Many thanks for everyone's prayers and support of my trip to Africa. I returned home safely to my family last night. The trip was fantastic. The trip back to Kabaale Village was deeply moving. Last year I visited a place that had lost hope, a place where "whites" had never been. Since that time 2 groups have been to the village delivering God's love and showing the unconditional love that Christ spoke about in Matthew 22. Love God with your whole heart and love people.
We visited the school last week and it was the most beautiful school I had ever seen. Sure, there are schools with better desks, equipment and more spacious. But the construction of this school represents something much greater than any material things can overshadow. Life. Love. Hope.
The kids at the school are orphans and have watched one or both of their parents die right before their eyes. They have been abandoned, moved around, abused, neglected and some we met are HIV positive themselves. At the school they are loved and cared for by the teachers and for part of their day they can be kids. They don't have to carry water, for some they are taken out of physically or emotionally abusive situations. The teachers at the school love these kids deeply and if they detect an abuse they are trained to visit the homes and counsel the parents. The challenge is that the issue of neglect and abuse has been perpetuated for generations and to truly insitute change it cannot happen overnight and we believe that by loving, teaching and training the children, the village of Kabaale will be changed. The orphans of Uganda can be seen as victims but I believe that they will be the victors and with our help and support we can position them to rise above the situation and be agents of change in their homes, communities and the country.
This is the school that love built and the difference this is making in these kids lives will never truly be realized. I had the opportunity to speak to the 328 kids that are being supported. I shared with them that this school was not built by us but by God. He just used us to deliver it to them. While we are far away and not able to hug, hold and protect them, God holds them in the palm of His hand and can and will protect them. I realize that the greatest need is not more money, but that through our prayers we can call on the Living God to intervene in Kabaale village to provide protection and provision for these precious little kids.
We met a little boy who was three and had AIDS. This was not his choice, he is the victim here. We met a boy who lost half his leg and walks over 1 mile on crutches. He has risen above his disability and has become an inspiration in his home. We visited a home of 5 kids and one Mom who had just buried the Dad 4 days earlier and the grave was very fresh. Those poor kids had watched their father die then they had to dig and bury the Dad. We met a grandmother of 90 who lives in a mud hut and cannot stand but as we approached her door to deliver a mosquito net she was exclaiming, "Glory to God, Glory to God, thank you, thank you, thank you for coming!" She takes care of a grandson who abuses her but through it all she smiles and thanks God.
To me, these folks are true heroes. The definition of hero is: one of extreme admiration and devotion, one that shows great courage, one admired for a achievements and noble qualities.
Once again, we seek to help the people of Kabaale and I believe each visit has an incredible unrealized impact. But in the end they are the ones inspiring us to continue to share their stories and encourage others to get involved.
Thanks for reading and may their stories inspire you to do something, somewhere, whether in your neighborhood or in another country.
) which made short order of the difficult terrain. We spent time in the village viewing their wells and latrines. Prior to construction of a well they walked miles for water and would go to the bathroom outside their homes. The people were very proud of their new latrines which were brick structures with a concrete circle with a hole in the middle. A women who had a new latrine said that she felt like she could keep her dignity. Before they would be going to the bathroom outside and people could be walking by. The humiliation she felt was no different from how we would feel. Just because they are in Africa and have always done it this way does not change their desire and right as members of the human race to have access to clean water and basic sanitation. In bringing water and a latrine/outhouse that is providing a right that all people should have. And it can be done for less than $100 per person in the village. We spend that on dinner and movie or 1/2 weeks groceries or clothes shopping. Once of the most inspiring stories today was of an entrepreneur named Stanley who had 4 different types of latrines that he was selling as part of the Water for People Project. The local community determined that he would be a good candidate to run this program and he certainly proved that today as he showed us kids latrines, composting latrines and others so passionately. Once the latrines are full a tree can be planted where the hole was dug. Another latrine had the ability to be a compost producer. Each time the bathroom is used 1 scoop of ash ( to reduce odor) and 3 scoops of soil are added. Once full the hole is covered and in 7 months you have nutrient rich compost that would increase yield on crops. The owner of the latrine can also sell the compost to farmers. Today was a good day, much travel, hot sun, crazy hair pin turns and tomorrow we head back to Uganda via Kenya. We land tomorrow at 2:00 pm and we will head to Masaka for the night and then Kabaale Village on Thursday. Thanks to all for your prayers. Talk soon. Stay tuned...
