Saying our Goodbye

Hey Guys
Sorry the lacks of posts recently, things have been really busy here
for me. Plus on the days we have Internet it stormed so connecting to
the Internet was virtually impossible. Life here for me at least is
coming to a close. I can't believe that today is my last day in
Bundibugyo. It's amazing that time passes so fast. However, I know
that it is time for me to leave. For the past week, I have been
saying my goodbyes to the both the local people I got to know and the
team. Last night, we had a nice goodbye party for the interns and our
leader. It was very touching and I am thankful for the team's support
throughout this time here. They are amazing people and I want to thank
them all for t hat they do here and also for the emotional support.
One of the many things that I learned from my time here is how a
Christian Community should look like. I am honored that I was able to
live a portion of my life with these peoples. It was amazing time and
there is so much to tell everyone when I get back home. I will be able
to post my pictures in about a week. I am going to enclose a link to
all my pictures and key to tell you them.
I spent a few days in the Primary School this week. It was amazing
time because it was one of the few times that we (interns) are doing
our own thing. Most of the time we are going to help a team member in
their area of missions here. However, we had full control of what we
are teaching at the primary school. One intern taught about HIV/AIDS
prevention and about the disease. Another intern taught basic science
about chemical bonds, circulatory systems, and how to determine the
heart rate of a person. I decided that I was going to teach them about
the practice I have mentioned earlier on a post. This did not happen
because none of the kids would talk about it. I asked one of the
long-term missionaries here about that and they said that it might be
because if you talked about a tribal practice then the evil spirits
will come after you. So instead I did basic oral hygiene and taught
them how long are you suppose to brush your teeth and how many times a
day. Hopefully this will leave some impact because right now the only
dentist they have is one that pulls teeth. Also I taught the class
important ways to prevent Malaria. It was so much fun though. I really
enjoyed teaching these kids. It amazing that most of them want to
learn and are ethunastic about learning. Well it's about time for me
to pack and say so more goodbyes. Thanks everybody for your support. I
know many of you have been praying for me. Thanks!
Peace
J
Schedule of return
Monday-Wednesday Kampala
Wednesday night-Thursday London
Thursday-Friday Philly
Friday Night Home

So It's good to be in Bundibugyo again...

Hey Everyone,

So it's been a week since we left for Sudan. I am happy to be back in
Bundibugyo. It was a strange feeling of familiarity when we crossed
over the mountains. I couldn't help but get excited to be back in this
crazy of the place. I am starting to teach this week at a primary
school. I can't wait. I believe that I am going to teach about dental
hygiene and also teach against a strange custom that the local people
have here. When a baby has diarrhea, it is customary for the family
to go to a tribal witch doctor (for lack of a better) word. The witch
doctor then proceeds to use a razor blade to cut the baby's gum and
remove the tooth bud. This is a horrible process because the baby then
doesn't want to drink after their gums have been cut up. Therefore it
is often that a baby then get dehydrated and often faces serious
medical dangers. One of the team doctors told me about this and said I
should teach against it. I think it is a great idea. I wish I knew I
was teaching about oral hygiene because I would have brought more
toothbrushes and toothpaste with me. Perhaps, I can send it when I get
back…there have been a few things that I wished I brought here that
would have come in handy. These things such as extra toothbrushes are
mostly for kids here and not for my own use.
This passed week we got to experience more of the cultural practice
here. Well at least sort of, One of the short-terms here had a
introduction to the team here for his fiancée who came to experience
this place. It was fun celebration and we got to see how some of the
marriage practice would work in this cultural. Of course we did not
take the usually amount of times for this celebration (3 hours) but
nevertheless it was a good insight. It was fun. The very next day we
had the goat distribution. This is part of the nutrition side of World
Harvest Mission. WHM gives goats to HIV/AIDS positive mothers. These
goats have diary blood in them so they will be able to provide
nutrition in a place that is hard to get protein and other nutrients
such as calcium. It was a blast and quite the experience. The
interns and the kids were responsible in wrestling the goats. We had
to put a rope on them and led them to the person who is need of some
goats. These goats can be very stubborn but I had so much fun. It was
quite the day. Yesterday I got to teach a lab to Christ School for
Science Club. I am so glad that my bio teacher blessed me with so many
different labs to choose from. I actually did the lab on how disease
is spread in a given population. It is a great lab especially for this
area that has HIV and Ebola in their past. The kids responded really
well and asked many questions about different disease. I hope that the
students will be more responsible because of this experiment. I
actually have a good amount of hope that they will.
Overall, this experience has been amazing. There are so many things
that I can't possible take the time to explain over this blog entry. I
truly had amazing time and I feel that God has really worked in me. I
am sad to see that this is my last week. However, I know that is
getting near for me to go home because I have duties and
responsibilities at home such as getting a college education. Ha ha
Well it is getting near the time for me to get off the internet. Hope
all is well guys.
Peace
-J

Sudan and Safari!!!

Hey guys!
I am sorry for the late response to the blog but I have been traveling
for the past week. The trip was successful. It was amazing that our
truck made it to Kampala. Due to the roads, it takes 8 hours from
Bundibugyo, to Kampala. We squished in a pickup truck (seven of us).
It was amazing though to see the country side of Uganda. So after a
night in Kamapala we work up early to get to our plane. We flew to
Mundri, Sudan. It was a three hour flight plus a small break on the
boarder to clear customs and refuel. Those MAF flights are so much
fun! I love those pilots and would definitely encourage any pilot who
is reading my blog to consider serving for the MAF pilots. Sudan is so
different from Uganda. For instance, they treat women with more
respect and it's great. Also it is easier for me to relate to the
people. It was terrible to see the hospitals. For instance, the people
here are still feeling the effects of a 20 year Civil War. We saw kids
in the hospital who blew their hand because the picked up a grenade
and played with it. It was sad. One kid only had two fingers left on
one of his hand. Also the health care workers were also there working
for 12 months without pay. I feel that would never happen in
Bundibugyo. Then after Sudan, we went to Queen Elizabeth National
Park. It was amazing to see all the animals. There were elephants,
hippos, and lions. We even saw a leopard. That is incredibly rare and
quite exciting. I have lots of amazing pictures and will put them up
when I am home. I forgot a way to transfer photos. Well I have to go
help with some goats because of nutrition program.

Peace
-J