Angel

Meet my new pal, Angel.  She is 14 years old.  We met onsite at another borehole repair.  She quickly decided that we were buddies!  Very well spoken and curious girl! We played with my phone, watched people work, then I did some work, and then we walked to the market for salt.  Angel told me that she goes to school during the week and to church on Sunday.  She told me that she "asks God for things and he answers."  When asked what things, she replied, "knowledge."   She is 14 people!!!

 We asked Angel to walk us to the place where the village people used to get their water.  It was a 1mile walk.  Along the way, we saw coffee trees, cassava, papaya, mangoes, very large termite mounds and more!!

Below- this is where we ended up after a 1 mile walk.  This blue-gray liquid is the former watering hole for these people!  They are now able to pump water from a working well!  Can you imagine this?  I barely could.  The idea that I would have to walk 1 mile, fill my jerrycan with this stuff, and then carry it home was astounding to my brain.  This tree, oh this tree.  They believe this tree is very spiritual as is the water.  If you cut the tree down-it will grow back.  If you step in the water, the water will slap you!  watch out

It blessed me to work for 4 hours along with the team and UWP in the hot sun, get rained on for a bit, have muddy hands from the ropes and pipes, in order to bring these people water!  Give water, give life.

Culture

WOW!!  What a culture!

       Culture-- an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities and habits of the individuals in these groups.  We experienced authentic Uganda, no doubt. 

Uganda food consists overall of starchy staples like potatoes, beans, and cornmeal mixtures, greens, plantains, bananas, sweet potatoes, cassava, and peanuts. Posho, it is usually made from maize. Matoke, locally also known as matooke, is a starchy variety of banana. The fruit is harvested green, peeled and then cooked and often mashed or pounded into a meal.

This man transports a large bag of coal, on his bicycle, for the kitchen.  This was used to burn in the stove to prepare our meal.  Also, as we were walking into this restaurant, we passed a corner hut that had some raw chickens hanging.  Little did we know, that was our lunch! Fresh means fresh.  

 Muslim community school, we visited while on site to repair a bore hole (well).  The students were almost at the end of their school year, ready for summer break!!!

 Not an unusual site to see---buckets or jerrycans being carried home.  We quickly realized that the head and arms are the way to transport everything, well, almost everything!

 Jackfruit! Large fruit that grows on the trees everywhere you look.  Sweet but not a favorite of mine.

 Local market - -  so many choice items.  Each vendor beckoned us to enter their place and buy something from them.  "Sister, come to my store," was something I heard all afternoon!  (I had to leave some of my essentials behind just to fit the market items into my luggage)

Spiced African tea--- yes!  What a delight, for sure. So much so that I bought each component to bring home and share with my girls during tea time.  The tea is brewed in steamed milk and a special spice blend is added.  Think chai tea--but better!!

We had the opportunity to visit a Ndiri Troupe Cultural Center in the evening for a spectacular experience.  We watched the troupe perform Ugandan tribal dances as we ate a feast!

 These ladies could stack up to 8 vases on their heads and still dance around and walk!!

Very common to see woman carrying items on their heads

 Children everywhere! Those eyes...

                                                           ...draw you in!

Everybody was willing to help do the work, from the biggest to the smallest!

                                                               
                                                                ...those smiles just melt me!  

These people, though poor, are very rich.  Rich in what really matters!  What a blessing to experience this culture. To be immersed into the lives of an underdeveloped country. To eat their food. To walk their walk. To buy their artwork and crafts. To hear their music. To see them dance.  It was such an honor to be with them!

OLUZZI....the well

WATER!  Come to the well... we were able to go to several villages and repair wells! What a joy!  The community watched as the UWP team worked, the village people helped with their part, we watched, and we helped.  In the end, we were able to bring water to the people. Give water. Give life.

WATER

Red Clay

After an extremely long day of travel, we finally stepped onto the red clay roads of Uganda!

             Each of my senses were awakened fairly quickly.  Feeling the sun's heat warming my skin, the unfamiliar but lovely scent in the air,  lush greenery all around, blaring horns, and roads packed with motorcycles and buses whizzing by was overwhelming.  I found myself trying to take it all in, for an entire week!  

     We were a team of eight, headed by TJ(founder & CEO) and his wife Megan of HumanKind(HK).  They provided quality leadership and their integrity was evident.  Our first day on the ground was about learning.  We met with the crew at Ugandan Water Project(UWP) to learn about what they do!  These men and women have been hard at work in Uganda, educating and providing access to water for the people.

     

        This day of learning brought clarity to how this entire process works.  Let me share so that you too can understand.  The HumanKind Beverage company sells bottled water, green teas and lemonades around the US. The proceeds are given directly to their partners, like UWP.  The partners use the funds to do the work.  It's simple actually!  The UWP impact report speaks volumes to the work that they are doing.

        To meet the UWP leadership and crew, see the office and compound, listen to the process, touch the materials, and know that these people are making a difference was inspiring!  to UWP -- thank you for what you do

to Uganda

          My soul is satisfied when I am serving, helping, doing good.  I am most happy and fulfilled when helping other people.  It's who I am, how I'm wired and made by God.  I always dreamed that I would land in Africa and serve.  I never had an idea of when that would be or what that would look like.  I had recently been praying and wondering when it would happen.  That's when it dropped in my lap!
         This past summer, while I was working a night shift, I was scrolling through my fb page.  I read that Human Kind was planning a trip to Uganda!  My heart started fluttering in my chest.  I was overcome with joy and excitement!
      That night was the beginning of my journey to Uganda.  I began praying and considering what this would mean and how it could be a reality. I could not keep it from my mind - whether working, teaching, or sleeping.  I quickly began to realize that this was what I was made for - serving/helping and this was my opportunity!
       I had two weeks to make a final decision- which went quickly.  I received information, applied to become a team member for the trip, searched for my passport (which was expired), organized vaccines, sent out support letters, applied for a VISA and considered the travel to meet up with the rest of the team.
     Why Africa?  It breaks my heart to know that basic needs are not being met for many around the world.  It saddens me to see death, unnecessary death, when there is a simple answer.  Clean water,  something we here in America take for granted. Contaminated water is a reality for many people around the globe. The easiest and most sustainable way to save the most human lives for the least money is by providing life-giving, life-saving clean water.  This is the heart of HumanKind .