Strength Like I Have Never Seen

Visiting the school was an amazing eye opener. You would not believe the conditions of this school.
Even with barely anything... their smiles are intoxicating!
I was finally able to give Cece the radio Sara and I were able to get for her. The radio will help her know when to take her medicine and give her something to listen to. Her son (in the yellow shirt) is a brilliant young man. He is the one who takes care of his mom.
This is Cece saying goodbye while "seeing" me with her hands. She was laughing at how my hair felt.
This is the bathroom that must be finished! Under these boards is a 15ft. hole with people waste in it. I can't imagine trying to go to the bathroom here, especially without sight!

The sound of children enthusiastically singing, chating, smiling, and learning was the beautiful greeting I had from the walls of a building that had no business holding these incredible children. The school we visited today had nothing in it except for desks, walls, and barred windows (and I say windows very loosely for there is no glass in these windows). I saw a mirror image of what I have been looking at all week in Africa: broken down buildings, peeling paint, bare bricks showing with broken corners, no running water, no lights, dirt floors, horrible conditions... yet breaking through this depressing shell is the most beautiful, vibrant, strong, and brilliant people I have ever seen. I never thought such good could exist in such bleak surroundings. It makes me wonder what incredible, world changing influences could come from the Ugandan people if they had a chance to have access to all that we do. I asked the headmaster what they need (as if the obvious wasn't screaming at me). She started with the need for technology but by the time we were done talking, they basically need everything! When I show you what these kids endure to go to school... you will see what I mean about strength.

This may be my last entry. Tomorrow we head on a safari and it is a two day adventure. When we return from the safari we head the next morning for London. So... here is the end of my blog thoughts while in Africa. More will come once I leave this rich soil, prepare the video, look through my journal, and fully allow the last week and a half to inbed itself into my life. I am honored to have spent a sliver of my journey in this country.

While I have your eye, ear, and heart take a look at what is going on in Northern Uganda. Look into Invisible Children (Parents please look ahead of time, although it is real... it may be more than your child should see). What is going on in Gulu, Kitgum and southern Sudan is even beyond the level of poverty my eyes have seen. It is the scariest and most evil thing in our world. So on that positive note I say goodbye and goodnight.

Never Hit 'Em

This is Sarah... an orphan.

Nate! This is your boy Brody! I can't wait to tell you this young man's story. He is truly one of the most amazing people I have ever met... and he is your sponsored family. He is an orphan all alone. This picture bears amazing significance. I can't wait to share it with you and Jaime.

Hey kids! This is a group of students from a school that I was able to "trade" soccer balls with. Just wait 'till you see what they call a soccer ball!

I wonder what is on this man's mind?

Sara, this is one of our families. Their father has polio. You would not believe how grateful they were. Carters... do you recognize the soccer ball?

My dad always says, "Never hit 'em" anytime we have a close call driving the car. Thank God We could say that today. Not only were we driving on single walking paths through the mountains of Kamwemge with a bus, but the drive home at night on a single lane highway used by pedestrians and every imaginable mode of transportation practicing "highway chicken" made me press hard on the floor (pretending to step on the brakes, as if:).
The most important thing about the last two days has been the families and people we have met. Sara and I are able to sponsor two more families. One sponsored family is actually a man who needs desperate help with elephantiasis. The second family has a man who suffers from polio. I was also able to pick out two families for my parents and one amazing orphan for my brother and his wife. Each of these people have an amazing story. I can't wait to tell you about it when I get home!
I apologize for the space of time that has past between entries. I had every intention to add something every day. I could not help the power-outage or the downed internet :) but I am back in swing. After three days it would be impossible to give you the thoughts I want without staying up all night typing. I will save my ideas and stories from these last few days for the night I present this trip to all my supporters (TBA).
Paige, thank you for asking such good questions! They speak primarily English! Can you believe that? Even signs are written mostly in English. Ugandans also speak Luganda. I have to listen very carefully to understand their English. Tristan, thank you for your encouraging words. I can't wait to tell you all about it.
I am SO excited for tomorrow! We get to go to a school!!!! I am really trying to get some connections for Antelope Trails so we can get involved in helping Uganda. I will let you know how it goes tomorrow... Lord willing:).

The Pearl of Africa

Our bus draws attention as kids yell "Mzungo"(moozoongoo)

Winston Churchill said once after touring all of Africa that Uganda is the "Pearl of Africa". You can literally throw any seed on the ground and it will grow. After the drive to Mukono I can fully appreciate that. Huge green plants are everywhere! We were able to get into some real remote areas. Seeing the huts that people lived in was astonishing. Stick frames and mudded in walls was the construction of the huts. Wait till you see the video of this one!!

My Worldview Smackdown

I have nothing to connect to. I look out the window as we drive to the northern slums of Kampala. My background knowledge serves me very little useful information. Remember kiddos how I tell you to connect what you know about your world everytime you pick up a book and read? Well I can't make that connection. Only one out of every 200 things have any familiarity. Like reading a book and all you recognize are the words: and, the, like, and because. All the other words just don't compute. Are you following my analogy:)? Go outside and take a deep breath or even take a deep breath where you are. You recognize that smell, or should I say lack of smell, right? Now go out to your garbage and burn it. (Not really... but imagine if you will:) As your garbage burns take a deep breath. No matter where I go around this city... that smell (although constantly morphing due to the variety of items in trash) fills my nostrills. The only connection I can make with that... is the campfires as a little boy throwing a wrapper to some food item into the fire just to watch it burn, or the times I melted a G.I.Joe figures arm so I could attach some hecka-sweet weapon to it. Do you think those memories help me understand life for Ugandans? Yeah... not so much. I have ZERO schema for walking through a three foot wide alley with open urine/feces running through it whilecarrying water in two three gallon containers. I will probably have to throw those socks and shoes away, right Sara?
Although my background has very little to connect with what I did today... I am quickly gaining new memories and experiences that will make me a new man. Today (for example) I was able to take part in demolishing a rotten home and then start the foundation for a better one. The families house that we were working on today is the same family Sara and I chose to sponsor... TODAY. Her story is one of the most tragically brave histories I have heard. *Parents please pre-read this so you can filter what you need... Her husband (whom they believe had some mental illness) had come home one day in a rage. He killed 3 people (one of whom is my support families grandmother) and had beat Cece to near death. All the while, the youngest daughter (Brenda) watched it all happen in front of her. As a result of the assault, Cece is now blind with other complications. Cece also contracted AIDS from her husband. When the community found out that this happened, "mob justice" was put into action and the mob killed the husband. This is not some sick movie... this happened to a family. Until now Cece had no help. Her health was going down, people eventually went on with their lives, and Cece had a crumbled life. Horriffic memories, no sight, a family to take care of, and no one to help. But now, we start putting her life together, one thing at a time. Tomorrow I will get her a radio so she has something to listen to and a way to hear the time so she can take the meager pills they give her to help with the AIDS. I need to get her one of those hand-crank powered radios so she will not need to rely on batteries for her radio. Obviously that kind of radio doesn't exist here in Kampala... so I will have to get her a battery powered one until I can find a cranking one. We also need to put a "bathroom" (in quotes because it doesn't look like any bathroom in North America:) into her house and what we were able to raise financially doesn't pay for that. Cece is blind and has to walk about 25yds. to the nearest place to go. In some places there are wide open 4ft. x 6ft. (and bigger at times) holes where people go to the bathroom and these holes are NOT covered. These holes are about 15 feet deep. So I need to get her a place to go to the bathroom in her house. I will find out this week, hopefully, what that will cost.

While tearing down a decrepid house and getting the foundation set for the new one I was overwhelmed. Dozens of Ugandans watched us while we worked. Children with torn and dirty clothes, barefeet or flipflops that were way too big for them were all around us. No school... they can't afford it. Their toys... basically trash. I have already described the smell in the air and much of the ground I walked on. Oh, and yes... these children played on ground like the ally. My words are so futile. These conditions are just above description... but I will do my best. Tomorrow we head to a place no where near the city and the conditions are even worse. Again, I have no idea what that means. Stay tuned and I will give you what I can of that journey.

UGANDA!

We land at 7:45am in Entebbe and get through customs. Ben and the family are eagerly waiting to pick us up. After the most unbelievable drive (you'll understand what I mean when I show you the video, and quite honestly I had to video this part of the trip due to the sheer overload of what I was seeing), we arrived at the compound (in Kampala) where we will stay most nights.
The compound is guarded by an armed (AK47!) guard, Okiellia. He is pictured here with me as I brought him TUMS. He has been needing these for days and they apparently are not cheap to come by. And yes, I am wearing the same outfit I have been wearing for the last three days now! I am typing this blog with the same outfit on. What smell?
Tomorrow we head into Kampala to demolition Cissy's house before a new one is built for her on the same plot of land. You can know a little more about Cissy's story by looking at GFR's blog which can be clicked on right above my family picture. Sara, I think she would be a great person for you and I to sponsor:). I will look into that.
The weather is not so bad. Humid of course, but not unbearable. I am amazed I am still awake. In the last 72 hours I have probably gotten 4 hours of sleep... and that sleep was done in an airplane seat. I am here! I am healthy! I am eager to get to work.

10 hour London Layover :(

Shall I sit in the airport for ten hours while London sits beckoning my feet to walk along it? I took to the streets of London while waiting for the final flight for Uganda. I walked by Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and a perfect park bench where I sat to think about my journey. Even while being among all the tourists and the constant buzz of history, I kept my thoughts on the trip ahead. I had a wonderful opportunity to talk to a local British chap (John) who sat on the bench next to me. John is an architect for schools (ironic?) and we talked a while about England's conditions with education. The whole time we talked I was amazed by how much our countries struggle with the same issues.
I look forward to coming back here someday with Sara and truly exploring the rich history. I literally sat 100 feet from Joan of Arc's grave!













I took all these pictures by myself!

You know, the old "hold the camera up and hope you center the picture just right." (tee-hee)

My amazing Wife and I ready to slam Zoom Floom in Browns Canyon on one of the most perfect days I have ever had!

Rafting with the boys.

12 Days 'till Impact

Uganda is...closer.

I know I am not prepared mentally, emotionally, and perhaps physically for this adventure. That lack will push me to rely on the One who gives me all that I need.


Sara Jean: I love you! Your support, prayer, and love puts energy and power in this body of mine. I need you. Thank you for encouraging this path for me. I will return a better man, husband, leader, and friend.

To my amazing students: I know we talk about editing and proofreading before publishing. I will do my best to use the writing skills needed to communicate well. But some of the thoughts and ideas that are displayed in this blog may need to just be written the way I feel them. So look at this as a journal or a conversation on paper. I will make mistakes... and that is the least of my concerns right now. Maybe one of you can edit these blogs with correct spellings and punctuation to help me publish it one day. I love each of you and am excited to share this jouney with you. Thank you again for raising so much money to help put me here in Uganda. I will represent Antelope Trails Elementary School's IB Profiles and Attitudes to the best of my ability. I can't wait to return to you!

Family and Friends: Thank you for all you have done to support this trip financially and prayerfully. I can't wait to return and share this experience with you.


As I sit here in the spare bedroom of my comfy relaxing town-home typing this I know something massive is coming. Something is going to transform what I know about life, what I expect from life, and more importantly...what life will be able to expect from me. It is almost like I am looking at the last days my American-boy worldview. In less than a month it will all change.

With a humble heart, a willingness to learn, an impending broken heart, and an open mind to see the beauty of another culture I eagerly await my time in Uganda.

JJ