tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59793902545526088052024-03-13T23:37:48.615-07:00Stepping Outside of My BoxI'm just a plain 'ole regular mom going through life doing the "family thing" - that is until I was recently asked to go to Uganda. This is my story of stepping out of my box and beyond my comfort zone. I am reminded that God equips those He calls and nothing happens without passing through His hands first.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-3076702699795583302011-02-09T05:30:00.000-08:002011-02-09T03:31:49.652-08:00Oh Happy Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Mwvi_W045Xz8FwCCsHIkS3G9m6hWcte980xv8ks7kBD0TFmuXCvjNcu4ip_mh2Llu3tuCRRFGDmKLOLvjByO8MhwBz3mql4cEN9V72cXpQCpTImovwHXA09HbNALPWRwSJN5hfvQza8/s1600/first+set+of+orphans%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Mwvi_W045Xz8FwCCsHIkS3G9m6hWcte980xv8ks7kBD0TFmuXCvjNcu4ip_mh2Llu3tuCRRFGDmKLOLvjByO8MhwBz3mql4cEN9V72cXpQCpTImovwHXA09HbNALPWRwSJN5hfvQza8/s320/first+set+of+orphans%2521.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/">Project Hope Worldwide</a> is so excited to announce that our first set of orphans have moved into <a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/index.cfm?id=28">Calo Me Lare</a>! I think it is so neat that I got to meet each of these kids individually and I know them by name. I know their stories and where they came from. Things can only get better for them now! They now have hope for a great future and a new family with lots of brothers and sisters to play with and mommas to hug their necks!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can see individual pictures of all the children and read their profiles on the Project Hope Worldwide facebook page <a href="http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=60424&id=118904498125297">here</a>. And here are videos that Helmut shot of many of the orphans while we were in Uganda...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="200" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18819683?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="350"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="200" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18819554?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="350"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="200" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18819542?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="350"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="200" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18819505?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="350"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="200" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18819495?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="350"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="200" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18644367?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="350"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="200" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18643313?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="350"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="200" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18640888?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="350"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="200" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18640863?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="350"></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Continued donations to PHWW will fund the immediate construction of an administration building, five more homes for forty orphans and a school! Please go <a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/index.cfm?id=13">here</a> to make a donation. Thank you for giving these kids hope for a new future!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-72885736259237389902011-02-09T05:05:00.000-08:002011-04-09T17:08:04.808-07:00Common Luo to English Phrases<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://economics.ozier.com/language/dholuo.html"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SojalLcTWADd5upMgCweCeU2oy12dmeYhBY2ERQF9pby6b9YZ1km2xFh3-Nwjc-f4O31Zvs7PTkBGRqYzFbqpSOLuzrpLFkGiDApSnkaisC53hpwKNapECRQA_XLczIlZiCjMsnzqSI/s320/100_0436.JPG" width="278" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-64112724196337252722011-02-09T04:40:00.000-08:002011-02-09T05:05:41.729-08:00General Costs to Travel to Lira, Uganda<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">* <u>Passport and Book</u> - $165 (You can learn more about how to obtain a passport and print off an application online <a href="http://www.usps.com/passport/">here</a>.)</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
* <u>Shots</u> - You can read about which shots you'll need on the CDC website <a href="http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/uganda.aspx">here</a>. I think I paid close to $300 and had to get them at the <a href="http://www.tulsa-health.org/">health department</a>.<br />
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* <u>Medicines</u> - You'll need to take Malaria medicine before, during, and after your trip. You'll need to get this from your doctor - you can not get it from the health department. I took <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/malaria/travelers/drugs.html">Malarone</a> and had no side effects. It's supposed to be gentle on your stomach and you don't have to take it as long as the other options available. Several Malaria medicines have really bad side effects so do your research when choosing yours. My doctor also prescribed Cipro (for below-the-waist "issues") and Amoxicillin (for above-the-waist "issues"). It is also good to take medicine for diarrhea, constipation, sleep issues and head aches. My cost for medicine was probably close to $80 or so.<br />
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* <u>Airfare</u> - We paid about $1,400 roundtrip from Tulsa to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entebbe_International_Airport">Entebbe</a>. Of course, air fare prices fluctuate often. My family back home enjoyed tracking my flight online. You can do so <a href="http://flightaware.com/">here</a> and view an actual live simulation of your flight. Pretty cool ;-)<br />
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* <u>Car Hire</u> - You'll need to hire a driver with a car. Costs vary but you can view information on this topic <a href="http://www.ugandatravelguide.com/uganda-car-rental.html">here</a>. If your driver is not driving safely, we learned you have to be upfront with them and tell them in a firm, but respectable, tone what you expect them to do or not do. Do not take the bus service. Not safe - enough said.<br />
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* <u>Spending $</u> - Prices are much lower in Uganda than in the States. It's fun to shop at the market but I found the best place to buy gifts to take back home are the stores at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entebbe_International_Airport">Entebbe airport</a>. You can expect to pay a little more than at the market, but they are typically better quality and they have a great selection of items you'd be interested in.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">* <u>Hotel and Food</u> - You can typically expect to pay about $30-40 p/night. We stayed at the <a href="http://graciouspalacehotel.com/">Gracious Palace</a> and <a href="http://www.vincetours.co.ug/uganda-suites-lira/291-suites-hotel-apartments-Lira.html">291 Suites</a> while in Uganda. We ate most of our dinners at the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g800443-d1007056-Reviews-Lillian_Towers_Hotel-Lira.html">Lillian Towers Hotel</a>. You can expect to pay about $4-8 p/meal.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyFq6KxtkzPPttkgbOK10e2bNqiWBe-E8CWzzkktMoGL_DRuvnGmavcWKDsXnvyPXJle2IMqZ97T6EHqifmaTJe9N-xx5DCoDaQpr3iQB9A9G6g7WGxtXa9V3XtCO10HIGfR-x235yXM/s1600/map+of+lira+hotels.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuyFq6KxtkzPPttkgbOK10e2bNqiWBe-E8CWzzkktMoGL_DRuvnGmavcWKDsXnvyPXJle2IMqZ97T6EHqifmaTJe9N-xx5DCoDaQpr3iQB9A9G6g7WGxtXa9V3XtCO10HIGfR-x235yXM/s1600/map+of+lira+hotels.gif" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="one" id="one_A_2" jsaction="click:app.oneResultClick;mouseover:app.highlightMarker; mouseout:app.highlightMarkerOut;" jsprops="markerid:"A";oneId:"one_A_2";panelId:"panel_A_2"" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;" ved="0CDoQ-gswAA"><div class="icon lsicon" id="marker_A_2" jsaction="app.openInfoWindow" jsprops="markerid:'A'" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" log="" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: center;" ved="0CDwQ_gswAA"><img alt="A" class="mp iconA" src="http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://maps.gstatic.com/mapfiles/red_transparent_icons_A_J.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 38px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 24px;" /></div><div class="text vcard indent block" id="panel_A_2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 26px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 0.25em;"><div class="name lname" id="link_A_2" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><a href="http://www.uganda-visit-and-travel-guide.com/lira-town-hotels.html" jsaction="app.openInfoWindow" jsprops="markerid:"A"" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" style="color: #2200c1; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" ved="0CDoQ-gswAA"><span class="pp-place-title" style="color: #2200c1; cursor: pointer; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 2px; text-decoration: underline;">Pacific <b>Hotel</b></span></a> <span class="detls secondary" style="font-size: 11px; margin-left: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><nobr></nobr></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-address" dir="ltr" style="display: block;">Adoko Rd, Lira, Uganda</span><br />
<div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div><div class="actbar-local-wrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="one" id="one_B_2" jsaction="click:app.oneResultClick;mouseover:app.highlightMarker; mouseout:app.highlightMarkerOut;" jsprops="markerid:"B";oneId:"one_B_2";panelId:"panel_B_2"" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;" ved="0CEYQ-gswAQ"><div class="icon lsicon" id="marker_B_2" jsaction="app.openInfoWindow" jsprops="markerid:'B'" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" log="" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: center;" ved="0CEgQ_gswAQ"><img alt="B" class="mp iconB" src="http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://maps.gstatic.com/mapfiles/red_transparent_icons_A_J.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px -38px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 38px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 24px;" /></div><div class="text vcard indent block" id="panel_B_2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 26px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 0.25em;"><div class="name lname" id="link_B_2" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><a href="http://www.geckogo.com/Lodging/Uganda/Northern-Uganda/Lira/White-House-Hotel/" jsaction="app.openInfoWindow" jsprops="markerid:"B"" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" style="color: #2200c1; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" ved="0CEYQ-gswAQ"><span class="pp-place-title" style="color: #2200c1; cursor: pointer; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 2px; text-decoration: underline;">White House <b>Hotel</b></span></a> <span class="actbar-local-wrapper"><span class="actbar" id="actbar-B" iscompact="1" jsvalues="@unique-id: $this.uniqueId;@id: 'actbar-'+$this.uniqueId;@markerid: $this.markerId;@panelId: 'actbar-panel-'+$this.uniqueId;" markerid="B" panelid="actbar-panel-B-pp" style="display: inline; opacity: 0.5;"><span id="actbar-btns-B" jsdisplay="$this.visible!='none'" jsskip="1" jsvalues="@id:'actbar-btns-'+$this.uniqueId"><span action="actbar-more" class="actbar-cmpct" jsaction="ab.topLevelClick" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://maps.gstatic.com/mapfiles/lhp-misc3.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: -76px 1px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; display: inline; margin-left: 1px; padding-bottom: 2px;"></span></span></span><span class="actbar" id="actbar-panel-B-pp" jsvalues="@unique-id: $this.uniqueId;@markerid: $this.markerId;@id: 'actbar-panel-' + $this.uniqueId;@panelId: 'actbar-panel-' + $this.uniqueId;" style="display: inline; opacity: 0.5;"><span jsvalues="@id:'actbar-sn-' + $this.uniqueId;"><span jsdisplay="$this.visible=='actbar-sn'"></span></span><span jsvalues="@id:'actbar-saveto-' + $this.uniqueId;"><span jsdisplay="$this.visible=='actbar-saveto'"></span></span></span></span><br />
Lira, Uganda</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div><div class="actbar-local-wrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="one" id="one_C_2" jsaction="click:app.oneResultClick;mouseover:app.highlightMarker; mouseout:app.highlightMarkerOut;" jsprops="markerid:"C";oneId:"one_C_2";panelId:"panel_C_2"" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;" ved="0CFMQ-gswAg"><div class="icon lsicon" id="marker_C_2" jsaction="app.openInfoWindow" jsprops="markerid:'C'" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" log="" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: center;" ved="0CFUQ_gswAg"><img alt="C" class="mp iconC" src="http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://maps.gstatic.com/mapfiles/red_transparent_icons_A_J.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px -76px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 38px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 24px;" /></div><div class="text vcard indent block" id="panel_C_2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 26px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 0.25em;"><div class="name lname" id="link_C_2" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><a href="http://www.uganda-visit-and-travel-guide.com/lira-town-hotels.html" jsaction="app.openInfoWindow" jsprops="markerid:"C"" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" style="color: #2200c1; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" ved="0CFMQ-gswAg"><span class="pp-place-title" style="color: #2200c1; cursor: pointer; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 2px; text-decoration: underline;">Lira <b>Hotel</b> Limited</span></a><span class="detls secondary" style="font-size: 11px; margin-left: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><nobr></nobr></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-address" dir="ltr" style="display: block;">Plot 8/10 Erute Road Dokolo Rd, Lira P.O.Box 350, Lira, Uganda</span><span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-phone" style="display: inline;"><span class="telephone" dir="ltr"><nobr>+256 256473420024</nobr> </span></span><br />
<div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div><div class="actbar-local-wrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="one" id="one_D_2" jsaction="click:app.oneResultClick;mouseover:app.highlightMarker; mouseout:app.highlightMarkerOut;" jsprops="markerid:"D";oneId:"one_D_2";panelId:"panel_D_2"" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;" ved="0CGEQ-gswAw"><div class="icon lsicon" id="marker_D_2" jsaction="app.openInfoWindow" jsprops="markerid:'D'" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" log="" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: center;" ved="0CGMQ_gswAw"><img alt="D" class="mp iconD" src="http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://maps.gstatic.com/mapfiles/red_transparent_icons_A_J.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px -114px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 38px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 24px;" /></div><div class="text vcard indent block" id="panel_D_2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 26px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 0.25em;"><div class="name lname" id="link_D_2" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><span class="pp-place-title" style="color: #2200c1; cursor: pointer; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 2px; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://traveluganda.co.ug/lira.asp">Alpha Resort </a><b><a href="http://traveluganda.co.ug/lira.asp">Hotel</a></b></span><br />
Lira, Uganda</div><div class="actbar-local-wrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="one" id="one_E_2" jsaction="click:app.oneResultClick;mouseover:app.highlightMarker; mouseout:app.highlightMarkerOut;" jsprops="markerid:"E";oneId:"one_E_2";panelId:"panel_E_2"" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;" ved="0CG4Q-gswBA"><div class="icon lsicon" id="marker_E_2" jsaction="app.openInfoWindow" jsprops="markerid:'E'" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" log="" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: center;" ved="0CHAQ_gswBA"><img alt="E" class="mp iconE" src="http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://maps.gstatic.com/mapfiles/red_transparent_icons_A_J.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px -152px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 38px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 24px;" /></div><div class="text vcard indent block" id="panel_E_2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 26px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 0.25em;"><div class="name lname" id="link_E_2" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><span class="pp-place-title" style="color: #2200c1; cursor: pointer; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 2px; text-decoration: underline;">St. Kizito Girls Dormitory</span><span class="detls secondary" style="font-size: 11px; margin-left: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><nobr></nobr></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-address" dir="ltr" style="display: block;">A 104, Lira, Uganda</span><br />
<div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div><div class="actbar-local-wrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="one" id="one_F_2" jsaction="click:app.oneResultClick;mouseover:app.highlightMarker; mouseout:app.highlightMarkerOut;" jsprops="markerid:"F";oneId:"one_F_2";panelId:"panel_F_2"" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;" ved="0CHoQ-gswBQ"><div class="icon lsicon" id="marker_F_2" jsaction="app.openInfoWindow" jsprops="markerid:'F'" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" log="" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: center;" ved="0CHwQ_gswBQ"><img alt="F" class="mp iconF" src="http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://maps.gstatic.com/mapfiles/red_transparent_icons_A_J.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px -190px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 38px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 24px;" /></div><div class="text vcard indent block" id="panel_F_2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 26px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 0.25em;"><div class="name lname" id="link_F_2" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><a href="http://graciouspalacehotel.com/" jsaction="app.openInfoWindow" jsprops="markerid:"F"" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" style="color: #2200c1; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" ved="0CHoQ-gswBQ"><span class="pp-place-title" style="color: #2200c1; cursor: pointer; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 2px; text-decoration: underline;">Graceos Palace <b>Hotel</b></span></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-address" dir="ltr" style="display: block;">Lira, Uganda</span><br />
<div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div><div class="actbar-local-wrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="one" id="one_G_2" jsaction="click:app.oneResultClick;mouseover:app.highlightMarker; mouseout:app.highlightMarkerOut;" jsprops="markerid:"G";oneId:"one_G_2";panelId:"panel_G_2"" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;" ved="0CIYBEPoLMAY"><div class="icon lsicon" id="marker_G_2" jsaction="app.openInfoWindow" jsprops="markerid:'G'" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" log="" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: center;" ved="0CIgBEP4LMAY"><img alt="G" class="mp iconG" src="http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://maps.gstatic.com/mapfiles/red_transparent_icons_A_J.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px -228px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 38px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 24px;" /></div><div class="text vcard indent block" id="panel_G_2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 26px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 0.25em;"><div class="name lname" id="link_G_2" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><a href="http://www.liratownviewhotel.com/accommodation.htm" jsaction="app.openInfoWindow" jsprops="markerid:"G"" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" style="color: #2200c1; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" ved="0CIYBEPoLMAY"><span class="pp-place-title" style="color: #2200c1; cursor: pointer; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 2px; text-decoration: underline;">Town View <b>Hotel</b></span></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-address" dir="ltr" style="display: block;">Lira, Uganda</span><br />
<div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div><div class="actbar-local-wrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="one" id="one_H_2" jsaction="click:app.oneResultClick;mouseover:app.highlightMarker; mouseout:app.highlightMarkerOut;" jsprops="markerid:"H";oneId:"one_H_2";panelId:"panel_H_2"" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;" ved="0CJIBEPoLMAc"><div class="icon lsicon" id="marker_H_2" jsaction="app.openInfoWindow" jsprops="markerid:'H'" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" log="" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: center;" ved="0CJQBEP4LMAc"><img alt="H" class="mp iconH" src="http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://maps.gstatic.com/mapfiles/red_transparent_icons_A_J.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px -266px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 38px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 24px;" /></div><div class="text vcard indent block" id="panel_H_2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 26px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 0.25em;"><div class="name lname" id="link_H_2" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><a href="http://traveluganda.co.ug/lira.asp" jsaction="app.openInfoWindow" jsprops="markerid:"H"" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" style="color: #2200c1; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" ved="0CJIBEPoLMAc"><span class="pp-place-title" style="color: #2200c1; cursor: pointer; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 2px; text-decoration: underline;">Lillian Towers <b>Hotel</b></span></a><span class="detls secondary" style="font-size: 11px; margin-left: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><nobr></nobr></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-address" dir="ltr" style="display: block;">Lira, Uganda</span><br />
<div align="left" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div><div class="actbar-local-wrapper" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></div></div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div class="one" id="one_I_2" jsaction="click:app.oneResultClick;mouseover:app.highlightMarker; mouseout:app.highlightMarkerOut;" jsprops="markerid:"I";oneId:"one_I_2";panelId:"panel_I_2"" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 1px; clear: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; zoom: 1;" ved="0CJ4BEPoLMAg"><div class="icon lsicon" id="marker_I_2" jsaction="app.openInfoWindow" jsprops="markerid:'I'" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" log="" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 2px; padding-top: 0.25em; text-align: center;" ved="0CKABEP4LMAg"><img alt="I" class="mp iconI" src="http://maps.gstatic.com/intl/en_us/mapfiles/transparent.png" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://maps.gstatic.com/mapfiles/red_transparent_icons_A_J.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px -304px; background-repeat: repeat repeat; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; height: 38px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 24px;" /></div><div class="text vcard indent block" id="panel_I_2" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 26px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 5px; padding-right: 7px; padding-top: 0.25em;"><div class="name lname" id="link_I_2" style="display: inline; margin-bottom: 0.1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 3px;"><a href="http://traveluganda.co.ug/lira.asp" jsaction="app.openInfoWindow" jsprops="markerid:"I"" jstrack="WH9STfTHO4uKtAPf2aDrBA" style="color: #2200c1; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" ved="0CJ4BEPoLMAg"><span class="pp-place-title" style="color: #2200c1; cursor: pointer; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-right: 5px; margin-top: 2px; text-decoration: underline;"><b>Hotel</b> Pan-Afric</span></a> <span class="detls secondary" style="font-size: 11px; margin-left: 4px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><nobr></nobr></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="pp-headline-item pp-headline-address" dir="ltr" style="display: block;">Lira, Uganda</span></div></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-78034316303402710452011-02-04T13:44:00.000-08:002011-02-04T13:46:58.748-08:00One Last Video From Our Trip...I made this video as soon as I got back from our trip. The songs came to me while I was on the plane home.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><embed flashvars="&p=cf73f38704911906b8cfe1&skin_id=701&host=http://www.onetruemedia.com" height="350" name="FLVPlayer" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" salign="LT" scale="noscale" src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/share_view_player?p=cf73f38704911906b8cfe1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="390" wmode="transparent"></embed></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-42403357029917591232011-02-04T12:17:00.000-08:002011-02-04T12:18:15.967-08:00The Vision of Project Hope WorldwideThis is another video <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1110794/">Helmut</a> filmed while we were in Uganda. It was so exciting to actually see all that <a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/">Project Hope Worldwide</a> stands for first-hand!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="200" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18640820?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="350"></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-6244850280545362532011-02-04T12:14:00.000-08:002011-02-04T12:18:30.213-08:00Uganda UpdateThis is an update our pastor, Derk, brought to the congregation the Sunday after we got back from Uganda...<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="200" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18438029?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="350"></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-67190066350223595762011-02-03T19:08:00.000-08:002011-02-03T19:09:02.676-08:00A Day in the FieldThis is a video <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1110794/">Helmut</a> filmed while we were in Uganda. He did an amazing job and it shows the work <a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/">Project Hope Worldwide</a> is doing in bringing hope to orphans in Lira.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="200" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18819466?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="350"></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-7187784460732824702011-02-03T19:06:00.000-08:002011-02-07T14:23:32.797-08:00Sweet Nothings Go a Long WayOne thing I did for my girls while I was away to Uganda was to give them a small gift to open each day - kinda like a countdown until I got home.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVEQqy2jeJ8h6CX7dE6Zc1MAdLfEaB2MtWcJd4NfZtQFGGKgsrC0g7VNB1mFWwZhDCcflhQu9jYNfWRiZJSTAOfpJlnrUrhbjWIsExjoyWwBzaHUYIi4NCqFbBl3Qf2Eil-o_MTf4AbA/s1600/DSC07320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="102" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMVEQqy2jeJ8h6CX7dE6Zc1MAdLfEaB2MtWcJd4NfZtQFGGKgsrC0g7VNB1mFWwZhDCcflhQu9jYNfWRiZJSTAOfpJlnrUrhbjWIsExjoyWwBzaHUYIi4NCqFbBl3Qf2Eil-o_MTf4AbA/s320/DSC07320.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-DXdd9-ut5jVcn2Omj6P7OjfI4vtPdiiAVyUmV0bDK7IhxMuhuNO3RHrtTgGY3Ux4xk2PW9HFh5Mk5pAlvg-jfRV1VtxNWdbY7YXeim8oM5JVtPUrncDjcHiL7eB6Jng_cRyosY27Dk/s1600/DSC07322.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-DXdd9-ut5jVcn2Omj6P7OjfI4vtPdiiAVyUmV0bDK7IhxMuhuNO3RHrtTgGY3Ux4xk2PW9HFh5Mk5pAlvg-jfRV1VtxNWdbY7YXeim8oM5JVtPUrncDjcHiL7eB6Jng_cRyosY27Dk/s320/DSC07322.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYQ8iBVOW3akNXQS5bL4nvIkX25cnkd5IquCVuHZiO18gC4KCrA4yxoyDj1894f03TdXJEQGhsnZxv6cgZQZ8TmCFzsirbyt9nTw0j8s6lA-YqjDb2go6_IYYzFGCPwtvOd3FgUdwmPk/s1600/DSC07321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYQ8iBVOW3akNXQS5bL4nvIkX25cnkd5IquCVuHZiO18gC4KCrA4yxoyDj1894f03TdXJEQGhsnZxv6cgZQZ8TmCFzsirbyt9nTw0j8s6lA-YqjDb2go6_IYYzFGCPwtvOd3FgUdwmPk/s320/DSC07321.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><embed height="300" src="http://w1176.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw1176.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fx322%2Fcmlr1970%2Fgifts for girls%2F72f8e190.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I thought I was being so sneaky but the girls and Steve came up with their own countdown of notes for me to open on my trip. I found them in my suitcase on our first night in Uganda. They were so special to me and something I looked forward to opening every morning and re-reading every night. I posted the girls notes to me on this blog on my daily journal entries, but I'm keeping Steve's letters secret ;-) Such sweet letters and notes that I'll treasure forever.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-90444158473977462332011-02-03T19:05:00.000-08:002011-02-03T19:06:03.296-08:00Home Is Where the Heart Is<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4C1TTlTr5EZUEufiEM03oOmpROhcU2Eqw949-sNKjqh879uqwFJazYevzrr7kWKJcV9Q0n2WOvcTPZmG02UAVySCszPvvl2K2Gj5JoONn-SXHpgGj2CGqsQYr-B-Lu7ZGbJJRc1BGxxA/s1600/100_0889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4C1TTlTr5EZUEufiEM03oOmpROhcU2Eqw949-sNKjqh879uqwFJazYevzrr7kWKJcV9Q0n2WOvcTPZmG02UAVySCszPvvl2K2Gj5JoONn-SXHpgGj2CGqsQYr-B-Lu7ZGbJJRc1BGxxA/s200/100_0889.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>We woke up early this morning, ate a quick breakfast then hopped on the plane headed for Oklahoma! It was great to get a good night's sleep last night so I wouldn't be a total zombie when I saw my family today. The flight was on time and we landed with no problems. I knew I'd be excited to see my family but I guess I didn't know how emotional it would be. 15 days is a long time to be away! The most I've ever been away from the girls before that was for about 4 or 5 days and I've never been away from Steve for more than 2 days. As soon as I saw them at the airport, the girls came running up to me with big hugs and welcome cards. Steve's parents were there, too. Everyone was teary-eyed and we were all so glad to be together again.<br />
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The girls were also excited because the <a href="http://www.duggarfamily.com/">Duggars</a> were at the airport. I don't know how that family gets around with all those kids! I suppose they just learn to watch out for each other!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAN8lHvA27YXoHu_YP5zKoNinsd0GQYoLIyaJoeXKnFf-kpeM88vPhFggobwQNwJobxW2Znp-fiXUDHJkaFQ-ne5uZKovZRoZ3pqreArm_jwc_j4AiJIDpmxVZtyBgDXiaEMOJmsaJpvo/s1600/610x.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAN8lHvA27YXoHu_YP5zKoNinsd0GQYoLIyaJoeXKnFf-kpeM88vPhFggobwQNwJobxW2Znp-fiXUDHJkaFQ-ne5uZKovZRoZ3pqreArm_jwc_j4AiJIDpmxVZtyBgDXiaEMOJmsaJpvo/s320/610x.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5sfxILA_Bf1QORyQgeoeII-jSm4aIsaILpNcGVrqxpSfVbhnaqzPjsSeM-cZrxl0zdWfIusTDBDBeoDYN63rV-NULPr_SqvP3TFxHNkUq8lgHBaOuuWyOP5r-hmnA7zQrBYujdYBS0Y/s1600/100_1269.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd5sfxILA_Bf1QORyQgeoeII-jSm4aIsaILpNcGVrqxpSfVbhnaqzPjsSeM-cZrxl0zdWfIusTDBDBeoDYN63rV-NULPr_SqvP3TFxHNkUq8lgHBaOuuWyOP5r-hmnA7zQrBYujdYBS0Y/s200/100_1269.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>I spent the rest of the day unpacking, doing laundry, and spending time with my family. I gave the girls a little rag doll and a purse, both made from widows in Uganda. I had a hard time finding Steve a gift while there so he got a coffee cup with a Uganda flag and an "Africa" t-shirt.<br />
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While I did miss my family a ton, the trip was so well worth it and I'm so glad I got to go! It truly was the chance of a lifetime! I got to see everything first hand and now I will be blogging for Project Hope, so be sure to watch for <a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/index.cfm?id=6">upcoming posts</a> - which reminds me, I better get busy! Stay tuned! ;-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-62756889420009438012011-02-02T19:32:00.000-08:002011-02-02T19:33:17.596-08:00Uganda Trip - Day 14<u>Sunday, Dec. 12</u> -<br />
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Today's notes from my girls...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9siqMpf8AtRUKXhtQFO9B3_6oWapy6Rl_lEifq05nDm74LzbULKrPq2agJswY8U6RVTforsUPGhoizjX4r7iEv2gxsqZUcq_3IQHAe85b7iDzFlQ3R1w05LA2ZlgtLdtM3__06j3Fvvw/s1600/day+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9siqMpf8AtRUKXhtQFO9B3_6oWapy6Rl_lEifq05nDm74LzbULKrPq2agJswY8U6RVTforsUPGhoizjX4r7iEv2gxsqZUcq_3IQHAe85b7iDzFlQ3R1w05LA2ZlgtLdtM3__06j3Fvvw/s320/day+14.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFnDZxr5nyjwsRAt7zsV662PV6PfLO-VBvlkmAf8SgG6pMmazMEPqcH_rb2-AxscuBs8UY_dPmrxx1rlq7NEUFI_ccZ5Gdj-l3q6mGWHVd_0iky4S0cKTBxSPNNn29fdiBnnJspKae_c/s1600/100_0878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPFnDZxr5nyjwsRAt7zsV662PV6PfLO-VBvlkmAf8SgG6pMmazMEPqcH_rb2-AxscuBs8UY_dPmrxx1rlq7NEUFI_ccZ5Gdj-l3q6mGWHVd_0iky4S0cKTBxSPNNn29fdiBnnJspKae_c/s200/100_0878.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>I'm sooo glad I had this opportunity to go to Uganda but I'm also sooo glad I'm going home! I've missed my family and friends a ton and can't wait to see them all! We switched planes in Amsterdam then headed towards the States. We were supposed to fly to Detroit then on to Oklahoma but the flight crew needed to change so we made a stop in Boston. Then the new flight crew never showed up so Delta had to reroute about 200 passengers on different flights! Ugh! We were supposed to be home in a few hours but they don't have any flights going to Tulsa this evening so now we have to stay the night in Boston! :-(<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPcL0AGO_P7L-0ckG8GqnhqeX_0wOF1GgT8Z-Ui0Nsvac6ZDqysj55g_lo4qiaCBgynFaYXuYOzKFPEpSSHsLF6GGXnETK5ULHJAAydL_AQsGMDMe84wZveQ8eyK3tu9Gr1m_m6EvJ5o/s1600/26283_70_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPcL0AGO_P7L-0ckG8GqnhqeX_0wOF1GgT8Z-Ui0Nsvac6ZDqysj55g_lo4qiaCBgynFaYXuYOzKFPEpSSHsLF6GGXnETK5ULHJAAydL_AQsGMDMe84wZveQ8eyK3tu9Gr1m_m6EvJ5o/s200/26283_70_b.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>We had to go collect all our luggage - which took forever but thankfully it was all there. Then, we waited in the Delta reservations line for 2 1/2 hours to make our new flight arrangements. The next flight out is tomorrow morning so they put us up at the <a href="http://www.harborside.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp">Hyatt Hotel</a> for our "inconvenience".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I am writing this from my hotel room and looking out my huge window with an AMAZING view of Boston. Here's the daytime view...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzpFIAbUn8VMH2l1XlTmEdRYH34y4Wi5-lc-Xx-nFOrRMtbJttRZo6JP9CP23jKHWP8AD4Nk7_FlERr6pj8fI-uRloB_PSWOYr3PPPxAJwN7LiH8dB-FaBPwWt3-raUUpmfhZCnf9sIU/s1600/100_0887.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzpFIAbUn8VMH2l1XlTmEdRYH34y4Wi5-lc-Xx-nFOrRMtbJttRZo6JP9CP23jKHWP8AD4Nk7_FlERr6pj8fI-uRloB_PSWOYr3PPPxAJwN7LiH8dB-FaBPwWt3-raUUpmfhZCnf9sIU/s320/100_0887.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGWlZN6joGyne7HmRerBik6dQS_SUGuHiGBdLG5ggej6DRecKt7DBgVz6WPU4YX4T3lTRco67VkcXfEbQ1CeO4W_f_R82PAPH_mGGHv4qZSDlxuEoMsHY2rFcarqGrLCcOVNYG-4Arhg/s1600/100_0888.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="91" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirGWlZN6joGyne7HmRerBik6dQS_SUGuHiGBdLG5ggej6DRecKt7DBgVz6WPU4YX4T3lTRco67VkcXfEbQ1CeO4W_f_R82PAPH_mGGHv4qZSDlxuEoMsHY2rFcarqGrLCcOVNYG-4Arhg/s320/100_0888.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
And here's the nighttime view. If only we were here a little longer, we'd have to stop by "Cheers!".<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2kV0tObL158wR1ZVySrGE4ZnWtzBEv9YVn16qzKLsQ0waaLwoXbkyjmuDZuHw3RlJJLunc0Rj3VTIwqhHKSdGxGfuk6ASG-b9VFzE7gghOB45VHbNSusDMNPrfTA_3iXn6z5Z4B8T6A/s1600/view-from-room-of-boston.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-2kV0tObL158wR1ZVySrGE4ZnWtzBEv9YVn16qzKLsQ0waaLwoXbkyjmuDZuHw3RlJJLunc0Rj3VTIwqhHKSdGxGfuk6ASG-b9VFzE7gghOB45VHbNSusDMNPrfTA_3iXn6z5Z4B8T6A/s320/view-from-room-of-boston.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
But just getting here was great "fun", to say the least! We made our way outside to wait for the Hyatt Shuttle to take us to our hotel. Now mind you, we just came from 90 degree weather in Africa so the 40 degree windy weather was really a shock to our system as we were not dressed for the cold! We waited and waited but the shuttle never came! I'm pretty sure Kelley and I were driving Derk nutso as we were shivering and jumping up and down to keep warm - and the complaining probably didn't help a whole lot, either. So we tracked down an airport bus and we were finally taken to our hotel. The driver was very "friendly" and gladly watched us as we struggled to get our luggage on and off his shuttle without his help.<br />
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Then we checked in at the hotel and were given our room keys.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb91YK6YmJqeNBZ4CylNBI9_aeDzE2g5A-dFt-79hgma2v9xqhAsVO_hZjw8z90mS0E52ojhUWc_EEc6xIkBg1yiPRgRk7yKfoy8PDt5Cp75o8Fg2Id023eQobIjrhfodsDTp8kzpLaos/s1600/26283_74_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb91YK6YmJqeNBZ4CylNBI9_aeDzE2g5A-dFt-79hgma2v9xqhAsVO_hZjw8z90mS0E52ojhUWc_EEc6xIkBg1yiPRgRk7yKfoy8PDt5Cp75o8Fg2Id023eQobIjrhfodsDTp8kzpLaos/s320/26283_74_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I was on the 7th floor so I wearily took all my luggage and made my way to my room. Just as I was about to go in, I thought I could hear someone in my room and the "privacy" sign was on the door. I thought that was strange, so I knocked on the door and there was a lady staying in my room! Evidently, they assigned me to a room that was already occupied by another guest. At this point, I just had to laugh because I could have easily broken down sobbing right there in the hotel hallway. I was exhausted, hungry, and just wanted to be home.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I made my way to the registration desk and was assigned another room. It was very nice and spacious and the bed looked sooo comfortable, I just wanted to dive right in!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xjMoANm6EkFv79X3ms_didDUgioqtKGG0EArVWHeKOx4V3O81xA56kgdf_eth2bCRvqjSQwP0XEmPfPqzuLtdc79rgiEJtVh3bsVJsOz3U6AffwVgG9GWNfX4l7Ergf2OjodtB75tqw/s1600/100_0879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8xjMoANm6EkFv79X3ms_didDUgioqtKGG0EArVWHeKOx4V3O81xA56kgdf_eth2bCRvqjSQwP0XEmPfPqzuLtdc79rgiEJtVh3bsVJsOz3U6AffwVgG9GWNfX4l7Ergf2OjodtB75tqw/s320/100_0879.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSrOvugOjSms1u__F3u0ouTaenOqz9-eLjiHs15NfgpbBNuGh8BYUDYpl-eTG9q86qiShSrHdk54Jw6iAdaxTIE_jrtb8j14a5iJhkl8Xpt3HouxJe3KZo8j9DNXqOOyEVRjFWsc4wRs/s1600/100_0880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwSrOvugOjSms1u__F3u0ouTaenOqz9-eLjiHs15NfgpbBNuGh8BYUDYpl-eTG9q86qiShSrHdk54Jw6iAdaxTIE_jrtb8j14a5iJhkl8Xpt3HouxJe3KZo8j9DNXqOOyEVRjFWsc4wRs/s320/100_0880.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQQSWHo3sGM11185T6nzd2hpqsTyADqNRqGqLtYhfMSGPStNKacKmiOq7Up4rKqVwXdj4qGwiQXfdulZ6edMT9kcRkpcrqTwfEb1Z1MdtFSfrJ0VYn8Bc_mnGiCTPIdTGMu8ZAiiogXA/s1600/100_0886.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQQSWHo3sGM11185T6nzd2hpqsTyADqNRqGqLtYhfMSGPStNKacKmiOq7Up4rKqVwXdj4qGwiQXfdulZ6edMT9kcRkpcrqTwfEb1Z1MdtFSfrJ0VYn8Bc_mnGiCTPIdTGMu8ZAiiogXA/s320/100_0886.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So I ate a quick dinner of Clam Chowder (because when in Boston, you must have chowder!) and showered (felt oh so nice!). This is a picture of me right outside the hotel restaurant. Too bad it was cold outside - the view was amazing! I could have stayed out there forever!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxJjIFZFhPwVPTh3WrzBa378yKjgngk4R97TBY70JhDX4emWtlT_LbS96xXDaiBB3H-8deQE4G8spIBpmxmhU-rG8LzItZ85Qd4R1KMkxurUMAHHvtYf0YGoXj1iuG1xNwTC9drGPEGI/s1600/100_0883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWxJjIFZFhPwVPTh3WrzBa378yKjgngk4R97TBY70JhDX4emWtlT_LbS96xXDaiBB3H-8deQE4G8spIBpmxmhU-rG8LzItZ85Qd4R1KMkxurUMAHHvtYf0YGoXj1iuG1xNwTC9drGPEGI/s320/100_0883.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our flight leaves at 10 in the morning and we should be home by 3! Having this "adventure" today makes me miss my family even more! I really wanted to be home but this was probably a blessing in disguise because at least I can now get some good rest and a shower before I see my family tomorrow. Now I'm really counting down the hours! It's almost 8:30 and I'm about to go to sleep because I can't keep my eyes open any longer! Signing off here and tomorrow I'll be home!</div><br />
Sorry - being a former "Cheers" fan, I just had to post this ;-)<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="292" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/jChpGtir9TE?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" width="350"></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-80163063245700998272011-02-01T14:57:00.000-08:002011-02-01T15:07:44.145-08:00Uganda Trip - Day 13<u>Saturday, Dec. 11</u> -<br />
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Today's notes from my girls...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAwgefbJHx7ZwdoFnfDA1wyoQCFnZomv_xUYmHe5hJsaW8SK1hPjIxjKFWRJeXqnlAk1ziOcGSyRDNkmOAioZSiQVNmi1X6of9C-nhhCNtF329Kf8eirJNiRD6YMOzCpbCA1B01601iE/s1600/day+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAAwgefbJHx7ZwdoFnfDA1wyoQCFnZomv_xUYmHe5hJsaW8SK1hPjIxjKFWRJeXqnlAk1ziOcGSyRDNkmOAioZSiQVNmi1X6of9C-nhhCNtF329Kf8eirJNiRD6YMOzCpbCA1B01601iE/s320/day+13.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br />
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This morning we woke up early and took a <a href="http://www.paraalodge.com/boatrip.html">boat ride</a> down the Nile River! We saw hippos and crocs really close up! We also saw water buffalo, gazelles, monkeys, wild boar, antelope, and deer. The ride was about 4 miles in length and 2 1/2 hours long. It was so much fun!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><embed height="320" src="http://w1176.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw1176.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fx322%2Fcmlr1970%2Fuganda trip day 13%2F8ac17ba4.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed></div><br />
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After eating an amazing buffet lunch back at the hotel, we packed up our bags and began the "journey" home. And what a journey it was! We were told when we entered the Park to go through the north entrance because that was where most of the animals were. We found the north side is a lot more grassland and fewer trees, so we did see more animals. We took a barge ride across the Nile to get to the south side where the exit was. <br />
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I thought the best part of the safari was actually getting to see the waterfalls. They were amazing! The noise alone took my breath away! The water was so powerfully beautiful and strong! Words can't even describe it - it was jaw dropping!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKzhVMlM_talvVHgZRqg5RhgbDgRzMkumm9zvRwlzZsCI54eOvHSmNoxdUan89uTEb0U-ZoLnrAESnoNrJauEUYBc-ZsPiUsm2PrvMZMoMlEucz9Xm6Wmd1oUmQmaqWvNeKukZZXT5s8/s1600/100_0869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKzhVMlM_talvVHgZRqg5RhgbDgRzMkumm9zvRwlzZsCI54eOvHSmNoxdUan89uTEb0U-ZoLnrAESnoNrJauEUYBc-ZsPiUsm2PrvMZMoMlEucz9Xm6Wmd1oUmQmaqWvNeKukZZXT5s8/s200/100_0869.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>It took us about another 2 1/2 hours to get down the narrow, bumpy dirt rode to exit the Park. It had just rained the night before, too, which made the dirt road really muddy. I was a bit worried we'd get stuck in a ditch or a pothole because our van was sliding all over the place! It was interesting how everything turned from grassland to tropical jungle so quickly. We were soon covered with trees and vines all around us. Didn't see many animals on the south side - just some chimpanzees and tropical birds.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg277hendGsOenZ987klo60p5IfYJV4fMCFk8vbWom25ovleFbS3ou7AiDqEMrX0lGzg7SJLoNZs3JwGZHdUh9HVYCSSsqlIZJ1tbMpWYLmWJEAPQTvIM28Az7kkF_Bg9Iw8VQ1WP1VwZU/s1600/Uganda_Kampala_traffic_md.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg277hendGsOenZ987klo60p5IfYJV4fMCFk8vbWom25ovleFbS3ou7AiDqEMrX0lGzg7SJLoNZs3JwGZHdUh9HVYCSSsqlIZJ1tbMpWYLmWJEAPQTvIM28Az7kkF_Bg9Iw8VQ1WP1VwZU/s200/Uganda_Kampala_traffic_md.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>We were so excited to see the exit sign because we had driven for what seemed like forever not really knowing if we were going in the right direction or not. It then took us another 8 hours or so to drive to the airport. I don't think I've done as much praying at a single time as I did during that drive to Kampala. Kelley and I were scared to death - we were literally ducking from cars and pedestrians as they passed us! As I mentioned before, they drive C-R-A-Z-Y here - they drive super fast, often times lanes aren't marked, roads are typically 2-lanes that you have to share with walkers, bikers and those on motor cycles, cars and busses. And it's especially scary at night because there is no electricity which means no street lights. The roads are very narrow and often times are bumpy, dirt roads. We had way too many close calls! Amazingly, Derk slept through most of it in the back seat of our van! When he woke up, I told him he was like the story in the Bible of Jesus sleeping on the boat and a storm came and his disciples were freaking out because of the crashing waves all around them ;-) It truly was a miracle that we made it to the airport without an incident - PTL!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFbu0MEWFwMKPV0KFNDQlQdoK0w0FhWr8dkYqLGWZtQvdrbPACQQbldK0BJ5LUBZSX1NwmPBDfF53-NwRmLl3eim-en2atxkM3-9B2RK10asHw6d9rbFhi19YLT2OV5I2E6zmVCK7Utk/s1600/6a00d8341c2cc953ef00e54f293b8e8833-800wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVFbu0MEWFwMKPV0KFNDQlQdoK0w0FhWr8dkYqLGWZtQvdrbPACQQbldK0BJ5LUBZSX1NwmPBDfF53-NwRmLl3eim-en2atxkM3-9B2RK10asHw6d9rbFhi19YLT2OV5I2E6zmVCK7Utk/s200/6a00d8341c2cc953ef00e54f293b8e8833-800wi.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>So I am now writing this journal entry on the plane. We can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel! We have an 8 1/2 hour flight to Amsterdam. So I'm going to try to get some shut eye and maybe catch a movie on the way home. Will write more tomorrow - counting down the hours until I'm home! :-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-61275303582104933472011-01-31T20:20:00.000-08:002011-01-31T21:06:58.843-08:00Uganda Trip - Day 12<u>Saturday, Dec. 11</u> -<br />
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Today's notes from my girls...<br />
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OH MY GOODNESS!!! Today was AMAZING! We ate a delicious breakfast at the home of the French missionary family that we have befriended this week. They served french omelets, homemade bread, muffins, donuts, and African Ginger Tea. They are such a hospitable and friendly family - we could have just talked with them for hours!<br />
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After our bellies were stuffed and we said our good-byes, we drove about 2 1/2 hours west to <a href="http://www.uwa.or.ug/murchison.html">Murchison Falls National Park</a> for an African Safari!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EnTMXT6gQ6EsrIJiaiOfFlK-kaVIPA4kMpKPz-CPuxv4Vgs8RtPTIsNEB-etnctM4bgyd7B2-GCWy2VOat9Djebm4oEHTbtpYzHvGio-_PSyVZS153bTKhhK0XMDZjv537AmRetAZg0/s1600/100_0627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8EnTMXT6gQ6EsrIJiaiOfFlK-kaVIPA4kMpKPz-CPuxv4Vgs8RtPTIsNEB-etnctM4bgyd7B2-GCWy2VOat9Djebm4oEHTbtpYzHvGio-_PSyVZS153bTKhhK0XMDZjv537AmRetAZg0/s320/100_0627.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ea2Mqn438JSIH7bODhy235HbjS51WA6BXkU_zRyPYi1s1qzghYbl5nYw9gfBoiNTchFM45tZTPmLK5EsoYqx1wXnNi8AJqHKy6da8tQhZqAXTbNKnGa2s3mn5ot-DBWkSFL5rNBthF4/s1600/100_0735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Ea2Mqn438JSIH7bODhy235HbjS51WA6BXkU_zRyPYi1s1qzghYbl5nYw9gfBoiNTchFM45tZTPmLK5EsoYqx1wXnNi8AJqHKy6da8tQhZqAXTbNKnGa2s3mn5ot-DBWkSFL5rNBthF4/s200/100_0735.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>I've always wanted to go on a safari but never thought I'd really have the chance. It was so surreal - I couldn't even believe it was really happening! Our van had a sun roof so Kelley and Derk sat on top of the van and I stood through the window as we drove the path. We saw gazelles, antelopes, deer, giraffes, boar hogs and water buffalo.<br />
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</div>We drove for about 2 1/2 hours thinking we were possibly lost then out of nowhere our lodge appeared. Oh my word! This is by far the nicest place I have ever stayed at! And I can't believe it's in the middle of Nowhere, Uganda! After seeing such awful poverty and after having such an emotional 2 weeks, it was certainly a site for sore eyes! We walked into the lobby to check in and were greeted with passion juice and cool, wet rags to clean ourselves after our "journey". We then checked into our own rooms and oh my goodness! I am so undeserving - especially after what I've seen in Lira. But it almost made me feel like a princess! Our hotel is called <a href="http://www.paraalodge.com/thelodge.html">The Para Lodge</a> and it's a 5 star hotel. I seriously think I could probably live here - well, if the rest of my friends and family were here, I could ;-)<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">The first thing I did was take a shower. It felt so good to have a "normal" shower, it literally brought tears to my eyes. For the first time in almost 2 weeks, I had warm water that didn't stink and great water pressure. I was in heaven! A good shower is very much underrated! Electricity is only on during certain hours but at least we had power - another thing that is highly underrated and I will never take for granted again. More bonuses - I had no crickets in my room, it was very clean and I felt totally safe for the first time since I had been on my trip. And the view out of my window is THE Nile River! The Nile River! So rich of history! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>I'm sitting here writing and thinking I can't believe I'm here and I'm on the downside of our two week trip to Africa. It's been amazing - I've seen much with my eyes and heard much with my ears - much more sadness than I'd like to like to experience, even in my lifetime. But I wouldn't change it for the world. We came and accomplished what we intended to do and even did a little more than what our original goals were set for.<br />
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I've seen and I've heard what God wanted me to and now I'm ready to go back home. Of course, I missed my family and friends before I even left Oklahoma but now I go back with new eyes. You can't go to a third world country and see what we've seen and not be changed. I feel like I've always been a pretty "simple" person who doesn't place a lot of emphasis on "things", but especially now, after I've seen so many people do without so much "stuff" - it really puts things into perspective and makes you rethink how you live your life and what you put emphasis on - whether it be the kind of clothes you wear, what school your kids go to, what neighborhood you live in, how big your house is, what kind of toys and gadgets you have, where you vacation, how you spend your free time, etc. In the end, <u>none</u> of this matters. What does matter is how your life has glorified God and how you pointed others to Him. Americans could be so much happier if they would just be themselves and stop trying to impress one another. We have such an "entitlement" mentality - we think we deserve things and we want everything now - or yesterday. We are impatient and don't wait on God's timing or His blessings. We take too many things for granted, yet we deserve nothing.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgdh7_eKhenf0pg7cNZ4BzhbCANMDutde1jIOAuGt0g8clPt_Hq_jUquDFj-2NROPiv1oglDiwPseH7os4V2nrXsQSH-ZqO0TNPh-XC1cwmYrJT5B6l-u3QH2uWL7NQ1GB16ZjMqCJuU/s1600/IMG_3967.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilgdh7_eKhenf0pg7cNZ4BzhbCANMDutde1jIOAuGt0g8clPt_Hq_jUquDFj-2NROPiv1oglDiwPseH7os4V2nrXsQSH-ZqO0TNPh-XC1cwmYrJT5B6l-u3QH2uWL7NQ1GB16ZjMqCJuU/s200/IMG_3967.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>I pray that I will always remember my experiences in Uganda. I pray that God will use those experiences to make me a better person and to see things in a new light.<br />
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Thank you, God, for allowing me this opportunity of a lifetime!<br />
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Two more days and I'll be home! Oh, what a happy day that will be!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-11145542859154312762011-01-31T09:05:00.000-08:002011-01-31T21:15:58.616-08:00Uganda Trip - Day 11<u>Friday, Dec. 10</u> -<br />
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Today's notes from my girls...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLug9iYjx03cDh5wP1xtABG4bYx-gyAuCcOsZAsb-13CnZBZkfCaJV58L3lyNVD09GDs38xIB8miQf9Jx1KLMmYSaPtysgFtsxRn7UxFRaLnDJRjEMPteMbsFylE937IdJ27Smcmbon20/s1600/100_0646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLug9iYjx03cDh5wP1xtABG4bYx-gyAuCcOsZAsb-13CnZBZkfCaJV58L3lyNVD09GDs38xIB8miQf9Jx1KLMmYSaPtysgFtsxRn7UxFRaLnDJRjEMPteMbsFylE937IdJ27Smcmbon20/s200/100_0646.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Today we met our Ugandan Project Hope Worldwide friends, Tony and Dennis, at a local hotel for a business meeting to discuss details about Calo Me Lare's future. I wore long shorts and a t-shirt (a big no no here as women who dress like that in Uganda are known as prostitutes!) thinking we would be right back after the meeting. Needless to say, it is now midnight and we are just now getting back to our hotel! So there is no telling what the people of Lira thought about me prancing around their district today ;-) The meeting was great and we're so excited to have Tony and Dennis on our team. They have a passion for helping those in need and are two of the most hard working men I know. They are a huge asset to Project Hope.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolt4YT1Hg1TnhFkXNOyWgI79dFQvfdzc8D_K8T1CbyOesypfI01bFXpnwdcq8WmKPtvQoSY43XhkJoftMNmCRSj_trR1oixB7uYI4rZYiS2RpXUJLDGUq2pZEwuMsa3XvpTxhkNzSGQk/s1600/100_0716.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolt4YT1Hg1TnhFkXNOyWgI79dFQvfdzc8D_K8T1CbyOesypfI01bFXpnwdcq8WmKPtvQoSY43XhkJoftMNmCRSj_trR1oixB7uYI4rZYiS2RpXUJLDGUq2pZEwuMsa3XvpTxhkNzSGQk/s200/100_0716.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>After the meeting, we went to meet our last orphan who was only three years old. Her three sweet and caring brothers are taking care of her since their parents have both died from HIV/AIDS. Sadly, we found out when we met her that she just tested positive for HIV yesterday when she had her medical check-up. Unfortunately, Calo Me Lare is unable to accept those that test HIV positive so we weren't able to take her. It just made us sick to our stomach to know that this precious, innocent little girl had already been infected. It's amazing to me how rampant AIDS is in this country - even affecting the smallest of its citizens.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><embed height="300" src="http://w1122.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw1122.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl536%2FProjectHopeWorldwide%2FDay 11 in Uganda%2Fcc8d8896.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed></div><br />
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Derk, Kelley and I then went to visit a church that our church back home actually planted in 2008. The preacher is David Papakakiro and it was great to see a church that seemed to be thriving and reaching out to the community.<br />
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Next, we walked through Jinja Camp which is part of the Lira District. This is a building we saw as we were walking - of course, I had to take a picture of it! ;-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5TcNMn-LZrwUDAMUMsqY4SkawWkCugcqo3lwGBenIITTxFjMcyIMEzdXG2QxfhT1Ov_Kna-ogYlSDnj4N8cbs7pm2LLOJ6UYz50IN96kF9Xg_2PXptp9VFJ_RX6VPQArIVv0NJL_EJ8/s1600/276373731v4_150x150_Front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5TcNMn-LZrwUDAMUMsqY4SkawWkCugcqo3lwGBenIITTxFjMcyIMEzdXG2QxfhT1Ov_Kna-ogYlSDnj4N8cbs7pm2LLOJ6UYz50IN96kF9Xg_2PXptp9VFJ_RX6VPQArIVv0NJL_EJ8/s1600/276373731v4_150x150_Front.jpg" /></a></div><a href="http://www.socceruganda.com/">Soccer is huge here</a> and a big game was being shown at a local bar so we decided to stop and watch some of it. Tanzania vs. Uganda - let's just say Ugandan soccer fans are a little more reserved than Oklahoma fans of any sport. Uganda ended up loosing and everyone just stood up out of their chairs and left - saying nothing to anyone. Very interesting.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hJDLCU6SL1E_Go_Mh868gc-HvJdQAewX5oks8YPNjbyEW1o1G9uJPVoduvrNRHxp6tlJ-T6FLYbcAPgxxb2v4h1LRYg92PfAYn64p859_VuIY2MLiNkTLLx30PU6zusFMZNxJ9LYYpM/s1600/100_0726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5hJDLCU6SL1E_Go_Mh868gc-HvJdQAewX5oks8YPNjbyEW1o1G9uJPVoduvrNRHxp6tlJ-T6FLYbcAPgxxb2v4h1LRYg92PfAYn64p859_VuIY2MLiNkTLLx30PU6zusFMZNxJ9LYYpM/s200/100_0726.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>That night, we ate dinner at the house of Tony's aunt. She fixed a traditional Ugandan favorite dish called malaquan, which is a rich spinach and peanut sauce. We poured it over baked sweet potatoes and ate them with our hands, no utensils - very ethnic ;-) The food was so good and she even left us each a jar of homemade malaquan to make when we get back home!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmDOmZpEcS0A4ogCSNBAH5wLRAKb8HxxVenYYOU2Ry-Jv-S1W1BovrzPK7sGNVVk9rODS2ra6LndUveTOHy6nkLtjysPkGI4f6NdEjLyhk-fVYVzuztDxVOxYK-_M8UX5XM7wsO3TYc4/s1600/100_0727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmDOmZpEcS0A4ogCSNBAH5wLRAKb8HxxVenYYOU2Ry-Jv-S1W1BovrzPK7sGNVVk9rODS2ra6LndUveTOHy6nkLtjysPkGI4f6NdEjLyhk-fVYVzuztDxVOxYK-_M8UX5XM7wsO3TYc4/s200/100_0727.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>If you look closely at the picture of her house, you'll see this flyer. Tony is actually going to be the next mayor of Lira in February 2011! We are so proud of him and his hard work. We know he will bring great positive change to their district!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhROO2NSLnfFm3ZSEpOnFtJGtKH55rchE2V6eljtMXIuuK7wXXfDLQJwaFEiA2ZXKnCQnfJ6V4gjFCUjxuA9DHLTKNhknZk4gDvYF4u-mUZjQRzyK4Glj1YTG3qgE0S006S-KEgGVn58/s1600/DSC_6027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhROO2NSLnfFm3ZSEpOnFtJGtKH55rchE2V6eljtMXIuuK7wXXfDLQJwaFEiA2ZXKnCQnfJ6V4gjFCUjxuA9DHLTKNhknZk4gDvYF4u-mUZjQRzyK4Glj1YTG3qgE0S006S-KEgGVn58/s200/DSC_6027.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Last night, I forgot to mention we ate an FaBuLoUs Asian-style dinner at the home of a French Canadian missionary family. John Cottrell, his wife Sylvia, and their two sons have traveled everywhere from Cambodia to Europe to Uganda teaching people - not only about God, but life skills to help them obtain a better way of living. They are an amazing family and I really enjoyed talking with them. They are a great resource for Project Hope Worldwide and we were so thankful for their advice and friendship. They are also really into healthy living and I loved getting a tour of their gardens. They had huge banana, lemon and papaya trees and they told us several of the medicinal benefits of many of the plants they were growing. They were a wealth of information!<br />
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After tonight's dinner, we went back to the Cottrell's house for a "nightcap". We roasted marshmallows and ate pumpkin pie and popcorn. It was a perfect night to celebrate our last night in Lira! They have invited us back for breakfast in the morning, then we head to <a href="http://www.uwa.or.ug/murchison.html">Murchison Falls</a> for an African Safari! Can not wait!!!<br />
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I learned some very sad and disturbing news tonight. A few nights ago, a "Christian" Crusade was held in a field right behind our hotel. We could hear <b>LOUD</b> music being played until about 4 in the morning! Apparently 30 women were raped that night and 2 died from their injuries! All the while, the "police" watched and did nothing! Nothing?!?! Two weeks ago someone here was stoned to death for stealing someone else's cow, yet a woman here can be totally violated and it's no big deal. What is wrong with this picture?! It is 2010 and still animals are treated better than women here! There is such a huge need for someone to start a movement here teaching women how to protect themselves and to speak out when they are violated. They need to know it is not okay to be abused and that they deserve to be shown respect and treated humanely.<br />
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I have to get up early in the morning so I better stop now because I could probably write a book because of the anger I have right now. I suppose it's okay to be angry - it's what you do with your anger that matters most. I suppose I need to channel my "fury" into something positive instead of spending all my time male bashing. So I'll sign off here and go pray.<br />
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Sweet dreams! :-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-29191833667590230932011-01-29T13:44:00.000-08:002011-02-01T20:16:45.975-08:00Uganda Trip - Day 10<u>Thursday, Dec. 9</u> -<br />
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Today's notes from my girls...<br />
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So it rained last night and I have found when it rains here, bugs make a B-line to the indoors! I have to say I was a little freaked out when I woke up and saw bugs on the floor next to my front door and up the wall all along the doorway. Huge grasshoppers were in my room on the curtains, walls, everywhere! There was also another strange type of bug with long wings - some people said they were queen ants, others said they were white termites.<br />
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So, being the brave bug warrior I am - NOT! - I kept my distance and got ready in a hurry that morning. I went to breakfast and by the time I got back, the housekeeper had already swept all the bugs from my room - well, almost all the bugs. I still had about 4 huge grasshoppers so I asked the hotel attendant if she had a broom I could borrow to get the rest of the bugs out of my room. She followed me to my room and I showed her where the rest of the bugs were. She proceeded to pick up the large grasshoppers WITH HER BARE HANDS!!! My jaw dropped to the floor. I told her she was my hero. ;-) Evidently, grasshoppers are a delicacy here. In fact, I saw several of the groundskeepers walking around picking up the grasshoppers and putting them in empty water bottles to cook them up later. They say they taste like shrimp - and no, I did not taste them to find out!<br />
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After that bit of "fun", we set out to find 2 more orphans that will be living at <a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/www.projecthopeworldwide.org/Where_We_Serve.html">Calo Me Lare</a>. We located the first one in a far away village and found out that he also had a twin sister. We didn't want to split them up so we added another orphan today!<br />
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Tony Ochen and his sister, Apio Harriet...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><embed height="300" src="http://w1122.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw1122.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl536%2FProjectHopeWorldwide%2FTony and Harriet%2F3f38b5d9.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed></div><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/b85z7aFf9mA?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="350"></iframe><br />
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In fact, we added 3 new orphans today because we learned that 3 of our orphans had twin siblings. Our numbers are growing rapidly! Because of this growth, we decided we need to hire at least 2 new house mothers and we'll have to get started on building the school right away. It's exciting to see the growth and changes right before my eyes!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcHXJCZdE7ApdZSTyO7Cs1c-JmeO2hWcRpucA9j2kebZsiOvxZ2p0UI0zyXIGSjoh9mZDxGySVa785DpfN6CQaavJ0NlWHi5IFREm2LEIWcari7ywJCTr14eXakALmTA-2eYUppg6JPQ/s1600/100_0676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEcHXJCZdE7ApdZSTyO7Cs1c-JmeO2hWcRpucA9j2kebZsiOvxZ2p0UI0zyXIGSjoh9mZDxGySVa785DpfN6CQaavJ0NlWHi5IFREm2LEIWcari7ywJCTr14eXakALmTA-2eYUppg6JPQ/s200/100_0676.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>The next orphan we found was Tracy. Her father died in 2007 of an illness he had for a long time. Sadly, her mother just died about five months ago from HIV/AIDS. She has a sister, who is nine, but she is also sick with AIDS. Her aunt, who has no children of her own, was taking care of both girls but decided it was too much to take care of Tracy and gave her to a drunk uncle. He was abusive to her and did not look after her well. We knew she had to be removed immediately from that situation so we went to her village with the intention of taking her - and that's exactly what we did. (We did this legally, of course. The uncle signed over his rights and Tracy is now an adopted child of Calo Me Lare where she will live until she is 18 years of age.) The sad thing is that out of all the local villagers, not one questioned what we were doing or where we were taking her. I suppose they saw it as one less mouth to feed and one less child to keep up with.<br />
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When we first met Tracy, She was very reserved, scared and even cried for a while. Kelley gave her some licorice and sat next to her, trying to warm up to her. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DXSkF6z09r4?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="350"></iframe><br />
<br />
Our Ugandan helper and interpreter, Dennis, asked everyone to move away from the area so they could bond and develop a relationship. Tracy liked the candy and even sat in Kelley's lap. Almost immediately, she cracked a little grin then fell asleep in Kelley's arms. I don't know if she was exhausted or just relieved to feel someone love on her. I think, probably for the first time ever, she finally felt safe.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="youtube-player" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mFosFdLACdI?rel=0" title="YouTube video player" type="text/html" width="350"></iframe><br />
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After she fell into a deep sleep, Kelley carried her to our van and climbed inside. This is a video I shot as we were walking to the van. I even got to meet the "Creator of the Planet" herself. That was an "interesting" conversation, let me tell ya ;-)<br />
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<br />
We took her back to our hotel where she continued to sleep on a blanket on the courtyard lawn. After she woke up, we fed her some chicken and french fries. She ate and drank quite a bit for a little girl! Then, Kelley gave her a bath and put some new, clean clothes on her - the very outfit she purchased at the auction we attended last Sunday! Tracy looked and acted like a totally different child. Kelley gave her an orange pop and she loved that, too!<br />
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Then we had to figure out what to do with Little Miss Tracy. We knew we couldn't take her back to her village and it wasn't in her best interest if she stayed with us "white people". So, we took her to our Ugandan friend, Tony's, family where she could stay temporarily and be cared for until Calo Me Lare was completed in February. Tony's family has lots of children, mothers and grandmothers that will love on Tracy and care for her as if she was their own.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><embed height="300" src="http://w1122.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw1122.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl536%2FProjectHopeWorldwide%2FSaving Tracy%2Fe4d82cd8.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
It was bitter sweet to see Tracy go. We had developed a little relationship with her and she even smiled and laughed some while under our care. I pray for Tracy - that God would protect her and keep her from HIV/AIDS. I pray that she is taught of God's love while living at Calo Me Lare and that she comes to know and accept His love. I pray that she never goes hungry and that she has clean water to drink. I pray that she receives an excellent education and becomes a great leader in her community. I pray for good health and that she is a blessing to all those around her. I pray that she loves, fears, and serves God with all her heart, mind, and soul. This is my prayer for all the orphans at Calo Me Lare and around the world. Amen.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-68551379775736783552011-01-21T20:19:00.000-08:002011-01-26T06:08:49.431-08:00"Challenges"<u>Wednesday, Dec. 8</u> -<br />
<br />
I'm not complaining here. This is just a little list I came up with of challenges on my trip. I've learned it's all just part of the experience and you have to roll with the punches!<br />
;-)<br />
<br />
* Brushing my teeth with bottled water<br />
<br />
* 90 degree weather in December (actually, I think I could get used to this!)<br />
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* No internet service = driving me nuts!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHB7qE2PP6alu9zm3SXwWD49oT1gpKoVY3Qvd7NDU1-93N7Mugwfzs5m4R6nnKhphLLl1S9q_aVQfu28fGi3lhToPfUCieQngO0Id0bdTnJyVo1DwUaBEkUbidBlemwjep_HcyA0Y_w_Q/s1600/100_0088.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHB7qE2PP6alu9zm3SXwWD49oT1gpKoVY3Qvd7NDU1-93N7Mugwfzs5m4R6nnKhphLLl1S9q_aVQfu28fGi3lhToPfUCieQngO0Id0bdTnJyVo1DwUaBEkUbidBlemwjep_HcyA0Y_w_Q/s200/100_0088.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>* Sleeping with a mosquito net. There must be a trick to it because I keep getting all twisted in mine!<br />
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* There's only 1 plug in my hotel room that I can use at a time. So, I have to decide between using a fan to cool my room, charging my electronics or using my hair dryer ;-)<br />
<br />
* Let's just say I REALLY miss food back home. I'm definitely going to have <a href="http://www.tedscafe.com/">Ted's</a> very soon after I get back!<br />
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* Wearing long skirts. I'm kind of a t-shirt and sweats kinda gal.<br />
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* Showering with a trickle of cold water<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzE_cl0qLV6dCr-u58zj74T9U3oMMGv2wzzz784tBoiYPAbAdiLvAXuwTnwdYrXH40s9RqPSfN04CLIiUGOikVtSs4fOCQFLz9STLDQab9hHTE6Vg7xmNiVEAGZCZBOTBXGrv4_ysfkqA/s1600/100_0438.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzE_cl0qLV6dCr-u58zj74T9U3oMMGv2wzzz784tBoiYPAbAdiLvAXuwTnwdYrXH40s9RqPSfN04CLIiUGOikVtSs4fOCQFLz9STLDQab9hHTE6Vg7xmNiVEAGZCZBOTBXGrv4_ysfkqA/s200/100_0438.JPG" width="150" /></a>* It's December and I've only seen a few Christmas trees here but the ones I've seen have been decorated very "interestingly". Let's just say they really like garland hung in a vertical fashion here in Uganda ;-)<br />
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* It takes a very long time to get food when you order at a restaurant - sometimes even a few hours. I think it's because they don't have refrigeration & they actually have to go to market and get everything fresh.<br />
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* You never know if you're going to have electricity or not. I was told the entire district of Lira was recently without electricity for several months! Can't even imagine that back in the States!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1g9wwTojitBXV7DpaqN8NhQQTvap2xOYG7QNBvIi1T72-2h2U9cjnIyAWWlyNYFSun9CRnMRNP_uujBiSZbqZwa_Zwae8WxzS66djCmSrUxKuFE0pX7X6TGhkjlwZGvk2-00-F9ZC6M/s1600/100_0084.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie1g9wwTojitBXV7DpaqN8NhQQTvap2xOYG7QNBvIi1T72-2h2U9cjnIyAWWlyNYFSun9CRnMRNP_uujBiSZbqZwa_Zwae8WxzS66djCmSrUxKuFE0pX7X6TGhkjlwZGvk2-00-F9ZC6M/s200/100_0084.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>* I can only flush my toilet about once an hour because it takes that long for it to fill up with water again for the next use ;-)<br />
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* Our hotel has a small outdoor bar right outside my room and they keep playing <u>really</u> bad really loud country music. I think they are trying to satisfy the American visitors ;-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-76326306438307244972011-01-21T19:47:00.000-08:002011-01-31T21:17:40.042-08:00Uganda Trip - Day 9<u>Wednesday, Dec. 8</u> -<br />
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Today's notes from my girls...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_d7Z8H_2xDE1moS8E-nZtYOsKRNEdU481_gsm598W3rLBksEc_5HdT-D5N1aZzOIBIxyAFw4E1vV5AknnxUZWb6DToRxlyQcGutB-O1d81huKJjpm-Ftf0DRE5eIVI6r0nUtJPj8m9w/s1600/day+9+notes+from+girls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic_d7Z8H_2xDE1moS8E-nZtYOsKRNEdU481_gsm598W3rLBksEc_5HdT-D5N1aZzOIBIxyAFw4E1vV5AknnxUZWb6DToRxlyQcGutB-O1d81huKJjpm-Ftf0DRE5eIVI6r0nUtJPj8m9w/s320/day+9+notes+from+girls.jpg" width="251" /></a></div><br />
Today we had lunch at the <a href="http://pathministries.net/">Otino-Waa</a> Cafe with two Lira government officials. (Otino-Waa is the orphanage <a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/www.projecthopeworldwide.org/Where_We_Serve.html">Calo Me Lare</a> is modeled after that I mentioned in an earlier <a href="http://steppingoutsideofmybox.blogspot.com/2011/01/uganda-trip-day-6.html">post</a>.)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9TZ3b9kyFstCjdEnL-3Fh7lp3RYYcVJYHt4wb2aud-GsvgaXrD7onIBqPfRjZIojGhFoZqqlr0Z4dPiQ8nwBLHuuyrwvR-jUwtDLvAdQVQOYqqplGoEM5IVtpuJryOkUQ8TFZ9YcCl0/s1600/100_0634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN9TZ3b9kyFstCjdEnL-3Fh7lp3RYYcVJYHt4wb2aud-GsvgaXrD7onIBqPfRjZIojGhFoZqqlr0Z4dPiQ8nwBLHuuyrwvR-jUwtDLvAdQVQOYqqplGoEM5IVtpuJryOkUQ8TFZ9YcCl0/s320/100_0634.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/">Project Hope Worldwide</a> wants to establish early a friendly relationship with the government so that they can see we are trying to help promote positive change in their community. We also want to have their complete backing in the decisions we make. We discussed with the leaders what our goals were with the orphanage and how we were modeling Calo Me Lare off of the successfully run Otino-Waa Orphanage.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Isqiiz6Uh6w0kvMDgnzpcYXZ_NBWLc11-EyNWA-eeIZkE-V45k0BYEX2dwK7cBp7sGZ-YB7cR5R_Dq21Bf8b-1lTPPEJwLPGFdkwcgQF7mV8Wbu6PBLBU3EI2KPn7xqsyB0pQ6GZvYQ/s1600/100_0635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Isqiiz6Uh6w0kvMDgnzpcYXZ_NBWLc11-EyNWA-eeIZkE-V45k0BYEX2dwK7cBp7sGZ-YB7cR5R_Dq21Bf8b-1lTPPEJwLPGFdkwcgQF7mV8Wbu6PBLBU3EI2KPn7xqsyB0pQ6GZvYQ/s320/100_0635.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We then drove out to see Calo Me Lare and the progress we have made so far. They were actually really excited about our project and apparently they've even posted information about it on their government website.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxDd3Vytaqjo99wysJmKfEe3guPTzjRnwxU0erwi9TUBRRG_tbtXo0LNGmAU-qHm9wYcqRcX6kXOB7nDGVZ8u9dFsKqBGryijeZVzDApGZhxy5xiLmxZ4205ngUZ7v0llnNoVckoXlHo/s1600/100_0639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbxDd3Vytaqjo99wysJmKfEe3guPTzjRnwxU0erwi9TUBRRG_tbtXo0LNGmAU-qHm9wYcqRcX6kXOB7nDGVZ8u9dFsKqBGryijeZVzDApGZhxy5xiLmxZ4205ngUZ7v0llnNoVckoXlHo/s320/100_0639.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOEe-QIc0eKkK1hmyiL3z1BCWA1V-i7g5af-RsCEaPL-U-k3SvWTleqOj_7LjxroMwI7g0sb3Phxg872vBTuMwuXqf-_av26LPKBeJJgTSNno0_nsKTbQfwvheY2H1ErA_v8auJPvYHo/s1600/100_0640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIOEe-QIc0eKkK1hmyiL3z1BCWA1V-i7g5af-RsCEaPL-U-k3SvWTleqOj_7LjxroMwI7g0sb3Phxg872vBTuMwuXqf-_av26LPKBeJJgTSNno0_nsKTbQfwvheY2H1ErA_v8auJPvYHo/s320/100_0640.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>They reminded us of the importance of teaching the children skills that will help them as they grow older and when they go back out to their villages. They also gave us advice on purchasing more land, what to plant on our land, and where to plant particular types of vegetation.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQ-NiRuzQ77y4Bn2uPfFhmNbnTea-GxQE8MrIZBwPm08oCjQQq64ZxS8T0kivJX7B6TcVz4Gm90iaL0pKgOf-Rsf8b6j1rqmCyCBLKcFcJCTlkJD7udhfeLzozdKMzGsMSWE5eiwPKDw/s1600/100_0642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigQ-NiRuzQ77y4Bn2uPfFhmNbnTea-GxQE8MrIZBwPm08oCjQQq64ZxS8T0kivJX7B6TcVz4Gm90iaL0pKgOf-Rsf8b6j1rqmCyCBLKcFcJCTlkJD7udhfeLzozdKMzGsMSWE5eiwPKDw/s320/100_0642.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bwndh8c9f1C7NP_leIJcWyfEvkzZp6XGMUPCSQIG0qRXTox38PqnVv3ahci9XHXf1Ipq7VD8yzm2JP-cZJbnNs7I6syj1jQ0U6Q3ukt1CSABp3O_QCttVN0s7b1UaYGCJakr2qvuAXI/s1600/155562_1779934018463_1242797571_32162624_6689590_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3bwndh8c9f1C7NP_leIJcWyfEvkzZp6XGMUPCSQIG0qRXTox38PqnVv3ahci9XHXf1Ipq7VD8yzm2JP-cZJbnNs7I6syj1jQ0U6Q3ukt1CSABp3O_QCttVN0s7b1UaYGCJakr2qvuAXI/s320/155562_1779934018463_1242797571_32162624_6689590_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Helmut Schleppi</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;">All in all, it was a great and encouraging meeting.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="224" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/18640820?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="350"></iframe><br />
Video by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1110794/">Helmut Schleppi</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-44527893302347303852011-01-15T13:43:00.000-08:002011-01-15T13:58:46.787-08:00Uganda Trip - Day 8<div style="text-align: left;">Today's notes from my girls...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzTqiJqkUZJjhpQztozRxtQq6HKe-Ly4e2h38U1Rdz0x3sE-eUbhMEiE-XXnqjMHnv6pJuLVI_p_PcleuvjYtyoD2Jc-sNKNKQnHX5R_hi0YTcZw6GYOXz0jhd6A0ZWWGfbKj7Ezqfow/s1600/day+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzTqiJqkUZJjhpQztozRxtQq6HKe-Ly4e2h38U1Rdz0x3sE-eUbhMEiE-XXnqjMHnv6pJuLVI_p_PcleuvjYtyoD2Jc-sNKNKQnHX5R_hi0YTcZw6GYOXz0jhd6A0ZWWGfbKj7Ezqfow/s320/day+8.jpg" width="257" /></a></div><u><br />
</u><br />
<u>Tuesday, Dec. 7</u> -</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WjTedxO5Ur-QZcgmJe1qts-Y1tVqs08t1KW-LDpV8C5O_peyU04BHtsV5so0t-WhVnm2XLz4xOfFXqnhB85v8ZLczETAHyeVGZQ9Jc3vMtmV-68fFRX7l4RYwfnqzD7VSrrDPLjoKy0/s1600/full-moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WjTedxO5Ur-QZcgmJe1qts-Y1tVqs08t1KW-LDpV8C5O_peyU04BHtsV5so0t-WhVnm2XLz4xOfFXqnhB85v8ZLczETAHyeVGZQ9Jc3vMtmV-68fFRX7l4RYwfnqzD7VSrrDPLjoKy0/s200/full-moon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Funny I was just thinking about how I've been so peaceful and calm this week but then something happened last night that totally freaked me out. I've learned you don't always know if you are going to have power in Uganda and it just so happened to shut off at 11:00 last night. I could deal with no air conditioning - but the pitch darkness basically scared the bejeebers out of me. I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face - it was so dark! Plus, it was super quiet and I'm used to sleeping with the noise of a fan so the silence was quite maddening to me. This definitely went down as one of the most scary moments of my life. I was all by myself in my hotel room sitting in pitch darkness in the middle of Uganda. I'm not normally a "fearful" person, but this trip has definitely brought out my fears. As mentioned <a href="http://steppingoutsideofmybox.blogspot.com/2010/12/uganda-trip-day-1.html">earlier</a>, even before we left for our trip, my mind was playing games with me. I would find my imagination going wild - especially at night, asleep or not. Shortly after the electricity went off, I got to talk to Steve and the girls which cheered me up for a little while but then I tried to sleep and away my imagination went again. My heart was pounding so fast and so loud, I literally thought I could hear it.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLHCxfA1wHJyEdXpt2trnGPAY2Oahx94EWIR7VQ5QTq1RNmyPCRVwDDqRMwdFwXhD3XJ-tBAOZyG3oJTGxHvm0F8BpUDft5nGZ3RI5OeUGOdqYS3gpRbcA2u-2NmPj-5fytWmZh-Ajg4/s1600/praying-hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLHCxfA1wHJyEdXpt2trnGPAY2Oahx94EWIR7VQ5QTq1RNmyPCRVwDDqRMwdFwXhD3XJ-tBAOZyG3oJTGxHvm0F8BpUDft5nGZ3RI5OeUGOdqYS3gpRbcA2u-2NmPj-5fytWmZh-Ajg4/s200/praying-hands.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>So that "fun" lasted about 3 or 4 hours. During that time I listened to a few <a href="http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/sermons">Mark Driscoll podcasts</a> on my iPod and the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Peace-Earth-Casting-Crowns/dp/B001EOQUWS">Casting Crowns Christmas CD</a> for I don't know how many times. Finally, about 3 in the morning I decided it was silly for me to freak myself out the way I was. Worrying and being fearful was getting me nowhere. I started to pray (what a brilliant concept!) and suddenly a peace came over me. I think I finally fell asleep about 5 in the morning but I learned a valuable lesson that night. When I get scared, I need to pray <b><u>first</u></b>. Not freak out first or give in to my fears - but pray first. I knew that God was in that room with me but I didn't acknowledge it. He knew I was scared - all I had to do was pray and ask Him to take my fears away. I often times learn valuable lessons the hard way. Ugh! ;-/<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFaEpFmCMD20sSb3e4TKLvHg0gSBfbVBV628s9ywSJY9n69mAc6rX2pxoycYY4sPmmhMKtKHeq9jfJa45NxzjDOnzu5UrUV-Aqbv3HEckdz1eQbSr6aU-G4BDArZT85wXltCPZFnI3NU/s1600/100_0604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQFaEpFmCMD20sSb3e4TKLvHg0gSBfbVBV628s9ywSJY9n69mAc6rX2pxoycYY4sPmmhMKtKHeq9jfJa45NxzjDOnzu5UrUV-Aqbv3HEckdz1eQbSr6aU-G4BDArZT85wXltCPZFnI3NU/s200/100_0604.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>I was so tired this morning from getting no sleep that I had to miss an 8:30 meeting I was going to attend. I hated to miss it but I was just exhausted - mentally and physically. After I finally got around, Kelley and I decided to go walk around the market again. I must have really made a breakthrough on overcoming fears last night because the <a href="http://steppingoutsideofmybox.blogspot.com/2011/01/uganda-trip-day-5.html">last time we went to the market</a>, Jimmy went with us and I stayed right by his side. He and I were both on guard at every moment. But this time I felt so much more relaxed and I just tried to enjoy the atmosphere and meeting the people.<br />
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This is a funny "ha ha" that normally would have totally freaked me out...As we walked to the market, some kind of political gathering was going on. I think they were trying to encourage young people to vote in the upcoming elections. So Kelley and I are walking and all of a sudden we see this tribal-looking dance troupe. They went up on stage and did their thing then danced off when it was over.<br />
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One of the dancers saw I was taking pictures so he came over to me and asked me to take his picture, too! I thought it was too good of an opportunity to pass up - I just had to jump in, too. So I handed off my camera to Kelley and she snapped the two of us together...<br />
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He was not impressed that I was in the picture, too. He asked if I would take it again - him by himself ;-) So I did...<br />
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He loved looking at himself on my camera. After he walked off, Kelley and I cracked up laughing that I even thought to do that - very unlike myself. It was quite hilarious! Here's some more pics I took as we walked around Lira...<br />
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This is a meat butcher. Eeek! Check out the blood dripping from the meat in the window. Disgusting! And no, they don't have refrigeration. Everything is sold "fresh"...<br />
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This is a "normal" occurrence you see around Uganda - armed soldiers. Took me a bit to get used to seeing them. Good thing I didn't get caught taking this picture. You can get in big trouble for taking pictures of the soldiers.<br />
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And another typical occurrence - lizards. I actually thought the little guys were kinda cute ;-)<br />
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So later in the afternoon, Jimmy, Dennis and I went to the same three villages we went to yesterday. We took soccer balls and gum to two of the villages. Soccer is hugely popular here and the kids loved receiving the balls. And who doesn't like gum?! ;-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Then we took baby formula to the mother and grandmother we saw <a href="http://steppingoutsideofmybox.blogspot.com/2011/01/uganda-trip-day-7.html">yesterday</a> who had been feeding their baby sugar water. We showed them how to mix the formula and water to make milk. She really needs to boil the water first but I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen. Hopefully it will at least provide some nourishment and save the baby's life.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTg0bAPynErKFiVymkQysrb6sUupSArS4_V3urgsQzEG-dhkT2Ujdi4PKuTEy88rcOoobkgUo0Iw1iUnh-9XplITLdIMO91HLaytinFjbiwOkUEsg0GVAi7Iyo2grNckIg5-_OfTfBN4/s1600/100_0645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTg0bAPynErKFiVymkQysrb6sUupSArS4_V3urgsQzEG-dhkT2Ujdi4PKuTEy88rcOoobkgUo0Iw1iUnh-9XplITLdIMO91HLaytinFjbiwOkUEsg0GVAi7Iyo2grNckIg5-_OfTfBN4/s200/100_0645.JPG" width="164" /></a></div>I loved going out with Jimmy and Dennis today because we actually got to help some of the families here and bring smiles to their faces. After we went to the villages, we went back and picked up Derk and Kelley and went to check on the progress on <a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/www.projecthopeworldwide.org/Where_We_Serve.html">Calo Me Lare</a>. We saw this teenager there on the grounds hanging out with some friends. He was pretty well-spoken and told us how he'd like to go to school but his family couldn't afford it. So Derk offered him a job right there on the spot to start clearing the undeveloped land at Calo Me Lare. An agreement was made that his income would go to pay his school dues. He was so happy - you could just see the hope in his eyes.<br />
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At the end of the day, we went out to eat at one of the three restaurants we had to choose from. Let's just say I can not wait to get home and eat American food. And no, I did not try the fish. Apparently, my fears crept back in ;-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKd7MZWtMQIod-KwkiVwOQFR8VkdZwQXRQ1Y3I122GT9PW8guzfL41oc1KqX7c4pFB_iDJEYK8m-BKwsoJa_7E7MvRY6wFNBp9cUE2fLYU6nlZJZJt9B_K7nU8PuirFB8N6VaBAXxCmzA/s1600/100_0648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKd7MZWtMQIod-KwkiVwOQFR8VkdZwQXRQ1Y3I122GT9PW8guzfL41oc1KqX7c4pFB_iDJEYK8m-BKwsoJa_7E7MvRY6wFNBp9cUE2fLYU6nlZJZJt9B_K7nU8PuirFB8N6VaBAXxCmzA/s200/100_0648.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Today marks my 9th day away and I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm so glad I came to experience Uganda/Africa - I think everyone should do it at least once in their lifetime. But I sure am ready to go home and hug my family and see my friends. Being in a third world country definitely puts things I used to think were "important" into perspective. In the U.S. while we're busy updating our facebook statuses, upgrading our houses, and one-upping each other, children all around the world are starving, neglected, beaten, deathly ill, orphaned, and abused in ways we can't even imagine. Why can't we just be content with what we have, give away what we don't need and help those around us who are poor and hurting? That's the million dollar question we should all take the time to answer - not just verbally, but in deed - me included.<br />
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Our team has been talking a lot lately about how important it is to not only give the needy the immediate help they need, but to educate them on how to help themselves. Until they learn to successfully sustain themselves, the problem of poverty will never be resolved. It will only be repeated over and over again generation after generation. I pray that Calo Me Lare is able to make positive changes in the lives of many families in the Lira district and that they will go on to make a difference in the lives of others, as well.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-26841146228751377562011-01-10T19:29:00.000-08:002011-01-10T19:46:57.480-08:00Uganda Trip - Day 7Today's notes from my girls...<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Monday, Dec. 6</u> - </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrycvQ_gprCj8lEFIxCKMAU6USZA04QO_pczhV-LsJwn1xA8koTnXSjsXGtj2npOHQnhamKDAWfpkdFyTGFxbszu4Jdam-LrtgdeL29jwJVjK-XSvsVJomn6sMWBL_pSMgQLwj8pDkps/s1600/100_0522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbrycvQ_gprCj8lEFIxCKMAU6USZA04QO_pczhV-LsJwn1xA8koTnXSjsXGtj2npOHQnhamKDAWfpkdFyTGFxbszu4Jdam-LrtgdeL29jwJVjK-XSvsVJomn6sMWBL_pSMgQLwj8pDkps/s200/100_0522.JPG" width="126" /></a></div>Today we went to three separate villages to find three orphans. At the first village, we met Sandra whose father died of HIV/AIDS. Her mother, Grace, did not have the resources to care for her or Sandra's siblings. Grace was later "inherited" by another man who gave her a place to live, but due to her financial situation, she still has great difficulty feeding and providing for her children. Sandra loves playing with other kids when they are out of school and she tries hard to count to five in English. She is polite, kind-hearted, and enjoys telling stories to her friends. She loves people and always greets everyone who comes around. She is a good helper for her mother around the house and wishes that someday she could go to school.<br />
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Driving to the next village, we passed some people selling food on the side of the road. We stopped to see what they were selling and people from everywhere brought their goods right to our van. We bought some fruit and a popular food in Uganda called <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugandan_cuisine">sim-sim</a> which is made from roasted sesame seeds and honey. Everyone from our team looooved it except for me. I have to say, I thought it was nasty. It tasted like burned popcorn and it was so dry. To each his own ;-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsWM24DjWyNFOXcTHtt8gPeDdh7NnS9zR24zAJGGA-L4TKEZeXbTtE7e1ZXpMNc5rrzmwtftQ5qCEoRUjzoMYw0KGhRuaWriRAzq5pxyBRPXFDCD66ildPVC7RDM6T7f9BoKNsOxQshA/s1600/100_0549.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUsWM24DjWyNFOXcTHtt8gPeDdh7NnS9zR24zAJGGA-L4TKEZeXbTtE7e1ZXpMNc5rrzmwtftQ5qCEoRUjzoMYw0KGhRuaWriRAzq5pxyBRPXFDCD66ildPVC7RDM6T7f9BoKNsOxQshA/s320/100_0549.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaBEUGl_fKN-ZbDDKSWZAycrTjaTxPUB-Wbn0IiwIgEFFgXNAQLI_02mnKcInLOfTb5yBNirS76UVs9k8AxGJVp6ly3imQCQ1deIxX0KKbFnX5oHUXZpMchbVPBw055_0hOo5MWtsuRI/s1600/100_0559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglaBEUGl_fKN-ZbDDKSWZAycrTjaTxPUB-Wbn0IiwIgEFFgXNAQLI_02mnKcInLOfTb5yBNirS76UVs9k8AxGJVp6ly3imQCQ1deIxX0KKbFnX5oHUXZpMchbVPBw055_0hOo5MWtsuRI/s200/100_0559.JPG" width="143" /></a></div>We met an orphaned boy named Selestino at the next village. Selestino is the 7th child in a family of 9. His mother married into a polygamous family and is one of three wives. Altogether, the family has 17 children. Selestino was still breast-feeding when his father died of HIV/AIDS in 2006. Later on, his mother fell very ill and was in the hospital for nearly 2 months. While giving birth to her last child in August of 2010, she suffered a stroke, became paralyzed, and remains incapable of caring for her children, two of which are young babies. Selistino's mother is HIV positive and was told not to nurse her baby so she wouldn't pass on HIV to him through her breast milk. Because of this, the baby is only being fed sugar water. (We are hoping to come back to this village tomorrow with some baby formula so the baby will have some form of nourishment.) Selestino’s grandmother currently takes care of the family, but she has left her own family of ten to do so. Her family lives over 10 miles away. The others relatives of the family have ignored the family’s plight and stayed away because they believe that they will be exposed to HIV since his mother has it. It has left Selestino and his family very isolated and in need. Also, due to lack of funds and transport, Selestino’s mother cannot make it to the main hospital for treatment.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2Fugandaday7%2F89c42b58.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/ugandaday7/?action=view&current=89c42b58.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div><br />
As we were leaving Selestino's village, we passed some local boys who were playing with a catapult/slingshot that they make from recycled objects laying around. Derk decided to have some fun with them so he brought out a container full of gum balls. He set them at a far distance from the boys and if they could hit it with the catapult, they won a piece of gum. I'm pretty sure everyone was chewing gum by the time we left ;-)<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrunEN-LzzytWfYrZGXki-fx6mDEtD_59q-_0jSeiYruSggYfR1hjPStau7t6kKMpnQMPnyrcIgyp7R9C265NkrCVJ2DLWoETCx7pRdvJBxmlioqd9az0S81ob6YQpCCTSYeT4DGnTHg/s1600/100_0563.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcrunEN-LzzytWfYrZGXki-fx6mDEtD_59q-_0jSeiYruSggYfR1hjPStau7t6kKMpnQMPnyrcIgyp7R9C265NkrCVJ2DLWoETCx7pRdvJBxmlioqd9az0S81ob6YQpCCTSYeT4DGnTHg/s320/100_0563.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The last village we visited was really far away and very hard to get to. It seemed like we drove for an hour then the dirt road pretty much disappeared so we got out and walked for a while until we finally came to the village we were looking for.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXD3A0CTs6qGBt7ekNhsVfnoA5qc62-s_iF7djaMalr6H7MlOuWUFfq5XeX4e9woParTdq8BK4SAvoNMUHzZPJDntqKdlSNadaz5-EPVoMQjj49MVBDHmHM014xW3Y3oRfvKEEU9sTggc/s1600/100_0567.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXD3A0CTs6qGBt7ekNhsVfnoA5qc62-s_iF7djaMalr6H7MlOuWUFfq5XeX4e9woParTdq8BK4SAvoNMUHzZPJDntqKdlSNadaz5-EPVoMQjj49MVBDHmHM014xW3Y3oRfvKEEU9sTggc/s320/100_0567.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVaHboWS2ADvxPyHXwTFE2HlhygmLpUZ-HZYi6IedLXP_rCOlzfrIaA_qkT-uG4Qu4OMPqt8Tu8CJ6VO3v5_zdIHJWd1yIREJjKJDN_b3lpyUkJ9N_SmON7mV2IFqKMrU2-yAFBWTkGuA/s1600/100_0587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVaHboWS2ADvxPyHXwTFE2HlhygmLpUZ-HZYi6IedLXP_rCOlzfrIaA_qkT-uG4Qu4OMPqt8Tu8CJ6VO3v5_zdIHJWd1yIREJjKJDN_b3lpyUkJ9N_SmON7mV2IFqKMrU2-yAFBWTkGuA/s200/100_0587.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>While there, we met an orphaned boy named Amos. He is six years old and the last born in his family of 5. His parents have both died and their graves are actually right next to the hut in which he currently lives with his aunt. He is a very hard working boy and helps make clay bricks as part of his chores.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6EEG8L5RRT-w_ZXkBV9MsvsNsqVrV51o1DTE4iAjneLch-Ts1v8BrJUkHaRQVYYuTp862VbMkDcV_VBr2lVwyGgNvFPCnZoqeI9P-I0QdlqP5SaUQsfGAJqNC6D9s5nYUu0TsbWpz7Y/s1600/100_0584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6EEG8L5RRT-w_ZXkBV9MsvsNsqVrV51o1DTE4iAjneLch-Ts1v8BrJUkHaRQVYYuTp862VbMkDcV_VBr2lVwyGgNvFPCnZoqeI9P-I0QdlqP5SaUQsfGAJqNC6D9s5nYUu0TsbWpz7Y/s200/100_0584.JPG" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">After we visited with Amos, we noticed a boy whose hand had been amputated. At closer look, we saw it was badly infected. He told us that he recently was up in a tree watching his cattle. He slipped and fell and broke his hand. Doctors tried to set it but it didn't heal correctly so they amputated it. Unfortunately, infection set in and we knew we had to do something to help this boy. We made arrangements for him to be taken to a hospital in Kampala tomorrow. We are praying that he won't have to have the rest of his arm amputated up to his elbow. It's such a sad situation, but what's even more sad is that his parents have disowned him. Because of his accident, he is now known as an outcast and is being raised by his grandparents and local villagers. It's amazing that a parent could do that to their own child. So sad! :-(</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVWjvTIT28Ir_sjIsZ2Tt6ys7vN2CDy0NiaC91QINvwpnOUskc3uXvePRUSwP6vJl6E6BOMX7wxYqBEHzZQ644_m9bZOtD587sXP1cnmUh1dFT5czZO8t2E0_D2lcGDMTxIDn0ALDw3Q/s1600/100_0585.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFVWjvTIT28Ir_sjIsZ2Tt6ys7vN2CDy0NiaC91QINvwpnOUskc3uXvePRUSwP6vJl6E6BOMX7wxYqBEHzZQ644_m9bZOtD587sXP1cnmUh1dFT5czZO8t2E0_D2lcGDMTxIDn0ALDw3Q/s320/100_0585.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">On our way back to our hotel, we passed some "interesting" sites.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We saw a large group of men drinking "banana gin"also known as <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8640731.stm">waragi</a> - a favorite past time of Ugandan men. They make this drink, sit around and talk and get drunk and usually end up in a fighting brawl by the end of the night. Look close and you'll see Derk (in the back right) - he just had to go check out the action ;-)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">We saw marching prisoners...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Q8A5dnzdp3-jIMfa3-gUpFqvvitn1Kqspzi9M6cG-_ZWH7nmc14axm8nyGu0YGAgQQzxG4m7bM_tbw5Ul_HDJ5CDO0dvvlIN8k3odK2ZyTPrm0916P7rdKDpDRU5YGPl4tNgODgUrPc/s1600/100_0593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Q8A5dnzdp3-jIMfa3-gUpFqvvitn1Kqspzi9M6cG-_ZWH7nmc14axm8nyGu0YGAgQQzxG4m7bM_tbw5Ul_HDJ5CDO0dvvlIN8k3odK2ZyTPrm0916P7rdKDpDRU5YGPl4tNgODgUrPc/s320/100_0593.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And pigs just roaming around...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEKwRDpQDEJe_jX4SLNidBhaq8hMtow_bPi2IMKimL-ykldBnE8YNcqKPN0_WRyXvfcgqnG-QH7LzddLTZo-gkn4f6o9GtoOOBRY1y1640jxp8Al4lMUuwqOjYnmmdl7lPrbkex6dBHg/s1600/100_0594.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimEKwRDpQDEJe_jX4SLNidBhaq8hMtow_bPi2IMKimL-ykldBnE8YNcqKPN0_WRyXvfcgqnG-QH7LzddLTZo-gkn4f6o9GtoOOBRY1y1640jxp8Al4lMUuwqOjYnmmdl7lPrbkex6dBHg/s320/100_0594.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">And this is a picture of our first three widowed house mothers that will be living at <a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/www.projecthopeworldwide.org/Where_We_Serve.html">Calo Me Lare</a>. They are amazing women and are going to be great caretakers for all the orphans they'll be overseeing.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBW47iaW_pAgdfoLCeD6eTdtv-GfYEk3FizCTvbvwe2KMmBPd8SL8P1eTnZKiLRzetNGAk-KzOnVTC-vQESRmUP6H7ff8HVwoCxLBRc8XxHaBjdQKI_Clo6IoGOhwxLiXTtAtVsrnox2I/s1600/100_0597.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBW47iaW_pAgdfoLCeD6eTdtv-GfYEk3FizCTvbvwe2KMmBPd8SL8P1eTnZKiLRzetNGAk-KzOnVTC-vQESRmUP6H7ff8HVwoCxLBRc8XxHaBjdQKI_Clo6IoGOhwxLiXTtAtVsrnox2I/s320/100_0597.JPG" width="291" /></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-45736568585725184912011-01-07T13:07:00.000-08:002011-01-07T13:15:38.092-08:00Uganda Trip - Day 6Today's notes from my girls...<br />
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<u>Sunday, Dec. 5</u> -<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm94e2FO0JiAXgFoSXv4pme9uJO9LsZZhsLbBtRhwfa5qMatVyEXHTCIC8gbzsMKk2N5yF9Zwp5XLeQut31QY-W7HVBG2yQGfSqbAlbAOH2IWlPIZeSlmDuR0zKDyo6JVL-ct7HFuoYE/s1600/100_0442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm94e2FO0JiAXgFoSXv4pme9uJO9LsZZhsLbBtRhwfa5qMatVyEXHTCIC8gbzsMKk2N5yF9Zwp5XLeQut31QY-W7HVBG2yQGfSqbAlbAOH2IWlPIZeSlmDuR0zKDyo6JVL-ct7HFuoYE/s200/100_0442.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>It's been another long, but great day! This morning we had the most amazing experience! We attended a church in Lira! I would guess there were close to 300 people there, mostly orphaned children. The service was so cool! The church was pastored by Bob Higgins who also runs a very well-developed orphanage right across the street. Bob and his wife, Carol, left their life in Oregon to begin a ministry called "<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/PATH-Ministries-Hope-to-Uganda/142396832460894?v=wall">PATH Ministries</a>" and to start an orphanage, called <a href="http://pathministries.net/">Otino-Waa</a>. They are an amazing couple and their first 75 orphans were actually rescued child soldiers from the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord's_Resistance_Army">LRA</a>! Otino-Waa is such a blessing to the Lira community and it's the very orphanage that Project Hope's orphanage, <a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/www.projecthopeworldwide.org/Where_We_Serve.html">Calo Me Lare</a>, is modeled after.<br />
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The service began with singing songs. Just hearing all the African voices praising Jesus brought tears to my eyes. It was a very spiritual and holy experience.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieE82tdo5YSNTFXA1LKRE7YKKrsh_6P40-YqkrmGBK-in_ZBVhVpmL5HtJxClK2lAxL9-Yctgn5ePnjrOAE93TS0I9xwzUAijr6cK8Hjf2zC6Fmre4QKbD-llwHkr39QI11UbmXqm1aCw/s1600/100_0450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieE82tdo5YSNTFXA1LKRE7YKKrsh_6P40-YqkrmGBK-in_ZBVhVpmL5HtJxClK2lAxL9-Yctgn5ePnjrOAE93TS0I9xwzUAijr6cK8Hjf2zC6Fmre4QKbD-llwHkr39QI11UbmXqm1aCw/s200/100_0450.JPG" width="188" /></a></div>After the praise and worship time, Bob's wife, Carol taught a lesson about responsibility. Then Bob preached a sermon on "The Lord's Prayer". When both Bob and Carol taught, they spoke a phrase in English, then an interpreter said the same phrase in Luo, their native language. It was refreshing hearing them break down the Scriptures in understandable, simple terms. I think often times, Christians tend to complicate the Bible and we end up overlooking the basic truths that God is trying to teach us.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTftxhgpk8lZfNMIkOeRJbFlQH_K9uIfAoULxv877nvL9Yj4YYmyHEqA_nInlCHqsCqTOYiRnO8NDKZsHgVw9vZ521juWfLFx_g4NrAplEFUwDrbeql5lrt37ccPp_bJaDcHGYe6SQgo/s1600/100_0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirTftxhgpk8lZfNMIkOeRJbFlQH_K9uIfAoULxv877nvL9Yj4YYmyHEqA_nInlCHqsCqTOYiRnO8NDKZsHgVw9vZ521juWfLFx_g4NrAplEFUwDrbeql5lrt37ccPp_bJaDcHGYe6SQgo/s200/100_0452.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>The thing that amazed me the most is that the kids sat very still and quiet the entire time and listened intently. I don't think you would ever see that in the United States! And the teaching lasted for well over an hour - I was even getting a little "ancy" myself, but the kids just soaked it all in. Most of them even had their own Bibles and knew right where to turn when it was time to look up a particular verse.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdkqSylEV5Mz-VSF4knoxRnLIncnnSIWOxj4TrO1K0kkVsCAC_vTuyrOrwX6oISQMwwtmituI1hkSMsPgi_pE30sRSRb8qZo3wXpg18xYxwRLvdLOmbOhxWGFW1bK4gSZ81sJCTxfiLs/s1600/100_0453.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigdkqSylEV5Mz-VSF4knoxRnLIncnnSIWOxj4TrO1K0kkVsCAC_vTuyrOrwX6oISQMwwtmituI1hkSMsPgi_pE30sRSRb8qZo3wXpg18xYxwRLvdLOmbOhxWGFW1bK4gSZ81sJCTxfiLs/s200/100_0453.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>The last part of the service was reserved for Offering. The orphans are actually given "play" money that they can use at the orphanage to "buy" things such as a new spoon or a pencil for their school supplies. It teaches the kids responsibility and gives them a feeling of ownership of their possessions. They are also taught to tithe their money which they gave at Offering. Those that didn't have money to give gave some of their "first fruits" - often times maize, peanuts or potatoes they recently picked. Women also gave nice dresses they had sewn and made themselves. After Offering was taken, they actually conducted an auction with the items that were donated! Derk bought a large tub of peanuts. He also bought a child's outfit then gave it to a little girl that was sitting in the audience. Kelley also bought a sweet little outfit and plans on giving it to a girl sometime this week. It was fun watching the auction and I thought it was a very clever way to raise money for the church.<br />
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After the service, we walked across the street to take a look at Otino-Waa. It was so super nice and well-planned - it <u>almost</u> made me want to live there :-) They had an outdoor cafe that made you feel like you were at a tropical retreat! Carol served us homemade, delicious pumpkin muffins and cinnamon rolls. Then Bob gave us a tour of the compound. We followed it up with lots of questions to help us (Project Hope) lessen our mistakes while building Calo Me Lare. His advice was invaluable to us and gave us great encouragement to keep moving forward.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FOtinoWaa%2Fd24339eb.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQHLN9U7C1YBdOOXc_pO6dXWCZX4mfg1V_udoyuP1RPkVoZwaU7L87UraPhtklmXD37nAVNFvUg9W9jS3CYDRbDOGR4LqrcZnQ5D4bMSJ24rqp2hcx7hzaiLdZHmSK3hE4HFKcCp1dzk/s1600/100_0646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKQHLN9U7C1YBdOOXc_pO6dXWCZX4mfg1V_udoyuP1RPkVoZwaU7L87UraPhtklmXD37nAVNFvUg9W9jS3CYDRbDOGR4LqrcZnQ5D4bMSJ24rqp2hcx7hzaiLdZHmSK3hE4HFKcCp1dzk/s200/100_0646.JPG" width="174" /></a></div>Project Hope hired two Ugandan men a while back to help build and manage Calo Me Lare. They are pictured here, Tony on the left and Dennis on the right. They are two absolutely honest and upstanding God-sends! Calo Me Lare would not be where it is today if not for these two men. Tony has mostly overseen the building of the orphanage and Dennis has sought out the orphans and house mothers that will live at Calo Me Lare. They both have a great love for God and a passion for orphaned children.<br />
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Tonight, Tony gave us the great honor of having us at his family's house for dinner. It's a huge deal to welcome guests in such a way because of the time and money it takes to prepare the meal. They also invited a large portion of Tony's extended family, as well. I would guess there were over 30 family members at the dinner.<br />
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</div>They welcomed us by singing us songs. It was so sweet and humbling.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtaVMpiPFE2Dcb73XRbS2S7bEexWlwtANl6MQTh_s8LJcWxENCb1u1rSflQR8PAu6nViMSdS5BGVfXF9bInOqfxSiAQSLfVYYa707r3TdSs9-DggbugFJ3_aUOKD3PXz7DbeoR_s_Was/s1600/100_0504.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVtaVMpiPFE2Dcb73XRbS2S7bEexWlwtANl6MQTh_s8LJcWxENCb1u1rSflQR8PAu6nViMSdS5BGVfXF9bInOqfxSiAQSLfVYYa707r3TdSs9-DggbugFJ3_aUOKD3PXz7DbeoR_s_Was/s200/100_0504.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>After the songs, Tony's family introduced themselves by name, age and birth order. Our team then introduced ourselves with a brief introduction about families back home. Then we "ceremonially" washed our hands and the food was brought out on trays. I think there must have been at least 10 different kinds of food served - everything from chicken to rice to beef to some other "unknown-to-me" varieties of food. It was so good!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">The dinner was served family-style in bowls and it is a cultural tradition that the food be served to the guests first. Then, after we were done eating, they finally got to fix their own plates and eat. It was also cultural for the adults to eat together and the kids ate together away from the adults.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">After dinner, we sat around and visited and watched the kids play jump rope :-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlKc1Fo_tdWbpUkhsn1SuQBMKWhdr-RSqX_EHrpCLQ5xrvnhgYovIX-aBUQOSCaDhzrwneiWvy9O1IW4nsbhT9zp82b008Y9uQlWu3J6day2MtrEoZI2pEEWQOAwvxhxtpdZdZMwtXLI/s1600/100_0517.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrlKc1Fo_tdWbpUkhsn1SuQBMKWhdr-RSqX_EHrpCLQ5xrvnhgYovIX-aBUQOSCaDhzrwneiWvy9O1IW4nsbhT9zp82b008Y9uQlWu3J6day2MtrEoZI2pEEWQOAwvxhxtpdZdZMwtXLI/s200/100_0517.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>Tony shared with us tonight that he is actually running for the next mayor of Lira! We are so proud of him and we know he can bring about great positive change for his community. Yea, Tony!<br />
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We ended the night with Tony showing us the grave of his father who passed away this past summer. Tony said he was a great man who had 4 wives and 28 children! We closed with prayer, said our goodbyes, then went back to our hotel. The dinner was a very humbling experience and something I will never forget.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-87019851172869927062011-01-05T08:35:00.000-08:002011-01-07T13:23:53.270-08:00Uganda Trip - Day 5Today's notes from my girls...<br />
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<u>Saturday, Dec. 4</u> -<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdNP6mIbA_W-UUNmemWIgtNjjqh7Dc-18Xp9X4EmqO9Q6PSeRqy5SDToA1YKUriCEnLSoPYzjvzbDX6h580E5aGDGDZ5mCPy4LIYvH9hF1ZazIVj8drwL3LQ4T-KPybyJ5Wwcu13hnDw/s1600/100_0395.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJdNP6mIbA_W-UUNmemWIgtNjjqh7Dc-18Xp9X4EmqO9Q6PSeRqy5SDToA1YKUriCEnLSoPYzjvzbDX6h580E5aGDGDZ5mCPy4LIYvH9hF1ZazIVj8drwL3LQ4T-KPybyJ5Wwcu13hnDw/s200/100_0395.JPG" width="129" /></a></div>This morning we drove out to a village to meet another one of our orphans. Her name was Elizabeth and was about four years old. Her aunt was temporarily taking care of her and she did not want to leave her side. She seemed very scared of us and never smiled or said a word the entire time we were there. :-(<br />
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After hearing her story, I now know why...<br />
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Elizabeth comes from a very war-torn area. Her community was torn apart by the <a href="http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/lra.htm">LRA</a> (Lord's Resistance Army) when it was at its height. Many of the women were abducted and raped, and many of the men were maimed and mutilated with machetes. These attacks by the LRA lasted for over 3 decades, displacing millions of people in Northern and Eastern Uganda into refugee camps, and caused great suffering. Elizabeth’s father, a teacher by trade, died at the hand of the LRA while he was walking to school. Elizabeth’s mother was 3 months pregnant when the tragedy occurred. Her mother named Elizabeth “Alinga”, meaning the last of the family line. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfSIyl9B9SnWJPGQkp5GqD_6gSLGBVLx5BgkG2L4midaB4FlGpTcz6Yw_lqWja4UHs11nLvP4u3ZHxhqDyY_uWO7c8iI0hIuQhAj1O20uz3GsY9PMgh3Xv3b1zqICLZQSPxLdwODiQGg/s1600/100_0401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfSIyl9B9SnWJPGQkp5GqD_6gSLGBVLx5BgkG2L4midaB4FlGpTcz6Yw_lqWja4UHs11nLvP4u3ZHxhqDyY_uWO7c8iI0hIuQhAj1O20uz3GsY9PMgh3Xv3b1zqICLZQSPxLdwODiQGg/s200/100_0401.JPG" width="136" /></a></div>Her mother nursed her for only 1 month before she died. Elizabeth was left in her grandmother’s care, but she was not able to support the child. She mixed sugar in water to feed her, since she had no money to buy milk. <br />
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After some time the LRA raided the camp they were living in and took all of the food and supplies. Elizabeth and her community had nothing but water for 4 days.<br />
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She is a free spirited girl who loves people, but she does not like going to crowded places. She and her older sister do as much as they can to help their grandparents. They live in a very isolated village with few residents because many of them were killed. Many people in the village resort to drinking as a way to escape from their troubles. They named the trading center “Kongo Tye Centre Pe” meaning, “there is beer but no money for it”, and brewers are encouraged to allow people to drink on credit and pay later. This has had a crippling effect on the community. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfoyTzk9BJnxUH-ujG4uW64An0kwp_3lcZnpahsb1A1_lZxS_wXeyCTpjcssOx8jiALVucEdb_llGr8PK_hYDuDEkk4cD4UH9IbF3ZII2387lHgukkoqO1nZXCra0qcDKrLZfQtMpui0/s1600/100_0399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitfoyTzk9BJnxUH-ujG4uW64An0kwp_3lcZnpahsb1A1_lZxS_wXeyCTpjcssOx8jiALVucEdb_llGr8PK_hYDuDEkk4cD4UH9IbF3ZII2387lHgukkoqO1nZXCra0qcDKrLZfQtMpui0/s200/100_0399.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">This village was very different from the others we visited in that it sat upon a rocky hill. It was actually really pretty, yet still poverty-stricken. I met a sweet elderly lady there named "Grace". She only had a few teeth but welcomed everyone with a huge grin. Her smile was so big and she kept saying over and over to everyone she met, "God is good! All the time! I am so very happy! Amen!" Grace had so few personal belongings. If only Americans could be that happy, satisfied and content in life with what we have!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center; width: 400px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FUganda day 5%2F161f2e1b.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Uganda%20day%205/?action=view&current=161f2e1b.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">After we visited this village, we went back to our hotel to eat lunch and rest a little. These huge billboards are everywhere in the main part of Lira. Kinda funny - notice President Obama? He's "the man" here ;-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghc0LRg6KOP1J4D4tZ6xHzbQG0SiKPlHKKQiIwyuuNcqwOI_IT_ImY8Sl5cJ7Jp6nhqZAry9mju_37pscZDV08UrsdZ2R_zARCJERio_j_5kXKylG7t7DiWm3QOAEwA2J4Zlw-D9ioocI/s1600/100_0418.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghc0LRg6KOP1J4D4tZ6xHzbQG0SiKPlHKKQiIwyuuNcqwOI_IT_ImY8Sl5cJ7Jp6nhqZAry9mju_37pscZDV08UrsdZ2R_zARCJERio_j_5kXKylG7t7DiWm3QOAEwA2J4Zlw-D9ioocI/s400/100_0418.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
And this is a "traveling amusement park". The line to ride those swings were so long! No, we did not partake ;-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCstc_Dti5UdRa2fftMIW71YdVN0G4Vw6OnU6z2eBzEt4zMjw5XmGFNjU2DrUk_YpW_gEowfLGnSMPDt7DZQ8G8hvc-mcAZ8aiLlQ6-X2DFmJJi2ci9nTzP7x-fLzZZwMU-F-pteu0ups/s1600/100_0434.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCstc_Dti5UdRa2fftMIW71YdVN0G4Vw6OnU6z2eBzEt4zMjw5XmGFNjU2DrUk_YpW_gEowfLGnSMPDt7DZQ8G8hvc-mcAZ8aiLlQ6-X2DFmJJi2ci9nTzP7x-fLzZZwMU-F-pteu0ups/s400/100_0434.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Ha! I thought this was funny. It's a restroom at our hotel. And yes, you squat to use it ;-)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlunXb4wIQAD04mu1_8QneUKYoea89wy2PzoGHlir9Eai-1HSnaGzNPIBf7AlnyksKL9wA5EUwQDAhnpcDKBIZIgeuBRZ4bJIYDFUrF-bmnJcQgi3tfuBw1Kok0n6GU9ffJvmoeu25hE8/s1600/100_0412.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlunXb4wIQAD04mu1_8QneUKYoea89wy2PzoGHlir9Eai-1HSnaGzNPIBf7AlnyksKL9wA5EUwQDAhnpcDKBIZIgeuBRZ4bJIYDFUrF-bmnJcQgi3tfuBw1Kok0n6GU9ffJvmoeu25hE8/s400/100_0412.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu50n24Dr1jHbFekSDTbFvtUSIla4HvIQ9WuXKYevrm9-e0RFgflbZG3Wx7IM24HjipsUTP45TRdqr3KjwzzTc8Jt3MYC2F8mLj7s1DZ8INcJprjfzGj5GBooMnqf-acJuQAys0VV6tEo/s1600/100_0413.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu50n24Dr1jHbFekSDTbFvtUSIla4HvIQ9WuXKYevrm9-e0RFgflbZG3Wx7IM24HjipsUTP45TRdqr3KjwzzTc8Jt3MYC2F8mLj7s1DZ8INcJprjfzGj5GBooMnqf-acJuQAys0VV6tEo/s400/100_0413.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That afternoon, Kelley, Jimmy and I went to the main market in Lira. Although we had to be on guard, it was actually pretty fun looking around and seeing everything they had for sale.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lots of colorful fabrics - you could even choose one you like and a seamstress would sew you a dress or skirt right there on the spot!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLWDyhyAhqzaSM7XDdUR1Zl1oKEU_IeMkSYM-hLgHMF1d-i0KERwli7TMQ-_cA3tpDnvfxuL8gL5sWxMXvIrYt0tsflMREUpaxAEmboepDS3X-03QdZ3yI1nJBIpaAmdNbX3PbUnH1S4/s1600/100_0416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLWDyhyAhqzaSM7XDdUR1Zl1oKEU_IeMkSYM-hLgHMF1d-i0KERwli7TMQ-_cA3tpDnvfxuL8gL5sWxMXvIrYt0tsflMREUpaxAEmboepDS3X-03QdZ3yI1nJBIpaAmdNbX3PbUnH1S4/s400/100_0416.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The market was so huge - it was almost overwhelming! It just seemed to go on forever! You could buy everything from flip-flops to fish (just laying on tables - dry, no ice!) to jewelry to T.V.'s and computers that looked like they were straight from the 80's!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center; width: 400px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FUganda day 5%2F5819449b.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" wmode="transparent"></embed></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ahhh - the "Rastaman"! We bought some jewelry and bags from him. Passed on the marijuana t-shirts. ;-)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5-yGWe73IKgLUr8NQYXI9ndZmH3UfgZnXb1ry8zCxZsrKa8hRAeCVG_BXqx5N5lYPozFpBONvgYcXAXiBo7IVtOLIEfBUN2C2MjfvruUDY-cVPZ-CvM4Cb4hGDtJCnmuF5QB6vFeNL0/s1600/100_0421.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD5-yGWe73IKgLUr8NQYXI9ndZmH3UfgZnXb1ry8zCxZsrKa8hRAeCVG_BXqx5N5lYPozFpBONvgYcXAXiBo7IVtOLIEfBUN2C2MjfvruUDY-cVPZ-CvM4Cb4hGDtJCnmuF5QB6vFeNL0/s400/100_0421.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXjnENLUUTJy_OV_5KoelQ_3OnE9gXQMywyCjElXZ9F3eXZ_ho7IlerfRalo_M50DcnTdT_LBPwSG__XFVcCJ9siqNoTPfPXFKKUTaGPyNZuygJT4kRWasuiC2ZUhW5NabibESp7uJWI/s1600/100_0420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXjnENLUUTJy_OV_5KoelQ_3OnE9gXQMywyCjElXZ9F3eXZ_ho7IlerfRalo_M50DcnTdT_LBPwSG__XFVcCJ9siqNoTPfPXFKKUTaGPyNZuygJT4kRWasuiC2ZUhW5NabibESp7uJWI/s200/100_0420.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>We saw lots of these baggies laying around on the ground. What's sad is that they are filled with alcohol then kids poke a hole in the sack with a straw and they drink it. Sadly, alcoholism is a huge problem here.<br />
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When we got back to our hotel, a wedding reception was taking place. This family must have had some "serious" money. I saw nothing like this before in Uganda. Of course, I had to take a few pics ;-)<br />
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After staying at <a href="http://graciouspalacehotel.com/">this hotel</a> for several days and putting up with a trickle of water for a shower, no air conditioning, a very noisy ceiling fan and LOUD music was played until 3 or 4 in the morning at a "Christian Crusade" directly behind our hotel - we decided we had enough. One person even found a rodent in their toilet and another found a worm in their salad. Yuck! Yuck! Double yuck! So, we decided to check into another place that was recommended to us.<br />
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Our next hotel was called <a href="http://www.vincetours.co.ug/uganda-suites-lira/291-suites-hotel-apartments-Lira.html">291 Suites</a>. The lobby area was pretty modern and they "advertised" that they had internet service so we thought it must be pretty nice! (Found out later there was no internet service but they plan to get it "someday".) It was very suitable for our stay and after we moved in, I kind of felt a little guilty for staying there just knowing about the poverty that was just outside our doors. Made me thankful I had a roof over my head, a mosquito net, a fan and running water! Here's a few pics of our hotel...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center; width: 400px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FUganda day 5%2Fe87e49a7.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Uganda%20day%205/?action=view&current=e87e49a7.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Today was a busy day and I got to see lots of interesting things! Can't wait to see what tomorrow holds!</div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-32473492401906913532010-12-28T07:29:00.000-08:002011-02-09T06:16:06.316-08:00Uganda Trip - Day 4Today's notes from my girls...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoAcjfm4LDxAZLZB8v5qqgijlivRa_UVCNlaQ5J9w9YmfmMEvHOGY5iLqALGMST-CETXs46grj3VWwMK1x0x9M4uJafro7nPfSlhyphenhyphenLYtfwKR2jc2dXUI0EZZZlsW_56L_2wwvIINtRgk/s1600/day+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoAcjfm4LDxAZLZB8v5qqgijlivRa_UVCNlaQ5J9w9YmfmMEvHOGY5iLqALGMST-CETXs46grj3VWwMK1x0x9M4uJafro7nPfSlhyphenhyphenLYtfwKR2jc2dXUI0EZZZlsW_56L_2wwvIINtRgk/s320/day+4.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><br />
<u>Friday, Dec. 3</u> -<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSV3IJ22gfcl4pay-cQZ9NiOlnYjzEeWujSNPGZheuLnt8iokRNQ5kuRn8GrF9uY2N7qD6lXzvxxio_TTUUfpWazxx5e0wMeY1he1b9YtmAvdj5s-CaayPF1uc8J6OHHu2drXnADQcypA/s1600/Christmas+Party+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSV3IJ22gfcl4pay-cQZ9NiOlnYjzEeWujSNPGZheuLnt8iokRNQ5kuRn8GrF9uY2N7qD6lXzvxxio_TTUUfpWazxx5e0wMeY1he1b9YtmAvdj5s-CaayPF1uc8J6OHHu2drXnADQcypA/s200/Christmas+Party+2010.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>I can't believe it's already Friday! The time is flying by so far, although I am REALLY missing Steve & the girls. I thought of them this morning when they were at our Co-Op's Christmas party. It was the first party I had to miss, which made me sad, but I know they had a great time with their Nanny. Their sweet letters to me everyday are so encouraging - something I look forward to every morning!<br />
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Today was a very emotional day for us all. We left about 8:30 this morning and got home about 7:30 this evening. We drove and walked all over Lira looking for the orphans in the villages they are currently living in.<br />
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First we met Innocent - a sweet little hard working boy who loved to play soccer...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FDay4inUganda%2F2b598bd8.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Day4inUganda/?action=view&current=2b598bd8.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVFnA1KJMwwyxzT-OIhl9OuidVRNgm8JZk-oi7-j4w8NDlpgMjqOLt6whrKMtyWQHtW2_v1IO9qoLtD5oKT_ibL0izbeT7xbbt5Pwl3Z_klyrKIPBJl3tCrgC2t8otH0uV33h5gNGbOo/s1600/100_0219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBVFnA1KJMwwyxzT-OIhl9OuidVRNgm8JZk-oi7-j4w8NDlpgMjqOLt6whrKMtyWQHtW2_v1IO9qoLtD5oKT_ibL0izbeT7xbbt5Pwl3Z_klyrKIPBJl3tCrgC2t8otH0uV33h5gNGbOo/s200/100_0219.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>Children in the villages typically have to work very hard helping out around their houses/huts, walking for miles to fetch water, cooking, taking care of siblings, etc. They also have no toys to play with so they make up their own games with old tires, used water bottles or broken storage containers. Their ideas were very clever. My cousin, Scott, owns <a href="http://fairtradesports.com/">Fair Trade Sports</a> - a company that makes great quality sports equipment in third world countries and they donate a large portion of their profits to charity. He donated 5 soccer balls for me to give to the kids in the villages to play with. I gave the first ball to Innocent and the kids in his village. It was so awesome to see them smile when they received their ball and to watch them run around and play soccer. It wasn't food or clothes but it brought them laughter and joy which I think is just as important.<br />
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We enjoyed visiting with the people that lived in Innocent's village. Derk and Helmut even had a little fun trying out one of the villager's bicycles. Everyone cracked up laughing and said, "Look at the Muzungu!" (Muzungu is Ugandan for white man from the West.) <br />
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<div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FDay4inUganda%2F2c7bc840.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Day4inUganda/?action=view&current=2c7bc840.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div><br />
The next village was on the other side of Lira. This is video I shot as we were driving through the main part of Lira...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmLEvlNIoeGrOcxo9ZxbPQYDHAnauyIDYCXb5ty7rdth1jtQP_7E1z4Jdsd8gXf6SMNaz5meVTGdvKvakYsziYopswYhsiTEtY5kVXOuuT4HbDZfaEInqyppekEV3hPvmgk0rdiDybz4/s1600/100_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwmLEvlNIoeGrOcxo9ZxbPQYDHAnauyIDYCXb5ty7rdth1jtQP_7E1z4Jdsd8gXf6SMNaz5meVTGdvKvakYsziYopswYhsiTEtY5kVXOuuT4HbDZfaEInqyppekEV3hPvmgk0rdiDybz4/s200/100_0245.JPG" width="115" /></a></div>The next orphan is featured below in the blue shorts. His name is <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=193682327314180&set=a.193681970647549.60424.118904498125297">Kizito</a> and he is the 5th born to a family of six. The people he lives with brews their own form of beer which we could totally smell as soon as we opened our van door. The stinch was awful! You can see the thick gooey substance in the yellow tubs in some of the pictures below. When the kids can't find anything to eat, they will go drink a cup of that stuff. You'll also see a small "pond" of what looks to be water; however, it is the runoff from the beer and you will often times see the kids playing in it. Everyone was so sweet at this village - I hated to see them living that way when they could spend their time planting crops or taking care of cattle. Before we left, our little orphan boy went and put on his best blue shirt to show he was glad to be leaving soon to go live at <a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/www.projecthopeworldwide.org/Where_We_Serve.html">Calo Me Lare</a>.<br />
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We also gave the kids at this village a soccer ball donated by Fair Trade Sports. They loved it as soccer is HUGE in Uganda. All the kids loved soccer and it's a sport they could all participate in. The pictures of these kids just break my heart. They could have so much potential if just given the chance.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FDay4inUganda%2Fa06e9c58.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Day4inUganda/?action=view&current=a06e9c58.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div><br />
The last village we went to was actually an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internally_displaced_person">IDP</a> (Internally Displaced Persons) Camp and the same location where <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kony">Joseph Kony</a> and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) attacked and killed over 300 innocent people on February 21, 2004. The attack is now known as the <a href="http://www.ctafrica.org/default.asp?contentID=582">Barlonyo Massacre</a>.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FDay4inUganda%2Fb4618085.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Day4inUganda/?action=view&current=b4618085.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div><br />
When we first arrived at the camp, we saw a little boy that had several wounds on his legs. He said he had fallen off his bike but his wounds looked awful and were totally infected. They were even being swarmed and eaten on by flies. Kelley remembered I had a first aid kit in my backpack so she treated his wounds with ointment and bandaids. If only these people had the simplest things like first aid kits, their injuries could be treated sooner and not get infected.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIBMa4_ZYwhPhBZU86FOartRvjD8u-jlBIp8eo_EvvB44pQlt2xi3o-tSbyQN-dmACu9-PWW0B0andbKVGJbpRHMBiJDNIhSW5PLny1UwdOMcsuIbr9E7GNdqkIRdoK9GEdFKMhEO4AQ/s1600/100_0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIBMa4_ZYwhPhBZU86FOartRvjD8u-jlBIp8eo_EvvB44pQlt2xi3o-tSbyQN-dmACu9-PWW0B0andbKVGJbpRHMBiJDNIhSW5PLny1UwdOMcsuIbr9E7GNdqkIRdoK9GEdFKMhEO4AQ/s320/100_0289.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jr3JYA3dxxYavev81bQHPCPmwB1Y1lH08fbX9muGh_yiOgjMSXxMWguz6imuf80S6_ni41NHVhBcU6ydV2kPyWZp9GPy0fJ73KJYf0etKEdHd1PP2-83nrGiauQtoTjV2tgF-0VzSBA/s1600/100_0305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3jr3JYA3dxxYavev81bQHPCPmwB1Y1lH08fbX9muGh_yiOgjMSXxMWguz6imuf80S6_ni41NHVhBcU6ydV2kPyWZp9GPy0fJ73KJYf0etKEdHd1PP2-83nrGiauQtoTjV2tgF-0VzSBA/s200/100_0305.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>One survivor of the Barlonyo Attack, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=193682187314194&set=a.193681970647549.60424.118904498125297">Dickens</a>, was a seven month old baby boy who was thrown across his hut. One of the LRA rebels did this in an attempt to bang his head and kill the boy. Amazingly, he survived but you can still see the scar on his head today. Both of his parents were killed in the massacre and he is one of the orphans that will be living at <a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/www.projecthopeworldwide.org/Where_We_Serve.html">Calo Me Lare</a>. We are believing God has big plans for this boy to have survived that horrific day and still be alive today.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FDay4inUganda%2F6d227d90.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Day4inUganda/?action=view&current=6d227d90.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvP2bXoxnDnWB0Y_lBJ-8wWSAX_sbc0KxPIjspcvhb2MWfj-tm-vcAoS2xSgWUPU9_c7sR6ZpCx0VOwxf3p9KlpoGzVXtMcSAWdyxR_uBSel2txCaHmiYyww1OCqUYmknsZfwaXT2rhM/s1600/100_0315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitvP2bXoxnDnWB0Y_lBJ-8wWSAX_sbc0KxPIjspcvhb2MWfj-tm-vcAoS2xSgWUPU9_c7sR6ZpCx0VOwxf3p9KlpoGzVXtMcSAWdyxR_uBSel2txCaHmiYyww1OCqUYmknsZfwaXT2rhM/s200/100_0315.JPG" width="145" /></a></div>Another survivor was a man named Moses Ogwang. He now oversees the IDP Camp and tries to help those in need. He narrowly escaped being killed himself by hiding behind some boxes of produce. He has an amazing testimony and it's awesome that he has done so much good from such an evil act of terror. (You can read more about Moses and the Barlonyo attack <a href="http://teachuslord.org/">here</a>.)<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=193682420647504&set=a.193681970647549.60424.118904498125297">Lydia</a>...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FDay4inUganda%2F832e45cd.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Day4inUganda/?action=view&current=832e45cd.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=193682533980826&set=a.193681970647549.60424.118904498125297">Monica</a>...<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=193689660646780&set=a.193681970647549.60424.118904498125297">Alex</a>...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FDay4inUganda%2F36b5af26.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Day4inUganda/?action=view&current=36b5af26.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=200535909962155&set=a.193681970647549.60424.118904498125297">Brother</a> of Alex...<br />
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<div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FDay4inUganda%2F05c0580c.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Day4inUganda/?action=view&current=05c0580c.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div><br />
The next little orphan we met was a boy named <a href="http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=193682147314198&set=a.193681970647549.60424.118904498125297">Dickens</a>. Both of his parents were killed in the Barlonyo Attack when his family's hut was burned to the ground. Dickens was an infant at the time and was being carried on his brother's back. When the fires started, the elderly people told all the children to run away. Fortunately, Dicken's life was spared. He is very close to his brother and we originally were only planning on accepting Dickens into Calo Me Lare because our age requirements are between 4 and 6. However, Dicken's brother started to cry when he learned his brother would be leaving him. That broke our hearts and we knew we couldn't separate them. So we picked up an extra orphan today :-)<br />
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<div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FDay4inUganda%2F322610e9.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Day4inUganda/?action=view&current=322610e9.pbw" target="_blank"></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">It was a good day today - can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-30095183854186339662010-12-26T12:54:00.000-08:002011-03-07T09:28:40.735-08:00Uganda Trip - Day 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><u>Thursday, Dec. 2</u> -</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today's notes from my girls...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwZhEqQnnAEon7wTQ3o196ynX-pDYoeEnKlSSexha64sFD7G6pdg8uuSWZ-onxG7OAkwV4erTHcyEtGWdeQUrqGf6Fdcbv7YCTG79o2RV6xPIYjjfBDYyfno52nxi-rJiy6U6iZZfwN4/s1600/day+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwZhEqQnnAEon7wTQ3o196ynX-pDYoeEnKlSSexha64sFD7G6pdg8uuSWZ-onxG7OAkwV4erTHcyEtGWdeQUrqGf6Fdcbv7YCTG79o2RV6xPIYjjfBDYyfno52nxi-rJiy6U6iZZfwN4/s320/day+3.jpg" width="254" /></a></div><u><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Psalm 139</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>1 You have searched me, LORD,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and you know me. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>2 You know when I sit and when I rise; </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>you perceive my thoughts from afar. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>3 You discern my going out and my lying down; </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>you are familiar with all my ways. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>4 Before a word is on my tongue </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>you, LORD, know it completely. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>5 You hem me in behind and before, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and you lay your hand upon me. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>too lofty for me to attain.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>7 Where can I go from your Spirit? </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Where can I flee from your presence? </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>if I settle on the far side of the sea, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>10 even there your hand will guide me, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>your right hand will hold me fast. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and the light become night around me,” </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>the night will shine like the day, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>for darkness is as light to you.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>13 For you created my inmost being; </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>you knit me together in my mother’s womb. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>your works are wonderful, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I know that full well. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>15 My frame was not hidden from you </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>when I was made in the secret place, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>all the days ordained for me were written in your book </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>before one of them came to be. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God! </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>How vast is the sum of them! </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>18 Were I to count them, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>they would outnumber the grains of sand— </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>when I awake, I am still with you.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked! </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>20 They speak of you with evil intent; </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>your adversaries misuse your name. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>21 Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>22 I have nothing but hatred for them; </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I count them my enemies. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>23 Search me, God, and know my heart; </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>test me and know my anxious thoughts. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>24 See if there is any offensive way in me, </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>and lead me in the way everlasting.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7oaVxTGFrBuChfpa5ERcS7w7Le4kQg1jhhdAlMBjcViEENM2drEIpGQ3ev2wWvuf2P17_mczhcXhyphenhyphenFpXAP3OuhttMSaYJgHq3zXGZIUbhf6S16C22ENBO5N-8KH4kBFl4TFrzAqh6hg/s1600/100_0099.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7oaVxTGFrBuChfpa5ERcS7w7Le4kQg1jhhdAlMBjcViEENM2drEIpGQ3ev2wWvuf2P17_mczhcXhyphenhyphenFpXAP3OuhttMSaYJgHq3zXGZIUbhf6S16C22ENBO5N-8KH4kBFl4TFrzAqh6hg/s200/100_0099.JPG" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">Today's word of the day was "Wow!". The poverty of those who live in the villages of Lira - wow. The overwhelming kindness and generosity of those who live here - wow. The openness of their hearts and their ability to give and receive love - wow. The resourcefulness of these people and their willingness to make the most of what they have - wow.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">We began our day with a drive out to the orphanage. Project Hope Worldwide began building "<a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/www.projecthopeworldwide.org/Where_We_Serve.html">Calo Me Lare</a>" or "Village of Redemption" about six months ago. I can't even express in words what a great feeling it was to actually see it come to fruition.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUCyH3-VKjy3I8a4NTvPMeJ16yfSFFoW90UQ-xmN2wkyca8Tpqor9TrdS2l3g1qqiv0eeMwy4pg6DNsLv4x3PuN1BEDL0Oep1i17vs0YuavJotjSHkyXp3gc-9vX1F56vjfwUhW2mzKw/s1600/100_0100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMUCyH3-VKjy3I8a4NTvPMeJ16yfSFFoW90UQ-xmN2wkyca8Tpqor9TrdS2l3g1qqiv0eeMwy4pg6DNsLv4x3PuN1BEDL0Oep1i17vs0YuavJotjSHkyXp3gc-9vX1F56vjfwUhW2mzKw/s320/100_0100.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am pictured here with Sophie, one of Calo Me Lare's<br />
house mothers. The children in the picture are local<br />
villagers that came to see what we were doing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The village will be built in phases and will eventually include 16 homes housing 8 children and 1 widowed mother in each house. It will also have a church, medical clinic, school, agriculture center, soccer fields and gardens. If everything goes as planned, Calo Me Lare should be open in January or February of 2011 and will welcome it's first 16 orphans and 3 house mothers. The homes will actually be divided into rooms and will have electricity and a kitchen with a stove, something practically unheard of in the villages in Lira.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FUganda Day 3%2Fbdbe9474.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Uganda%20Day%203/?action=view&current=bdbe9474.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div></div><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Calo Me Lare is located about 3 1/2 miles outside of the main hustle and bustle of Lira and spans a little over 15 acres. It was such an amazing site to see the progress made so far and to actually see work being done. Workers were mixing cement, making bricks, building walls, and putting up a security fence. The village itself is not only a wonderful thing for the orphans, but it has created jobs for many of the local villagers to help them provide a better life for their families.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZr8jvMTc0wHJWx5Y6s4skvvz7SajervakWttl-Yd8F3WLWzDLLvEvKsr57tmEEGc7b_Qko2RtUIqiX7bGD8JVt7cQstfWcehOwBAumluwNineev56Ca8h-GQfQgzVEsMKb86M0Qdumqs/s1600/100_0170.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZr8jvMTc0wHJWx5Y6s4skvvz7SajervakWttl-Yd8F3WLWzDLLvEvKsr57tmEEGc7b_Qko2RtUIqiX7bGD8JVt7cQstfWcehOwBAumluwNineev56Ca8h-GQfQgzVEsMKb86M0Qdumqs/s200/100_0170.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>The first 16 orphans that will be moving into Calo Me Lare have already been hand-picked by Dennis, our Ugandan friend and a paid staff employee for PHWW. He has done an amazing job riding his motor bike and walking all over to villages within Lira to find the most needy orphans. Sadly, it's easy to find orphans within the area. There are so many due to parents dying of HIV/AIDS - but it was Dennis's job to find the most needy ones that could benefit from living at Calo Me Lare. These orphans are currently still living in their villages until the orphanage is completed. They typically are being raised by older siblings, grandparents, aunts or uncles. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVrm5mONC6CrsvULijNHF0i9InrOrv-iKZh_ztFBcp3gakyfoWu4gR1uDlng6MkfDi5qqqEd_WYliBcUJBQKDddnv1B71RpYd6C10pRVWEhYBJdcGfdcm6WRTBtvAjyKqVAj_BBplr0o/s1600/100_0154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZVrm5mONC6CrsvULijNHF0i9InrOrv-iKZh_ztFBcp3gakyfoWu4gR1uDlng6MkfDi5qqqEd_WYliBcUJBQKDddnv1B71RpYd6C10pRVWEhYBJdcGfdcm6WRTBtvAjyKqVAj_BBplr0o/s200/100_0154.JPG" width="151" /></a></div>Our main focus for this trip is to actually go find these children, get their stories, take their pictures, and get video of their everyday lives so that when we get back to the states, we can spread the word that these children are available to be sponsored. For $120 a month, a child can be sponsored and the money will cover all their living, schooling and medical expenses. It will also help pay the salaries of the house mothers and will go towards continued building of Calo Me Lare. The $120 can also be split between 3 individuals, families, or businesses - making the donation come to $40 p/month. Orphan profiles will soon be made available on the Project Hope Worldwide website <a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/www.projecthopeworldwide.org/Sponsor_a_Child.html">here</a>.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOOyJAIduRzu_T8NFfk_u7fZDJVTV3VUh5QwjAMAMlAuOMvPi1lTvTQun7Vq831ZWqc3Q5L5Nfiq8XkB4BkgWIphjzsBgB2cAaOAybeQUjrtWGB_N1K5tCG_V9W3lOOx1oMWP0wzhhgc/s1600/100_0194.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOOyJAIduRzu_T8NFfk_u7fZDJVTV3VUh5QwjAMAMlAuOMvPi1lTvTQun7Vq831ZWqc3Q5L5Nfiq8XkB4BkgWIphjzsBgB2cAaOAybeQUjrtWGB_N1K5tCG_V9W3lOOx1oMWP0wzhhgc/s200/100_0194.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>As if being an orphan wasn't sad enough, they have a strong cultural stigma, are often looked down upon, and are made fun of by the other villagers. At a time when they need the most love, they are shunned and neglected. Calo Me Lare will provide these children with the love and support they need to develop important life skills that will help them succeed and become whomever they want to be. These children will now be given endless opportunities and, most importantly, will know that they do have value and worth.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">So today was our first day to go to the villages and find the children. It's so amazing to me that these people live out in the middle of nowhere, yet they are very self-sufficient. That's not to say they have "great" lives, but they make the most of what they do have which is very, very little.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FUganda Day 3%2F94f4e171.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Uganda%20Day%203/?action=view&current=94f4e171.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
<object height="300" width="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1MLn89vFsaY?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1MLn89vFsaY?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="350" height="300"></embed></object><br />
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<object height="300" width="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jM2j6mp1dKA?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jM2j6mp1dKA?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="350" height="300"></embed></object><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJEgwmT7dl1-J7E8VJAZ5SZjSn09osmZA092osBgVYxC8ZNfhtkUnje3DdZv9JueswUEp_WNK7U8_wOS5FD4-R7mMeMbHXdWzaNCJcAADVWIJS679-19E6kbDnLtdnO3WASUMtgQAMis/s1600/100_0156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJEgwmT7dl1-J7E8VJAZ5SZjSn09osmZA092osBgVYxC8ZNfhtkUnje3DdZv9JueswUEp_WNK7U8_wOS5FD4-R7mMeMbHXdWzaNCJcAADVWIJS679-19E6kbDnLtdnO3WASUMtgQAMis/s200/100_0156.JPG" width="135" /></a></div>It was really hard to see the kids today in their poverty-stricken environment. Most all of them were barefoot, their feet calloused over. Their clothes were filthy dirty and torn to rags. Their eyes were jaundiced yellow and their little bellies puffed out from malnutrition. I just wanted to buy them all new clothes and shoes, give them baths in clean water, tend to their wounds, and stuff them with food until they couldn't eat any more!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXijEObMpqUhqvyrtg40Q-ok5tPSSqHu3Q2JYz67zLZN33g9Hw5ZvZJB6Z8FLsrLrP4OAvdArEy-4gQNZdlCq6_8tMaMxrYLHyJ7qj8MqXS3nc8GEcPPYxSTn25xJ4Fw2aMF8LDkWqEOE/s1600/100_0143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXijEObMpqUhqvyrtg40Q-ok5tPSSqHu3Q2JYz67zLZN33g9Hw5ZvZJB6Z8FLsrLrP4OAvdArEy-4gQNZdlCq6_8tMaMxrYLHyJ7qj8MqXS3nc8GEcPPYxSTn25xJ4Fw2aMF8LDkWqEOE/s200/100_0143.JPG" width="188" /></a></div>One fun thing I got to do when I met the orphans was to give them a beaded bracelet that my girls made for them. It was neat to bring a part of them with me and give to the kids. The orphans smiled when we put the bracelets on their wrists - hopefully they knew that the bracelets were made with a lot of love :-)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here's some of the orphans we met today. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>SHARON:</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FUganda Day 3%2Ff9667b31.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Uganda%20Day%203/?action=view&current=f9667b31.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><object height="300" width="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/I7eE313hkds?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/I7eE313hkds?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="350" height="300"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><object height="300" width="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/i6YaPfWiilc?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/i6YaPfWiilc?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="350" height="300"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>OLIVIA:</b></div></div><div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"><object height="300" width="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yjz-K6zXKPw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Yjz-K6zXKPw?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="350" height="300"></embed></object></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><b>MIRIA:</b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></b><br />
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<b><div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b><br />
</b></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FUganda Day 3%2F5341e7af.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Uganda%20Day%203/?action=view&current=5341e7af.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div></div></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br />
</b></div></div><div style="text-align: center; width: 350px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FUganda Day 3%2F5a22d391.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="350" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Uganda%20Day%203/?action=view&current=5a22d391.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-73562068656865462652010-12-21T12:55:00.000-08:002010-12-21T13:51:30.972-08:00Uganda Trip - Day 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1UGxd8mQTEgksX1BH9bWE34DTQrVgxefVWthjTGgnnaddqCXaVf4eysJripEK8FHgfNzTEzVFXocvRBPUDdanWVumNFx1OcW-GPptS4G3JslyEsQ1cz_fodOWrTzW8SyspDXtfywP64/s1600/day+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1UGxd8mQTEgksX1BH9bWE34DTQrVgxefVWthjTGgnnaddqCXaVf4eysJripEK8FHgfNzTEzVFXocvRBPUDdanWVumNFx1OcW-GPptS4G3JslyEsQ1cz_fodOWrTzW8SyspDXtfywP64/s400/day+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0A28nBgJRbLTvN4eNZbezcZvIDqYgOcLMUTdvj-6ELebzhwoxNilclgGClUfircU1y-Rv3C95B9EjFmKhx3BnXnDGraEEeJV4S5EZvBhgbCTXZx1fN_OfBJCS7_5Qqlasl4wALRkrnfw/s1600/day+2_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0A28nBgJRbLTvN4eNZbezcZvIDqYgOcLMUTdvj-6ELebzhwoxNilclgGClUfircU1y-Rv3C95B9EjFmKhx3BnXnDGraEEeJV4S5EZvBhgbCTXZx1fN_OfBJCS7_5Qqlasl4wALRkrnfw/s400/day+2_0001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVoxmiRg11HD7tU7ov9wIOXJllZA1SzJnx4cerpJea7NGFWK5KNqYSRkHFON_0Yq3GUN_oFhEe6Q3H_LXmYmSBmvEfHJhu6fdzbuGWGmgyfBh4e6Tpm1CreaFnu5eyRFgR_gnRwsn_Dc/s1600/day+2_0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyVoxmiRg11HD7tU7ov9wIOXJllZA1SzJnx4cerpJea7NGFWK5KNqYSRkHFON_0Yq3GUN_oFhEe6Q3H_LXmYmSBmvEfHJhu6fdzbuGWGmgyfBh4e6Tpm1CreaFnu5eyRFgR_gnRwsn_Dc/s400/day+2_0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><u><br />
</u></div><u>Wednesday, December 1, 2010</u> -<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCah7I-_q32EnDF9wTD6ix9DuGnOQv8oFCBiseb8Z3k6PqNsQH6D4SVOgK61qW5sn6WaCd8hyphenhyphend1ttBytRUDQi81d6tbrJW4lGJim82XbKxMN_ZqMI1oia7AnqvRpOX1U11e3YUAlV3zE/s1600/garden-area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCah7I-_q32EnDF9wTD6ix9DuGnOQv8oFCBiseb8Z3k6PqNsQH6D4SVOgK61qW5sn6WaCd8hyphenhyphend1ttBytRUDQi81d6tbrJW4lGJim82XbKxMN_ZqMI1oia7AnqvRpOX1U11e3YUAlV3zE/s200/garden-area.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>It's December 1st and I woke up this morning in Uganda! I can't believe it! Today was filled with lots of surprises - some good, some scary. Even though I didn't go to bed until 1 this morning, I was awakened at about 6:15 by the sounds of roosters crowing and what sounded like thousands of birds chirping. It was a beautiful, amazing way to wake up. I could say that because I actually felt rested - otherwise, I'd probably be a little ticked off ;-)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMao7oNzxRL7hDsO1WrE0Qrg5lYOzCU5KmyH-1c1tpCnpuordPMvoy21CE5eRPX95fdg2-cC-KSLaIeCM8qxc6vBYj51gesZscJYRFYmqHVxkZrP5EiL1HKo23qqP7NJZWunIf8Lk_zw/s1600/IvanT-Guinea-Fowl-26Mar2006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTMao7oNzxRL7hDsO1WrE0Qrg5lYOzCU5KmyH-1c1tpCnpuordPMvoy21CE5eRPX95fdg2-cC-KSLaIeCM8qxc6vBYj51gesZscJYRFYmqHVxkZrP5EiL1HKo23qqP7NJZWunIf8Lk_zw/s200/IvanT-Guinea-Fowl-26Mar2006.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>I wanted to hurry and get ready so I could see what the outside of our hotel looked like. I couldn't see the night before because it was dark. So I rushed to take a shower - it felt so good, even if it was a trickle of luke-warm water, because it was my first shower in 3 days! Then as I was getting ready, I could hear the sounds of what sounded like hundreds of children laughing and singing. That made me hurry even faster because I wanted to see who they were and what they were doing. When I finally opened my door to the outside, I couldn't believe what I saw. It looked like the Garden of Eden - beautiful flowers draped from rooflines and along flower beds, exotic birds were singing high in the trees, everything was landscaped so pretty! A few of the groundskeepers were working so I went and talked to them. One showed me around the grounds - pointing out various trees, birds, nests, turtles, etc. He showed me how to make this clicking noise with my tongue and 3 huge birds ran up to me. I think they were guineas. I was a little freaked out but it was kinda cool, too ;-)<br />
<br />
So there are now five of us on our trip from the States -<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHq82MUck_HJBqIGWV5IGjPVciwS_pkv4hur6HGmmtfVS1BPqXdslwDTqv_oKmbqNwcdYMPsfbOQPpcbwvQsyjMvwjrL0h_XkjSNd1x4a1_tw6T404bMX9QcJ_HSJt90_Su9feeV3y1UE/s1600/100_0180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHq82MUck_HJBqIGWV5IGjPVciwS_pkv4hur6HGmmtfVS1BPqXdslwDTqv_oKmbqNwcdYMPsfbOQPpcbwvQsyjMvwjrL0h_XkjSNd1x4a1_tw6T404bMX9QcJ_HSJt90_Su9feeV3y1UE/s200/100_0180.JPG" width="153" /></a></div>* Derk Madden - Pastor of <a href="http://www.discovertheone.com/dbf/">Discovery Bible Fellowship</a> and President of <a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/">Project Hope Worldwide</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSKRD8-VRIJmBGKtk5eWIcvAqXYElhRWLtwg342_f-1QZqHRMJHSjvxJfxDWJFheeaiDcHTqjVHkSvDCuucaRGUJfqNfBKt7LKu0PHJrK83V1QJR-zoZ42LHBD3e7VmQWMPjGKIDAyYk/s1600/100_0408.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxSKRD8-VRIJmBGKtk5eWIcvAqXYElhRWLtwg342_f-1QZqHRMJHSjvxJfxDWJFheeaiDcHTqjVHkSvDCuucaRGUJfqNfBKt7LKu0PHJrK83V1QJR-zoZ42LHBD3e7VmQWMPjGKIDAyYk/s200/100_0408.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>* Kelley Compton - Worship Leader at <a href="http://www.discovertheone.com/dbf/">Discovery Bible Fellowship</a> and a founder of <a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/">Project Hope Worldwide</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESkdg8cYxFTLsmcMWcOaQgL1WgMoxxjWlieQ-zERLNYlIWisFKm2eDLqEcQKCwnHLopB8SgtJ8e-q51hiLuJ4vErK88Nnw1HpjqfT9bFnanaCuca1DkxfcaFSafKRwr0p7DyK414vGu4/s1600/100_0609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESkdg8cYxFTLsmcMWcOaQgL1WgMoxxjWlieQ-zERLNYlIWisFKm2eDLqEcQKCwnHLopB8SgtJ8e-q51hiLuJ4vErK88Nnw1HpjqfT9bFnanaCuca1DkxfcaFSafKRwr0p7DyK414vGu4/s200/100_0609.JPG" width="138" /></a></div>* Jimmy Russell - a businessman from Owasso and friend of Derk's<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbQyhyx-zylAFOco-Ks19gZJpZ4kkXy-IN111UPezOKLPuRjYxdimOh4my48dUy3mdkWxDYyPOoqhPOjo-HZYhPLPQC2oGM_qK89kDbgzni7eBWxU2uPAlzXySn2T2fQcvm1rcw7czKk/s1600/100_0236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbQyhyx-zylAFOco-Ks19gZJpZ4kkXy-IN111UPezOKLPuRjYxdimOh4my48dUy3mdkWxDYyPOoqhPOjo-HZYhPLPQC2oGM_qK89kDbgzni7eBWxU2uPAlzXySn2T2fQcvm1rcw7czKk/s200/100_0236.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>* Helmut Schleppi - a producer from LA who makes documentaries for the Discovery Channel, World Vision and other NGO's (Non-government organizations). He has also produced several movies. You can find out more about Helmut <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1110794/">here</a>.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXGN6pwPtqZrRFTxgAU7_iRpYyQPaPKsmstHgrbFeVcSQzmFPM2NSo0zLm88-BhYzI5EOPbiXOsWiElCQztczktsylN_jpL7qQya5rFqSGKRRqkKAHvHwrHA4EcWpBWzOguaVImD5RRE/s1600/100_0541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXGN6pwPtqZrRFTxgAU7_iRpYyQPaPKsmstHgrbFeVcSQzmFPM2NSo0zLm88-BhYzI5EOPbiXOsWiElCQztczktsylN_jpL7qQya5rFqSGKRRqkKAHvHwrHA4EcWpBWzOguaVImD5RRE/s200/100_0541.JPG" width="150" /></a></div>* And of course, myself. Plain 'ole mom. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.<br />
<br />
After a delicious breakfast at our hotel of omelets, bacon and toast, we packed up our things to get ready to drive from Entebbe to Lira. More surprises were found while going through my luggage. I found a large manilla envelope that was filled with letters for me from Steve and the girls - one letter for each day of my trip. They were so super sweet and thoughtful - it really cheered me up because I miss them terribly!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMuZBixOS-xZcB1Ls6RxfTHWgkkBNA1P_eamFfDeg_FstZW4nuPKpnL-pqOsrPOPK3J-gEa3-x1__Ly7JaTrPuMtDE4nSUAbuk9cYkBft0c0Zp-gNgeDSb_G7F2uxgICy95Ok9HktsC4/s1600/praying-hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaMuZBixOS-xZcB1Ls6RxfTHWgkkBNA1P_eamFfDeg_FstZW4nuPKpnL-pqOsrPOPK3J-gEa3-x1__Ly7JaTrPuMtDE4nSUAbuk9cYkBft0c0Zp-gNgeDSb_G7F2uxgICy95Ok9HktsC4/s200/praying-hands.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Next surprise - not so great. The drive to Lira. I was warned the driving would be scary and crazy but nothing could have prepared me for the ride ahead of me. I think it's totally amazing that many fully functioning cities in Africa do not have a structured driving system set up. First of all, they drive on the left side of the road so that took a little bit of getting used to. Next, it's pretty much a free for all when it comes to driving the streets. The roads are generally 2-way and narrow; however, walkers, bike riders and motorcyclists have to fit on the shoulders, too. There are usually no paint lines giving lane boundaries and I didn't see any speed limits posted - everyone just drives as fast as they can to get where they are going. And they are constantly passing each other with on-coming traffic heading straight towards them. It's crazy! Kelley and I spent most of our time in the car ducking and praying - did a WHOLE lot of praying that day!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSWvpXE8zv71jXkL1cMMkh-pgV6MAhenqN3jWvwfn84QgJhHG_DYDlew-JnPx5xh1b_1N59dzNHkr2qqnmeSUHsEnNrqOZ28bGpQeNP7FcaB9R-PowoMeXOskKfCl1pL3yssUerR4iV0/s1600/100_0067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGSWvpXE8zv71jXkL1cMMkh-pgV6MAhenqN3jWvwfn84QgJhHG_DYDlew-JnPx5xh1b_1N59dzNHkr2qqnmeSUHsEnNrqOZ28bGpQeNP7FcaB9R-PowoMeXOskKfCl1pL3yssUerR4iV0/s200/100_0067.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>It should have been about a 6 hour drive from our hotel to Lira, but our driver made it in about 4. C-R-A-Z-Y!!! We seriously had about 5 close calls - I just knew I was going to be meeting Jesus soon. Oh well - it's just part of the "experience", I suppose. We did make a couple of stops along the way at a few produce markets. We bought bananas, papayas, corn and mangos. Even though the drive was much more intense than any amusement park ride I've ever been on, I did get to see what life what like in Uganda. There were people and markets the entire way from Entebbe to Lira. The markets and homes were make-shift buildings made of whatever scrap materials could be found. They were so poor, yet seemed happy because they had the company of their friends and family with them all day every day. No time schedules. No business meetings. No e-mail or facebook. I found myself feeling almost envious of their lifestyle, yet so thankful to God for the many blessings I had back home. Sure puts things into perspective.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">One of the biggest reservations I had about going to Uganda was my safety in our hotel. A few weeks ago, I had a nightmare that some men broke into my room so I kept replaying that scene over and over again in my head - totally freaking myself out and making me very leery about even going. I know that was my crazy imagination, though, so for the last week or so I've been praying against it and have felt much more at ease. Needless to say, I was still very curious to see what our hotel would be like - fortunately, I was pleasantly surprised. We just checked into our hotel in Lira - it's called the <a href="http://graciouspalacehotel.com/">Gracious Palace Hotel</a>. We each have our own rooms and so far I feel pretty safe. I'm on the 2nd floor and I have a small balcony off the back of my room. I also have 2 twin beds, an armoire, table and chair. The beds have mosquito nets but fortunately, I haven't seen any mosquitoes just yet. We were told they have air conditioning but their idea of air conditioning here is a very noisy ceiling fan - which is why I am writing this journal entry at 4 in the morning. Hot + Noisy = No Sleep For Me Tonight.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center; width: 400px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FUganda - day 1%2F7a8345fe.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Uganda%20-%20day%201/?action=view&current=7a8345fe.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>After checking into our hotel, we walked the streets of Lira for a little while then ate dinner at a hotel called <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.in/Hotel_Review-g800443-d1007056-Reviews-Lillian_Towers_Hotel-Lira.html">Lillian Towers</a> that served spicy Indian food. And what did I have to eat? Pizza. Yes, pizza. Our waitress was so super sweet. I kept watching her watch us throughout our dinner. She was smiling but I didn't know what she was thinking. I spoke to her some but her accent was thick and she was very soft spoken. She saw me taking pictures and asked if I would take one of the two of us. She then told me she wanted to be friends and even verbally gave me her phone number. Of course I forgot it right away but I thought it was a nice gesture.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center; width: 400px;"><embed height="300" src="http://w738.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw738.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fxx22%2Fmomof2girlygirlz%2FUganda - day 1%2F6ca6f8b4.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" wmode="transparent"></embed><a href="http://s738.photobucket.com/albums/xx22/momof2girlygirlz/Uganda%20-%20day%201/?action=view&current=6ca6f8b4.pbw" target="_blank"></a></div><br />
I wish I could be experiencing this all with Steve so badly. I miss him and the girls so much. My cell phone lost service as soon as we left the states, so I haven't been able to speak to them since Monday. I am hopeful that Thursday I'll get to skype or call. We'll also get to meet some of the orphans that will be living at <a href="http://www.projecthopeworldwide.org/www.projecthopeworldwide.org/Where_We_Serve.html">Calo Me Lare</a> later today. It will be interesting to see what God has in store for us. We survived the drive here so surely God has a big purpose and calling for us. We are His willing servants and are excited to see what He will do today. Maybe I can squeeze in a cat nap before I have to get up in an hour :-) Will write more soon!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-58261396406366116172010-12-20T11:27:00.000-08:002010-12-20T17:56:22.103-08:00Uganda Trip - Day 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuZgsvHDqvmGnHhMg9HFqcAV6N-IaZ1UtZpntAPTk52nk2V6Rgcyqd7YFb7I0kbx-rbBzSUJ9osp_TQPEM-muy-E_8IYWfqBQRgFEWneok-ncZojL4qeCOBmFnFvKxtVLSaImhzePRhU/s1600/day+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijuZgsvHDqvmGnHhMg9HFqcAV6N-IaZ1UtZpntAPTk52nk2V6Rgcyqd7YFb7I0kbx-rbBzSUJ9osp_TQPEM-muy-E_8IYWfqBQRgFEWneok-ncZojL4qeCOBmFnFvKxtVLSaImhzePRhU/s400/day+1.jpg" width="322" /></a></div><u><br />
</u><br />
<u>Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2010</u> -<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJQV91X-GFhpK__GbWrxvHYo1zwycBb7y7XhaQaCyldgG1S_58-Hzgb5NZ75oeF7ACqHaouFvTDRifbXXd8BLzw1qbk_sX6669NAuayvS3FP3X_N2Sd4jeH2M-gOlbXNwdp9d0ZGHOzA/s1600/148670_1737206310003_1233962501_1967730_2427108_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsJQV91X-GFhpK__GbWrxvHYo1zwycBb7y7XhaQaCyldgG1S_58-Hzgb5NZ75oeF7ACqHaouFvTDRifbXXd8BLzw1qbk_sX6669NAuayvS3FP3X_N2Sd4jeH2M-gOlbXNwdp9d0ZGHOzA/s200/148670_1737206310003_1233962501_1967730_2427108_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Today was another long day of traveling. After having a nine hour delay in Detroit, we then flew to Amsterdam where we had a four hour delay. I had plans of taking a shower there but I was so exhausted, I opted to sleep instead on their lounging chairs. We were all so tired - especially Derk and me. We hadn't slept a peep yet, so those few hours felt great. In fact, we slept so good, we almost didn't make it to our next flight! By the time we got to the gate to head to Uganda, the line was so long and the plane was supposed to take off in just minutes. I thought we missed our flight for sure. As I have come to find out, there is such a thing as "Uganda time" which is MUCH slower than the hectic lives we live in the States. For some reason, the airlines was running about 45 minutes behind schedule, which worked in our favor, so we actually made it just in time.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3kIeoAnDTAojXLG1pP8h65r6DoZc39wgBKS3jsJv5wfsDLIusbRsltFlrx77zLnJ2frNK94QG7IloneEe_YyUntRfNNEogb-F5wTf4JnYy11VFp-qkVV0Q14mn_UtvVRynPgRFp63qY/s1600/romos_outside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3kIeoAnDTAojXLG1pP8h65r6DoZc39wgBKS3jsJv5wfsDLIusbRsltFlrx77zLnJ2frNK94QG7IloneEe_YyUntRfNNEogb-F5wTf4JnYy11VFp-qkVV0Q14mn_UtvVRynPgRFp63qY/s200/romos_outside.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>We finally made it to Uganda Monday night around 8:30 p.m. ALL of our luggage was waiting for us - PTL - and so were our hired drivers, Patrick and Mustafa. They drove us to a market to get some bottled water, then on to our hotel. The name of our hotel was the <a href="http://www.traveluganda.co.ug/entebbeairportguesthouse/">Entebbe Airport Guesthouse</a> and it was beautiful - from what I could tell at night. It was clean and we each had our own room. It had a bed and that's all I needed because I was exhausted. Tomorrow, we'll make the 6 hour drive to Lira where we'll be staying the rest of our trip. Will write more later! Must get some rest now! :-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5979390254552608805.post-41862965910343286282010-12-17T19:21:00.000-08:002010-12-20T17:56:48.814-08:00Uganda Trip - My Journal EntriesFound these notes in my carry-on bag ;-)<br />
<br />
From Abby...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUueEjVA2SVcS5ST-SrHzThHi8aa6F_wCwxCojQR3TVMFuibCkof6ysBJuGTicUxwWtqPHWNkdMQ7suDBkZI2wqKbt_GTFbMFnWhRJAGQHJBMEianbgxZ017wiUbtFIufQTP6zXfyQ_io/s1600/abby+day+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUueEjVA2SVcS5ST-SrHzThHi8aa6F_wCwxCojQR3TVMFuibCkof6ysBJuGTicUxwWtqPHWNkdMQ7suDBkZI2wqKbt_GTFbMFnWhRJAGQHJBMEianbgxZ017wiUbtFIufQTP6zXfyQ_io/s320/abby+day+1.jpg" width="258" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">From Mackenzie...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlwArND0_su8ph9NfoyQb6u_b4Cnn5NXUthm0nTgFBgdpnv3X6B-Cm7En1C9mYVcX5dpQymJZmzcVH8ZLpjmw8Ld1FlOHvDyQA7eFXYf_LXFw7FZITKEiBS2V6eRCFO6bw-f6VClHmhg/s1600/mackenzie+day+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUlwArND0_su8ph9NfoyQb6u_b4Cnn5NXUthm0nTgFBgdpnv3X6B-Cm7En1C9mYVcX5dpQymJZmzcVH8ZLpjmw8Ld1FlOHvDyQA7eFXYf_LXFw7FZITKEiBS2V6eRCFO6bw-f6VClHmhg/s320/mackenzie+day+1.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><u>Monday, November 29, 2010</u> (Written on the plane headed to Amsterdam) -<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZgLSHB49zwEKatzp51ISiOJnfZ6am17-T4-U6N5_bgDefEDrRbupn5fjWIUz5h9uus9969_Ctf0lCSMfOr1C1ILIznoMJW6ymzwoCHfpdlab2Kf4ybYFygWLtnQaM5h_ofb36YbVtpM/s1600/klm-airline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZgLSHB49zwEKatzp51ISiOJnfZ6am17-T4-U6N5_bgDefEDrRbupn5fjWIUz5h9uus9969_Ctf0lCSMfOr1C1ILIznoMJW6ymzwoCHfpdlab2Kf4ybYFygWLtnQaM5h_ofb36YbVtpM/s200/klm-airline.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Wow! I can't actually believe I'm going to Uganda! I always thought it would be "neat" to go, but I never thought I'd actually find myself on a plane heading to Africa! I know this is going to be an amazing, life-changing experience for me but the road to get here has been so hard and long, yet short.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewI2mDMaKKoG1P_itW4YCNNIWPQdD1OWXdtScb3DvhkwaxsV8sIKy3t3R95V_FutjLWhqX6USq2FhmIlnlKkZu4jXq-8K7AANdJvuBYhvthllDv4FFAkc8a3VscWMdq1iCumir1U4QSg/s1600/uganda_lira_map203.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjewI2mDMaKKoG1P_itW4YCNNIWPQdD1OWXdtScb3DvhkwaxsV8sIKy3t3R95V_FutjLWhqX6USq2FhmIlnlKkZu4jXq-8K7AANdJvuBYhvthllDv4FFAkc8a3VscWMdq1iCumir1U4QSg/s200/uganda_lira_map203.gif" width="200" /></a></div>Just two months ago, I was at dinner with friends when I received a text from my pastor that read, "How would you like to go to Uganda on our next trip in November?" I just about freaked out! Like I said, I always "thought" it would be neat to go but never really thought I actually would go.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxyZOUjAbbhF89U2R1d2hE1vMy6gkFeHYU89iNbPVhtWwi9uqWhyphenhyphenw53p32-xPfReDM8wrysGfB7U8xbrs4Y85uw5GsSAuCyMLeMYopV4fXV4fju_jY3-Vj_WY0jWNLiPbY81m5alXe_k/s1600/question-mark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkxyZOUjAbbhF89U2R1d2hE1vMy6gkFeHYU89iNbPVhtWwi9uqWhyphenhyphenw53p32-xPfReDM8wrysGfB7U8xbrs4Y85uw5GsSAuCyMLeMYopV4fXV4fju_jY3-Vj_WY0jWNLiPbY81m5alXe_k/s200/question-mark.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>The time is finally here and I don't really feel mentally or spiritually prepared. To be honest, I've spent so much time thinking about the "what ifs" and the thought of missing my family, that I haven't spent the time that I should have praying and preparing spiritually for the trip.<br />
<br />
This has ended up being one of the hardest decisions I've ever committed to in my life. In a way, I feel like God is testing me to see who I put first - Him or my family. I knew I had to be obedient to God's calling but it wasn't an easy decision. I love God with all my heart but my family is my life. I love them so much it hurts. It hurts to be away from them. It hurts to not be there to meet their needs. It hurts to miss out on their every day lives. But God's calling is greater. I must follow Him even when it hurts. His ways are always best. This experience has forced me to rely on God because I am weak on my own. I can do nothing without His strength.<br />
<br />
I just checked the airline's map and we are over the Atlantic Ocean! Such a surreal feeling! Even though we are experiencing turbulence, the guy next to me has major "gas issues", the person in front of me has his seat back squishing me and the guy behind me is snoring, I'm right where God wants me - right where I should be. Totally vulnerable - relying totally on God. I have nowhere else to go. Just me, God, my iPod, and my journal. And oh yes, the guy next to me who needs to down a bottle of<br />
Tums ;-)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihH-NofvBltWgI5KvWMlV9ycTj4eiiK9nuPEImWHyloS6KDeJeJIjyjgNz8uXag6jROpQFmWtkEkAtk733VzuNjVwb76gBkm3Y9lcwe7crSl4zf0YmQhxFPvZYWp1d7bVoUii8bj5R4Yc/s1600/DSC07227.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihH-NofvBltWgI5KvWMlV9ycTj4eiiK9nuPEImWHyloS6KDeJeJIjyjgNz8uXag6jROpQFmWtkEkAtk733VzuNjVwb76gBkm3Y9lcwe7crSl4zf0YmQhxFPvZYWp1d7bVoUii8bj5R4Yc/s200/DSC07227.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>I'm in my happy place, looking at a card Abby made for me. It's a picture of us holding hands and it reads, "I love you so so much. You are one of a 'cind'." Oh, I pray the girls are doing okay. I miss them so much already. They have been so sweet supporting me in my decision to go to Uganda. They've spent countless hours crocheting and making craft items to sell and help me raise money for my trip. They are so precious and have such big hearts for being such little girls.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqDl4S40YuR9QEuYEddZHnl-_aIbqFbsg0fq5GJKb41IRJkh5OvqE-csu2VjbrJX7lYSJlOtwhXJVisyCzaFAJQNRrd7XDNjJDxfy1n8_1ZfTzQtiXLz94rFLA_PIhY10qn_JDWYdVpw/s1600/DSC07056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIqDl4S40YuR9QEuYEddZHnl-_aIbqFbsg0fq5GJKb41IRJkh5OvqE-csu2VjbrJX7lYSJlOtwhXJVisyCzaFAJQNRrd7XDNjJDxfy1n8_1ZfTzQtiXLz94rFLA_PIhY10qn_JDWYdVpw/s200/DSC07056.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>And Steve - he's been my rock and supporter this entire time. He's prayed for me, made numerous trips to the store buying things for my trip, helped me pack, made schedules for the girls, put up with me when I've been a weepy sap, etc. He's been amazing. I could never thank him enough for all he's done for me. I'm so underserving of this love from anybody but I am also so grateful for it. God has blessed me for reasons I don't know. I let Him down so many times, yet He still shows me love.<br />
<br />
<i>Thank you, Jesus, for your kindness and grace. Please help me grow in that area towards others. Please be with my family while I'm gone. Let them know I love them unconditionally. Please watch over them and protect them from all harm. I pray this experience makes us a closer knit family and that it draws us closer to You. Thank you for all your many blessings and for this experience of a lifetime. I pray that I bring You glory and help you accomplish Your will. In Jesus' name.</i><br />
<br />
I keep listening to this song over and over on my iPod. I thought it was an appropriate "theme" for this trip...<br />
<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">"<b>Imagine This</b>"<br />
By Beckah Shae<br />
<br />
<i>Imagine this,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Joy and laughter and no more pain</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Where love insists to be known</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Imagine all the people</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Caring for each other</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Instead of all the fussing and arguing</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm a dreamer a believer</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>There's hope within our reach</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I'm gonna take a stand and agree</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The healing begins with me</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>There's a better way, we don't have to die anymore</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Open up your eyes and see the need</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We can make a difference with our own lives</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>If we let love arise from the inside</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Heed the call and be all we were made to be</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Imagine this,</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Safety and shelter from the storm</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>A place for all to call home</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Imagine all the people</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Learning that which matters most</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Can't be bought or earned or taken.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Imagine if we were all rich</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Imagine if we all knew peace</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Imagine if we all gave love</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The way that God gave love</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>We'd have so much more than enough</i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0