A picture post...

I think I'd better do this by category. I am having trouble with my connection today so I might have to post several times over the next few days/weeks/months/when I get back to Canada. We'll see...

Moments

This is just a photo of a little guy getting a cup of water from his filter but his expression cracks me up. I don't think he expected to be photographed.

One weekend Melissa and I went to visit our friend's parents WAY out in their village. This is me and the mamma having breakfast one morning. Note my dress. I love that dress.

This is baby Owen and his mom Allen (which is a girl's name here). We were able to help provide them with transport costs so Owen could go to a free clinic and get braces to help correct his club feet.


This is our backyard glowing in the light after an evening storm. Beautiful.



The children's choir dancing up a storm in church.

Queen Elizabeth National Park

Melissa and I fit in a quick trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park. It was quite the feast for the senses.

Stopping at the "equator" on the trip down. I am not picking my nose in this picture.

Our hostel at the game park was infested with warthogs, which is far more desireable than our bat/mouse population back in the village.


Ugandan Kob. These little guys are just beautiful!

Hippos!! (Oh, and birds. Some people are interested in things like birds. People like my dad.)

My favorite! Elephants!!!

Things that made me sad and happy (mostly happy)

Sad...the day my stash of delicious Three Hills honey ran out.

Happy...riding on motorcycles everywhere.

Happy...this girls buck-toothed smile.


Happy...a beneficiary still using her filter after five years and enjoying good health.


Happy...my friend Saida and her mom. I met Saida in 2001 during my first trip to Uganda and we have stayed in touch ever since. Saida made this wall hanging for my family. We love each other.

Work

One project we worked on during the month of October was shallow well construction.

The first step was to go with some community leaders to assess their current water source and the select a site for the new well. This mud puddle was the current source. Hard to wrap your mind around, eh?

The well was dug by volunteers and then the mason came to finish off the project. The community not only dug the hole and carried blocks to the site (heavy!) but pounded rocks into gravel by hand. That is some seriously hard work.

Carrying the blocks with the ladies.

Kind of like a barn raising. I really loved this day.

These guys dug this perfectly round hole (about 15 feet deep) BY HAND in a few days. They worked so incredibly hard. The picture is of the mason down in the hole beginning the brick work.

Children's Hygiene Fair

We created a Children's Hygiene Fair to hold at local primary schools in an effort to teach kids about good hygiene and sanitations practices. This is a shot of an assortment of SP staff and teachers from the school. I look quite happy because I'm so relieved the day was a success!

Here's my favorite game: toss the poop colored bean bag into the latrine slab. Moral of the story? Always use the latrine and not the bush (seriously, this is important, don't get grossed out).

Kids had to touch the paper latrine, and then run and touch a giant bar of soap and then a water can before running and scooping a spoonfull of beans into a pot. The lesson in all this? Wash your hands with soap and water after using the latine and before handling food.

Monica

Monica has now been home from the hospital for several weeks and is doing great! The burn is still healing, but the wound from her surbery has healed excellently well. Last week we drove out to her village to check on her, and we will continue to do so until her burn is completley healed.

Monica and I

This is Monica's great-grandma and caregiver. I really like her. She was SO happy to see us, but after saying "thank you" she hugged me for a long time and said, "Praise Jesus! Praise Jesus!" Amen, sister.

Monica just home from the hospital! Her great-grandma was so glad to have her back safe and sound.

Monica in the hospital prior to surgery with her Auntie Peace. Peace came along to take care of Monica even though she is VERY pregnant and left several small children at home to be taken care of by neighbors. She really is a hero.

Monica before her surgery.