stoves and jungle gyms...

Hello!!! I wrote a fantastic, and very thorough, blog about our weekend trip to Sipi Falls. However, my USB has apparently now resorted to not even displaying Word documents.. they just disappear. So for now I will just say hi, and will hopefully be able to come back tonight and upload my actual updates (and maybe a few pictures??)

The weekend in Sipi Falls was fantastic, and it is truly the prettiest place I have ever seen. I think I will have to return someday for a honeymoon or other such romantic getaway. Nowhere else will be able to compete.

Yesterday Amber, Kira, and I went out of town a ways to build the foundation for a new stove. It turned out to be kind of a pain-- super large and not enough cement, but luckily it all worked out in the end. It ended up being an almost all-day project and we were pretty worn out by the end. The cooks moved the fires they cook food for the students to the outside of the little wooden kitchen, which meant we were blasted from the smoke the entire time we were working. All three of us were tearing up and sneezing the entire time-- the smoke in my face was truly miserable. Whenever that happens while we are building a stove (which is quite often) it only strengthens my love for Adobe stoves and helps me remember whyyy we are building them. These cooks spend all day in such conditions, and the smoke spreads to the classrooms, causing bad health conditions for everyone. These new stoves will have a chimney which tunnels all the smoke up and away from the cooking area and classrooms. Hurrah!

Last night Amber and I taught our Nakazadde English group. I always have a blast with them because they are just SO funny. There are about 15 women, mostly older, and none of them speak any English. It basically turns into a little freak show with me and Amber standing and signing crazy things to them for an hour. We did manage to teach them several words for fruits and vegetables, as well as the days of the wee. They are amazing women who I look up to immensely, despite vast communication barriers.

So far today has already been very busy. I showered after I woke up (shower days are a BIG deal here, because I get to feel clean for a whole 3 hours or so) and then James and I went on 3 PWD visits. When I first got here, PWD (Persons with Disabilities) was the project I was most nervous about. I do not have very much experience with kids with disabilities, and that combined with language barriers made me very nervous about it. However, these visits have quickly turned into one of my favorite things to do here. First we visited Sam, who is blind and paralyzed. He is about 7 or so I believe. He is really fun to talk to, although he was in a bad mood and just wanted to lay and listen to his radio so we didn't stay long. When we asked how he was, the translator told us that he responded by saying "I just want to go home with them (James and I), I am sick of this place". I almost started crying right there. Every time I meet kids on the street, I truly want nothing more than to take them home with me. Luckily Sam has a good mother who loves him and takes care of him. It still broke my heart to leave.

Next we visited Sheila, who is about 12, with brain damage and a limp hand. Whenever we pass her house she runs out to greet us and is so excited to talk with us. She sang us several songs in Luganda, and then we taught her 'Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes'. She liked the song a lot, although I don't think much of the English will stick. She then walked us down to Fiona's house, which was our 3rd visit for the day. Fiona is absolutely adorable. She is about 7, deaf and mute, and the STRONGEST little girl I have ever seen. Right when we walked in she jumped up on me- she basically uses anything and everything as a human jungle gym- and didn't let go until I pried her off when we left. She just sat on my lap and clung to my lap while James and I talked to her mom about some of the goals we have set for her. Sam, Sheila, and Fiona are definitely some of my favorite little kids I have met here and make every day worth it.

I am off to a meeting in Jinja, but hopefully Ill be able to come back later tonight and upload the Sipi Falls stories!!!

xoxo