phone. So - I am at my hotel in London with lightning fast interent - and what a joy it is. Unfortunately, the computer here won't let me download any pictures, so words will have to do for now. So much has happened since my last blog. Many of you who read this may be on my e-mail list - so it might be repeating what I told you there, but here goes.
Again, the last week has been incredible. Saturday was the big celebration at the secondary school to dedicate their new science lab. Much to our surprise - we were some of the honored guests, along with the Minister of Economic Devlopment from the office of the President of Uganda. The Bishop was also there and what an amazing man he was. There was a mass filled with dancing, singing, special meals, exhibits by the students and families of the students everywhere. We had such a great time. There were many special speeches, the Bishops being the best. He talked to the girls and told them they could be anything they wanted and encouraged them to do well, The girls were all so excited. We came to the primary school yesterday and just played with the girls with their new balls, jump ropes, and puzzles. It was so much fun. The Sisters prepared a meal for us that was like being at home - fried chicken, mashed potatoes, and GUACAMOLE!! Jesus - one of the teachers from CA. had shown them how to make it - so they surprised us with a giant bowl with a Sacred Heart on top made of tomatoes - it was pretty funny. We also got to see the faculty housing - very small - but a beautiful view. We also got to see inside the dorm rooms of the little girls - there are 14 bunkbeds in a room - with barely a walk through. Each child keeps their suitcase at the end of their bed. That is the only place for their posessions. The hope now is to raise enough money to build a new Academic building and free up the classrooms for more dormitory space. It is hardest on the older girls as they are taller, take up more space, etc. My Christmas presents this year will be given to the school in honor of people I love. These girls deserve a better place to sleep and larger classrooms. It is amazing, however, how much they enjoy what they have. They showed us their rooms with such pride!!!
Our farewell days at both schools were heartbreaking and joyful at the same time. At the Primary School - they had a wonderful program where the students gave us dolls and jumpropes and balls that they had made from dried banana leaves. They sang and danced for us as well. The teachers gave us purses or hats and the Sisters gave us plagues made from special bark paper. It was amazing. We had reflection time with both the Primary and Secondary teachers at 2 different times and we were amazed at the impact we had. They were so excited that we were able to help their teachers understand Sacred Heart education better (we had inservices with both). The teachers told the Sisters that they were amazed how we just jumped right in and helped and accepted them as peers and didn't try and tell them what to teach. Apparently they have had visitors a little different from us. I guess we impressed them by washing dishes, moving furniture - whatever needed to be done - we did it. It wasn't work for us, we were just showing our appreciation. Anyway - it was very sad to leave each school especially the seconday school that had been our home for 2 weeks. We grew to love the Sisters like family. They gave each of us girls specials shawls and the 2 men were given African shirts.
Many of the students gave us their e-mails and were sad to see us go.
We spent the next few days being tourists and traveled to Kampala to a craft area to buy presents and such, and then on to Jinja to stay at a convent for 2 nights. Again the Sisters welcomed us like family. We visited falls at the Nile and took a boat ride, then the next day we went to the source of the Nile and took another boat ride. The falls were powerful, beautiful and hypnotizing!! We watched kayakers and rafters go down them and yelled victory along with them as they made it through without tipping over.
Our last night took us through Kampala to our bed and breakfast - run by a different order of nuns. Over dinner we talked about this wonderful trip and Sister Irene said it achieved more than she had ever hoped and dreamed it would be. We are all so proud to be the pilot group and now she is making us her Advisory Committee for further trips. Who knows... maybe I'll get to return. Isn't that a lovely thought?
Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers and keep checking back for pictures, once I get home.
Grace and Peace,
Ruth

More in Uganda

It is Wednesday here in Uganda and the time is going by too fast. The group I am with are all wonderful people. We are getting along so well, are having wonderful reflections at night and laugh all the time. One of the highlights so far was the Conge with the Primary School. We Americans were responsible for leading some of the games. We started out with the Hokey Pokey with Primary 1. Everyone else watched. It was hilarious to watch the girls open up and start laughing and even act a little crazy. They especially loved "putting their backside in!!" Then every grade wanted to play it, so we repeated the game at least 6 times. Other games we played: Duck Duck Goose - that was quite an adventure, Knots, London Bridges, and anything else we could think of. The kids had a blast. I was being chased around the circle when my feet slowed down and my body kept going!! I fell and ended up with my feet in the air!! Good thing I had bike shorts on under my skirt!! We all had a good laugh. My rt. knee is scraped - just like it always was in grade school!! The weather has been beautiful and remarkably cool. It did rain one night - a slow, nice rain which was wonderful for the plants and water collection tanks. This is the dry season here, so the rain was welcome. We, of course, had just washed clothes and they were on the line drying. Took an extra day - but they dried and smelled so nice with the rain rinse. We have been eating all kinds of interesting foods. Matoke - which is type of banana is served at every meal. Usually it is all squished together and wrapped in banana leaves and then steamed. It is very good and served at every meal. We also have avocados, bananas, pineapples served at almost every meal as well and they are fresh and absolutely delicious. The Sisters at the Seconday School where we are staying grow most of these foods, so they are really tasty. Cabbage is another vegetable as well as carrots. Last night Sister Mary fixed us a "traditional" meal last night. She wrapped potatoes, carrots, and chicken and spices in banana leaves and then tied it up in a bundler and steamed it. We each has our own bundle along with pumpkin, casavi(like a potato) and cooked creens. My goodness - we were in heaven!! There are also usually beans served at meals, but as most of my friends know, I don't eat beans. We drink bottled water most of the time - but they have had bottles of different sodas for us as well.
The girls: how amazing they are. The little ones love to laugh and run and when you come into their rooms - they all say "Welcome - Visitas" it is so cute. Their work is on the walls and they have such amazing handwriting. The teachers have been so welcoming and we have learned alot from each other through some inservices and discussions we have had together. The older girls in the Secondary School love to talk with us on all sorts of subjects. They loved to see the pictures of our school and children that I brought. They tell us of theie "visions" or dreams of what they want for the future. What hope they have and that is the Africa that we have seen - a hopeful one. Yes, there is poverty, but poverty is a state of exisistence, not a state of being. Some of the girls have terrible things in their past - many are orphans, but they have such dignity and pride and work so hard. They are responsible for helping with cooking, cleaning, washing their clothes and studying long hours. It is amazing!! The Seconday School is preparing for a special celebration on Sat. to dedicate their new Science Building and the new Water Tanks and Solar Energy System. There will be lots of dignitaries, dancing and singing. The girls in the choir have been practicing singing every night until 11:00 - so when we return to our little house - we hear their lovely voices as we sit and read before we go to bed.
My project has been to work with Michael from St. Charles to add all the software on the computers. We have also been working with their computer teacher, Richard. We have had to do a lot of robbing one computer to add to another, but we are now almost done installing the software. We have been working on about 13 computers and we have over 15 different software titles to install. We never know when the power will go out, so it has been a challenge. We have been blessed and have power all day today and yesterday, so we have gotten a lot done.
Each morning - we wake up and eat breakfast and then take the school bus to the Primary School. That journey is quite an adventure as it is VERY bumpy - the entire way. The countryside is beautiful, however, so the trip goes pretty quickly. On one trip to Lake Nagugabo for a teacher inservice was quite an adventure as well. We had monkeys coming into our open air building and stealing bananas. It was a beautiful lake and the weather a cool breeze. The monkey were very cute. On the trip home - the bus broke down so we had to wait about an hour for some taxi vans to pick us up. It was actually fun, though, as we go to talk to the teachers more and do a bit of exploring. Meg, Barbara and I wandered up a path and found ourselves in the middle of a tea plantation - beautiful.
So- each day is a new adventure from not knowing if your shower will be warm or freezing cold, to what place we will go next. Today we go "downtown" to visit Miss Josephine who is a lady who creates her own artistic shawls to earn her money. It should be very interesting. I better end this message now - it is so long. I have been trying to add pictures to this blog, but the internet is very slow, so I have been unsuccessful. I will keep trying. Keep me in your prayers as I will keep you in mine. I miss everyone and when I hear these girls laugh and play - I think of all the girls in our school. Mweraba!!!

Here In Uganda at Last

I am finally able to add to my blog. Many of you have received my e-mails, but I wanted to update this site. I don't know if I will be able to add pictures and I have 5 min. until I go to a meeting. What a joyous experience this has been. Uganda is beautiful and the people are so welcoming. The girls in the primary school are so sweet and shy and want to hold your hand. The girls from the Secondary school are intelligent, proud, friendly and want to talk about everythihg. I am not giving them nearly as much as they are giving me. The weather is cool and today is particularly beautiful. We have been to Lake Nabugabo and saw monkeys. The lake was beautiful. We travel from school to school by bus and the ride is very bumpy. I will try to write more later. Love from Africa, Ruth

Sunday Night - June 29

Oh, my - tomorrow at this time I will be on a plane to London. It has all seemed a bit surreal until now. I am all packed up and ready to go. A bit nervous - but so excited!!! Just printed my boarding passes. Some teachers from school threw me a "Bon Voyage" Happy Hour on Friday. Thanks Susan!! for organizing it and thank you to those of you who were able to come and those who sent their best wishes. It means a lot to me to have all my friends behind me. Thanks also to my best friend, Kernie - for keeping me entertained this weekend, so that I wouldn't go crazy at home.(and for watering my lawn!!) All my family and my far away friends called this weekend to say goodbye and send their prayers. I am so blessed to have such a great family and so many wonderful friends. I hope I make you all very proud while I am over in Africa. Well, so long for now and hopefully I will post once I get to Africa. My love to all of you.
Ruth

Tuesday night, June 24

Well, it is just 5 days until the big day and I have to say I am getting a little nervous. I have my 2 bags filled with goodies for the students all packed up and ready to go. I have begun my personal packing and keep thinking of things I might need. It hasn't helped that my block was struck by lightning last week during those storms and it blew out my modem, my Direct TV receiver, my answering machine and my garage door opener!!! Nothing like a little stress right before a trip. All are fixed now and I am almost ready to go, I think. I can't tell you how excited I am getting and I really hope I can post on this blog once I get to Uganda. Please pray for our safety while there and during our travels. I hope all of you,my family and friends, will also be safe and healthy while I am gone and I can't wait to get back and tell all of you about my adventure!! Hopefully you will hear from me soon.

A Big THANK YOU

Here is my unique bag, covered with stickers from students and friends!!!
(It won't be hard to find on the luggage carousel, will it?
May 29, 2008
Today was the last day of school for the girls. I had a little extra time before I start cleaning my lab and packing up for Uganda so I thought I would add some special thank you's on my blog. First a big thanks to all my students,their generous parents and some of my friends, who contributed from $4 to $300 and helped me raise about $2300 to buy software, etc. I was able to purchase Lab packs (10 copies) of about 18 different software titles. Thanks to Linda at Sunburst - we also received some extra programs and were able to get special pricing on the other software. Microsoft also generously donated several copies of Microsoft Office 2007. The group at Inspiration software donated several copies of both Inspiration and Kidspiration along with some books. Rand McNally donated several wall maps. Thanks to Sister Karam's annual book sale, we were able to buy over 60 books for the school's library. One of our families also donated a printer and print cartridges. A huge thank you to all of you for helping me "Pack My Bags to Uganda" I know the students and faculty at the school will be overjoyed with all these supplies. Now the fun begins as I attempt to pack all of this into 2 suitcases. Wish me luck!!!

Dates and times

Sunday - May 18
I thought I should put down the dates and time of my trip. I will be leaving June 30th from Houston Intercontinental at 8:00P.M. I will arrive in London at 11:00 Am Jul.1st. I will meet all the other teachers who are going to Uganda at Heathrow Airport. We leave that night at 9:10 PM and arrive in Entebbe at 7:40AM July 2. Think I'll be exhausted by then, or so pumped up with excitement - not sure which. We go through customs, which should be an experience in itself. Then we travel to the school - through swamps- see below. We leave Entebee on July 18 at 9:15 AM and arrive in London at 4:00 PM. For those of you who don't know, this is where I go off on my own excursion. I will be staying in London 2 nights and leaving July 20th at 8:55am to fly to Dublin, Ireland and arrive at 10:00. I begin a tour of Ireland that evening and the rest... well, that's a different blog, isn't it? I hope that if I don't get very much internet access in Uganda - I will have a better chance in Ireland of adding to my blog, so if you don't see much during the dates I am in Uganda - start looking again after the 18th. I leave Dublin on July 26 to London and then fly back to Houston, arriving 5:30 PM on the 26th. Then I sleep for a week..... So - I will not have access to a cell phone, so I will be e-mailing as I can. I will probably use my yahoo account - so if you see mail coming from dragon3rider - you'll know who it is. Please add comments to this blog as you feel the desire. You just need to get a google account - you give them your e-mail and make up a user name and password. I have one and have never received spam from them - so it is safe. Later.....

A Schedule of events!!!

Wed. May 14 - I received a tentative schedule from Sister Irene last night. After I read it, I was so excited, I couldn't get to sleep. So many things running through my mind, so many things I need to do, I can't believe I'm really going on this adventure. We will be traveling through 3 swamps from Entebbe where we fly in to get to the Kalunga school in the Masaka district. This is the Seconday School where we will be staying. We will then go to the SHPS - the Primary School - where we will get a "grand welcome". After a couple of days, we will go to the high school at Lake Nabugabo. We will have an inservice with their teachers there. The next week we will spend most of our time at SHPS- I will probably be installing software and instructing teachers and students about the software. On that Sat. there will be a huge celebration with the KGTC and a blessing of the new science lab, solar and water tanks that Sister Irene has been working on with them. There will be the school community, villagers, dignitaries, some Alums (called Old Girls), speeches, songs, dance, - what a blast!!!
The next days we will be traveling to Jinja where the noviceship is, the mouth of the Nile, waterfalls and Kampala for shopping. Then to a B&B before we leave the next day!! Whew!!! See why I couldn't sleep??

Pre-trip thoughts continued

Mother's Day - May 11 Well, time is getting shorter. My brother asked me today - are you REALLY going to Uganda? Yes, I really am. Most everyone I tell is excited for me. Stephen is really excited for me and that makes me really happy. I already have so much to pack for the schools. Software, books, and I still haven't ordered much - what I have already has all been donated. I wonder every day what life is like there. I am so excited to meet the girls, the teachers and see how life in a completely different place will be different, yet probably the same. I think, well actually, I KNOW I will learn so much.

Pre-Trip Thoughts

I am just beginning my blog on my upcoming trip to Uganda. I leave in approximately 56 days from today - May 4, (not that I'm counting.) You all know how excited I am and it is hard to keep my thoughts on the present - knowing that my adventure is so close now. I have my passport, my visa, my immunizations, and even my tickets. I just found out last week that I have to wear skirts there, and being as I own no skirts, my friend Kernie and I went skirt hunting today. I was very successful and I have all the clothes I need except shoes.