Tuesday, June 30th. Full day for the mission team. Woke up for a 7:30 breakfast (well, at least some of us woke up. Some didn't sleep much, still getting used to the time difference. Others were woken up way too early by the sunrise call to prayer from a local mosque that could be heard loud and clear outside the windows of our hotel).
At Humble, Dave Bennett gave us a short tour and showed us the footprint of the brick wall we will be helping to build. Having never built a wall before, I was hoping I would become a skilled mason in no time flat. It turns out masonry wasn't what he had in mind for us today. Instead, he had us form a human chain from the top of a hill where a pile of bricks were laying to a worksite below. So for about three hours, we caught and threw eleven pound bricks (and occasionally dropped them on our toes or got hit in various parts of the body). Drew occasionally forgot he was throwing a brick and would toss it like a football and Kara would for some unexplicable reason add a spin to her brick tossing.
A lunchbreak back at the hotel was most welcome after this tiring work. After lunch, however, is when we got the biggest treat of the day/trip. We were invited to sit in front of all of the children on one of the Humble School porches while the children sang and danced for us and prayed for us. I was so overcome with emotion, I wanted to cry but figured the kids wouldn't understand why I was crying, so tried to cover it up. The feeling you get when you witness this incredible sea of beautiful smiling faces singing is one that cannot be put into words. There is just this tremendous feeling of love that encompasses you.
At the end of the fellowship, Drew presented the children with the 40 balls, jumpropes, frisbees, etc. he had brought from home and the children were so happy. Many thanks to Drew's friends and family and father's coworkers who sent the balls. They were truly appreciated.
Afterwards, we had some time to spend with the children and that was simply an incredible experience. Many of the children approached us wishing to thank those who had welcomed the children's chorus into their homes last year in Ashburn. I have specific names that I will get on here later either tonight or tomorrow since they are in my backpack and I don't have that with me right now.
It's just been an incredible day and I can't recount it all, but suffice it to say, I know now why I came on this incredible mission.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
We're Here!
Our team of 11 people left Dulles Saturday night and arrived in Addis Ababa Sunday night (Ethiopia time) for a scheduled layover. From what little we saw, Addis Ababa was a vibrant and eclectic city.
After another three-hour flight, we finally arrived at Entebbe, Uganda Monday afternoon, where we were picked up by Dave Bennett and Moses from the Humble School. Although we didn't get a chance to visit Humble yet, we have driven through Kampala and Mukono and walked a tiny bit around Mukono tonight. So far what little we've seen has been memorable.
We are very fortunate to have a great group of people on this mission. Ages range from two teenagers to those in their thirties, forties, fifties and sixties. We enjoyed a nice dinner/fellowship this evening and are preparing to head off to Humble tomorrow to start work on the wall and meet the children. We are all very excited by that!
After another three-hour flight, we finally arrived at Entebbe, Uganda Monday afternoon, where we were picked up by Dave Bennett and Moses from the Humble School. Although we didn't get a chance to visit Humble yet, we have driven through Kampala and Mukono and walked a tiny bit around Mukono tonight. So far what little we've seen has been memorable.
We are very fortunate to have a great group of people on this mission. Ages range from two teenagers to those in their thirties, forties, fifties and sixties. We enjoyed a nice dinner/fellowship this evening and are preparing to head off to Humble tomorrow to start work on the wall and meet the children. We are all very excited by that!
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Following is an email from Dave Bennett, who has preceded the team to Uganda.
Hi all,
Greetings from the Pearl of Africa. My travels to Uganda have gone quite smoothly, arriving at Mukono’s Colline hotel on Friday 1:30 am local time, only about 30 hours after I left Dulles airport.
Monday was my first day of work here. Vincent Ochaya, the engineer, Chris, the construction supervisor and I reviewed the scope of the work at hand. First up was to walk the entire length of the wall that will be constructed, at approximately 2100 feet, this will be a huge project that we will be helping with. We spent several hours just locating the survey markers that were installed about 9 years ago when the property was purchased. Several markers were completely covered by growth of the jungle. Our second task was to define a realistic construction schedule, taking into account purchasing and delivery of the tools and materials to do the job, hiring of the labor force, and all the logistical concerns to complete this project. We are expecting to have as many 45 to 50 people working at the height of construction. Early tomorrow we will meet with the surveyor and verify all the wall segments are aligned correctly as to the master plan. One segment of the wall will be built directly through an existing home that will have to be removed within the next week or so. There will also be an additional 500 feet of chain link fencing to be installed later. The mission team that is to arrive in a week will be mainly tasked with the movement of materials from the stockpiles of bricks, bags of cement, aggregate and sand to the different areas of work in progress. The movement of water from the well to our efforts will also be an important and necessary task for us. We plan to strap 4 water cans to a bicycle to help move the water up the hill to where it is needed. This should be fun, aargh. There is no way the wall will be completed during our stay, but we all will make a huge contribution while we are here. I am looking forward to the arrival of the whole of the mission team. May you all travel easy. And remember, that extreme patience is the key to an enjoyable trip.
That’s all for now,
Dave (Musai) Bennett
Hi all,
Greetings from the Pearl of Africa. My travels to Uganda have gone quite smoothly, arriving at Mukono’s Colline hotel on Friday 1:30 am local time, only about 30 hours after I left Dulles airport.
Monday was my first day of work here. Vincent Ochaya, the engineer, Chris, the construction supervisor and I reviewed the scope of the work at hand. First up was to walk the entire length of the wall that will be constructed, at approximately 2100 feet, this will be a huge project that we will be helping with. We spent several hours just locating the survey markers that were installed about 9 years ago when the property was purchased. Several markers were completely covered by growth of the jungle. Our second task was to define a realistic construction schedule, taking into account purchasing and delivery of the tools and materials to do the job, hiring of the labor force, and all the logistical concerns to complete this project. We are expecting to have as many 45 to 50 people working at the height of construction. Early tomorrow we will meet with the surveyor and verify all the wall segments are aligned correctly as to the master plan. One segment of the wall will be built directly through an existing home that will have to be removed within the next week or so. There will also be an additional 500 feet of chain link fencing to be installed later. The mission team that is to arrive in a week will be mainly tasked with the movement of materials from the stockpiles of bricks, bags of cement, aggregate and sand to the different areas of work in progress. The movement of water from the well to our efforts will also be an important and necessary task for us. We plan to strap 4 water cans to a bicycle to help move the water up the hill to where it is needed. This should be fun, aargh. There is no way the wall will be completed during our stay, but we all will make a huge contribution while we are here. I am looking forward to the arrival of the whole of the mission team. May you all travel easy. And remember, that extreme patience is the key to an enjoyable trip.
That’s all for now,
Dave (Musai) Bennett
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Crossroads is off to visit HUMBLE United Methodist School in Mukono, Uganda
Twelve of us are heading out this Saturday to visit the HUMBLE United Methodist School in Mukono, Uganda. We will spend the majority of this trip visiting with the staff and children of HUMBLE United Methodist School in Mukono, Uganda, and we will also be helping to build a wall on the grounds.
While in Uganda, we are hoping to spend time in worship at several different United Methodist churches in the area. Additionally, the trip itinerary includes a visit to Lake Victoria and the headwaters of the Nile River and travel to several IDP (internally displaced persons) camps in northern Uganda.
Come back and check out our blog often. We're planning on updating the blog as often as we can while we are there.
While in Uganda, we are hoping to spend time in worship at several different United Methodist churches in the area. Additionally, the trip itinerary includes a visit to Lake Victoria and the headwaters of the Nile River and travel to several IDP (internally displaced persons) camps in northern Uganda.
Come back and check out our blog often. We're planning on updating the blog as often as we can while we are there.
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