Love Is The Answer

My current "blog" ...

2010-04-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

which I personally refer to more as a "journal" can be found on my website www.loveistheanswer.ca . It's the one I've been using since my return to Canada from Africa in the summer of '08.

Even though I don't post updates on my website "journal/blog" very often these days while I'm in Canada, all the ongoing projects I'm involved with for orphaned children in Africa can be found throughout the site, as well as my contact page if you'd like to reach me etc...

Love to you, and gratitude, Catherine

It’s ALL Good!

2008-06-28T10:12:00.000-07:00

I’m back on Canadian terra firma, wow, in the land of whew, remarkably high speed internet, consistent hot water that comes out of taps when I shower and imagine, a washing machine for the clothes I’ve hand washed and likely never quite rinsed all the soap out of these past 9 months… feeling quite well and certainly happy to be in the Loving presence and warmth of family and friends.Isn’t it amazing and such a fun life thing how it can feel on some levels like we’ve never been away when we return to familiar people and places… I really enjoy the very magical quality that time takes on when we reconnect with those we know and Love… for me, one of the most simple and fantastic expressions of ‘Love Is All There Is’ around! When I close my eyes though I see compounds and the children and green and orange and brown and I suspect quite strongly that some of me is still somewhere not quite ‘here’!

To my eye, the mountains looked so 'young' and jagged and black as we approached Vanc International, everything about their appearance kind of stark and after countless flights over them since the 70’s it was the first time I can remember seeing/feeling them that way. Just before the plane touched the earth (perhaps you know that moment before landing when everything just seems to take a breath or freeze and then there’s a slight feeling of pulling up) I flashed right back to the similar moment last September following take off and I could remember the feelings I was having in that blank space as I headed out into the great African unknown that lay ahead of me. And right then, these nine months later, right before touching the runway, a spiral appeared in my mind’s eye and I could ‘see’ it spin, loop, twist round… and continue… ‘the wheels on the bus go round and round’ I thought, and now I am in Vancouver! And instantly I had a newly informed perspective about the ‘full circle’ we all know… I could see how if we envision from a slightly different angle we can see the spiral in ‘4D’ emerge beyond the ‘3D full circles’ of life, and that was kind of cool…! Kind of like the wheel on the bus is a circle, but the energy trail it spins round and round is a spiral, a continuum and connects everything to everything in oneness …

The last thing I really took note of before leaving African soil was this giant sized poster filling an entire wall of the walkway from gate 37 at Joburg Airport on the way to the 747 that was going to take me to London… a beautiful warm coral orange African sunset, elephants silhouetted, trees… with the words “This doesn’t have to be your last taste of Africa’ written across the bottom (which I think was intended to urge me to buy some kind of booze duty free..!) And the thoughts that seemed to be around me about leaving only moments earlier flew off as if on a gentle breeze and it all felt perfect and quite natural to be heading up and into the blue for awhile!

I have noticed the very sweet and enchanting sound of robins singing, the soft light of the flowers and even the grass here and prompted by one of my brothers I’ve realized, yes, I seem to want to ‘go camping’ for a time now.

I’ve also realized that for now, I’m going to continue to write here for awhile… In conversation I’ve had since returning it is apparent there is much I am inspired to note, share and this blog being as good a place as any to carry on writing about my journey continues to be a fantastic vehicle of expression for me.

For every story I have tired to share with you over the months in Africa, there are of course many I have not. At times still being somewhat ‘personally’ involved in 'my' journey, things that happened impressed themselves upon me in ways I needed to sit with for a time, and it would have been sort of impossible to note them here as immediately as other times or experiences…. And then were the times when after writing about experiences, I’d set about to publish them to the blog and something I had written would just disappear! Over time I came to understand the instances this happened I could take comfort knowing the Angels were helping me to share only that which would help to inform you in a Loving and uplifting way. ‘Love Being The Answer’ and all, it felt like it is part of the ‘contract’ of publishing under that name or something :)

I’m looking forward to see what wants to be shared now that I can gain some kind of space between what has been and what is currently… It’ll be fun to review the over 3,500 photos I’ve taken and see what is prompted…

To sum up this chapter… I guess if there is one person, one story that most represents for me the energy of this entire recent African part of my life journey… it would be Morning, wouldn’t it…

His incredible and most noteworthy shift from fear to Love, the soulful expression mirrored in his eyes from deep pain to soaring joy! He is the boy who shared the most outward and obvious reflection, I think, of just how ‘Love Is The Answer For Us All’… and that makes such total sense doesn’t it?
After all, following darkness, the fresh day dawns, the sun rises and shines Love and Light on the unlimited possibilities found everywhere in the splendor and beauty of the new Morning…

Thanks so much for journeying with me...

Blessings and Love Love Love
Catherine

Ps…I have heard most recently from a friend in Uganda who tells me the children are all happy and continuing on very well these days… Amen!

Which leads me to say… if there is someone, something that I’ve touched on here over these months that you personally connected with and may have question or wonder about please let me know so that I can share with you what I do know at this moment or what I learned from the experience, or whatever, including photos etc… xoxo C

Bom Dia!

2008-06-20T01:57:00.000-07:00

I’m writing from the shores of wow! the Ocean Indien, surrounded by Portuguese speaking people who vary in beautiful and countless shades of skin color, black to olive to white, here in Maputo, the capitol city of Mozambique! Now in the final days of my journey in Africa I prepare to go to Johannesburg, South Africa early next week and fly home to Canada.

I experience a kaleidoscope of emotions, thoughts and feelings these days… mostly, I find I’m once again being reminded of the Gifts of Grace and Strength that are found when I remember to choose Gratitude over all else :)

Hearing from you over these months in response to the slices of life I have tried to share about in these postings, I know many of you have formed ‘relationships’ with some of the children and situations I’ve met with here. Here then are some fragments from ‘Project’s Update ~ June 2008’ (Thanks to you Erynn, the complete update will be added to the Project’s page on this site soon) to let you know a little about how things were for Betty, Gideon and their siblings as well as ACIO and a few others we met along the way, when we all parted in May…

‘PROJECT’S’ UPDATE ~ JUNE 2008

…Understanding most of the following as a ‘work in progress’ I will be continuing to apply my energy and focus towards, it feels like a great moment for us all to consider how, by sharing our collective Love in the form of prayers, uplifting thoughts and material support, the lives of some children here have been richly empowered so far…

Building upon the previous updates from March ’08 and November ’07…

TWO ‘CHILD’ FAMILIES

GIDEON’S FAMILY
When bidding Gideon’s family ‘fare well for now’ in May '08 we had accomplished and/or were continuing to work on the following:

~ Gideon’s school fees for 2’nd term of S4 had been paid
~ Naume and Martha had been supplied with supplementary school text books in Science, Social Studies, Math and English for P6
~ 4 acres had been plowed and planted with maize, beans, g nuts and cassava that the children will be harvesting, eating and storing by July!

~ A new, larger, temporary hut had been built by the family and was being roofed
~ All family members had coats, blankets, sheets and foams
~ The family had been supplied with new bowls, cups, containers for food, cooking pots and wash tubs
~ Helen had been supplied with capitol to start a dried fish business and was earning the needed weekly family income for the purchase of food, etc
~ Gideon had been supplied with capitol to expand his poultry business with the purchase of hens and a rooster

~ We had established a relationship with the nearby clinic ensuring their help for the children in times of malaria and other sickness even in the event that the children do not have the money to pay for such service…I will be notified by email from the clinic over time…
~ We had established a way for the children to get a message to me by them contacting a volunteer in the area from an NGO when need arises who will also visit the children periodically and be able to reach me by email anytime

Longer term plans we are continuing to work on include:

~ The building of a 3 room brick and iron sheet home
~ School fees for Gideon’s final term of S4 as well as fees for S5 and S6
~ Continued expansion of the family poultry business
~ The building, stocking and opening of a small ‘restaurant’ on the well traveled road alongside the families new compound that Helen will run
~ The growing of a cash crop to help raise the funds needed to be saved for Martha and Naume’s senior school fees that will start in 2010.

But… the first thing I’ll be doing for this family after I return home is to send them each a ‘Canada’ hat and a pair of sunglasses cause they sure had tons of fun with mine, along with a photo album of treasured times together!!!

BETTY’S FAMILY
When saying ‘Bye Bye for now and see you soon’ to Betty’s family in May ’08 we had accomplished and/or were continuing to work on the following:

~ Betty, having successfully completed 3 months training in tailoring, received her new ‘Singer’ sewing machine along with 36 meters of start up fabric, lining, thread, elastic, zippers and buttons
~ Rose had been supplied with start up capitol for a dried fish business along side the selling of cabbage and the income resulting was supporting the family in their weekly food needs

~ Moses, Morning and Peter had been supplied with supplementary school text books in Science, Math, Social Studies and English for P5
~ 4 acres had been plowed and planted with maize, beans, g nuts and cassava that the children will be harvesting, eating and storing by July!
~ 10% of the OSB for Stella’s operation to treat hydrocephalus had been paid off and our little darling had joyfully taken her first independent ‘1,2,3…10’ steps!
~ Moses was in the process of building a small hut for his future poultry business
~ All the children had been given coats

~ We had established a relationship with the nearby clinic ensuring their help for the children in times of malaria and other sickness even in the event that the children do not have the money to pay for such service…I will be notified by email from the clinic over time…
~ We had established a way for the children to get a message to me by them contacting a volunteer in the area from an NGO when need arises who will also visit the children periodically and be able to reach me by email anytime.

Longer term plans we are continuing to work on include:

~ The building of a 3 room brick and iron sheet home
~ To pay 80% of the remaining OSB for Stella’s operation
~ To assist Moses with start up capitol to begin a poultry business.
~ To establish a cash crop, probably tomatoes, that will increase the families ability to save for future school fees for Moses, Morning and Peter.

For Betty’s family too, I’ll be sending a care package from Canada once I am home which will include a photo album of some of our many happy moments together as well as a ‘Canada’ t-shirt for each member!

ACIO CHILD CARE CENTER ~ SIRONKO
As of May 2008 we had accomplished and/or were continuing to work on the following:

~ We had helped with costs for the completion of the girl’s temp dorm
~ We had supplied iron sheets for the completion of the temp kitchen
~ We had supplied 2 weeks of food for the 60 orphans in care
~ We had supplied 5 soccer balls, 2 decks of cards, a board game, 7 pkgs of felt pens, 500 sheets of paper along with 14 dz school scribblers, 6 dz pens, 12 dz pencils and 2 dz math sets for the children in care.

Longer term plans we are continuing to work on:

Many of the ‘Immediate Requests’ and most of the ‘Long Term Goals’ noted in the March’08 update below continue to require our attention with special mention at present of the following:

~ Help with the purchase of fabric for school uniforms, backpacks and shoes is requested.
~ Help with the purchase of sheets, blankets, foams and mosquito nets is requested
~ Help with the purchase of kitchen equipment is requested
~ Help with the purchase of a motorcycle for Vincent is requested
~ Help with the completion of the temp nursery/day care center
~ Help with 2 IGA schemes to support the ongoing expenses of caring for the children in full time care… 1) A Secretary/Office Supply Business in Sironko town… 2) A Micro Finance Scheme supporting small business for local guardians and caregivers of OVC’s

Please accept my most heartfelt thanks for helping to bring about all of the positive changes noted here and on the entire ‘Project’s’ page throughout my journey. Whatever form your contribution has been, be it your interest, your encouragement, compassion, your prayers, uplifting thoughts and/or financial support…however you have given of yourself to these children it has added very valuable energy to a ripple of Love that I know, and hope you do too, will be felt in countless ways through out their entire lives.

That we care, that we told them and showed them they are not alone, they are special and so Loved… this is the stuff 'beyond' Miracles for these children and we wish you to know that your involvement will be forever treasured by them and me. With so much gratitude and Love they are praying for us all!

Now, a little about a few others we met along the way…

You may recall our BeLoved orphaned boy, HIV+ with rare untreatable cancer using one crutch to get around… you know, the one with the incredible strength and that smile (‘Re-membering Step By Step’) … when I saw him the day before I left Mbale, he was at the small hospital near his village.

Two days earlier he had fallen shattering both his left arm and leg in numerous places. Being unable to repair the breaks the Dr’s were doing what they could to assist him to live and to keep him as pain free as possible. We left a fund to help cover medication and transportation costs to a larger hospital if it becomes best for him to be moved as well as some warm clothing for him to wear while at the village hospital. He was able to speak when I visited him and offered gratitude along with his beautiful and gentle smile numerous times, while holding my hand the entire time I was at his side. I have heard recently that he continues to remain at the village hospital and while very weak ‘does not forget to thank (us) for what (we) have done for him…’

Do you remember little Sebi in ‘Continued Blessings’ who was recovering from malnutrition at the hospital in Mbale? When I last heard, he was continuing to grow stronger as he navigates this first year of his life… And our little ‘Be Loved Josephine’ is enjoying her early months of life receiving lots of nurturing and Love from her very proud mother.

The man I met on ‘My First Outreach Day’ who was lying on the ground, seemingly very close to leaving his body due to untreated HIV/AIDS received care, medicine and food aid starting that day and, I am told by my friend Doka pictured with him, happily continues to grow stronger week by week regaining his health as he learns to live positively with HIV.

I never heard or read about what happened to the man who was ‘rescued’ by the police I wrote about in ‘Illusion ~ Realty’ but I feel quite confident that the real message was to be found in the Light and Love that followed the experience that day on the street.

It was a very fun ‘surprise visit’ with the first family I stayed with in ‘Love from Uganda’ when I saw them just before leaving the country in May. Darlings Sandra and Denis came running with squeals of joy and huge hugs as did all family members who were home that day! I join my ‘sister’ in prayer for her complete and speedy recovery from an illness that has recently come up for her.

And how about my boys ‘Sunrise and Moonlight’…? Well, over time my family grew and was balanced perfectly by my two girls‘ Autumn and April’ both of whom were gifts from Betty’s family. Now I know you will understand when I say ‘ we can’t hold on to our little ones forever… they grow up so fast… you turn around and ha! they’re ready to fly the coop! So… I gave Sunrise and Autumn to Tom (remember his sister’s 5 orphan children…) to help him expand his poultry business and Moonlight and April were a gift of thanks to remain in the flock of the family whose compound I shared during my many months in Mbale. (I get all misty eyed to imagine how I must be a Grandmother many, many times over by now…!!!)

So hmmm…this being my 51st posting (one of the surprise gifts…I discovered a new depth of understanding on this journey about how much I enjoy and how healing it is for me to share by writing..!) and me being 51, and this being the final week of (this part of) my journey AND this posting being a recap and all… it’s kind of feeling like our get togethers here are soon to end or shift or change or…?!

For now, let’s leave things the way I started with my first posting back in September… which is to say ‘I will write again once I am in’… Canada! Maybe after I’ve logged the miles between here and there I will have found some way to express just what this journey, these children and being able to share about it all with you has meant to me…

At this moment all I seem able to say is …

‘THIS IS AFRICA’… with humility and deep gratitude I hold you tenderly in my heart whispering ‘I THANK YOU, I LOVE YOU’ as we prepare to part for now…

Blessings One And All!
In Love,
Catherine

Miles Of Reflection

2008-06-09T00:11:00.001-07:00

The bus rides continue, the scenery changes yet seems to stay so similar all in the same moment! Mile upon mile I pass alongside fields of crops, peaceful looking rural compounds and small villages where several huts nestle closely together, through busy trading centers… seeing women and babies wrapped in 'vitenge' (retangular pieces of fabric wrapped and tied around ones waist, ankle length, usually with a matching piece used as a shawl or to tie and hold an infant on ones back) walking with bundles of food upon their heads, children carrying firewood home or plastic containers for water or baskets filled with oranges, maybe little bags of gnuts to sell…

...sometimes little ones are playing, kicking around a home made ball of plastic bags all bunched together and tied. I see men sitting in shaded areas together sometimes playing cards or occasionally standing behind a bar-b-que roasting meat and maybe maize for sale, or at work building a structure of some sort… all accompanied by the almost constant sound of music wafting through the air… and the scenery that has become so familiar to my eyes over these months, provides the backdrop for my many thoughts these past few days…

My reflections are broad… I see Morning’s smile… I picture Betty at her sewing machine and I envision the maize and beans growing around Gideon’s new hut… I think of the children in care with ACIO in Sironko and see them playing happily in the field with the soccer balls we brought for their enjoyment... I recall the 70 pictures they drew in thanks that I carry home with me… sometimes I am asking questions about the way this world has come to work, how it is all changing now, other times I’m wondering just how and who decided the way in which the collective would define or understand some words, like for instance ‘career’ and how mine seems to be as a ‘care-er’ or how about ‘poverty’… and I remember hearing on the TV recently that the price of oil has really jumped and people somewhere are scared, angry even protesting, and I consider this in the context I am and can’t help but contemplate paradox upon paradox as most people here have little connection with the need and consumption of oil and gas...

...and I think wow, if the fuel runs out somewhere else, I would guess most people here will be carrying on as they are now, growing their own food, fetching their own water, walking where they need to go, building their own homes out of materials from the earth, surviving in this ‘simple life’ that we all must have had a connection with once upon a time.

And I wonder about the big money movers and shakers on this planet and consider all those seemingly entrenched systems I have always sensed would break open one day and how so much is shifting now. I remember the final paper my Dad wrote before he passed that had much to say about our eventual evolution beyond a civilization built upon greed to one of LOVE… and I envision with him...

And my heart and the gratitude that fills it swells… I celebrate this time! I know I have learned and shared so much on this journey and as opposed to forging new deep connections at present, these miles I travel now (all through Mercury retrograde…) are providing me such comfortable time to consider the teachings from where I recently have come.

As the distance grows between Uganda and where I am, I hear very clearly the whispers from connections I made there, especially from the children… I daily feel their prayers and even their wonder if I really will return to their compounds one day as I have said I will… I realize that by having been given this transition time between there and home to journey through a few other countries and see, feel and experience what I am in each, I come to understand I really found all that was looking for me in Uganda! Of course, all things being so, it is quite perfect I stayed there for the majority of this journey… it is there where I completely connected, it is there where I wish to return and continue, it is Uganda and the children there ( for now!) I have come to cherish and LOVE!

But you know… before returning to Canada in a couple weeks (wow! )to see everyone at home (oh Caleb do you know how soon it will be…?!), continue my reflections and focus on just how I will create what feels like my inevitable, eventual return to Uganda…

First… like one great Bob said so well…( get ready to dance!)

’I’d like to spend some time in Mozambique!...

(the final country between where I am here in Malawi and South Africa, from where I will fly home)

...The sunny sky is aqua blue
And all the couples dancing cheek to cheek,
It’s very nice to stay a week or two...'!

HeeHee!
Loving you, Cath xoxo

From The Shores Of Lake Malawi

2008-06-01T05:14:00.000-07:00

Happy June! (Hi Mama…!)

So, clues I’m starting to shift from Africa back to Canada are stacking up each passing day in fun and unexpected ways!

I ended staying in Mbeya a few extra nights… ate some delicious but ultimately suspect chicken and was rather reactive for a few days…! While resting at a cozy motel I eventually turned on the TV in the room and did I ever sit up and take notice when on came game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals!!!

The next morning I was feeling pretty good and decided to get on a public taxi heading for the Malawi border. Over the speakers of the mini bus I couldn’t help but laugh to hear ‘Shania’ telling me in rather loud and somewhat distorted fashion how she was ‘so glad we made it, look how far we’ve come my baby’..! No kidding!!!

After spending a peaceful night in Karonga, the first border town south of Tanzania, serenaded by the beautiful sound of Lake Malawi (it is huge… I am told it is only shy in size from being classified as a sea) lapping upon the shore, I woke early the next morning in time to watch fishermen heading out onto the water in their wooden boats carved out of large tree trunks while other harvested rice growing in the wetlands alongside the lake… sunrise was gorgeous, rising from behind the mountains of Tanzania on the eastern shore. Later in the day I headed on to Mzuzu, the first large city when one enters Malawi from the north. The hostel I decided to stay at was a short distance out of the center of town and sure, who did I meet there within moments of my arrival…. 3 Canadians! One from Vancouver, 2 from Edmonton… it was really fun to connect and share stories!

Malawi so far, has been one big surprise for me! The beauty, diversity and abundance pouring forth from the land (and water, here) seen in the other countries I’ve visited continues, while in other ways Malawi seems very different. There are many many whites here who appear to run lots of businesses in the urban centers I’ve visited these past few days, many own ‘prime’ real estate ( backpackers hostels, resorts, homes etc…) on the lake shore. Although I saw the biggest ‘World Food Program’ truck I’ve seen so far during this entire journey as we made our way along the winding highway between Karonga and Mzuzu, I have yet to meet one volunteer or aid worker, many people here seem to be following personal pursuits, traveling through, several I’ve heard, came for a week and have stayed a month or 6! I’ve encountered numerous locals and imports alike in their 20’s and 30’s, many walking about with a glazed fuzziness, seemingly immersed in a life currently centered around activities like chilling out and snorkeling aided by partaking in the local brew and herb! I notice a distinctly layed back touristy feeling interspersed between the many barefoot children and local adults trying to earn their daily bread and the rasta colors, dreadlocks I see, combined with competing reggae and religious songs sung in Swahili and the local language of Chichewa I hear, all makes for some kind of interesting plateful for my recovering system to digest!

An example might be… yesterday, as I made my way along a path, in front of me was a woman and child both carrying heavy bundles of wood upon their heads. They froze at a bend in the path, observing something out of my view further along. As I came to stand side by side with them I could see where the path ahead widens into an open area and several whites who had put up a net were in the middle of a volleyball game. Assessing their bottles of beer court side, the total obliviousness to the woman and child (and me for that matter) and the complete taking over of the path by the game players, I stood for a few moments with the locals understanding their wonder as to if/how they could get around this and continue home with their fuel source. An interesting awareness of feeling both African and imported followed for me as I encouraged the holiday-ers to a short time out while walking alongside, sort of welcoming the woman and child to pass and continue on their path…

I’ve only just begun here and today I’ll visit with a traditional healer in a village not far from where I am right now in Nkhata Bay who I’ve heard is working to provide support for the many orphan children there… will no doubt aid in broadening and informing my perspective of where I actually am…

Much Love, Many Blessings,
Catherine

Shikamoo!

2008-05-25T09:35:00.000-07:00

(...literally 'I hold your feet'... a respectful Swahili greeting often heard from Tanzanian children!)

(Most of these pictures were taken in Tanzania through windows from inside moving vehicles...)

I am writing to you today from Mbeya in southern Tanzania (not to be confused with Mbale in eastern Uganda!) where I am catching up on some rest for a little while. Having been on the road this past week covering many miles by bus, I’ve decided to spend a couple days in this bustling city just north of the Malawian border that lies between the Mbeya and Poroto Mountain ranges. Travel through Tanzania has been fast, sometimes furious! and always interesting, but first…

I found Rwanda to be one very beautiful, peaceful and remarkably clean country and I am so happy to have made the journey to visit there! Seemingly a side bar yet so obviously important, plastic garbage bags are not allowed in Rwanda (entering the country my backpack was searched and the plastic bag I had a pair of shoes in was taken) and the benefits show everywhere! I found the consistent cleanliness both noteworthy and refreshing after sighting and stepping over much garbage, most of it plastic of some sort, in many urban and trading centers in Uganda.

After opting for ground travel to Malawi I left Kigali heading east toward the Tanzanian border on a typically crammed public taxi. We traveled through picturesque land with low gentle hills, many with crops of sorghum and maize growing in a beautiful pinkish brown soil, past fenced compounds with flowers around mud and stick or brick homes, most covered with a thin facing of concrete, seeing delightful pride of ownership and colorful creativity! Cosmos, daisies, dahlias, hollyhocks, a neon orange calendula-like flower all bloomed brightly and small, round, close to the ground shrubs of different colors were planted in designs that created messages and symbols including hearts and stars along the road side… just before the border, and a lovely summing up/send off from this small, courageous country striving to move forward as one, was the most inspiring of all the messages I saw… with shrubs and white rocks it simply, beautifully said ‘Thank You God’.

About 4 hours from Kigali we reached the Rwandan side of the border where, as he imprinted my passport with an exit stamp, the immigration officer asked with gentle intent if I would share with him how I liked the country. I told him I think Rwanda is very beautiful and I found the people friendly and welcoming. He said the government has been working very hard educating the people and promoting unity and I said, well, ultimately along with the huge healing in progress there does seem to be a collective desire and intention for peace first and foremost and I am grateful for the examples of acceptance and strength Rwanda has given to me. Perhaps these are among the great teachings Rwanda offers us all, I added. He smiled warmly, thanked me very much for coming and wished me safe journey.

To cross the border one walks across a bridge over Rusumo River/Falls and up a hill to enter Tanzania. The welcome was very happy and pretty layed back at this small border crossing, it was fun and easy to communicate once again, I was back in a land of English and Swahili and noticeable immediately, ug, garbage!

I took off the next day (only a few hours after the scheduled departure!) in a matatu
(mini bus type taxi) toward Kahama, about 4 hours to the east. From there, early the next morning I boarded a bus called ‘Super Zoo’ which in hindsight should have been my first clue that with every step up into the ‘mad max’ type bus, I was leaving rational driving further and further behind, entering an absolute maelstrom I can only call a travel experience! Details and yes, bruises aside, I did find it kind of fun and comforting to pretend I was in a camel race (read B-U-M-P-Y) across the desert (read D-U-S-T-Y) with a marching band cheering me on (read P-O-U-N-D-I-N-G repetitive bass drum sound coming from the rear of the bus as it reverberated over the foot deep washboard) for many, many miles! :) After a serious challenge to all known land speed records by our 'road warrior' driver I celebrated our safe arrival in Dodoma, the capitol city and virtual center of Tanzania about 1 hour ahead of the 10 hour scheduled ETA. Amen!

With bravery I feel a bit proud of, I immediately bought a ticket on the next early morning bus departing for Mbeya, found a quiet place to rest for the night and after lathering my lower back with ‘Tiger Balm’ promptly fell deeply asleep! Up for the second morning in a row in time to witness millions of twinkling stars above and hear prayers echoing throughout the town from the local Mosque, things looked and felt pretty great as I boarded the ‘Sumry High Class’ bus that was warming up and all ready to go in the bus park. And it WAS a delightful ride! We had a great driver, the company supplied everyone with a couple candies, a soda, muffin, bottle of water and plenty of pit stops (one time the driver’s assistant said to us all ‘let’s stop here and dig some local herbs..!’) throughout the 12 hour journey through beautiful and ever changing scenery. Alongside endless happy face sunflowers, sorghum and maize grow, some so tall they bury the little mud and brick flat topped homes amongst them. Cotton, tomatoes, rice, cabbage, beans, onions, many varieties of potatoes, even wheat…virtually everything, including all types of tropical fruit and 'sisol'sp?(jute) seems to be grown here!

I was treated to the first real ‘wild’ looking Africa I have seen so far, through uniformed forests of horizontal fanning trees and game reserves in the Mikumi National Park set between the Uluguru Mountains to the north and the Lumango Mountains to the southeast. I saw large numbers of long lanky giraffes and a family of elephants free ranging…very exciting! In the wide open grass lands I really enjoyed these great
(presently leaf-less) very old looking trees that reminded me of the ones in ‘Lord Of The Rings’ having large wide trunks that support their many arms and fingers stretching this way and that… it was so easy to imagine them all walking about when no one was looking…(a couple looked like they were frozen in dance and another few in an embrace). One of the towns we passed through is Iringa where in the 1950’s a ‘stone age’ site was unearthed containing tools estimated to be from between 60, to 100,000 years ago!

Tanzania (formerly called Tanganyika until the 60’s) is very large certainly when compared with Rwanda and Uganda, and quite a beautifully diverse country. In my travel book it is called the birthplace of ‘humankind’, oh, and Freddy Mercury too! It’s been a quick journey for sure, and thankfully safe, and as I prepare to enter Malawi tomorrow, (just over 100k from Mbeya) I leave this country hoping to return one day, where in the north it’ll be so fun to go on safari in the Serengeti as well as visit Ngorongoro in the Crater Highlands along with Mount Kilimanjaro and in the east, the Indian Ocean Coast and the ‘spice islands’ of the Zanzibar Archipelago!!!
For now though, much gratitude and… onward to meet some of the children of Malawi!

Loving you,
Cath xoxo

Ikiyaga ( Lake) Kivu

2008-05-18T01:06:00.000-07:00

Approximately 160k northwest from Kigali is the city of Gisenyi on the shores of enchanting Lake Kivu. The well paved road between is very winding, kind of ridiculously so at times, over and around stunningly gorgeous hill after cultivated hill and through many a trading center including the city of Musanze (formerly Ruhengeri) which lies in the Virunga foothills, gateway to Volcanoes National Park and the renowned ‘critically endangered’ mountain gorillas. This was the place of work and research of Dr. Dian Fossey from the 1960’s until her murder in 1985. (You many recall the film ‘Gorillas In The Mist’ which chronicles her time here and the situation/circumstances facing the mountain gorilla). As the fee currently stands somewhere around $500US to track the gorillas for a day (or is it, once you find them, an hour..!) I just waved and wished them very well as we zoomed by!!!

Lake Kivu is very big and very beautiful! Although I thank Jinja, Lake Victoria, The River Nile and of course Beautiful Sipi Falls for the healing waters I found at each, after being land locked these past months I found it such a gift to walk along a wide open sandy beach and hear the lapping of waves upon the shore. Sparkling in the sunshine amongst the tiny rocks that make up the beach I was quite taken with these small pieces of shell? (I’m guessing) that look like zillions of little mirrors everywhere… I actually collected a few thinking they are so beautiful and a perfect reminder for me of the many facets of humanity Rwanda has clearly reflected for me during my ‘relatively short but right to the heart of it’ time here.

Looking across the huge lake one can see a ridge of mountains on the far shore in the Democratic Republic of the Congo… the city of Goma, DRC, is about a half day trip from Gisenyi… where among ‘other things’ Nyiragongo volcano erupted in 2002 covering the center of the city with lava leaving, I am told, what looks like a moonscape in some areas to this day…again, I waved!!!

I found my safe, peaceful, healing place at the lakeshore among some rocks….between, on my right, a windblown tree clinging its bared roots to one of the lava rocks at the waters edge in what I thought was some kind of terrific display of African strength and tenacity, and on my left, deeply carved, magical ancient rock faces that have been keeping steadfast watch for only they know how long... what they have seen, the incredible stories they could tell, I listened…

I was captivated by the distant sounds of little children laughing in the waves and I thought of Morning, Peter, Moses and all the children in Bukedea and wondered what they would think if they could see this wonderful place! They might be more used to sharing small mud type water holes with thirsty wandering cattle, that grow into ‘splash-able’ size after the rains…and I went off into some kind of dream when I will load them all into a ‘van’ one day and bring them to a lake for a real swim!!!

On the journey back to Kigali we came across a stretch of road where improvements are underway and due to a mini landslide that had just happened we were redirected down an extreme ‘secondary’ road, alongside a valley of tea and through a village that normally doesn’t see much traffic! Children quickly ran from all directions to line the dirt road, waving, calling out for empty water bottles and the occasional ‘franc’…most smiled and offered a ‘thumb’s up’ or even a ‘peace sign’ when they saw me at the window, (I was the only white on the mini bus)… at one point my eyes met those of a woman standing some meters away holding her tiny infant, we smiled at one another, she took the babies hand in hers and together they waved to me... one little girl sitting at the edge of the road talking with her friends let out a huge scream as she glanced up to see me looking out the window passing by only a few feet above her, which brought on a big laugh from those around her and all of us in the bus!

Back at the little auberge in Kimironko now and having visited the Kigali Memorial Center, connected with the project and center Nicole from Canada is working on here and taken the trip through some country side to Lake Kivu and back, I’m making plans to venture on, Malawi being the next country I am most wanting to visit. I will meet up there with two local men I met in Vancouver last year who are working tirelessly and with very limited resources to care for the many HIV/AIDS orphan children in this small, is it the ‘5th poorest' country in the world…? From here though, there’s Burundi to the south and I understand it’s not the best moment in history to visit there right now, and huge Tanzania to the east… so I’m figuring out how I’ll choose to get from here to Malawi and I guess once decided I’ll start out for there after a few more days of rest, seeing to this Rwandan version of a cold (cleansing…) I seem to be experiencing here these past couple days! Ya, there are voluminous, monumental type energies to ‘process’ here… and we’re all approaching our 2’nd consecutive full moon in watery (emotional, transformational) Scorpio :)

Love Love Love!
Cath xoxo

Ps…Correction re: my former attempt at Kinyarwandan… Muraho (Good day, Hello) and Amakuru (I am fine!)

Kigali Memorial Center

2008-05-14T05:13:00.000-07:00

Wandering about Kigali the other day, I came across this amazing round about (traffic circle) very near the center of downtown. Although it was off at the time, a beautiful three-tiered fountain is in the center and lowly cropped hedges of different colors, patches of grass and pathways of small rocks create a beautiful star effect around it. Seeing that there was no one on the round about I thought it might be wise to ask a nearby security guard, (there are many, many uniformed security people around) if it would be ok to go and sit near the fountain for awhile….He referred me to the ‘fountain keeper’ standing nearby who said oh yes, of course, I was very welcome to sit there! After some time, he walked by where I sat on one of the rock steps leading down to the fountain. He went over to this door built into the ground and descended steps that disappeared under the fountain. Within seconds water sprayed up into the air and the fountain was fully on in all its glory…it was fantastic! I looked up to the top of the highest peak of water in the center, a rich blue sky as backdrop and there circling directly above were two eagles…WOWOWOW!!! THANKS!!!

From there, all full of joy I took a motorcycle boda (I was handed a helmet with a functioning face shield to wear) to the Kigali Memorial Center I mentioned in my last posting. When I arrived, there was a group of about 50 Rwandan men and women all dressed beautifully, each wearing a piece of purple fabric around their wrist or neck, each carrying a rose and standing quietly in two lines passing through the security gate in front of me. As I made my way around the first part of the memorial inside, the area dedicated to the Rwandan genocide, I learned some history about the country pre-colonialism; what occurred when Europeans arrived; what lead up to the genocide; the 100 days of the genocide that started on April 7, 1994 and the immediate time following, all the while crossing paths several times with the men and women ‘in purple’. Nearing the end, we entered a room where postcard size photos of people who were murdered in the genocide hang on individual clips, row upon row, men, women, teens, children, infants, several hundred people remembered in this one small room. As I sat in the center of the room with so many faces looking out at me, I could hear the soft moans and whispered cries of many of the women in the group as they looked very closely at every photo. Tears filled my eyes… there was exceptional pain in the room, extraordinary compassion and Love too. As she entered the next area, one woman’s pain became more than she could quietly bear when she saw display case after display case of human skulls and bones (the idea of which to display I am told is to ensure that people do not for a moment think that a genocide never happened here) and she collapsed onto her hands and knees sobbing in the door way, her deep and sorrowful cries filling the entire area. It was so incredibly sad, very powerful, and I sat for many moments holding LOVE in the center of my heart, streams of tears flowing down my face.

Yesterday, I met another traveler from Canada and when I asked her what she had thought of the memorial she said she thought it was good, maybe a bit on the impersonal side… when I explained my experience there to her I ended by realizing aloud, amazing, I cannot really say what ‘I’ thought of it… my time there turned out to be completely interconnected, collectively very personal and extremely intimate with the other people I was Blessed to join there.

Even the final moments for me inside the memorial were ones I will not forget… there is an area upstairs where several children who were killed in 1994 are remembered individually… along with a life size photo of each child one can learn their name, age, what their favorite food or toy was, who their best friend was and how they died. Again, when leaving the area, smaller photos of several hundred children hang on individual clips along the wall of a hallway. In an amazing 'twist' as I sat and looked at the beautiful faces of so many little ones, a refreshing, gentle yet VERY powerful breeze blew through a nearby open door from outside… the air rippled softly through the rows of photos and it looked and felt to me in that moment as though the children were most present… waving, playing, animated even giggling, if you will… the click-click of the photos blowing one into the other creating a sound so remarkably similar…

And I left the memorial feeling many things but mostly...
Indeed After All, LOVE Prevails
Catherine xoxo

...And Another Door Opens

2008-05-12T03:23:00.000-07:00

I am up early this morning, sitting in the garden of the auberge where I am staying in an area called Kimironko, a district of Kigali, the capitol city of Rwanda. The birds are singing, light whispy clouds fill the pale blue sky, there is wonderful aura of peace and quiet while the new day awaits the sun which has yet to fully rise over the lush, rolling green hills surrounding this most beautiful city.

It has been a busy week, filled with many Blessings and much Gratitude, culminating in a somewhat cramped, yet happily, very safe 10 hour bus ride that brought me from Kampala to here. After bidding the children in Bukedea a most moving and heartfelt fare well for now, along with many more goodbye’s in Mbale, Bududa and Mukono, I stayed in Kampala for a few nights where I rested and regrouped before leaving there on Saturday morning. Traveling west from Kampala for the first time since being in Uganda, I was treated to the beautiful landscape that is so different than the areas to the east and surrounding Mbale… rolling hills covered in a light velvet green that reminded me of my home town in central BC, some covered in crops, large, expansive compounds, most with iron sheet homes, huts becoming less and less frequent with each mile, large numbers of very ‘long horned’ cattle grazing on acres of open land with short hedges separating one owners section from the next, through trading centers with 2 and even 3 storey buildings fronting the main street until closer to Kabale, the town just north of the border crossing where the hills become more numerous and closely condensed, and terraced crops cover every possible inch of every hill in sight, creating a stunningly beautiful landscape of multi colored stripes rising to the sky...

Entering Rwanda, ‘The Land Of A Thousand Hills’ we wound along one side of a valley, the terraced crops continuing on both sides, the floor home to miles and miles of tea, then sugar cane and finally rice...so remarkably exquisite was the scenery that the Nigerian film booming on the inboard TV was almost completely drowned out (for me!) by the enchanting harmony of the land.

Unlike Uganda where I heard ‘Muzungu’ echo constantly upon my arrival (and all throughout my stay) the single word I have heard the most here so far is ‘genocide’. Quite mystifying and in dramatically profound contrast, the splendor I see and feel in the land along with the very warm, gentle and gracious people who have welcomed me in the fresh, clean, energetic and thriving city of Kigali, there is a very distinct, deep, even ‘quiet’ sorrow here that is most palpable for me and my eyes have filled spontaneously with tears many times these past 2 days. Over this next week I’ll endeavor to understand more about what took place here in 1994 and how people have and are continuing to move forward. It seems a good place to start is at the ‘Kigali Memorial Museum’ www.kigalimemorialcenter.org in the Kisozi district of town where inside I understand there are 3 separate areas… the first, dedicated to the Rwandan genocide; the second, to other genocides that have taken place around the world including to the Armenian, Jewish and Cambodian people; and the third, an area remembering the thousands of Rwandan children who died here in 1994. Outside there is a public grave site in a memorial garden where the remains of more than 250,000 people have been layed to rest.

But first... more contrast... I’ve just been told it is time for a breakfast that’s been generously prepared for me… (bread, tomatoes, onions, omelet, coffee, tea) and then a ‘hello visit’ to the nearby center where Nicole, the Canadian woman I have specifically come here to meet, has developed a program for several widows from a nearby village over the past 3 years, along with the help of people back home in Canada.

Till next writing then, in the local language of Kinyarwanda ( French and English are also spoken here) … ‘Oraho’ ( sp?... greetings of hello) and ‘Amahura’ ( I am fine! )

With Love,
Catherine

Ps... I have decided out of Love and respect for the Rwandan people that I will take very few photos while in their country, particularly none while I am in Kigali. I have learned that following the genocide many, many foreigners came flocking to this country with their cameras, took picture after picture of the carnage on the streets and then left, many never to be seen again. Understandably, some of the local people have an great aversion to having their photo taken...

Gratitude, Gratitude, Gratitude!

2008-05-02T23:16:00.000-07:00

Thanks kindly for the lovely birthday wishes from home! Imagine my delight to even receive a hand drawn cake and candles scanned across the miles from one of my darling nieces….Everyone’s Love now and throughout this entire journey is so VERY, VERY appreciated!

When I was in Jinja visitng the River Nile some months back, I happened upon these lovely Angels made out of dried banana tree fiber in a little ‘lock up’ on the main road of town. I took one of the Angels that I bought there out to Betty’s recently and asked the children if they could try to make some for me using material from the little plantation that is on the edge of their compound…

This past week on the day before my birthday, which the children did not know about… (I have learned, these children and many others I have met, adults too, may know the year and perhaps the day of the week, but seldom the number and only sometimes the month they were born, let alone have any experience or understanding about what a 'birthday' is)... so, I was visiting with them all and after walking the great field of gnuts they have recently planted and checking out the beans and then the maize (much of which 'oops' has been enjoyed in its infancy by the free range chickens in the area… they will plant more and try again…!) I was asked to sit in the hut where the children presented me with 65 Beautiful Angels, some made by each member of the family… what a gift heh…! Thank you children and Thank You Angels for showing your ever presence in the most amazing and timely ways..!

I enjoyed my 51st and the few days that followed at beautiful Sipi, a place I have become quite convinced must be one of THE most exquisite and healing on this earth, relaxing and receiving strength to ‘push’ me as I prepare to take my leave from Uganda by next week. (I am being reminded often right now… remaining 110% in Gratitude is the only way I can leave here, in PEACE, JOY and LOVE that is… :)

As I write, the wind up is in full swing… I was invited to Vincent’s (ACIO) for a very wonderful afternoon with his family and the founding members of the CBO… we shared a delicious meal of posho, matoke, beef, rice and greens and discussed many great and uplifting topics including our collective intention to remain together in Heart and Trust knowing more will be revealed at the perfect time as to how to proceed with the Child Care Center(s!) we all envision… and So It Is!

I’m busy making and organizing little Thank You’s for people here in Mbale including the lovely family at the compound where I have been staying, friends at the NGO, nearby resort, internet shop, my favorite Indian restaurant, etc… visiting here and there seeing people who have become such a huge part of this journey and my life these months... like the merchants whose stands and stores I’ve shopped at many times because of the fair ‘non muzungu’ price they have given me on everything from fabric, sewing machines, foamies, blankets, maize, beans, rice, backpacks, school shoes and supplies, used clothes, to even lollipops, etc…

I have a couple more visits planned over these next few days with both child families, and at this point it’s very true to say… we’re all (at times, MOST bravely...) doing our BEST 'Grateful' possible and no doubt are intending to remain in same as this time happens! And So It Is, too!

I’ll write again with plans once I’ve made it to Kampala where I will hop on a public taxi and head out to Mukono ( more bravery… remember that 7 hour traffic jam I was in when I first arrived..!) to have a visit with and drop off a photo album of pictures I have prepared for the very first warm and welcoming, beautiful, kind and Loving family I met and stayed with here, wow, all the way back in September… ahhhh… did it just get misty out or maybe I should say, in… :)

Gratitude, Gratitude, Gratitude!
Cath xoxo

Illusion ~ Reality

2008-04-23T02:21:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had a close encounter with a common, yet phenomenal occurrence (read ‘Illusion’) here, known as ‘mob justice’.

Followed by a closer encounter with Love (read ‘Reality’)…

Hundreds of frenzied people who seemed to appear out of nowhere were rushing along the street just outside the building where I was. In the aftermath of a murder committed some days ago, the people outside thought they had the 'guilty' (who were attempting to reach the nearby police station for protection) and were busy trying to kill them. The police appeared and fired two shots into the air, I remember seeing the smoke from their guns filter past the doorway where I stood, and then took the one accused man who was still alive into the station… the hundreds of people remained on the 4 corners of the intersection, waiting…

When it felt right to do so, I hopped on a boda boda (motorcycle taxi) and made my way to a distant and safe place. While sitting there, breathing and releasing the energy of the experience, I decided to write one of my brothers to ‘debrief’ as it were… and as it happened he was at his computer half way around the world and sent a message of Love back to me immediately… amazing really… I wrote him another reply and at the end of it I was saying how I celebrate that ‘basic order exists here as much as it does... acts of kindness and compassion are so very special and heh, look, there in the sky just now as the sun is getting ready to set... a beautiful rainbow…’ and signed off.

Then the most remarkable thing happened… from out of nowhere hundreds and hundreds of dragonflies filled the air above and around me and the rainbow became their backdrop from my perspective… everything slowed and I knew I was in a Miracle. I remembered a lesson from First Nations People: ‘Dragonfly is the totem of illusion. Dragonfly teaches us how to differentiate between the real and the imaginary energies of life….’

And I’m most certain, in this magnificent display of 'Light and Love' there, soaring peacefully in the illumination of the rainbow was at least one dragonfly for every human who seemed to have been displaying the absence of 'both' only minutes earlier…
Oh, Creator…
Catherine

A Movie...And Some Popcorn!

2008-04-21T00:14:00.000-07:00

Take a moment to pretend it’s a slow, gentle Sunday afternoon, you know, one of the grey rainy variety, and you just feel like staying indoors… work is done, it’s time for a rest, everyone is gathered around visiting and you think, hey let’s watch a movie… ’I’ll get the popcorn, you get the DVD, meet you back here and we’ll hit ‘play’…’

Now…try to imagine you live in a hut with no power in rural Africa, and well, you’ve never seen a movie before! You’ve become a bit used to seeing the laptop (one with a great battery, thankfully...) cause you’ve looked at many pictures of yourself on it by now, and you’ve even watched a couple short videos of you and your family singing and dancing… but a movie… just what is a movie exactly?

Enter… ’The Lion King’!!!

Recently while in Kampala, my friend and I were wandering through a market when I saw a new copy of the film for sale. There are lots and lots of used and bootlegged DVD’s available here... in general, the couple I have tried didn’t make it past the first few minutes of viewing before my laptop spit them out because of ha! impurity on some level I’d guess… but here was a brand new DVD, and ‘The Lion King’ at that! Although at that moment I’d have been kind of hard pressed to tell you what it is actually about, wow, I was nudged… this just might be THE perfect film with which to introduce the children and even the friend I was with to the entirely new world of movie watching… and only 5,000Ush (about $3 Cdn) and, the ‘Special Edition’ edition!… cool!… sold!

So last weekend complete with an x-large zip lock baggie of popcorn for each family, we headed to Bukedea to share this fun adventure with the children! First to Betty’s, we found the children were all too eager to huddle together on the foams and settle in. Right from the opening sunrise the film captured them completely and except for the occasional grab of popcorn, they were riveted to the experience! Mouths open, eyes huge, laughter loud, sadness shared with communal groans and moans, only a couple times looking to me for explanation the children were all delightfully amused and filled with great wonder… it was fantastic!

Everyone seemed to understand way too easily the stories within the story…the themes of family, friendship, envy, fear, guilt, responsibility, honesty, power, triumph and Love… but most thrilled were they that it was taking place in ‘Africa’ and although they were giggling at first in a tone of ‘now that is pretty silly’ hearing and seeing animals speaking English while hugging and dancing, the children were amazed by the colorful artistry and certainly laughed the loudest the few times Swahili is spoken in the film… ’Hakuna Matata’ along with the song and dance that followed brought a huge roar and when 'Rafiki' sings ‘Asante Sana, squashed banana’… well, they didn’t get the squashed banana part, but Asante Sana means Thank you very much and they sure enjoyed that! And him! And everything about the entire film and afternoon!

Now, I am sure I must have watched it years ago when the girls were young, but maybe I fell asleep or something cause I didn’t recall the film so much… at this moment though, I have really seemed to connect with it and yes, even embraced some kind of allegory within it! True to this whole journey, here is another experience for me when I thought I might be giving something new to someone, and ha! I was given something delightfully new myself! I think I’ve watched it 7 times now, an initial viewing to see if it would be suitable, twice that day with the 2 families, and then several times with a friend for whom it has also been a first in terms of movie watching… and along with the gift of learning from and appreciating everyone else’s reaction to it, I myself have been quite amazed by the metaphors and mirrors the story seems to reflect about the context here as I have come to understand it… the absolute beauty, exquisite color and Light found everywhere that is Nature; the prolific and deeply powerful rhythm that is Life; the dreary, debilitating struggle and suffering that is absence of honesty, kindness and compassion; the soulful desire that is ‘to remember’; the clarity and wisdom that is ‘found above’; the ravaging fire that is war and dis-ease; the cleansing, healing rain that is regeneration; the unlimited potential and possibility that is new Creation;

…and I look from my heart and see beautiful orphan children I have come here to share Love with, and I sense... Like 'Simba' (lion in Swahili) they too are approaching a great and defining moment when they will walk bravely up on the rock through the rain to give their most rightful, powerful and timely roar to the world…!

(Hey, wait a minute… is that me there on that rock too…? Thank you Angel…!)

ASANTE SANA, indeed!
Cath xoxo

In Wonder Land...

2008-04-07T22:59:00.000-07:00

Love to you!

I have just returned from a few unexpected getaway’s… one to Kampala to confirm approval for an extension on the extension on my visa for Uganda (which now has me here until the 10th of May…!) then, on to a couple lovely days at Sipi for some rest and replenishment, followed by a great day yesterday with the children in Bukedea!

Strange, foreign and at times even emotional for me to consider… my days here appear to be approaching some kind of final stretch and it is more than an interesting moment I presently find myself in! My ‘work’ begins to come to a time of bearing delicious sweet fruit and, like yesterday watching Morning, Moses and Peter as they scrambled up and around huge heavily laden mango trees hurling fallen green fruit at the ripe ones to knock them free and give as gifts to me, I am savoring these incredible moments as I taste the joy and excitement of this time in the children’s lives!

Betty completes her sewing course soon and we will be giving her a machine and an assorted pile of start up fabric and supplies for her to begin her new business with…. Yesterday, she proudly asked if it was ok for her to sell a couple of the outfits she has sewn from the material we have been supplying her to learn with… can you imagine the joy in that! YES! YES! YES! was just about all I could say, as we hugged and laughed, hugged and laughed, dancing our way around the newly planted field of sweet potatoes beside the compound!!! Maize is being planted along with beans, cassava, g-nuts, millet… soon there will be a steady stream of income possible along with fields of food growing to feed this family who I recall, where so very hungry in a multitude of ways when we first met. Rose (and Stella!) start a paraffin supply business (fuel for lanterns) from the compound this week, the boys are doing well and keeping up in school…

They are all joyful, peaceful, comfortable at night on foams, with warm blankets and mosquito nets, and lately I’ve brought them all used coats to help them stay healthy through the rainy cold times that are slowly becoming the norm now… it is ALL very good!

Gideon has been hard at work too… together with Helen, Martha and Naume they have planted 2 acres of maize which when sprouted will be surrounded by beans… and in the center of that huge field he has started work on a new, large hut built out of hand made bricks (which we will help him complete by paying for the grass bundles and wood supports required for the roof) that will serve as a temporary home for the family of 6 to live in until the day comes when we will afford the more permanent home I described in part 1 of the recent project’s update. Two other fields are being planted with cassava and gnuts, Helen’s fish business is growing each week and with the income earned she has been able to supply the family with food (allbeit just the very basics so far…) right from week one. By her and Gideon’s design, she started slowly, carefully, buying less fish than we had first planned, giving herself time to understand the business, to let it grow slowly, and this week looks like it could be her very best to date! Today she will purchase wholesale a large amount of fish the supplier has prearranged to bring exclusively for her..! Here again, the school goers are all doing well in their classes, Gideon has been asked to be Chairman of a couple clubs as well as Class President, Martha is Head Prefect in her class and Naume is Head Playground Monitor… they are all happy and excited about life, cosy and comfortable on foams, warmed by blankets and coats, protected under mosquito nets and feeling very Loved and Loving… again… All together VERY Good!!!

Along with huge amounts of Love and gratitude I am feeling, these days I find myself dreaming, envisioning and wondering about what will come to be next… I know in both the short and long term I am inspired to continue here, it all feels more than right, I know there are many child households and I have come to understand so much about how to empower them from these 2 remarkable families… and there is Sironko and ACIO and what is envisioned there for the many, many children who need care and attention in that district… and of course, there are many other districts… And even if I leave Uganda for a time, I don’t feel like I’m even near ready to really leave Africa just yet, and I wonder if I could really ever 'leave' now. Of course while it will be so lovely and I look forward to see everyone including dear Caleb back home to share Love face to face, catch up on stories and adventures about lives being lived there and to share more from this journey than I could ever possibly write about here, there are so many children to Love here… And there are all those other countries I have yet to even set foot in and learn about… and… somehow I feel I have only just begun to begin!

Simultaneously, being in the midst these days of all these great income generating activities taking hold, an interesting reflection becomes ever clearer for me. Lately, after I perform the repetitive task of climbing the stairs to visit the ATM and withdraw another few hundred thousand shillings from my personal account and then do the conversion of the balance from the rather great sounding Ugandan value to the hmmm Cdn dollar value, I am reminded that the equity from the sale of my home that has supported this journey so far is magically diminishing in perfect accord with a growing requirement to create some kind of my own income generating activity, soon! :)

Today, over a ‘Stoney’ (that's a soda...! kind of like a ginger ale) I ‘discovered’ it all feels like this… I was telling a friend a story about a home my brother and I shared years ago. I was remembering how one day I started to explore the ground around the face of this large flat rock that was showing itself through the lawn… eventually, after some scratching and clearing of soil, a beautiful stone pathway that had lay hidden just a few inches below the grass was revealed… one that ended up being maybe 3 feet wide and gently wound itself through the back yard… and when I finished the story I realized - this is exactly how I am feeling today! It is as though this journey so far has shown me, in many ways, there is something previously designed and so very beautiful to be found just below this surface I have now grazed. And I write this today wondering... wow, in these highly creative and expansive times what could I possibly imagine these next few weeks will reveal to bring more of this incredible path I am on into the Light! Peacefully, Joyfully, Lovingly...Onward!

Many Blessings, Much Love,
Cath xoxo

TAKE IT UP!

2008-03-29T03:37:00.000-07:00

Love to you! Checking in to say Hi, all is well here, just a-hummin’ along!

Years ago, one of my brothers made me a cassette (ha! remember those…?) of music by the band ‘World Party’ and for some great reason one of their songs, the one that always makes me bounce joyfully on my way, keeps playing over and over in me today!

As I flow in this time of great UPLIFT I am moved to share with you some of the words from their song ‘Take It Up’ along with a few photos of affirming moments I’ve been gifted to see this past while… ENJOY!

‘I got an extra glimpse of the truth today, staring at my breakfast when I thought I heard it say:

Fighting is no good, success an empty life, the treasure hunt is lonely until you realize...

We came to take it up
We came to take it up
We came to take it up

We came to raise it up
We came to take it up
We came to move it up...

I believe
Oh my darling
I believe in you
And I hope when you hear this
You’ll remember what we were sent to do…

We came to take it up
We came to move it up
We came to raise it up
We came to praise it up

I came to take you up
You came to take me up
We came to take us up
Take me up, take me up…'

Thanks WORLD PARTY!

Love Love Love, Cath xoxo

Season’s Change, The Rains Come…

2008-03-21T23:06:00.000-07:00

‘If you observe outside right now’ my friend was saying, ‘ya, in fact everything is just humble and I sense that the plants are praying to the Creator for having rained them. Because if you observe outside there is not any plant shaking around, everything is very still, bowing, grateful to Creator…’

And I do observe and see that’s the way everything in nature appears to be feeling these past few days… obviously reactive in some way at the coming of the rains after a very long, very hot dry season. Even the bugs, some colossal in size and number take energetically to the air bumping into each other and all sorts of obstacles in their path including, as it happened a few times today, my face, as we rode quickly out of town on the piki! (…I can only imagine how it was for my friend in the role of ‘head’ navigator and ‘primary windshield’…helmets in many cases here are merely a concept and, ones with face shields, wow, and, that actually work, whoa!)

Using a public phone at the trading center Gideon had called me first thing this morning sounding panicked, saying ‘Cathreen I am down, I cannot even go to school today, I don’t know why and there is nothing in the hut…’ (meaning he was sick and they were out of food). To the Mbale market we immediately went, where I bought one weeks supply of posho (maize meal), beans, cooking oil, sugar, salt, soap, chapattis, tomatoes and onions and then zoomed off to Bukedea, 2 bags, 2 boxes and 2 bodies packed snuggly together on the motorcycle!

After testing at the clinic we found Gideon was 'down' because of malaria, worms and a lack of sugar and protein… all serious, yet so very easy to come by here, all treatable, all being taken care of now. We took little Gracie along to the clinic as well, because the look in her eyes was just a bit too ‘far away’ and it was confirmed she also had malaria. Change of season here, I learn, can be a vulnerable time especially for rural people who live very ‘close to the earth’ and often become sick as a result, their bodies weakening while taking time to adjust to the dramatic change in rhythm. After treatment for them both we returned to the hut and sat a while watching them eat and noticeably, quickly improve. Thankfully!

We all agreed this was our wake up call to put into immediate action a plan to sustain the family with greater income to afford daily a better variety of food. Along with sugar and salt that I have been supplying and shillings earned from digging for neighbors they have been existing on tea with sugar, salted cassava (starch) and g nuts (a little protein and oils), the occasional small dried eel type fish, with very few vegetables, as until recently the rains have come slowly in their parts and fresh greens have not been growing. To see them through the time it will take to grow the recently plowed fields into their future food (maize, beans, millet, g nuts, cassava, greens) as well as their poultry business into a financial return, we decided to support Helen’s idea to go into the dry fish business and provided her with 60,000 shillings as start up capital. Market day is Monday in Bukedea and people travel from many miles away with a variety of goods for trade to a huge open field (right beside Gideon’s Grandfather’s land) that has many make shift stalls of tree trunks and branches covered with roofs of dried grass. Here, this Monday Helen will purchase wholesale a pile about ‘this big’ (approx 2 cubic ft.) of smoked telapia fish for 60,000 and retail them during the week from their compound for a profit, she estimates, of around 40.000, which will more than afford to keep them well in a variety of food (and if all goes well provide a health care emerg fund as well as a little savings) until the other plans above kick into full gear. Sounds simple enough I know… and I was reminded once again how, like what happens to the body in the absence of protein and sugar, many, many things here are. It’s usually just a matter of identifying the needed basic ingredient and then, the challenging part for most, finding the way to obtain it… in this context, the start up capital. I figure this idea of Helen’s is win/win… if for some reason the fish does not sell it’ll be a pretty good supply of much needed protein for the family for a while…

A couple weeks ago as we visited in the hut with Gideon’s family (and later again at Betty’s) I said to them all 'Today I want to ask you to do something for me ok?’ They were very happy and excited at the opportunity. I brought out a bag containing a set of colored felt pens, a pack of wax crayons, pencil crayons and thick paper, 2 pieces for each member. They were thrilled at all the choices and colors! I asked them to each make 2 drawings, one for me, one for themselves. The drawings could be anything they wanted… didn’t even have to be drawings, could be words, in any language, could be any thing they felt like expressing. Ah, they were all delighted and so was I to even imagine what fun they might have being colorfully creative together, let alone in what ways they might actually give voice to themselves on paper!

Yesterday, as we visited in the hut after seeing to Grace and Gideon’s health, I was handed a stack of artwork, photos of which you can see here. (I’ll share Betty’s family art with you another time). Happy, bright, fantastically creative drawings, by each family member, most duplicated exactly with one copy for me and the other for the artist, expressing love, life, family, joy, promise, future…

...and by Gideon, (the only one who did two different drawings giving them both for me to keep) the first, pictured here is ‘his heart’ with a flower in the center and the words ‘I will remember ‘U’ Will ‘U’ remember me?’ and the second, this… a poem, that I share ever so respectfully with you now…

‘GIDEON TO CATHRINE
Roots are primary:
first emergings seeds,
Hidden in darkness, yet,
Yet sustaining the whole
As long as I have been,
Your love has been there,
Surrounding and sustaining me

Roots are receptors
Able to receive to appropriate,
nutrients,
That the plant may thrive.
I drink your love like water
And in its abundance my roots,
Multiply.

And I become increasingly receptive
In you I am not pot bound.
The deeper I go, the more I know
That there are no limits,
Roots are anchors.

Holding firmly no matter what
the circumstance of wind and weather
As long as your love endures,
I shall not be removed.’

I needed to pause a few times as I read Gideon’s words out loud for us all. When I was finished, I think I may have been feeling like the plants my friend had been observing that day after the rains had come… it seemed LOVE utterly compelled me to bow my head and I remember sitting very still and quiet for some time, feeling totally awash in this gentle kind of reverent humility.

Bountiful Blessings Indeed, Cath xo

Happy Spring, Autumn, Full Moon, Sun into Aries AND Easter Wishes to you!!!

Talk about 'times a-changing' heh...!

'PROJECT'S' UPDATE ~ PART 2!

2008-03-05T07:23:00.000-08:00

In the recent blog posting titled ‘PROJECT’S UPDATE ~ Part 1’ I wrote…
‘Second…There are either ‘partially +/or totally orphaned children’ who are currently living with either extended family such as a Grandmother in many cases +/or a guardian. Here, along with the children’s well being we have the caregiver and their needs to consider as well. I will share what I have learned about those I have met living in these circumstances and describe what I’m currently working on to support them, in ‘part 2’ of this project update…soon!’

So, here then begins Part 2~…In ‘snapshot’ format, by far the majority of orphan children I have met and learned about here in Uganda are living in situations as described above. As the numbers of HIV/AIDS orphans are many, there appear to be countless situations where several children can be found in the care of one adult, most commonly a Grandmother or a widowed mother who has taken in other children alongside her own. I have begun to understand the tremendous pressure caregiver and child alike are often feeling in this circumstance. Many times, because they are physically unwell themselves, +/or of advanced years, +/or unskilled and inexperienced in an income generating activity, caregivers can be severely challenged to provide for the basic needs of the children and themselves. Frequently we find Grandmother (or caregiver) must leave the home early in the day in search of income/food leaving the children in their own care, which will include getting themselves off to school if they are enrolled, (often there are no funds for uniforms, school supplies, health care etc) remaining on their own until their guardian returns to the home late in the day to prepare the meal of the day. Among other things, this results in many children experiencing daily a lack of nutrition and health care, adult guidance and direction, most often missing school, spending their days without supervision or much chance of acquiring basic life skills, knowledge, positive habits etc. An additional effect often felt by the caregiver is abuse and anger directed towards them from the children who themselves are very unsettled in their lives…

ACIO CHILD CARE CENTER, SIRONKO, UGANDA

As mentioned in many postings, months ago I met a school teacher named Vincent who ‘heard and began answering the call’ 3 years ago to initiate community based action that would address the growing numbers of HIV/AIDS orphans in the district of Sironko, Uganda where he resides. After gathering together like minded adults from the many sub county’s in Sironko and coming up with a collective vision and mission they formed a CBO (community based organization) called ‘AIDS CONCERN INTEGRATED ORGANIZATION’ aka ACIO with Vincent as Director. Over time, Vincent, the board of trustees and program coordinators (all volunteers) of ACIO have made themselves very familiar with the names and needs of the orphan and vulnerable children aka OVC’s in their district while growing the membership of ACIO to include caregivers of these children as well as concerned community members. As a group, ACIO acquired approximately 1 acre of land upon which is envisioned will one day be built a ‘Child Care Center’ (pictured above) that will provide day and full time care including housing, health care and schooling facilities for the approximately 400 OVC’s in Sironko district.

ACIO Vision: ‘An empowered and healthy child who can build the nation and serve God’s people.’

ACIO Mission: ‘To have children who are enlightened with modern skills to sustain their livelihood.’

At present, ACIO are in the process of completing 4 temporary buildings on their land to provide for the children who require immediate full time care.

Bldg#1~Currently there are 30 boys staying in the first temp building ACIO has completed. At one end there is a separate admin office where 14 girls are sleeping.

Bldg#2~Originally this building was to be the kitchen, but it has become necessary to use it as a temp dorm for the girls. As the photo shows this structure has been roofed with the mud walls in the process of being completed. Once finished, the girls currently sleeping in the admin office will be relocated to this building.

Bldg#3~A nursery center to provide care and early childhood education for 4-5 yrs olds from Sironko town is an income generating activity aka IGA that ACIO plans for on the property. It is envisioned that parents in Sironko town and nearby villages requiring day care for their children will pay for the services provided here with the resulting income helping to cover the costs of food and basic needs for the resident children. Holes are dug and beams for the walls have been brought to site...

Bldg#4~A kitchen...yet to be started. All cooking is being done outdoors at present.

ACIO IMMEDIATE NEEDS:
~ Currently the 44 children in full time care are being fed by donation by ACIO membership. Help with these costs is needed.

~ All of the children (aged 8 to 15 yrs) living at the center are enrolled in the village school. Many of them require school supplies and uniforms. ACIO members will sew uniforms for the children with reduced labor costs. Help with the purchase of fabric, back packs and shoes is needed.
~ In the past we have provided sheets, blankets, foams and mosquito nets for the 14 children in care at the former ACIO orphanage. Now, having relocated to the larger temporary building on the ACIO land the number of full time children at the center has grown to 44, and there is a need for more of these items. Help with the purchase of sheets, blankets, foams and nets is needed.
~ Completion of the girl's dorm. Help with the costs of mud (it needs to be trucked in) is needed.
~ Completion of the nursery/day care center. Help with the costs of mud for the walls along with iron sheets for the roof is needed.
~ Completion of the kitchen...Help with all materials including beams for walls and roof, iron sheets for the roof, mud for the walls and cooking equipment is needed.
~ Transportation for Vincent, who currently rides a bicycle, is required to facilitate timely travel for him to the number of small villages and sub county’s (some are in the mountains...) within Sironko District enabling him to more effectively reach and mobilize ACIO membership. Help with the purchase of a motorcycle is needed.

ACIO LONG TERM GOALS:
As explained and pictured above, one day a permanent Child Care Center will be built on the land that ACIO owns, the goal of which is to provide holistic care ( housing, health care, primary schooling, vocational training etc…) for the orphan and vulnerable children in Sironko district.

ACIO has met with the local government officials in Sironko and received approval and support for the Child Care Center along with the municipality’s commitment to date to provide at their expense:

a) a survey of the land ( competed as of Feb’ 08)
b) the installation of water to the land
c) the installation of electrical power to the land

It is planned the child care center will be built in phases with the total costs for the entire project estimated at 830,000,000UGX or $500,000CDN.

Phase 1 – Boy’s and Girl’s Dorms and Latrines- Est: $85,000CDN
Phase 2 – Kitchen and Dining Hall– Est: $80,000CDN
Phase 3 – Administration and Staff Housing– Est: $53,000CDN
Phase 4 – Primary School– Est: $123,000CDN
Phase 5 – Vocational Wing– Est: $77,000CDN
Phase 6 – External Works (roads, landscaping, etc )– Est: $43,000CDN

Plan Preparation and Bill Of Quantities Costs– Approx- $900CDN
5% Contingency and Administration Costs– Approx- $25,000CDN

IGA”S
Recognizing the need exists to come up with ‘income generating activities’ that will contribute to covering the on-going expenses associated with long term operation of the Child Care Center, in addition to the temporary Day Care Center under construction now ACIO currently propose 2 IGA schemes for which funding is required:

1) A Secretary/Office Supply Business in Sironko town…a detailed business plan is available upon request
2) A Micro Finance Scheme supporting small business for local guardians and caregivers of OVC’s…a detailed proposal is available upon request

Why do I support ACIO and this Child Care Center…3 reasons!

1) Inspired by Love, this is a well conceived, comprehensive, community initiative!
2) Inspired by Love, this is a well conceived, comprehensive, community initiative!
3) Inspired by Love, this is a well conceived, comprehensive, community initiative!

Or… In Love, ACIO has managed to effectively organize and educate, empower and mobilize their community members with the insight that they are the primary stakeholders needing to come together to co-create and invest in viable solutions that address OVC issues within their community for the benefit of all!

As life seems to have this great way of preparing us for more, it appears many years of positive experiences in people, project and business management have empowered me to what feels like a perfect part for me to play here now … a mentoring, supportive and background role to ACIO and projects such as this one! Learning what I have about empowering communities, these days I am ‘all over’ supporting OVC solutions that are conceived and birthed within a community. Contrary to many ideas/solutions introduced from ‘abroad’ it makes great sense to me that project’s initiated within a community have unlimited chance to be successful as they are respectfully and effectively based on what a community decides it needs for itself as well as what it will be willing and able to sustain over the long term, thereby empowering the community to take care and ownership of itself, moving forward collectively. ‘Outside’ support on various levels is a very important and necessary component that I think may be best added to the mix once the main ingredient called for has been recognized and developed… which is to do what ACIO has already done in Sironko!

Presently, I encourage and support ACIO to seek expansion from CBO to NGO ( Non Government Organization) status with the Government Of Uganda (at time of writing, ACIO has received the local and municipal government support required before taking their request to the national level for consideration and approval) thereby paving the way for the organization, over time, to: begin education and mobilization in communities within other Ugandan districts; broaden its membership base by offering tax receipts to donors; open doors to potential national attention and support for the project’s it undertakes.

Understanding orphan and vulnerable children concerns are numerous and widespread it seems reasonable to entertain… perhaps this locally initiated progressive model can be successfully duplicated elsewhere in Uganda and (once I have the opportunity to explore them in detail…) conceivably even in other African countries facing similar situations. Beginning right now with 44 children in Sironko, Uganda this ripple could reach, empower and uplift the lives of countless orphan children and their caregivers who today, among other things, appear to be on the lookout for LOVE :)

Knowing Divine Blessings and Endless Possibilities accompany us ALL each and every moment, I'm inspired! I embrace the gift to join our collective effort and action in LOVE!

Thanks so much for sharing! With Love, Catherine ~ Mar 4th, 2008

Re-membering, Step by Step

2008-02-25T23:48:00.000-08:00

A while ago a friend wrote to me saying ‘it must be very sad sometimes…’ given where I am, what I am witnessing and the seemingly small steps that I can take to help contribute…

‘Sure’, I wrote her back, ‘the pain and the suffering here are often very close… I find that among other things this journey is a very great lesson in non-judgement for me... if I stay in a broad kind of acceptance....I find it very easy and natural to stay in a place of Love and then I find I am very strong, I am peaceful and joyful sharing myself heart to heart with others, doing what I can…’

Some days I am better at it than others! Yesterday, for instance, is a day when I polarized in judgement. And I wept hard for it and tangled myself all up in feelings centered around my perceived inability to relieve some of the pain and suffering of a young, very sick boy. Watching his face contort as he took small calculated steps, leaning his chin on his crutch for balance with every limp onward, knowing that earlier in the day, coming from a village in the mountains where I visited him last week, he had taken hundreds of such steps up a steep, winding path and down a narrow ravined road to reach some kind of over crowded transportation that brought him to the center in Mbale for a check up, knowing that he is orphaned and has a rare incurable cancer, is HIV+, knowing that after our time together he would make the very long, slow and painful journey back to the place where he stays…

Today I awaken re-membering… there, in my mind set of yesterday, I was choosing separation, to think I was so utterly incapable of offering something to this boy. The night has gently re-minded me to connect with my heart to see and feel what he offers to me… and then, to see what we offer each other… and then... to under-stand, all of our steps lead us where we are to be... and then, I arrive at Connection and Oneness… and then here… in Gratitude, Peace, Joy and Love… step, step, step by sometimes, very small step.

Thank you Dear Child for shining Your Beautiful Light so BRIGHTLY! Thank you Creator for the Unlimited Blessings showering upon us ALL!

Do you recall reading about Tom and his sister's 5 orphan children... Please meet his 4 nieces and 1 nephew... Ivan, Kasede, Angela, Lydia and Doreen... pictured here just before they all received their new school uniforms, back packs, scribblers, pens, pencils and math sets...

I am happy to share, Tom starts his new 2'nd job on March 1st and will be earning an additional 60,000 shillings per month on top of the 30,000 he makes from his current job ( about $53 total). It is planned that he will increase his poultry business substantially over time and as a result grow in his ability to afford future school related costs for all the children, expenses we have been able to help them with for this year.

When they were leaving my compound they all turned round to see me and waved bye-bye and then, to my eye, seemed to kind of magically 'float' happily on their way, as it happened, into the beautiful Light of the setting sun!

Celebrating the LOVE that we ALL are, Cath xoxo

'PROJECT'S' UPDATE ~ PART 1!

2008-02-19T23:48:00.001-08:00

Imagine! It is now over 5 months I’ve been in Africa with all of my time so far spent in eastern Uganda! Who knew that I would stay this long in one place? I do still plan to move on one day to Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi and beyond… For now, as the time flies by, relationships with the children and adults I am involved with here deepen, continuing to inform, inspire and enlighten me. I am filled with wonder and even amazement some days as I experience life here, learning more and more about what it means on many levels to say that familiar expression you may have heard in movies, the one that is said here constantly… namely that… ‘THIS IS AFRICA!'

Let me begin this update about ‘project’s’ I am involved with by saying THANK YOU most sincerely for the encouragement and support many of you continue to send this way for me and the children I am working with. In addition to tangible results listed below, your involvement and interest in this journey serve often to renew and replenish me and therefore the children, and we are all very appreciating of your Love. As I carry on my way it becomes quite clear that my heartfelt desire is to continue to serve the orphan children I am meeting and these days I look to be shown the way to do that, both well and long into the future! Their number is many, their need very real and knowing this as intimately as I do now, I move forward in trust, holding these children in the very center of this life I am living, right here in my heart!

I have come to understand, speaking VERY broadly, there are two distinct groups of orphan children living in different circumstances in this area of Uganda (and assuredly many other areas in Africa) whom I am most guided to connect with in Love.

FIRST… There are children who are living in what can be described as ‘CHILD HEADED HOUSEHOLDS’. In general, these ‘TOTAL ORPHAN CHILDREN’, usually with the oldest sibling stepping up into a ‘parent’ role, have remained living together in rural areas, with either minimal +/or no assistance from extended family, on land their parents owned up to their deaths. Starting where the children are with what their parents provided them, and by gaining understanding of how they are currently managing their circumstances, I can begin to realize what form of guidance and empowerment they are most requiring. Priorities reveal themselves to be quite simple and consistent… they are ‘the basics’… food, shelter, health care, education and income. Beginning by addressing each area I learn to keep one unwavering eye focused on empowering the children’s ability to self determine and sustain over the long term any improvements I may be able to assist them with in the immediate. I am finding it keeps things clear for me and the children to emphasize often that while I will surely be LOVING them forever, I am seriously wanting to work myself out of a ‘day to day job’ with them and wish to leave the children empowered into their future while I continue on to assist others who are needing the same attention they are now receiving. I am continually asking the children questions like ‘what will you do about this or that when I am not here on a regular basis’ or ‘how will you manage this in the long run’ or ‘what is a plan about this you can come up with that does not involve or rely on me’ or…?

I witness remarkable strength, courage and openness in the children I meet in this kind of circumstance and I see how truly Graced they have been to survive so long on their own, awaiting some one to come around in answer to their prayers. Indeed, I consider being part of that answer a great responsibility and a great privilege all in one!

Once their current circumstances are understood I ask questions about the children’s hopes, their dreams and wishes and then aiming to build upon their resilient foundation, we move forward considering ways to:

1) Create/expand the growing of ample food for themselves on their land; (although there are many different areas, climate and soil conditions etc. here in Uganda, in the area where I have spent my time so far the land is very fertile, water is generally if not abundantly available at times and there is the probability of at least 2 harvests of several different crops per year)
2) Ensure there is adequate clothing and basic household items for the children;
3) Ensure there is safe, solid and secure housing for the children on their land;
4) Provide assistance facilitating access to and education about proper health care;
5) Enable the younger children to begin/continue their education;
6) Support the older children to continue their schooling +/or attend training in a trade +/or initiate or expand an income generating activity on their land;

My overall intention is clear… do the above within a context that showers and empowers the children with PEACE and JOY and LOVE!

SECOND… There are both ‘PARTIAL +/or TOTAL ORPHAN CHILDREN’ who are currently living with either extended family such as a GRANDMOTHER in many cases +/or a GUARDIAN. Here, along with the children’s well being we have the caregiver and their needs to consider as well. I will share what I have learned about those I have met living in these circumstances and describe various project’s I am currently working on to support them, in ‘part 2' of this project update… soon!

TWO ‘CHILD’ FAMILIES

Over recent months as many blog postings mention, I have been learning with and working extensively alongside 2 families living in rural Bukedea who are headed by children. During the time we have been getting to know one another, my intention has been to put into practice what I’ve described above. Countless Blessings along with your support have enabled me to assist and uplift these families to date in the following ways...

GIDEON'S FAMILY
Gideon 16 yrs , Senior (S) 4, (dreams of being a Vet like his father before him), Martha 14, Primary (P) 6, (dreams of being a nurse), Naume 12, P6, (dreams of being a nurse too! ) older sister Helen with her 2 children Lillian Grace 3 ( can barely wait to start school) and Silis 15 months ~ Since meeting this family, together you and I have:

Supported the entire family with:
~ sugar, salt and soap weekly
~ mosquito nets
~ safe water collection vessels and education
~ access to health care for malaria +/or other treatments required
~ education about HIV/AIDS
~ used clothing for each member
~ a new bike, lantern, digging tool and a deck of cards
~ the hiring of return transportation to see the children at least once a week
~ the plowing of 4 acres of their land to make ready for the planting of maize, cassava, ground nuts, millet and a cash crop, as weather dictates.
Approximately: CDN $180

Supported Gideon with:
~ registration and school fees for first term of S4, starting Feb ‘08
~ a new uniform, socks and shoes
~ school ID, text books, scribblers, pens, a calculator and a back pack
Approximately: CDN $225

Supported Martha and Naume with:
~ new uniforms, socks and shoes
~ school scribblers, pens, math sets and back packs
~ education about and supplies re: feminine hygiene
Approximately: CDN $60

Supported Helen, Lillian Grace and Silis with:
~ a set of beginner readers, a backpack for Lillian and a ball for Silis
Approximately: CDN $9

Family Total = Approximately 810,000Ush or $475CDN

As we continue uplifting this family into empowerment, Gideon, his sisters and I ask for your consideration and support in achieving our present intentions:

~ Sponsoring Gideon with school fees for the balance of this school year and for the 2 years beyond until he finishes senior school (S6) at the end of 2010.
Approximately: CDN $150 for the balance of 2008; $425 for 2009; $500 for 2010;

( 2009 and 2010 fees include the probability of boarding and transportation costs for Gideon as it is likely he will have to attend school in Mbale for these 2 years, returning home on weekends)

( During this time Gideon and his sisters will be working to increase their ability to earn and save income by way of the growing and selling of cash crops alongside their poultry business with the plan that in 2 years they will afford the girls fees when they enter Senior School in 2009 and Gideon’s fees when he enters University in 2011).

~ Sponsoring the immediate planting of the 4 plowed acres ie: seedlings, seeds, fertilizers, etc.
Approximately: CDN $200

~ Sponsoring the initial expansion of the family’s existing small poultry business
Approximately: CDN $175 ( this will provide 10 hens and 1 rooster along with feed and meds for the first 6 months by which time the first hatchlings will be full grown and ready to market )

~ Sponsoring the building of a 3 room brick and iron sheet home*
Approximately: CDN $2,000

* Currently the family of 6 share one aged small mud and grass hut with Gideon sleeping on one foam with Helen’s 2 little ones, while Naume, Martha and Helen share a 2’nd single size foam. Because it has been determined the existing brick home on the land Gideon’s Grandfather willed to him is not stable enough to re-roof as we had once hoped, it is our plan to use that building as a home for an expanded poultry business and to relocate the family from their existing hut into a new 3 room iron sheet home we will build that will serve them all well for many years into the future.

The new family home will look similar to the one drawn on these plans except that it will be a 3 room structure ( one private entrance sleeping room for girls, one for boys, and a sitting/cooking area in the middle) with drums attached to eaves troughs for water collection and storage in rainy season. It will be built of bricks made from local material, secured with metal exterior doors and bars on screened windows, with a one sided sloped roof built with local wood and covered with iron sheets.

BETTY'S FAMILY
Betty 17 yrs, ( completed up to mid primary level at school until parents died, dreams of being a tailor) Moses 15, P5, ( has not attended school consistently since the passing of his parents and is several years behind children his age, dreams of being a Doctor) Morning 10, P5, ( dreams of driving a 'piki piki'... swahili for motorcycle... just like the one we arrive on when we visit!) Peter 8, P3, ( dreams of being a math teacher) Cousin Rose with baby Stella 20 mths, ( when Stella was born with hydrocephalus both were abandoned by baby’s father and it was at that time they came to live with Betty) Grandmother ( weak, prone to sickness ) Since meeting this family, together you and I have:

Supported the entire family with:
~ sugar, salt and soap weekly
~ mosquito nets
~ safe water collection vessels and education
~ access to health care for malaria +/or other treatments required
~ education about HIV/AIDS
~ used clothing for each member
~ a new bike, a ball and deck of cards
~ new blankets, sheets and foamies
~ 2 large cooking pots
~ an emergency care package of food
~ millet and maize for 3 months while Betty is at school
~ the hiring of return transportation to see the children at least once a week
~ the plowing of 4 acres of their land to make ready for the planting of maize, cassava, ground nuts, millet and a cash crop, as weather dictates
Approximately: CDN $450

Supported Betty with:
~ enrollment in a 3 month tailoring course
~ 3 months of lunches while at school
~ a back pack, tailoring scissors, tape measure, thread and fabric
Approximately: CDN $140

Supported Moses, Morning and Peter with:
~ new school uniforms, shoes, socks and belts
~ school scribblers, pens, math sets and back packs
Approximately: CDN $60

Supported Rose and Stella with:
~ Transportation costs to and from hospital in Mbale
~ Medication for Stella
~ Shoes for Stella
Approximately: CDN $15

Supported Grandmother with:
~ a framed picture of herself which she requested and hopes will be viewed after her death
Approximately: CDN $4

Family Total – Approximately 1,140,000Ush or $670CDN

As we continue uplifting this family into empowerment, Betty, her brothers, Rose, Stella and I ask for your consideration and support in achieving our present intentions:

~ Sponsoring 90% of the outstanding balance for the operation to treat hydrocephalus that was performed on Stella, leaving Rose with a realistic 10% amount to pay off.
Approximately: CDN $400

~ Sponsoring the immediate planting of the 4 plowed acres ie: seedlings, seeds, fertilizers, etc.
Approximately: CDN $200

~ Sponsoring the purchase of a sewing machine and start up fabric for Betty once she completes her sewing course end April ’08
Approximately: CDN $150

~ Sponsoring the building of a 3 room brick and iron sheet home (as above)
Approximately: CDN $2,000

To try and put into words how the children feel about the Love being extended to them seems challenging for me… she who so enjoys to write!
I witness changes in their very beings, I see their smiles, hear their laughter and feel their embraces. I know they are amazed that we have even shown up in their lives let alone that we care about and value them and their happiness.

One local man in the trading center near where the 2 families live said to my friend the other day…’I am so grateful for the way that lady is helping those kids because those kids were really in a bad mood and she has really wiped their tears.’

That same friend, who interprets for the children and me, says it this way…
“like, now, the way their lives are changing, they are very happy, according to the connection they are having with you… cause like the other day, the families were saying they are very very happy, they are so grateful. They were saying that your assistance is really appreciated, they have said that if you leave this country they will always Love you and never forget you…’

Perhaps it is our Martha who sums it up most simply for us...As my friend and I were riding out of their compound on the piki the other day, she was running alongside us laughing, saying 'bye-bye bye-bye!' I called out to her 'Martha I Love you!', to which she replied in her very best English 'I Love you too Cathalin, I Love you like a feeesh Loves waaater!'

THE CHILDREN AND I THANK YOU
FOR
THE GIFT OF YOUR
LOVE!

Cath xoxo

A Dreamy Green Van!

2008-02-12T00:25:00.000-08:00

Was it 10 years ago, yes, almost to the month, that I had a dream about a green van?
Noticeable immediately to me in the dream, the sliding door was on the left of the van and it looked kind of like a late 70’s VW only somehow ‘beefier’. It was parked somewhere in the tropics on a gentle breezy sunny day in a bright grassy clearing, bushes and trees with gigantic, moist leaves all around. Butterflies frolicked about, birds were singing sweet melodies… You know... ‘Eutopia, Nirvana, Heaven, The Garden’… the van was definitely camped out in LOVE! As ‘I’ watched the dream unfold the side door of the van opened, 2 golden bears emerged and I knew in that moment I was one of those bears. There were children giggling, dancing and singing happily in the clearing around the van, ‘me’ and my ‘no-name 4 legged’ golden partner. The children each with dark sparkling eyes and a gleaming white smile, looked like crystals glistening radiantly in the sunshine.

It was a fulfilling dream, an awakening and familiar one and felt to me at the time as though it was, yup, pretty meaningful! It seemed to hold the destiny of my heart and the seeds of my soul all safely within it. I’ve had a few such powerful dreams over the years… I am one of those who is so grateful for the gift of dreaming and I take notice of them as being ‘matter of heart’ ( a reference to Carl Jung and the same titled movie I once saw about him...) Since awakening from that dream I have remembered, honored and even at times, actively pursued it, following inspirations and guidance prompted by it, all of which have informed and ultimately empowered me onward over many a wonderful mile. During the times when I have tangoed intimately with fear and/or hope on the outside in my life I have naturally and without effort been held constant on the inside, within that dream. And the other times when neither ‘partner’ has been present and I have danced freely and wholly with my self I have felt the Peace of a simple knowingness contained in that dream.

Reflecting on the day I had yesterday, I am these days quite simply (as a friend who I shared the dream with 10 years ago suggested may be the case when she heard I was coming to Africa) within a literal kind of realization of that dream...

Almost every ingredient is becoming present for me here… well, ALMOST! Ok, the van has yet to show up… but it could, at any moment and it would probably have a door on the left as all vans here do; and the environment of lushness, well, it’s nearby too at places like Sipi and Wanale and locals do say consistent rains that will green up everything are coming again soon... but most often, like yesterday, it is dry, dusty compounds where we are parked; and I’m not really resembling a golden bear but rather seem to be a hat and sunglass carrying muzungu whose light skin turns pink in the sun, and my companion isn’t a bear either but a dark skinned African man who apparently moves to the beat of his heart of gold; and we don’t emerge gracefully amongst brilliant butterflies and symphonic music performed by winged lovlies... but rather, coughing, clumsy and awkwardly stiff from a couple hour ride straddling a motorcycle seat dodging potholes and large overloaded careening trucks, through air laced with black vehicle fumes and smoke from garbage burning along the way, into the blowing sand and dirt surrounding the mud and grass huts… but… and here’s the whole point…the children are HERE! The wide, happy bright eyes, the beaming smiles, they are here and they are rejoicing in LOVE... they are singing and dancing, giggling and belly laughing and my heart is huge with Gratitude and Joy and Peace and LOVE to be in the ‘clearing’ of their beautiful presence…

At least that’s the way it was yesterday when we spent time first with Gideon, Naume, Martha, Helen, Lillian Grace and Silis, and then moved on to visit with Betty, Moses, Morning, Peter, Rose and Stella…we played, we talked, we touched, we hugged, we laughed, we ate (hmmm…note to self…once ingested, heavy, glutenous, did I mention heavy ‘cassava bread' seems to transform into a frenzy of frogs with the most robust, resounding ribets…!) we took photos, we filmed and watched home movies of the children singing and dancing having a very happy Sunday… treasured footage indeed! In the last video of the day and summing up everything quite perfectly is Morning...he moves, completely covered in carefree happiness pirouetting round as if the memory of generations of rhythm makers who have danced since the beginning of time is emerging freely from within him with this enormous ear to ear beaming smile that lights up, well, absolutely EVERYTHING…!

Sing it IZ…’Dreams really do come true…!’

Loving you, Cath

Ps…Some other details… A 2’nd job for Tom paying 50,000 shillings per month has Gracefully landed in our laps… we are also working on a plan to support him by expanding his current small 'side business' raising poultry… 3 of the orphan children he cares for are going to school in the village nearby where there are no fees and we’ll have them in uniforms and shoes soon, carrying books, pens and math sets in their backpacks… the other 2 children will be enrolled here in Mbale and we are sponsoring their fees, uniforms etc…we think the mother of 6 will relocate with her children to the village from where they came and we plan to support her getting them all equipped and into school ( there are no fees charged there) and help her re-invent her former family business of either pig or poultry rearing to generate income for them all… and, I really am working on a project’s page update… it’s just seems to be that things are happening very quickly these days and as soon as I get something written it morphs or manifests or...!

A Dad Named Tom...

2008-02-06T01:26:00.000-08:00

It was mid morning, day 2 of the children being back in school. I had just passed through the gate of the property where I stay when a man walking up the road greeted me. He said…’ Please, I have heard about you… that you help orphans. Please, I am taking care of 5 orphans and I ask for your help. My sister died and left 5 children. Their father is also dead. They all live with me, my wife and our 3 children. I cannot put any of my sister’s children into school. There is no free primary school here. The fees charged within the city limits of Mbale for ‘Universal Primary School’ are several thousand shillings per term per child, and the children are all in need of uniforms costing 10,000 each. They have no shoes, socks, books, pens or back packs. I was told about you by a woman, a friend of mine who works at the NGO where you have been. Please can you help us.’ I looked over and saw 3 children standing in the shade up against the corner of a nearby building, all wearing ripped, very dirty clothing, all quietly looking out at him and me.

‘Do you have work?’ I asked him. ‘Yes, I take care of animals for that lady over there, I am paid 30,000 shillings per month. I have worked there for 20 years. I asked for 50,000 but she says that is too much. I am able to afford school for my one child of age, and food and shelter for us all but I cannot pay for my sister’s children to go to school.’ ‘What is your name?’ I asked this well spoken man. ‘I am Tom’. ‘Ah, the name my father was called’ I told him. ‘Let us meet again later today and we will discuss how to create a plan to take the children to school Tom’. ‘Kali Mama, Kali’(Ok Mama, Ok).

Tom came over later when I returned home. I learned the names, ages and level at school of his 5 nieces and nephews who range from 6 to 11 years old. I learned that Tom was also orphaned at a young age and completed up to P4 in school until the fee requirements caused him to quit. Tom says he wants to do what he can for his sister’s children, he has a quick mind, has educated himself to speak and understand English well, and he reasons that yes, in the short term we can probably see that the children go to school this year, but in the long run it is necessary to come up with a plan that will help him to create greater income to afford supporting all of the children for the many years of school fees and associated costs that lie ahead. And just like that I am now aware of a man named Tom and 5 orphan children all of whom are asking for our Loving attention and with whom we will find the way to uplift them all into the future.

Every day, at least once, whether at the public market or the NGO, in rural Uganda or walking along the street in Mbale, I am approached by someone who is asking for help. Maybe it is a loaf of bread a man is asking for to feed his family, or it’s a young child selling pineapples on the sidewalk who when questioned why he is not in school says he does not have a uniform and fees or a book or a pen, or it is one of the many people born with limbs askew who lay on the ground outside stores begging for shillings each day or it’s a toughened street child who has not eaten for who knows how long or, like today, it is a printed note asking for help with school fees from a widowed mother of 6, followed by an email an hour later sent to me through this web site from Cameroon, requesting help for a group of orphans...every day, I am asked again and again and again.

And every night, I ask Spirit please continue and continue and continue to teach me to hear with my heart and guide me to answers of Love Love Love…Catherine

WOWOWOWOW!!! The rain just came in a BIG WAY!...accompanied by thunder and very surprisingly, hail too!!! Powerful, loud, creating rivers in the ditches and drenching everything...the parched, dry, dusty, hot, steamy roads, land and people...Ahh! Water!

Be Loved Josephine!

2008-02-04T04:53:00.000-08:00

Do you recall some postings ago (Dec 16th and 20th) when I seemed to mix up people and names and wondered out loud just where ‘Josephine’ had come to me from? Happily, yesterday it all came clear, well, sort of…! After a joyful week my friend and I were visiting both child families in Bukedea the day before school was to start, having some fun and making sure all details ( including the need for all the children to eat a healthy and hearty breakfast each day before going to school…) were in order and everyone was good to go! (Guess what the last thing was all of our little school goers were needing… haha… socks! Have your socks ever brought you total Joy? Have you ever completely Loved and Appreciated owning a pair, let alone some new ones…? Wow…these children sure do! And of course...lollipops are pretty great too!) While at Gideon’s, his neighbor came by with her newly born daughter (she is the same little one I posted a picture of last writing). When she handed me the tiny infant I asked the baby’s Mother what she had named her little one. She strongly, proudly replied 'Josephine'! Ahhhh Josephine, Here You Are Darling Angel That You Are... Somehow, you whispered to us you were coming... and now we learn you were birthed into this world by your Loving HIV+ Mom a few short weeks ago, in a small mud and grass hut…

We Welcome You Precious Little One…We Thank You…We Love You!

More soon…
With Love, Cath xoxo

Rising In Love

2008-01-28T02:08:00.000-08:00

Love Love Love to you!

These days, time for me seems to be standing still and flying by all in the same moment! People say there is this thing called 'African time' and I guess I am right in it now...I know it's been awhile since I posted here so I write a brief note today to check in and to say ALL is very well!

Betty is happy and doing great in her tailoring class, navigating her way well to the teacher's place and back home each morning and evening by way of the family bike! She has recently completed her first child's dress, sewn out of paper.

Joy finds this family...big brother Moses has returned to be with his siblings at the compound and together with Morning and Peter we prepare this week for their return to school next Monday.

Backpacks, school supplies, shoes, uniforms... every one and every thing is pretty much all ready to go! They are all sleeping on foams with blankets and mosquito nets to protect them, four fields surrounding their compound are being plowed this week to prepare for planting when the rains begin (maybe within a couple weeks or so), Rose continues to help little Stella (who's cough has healed) each day to learn to walk...

In almost exactly the same manner, Gideon, Naume and Martha prepare for returning to school.

Gideon is presently away visitng an Auntie who is sick in hospital and Naume recovers right now from malaria that we were Blessed to discover and treat quickly...I check in at the NGO a few times each week and become involved with what is going on there, we plan to visit the other 2 child families I met some months ago to begin work with them, I continue to discover and develop info for others about community empowerment and have been invited to give 2 workshops on the topic...it's ALL good, everything moves forward in a Lovely way at a pace that is Perfectly Peaceful! Priorities define themselves with clarity and I will likely be posting the update for the 'Project's page' on this site within another few days.

As for me, I am happy, feeling 'on purpose' and in exactly the 'right place', filled with gratitude to be 'here'. Many times I still find myself in awe of this remarkable gift in my life. Renewing and refreshing awakenings occur in me, I refine and expand, I Lighten, my dearest and longest held dreams and visions, some I had even managed to 'forget' were resting deep inside, stir within my soul now and birth themselves gently into my reality...

It's all beautifully simple and wonderfully inspiring. I am Rising In Love, sharing Love in ways I have only dreamed and imagined may be possible until now. I Love... who I am, who I am with, where I am, what I am doing... I Love. Everything and Everyone... including you!

Thank You Creator...

In Peace, Joy and Love
Catherine xoxo

Ps...A couple days ago when visiting at Betty's we used my camera to make a short video of the family singing a song outside in the compound...afterwards we all went in to the darkened hut to download and watch the performance on my laptop. It was soooooo much fun to see the eyes of these children grow 10 times in size and to hear the sounds of their laughter fill the space...oh yes, Morning's delightful giggle too!!! The world is opening up in a whole new way for this family...and for me too :)

Sunrise and Moonlight!

2008-01-16T01:02:00.000-08:00

Peace, Joy and Love to you…

Earlier in the week, back in Bukedea, I sat at Betty’s compound and found myself explaining to the boys Morning and Peter as well as to Grandmother and Rose that Betty has been enrolled in a tailoring course for the next three months. We talked about details... including how she will use their new bike to travel daily to the course, how by helping to make it possible for her to fulfill her dream to learn a new skill I along with people back home are endeavoring to help them all well into the future, how the family may need to reorganize themselves to accommodate this change, how it is important that everyone play their part to the best of their ability, everyone’s role being a very special contribution to the whole.

I brought enough maize and millet along to feed them all for one month (we will replenish as time goes by…more than a month’s supply can spoil) ensuring food or the need to earn the income to purchase it will not be as serious a concern as usual for them while Betty’s days are filled with school. We turned our attention to school for the boys due to begin on Feb 4th and looked at their new backpacks filled with school scribblers and a couple pens/pencils along with a math set. We discussed having new uniforms sewed for them both. I happily learned that Moses, their 13 year old brother whom I have not met yet, will soon be returning to be with his family at the compound, and I assured them I will supply him with all they have received this day. The wind came up while we were sitting there and little Peter took it upon himself to stand closely behind where I sat sheltering me from the dust that blew from that direction. Morning, although smiling when I arrived, became very quiet and introspective as he took in all the new information and he and I shared a couple very serious and lasting moments staring into each other’s eyes. I told them how one day, still months from now, it’s likely I will be returning to my country and everything I am doing to help them now is intended to uplift life for them long into the future building upon their strength, courage and independence. Before I left, I asked if there was anything on anyone’s mind. Rose spoke saying that she wanted me to know they have no blankets to cover themselves through the night (…which at present can be quite cold… this being the ‘dry season’ it is a bit like living in the desert, the days very dry and hot, the nights cool). I thanked her and told them we will continue, we will keep taking steps to set them on their way well and I will try and bring blankets next time along with mosquito nets...( I also plan to bring them a few foamies, they currently have a 36” wide one that 5 of them share). As before with Gideon’s family, when I prepared to leave and started saying my goodbyes, the children presented me with a beautiful white rooster… the greatest most valuable and meaningful possession they have in this world to give.

I brought ‘Moonlight’ home and introduced him to Sunrise by placing him in the same tree that Sunrise has taken to spending the night in. By the next morning the two of them were inseparable and they have remained so every since. Whenever I look to see where they are or what they are up to, I find them following one another around each protecting and watching over the other as they navigate their way into their new large family that consists of a head rooster, a few other young roosters like themselves, a number of hens, a couple with several chicks and 4 guinea fowl all contained within the fenced compound.

Friends here are openly amused by my naming of and affection for my roosters…but I can tell within their laughter they understand completely and value for me the beauty and Love I behold in the reflection my ‘two boys’ are mirroring…

The day before I returned to their compound, Rose, baby Stella and I met at the hospital in Mbale to see to a check up for the little one. I had given Rose 10,000 shillings for transport money (to give you an idea of the context, she earned 500 shillings at the market selling water last week…the price of transport here has more than doubled in many cases due to the fuel issues caused by the situation in Kenya) and we had planned to meet at the front gate of the hospital. When they arrived right on time, tears came to my eyes. The two of them were dressed in their very best, baby had on one of the dresses I had brought for her before Christmas, (the other dress was tucked neatly in a bag in case of a need to change) they were both so clean and tidy, the absolute opposite to what I see when I visit them at home. I could only imagine how early they had gotten up that day and how much effort had been put into preparing themselves so wonderfully for coming in to town.

Happy am I to say Stella is doing quite well according to the Doctor. Although her head is large as the photos show, he explained to me that the operation already performed is working well at keeping the amount of fluid around her brain normal and at present her head is growing at a standard rate. He explained due to the fact that care for Stella was started after she was 6 months old, the bones protecting her brain had already grown to an abnormal size and this cannot be reversed. Likely above average in its size for life, over time as the rest of her body grows Stella’s head will not appear to be as out of proportion as it does now. The Doctor did a blood test and found Stella does not have malaria or pneumonia at present but does have a persistent cough so gave medicine to help heal that. We discussed her development, things like sitting up, pulling herself up, looking around from side to side, managing her head well, and he encouraged Rose to help Stella (who is now approx 20 months old) to learn to walk. He recommended a pair of shoes that squeak when she walks to help entice baby to enjoy trying to take steps. Rose and I found a pretty pair at the market afterwards… I had to smile as I watched Stella’s amusement and Rose’s joy with the new sandals, seeing as I had just remembered and shared my story about new shoes with you…

Among other things, I intend to work this week on the next revision for the ‘Project’s’ page for this site. I’ll try and bring us up to date and address current ACIO and community empowerment developments/issues as well as long term intentions for both the families of Betty and Gideon, etc etc etc...

4 months today in Africa! Wow, 2 more weeks and I’m half way into my scheduled journey. All the while I find my roots here deepening, growing stronger, and then there’s the family around me that appears to be emerging…!

Much Love to you from us all…
Sunrise, Moonlight and me!

The Sun Rises In Morning

2008-01-08T00:58:00.000-08:00

Come away with me now and bask in the beauty of a smile, a very special smile...the Light of Beloved Morning! Please receive with me this great gift and know in this moment: Love you are sending through me is touching and nurturing this child and many others here…

With 2 bicycles loaded aboard the NGO truck (and all the other things I wrote about in my ‘Ps…’ last posting) and heading out of Mbale town yesterday in the powerful heat of mid day, 2 counselors and I set out for Bukedea to visit both the families of Betty and Gideon…

I hope you will enjoy a few more photos from the day...After both Betty and Gideon took pleasure in the inaugural ride on each of their new bikes, of course all the children in both families tried them out. I had to lift up and hold both Morning and little Peter on the seat as I jogged with each around in circles in the compound...ah, there was great laughter and joy! And Naume, Martha and Helen..they all glided their way with great ease and confidence...I was thinking how the wind in their faces was feeling...I was considering their sense of newfound freedom...! It was all together VERY fun!

At day’s end, Gideon sent the girls Naume and Martha to fetch something. Not sure where they had gone I asked him to explain and understood him to say that they were going to be bringing me a ‘coke’. ‘Oh’ I said, ‘don’t worry, I am ok, I have water in the truck.’ He said ‘Please let us do this for you’. ‘Ok, certainly, thank you…’ I watched as the girls ran here and there, I wondered where on earth they were planning to get a coke from…

Next thing I knew, the girls were coming towards me with a rooster tucked under Naume’s arm, the legs of which they were busily trying to tie…they laid it on the ground beside me. Oh… the penny dropped! A cock, not a coke, you say! (an ‘o’ sound is often expressed here as in the word ‘coke’)

Incredible! In Africa it is a great honor to give and to receive a cock (which I will refer to as a rooster from now on)! For me, receiving such a meaningful gift from a family of children who are living in rural Uganda in Africa reaches far beyond being a great honor…it is a deeply profound and most precious expression of Love and I will hold it tenderly in my heart forever.

I have decided I will call my new friend ‘Sunrise’ and every morning when he crows me awake I will remember with humility and gratitude the Light that shone this day!

Creator Thank You For Love…
Catherine

Ps...As I lay for sleep after the great bike day, I was remembering when I was a little girl and my parents bought me new shoes...Mom always found me such pretty ones and I Loved my new shoes. I would place them neatly beside my bed so that I could see them first thing in the morning when I woke. I was wondering how both families would be sleeping that night, or if they even could! Now, not only several children huddled together in each little hut but a bike leaning against the wall...hopefully shining brightly in the light of the beautiful stars above!

Kenya...

2008-01-05T00:35:00.000-08:00

I know you are hearing about the pain Kenya is expressing. I have heard from people back home asking if I am safe, so I write about the situation briefly here to share about how what you may be hearing and seeing on TV is being felt where I am. Firstly, I feel very safe. If that changes for me and I feel guided to leave, I will do so immediately. I am grateful to be able to say I have met some very caring friends here who are watching over me and most willing to help me in any way I need, at any moment. Secondly, I know you know, please allow me to remind you… the sound bites you hear, the footage you see…I’d say chances may be high it is likely the most ‘saleable stuff available on the market…’ Thirdly, as for the politics of the moment…it feels quite out of my realm…I am reflecting however on what I learned and shared in an earlier posting about community empowerment …

’’Honesty’ has revealed itself to be the foundation necessary to support the emergence and growth of an empowered community…’

Kenya is the neighboring country to the east of Uganda, referred to here as Uganda’s gateway to the sea. From where I am in the east of Uganda, the western Kenyan border is over the nearby mountain range that is home to Sipi Falls and Mt. Elgon. I am told if I left where I stay right now I could reach that border by vehicle in around 1 to 2 hours from Mbale and arrive in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital city in a total of about 8 to 10 hours or so. Of course, I have NO plans to do that just now.

As a result of Kenya’s current situation the most immediate and ‘tangible’ effect felt here on the ground in Mbale has been the jump in fuel prices (I understand most fuel in this country normally comes by tanker truck from Kenya and although recently there were a few days when no fuel trucks crossed the border, they are now being escorted by military and moving safely into Uganda once again. I further understand, as back up, at present there is fuel being shipped here from Tanzania by way of Lake Victoria)…in some cases a litre of gas is up over 300% which has started to spill over as a rise in the price of goods delivered and services available by ground transportation throughout Uganda. I think domestic flights have been temporarily cancelled in the short term because of the fuel situation.

I witness people here in Mbale praying for Kenyan’s. Most seem to know all too well the potential extent of the deep and often fatal wounds on every level of life caused by violent aggression and war. Every adult I meet can speak of days they remember not so long ago when life here was full of brutality, fear and sorrow and they all seem joined in the awareness that Peace initiated and supported by an atmosphere of willingness, patience and dialogue is the only way forward when conflict and disagreement arise. There is a quiet feeling in the air here, people are watching and listening, very compassionate towards and concerned with the number of lives that are being affected by the violence in Kenya. Of the people I have met in Mbale several are from Kenya and so have family there. Cell phones being very common, there are many calls to Kenya presently and everyone I have spoken with here has said their families and friends there are staying indoors and are safe.

I join with you and ALL, with Kenyan’s and Ugandan’s alike, in prayer…
Trust Assures… Peace, Joy and Love Prevail…Cath xoxo

Ps…On Monday I will be delivering surprises to both the families of Gideon and Betty…a bicycle for each family, enrollment in a tailoring course for Betty, shoes for all the members of that family along with supplies to show the boys how to make a ball for play out of local available materials, some health care news for Rose that will help baby Stella, books and school fees for Gideon along with back packs for him, Naume and Martha…Happy New Year Indeed!!!

Pss...Much appreciation to you for the ‘Love Gifts’ you have sent that Pippin informed me about yesterday…
Truly, Deeply, Thank You With All Of My Heart :)

Thanks to You and 2007!

2007-12-28T01:45:00.001-08:00

Thanks for the Christmas greetings and wishes I have rec’d over these past days…I appreciate being remembered by so many back home and it’s been great to hear about the celebrations and gatherings many have been having there!

Indeed, the recent days have been a very different time for me and I have enjoyed (for the most part…!) witnessing and participating in what Christmas means to many here!

I guess the festivities began on the 22’nd for me. I was invited to a ‘Christmas Eve‘ celebration ‘for the orphans’ on the ACIO land where the temporary building has now been roofed (the mud walls are soon to follow). When I arrived at the property I could see several hundred people gathered, many of them children standing about and over 100 adults seated inside the temporary building. Filling the air was lots of that high pitched ‘lalalala’ sound traditional women make when they are happy, excited, welcoming someone etc…A woman took my arm, there was music, we danced our way along, many people were smiling, waving, ‘Welcome, You are welcome’ was being called out over and over.

I was led around a fenced area, through an archway covered in blue tulle and down a red ‘carpet’ that lay on top of the dirt, to the ‘door’ of the building. Inside, everyone clapped to welcome me as I was led to the front and taken to a chair beside Vincent, the ACIO Director. There was much merry making, smiling and waving until someone with a microphone started in with the program. It was within a few moments that I was announced as…oh…no…really?…the ‘Guest Of Honor’! (As I continue my time here I am aware of and choose to sidestep connections and gatherings that seek to reinforce the historical, ingrained understanding that ‘white one’s’ are to be ‘revered and fussed over’ because they can/will provide all the solutions (including $$$’s) to the issues facing people. In my experience, one is not made the ‘Guest Of Honor’ here without connotation or expectation attached…then I remembered... Everything being in Perfect and Divine Order...'go with the flow' Catherine :)

True to Ugandan fashion, the event was filled with speeches, including a required one from me (during which I offered my gratitude and Love and then spoke briefly to the empowerment of the community and its shared goals as it continues moving toward realization through inspiration and self determination)… there was entertainment, singing, dancing, a testimonial from a child about what it is like to be a ‘total orphan’, and ended with a meal of rice, posho, and small pieces of chicken, pork (I think) and a soda!

The ‘Merry Christmas’ cake I brought along for the children was cut up in little square-inch-pieces and shared by the adults...more 'flow'..! (in the photo some children are enjoying crumbs that had been left on the serving plates) and the 200 suckers and 250 balloons I had brought were given out to the very happy, almost ‘beyond excited’ orphan children! I had thought that I’d be able to share some pretty and colorful photos with you, envisioning balloons would be bouncing in the air etc… haha, another lesson for me!

After they were given out I almost never saw any of the balloons again. Except for a few, most were tucked carefully into pockets or held within little tight fists…those balloons were of course THE gift most of those children would receive now and for who knows how long into the future. The balloons were treasures to them…very valuable treasures that the children would want to play with, sleep with, blow up and let the air out of as many times as possible for as many days as possible. As for the suckers…well, once distributed, all I saw of them were sticks sticking out of mouths beneath happy, smiling eyes!

After all the adult stuff was over I was able to do what I Love to do the most…to play with the little ones….we marched and danced around, were silly together, took lots of photos, and every now and then I’d call out ‘MERRY’….and a gleeful reply would come booming back to me ‘CREEZZMAAASSSS’!!! That was the most wonderful and happy part of the whole day, perhaps of all of these days, for me! (…except for the moment when I heard the sound of my brother, his wife and their children calling to me through the phone on the evening of Christmas Day…!!! Ahhhh…Thank you SO much! )

The next evening I was in the garden at the nearby resort enjoying some rest and relaxation after the busy and tiring day before. 2 little boys were hovering so I invited them over and soon they were sitting with me sharing their stories. The oldest, Moses, 11 yrs old, spoke for them both, told of living with his grandmother, of being a total orphan, not knowing either of his parents or ‘even where they are buried’. He was unsure what Christmas day would hold for them, he wasn’t sure if they would ‘even eat’. Not knowing if he was really saying it as it is (some children have a ‘story’ down and have been taught by adults here to reveal it quickly to any muzungu they see…) it was about that moment that I decided to order some food for us all and we would pretend that it was our Christmas dinner! Over meat samosas and chips, salad and sodas, we shared gratitude and laughs and dreamed dreams of the future when his friend and he would grow up to be pilots and travel to far away places like ‘Canada, the US, the UK, China, Japan and Australia’! (I did learn later on that Moses, rescued first as a baby and then once again as a street child has been through lots in his life including rehab. Currently he is in very good care, and yes, he was up to one of his former tricks of survival when he sat and shared ‘Christmas dinner’ with me...'flow...flow'..!)

December 25th morning I was warmly welcomed for breakfast with the family who live in a second home here on the property where I stay. The meal was lovely…fresh fish battered and deep fried, boiled irish potatoes, some sautéed greens and chapati’s. After some time and a rest, we all got dressed up and went to the resort where I treated them all to brunch and a day of music, partaking in the festivities there. It was a busy and fun day, many people were about, adults sporting new clothes and shoes, the only ‘gift’ they would have bought for themselves. I showed the 4 teenagers in the family how to use my camera and then lent it to them for the day to have some fun with…by the time we were heading home they had filled my memory card with over 200 photos and about a dozen video’s! Everyone was happy and very grateful… they called it their ‘BIG Christmas Day 2007’!

I have observed…Here Christmas seems to be based without distraction or sidebar on the remembrance and celebration by Christians ( many ‘Born Again’) of the birth of ‘Jesus, The Christ’. When greeting one another I overheard many people say ‘Thank God we were protected through the night to receive this wonderful day’. I have seen no decorations or wrapped presents in homes, there has been almost no mention of Santa, (I did overhear one person say that Santa was being tracked on TV and was somewhere over Spain at that moment…but of course around 90% of the population here have no power, so no TV either) maybe some children receive a ‘sweet’, like a sucker or candy, maybe a soda. Boxing day is a rest day, there are no sales, most stores are not open. The days are for ‘going to pray’ for some, and for family sharing time, not necessarily doing anything special, just being together at home, sitting on the grass in the shade of a tree, eating, relaxing, visiting. I seem to have found it refreshing in it’s simple and uncluttered way.

During this week we are now in, most people are continuing to visit with family, to rest, eat and prepare together for the next big celebration of New Year’s Eve. Management at the nearby resort has told me that there will be many people present there on the 31st to watch 10 minutes of fire works, the resort being one of the 3 places in town that have been approved to set them off.

I think I may take to the mountains for a few days tomorrow…we’ll see! Wherever I am, I will be reflecting on this year of 2007 with deep Gratitude for the many Blessings showered upon me! As we begin a 'New Year' I will be holding you and all of the beloved orphan children in Africa in my heart, envisioning Endless Uplifting and Love Filled Possibilities for us ALL throughout 2008!

Heartfelt wishes for Blessed Peace, Joy and Love Love Love to be with you…!

Cheers!
Catherine xo

Up Close ~ From A Distance

2007-12-20T21:51:00.000-08:00

Yesterday 2 counselors from the NGO and I traveled once again to see the children, both the families of Gideon and Betty. I went bearing small gifts for them all, some used clothes that I had washed and ironed after purchasing them earlier at the open market in Mbale.

Betty was happily surprised to see the counselors and me again so soon after our last visit. She ran off quickly to find the boys, Morning and Peter. Rose and baby Stella sat with us and we started our visit by discussing the baby’s health care, in search of clarification. Since my last visit I had gone to the hospital and learned some information but had found a few of my details were askew. Please forgive… earlier misunderstanding led me to mix up a few names on my last posting… Rose is the mother of infant Stella, the child with ‘hyrdocephalus’. As I write this I am still not sure who ‘Josephine’ is or where I got her name from… perhaps she will surface soon, or, oh, did I just feel another blond hair turn grey :) With the confirmed info from yesterday, I have just been to the hospital again where I met with a very helpful and caring counselor. We are continuing to work together to bring the support to Rose and the care to Stella that they need.

Soon Betty returned with Morning and Peter, we all shared hello and gathered together for a visit. Before we had arrived I gave the bag of clothes to the counselor and asked her to please distribute them when she felt it was a good time. Soon, she started bringing out the gifts and handing each to the person they were meant for. Two flowered dresses for baby Stella, a couple blouses for her Mom, pants, shorts and a couple shirts for both the boys, a few blouses for Betty.

There was surprise and joy, there were smiles, except for Morning who maintained his serious and withdrawn demeanor during the entire visit. He did go and try on his new things within minutes of receiving them and came out of the hut to show us all... first the shorts and shirt and then the pants...wow, everything fit him very well!

When all was received, Betty knelt to me (a girls way to show respect) and spoke gently, seriously to me in her own language…’May you be Blessed’ the counselor translated, ‘May the work of your hands be Blessed.’

We embraced one another for a long few moments until we both giggled…I prayed her prayer…’Indeed, May This Girl In My Hands Be Blessed.’

On to Gideon’s… when we arrived we were told the children were at their property doing some work. What a wonderful very unexpected surprise to pull up there and see a small community effort in motion. Neighbors, big and small were helping Gideon and Helen to cut away and burn some of the brush outside and to start and clean up on the inside of their house. Naume and Martha were off somewhere with relatives. It was a happy visit.

We took more photos of the roof and discussed the extent of the work that needs to be done. Upon closer look we realized further information is needed as several of the beams that make up the roof trusses need replacing as well as all of the iron sheets. We’ll consult with a couple professionals to obtain guidance and receive a few quotes.

There were many neighborhood children nearby, so eventually we asked Gideon to come into the back of the truck where we could discreetly hand him a bag with a t-shirt for each of his siblings and a dress for each of Helen’s little girls. He was surprised, happy, grateful. After discussing a few other details about plans for the immediate future, we shared a hug. I reminded Gideon, we will continue to do our best together, step by step we will carry on, we will do what we can, when we can, keep heart. And there it was again, seemingly this 16 year old boy’s life credo…’I will never give up’ he said smiling.

As we headed away down the dirt road our driver turned the radio on. Immediately I could hear someone was singing a remake of Bette’s great song ‘From A Distance’ … and the message, and the timing, and the season, and the children, and the Love all came together in me and some tears rolled down under my sunglasses, my heart flowing over with Gratitude for the depth of connection and soulful gifts being shared on this inspiring, wondrous journey…

‘…From a distance, there is harmony,
and it echoes through the land.
It's the voice of hope, it's the voice of peace,
it's the voice of every man.

From a distance we all have enough,
and no one is in need.
And there are no guns, no bombs, and no disease,
no hungry mouths to feed…’

Many Blessings...and to ALL a Good Night!
Cath xoxo

Naume & Gideon~Betty & Morning

2007-12-16T21:44:00.001-08:00

Hey Caleb! Here’s Jimmy, a new friend! He and his buddy Nero live at the hostel where I stayed this week! He sat at my feet while I was using the computer…I think he must have known how some days (though I know you are Loved and safe where you are) I am missing your presence greatly! Thanks Jimmy…and thank you Caleb for visiting me in my dreams! Hope you’re having fun in the snow! I Love you! xo

Being here is to be living almost completely in the moment as plans change or become delayed/move forward suddenly. I started the week knowing I needed to accomplish one specific task, yet to understand how it would come together. Faced with my visitor’s visa for Uganda due to expire on Saturday, weeks ago I had come to the idea that I would leave the country this week and travel to Rwanda (a neighboring country to the south) for a visit with a Canadian woman who has been working there. She has been living in a village of women and children, helping to uplift them and their circumstances for the last couple years following the genocide there13 years ago. After time in Rwanda I had thought I would re-enter Uganda, obtain a new visa and carry on with the projects I have underway here.

Monday I was at the NGO center in Mbale finishing up the booklet for the ‘Skills’ grad due to take place Thursday. After some discussion I decided quite spontaneously to take a ride to the capital city Kampala with a truck that was leaving shortly from the NGO. Last week it was reported that an outbreak of ‘Ebola’ had been confirmed in the southwest of Uganda along with speculation that it was spreading to other areas of the country. As travel to Rwanda would be on public transport taking me through the southwest of Uganda it felt best to put off that journey, go instead to the capital by private means to extend my visa and stay in Uganda until understanding more about the medical alert. So, by Monday afternoon, after saying a very quick, warm goodbye and best wishes to the ‘Skills’ group (as it was likely that I wouldn’t make it back in time to attend their grad ceremony), I found myself and my backpack in the vehicle heading to Kampala.

I enjoyed a few days stay at a little cozy hideaway hostel in east Kampala where I met and shared laughs and stories with fellow travelers from the UK, Germany and Australia. I’m grateful to have received quite quickly a 3 month ‘special pass’ that grants me multiple entry into Uganda should it make sense to travel to Rwanda or elsewhere at some point during these next weeks/months.

Although I returned to Mbale having missed the ‘Skills’ grad (I am told it was a great celebration and the participants were very happy to receive their sewing machines and booklets!) I was in perfect time to go on outreach to the district of Bukedea on Friday where I could accompany a local volunteer to 2 of the child headed households I have been wanting to reconnect with since our last visits.

First we traveled to see Naume and her brother Gideon. Wanting to understand more details about the children’s lives I asked them many questions and can now start to piece together how things are for them and where/how they are needing and asking for help. In this family we have 4 children whose parents died about 10 years ago, living together in one round grass roof hut (one sister has 2 infants of her own, so there are a total of 6 in the hut). 3 of the children are in their teens, Gideon (16yrs) is heading into S4 (about Gr11), Martha (14) and Naume (12) both going into P6 (Gr6) in January when the new school year begins. The children’s Grandfather who outlived his son cared for the children until his passing in 2004. Before his death he wrote his wishes which included providing for his orphaned grandchildren’s future. He gave to them land with a home on it, all of which is secured with the local authorities in the children’s names. They have not occupied the inherited home as yet, because when Grandfather died they were still quite young and so remained in the care of their grandmother, and, the home is in need of repair to make it habitable for them.

Together Gideon, Naume and Helen (the 24 yr old sister who has 2 children) and I went to have a look at their property located near to where they are now staying with their aging grandmother and a few cousins. The home on the property is a 3-room brick and mortar structure with iron sheet roofing. As can be seen in the photos it does need some TLC but once fixed up will offer the 6 of them a good amount of security and space. It is situated on several acres of land on which they can plant crops. The older sister Helen is willing and able to attend to the crops and household chores during the days while the younger ones are at school and all of them are ready to pitch in after school and on weekends. With some work they could certainly be growing enough food for themselves and to sell at market for income, self-support and independence being the primary goal for them all, now and into the future.

Gideon is a very bright guy and works hard at school. He has the dream to attend university and become a veterinarian just like his father before him. Gideon says he and his sister’s are now ‘ready to leave (where they are currently staying) at any moment’ and require help to make the home on their property ready for occupation. My goal here at present then is to organize all aspects of facilitating the repair of their home. Gideon is going to work on figuring out what materials we need and then we’ll be able to estimate the costs involved to get this project in motion. I have received a promise from ‘ACYC’ (the group I gave a donation to in my Dad’s name…on the ‘Project’s’ page above) to help with the labor to make the repairs. It’s also my idea to have some of the land around the home plowed by a local group who rent out 2 oxen for such a purpose so that crops can be planted as soon as possible and we can begin the cycle of planting, growing, harvesting, eating and selling/storing of food.

Further, to begin his next school year, Gideon requires help to cover the registration fee and the costs of books for S(enior) 4… about $100CDN. The younger children are in ‘UPE’ (Universal Primary Education), free primary education provided to all children from P(rimary)1 to P7 by the government. So both Naume and Martha have no fee requirements, just uniforms and school supplies costs, which we have already given to Naume. Because we are talking ‘rural’ and they are a fair distance from school and town, it would also be a good idea to help them acquire a couple bikes or perhaps even just one to get them going until their own income flow can start and it becomes possible for them to buy another one for themselves.

Next, we moved on to Morning’s where we found Betty home. Morning was on a couple hour walk to bring water home. Last visit, Betty’s Auntie had dropped off her 3 children, without food or money, for Betty to take care of. Since then, Auntie has returned and taken her children back home. Here also, I asked many questions learning more about their current circumstances as well as some of the ideas and dreams they have and need help with at this moment. The primary caregiver Betty, will soon be 18…because of her responsibilities she completed school up to P5. Then there is Moses, who is 13 and currently stays with an Uncle but would like very much to rejoin his sister and brothers at the family home. Next is our Morning William who is 10 and heading in to P5. Then we have little brother Peter James, 8, who is entering P3. As well, there is cousin Stella, 29, with baby Josephine,18 mths who has hydrocephalus (swelling of the head). Josephine has been to a hospital in Mbale for care and medication since birth, but I learn on this visit Stella has not been able to afford the transport or medication costs lately so baby has not rec’d medical attention since Sept.

It’s my understanding, after the deaths of their parents and perhaps because they did not leave a ‘will’ the clan leaders of the area voted and secured the land that the children live on in the children’s names. Betty, Morning, Peter, Stella and Josephine all share one round grass roof hut (remember photos of the art work on the wall and the chicken roosting in an earlier posting), the roof of which needs repair due to being burnt from cooking indoors during extreme weather. Their paternal Grandmother is also staying at the compound and occupies a second hut exclusively. Surprising for me to see/learn, recently Betty and Stella have done digging for neighbors and earned the income to pay for help to build a third hut at the compound, an economical solution to the additional room they require for cooking and sleeping, especially when Moses returns to be with them. They’ve done a great job not only building this hut but coming up with the idea of it as a partial solution to their needs for more space. Ultimately the structure they require for cooking is a brick and mortar building with iron sheet roofing….the inside of a grass roof does not make for the safest cooking space and the weather, especially in rainy season, does not allow for very effective out door cooking. It is my plan to have the ACYC crew help this family as well and together we will build the structure they need early in the new year once I figure out and purchase all the materials needed. I have met a man who builds such structures and he will be supplying me with ‘plans’ from which I can estimate our needs and costs etc…

It is also within my plan to have some of their land plowed for crop planting, similar to what I described for Gideon above. I encouraged Betty to focus a little on herself asking her what she has in her heart about her future that she might like to tell me about. She said she would like to be able to attend training in tailoring, maybe 3 times a week in the local community nearby, so that in time she could begin to create greater income for herself and her siblings. We agreed she will look into the costs associated for this training and I’ll be following this up with her as soon as possible. At least one bike for this family is probably a great idea as well…they live pretty far down a dirt road off the main hwy, a number of miles from town. I bet a bike would sure be fun for Morning… clothes are first in order though and I’ll be buying some used ones at the market that I’ll take for them all next visit! (People use bikes as taxi’s here -boda boda’s- and also to transport just about everything... just today I saw a man with a single bed wooden frame standing upright strapped to the back of his bike…I couldn’t get my camera out in time, but one time I’m thinking I’ll do a whole series of photos showing what people carry on their bikes….it is amazing, truly! There is this great way people strap 2, 4, 6 or even 8 jerry cans on the back of a bike and ride home with them filled with water when they have to go long distance for it…)

While both Gideon and Betty each see to the details we need info about, on Monday I will head to the hospital where Stella has taken her daughter for care in the past. I intend to speak with the Doctors about baby Josephine and see how I can help arrange and contribute to consistent care and healing for this little one.

You can see I have lots of work to do and that’s not even to mention…ACIO now have their 70 irons sheets for the roof of the temporary structure, yeah! and, we’ve had some very inspiring empowerment meetings about the 3 additional communities...!

Hi Ho then...!

In Love,
Catherine

FYI…Re:’Ebola’…At time of writing, ‘Ebola’ has been identified in the southwest of Uganda. The area in the east where I stay is currently confirmed as ‘Ebola free’. Please share with me in sending Love and uplifting thoughts to those who are affected by this in Uganda, and everywhere. Thanks.

( some fragments from an article on the subject)
Overview of Ebola hemorrhagic fever
Ebola hemorrhagic fever is a severe, often fatal disease in humans and nonhuman primates (monkeys, gorillas, and chimpanzees) that has appeared sporadically since its initial recognition in 1976.
People can be exposed to Ebola virus from direct contact with the blood and/or excretions and secretions of an infected person, ( including saliva, sweat, and all body fluids.)
The incubation period for Ebola hemorrhagic fever ranges from 2 to 21 days. The onset of illness is abrupt and is characterized by fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, sore throat, and weakness, followed by diarrhea, vomiting, and stomach pain. A rash, red eyes, hiccups and internal and external bleeding may be seen in some patients.
There is no specific treatment for Ebola hemorrhagic fever. Patients receive supportive therapy, consisting of balancing the patient's fluids and electrolytes, maintaining their oxygen status and blood pressure, and treating them for any complicating infections. There is no vaccine for Ebola hemorrhagic fever.
The likelihood of contracting Ebola hemorrhagic fever is considered extremely low unless there has been direct contact with the body fluids of symptomatic infected persons or animals or objects that have been contaminated with body fluids

Skills Development Grad!

2007-12-09T02:32:00.000-08:00

I am Loving early morning here! Often I wake between 5 and 6am (11 hours ahead of PST, that’s 6 to 7pm the previous day for people back home), the roosters are starting to crow and a great variety of birds are gently singing, filling the cool fresh air with their beautiful music. I think it’s correct to say that there are over 1000 species of birds in Uganda. Not being a ‘birder’ I can’t really say which kinds I've seen but, let's see, there have been many, they are all of the winged variety :) and many have colors as vibrant as the tropical flowers that grow everywhere! Sunrise is magical to me…those moments when the light of the new day weaves itself around the patches of clouds and contrasts so brilliantly with the fading darkness of the night before... particularly stunning! I have spent time in the north of Canada and loved the type of light there for it’s color and depth that you can almost reach out and hold…here there is a quality of crispness and clarity, a drama to the light that still catches my attention regularly even though, soon, wow, I have been here for 3 months!

I heard my first ‘song of the season’ the other day! A country/western singer from the US was giving it her best singing how it wouldn’t be the same without you here for the holidays, or something like that! I laughed to realize what I was hearing and how it literally seemed to be coming to me from a world somewhere far away. Usually by now, back home in public areas I might have been listening to ‘Jingle Bells…’ for a couple months already! Here, I observe decorations and the ‘usual stuff’ are almost non-existent so far into this month of December. I’ve seen one tree with lights and tinsel and it happens to be at a place where many muzungus visit. I think it’s accurate to say that consumerism for many is strictly on a ‘needs only’ basis and revolves first and foremost around food, maybe sometimes (for many, used) clothing.

I’ve read that about 2/3 of the over 27 million people living here in Uganda follow ‘Christianity’. In my travels I have met several who refer to themselves as being ‘Born Again’. There are also a number who follow ‘Islam’ and for many in rural areas, ’Animism’ remains an integral part of daily life. Tribal culture is varied and complex, there are at least a couple dozen different groups with different languages and customs found within the borders of this country.

So, this past week I met with the young locals as described in my last posting and began discussions about empowering communities… fun and exciting! Along with additional guidance and suggestions from my continuing research, we're getting together again today to further our idea exchange. Each of these locals desires to learn how to stimulate and develop grass root involvement regarding solutions in their own community for the orphan children within it. Further to ACIO and their work in Sironko, I am now involved with others in considering ways to uplift the orphan children in 3 other districts in the country!

The current session of Skills Development at the NGO is completing this coming week and I’ve been preparing a booklet to hand out to the graduating class! In it is info about poultry raising, goat keeping, knitting, crochet, quilting, jam making...plus a photo taken the day we made pineapple jam...mmmm, embroidery and making paper beads, all skills they have covered in their classes in addition to sewing and tailoring which have been the main focus of their training over the past 6 months. To aid them in their ability to earn future income, all participants will receive a sewing machine this week, sponsored by donors to the NGO. Indeed, the machines are the highlight of the whole course and to receive them will be a most empowering moment for all the clients! You may have read on the ‘projects’ page…all of these people are HIV+, were once very ill, have regained much of their health and are doing well on ART and food aid. Coming soon to the completion of the 1 year of the food aid they qualified for, the purpose of Skills Development has been to empower the clients to self sufficiency following the aid.

Over the time we’ve spent together, I have formed some deep bonds with many of these people, finding their joyful and Loving Spirits very inspiring. We’ve been creative together, we’ve learned about raising chickens and goats, we laughed tons and I’ve been privileged to help with the distribution of their monthly food aid.

Their individual and collective Love is a lasting treasure…
As ‘start up capitol’ is something many quest for here, one day in the class we talked about the idea of using scraps of fabric to create ‘shopping bags’ to sell. I showed the group a photo of one I had seen. Following our discussion, I went to a fabric store and paid 3,000Ush (about $2) for a decent pile of fabric remnants. I brought them into the next class and together we figured out how we could use the bits to make at least a few bags and earn a few thousand shillings profit on the sale of each…another income idea for them to consider in the future. The next morning, sitting at a desk in an office at the center, I looked up to see one of the class participants bowing her way forward into the room, her young son held by one hand, a little bag with 3 fresh eggs, in the other. She placed the eggs gently into my hand and said ‘Thank you for Love’.

‘Thank you for Loving us’ is something I have heard many times from this special group…It’s one of my deepest wishes that they can truly know what a huge honor, and how very easy it has been, for me to Love them. That, and how very much I thank them for the rich experience of receiving their Friendship and Love!

There are a few in the Skills Development class who, in addition to their upcoming tailoring business’ wish to start other income earning activities for which they require funding or micro financing. If you hear the call… please email me now.

Peace, Joy, Love…
Catherine xo

Empowering Communities 101

2007-12-02T22:06:00.001-08:00

Around every corner, a surprise, a lesson…this morning I was walking from where I am staying to the nearby resort. I was heading there to catch up on writing and to have some breakfast since the power is off at home. As I walked along enjoying the early morning temperature and light, I thought I could hear the sound of crying in the distance. With each step the cries grew louder, eventually turning into wailing, getting closer and closer. I rounded the corner and coming towards me was a little boy, maybe 5 years old, dressed for school in his uniform. He was weeping loudly as he walked alone in the direction of the school. As we approached one another I slowed and asked him if he needed help. Tears were literally creating two streams down the little one’s face, coming together and dripping off at his chin. He looked at me briefly and without faltering one step in his stride, walked past and continued on, all the while crying out. There was a man a ways behind him who smiled at me as he came closer. When he arrived at the spot where I seemed to be fixed, the man offered to me ‘Madame do not worry, the boy is ok.’ I asked if he was the child’s father. ‘No, but I can see that the boy must have been caned by his parents for not attending school and is now on his way there early in the day to make good.’ I looked back to see the child going around the corner, the sounds of his remorse growing faint once again as he continued on his way.

An interesting metaphor…although I daily become more accustomed to my surroundings, life here continues to express itself boldly to me as ‘what is’ without camouflage or filter…and…whatever their situation or circumstance, most people here, from birth to death, seem to display astounding strength and courage as they carry on.

All week, I have been giving myself an accelerated course in ‘empowerment for communities’! I have been immersed in research concerning the topic, guided to some very comprehensive and enlightened material. Later today and tomorrow I will be meeting with some of the young locals I wrote about in a recent posting to go over what I have learned. With information I’ve gathered from my findings we will be starting a discussion on what steps they can take to begin organizing within their communities for the creation, development and implementation of solutions that address specifically the orphan children, single mother and grandmother concerns within them!

It’s been very interesting! Diving in to the topic of empowering communities has brought me face to face with lots of information about historical behaviors, approaches and attitudes concerning ‘donor charity and aid’ that have been applied in developing countries, seeking to address poverty and the causes of it. Much of what I have learned has helped me to begin to understand how and why, although in some instances it has alleviated poverty for a few in the short term, ‘outside aid’ continues striving toward succeeding in helping to eradicate poverty for many.

Desiring to ‘keep it simple’ for myself, I realize this…if I am looking at an effect and that effect is called ‘poverty’ then I want to consider the cause(s). The research, along with my own observations, starts to inform me. I learn, historically ‘poverty’ has been caused by the presence, to some degree, of the polar opposite of a very few conditions, namely honesty, health, education, enthusiasm and independence.

I remember learning and witnessing many times in my Medicine training these past several years… for healing to be present, the cause of an effect requires awareness (Light) and uplifting (Love), whatever form it may be taking.

So, back to empowering communities and aha, I realize, first things first! ‘Honesty’ has revealed itself to be the foundation necessary to support the emergence and growth of an empowered community. Simple sense. This then, is what the young locals and I will start with, exploring what ‘honesty’ means in this context, how it is achieved and maintained, how the meaning of words including ‘trust’, ‘integrity’, ‘transparency’, ‘accountability’, etc., play a role. Seems like a solid beginning as we move on to examine ways that will encourage and support community based initiatives that consider the orphan children, single mothers, grandmothers and ultimately, every one within their communities. Very inspiring stuff…so creative!

Blessings and gratitude to the many who have studied, written and shared extensively about the topic of empowering communities, offering a ‘neophyte sociologist' such as me ready access to their years of work and the resulting wisdom!

Love to All,
Nambozo!

Yes, I have received another name!
‘Nambozo’, a name of respect I am told, given to the Matriarch of the Tribe or Clan! I am honored and very grateful to the beautiful Lugishu people of ACIO for their Love.

…So, is it just me then or do you think I’m being urged to embrace ‘maturity’ this year? First, I arrive at the half century mark. Great! Next, I’m named ‘Kuku’ (Grandmother). Ahhh! Then ‘Namulumbi’ (2’nd harvest). Wow! And now ‘Nambozo’. Whoa!
All these indicators…and yet still, so often, I just feel like clowning around! xoxo

Continued Blessings...

2007-11-25T00:50:00.000-08:00

Another great week … the website 'Projects' page was updated, I rec’d messages of Love and encouragement from family/friends back home (thank you!), I finalized the purchase of 100 excellent quality mosquito nets at a great price and gave the first one away to a special little 3 year old HIV+ Angel (thank you to those who helped facilitate the purchase, we’ll soon be in touch with you directly to share more details…), I worked with the Skills Development group and learned all about raising poultry as an income generating activity, spent a whole day in a field with the ACIO group, and today, visited infants in the malnutrition ward at the hospital.

On Thursday, I was asked by Vincent of ACIO ( see ‘ACIO Child Care Center, Sironko’ on the ‘Projects’ page) to make a visit to the land where members were getting together to work on digging some drainage ditches. What a great day! Perhaps 50 people were there, mostly women and thankfully some very strong guys too. The ditches that needed to be dug by hand had to be about 3 feet deep by a couple feet wide, spanning the perimeter of an acre of pretty wet (...heavy soil) land. What a fantastic, very special community effort!

Lots of people had brought along a digging tool, the ladies (many in ‘gomesi’, traditional dresses women wear, shown in the photos having pointy shoulders) started on removing stumps and breaking apart huge termite hills within the interior, while the men started on the perimeter of the property. A group of about 6 women got together under a tree, started a small fire and began to prepare posho (maize flour cooked in salted boiling water, creating a very thick porridge) and thinly sliced cabbage sautéed with tomatoes. I spent some time with the ladies talking about the food they were preparing, children, the local language of Lugishu and eventually, brought out the laminated world map I carry with me everywhere. We discussed the location of Uganda, Africa, Canada, the US and UK, the equator and climate/crop differences between our 2 countries. I explained how I had flown in 2 different airplanes taking 2 nights to get here, I rolled the map into a globe shape and showed them how when it is day time here in Uganda it is night where my family are…they were amazed to learn this and said some of them had wondered if it was the earth that was turning every day or it if was the sun that was moving around the earth.

After some time the other women who had been digging sat down to take a break in the shade of a large tree. They called me over and placed some cardboard on the ground in the middle of them all for me to sit on. We communed. One woman started playing with my hair (this has happened a number of times now) and although my hair feels about as dry as it could be to me (the sun being so hot and getting hotter these days), to her and to several others who touched it, my hair felt very soft. They laughed at how quickly a braid without a tie at the end came out when in such contrast they can twist a portion of their hair between 2 fingers and it’ll stay like that all day and longer. It was a great visit, we laughed, had many an understanding moment, felt very close with one another. Soon it was time to eat and the ladies who had cooked brought over several bowls of food for the large group of us under the tree. Everyone washed hands with water from a jerry can. We shared Gratitude for the food. A photo ‘had’ to be taken so Vincent did the honors. As he figured out how to work my camera, the lady behind me started to fix my hair and I noticed how many of the women were reaching out to touch me for the shot…I wished I had more appendages, I wished I could physically touch them all too because these women were so lovely to be with… enthusiastic, warm, open, welcoming, very present and awake, happy and genuine, strong and caring, many of them young widowed mothers, some HIV+, some grandmothers, all caregivers of orphan children, all stakeholders in the child care center that will one day be built on the land where we were sitting. Vincent took a picture I am treasuring because of the connection we were feeling at that moment and the joy that is showing on so many faces (…it is interesting, most people really want their picture taken, they are quick to ask for one, and when the camera is ready to shoot they put on the most serious facial expression…a local has told me he thinks it is because people are cautious of appearing or being judged ‘undignified’). We went on to enjoy eating by hand, sharing from the communal bowls. (So...how long will it take you to spot the muzungu in this picture? I know, I know...where I was placed didn't much hinder your search...!)

There were many moments at the ‘field of dreams’ that I will not forget… a couple really stand out. A group of children had gathered while I was visiting with the women who were preparing food. After we had looked at the map together I called the children over, we had a photo and then we all sat on the ground and had a visit. A woman interpreted for us. Some of these children, I was told, were seeing a white person for the first time. One little boy, maybe 2 years old, never did get past his fear…but he did bring laughter to us all a few times when he would come a little close and then, when I looked at him, would take off running fast as he could, his little naked bottom jiggling as he made great haste half way across the acre! I was telling the little ones about children back home, about how many of them are light skinned like me and have light eyes…they stared at my eyes, touched my hands and arms…I was saying that we may look different yet we are all the same, we are all one in our hearts. ‘Children in Canada and all around the world like to play and run and laugh and learn new things just like you!’ I was noticing how the woman interpreting sounded so enthusiastic to mention what I was saying to the children and I could see smiles of agreement and a knowingness on the other women’s faces…it was a warm moment that expanded in me…seeing these people was seeing oneness…being with them was being in oneness… simply living/living simply…seeing inside the moment, a beaming reflection of authentic community, wealth and power…here was Love and everything was crystal clear. I looked up to see all these faces smiling at me...wow...exquisite …thank you.

After we had all eaten and the fire was put out, pots and dishes loaded atop a few women’s heads for transport and young ones wrapped onto backs, the group gathered once more to have a few words and make their next plans. After some conversation and a prayer in Lugishu they stood quietly for a few moments. No one moved. I don’t even think birds flew, or bees buzzed. Everything just stopped. It seemed all was joined in a most powerful moment of intention, a collective silence, the loudest one I may have ever heard. And then, everything being complete, goodbyes were shared, ‘safe journey’ was called out over and over and everyone set off in their various directions, some with hours of walking laying ahead before reaching their villages by night fall.

PS…In these 2 photos you can see framing for the temporary building ACIO members are currently putting up to house some of the orphan children while we work on bringing more permanent structures into reality! This structure is using hand hewn muvule tree trunks (in 2ft deep holes in the ground with soil pounded around the pole to hold it in place), smaller tree trunks for trusses and will have mud walls and iron sheet roofing. Nails cost about $4 per kilo, 30 gauge 3x10ft iron sheets are about $9 each. So far ‘Love is the Answer’ has contributed 100,000Ush to purchase 7 of the 70 iron sheets needed for the roof and 50,000Ush towards feeding people on the community building days :)

This is Sebi, he is 3 months old. I sat with him and his Mom today in the ward at the hospital in Mbale where he is recovering from a very near death experience brought on by malnutrition. His Mom, HIV+, is a client at the NGO. She was in the center a few weeks ago visiting with her counselor who, after making inquiry with the client about her child, decided she should do a home visit to check on the baby. When she arrived at the home she found Sebi desperately ill, his body completely swollen. She immediately had him brought in to the hospital. It was found that he was starving to death; he has TB, and is HIV+. Treatment was started and little Sebi has made quite a miraculous recovery in a very short period of time. Today while visiting, the counselor said as recent as last week he could not raise his arms, so she was sure delighted to see that he was reaching for me and my hand as I tried to take a picture of him for her files. It’s pretty clear that this sweet young counselor, maybe 20ish herself, helped to save this little one’s life. She said she cried for 2 days after discovering baby in such a state a couple weeks ago. Today, in balance, was a very good day for her and little Sebi too.

This is Sebi’s older brother who is also staying at the hospital with his Mom and brother. There is no one to take care of him if he were to stay home. While Sebi recovers, his brother receives attention as well and Mom can learn about proper nutrition and care for her children. Here, big brother is proudly showing us what a hospital room looks like. It is quiet on the ward today, there are ‘only 8 children today… last week there were 17, many of whom have recovered and gone home’.

Here is another child I met today, taking longer to recover than Sebi. This little girl is 3 years old, very weak and outside of herself. Returning from bathing the child, who was dripping wet and whimpering when we met, Mom wanted to pose with her for a photo. After taking the picture I stood with them, compelled to speak softly to the little one and to rub her back between her shoulder blades as gently as I could manage. Literally within seconds she calmed, tucked in and fell to sleep in her Mother’s arms. Amen.

As the counselor and I were leaving the malnutrition ward these two caught my eye…the man, the Dad of this little patient was head to head with his son, gently speaking to the little one; the boy, perhaps afraid or maybe just feeling lousy was hiding in the safety of his Dad's arms. I found myself wanting to take a picture of them both in that moment, not understanding why they had captured my attention. Then I realized…this is the first time since I have been in Uganda that I have seen a man loving his sick child. How beautiful is that!

With Much Gratitude and Love,
Catherine

'Projects' Update

2007-11-19T23:01:00.001-08:00

This past while one of the things I’ve been working on is an update for the ‘Projects’ page here on the website and today I’m happy to say Erynn has posted it for us. Thanks Erynn! If you click on ‘Projects’ above you can read about some of our actions taken and accomplishments achieved since my arrival in Uganda, as well as learn about inspirations we are now focusing on.

It seems like a good time to bring new and current information about ideas and projects going on here to people’s attention back home. I know in the west the 'Holiday Season' is fast approaching. Of course meaning different things to different people, for many it can be a time when the Light of Love and the Spirit of Giving and Gratitude can be present. Knowing there are some who want to expand their giving this year by remembering people I have shared about with you here, I invite you to check out the ‘Projects’ page to receive some ideas that may help you decide on how to proceed. Please know that I will happily help you fulfill any inspirations you have to give a hand up to someone here...now and during any season of the year!

I have written before about a deep need and desire for transformation concerning traditional charity and aid here in Uganda and I'm guessing, other countries in Africa. I have briefly mentioned how it appears that a metamorphosis is occurring in what I have called ‘supply and demand' aid in an earlier blog posting titled ‘A Conversation’.

I’m inspired these days to notice a little trend developing (around me at any rate!) that involves young locals, usually in their 20’s. You know when you find yourself in different contexts having the same conversation with others over and over…well, we are connecting about ideas and concepts concerning what I seem to be calling ‘community based holistic child care centers' (...bucking the trend here, I'm resisting the urge to establish an acronym just yet...!) Many of these young adults clearly see the need within their villages for local, community based grass roots organizations to form and develop with the intention to help the large number of orphan children and to address the huge concerns and pressures grandmothers and single mothers are presently striving to balance while caring for the children. Many I am meeting are discovering they could play a vital role in bringing solutions into creation!

HIV/AIDS has now been present here in Uganda for over 20 years and has resulted in tremendous growth in the number of orphans during that time. The young adults I am connecting with these days have grown up in similar environments we find very common right now and they are quick to say ‘against the odds they somehow made it’ to where they are today! (…to which lately, I hear myself replying something like…’In the Spirit of Perfect and Divine Order, you, having lived first hand in circumstances similar to many orphan children of today, know exactly what it was like for you, are probably very aware of the growing numbers and current situations for many, likely know what is needed now and ultimately, perhaps with direction, organization and help, may be perfectly poised to help raise the situation up…’)…and then I see them smile!

Those who are crossing my path lately are educated, employed (even if not in their specific field) and supporting themselves. In our conversations they are showing bright inspiration and eagerness to join/lead in taking action based in Love and integrity to uplift circumstances for others, to discover ideas and methods from within that can address the orphan children / single mother / grandmother issues and guide them and their communities forward onto self-sustainability, self determination etc…it's like they’ve been waiting for the moment… similar perhaps to how I feel about being here right now…it’s exciting and extremely creative! I sense there are wonderfully uplifting times coming into sight on the horizon!

Remember to check out the updated ‘Projects’ page...and...
do you occasionally turn up your volume and listen to ‘IZ’ singing when you visit the site…? '...What A Wonderful World'!
Loving you,
Cath

Meet Namulumbi and Namumbia!

2007-11-09T03:22:00.000-08:00

As ‘Namulumbi’,’she who is second harvest and ensures that all the people, especially children, do not starve’ I am pleased to introduce you to my tribe member ‘Namumbia’.

When ‘Namumbia’ is not busy ‘coordinating families and making sure all children are being cared for’ she can usually be found dressed as a muzungu, answering to ‘Irish’ and ( most recently ) in Mbale volunteering alongside me at the NGO until her departure, today!

My friend and I have seen and appreciated so many beautiful new sights together...we've put in many miles bouncing alongside one another and received several spinal adjustments in land cruisers and on the backs of bodas…shared huge laughs resulting in tears rolling down our faces and the complete loss of our collective composure…looked on sensitively and completely understood the other during those moments when seeing little children, youths and adults suffering, or witnessing impoverished living conditions and circumstances became momentarily overwhelming…felt like impostors sitting at head tables and through many a juncture at events and gatherings…deferred the required speech at the end of an event to the other (oh, maybe that was just me who did that!) …crawled around side by side on the ground playing cars and puzzles with the little HIV clients in the child care center while their caregivers and parents looked on in astonishment at the 2 muzungu's…learned to communicate with each other in the local vernacular with phrases including ‘ehhhhh’, ‘shure’, ‘Howareyou’ and ‘Iamfine’…and, danced our way 'African style' as Namulumbi and Namumbia into the NGO's Monday morning staff meeting causing uproarious laughter and even a few tears…!

Thank you Eyelash…You have been just about the best volunteer sister I could have imagined having the pleasure to work, eat, live, sightsee, laugh, cry and extend Love and Compassion to others alongside…

Until the next plate of matooke then…

I’m a Mac…and you my girl, are a great PC!

Many Blessings to you,
Cuckoo...I mean KuKu!

('Kuku' is 'Grandmother' in Lugishu...a name the children at the Sironko Orphanage have taken to calling me..! Hmmmm! :)

Return To Morning

2007-11-07T23:58:00.000-08:00

A couple days ago I accompanied a counselor from the NGO on outreach to follow up our previous visit to child headed households. (You can read about my first visit in a earlier posting called ‘Child Headed Households’).

First we visited Naume’s home…you may recall, she is the girl in Primary 5 (maybe 11 years old?) who we had left money with to have her school uniform sewed by a tailor in her village. When we arrived, there was no one at the property. The children in primary are in final exams right now as the school year is ending in December so their schedules are different than usual. We learned from neighbors that the children were likely at the market close by. News spreads quickly and soon Naume, with a huge grin on her face came running up and, after kneeling her hello to me, threw her arms around me in a big embrace! A happy and heart filled moment indeed! See here how ‘smart’ (a very Ugandan way of describing someone who looks great in their clothes ) Naume looks holding up her new uniform. This visit, we left a pen and scribblers for her and gave her a little more money to have a new blouse sewed to complete her uniform. There is a long list of needs that this child family has…it feels like I have only just begun my association with them.

From Naume’s we traveled to see Morning and his family once again. At the compound I was greeted by 3 children sleeping on the ground (in the photo can you see how the middle child has encephalitis or ?), an older woman sitting nearby, and soon Grandmother (who we had met last visit) came around from somewhere. Morning was not there, or at least did not show himself. Older sister Betty, the 16 year old primary caregiver at this property, was not present either. We learned from Grandmother that she had gone in to the market to sell some of the maize they eat to survive, in order to buy salt and soap.

I learned a little more about the children’s story. After their parents both died (I'm not sure when that was) relatives split up the children taking them here and there. The oldest sister, Betty, heard that the little ones (I think there are 3, including Morning) were sad, crying, being mis-treated and not cared for. She took it upon herself to gather together her younger siblings and bring them back to the land and hut their parents had left behind. Once they had all returned their paternal Grandmother came to stay with them, perhaps not so much to help out but rather to have a place to stay. This increased Betty’s work load and concerns to provide for them all. Lately, Betty’s auntie has dropped off her 3 children without food or money, we are not sure for how long…

Perfect timing prevailed and we met up with Betty just as we were leaving. When she saw we were there, like Naume she came running up grinning a big smile and embraced me, her Spirit exuding beautiful Joy and Light. This is one incredibly strong girl who is so obviously filled with Grace and Love as she appears to completely accept her circumstances and spends her time searching for ways to care for everyone around her.

This is by far the situation that I have come to understand requires the most immediate focus of our Love. I understand now, that is what Morning was telling me the first time I met them. Including Naume and her siblings, these 2 child families are at the top of my UPLIFT NOW list. As I learn more I will continue to share…

With Love,
Cath

Some photo info, all taken at Betty and Morning's...

~Look at the wonderful artwork on the inside wall of their hut.

~Those are dried cow peas in the bowl and a chicken roosting on the floor below.

~Can you see their toothbrushes in the rafters by the door?

~And here, of course, is our Beloved Betty.

Source Of The Nile!

2007-11-02T01:15:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from a couple days in Jinja, a town some 150K SW of Mbale. Sitting on the beautiful shores of Lake Victoria and considered by some to be at ‘The Source Of The River Nile’ (… both Burundi and Rwanda also claim ‘the source’ …) Jinja attracts a great number of muzungu tourists, volunteers and business people. Reading my travel book I learned that Jinja has large Indian and Asian communities ( many Asians who left during the Amin years have now returned ) and because of it’s tremendous wealth and power throughout many years, it was spared destruction during the civil war. There is a street overlooking the beginning of the River Nile as it branches off from Lake Victoria that is lined with huge mansions and is opposite a golf course…yes, a 9 hole! I noticed a few locals there, not playing, but rather resting on the grass in the shade of the huge trees that line the fairways…! Fore! Quite a change from where I have been so far…

I stayed in a hotel on the shores of Lake Victoria, the scenery from my balcony very beautiful, the 360 degree sunset on the evening of my arrival absolutely stunning! While in the dining room and the lobby I had this recurring feeling of being a British Aristocrat in, say, the early to mid 1900’s…THAT was quite interesting!

I arrived at the hotel in the afternoon and was very quickly whisked off for a boat ride to visit the spot where the River Nile begins. After checking out the captain and sensing I'd be ok I boarded a boat that had ‘Ugandan Prisons’? painted on the side...

I felt a bit like a runaway explorer especially as we glided up on to the rocky shore of a small island and I climbed the concrete monument there that marks the spot…’Land ho…and all that! How brilliant! I do believe this is exactly where the River Nile begins…!’

Some Jinja observations…
I saw many whites in Jinja, but I found that most of them didn’t want to have any eye contact or conversation. I was wondering about it and brought it up with a Mennonite man from the US who shared my table in a restaurant. Although I had noticed ‘trekkers and business men’ types, I was sensing that most visitors were in Jinja for humanitarian reasons. I asked the gentleman if this was the case and if so then ‘Where, could he tell me, was the Love…?’ He said yes, most visitors are there for humanitarian reasons and he explained that during his several years experience in the area he has found that 'sticking to oneself' has something to do with the fact that most whites in Jinja are with ‘faith based’ orgs from the west. They can be reluctant to mix with each other because they may not be from the same faith and can be seen as challengers to each other! Wow ~ Interesting and educational for me...I had not encountered this particular kind of ‘competition in the workplace’ before!

There is great western food in Jinja…Imagine, during my stay I enjoyed an iced latte, a chicken wrap, spanish omelet, and wow…penne with spicy ham in a cream sauce and a side salad! Yummy!

In the evening, fishermen place little lights (kerosene) on the lake to mark the spots where their nets are and to attract the lake flies who then attract the fish, mainly telapia and the infamous nile perch. The little lights are truly spectacular...hundreds (thousands?) of stars dancing on the lake all night.

Directly outside my balcony, bats put on quite a show and right on Hallowe’en too! How absolutely ‘scary’ and fun!!! (Native Medicine…Bats signify ’Death and Rebirth’…everything fits perfectly!) There was a specific type of palm tree by the water and a few more around the other side of the hotel that the bats rested in during the day and then promptly at twilight they flew off across the water….hundreds if not a couple thousand of them took to the air… remarkable! In the morning they returned and crammed themselves back into the trees for a sleep, being mindful to stay in the shade and out of sight from the hawks that circled above…!
(Hawk Medicine...'Perspective and Messenger')

There are these fantastic rapid type falls called Bujagali Falls about 9K outside of town. I met a few young guys there who are in the habit of throwing themselves into the water (with a jerry can stuffed with leaves in the hole for a stopper that they use as a floatation device) and riding the falls for a cash donation from tourists. Having been notified in advance of this dangerous dive I took the advice of my travel book and offered a donation to the diver who approached me if he DIDN'T jump in! I remained peaceful, he was greatly amused AND lived to tell of it too! All good!

The ‘High Light’ for me in Jinja was a visit to a memorial for Mahatma Gandhi…in Uganda? you say? Well, after his death in 1948 Gandhi’s ashes were apparently divided up and sent to many locations around the world to be scattered. I feel very Blessed to have visited and communed with the location at the Source of the River Nile where some of his ashes were immersed.

Gandhi ‘Apostle Of Peace And Non-Violence’ is a remarkable teacher for me.

I particularly feel specially connected with him this year! This past April on the morning of my 50th birthday, I awoke to decorations and inspirational sayings all around my home that a loving friend (Bless you...) had put up for me in the wee hours of the night. How ever moving at the time, in April I did not know that I would be here in Uganda these 6 months later, so... the experience of sitting on the shore of the River Nile pondering such things, a bronzed statue of Mahatma over my shoulder, his energy and memory all around, was surely full of deep meaning and inspiration for me...I could almost hear his wonderful voice saying...

In Peace, Joy and Love Love Love,
Catherine

Regeneration!

2007-10-26T22:31:00.000-07:00

Last posting I had met Morning…I was praying for help to know what to do, AND, to do it!

Well, Spirit moved me to take to the mountains on my own for regeneration and solitude…so I planned a guided solo visit to beautiful Sipi Falls in the foothills of Mt. Elgon!

Regenerate I did! I share the Light and Love that I received at the falls with you here!

I hope you enjoy your visit to ‘Kapsep’, a ‘peaceful place’. Joseph, my guide said ‘Sipi’ is an English word. He explained that when European explorers ‘discovered’ this area, there was a clan living alongside the water. When asked their name with the intention of naming the falls the same, they apparently replied ‘Kapsep’ which somehow turned into Sipi!

A couple weeks ago I visited the Falls area for the first time with several others. We took a trail to ‘Upper Sipi Falls’. The path led over an ‘Indiana Jones-like’ bridge across a river, around a hill to the side of the falls and then right into the back of them…a spectacular and wonderfully enriching perspective indeed, to be in a cave looking out from behind the powerful water as it is falling past!

On my most recent visit Joseph guided me to a different area of the falls, a lower level that can be seen from far away across a valley of green. We descended 2 of the greatest flights of steps I’ve ever been on into the valley that looked and felt like a dream. We wound our way around a few hills, through plantations and fields of coffee, bananas, cassava, corn, beans, peas, pumpkins, onions, carrots and cabbage; over a couple streams and some ‘safari ant’s’ relocating their young; arriving at a very dramatic, awe inspiring viewpoint across from the long falls, perched on the slippery side of the basin they plummet into. On our return walk, the heaven’s opened and poured huge, very noisy raindrops upon us and every thing. It was fantastic! Soaking wet, we took shelter in a small cabin for a time and I learned a little about the origin and customs of Joseph’s people.

The Sabinye People originated in the Ethiopian highlands many centuries ago. Joseph explained that the Sabinye People arose from under the umbrella of the Kalingin People who also included the Nandi, Sabout, Kipsegiese and Masai.( Warning! Do not ‘use me’ for reference…I was interpreting…there is every likelihood that I have spelled just about every one of these names incorrectly and even gotten a few of the details backwards…! ) So… originally being nomadic pastoralists the Sabinye moseyed along with their animals looking for pasture and water. Leaving the Ethiopian highlands they eventually arrived in the Trukana highlands in Kenya. Because of internal conflict with the Trukana People, the Sabinye moved on and eventually settled on the slopes of Mt. Elgon. Originally living in caves, they depended on hunting antelope and water buffalo. Eventually they lived under thick trees and then in small huts called manatas made of mud and cow dung, next in mud and grass huts and on to the iron sheet homes we can see today.

Joseph further explained that the Sabinye culture is based around rituals, primarily a ‘coming of age’ ritual during which teens are circumcised. The ritual marks the end of childhood and proves their courage and strength as adults. The ritual takes place only in the even years...so, not this year…

( Sidebar re: circumcision…Female: I am told that although the Ugandan government has outlawed female circumcision there are clans who continue to perform it secretly. Male: In studies it has been shown that male circumcision can reduce the spread of HIV in men if the procedure is done in a sterile and controlled setting such as a hospital. Circumcision performed during a ritual in a village setting can actually promote the spread of HIV as traditionally one instrument can be used consecutively on several participants during the ritual. )

The rain moved on and the sun came out. Joseph and I left the little cabin and headed back around the mountainside. Run off orange water poured over the side hills in mini waterfalls creating fantastically colored rushing streams, everything glowed and glistened, the children re-emerged…it was remarkably beautiful and all together a most healing time spent in the heavenly garden!

Thank You Spirit! Thank You Kapsep! Thank you Joseph!

I am good to go again! Love you, Cath

Child Headed Households

2007-10-23T02:07:00.000-07:00

Rain pours down tonight. I sit with my laptop on the bed under a mosquito net. Being under a mosquito net can feel a bit surreal to me, kind of like I’m in a cloud…the rain is so strong, pounding on the ground 2 feet away on the other side of concrete and an open, screened window. I shudder. I’m sure if I was in it the rain would drench me completely in less than 10 seconds. Instead, I am ‘in a cloud on the other side of rain’.

I’m thinking about the children I met today, 4 different families all without parents, all with older siblings or relatives caring for younger ones, all living in rural areas in grass and mud huts. I was taken inside a few of the huts today to have a look around. I remember looking up and seeing sunlight streaming through one roof made of branches and dried grass…I’m thinking about the rain that may be falling on the children right now.

I gave my hoodie away today, to a little boy…I thought I could hear an Angel say give him your top, so I took it off me and put it on him. It was very easy to do. He almost smiled. I could feel his grief and sorrow, especially when I hugged him to my side and rubbed his back as he leaned on me. I think he is named ‘Morning’…I think the story goes that he was born in the morning. His Mom and Dad died a few years ago. He owns one t-shirt and a pair of shorts both ripped, and now, of course, a hoodie. He lives around 50k from Mbale, somewhere way out along pretty serious, narrow 4x4 roads ( the land cruiser was up on it’s side a couple times ) with his 2 sisters (I think.) It’s hard sometimes to understand who lives with who when you’re ‘out there’… there are always so many children that seem to come out of the bushes when a muzungu is around, especially in the rural areas where we are sighted more infrequently. ( Sometimes I laugh to imagine children sending out a ‘muzungu alert’ that ripples across compounds…)

Some of the children were initially quite afraid today, I bet some had not seen a white one for a very long time, if ever. Children usually come running from everywhere, full speed, very excited, but when they get up close, when they see ‘the whites’ ( or green ) of my eyes and really take in how light I am, some of them can get very scared. Someone will usually come forward bravely and shake my hand or reach a pointed finger out and quickly touch my skin before rapidly retracting their arm … I smile and joke with them, they relax and laugh, maybe I take a picture and then show them a photo of themselves ( many African children I have met would agree…what a great invention…the large screen on the back of the digital camera…) … eventually fear is over come, defenses go down and they are ready to play! Amazing, great teachers they are… despite all outward circumstances, children are all very much the same wherever I go…so ready to smile and play, to be care free and express joy, except maybe when they have seen and felt so much in their few years that has scared them, like I would guess Morning may have.

Usually by the time I am leaving from a visit at a compound, the children are all following me to the vehicle and I am turning around every now and then and chasing them back for a few feet….over and over till we run out of room and there’s nothing left to do but climb in the open door and say good bye. Sometimes like today, a group of children will run fast as they can alongside the truck as we drive away, until they can’t anymore…smiles, waves…’gooooodbyeeee’.

So, 4 families…The first…Mom and Dad’s graves lie to the side of the compound, with a brother’s grave in between. Baby was 3 months old when Mom died. Baby feels safe to stay in the doorway and look out from there today.

Older brother is here too, I’ve lifted him into the vehicle where he sits, happy like any little boy might be in the front seat of a truck, eating a banana I have handed him. Auntie is away from the compound right now. I am told she tries to do what she can for the children, keeping them in food. Grandmother is here visiting today. She says, ‘Do not let me deceive you, it is really their Auntie who does for them…I am old, I don’t do much’. ‘Today you are here’ I say ‘I am sure just by being here you are a great strength for Auntie and the children’. She and I hold hands for a moment through the open truck window as we drive off.

The second…Here, older sister, twin with a brother, takes care of the 3 siblings her junior. Mom and Dad died a few years ago. The children were left an acre of land and the huts upon it. Their relatives help them with food. They ‘dig’ and sell vegetables when things get tough. Twin brother makes ‘bricks for homes’ with a friend. He tries to sell them. She, twin brother and younger teenage sister had to leave school because of fees. The 2 youngest are still in free primary school. She wishes to take classes in sewing and buy a machine so that she can bring the skill and earning potential home to create a better life for them all…she can also teach the others if she learns herself. They have all been HIV tested. They are all ‘negative’.( I count 26 children from the neighborhood who have gathered around us.) She is 20 years old. Many in her community pressure her to be married. She says no, she has to take care of the little ones.

The third…Now I meet a family of 4 children. Mom and Dad have died some years ago, Grandmother is here, she is quite blind. Older sisters both carry babies, I think one or both of these young mothers may be HIV+? Here is brother, the only boy, he is in Senior 3 ( Grade10 ) a year younger than my oldest nephew in Canada. He speaks for them all. Yes, he explains, it is very tough, he feels great responsibility, there is much to worry about and scare him. Eventually I ask him about his friends, does he like to play, what do they do together? Yes, he lightens up, they like to play ‘football’…he smiles…ahh, just like my nephew, I say, he likes to play sports with his friends too. He looks happy to imagine that they are the same. Younger sister is kneeling beside me as I sit in a chair that has been brought for me. I am rubbing her back, she is moving closer and closer to me as I speak with her brother. Eventually when I ask her to speak to me she tells me in a very quiet voice ‘…friend I have no uniform…they run me home…’. Thankfully I have the correct change of 10,000 Ugandan shillings in my wallet ( that’s about $7 Cdn ) that will pay a tailor to make her a uniform for school. Her brother and her are smiling, waving as we drive away. Before leaving, I have reminded them both that they are very loved…their parents are very proud of them, they are always with them right inside their hearts. I am nodding to him and his young sister, he is mouthing the words to me ‘We will not give up’ … all this as we drive away.

The fourth…I am to meet ‘Morning’ here, that is after his older sister finds him and calls him out from where he has hidden since our truck has driven up. Grandmother sits near him, she is drunk on 300 shillings (.20) someone gave her today. I don’t learn many other details about this family, I am taken with Morning, his fear, his deep grief, his gentle and trembling Spirit…it is all I can do to try and wrap him in some kind of comfort, protection and Love.

Tonight I am praying…please help me to know what to do…please help me to do it…

It’s a pretty great night for a huge rain, or, I remember, maybe not if I lived in a hut.

Goodnight Children, We Love You,
Cath

Love Is...

2007-10-21T03:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I returned to Sironko Orphanage with some supplies for the 14 children I’d met there a couple weeks ago. Since my first visit I had gathered together new blankets, mosquito nets and foamies. I sewed sheets and little bright green bags for each of the children with the help of the women in ‘skills development’ at the center. Each bag held a school book, a pen/pencil, a few candies, some cookies, a toothbrush and toothpaste along with a ‘Peace, Love, Joy’ card ( specifically made for orphan children here ) that my nieces and nephew in Canada created before I left there in September …

(…This woman pictured here with me had just ‘lost’ her sister to HIV/AIDS the day before coming in to help me sew these sheets…Her brother in law passed last year. At this moment she looks to her future to care for the 3 children of the marriage, now orphaned at ages 10, 7 and 3…)

I think the pictures taken yesterday at the orphanage may say more than I ever could …

Because his beautiful song is playing over and over through me today, I include John Lennon’s lyrics for ‘Love’ in case anyone wants to sing along…

Love is Real Real is Love ~ Love is Feeling Feeling Love ~ Love is Wanting To be Loved ~ Love is Touch Touch is Love ~ Love is Reaching Reaching Love ~ Love is Asking To be Loved ~ Love is You Love is Me ~ Love is Knowing We can Be ~ Love is Free Free is Love ~ Love is Living Living Love ~ Love is Needing To be Loved

Many thanks to you All for sending Love to the children…

Thank you to those who shared the expense for the supplies for the children…
(The girls and I will be sending you more info soon…)

Love Love Love, Catherine

Gulu Walk 4 Peace...

2007-10-19T00:22:00.000-07:00

Isn't it an interesting and funny irony that here I am in Uganda and I have just heard last evening about a Walk For Peace that is happening in the Gulu district in northern Uganda tomorrow, Oct 20th...A Walk For Peace that is gathering international attention and support with walks occurring in many cities around the world, Vancouver, BC included...!

Gulu is about 370K north of where I am right now. I will be there in Spirit tomorrow!

I have plans to visit the orphanage I first went to a couple weeks ago in Sironko tomorrow. I have been gathering supplies to bring for the children and I'm feeling pretty excited to be taking the blankets, sheets, mosquito nets, toothbrushes etc and to be seeing all the children again. Maybe we'll all go for a walk together in honor of the Gulu Peace Walk...

To check out the walk and issues about Gulu further ...

www.guluwalk.com www.resloveuganda.org

Many Blessings to all in Gulu and everywhere...peaceful Saturday...
Catherine

Dreaming and 'Orphans'...

2007-10-15T22:47:00.000-07:00

I grow more accustomed to my outward experiences and environments and realize how they are very similar, event to event, ie: the road trip to and fro, the welcoming, the ‘high table’, the singing, the format, the food, etc., and I start to recognize how the inward essence of each experience is also remarkably consistent.

Connecting the dots I begin to see that each gathering I attend, from a ‘cow giving away ceremony’, to a meeting with grandmothers, caregivers and orphans, to a seminar with youth on self help initiatives, virtually every discussion and connection that feels substantive shares a consistent theme, namely…

...a deep need, want and desire in the majority of people I meet for education, experience and idea exchange, empowerment and relationship building with ' those who know and will share '. This, AND to find the way to bring what is learned home into the local context of life.

Many times people 'ask for this' in a patient, gentle way or maybe even an overtly submissive manner ( Elders...grandmothers have knelt down to show respect in conversation with me...) or conversely I have heard a practiced bold voice shrouded beneath a smile ask ‘Do you have money for me? Provide for me muzungu...' However the message is delivered or by whom, looking deeper I sense an intense energy exists that I interpret as saying ’I seek knowledge, empowerment, expression, independence, self reliance, esteem, respect, actualization...I seek Love’...followed in most cases by ’Please’.

There could be many 'distractions' here for me, many directions I might 'spin off' in. Virtually everyone can ask for something, ‘causes’ abound. If I remain open in my focus while I carry on my way along this time of learning, bringing everything back to the children who have called me here in the first place, I find a couple things…

I seem to be dreaming of a model…remembering first, where there are children there are women, the model slowly starts to make its way through me… it is a self reliant, self sustaining cooperative, a community based care center that offers Love, nurturing, housing for ‘total’ orphans, schooling, vocational training, income generating activites…the women and guardians of the community are administering, volunteering at and accessing it along with their ‘partial orphan’ children…' ( more on the 'definition of orphan' below...) It is a dream, maybe even one in the process of becoming..!'

( Sidebar…

The term ‘ORPHAN’ has taken on many definitions since I have arrived here.

There is the definition I am familiar with, the one from my dictionary which says an orphan is ‘a child whose parents are dead’. These are the children in my heart and mind with whom I have started this journey. Here, I have learned, these children can be referred to as ‘total orphans’.

I have also learned that there are children here who can be known as ‘orphans’, ‘paternal ( or maternal ) orphans’ or ‘partial orphans’ in the eyes of the community and even orgs, including ‘UNICEF’. In most of these cases, the father, the income earner has died, these days often because of ( undiagnosed and/or untreated...) HIV/AIDS, leaving alone and without ability to earn a living his dependents who include his wife. She, in many cases, has several children to care for and lacking experience and knowledge in areas of business outside of the home and/or because of cultural reasons can be completely stymied at how to proceed positively. In many cases she ( and any number of her children) may also be HIV+...

In the event that a child is a ‘maternal orphan’ it is most unlikely that the father will remain the primary caregiver of the child. It is more common that the child will be sent to a female family member for care.

Further, the ‘local’ definition of ‘orphan’ can be expanded to describe children involved in a cultural tradition. Although both parents are alive, sometimes children are sent off for a time to say, their auntie, where they will learn discipline, life skills and/or help out within that arm of the extended family…in this case I have heard the ‘hosting’ family refer to the relative child(ren) as an ‘orphan(s)’…

I am finding that, probably for many reasons, ‘orphan’ can be a catchword that can beg definition in individual cases to provide clarity and understanding...

Today I am happy to be heading to work in the 'Aromatherapy' room at the center...I'm bringing along some beautiful scents, a few crystals and a book on alternative therapies to donate. What a wonderful opportunity I am given!

Loving you, Cath

Surprise! ... my new blog with photos!!!

2007-10-12T22:17:00.000-07:00

I'm so pleased to welcome you to my new blog, one I seem to be able to easily, happily attach photos to! Yeah!

Much gratitude to you Erynn for your help, patience and commitment to seeing this process through to success! Thanks also J!

I haven't quite made it back to all the previous posts and added the photos yet, I'll be working on it! Cruise back in time periodically and you'll see some visuals that will hopefully bring the text to life for you...

Love to you all....enjoy!
Cath xoxo

A Visit To Sironko

2007-10-10T22:20:00.000-07:00

The man I have met with a couple times who has the vision for the child care center is the founder and director of a CBO ( community based organization ) called ‘Aids Concern Integrated Org’ or ACIO for short. He arranged to meet me on Tuesday in downtown Mbale where he said he would have a car and driver ready to take us out to his community. It would take about 45 minutes to get there, we’d be heading in the direction of Mt. Elgon. Our plan as I understood it was to visit the orphanage he is currently running that is housing and caring for 14 children.

Driving on a pretty great dirt road through many villages and communities eventually we pulled up in front of a small building and were greeted immediately by a few smiling adults bowing, helping me out of the car, taking my hand, saying over and over ‘You are most welcome, thank you, you are most welcome’. I was guided into the building. The 2 small office rooms, ‘ old hospital turquoise’ in color, had posters about HIV/AIDS, the structure of ACIO, its members and their responsibilities as well photos of the orphans covering the walls at eye level all around the room. As we sat and I started to learn from these people about their org I was immediately understanding that they are all volunteers who have been together since 2004 working to address head on the issues surrounding the huge number of children without parents in their communities. After some minutes I could see that a line of children had formed at the door leading to outside. At someone’s subtle direction one by one each child entered the room, came forward, knelt and extended their hand to me. Many could barely manage a whisper when I asked them their name….some were very brave! These darlings I was meeting are the children currently living at the orphanage.

( In general, it requires focus to understand what people are saying when they introduce themselves, especially people living in villages as opposed to the city. There is the custom of saying ones last name first, first name last and running them both together, as well as pronouncing every vowel and consonant quite distinctly resulting in a few extra sounds and syllables where not expected, and of course, people speak quickly…)

At present 10 boys and 4 girls are cared for full time by ACIO. The org has rented 3 buildings for the past couple years now, paid for by donations from community members. 2 buildings are adjoining and provide space for the office, cooking area and girls bedroom, the 3’rd, some distance down a path out back of the office, is where the boys and 2 patrons sleep. After meeting all of the children, I was asked to come on a tour of their facilities. First we visited the girl’s room. With big smiles and looking very proud to welcome me, the girls all in their early teens, showed me into their unadorned 10 x 10 room that has 2 single size foamies on top of woven reed mats on the floor along with a couple metal boxes that I understand are for their personal belongings…( no sheets, no blankets, no mosquito nets, 2 foamies…).

We moved on down the path to the boys building. Several hundred meters away the mud and stick building has 4 rooms: a central room around 6 x 10 that has 3 other rooms off of it. One room, approx 8 x 8, is the bedroom where 6 of the boys sleep 2 to a foamie, the 2’nd room is for the patrons and 2 of the older orphan boys and the 3’rd room, about 4 x 6 is where the 2 youngest boys share a foamie. Again, the boys, very ‘well turned out’ for me in their fresh, clean shirts welcomed me warmly into their space…( on hand…a couple sheets, a couple blankets, a couple nets, too few foamies …)

We returned back to the office building where preparations for us to ‘take tea’ had been completed. ‘African tea’, often served from a thermos, is black tea with lots of heated cow’s milk ( usually fresh and un-pasteurized if you’re in a village ) in it. Most African’s add a couple tsp of cane sugar to a small cup of it. Alongside the tea, there were hard boiled chicken eggs, roasted, salted ‘ground nuts’ ( like peanuts ) and bananas.

While enjoying tea I asked for confirmation about the most immediate needs I felt I had seen that the orphanage could use help with in order to provide for the children’s care and safety…how many foamies, mosquito nets, cover sheets and blankets were needed?…I came up with a shopping list for myself of 8 nets, 8 foamies, 8 sheets and 14 blankets.

Following tea, I was guided outside to where some chairs had been assembled. After I was seated front and center I looked up to see a group of 7 children ready to perform. They immediately burst into unaccompanied song, at times singing in beautiful 3 part harmony, complete with gentle feet shuffling and lots of body, arm and hand movements. ‘Blessings shall come upon you…’ ‘You are welcome our visitor, my name is Susan my friend is Ursala, another one is our visitor, you are welcome, our visitor, you are welcome…’ ‘ Thank you for the time you spend for us to make this occasion powerful and wonderful, you are very welcome and a high welcome...’

I have seen a few such performances by now and I tell you they are incredible! There is nothing quite like being a ‘guest of honor’ and having a group of very brave and talented little ones sing to you, expressing from their hearts up close and personal ( maybe 2 - 3 feet away from you ) their gratitude and appreciation that you have come by to say hello and share a little time…amazing!

After a fond farewell, 7 of us squeezed into a car that usually would take 5 ( think thin..! ) and we headed for another community where some people had apparently assembled to meet with us. On the way, we stopped at a field and ‘there by the tree’ I was shown the land upon which the orphanage will be built one day.

When we arrived at our destination, we entered a small, dark building and once inside I realized there were around 100 people quietly sitting on benches, many children, perhaps a dozen adults. They clapped as we entered and were shown up to the front. I was directed to take a seat at a head table, and a meeting began. There were prayers and introductions, the children performed 3 songs, it was explained to me that on this side of the room there were many orphan children, while on the other side, there were a few dozen more children and a handful of caregivers. As I understood it, everyone present in the room was a ’stakeholder’ and waiting on the reality of an orphanage to be built for one reason or another.

I was asked to speak … wow, not my comfort zone… ok ... words came from somewhere and just kinda rolled out …‘My name is Catherine’… my friend translated into the local dialect … ‘ I am honored to be here with you, thank you for welcoming me so warmly. I am from Canada and I bring Love and happy wishes to you from my family and friends. I have come here to tell you that you are not alone. Regardless of country, color, custom, we are all the same, we are all one and together we will find the way for all the children to be Loved and cared for. I Love you. We Love you. Thank you.’

Everyone clapped and cheered. Through my own mist I’m pretty sure I saw a few tears in the eyes of some. It was very real and right in the heart center … sort of difficult to put into words you can probably imagine.

We ‘took tea’ once again and I met and talked with a couple of the caregivers. One young woman, a widower and typical of many is raising 10 children, 2 of whom are ‘her own’.

Maybe needless to say, I was in the presence of some amazing people.

Incredible, beautiful, amazing people, the children and adults alike,
all remarkable examples of strength, courage, commitment and Love…

My cup is very full,
Catherine

Ps…AND…WOW! Was it ever great to speak to 2 family members in Canada today…nothing like the sound of a loved ones voice…more music to my ears!

An Exciting 'AHA' !

2007-10-09T00:12:00.000-07:00

I realized something fun while rinsing my laundry earlier today!

A year ago right now I was in Australia at an Angel Medicine Workshop and one evening over 400 people participated in a fantastic ‘Sacred Healing Fire’ accompanied by an Aborigine playing didgeridoo. I have worked with fire on many occasions in my healing work and training in Andean / Inca Medicine so I was familiar with the concept of that nights ceremony, namely to ‘bring something’ to the fire that you want to release in the form of a gift. Maybe one brings a concern, maybe it’s a habit, a hope or a hurt, an expectation, desire, whatever! To ‘bring it to fire’ can be a powerful way to let something go that may be holding us back or simply no longer serving us. That night a year ago, my gift, my letting go was my ‘need to know’ particularly concerning Africa.

Following that time those who were around me will attest…for months leading up to this journey I applied myself to research and to waiting, to being open, aware, following leads, ideas, inspirations and dreams that might guide me on, or not, to actually understanding where I’d be coming in Africa, who I’d be with, how I would connect with the orphan children I could hear calling … all the while trying to remain mindful about letting go of any ‘need to know’.

Yesterday, I met for a second time with a Ugandan whom I’ve known for about 4 days now, and together we looked at a drawing I had suggested he make at our first meeting. Pretty crude, certainly not scale, drawn on an 8.5 x 11 inch ‘acre of land’ ( the land has literally been acquired … ) he has envisioned a child care orphanage that, beginning with 150 children, he hopes will ultimately grow to care for the 400 HIV/AIDS orphans in his community and surrounding villages. We looked at the drawing…the girls rooms would go here, the boys there, the kitchen, latrines, admin bldg’s, poultry, cow, playground, primary and vocational schools, vegetable garden, they all go somewhere, oh, we could add another wing there in the future, opps, we’re missing the dining area…

And so, my Aha…

Well, it occurred to me that, wow…I’ve been in Africa 3 weeks and there I was yesterday sitting in ‘Gracious Café’ in downtown Mbale meeting with a new friend, helping to design ‘my first’ orphanage (…a ‘model’ that over time and with refinement will serve many I suspect…) all the while really having NO idea how it came to be that I would meet this man, or how any of this is REALLY happening…and I laughed…if I once wondered or worried that I might ‘need to know’ something in order to make something else happen…well…that sure seems hilarious now!

One year later and on Canada’s Thanksgiving Day what fun for me to say thank you ‘fire’ for accepting my gift, eh! Cath

Giving Thanks…

2007-10-07T20:29:00.001-07:00

Still indulging in a relaxation theme and feeling like I wanted to do my part to celebrate Canada’s Thanksgiving, I decided it might be a fun idea to hire a car and driver for a couple hours and head up into the Wanale Hills that overlook all of Mbale and particularly the ‘Senior Quarters’. I thought some time in nature would likely be the soul soothing and enriching experience I was craving!

( ‘Senior Quarters’ is the area of town where I am staying, the name a throw back to colonial times…ok, yes, I am now 50 and considered a senior in some circles …ha!… however, ‘Senior’ in this case applies to the ‘Administrative White Ones’, the original planners of Mbale who settled and built homes in this area. The affluence is particularly noticeable when one realizes that most homes are quite large, built with lasting materials, have water plumbed in and enjoy the great luxury of electricity…I think the stat is that less than 10% of Ugandan’s have power in their homes…)

What a beautiful, luxurious ( very ‘unplugged’ ) treasure of a landscape hides tucked away up in the hills, certainly the most magical place I’ve seen so far in Uganda!

…huge boulders have fallen away from ancient rock faces; lush, vibrant prolific greens grow out of deep orange, red and brown patches of land; crop after varying crop is carved neatly into the hill and mountain sides; waterfalls burst forth from rock clusters creating streams that curl into and around hillsides and homesteads; compounds are spacious, neat and clean with mud and stick, clay brick and banana leaf homes; little coal cooking fires burn in shaded areas beside doorways and outbuildings producing feathers of rising smoke; ‘Jambo, jambo’ ( Swahili meaning ‘hello’ ) echoes out in happy, little excited voices from behind bushes and rolls down from the hills above as we meander around corners and through the small townships…

Harmony, community was everywhere I looked! 3 tiny goats were grazing together, a group of women sitting on the grass by the roadside were talking, teens walked along with sticks for firewood stacked high upon their heads. Families sat together in their yards Mom’s holding babies in their laps. Graying elderly men with hunched backs used walking sticks to make their way along zig zagging steep paths. Children were filling buckets at water holes or playing a game with a large ball that looked to be woven out of nature or some were just sitting minding the cow. Men sat together in shaded areas watching, waving, smiling…

It was late afternoon as we made our way up into the hills so by the time we did a u-turn and started our descent, the sun was moving closer to the horizon casting an incredibly warm, glowing light on the magnificent garden! Talk about a mystical gloaming…

Hopefully the pictures I will be posting ( Erynn is working on it…should be soon, I think! ) will speak to you about some of the natural beauty that certainly did nurture and Love me to great joy and peace!

Heartfelt happy wishes to you as we all gather together to remember the many many gratitudes we have…

YOU are a part of my very long list!

Love Love Love, Catherine

Time for a day off…

2007-10-05T20:28:00.000-07:00

Ahh Loving friend…you have reminded me of something in your email yesterday…
( journeying with me in Spirit, holding my Medicine Bag, lighting candles in Mom’s crystal holder in Vancouver, my friend wrote yesterday of…) the ‘balance of giving and receiving that is necessary to keep my energy, mood and motivation at a consistently high level’…this is timely for me to hear…by last evening I wasn’t sure how well my body was feeling.

Today I’m taking the day off and it feels good! I’ll catch up with the youth another day!

This morning I’m thinking about the sensations and perceptions I am having through the experience of being here in this place, in this ‘time and space’ ( this ‘geometric…energetic’ ) and I am wishing to share about them rather than about anything that has particularly happened or anyone I have particularly met.

This reality is a huge shift from the daily life that I have experienced elsewhere. It is deeply moving and profoundly familiar for me to be here. There is a pulse I easily sense that vibrates strongly, powerfully, like a heart beat that pounds beneath everything at the center, a steady measure setting the rhythm and tempo of life, ever throbbing on and on. If I envision my body as the earth, then to be here is to feel as if I am a tiny creature crawling upon my chest, the waves of swelling from the rise and fall of my lungs almost unnoticeable yet incorporated into my balance at every moment, the constant beat of my heart vibrating throughout every thing forming the basis of all I hear…

If I am at the ‘birthplace of humanity’ as many suggest East Africa is then, yes, I can surely feel the roots that extend acutely within and, yes, I do seem to ‘re-cognize’ the intrinsic essence that bids me welcome home…

On all levels so far, life here seems to reflect sincerity, almost simply and very clearly without screen, filter or distortion. To me it all feels unembellished, unadorned, real, stripped down and easy to describe as very raw at times. Everything appears exposed, there is little hiding, sparse camouflage and lack of authenticity…there is almost no pretending, most times all seems starkly, boldly truthful exactly as it is. Even if on the outside of life there may appear trickery / manipulation present or lies being told, etc, there remains a blatant transparency that seems to speak to me directly, constantly. Maybe it’s my glasses…!

Over all, I seem to find being here refreshing, clearing and terrifically life enhancing like the rain that falls powerfully for a short time almost every day…
I am also learning that being here can seem to exhaust my openness, render me feeling somewhat defenseless the times I forget to rest or to ask for help and protection…Thanks for the reminder friend…

I remain deeply grateful for all of the support I DO feel, constantly…
Thanks to ALL for being with me here…I Love you, Cath

Women and Children…

2007-10-04T20:27:00.000-07:00

Two or three times each week a group of HIV positive women ( many of whom are widowed mothers caring for several orphans along with their own children ) come together at the NGO center to participate in fellowship and to develop skills that will enhance their ability to create income in their villages and communities. The program aims to ‘graduate’ 2 groups of women a year, each session lasting 6 months, and is intended to teach skills in areas such as sewing, weaving, basketry, knitting, beading, crochet and cooking, etc.

Along with my fellow muzungu volunteer, I attended my first class with the women on Tuesday and enjoyed a great time sharing with them all. About a dozen of us sat in an open air area, a metal roof covering us from the periodic downpours, around a table on which small practice weavings, baskets and beadworks were placed. Here we chatted about crafts in Canada and Uganda, some income generating ideas, self reliance, the marketing and pricing of products, village life, children, orphans, health, gardening, even a little about farming!

The women asked for our help in a few very specific areas…First, they said they really want to know how to make jam! Pineapple jam and marmalade too! And, they wish to receive information and training regarding farming, particularly keeping poultry. As well, they would like to have some kind of handout reviewing skills they have learned at the end of their course, and, they wondered if we could help them regarding materials. At present, they explained, they have very few materials to work with in the class due to the NGO’s ‘budgeting shortfalls’ and as a result are having difficulty developing practical skills in many of the intended areas, particularly sewing.

After our first day together, our short term mandate was clear … we asked the program director to estimate what their financial budget for materials would be from now until the end of this session, namely December ’07 and, we made a plan to accomplish some of the women’s other objectives when we would meet again for our 2’nd get together on Thursday!

But first… Wednesday was a day set aside to work in the child care dept at the center! HIV positive children, sometimes accompanied by their caregivers, come to the center once a month to meet with a counselor and Doctor and to receive ART’s for the upcoming month. There is a special child care area with lots of room and floor space for the children to run around and play in that is equipped quite well with toys including dolls, trucks, abc and number games, puzzles, memory games etc. At one end of the room there are 4 bunk beds for weak, tired or sick children. There are posters around the room, almost all have info on them about HIV/ADIS…even the abc’s are taught keeping HIV in mind….’A is for Abstain’, ‘B is for Being Faithful, ‘C is for Condoms’…I doubt that most of the children I met yesterday can read.

Ranging in age from under a year to maybe 12 or 13, I had fun and shared some time with almost every boy and girl who visited! Most of them were very happy, full of energy, ready to play and learn. Not so sure if they were used to such ‘hand’s on playing’ we noticed how the children noticed when my volunteer partner and I got right down on the floor with them to make puzzles, play with cars and trucks etc. Some of the children seemed very bright with great natural aptitude, quick to learn, strong in health and energy. Others seemed quite weak, a few with large distended stomachs, one little boy looked very frail and did not interact at all. Some seemed very new to the world of toys let alone ones that require hand eye coordination and games or puzzles that require matching etc. There were 2 little girls playing side by side, each practicing to be little Mom’s with baby dolls strapped to their backs in the same manner as they themselves are carried… they were an absolute delight and took to calling me ‘Muzungu Ca Ta Reeen’…!

Near the end of our day with the children, the director from skills development found us and presented a budget that she felt would see the program in materials until the end of this session…she guesstimated 343,000 Ugandan Shillings for materials for 17 people…that’s about $200 Cdn or $11.75 for each participant from now until year end.

Today, Thursday, we returned to spend the day with the women ( and 2 men who joined us) in ‘skill development’ and we tried our best to come prepared! We brought pineapples, limes ( for natural pectin ), a cutting board, knife, pot, sugar, wax for sealing, containers, even crackers to test our ‘pineapple jam’ on as well as recycled paper and glue to show how to make ‘paper beads’ for jewelry. We had a wonderful time… all of us gathered around the pot of jam that was cooking over coal in a traditional small ‘barbeque’ ( most people here use these to cook on every day ) and rolling beads made of glue and paper on pieces of metal while the jam thickened. We also brought along info about knitting, crocheting, weaving, quilting, and promised a book that we will put together to be delivered to them all at ‘graduation’ and will contain the different skills they are learning. We agreed to find out more for them in the short term about micro-financing available in the area as well as to see if we can find a representative from the gov dept that supports small farming to come and speak to the group at some point soon.

After discussion between ourselves, my partner volunteer and I had decided last evening to split the cost to fund the budget that the director of skills development presented to us yesterday. So today, we each received the great honor of delivering 200,000USh cash to the program director hoping that along with the fabric that they wish to buy, they will also be able to supplement their weaving and basketry supplies for the term.

I would like to take a moment to thank one of my family members for forwarding a cheque recently to the PO Box noted on the projects page of this website with the instructions for me to use it as I see fit…

You know who you are!… and now you can know that today you have joined with me in helping a group of women in Mbale, Uganda to take some remarkable steps in self development leading them onward to independence…

Oh, what a feeling…!

It would be a complete understatement to say that the women are very happy and grateful today for the fellowship, the jam, info and funding…as it said on the top of the proposed budget…’Here please receive the following budget of the requirements to enable us subsidise the course work for Skills Department that had otherwise stalled. We believe your help will greatly benefit the students / clients acquire skills that will make them not only earn a living but live honorably.’

Amen!

Tomorrow is a day to be spent with youth/teens…and then Saturday I am traveling to a community about an hour away where a man I recently met has asked for my help in trying to figure out how to support 400 orphans in the area…

Love to you all…Cath

Ps…Remaining somewhat of a distraction, I am still trying to get the photo thing happening here on the blog…One day you will all be inundated with many many shots I’ve had the great pleasure to take! C xoxo

My First ‘Outreach’ Day…

2007-09-29T20:26:00.000-07:00

I feel like it’s been a big day.

After a few hours of waiting for everyone to be ready, a team of 3 Doctor’s, a PR Coordinator and 2 of us volunteers piled into a Land Cruiser and took off from the NGO center around noon today. We were destined for a community about an hour away, somewhere very close to the Kenyan border. I was told we were going to do outreach in a town called Magale and that there would be around 150 people coming from surrounding communities and villages to a central location where the NGO visits once a month to provide a variety of services for HIV/AIDS clients.

When we arrived there were a few hundred men, women and children of all ages, divided up in very casual but nonetheless organized fashion. Some were sitting on the grass awaiting a meeting with a counselor; others were in shade under a huge tree awaiting their name to be called; a group were sitting on the front steps of a building awaiting their monthly supply of ART’s; there were crowds at the 2 entrances of one building awaiting a visit with a Doctor. In a large open field there were many small groups gathered around brown bags and boxes that were stamped with ‘USA - Not To Be Sold Or Exchanged’ on them. The boxes contained 4 x 4 Ltr jugs of ‘Refined Vegetable Oil – Vitamin A Fortified’ . Every 55 Lb bag, some marked ‘USA Corn Meal’ some ‘USA Soya Meal’ was being opened and blended on site to produce ‘CSB’ (corn soya blend). I realized that I was right in the middle of food distribution to people on ART’s who are presently too weak and sick to provide food for themselves and their families.

While I and the other muzungu volunteer sat watching for a time, children started to gather round us, behind us, looking curious, wanting to say hello, often too shy to hold eye contact for longer than a second. Finally, I turned around and slowly approached a group of boys sitting on the grass. I crouched down, extended my hand a little and said ‘Hello, my name is Catherine’. They immediately burst into big time laughter… and so did I! We tried to communicate, laughing together more than saying any words, but of course, laughing together IS saying lots! I remembered that I had my laminated ‘world map’ with me so I got it out and a whole group of children and I sat on the grass and figured out where Uganda and Canada are! It was great fun!

The day progressed and at one point I was introduced to an employee of the NGO who started to share with me his story. Diagnosed HIV positive several years ago when his weight had fallen to below 40kg and his CD4 count was below 50 ( as I understand it, a CD4 count is obtained from a blood test and shows the amount of a certain white blood cell that is present in ones blood…a healthy CD4 count is 1200 per micro-litre of blood ) he joined the NGO as a client and started ART’s. Year by year since then, he has gradually increased in weight and overall health to be at the point he is at today, fully functioning, strong and healthy, living positively with HIV/AIDS and helping others who are in his former condition.

As he finished his story and I was congratulating him on his very Blessed and wonderful recovery he pointed to someone behind me and said…’Once, I used to look like him’. I turned around to see a man extremely fragile and weak, sitting on the ground. Watching for a few moments I could see he was deeply sunken into himself, his Spirit seemingly very far away from where his body sat on the grass. My new friend and I approached the man, I knelt down and extended my hand to him. By now, he was lying down in a fetal position. He looked up at me and reached his frail hand out toward me. I took it and held it between my two hands said hello and told him my name. He looked directly in my eyes and slowly, carefully he said ‘Thank you for being here, for taking time to be with me’. I’m quite sure I gasped a breath. In that second, he was using his vanishing energy to thank ME…

How do I write what that felt like? Where are the words to describe that moment?

I told him I Loved him, I told him he is so very special and I, We, are praying for him… We are asking for him to have all the Love, help and care that he needs. Again, he thanked me, he said it was encouraging for him. I repeated ‘I Love You’ and then moved away to allow others who were coming to care for him get close. I learned later that this man, 38 years old, weighed in at 28kg today with a CD4 count of 22.

I went back to the truck to sit quietly for a few minutes. Coming towards me I saw a man with a little girl in a pretty white dress who I had taken a picture for earlier in the day. Together they climbed up through the back doors onto the seat where I was, he picked the little one up and put her on his lap. He said to me ‘I have heard that you met my granddaughter today. She is a good girl, I am asking you to take her with you’.

In a heartbeat I felt inspired and said ‘I can see how she Loves you and how you Love her. You are family for each other and she is meant to be with you’. Hugging her closely he said ‘Yes, she does Love me and I do Love her. Thank you’. We took another picture, I showed it to them and we said goodbye.

As we bounced and swerved our way home a little while later, scenes from the day played over in me. I felt once again a sense of weakness that had washed over me a few times during the day and I questioned my fortitude. I remembered an interview I once saw with Bono. I may have the details somewhat wrong but I think he was being asked something about when he knew he would become involved with helping to uplift the people of Africa and he had replied something like…’it was when a man leaned forward out of a crowd holding his child out to me and said please take her, please give her a life’.

Tonight, among other things, I come to terms with the fact that I now understand a little more about what that means…

Yes, a big day… Thank you for keeping our dying friend, an innocent little girl, her grandfather and me in your heart!

With Love, Catherine

PS…After waking from a restful sleep feeling Peace and Joy in my heart today, I post the message above from yesterday.

Everything being in Perfect and Divine Order I seem to understand more clearly this morning how in life we can all be seen as glorious reflections for each other of ‘great weakness’ and ‘great strength’ or simply ‘great-ness’…

Many Blessings and Love Love Love,
Cath xoxo

Yesterday’s day trip…

2007-09-27T20:22:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from an exciting day-long adventure over a remarkably bumpy, deeply rutted dirt road that took me, along with a group of visitors, to a district outside of Mbale. With the beautiful backdrop of the foothills and mountains that surround Mt. Elgon ( the 2’nd highest mountain on the continent?…‘the highest peak being 4321m… and said to have one of the largest surface areas of any extinct volcano in the world’ ) we drove by lowlands where rice is grown, glimpsing men and many women working with picks and hoes, some with babies wrapped to their backs, and through a few small towns where I could see numerous large rectangular ‘tarps’ layed out on the ground with rice drying on them in the hot sun.

After an hour or so, we pulled into a friend’s father’s compound where we were welcomed most warmly. We were quickly whipped back into the vehicle and began a tour of the local community with an emphasis on seeing the schools in the area.

Much like the system in Canada, I understand children start school here around the age of 5. There are 7 primary grades, followed by 6 high school grades. All schools seem to require the children to wear uniforms. Students from different schools in an area are easily identified by the color of tunic style dress the girls wear and shirt that the boys wear. As noted previously, girls are most often required to shave their heads to ‘minimize distraction’. The colors of the primary uniforms are particularly noteworthy, usually very bright, deep colors. I have found it a visually stunning sight to drive by a field and see hundreds of children running and playing, all wearing, say, vibrant purple!

The first school we visited was a high school. Upon arrival we met some of the instructors who teach various subjects including ‘english, math, agriculture, science and geography’. They appeared to be in a meeting or perhaps were on a break…when we found them they were sitting together outdoors in the shade of a large tree. Very gracious and welcoming, the principal toured us briefly around the school, past the science building that houses 3 rooms marked ‘biology’, ‘chemistry’ and ‘physics’ to a classroom that has ‘S3’ handwritten in chalk on the molding at the top of the door. I’m thinking this may mean ‘Secondary 3’ and likely is equivalent to ‘Grade 10’ in Canada.

Typical of most of the classrooms I saw today, this one is a room in a long, narrow, single storey building that houses maybe 4 or 5 classrooms, has barred windows without glass, some with shutters that can be closed, no electricity, shared benches and writing surfaces for the students, and a blackboard at the front. The floor is concrete, the unadorned walls: clay/soil bricks with mortar, the ceiling: wooden trusses with metal roofing.

When we entered, the students stood and welcomed us, seemingly quite shy and self-conscious, some a little bolder than others, making eye contact, smiling, waving little waves discreetly! A member of the teaching staff told me that the children were very happy to see us and said they wished they could have teachers that look like us!

We carried on to a primary school a short drive away. As we pulled into the large compound little blue and white signs, quite low to the short clipped green grass, caught my eye. Placed along pathways leading to the various one level buildings that contain the classrooms, each sign has a different message on it pertaining to HIV/AIDS.

‘Delay sex until adulthood’… ‘Stay a virgin’… ‘HIV/AIDS has no cure’… ‘Say no to gifts for sex’…Quite striking to see, one can hope that the signs are serving to protect and bring awareness to the young ones exposed to them daily.

Soon after parking and reading a few of the signs, my attention was drawn to the dark doorway of one of the classrooms where a few children were peeking their heads out to see, no doubt, who had just driven in. We were greeted by the principal and guided over to the classroom. Upon entering and taking a second for my eyes to adjust, I was completely amazed and very delighted to see a vast number of little children, all dressed in bright pink, sitting on the dirt ( not concrete ) floor, receiving a lesson from the teacher in the front of the room. The children, so gorgeous, were full of brightness, some beaming big smiles, some quite mesmerized with jaws dropped and mouths wide open! It was SO much fun to be there!

We toured around the grounds and visited a few different classes. At one point I was standing out side one of the windows looking in while others in our group stood in front of the class. As the others departed, several of the children looked over and began interacting with me at the window. We had smiles and waves and after some time I made an expression that said…’oh, I’d better get going and keep up with the group…’ which caused a huge uproar of joyous laughter from the children! At that exact moment, I distinctly felt the strong presence of my Mom…she loved, taught music and brought joy to thousands of children during her life!

What a wonderful moment to sense you Mom! How Blessed I am to feel you and Dad here with me, along with all the family and friends accompanying me in Spirit! Thank you!

Many Blessings to you All,
Catherine xoxo

Ps…Fortunate I was to meet a few locals in the community we visited yesterday who I asked specifically about orphans and child headed households in the area. I was told that there are many and have been invited to come back to the community soon to meet with some of the children and learn more about the circumstances of their lives … Heartfelt thanks for keeping us all in your uplifting thoughts and prayers … xoxo C