Life in Kampala

Hello Friends!

We have received several emails asking us what life is really like in Kampala, Uganda. I thought it would be interesting to take you on a small journey. Here is "A Day in the Life of the Vons" in Kampala.

5:30 A.M. We are awaken by the sound of thunder and heavy rainfall. Our bedroom window is leaking water on the floor. I open the curtains and mop up the floor. Cathi rises early to shower. She tells me, "I hope there is hot water", no such luck this morning, so she takes a cold one. I skip my shower this morning. We get on line to check email, and Cathi "skypes" with her sister. I go to the kitchen, open our 5 liter water bottle, and pour enough water into out electric kettle to boil water for coffee. Coffee is made in our "JetBoil", which we brought from home, and it has a French press adapter which has been very handy. Oh, did I tell you that there is only one electrical outlet in the kitchen, and one adapter for the whole apartment. This adapter is not a tight fit into the outlet, what that means is when we use the kettle, toaster, or microwave (yes, we have a microwave!) one needs to physically hold the plug into the adapter! So patience while toasting bread is now an acquired skill!

7:30 A.M. The boys rise for breakfast, chores, and school. The computer programs for homeschooling are far from perfect. Cathi is trying to master the math program, while I take a taxi to a part of town named Katwe. Here in Katwe, I am having a pedal-operated washing machine fabricated. I meet with the fabricator, exchange ideas and money, and I am taxied back to our apartment. (I am so thankful for our driver, Richard, who is so faithful, and reliable). Upon my return, I find Cathi still wrestling with the math program! She is so frustrated, that all I can do is give her a hug! Micah needs to take a math quiz, but the program won't allow it! Cathi attempts to "live chat" with the software company, but they work 8-5 Central Time! Ok it is 2:20 A.M. Central Time! This obviously won't work! They decide to print out the quiz, do it on paper, and move on to other subjects (Cathi will have to input the answers at another time.) I, in the mean time have run down with our bed sheets and towels and arranged with the manager to have a maid come and clean our apartment (this is included in our rent.) The rest of our laundry we do daily by hand, and hang dry on the line. I brought with us a laundry line and it has been very useful! Yesterday's laundry is sopping wet from this morning's rain! We pray for a little sunshine!

We have now had to fix lunch, and get ready for the "team bus ride" to Hope Children's Home. (Show Mercy has sent a team out to help with the home.) We leave our apartment for a short 10 minute walk to the Hotel Equatoria. It is a 45 minute bus ride to the home, and when we arrive we are greet by the children. It is always a beautiful thing! Cathi and the boys race off with the children. I have a few of the older boys with me as we inspect the work we have been doing. Jess soon joins us and we are up on ladders working to complete our project. In the mean time, Cathi and Micah are busy with the children, playing, loving, medical care, and being their friends. As much fun as this is... it is also emotionally draining. The afternoon ends with getting the bus "unstuck" from the mud, ferrying two team members to a local hotel, and the bus trip to the Hotel Equatoria.

On our walk back to the apartment(15 minutes coming back... it's uphill!), we arrive back at the apartment, too tired to cook tonight, so I have the brilliant idea to order Chinese take out! So Cathi gets the honor of making the call to the restaurant! Communication, especially via cell phone, can be extremely challenging! She and Jess walk down, pay, pick up the food and bring it back to the apartment.

The boys clean up after dinner and hope for a relaxing evening, but their laundry still needs to be done. Hot water is at a premium so I get into the shower. All follow my lead. As I completed my shower, now about 9:20, our friend Kenny knocks at our door. He is most welcome at our home and stays and visits until 11:30. A quick brush and floss, and we all fall into bed looking forward to tomorrow. Good Night!

Jerry

Peter Painter

Olyotya Friends!
(Hello how are you, Friends!)

This is the story I heard yesterday. His name is Peter Painter. He is an artist... hence the name, Peter Painter. He is shown above with one of his murals. I asked Peter how old he was, and he said that he would turn eighteen next month. "Wow," I said, "my mom's birthday is October 3rd, what day were you born on?" He answered, "I don't know." He went on to tell his story.

When he was born, his father left and married another woman. His mother and he eeked out an existence, but by the time Peter was six, his mother had contracted AIDS. He spoke of his memories, and being by his mom's side as she died. He told me how she spoke words of assurance and blessing to him.

After she passed, his father also died. He was a fatality of war. Then he was picked up by his aunt, his father's sister. She treated him poorly, as Peter says, "she abused me terribly, she beat me and several times left me outside the home as punishment." "So you had to sleep outside?" I asked. He said "yes she would throw out my few things, clothes and such, then lock the door. I had no where to go, so I would sleep next to the house. Then in the morning she would say, I was good for nothing, and could not be possibly related to her. She said she couldn't handle me anymore".

"So what happened," I asked. "She took me to my other aunt, my father's other sister," he said. "She was far worse, she was a drunkard. She beat me also. She died soon after. But I had a grandfather, my dad's father, but he was too old to care for me, so I was brought to a boarding school out in the bush. This was the most frightening time of my life. I remember it clearly. The village was more primitive then I'd ever known. The children had never seen shoes before... I took mine off. They worship idols and spirits in the village... they sacrifice children. I remember seeing all the children running deep into the bush because when certain men approached them in the street slowly, they were looking for a sacrifice. I remember hiding in the deep bush, trembling as the men approached. I remember praying to God for safety. I also remember once, I was laying down hiding right next to a snake, a deadly one, a cobra, and I wondered if I would live or die, but if I yelled out the men would find me, I could only pray."

"Peter" I asked, "how did you come to Hope Children's Home?" "My drunkard aunt passed away as well, and the aunt that couldn't handle me came again and took me to the home. Here is where it was safe. All of you people here, are now my family. These are those who love me and I love them."

Both Peter and I were in tears. I assured him that I loved him. I also told him that he was no longer a boy, but he is now a man. I don't know what the future holds for Peter as he will soon be 18 and I don't know how much longer he can live at the home.

Jerry

Kampala Kenny

Good Friends:

I would like to introduce you to Kenny. Kenny and his girlfriend Roy (I told Kenny that Roy is a man's name in the States, he just laughed!) have dropped by our apartment a few times to visit. Roy interestly enough, comes from a family of 26! Her father had 5 wifes, and has over fifty grandkids!

We met Kenny at the Hotel Equatoria, where we stayed upon our arrival in Uganda. He is a guard, who works from 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. When I started a conversation with Kenny, he told me that he was very nervous about his future, because he had an appointment with his supervisor to discuss the possibility of changing his hours in order to pursuit college.

On the next day I spoke with Kenny to learn that his boss, put him off a few days, so his anxiety level was rising.

We had found an apartment to rent, so seeing Kenny now, would be more challenging because we will no longer be at the hotel.

One evening, around nine thirty, I heard a knock on our door. Kenny and Roy came over for a visit! I still don't know how exactly they found us, but we were very excited to see them. That night, Kenny told us that his supervisor had allowed him to cut his hours, and attend college. He was so happy.

Kenny's parents are both living. In fact, Kenny still lives at home with them. But this wasn't always the case. When Kenny finished Senior 6, he moved out and lived with a friend. The situation didn't work out, so Kenny was out on the street. His living arrangement at home was very difficult as well. His father was abusive and as Kenny stated..."liked the drink". What I surmised was that Kenny was being physically and emotionally abused at home. All to say that going back home was a very difficult decision.

Kenny told me he was "born again", and that his last resort was to pray that God would change his father, so that is what he did. As my eyes met Kenny's I could see tears welling up, and then he said, "It was a miracle, my father completely changed!"

Kenny is taking courses in communications and has a dream of entering the
broadcasting field. He is very bright and has a great future in front of him. We regularly see Kenny (and Roy), they have come over to hang out, share a meal, and keep us updated on the latest Kampala culture. Kenny... you are a good friend!

Jerry

There’s my friend, Brooke!

Dear Friends,

Before leaving the US, I created a little photo book of Family and Friends. I brought it with today to Hope Children’s Home. I told Victoria, a beautiful 14 year old girl, that I brought this book to show her a photo of little Victoria, my friend Laura’s daughter. She was thrilled to see an American “Victoria.”

As we flipped through the rest of the book, I had completely forgotten that I had photos of the Santiam Christian team that had been here in June. Jess was a part of that team. What a commotion ensued, a crowd joined Victoria and I! Each team member was named with joy: Brooke, Jared, Papa Steve, Emma, James, Mama Barbara, Lauren, Seth, Hannah and on they went. What love these kids have for that team! As we went through the rest of the pages, there was one of team member, Brooke and I with our friends Alita and Emily. We had to show that page around to many. “My friend Brooke!” was repeated again and again. One sweet girl asked if I would please tell Brooke that she loves her and prays for her every day.

As we stepped on the bus, saying goodbye for the weekend, it really hit home with me how hard it will be to say goodbye to these kids, especially our sweet Esther. Both Jerry and I have connected particularly with this 11 year old girl. She sang praise songs for me today as well as recited a list of Luganda word/phrases while I videotaped. I weigh the happiness and love shared with the eventual pain of saying goodbye, especially for the kids. I pray that our love and prayers will strengthen and encourage these children long after we leave.

Love, Cathi (see Hope Children's Home Slideshow on the left.)

Oh, Esther has promised to teach me how to dance on Monday. She has no idea what she will be up against (for those who don't know, I am seriously rhythmically challenged.) Should be interesting and humbling!

If I Perish, I Perish... Esther 4:16

Dear Friends:

Sweet Esther, an eleven year old girl, told me her story yesterday at the children's home.

As I was playing with and entertaining some children, Esther was helping me to improve my Luganda language skills. I could tell the moment I met her she was special. She is quite intelligent, and at first I thought she was much older. I asked her how old she was, and she stated eleven years. I was taken back. Her self confident manner and her articulate speech put her, in my mind, many years older. However, if you were to see Esther, with her slight frame you may place her at eight or maybe nine years old.

After a morning of singing and dancing, we had lunch. We all ate and enjoyed some rice, beans, chapati, and tea. Following lunch, we played some more and sat down to learn about each other. All of the stories I heard that afternoon were sad, touching, and yet had a glimmer of hope. Esther's story struck a chord, one of dissonance, that made me look inside my own heart.

We were sitting on the front steps of Hope Children's Home, when I asked her to tell me her story. She was almost reluctant, yet something inside her also wanted to share, because I sensed that by telling someone... healing can come. Her voice suddenly became quiet. She was no longer speaking English, but fell back into her native tongue. Another young girl, Mariam, translated for me. A precious young boy, Frank, also assisted me as he was closely snuggled up to my side. Her first words were spoken to the side, so maybe we wouldn't hear her. I asked her face me, and she obliged. She now spoke even more quietly, slowly, and introspectively. She was lost for several moments in her thoughts, probably recalling those days of pain and abandonment. Then she spoke. She told me that she doesn't remember her mother. She doesn't know if she is alive or dead. She does remember her father...she was six years old at the time. She remembers a conversation around money, and how he told her that he couldn't afford to keep her, he had no money to pay for school, clothes, or even food for her. So her father took her on a journey... as Esther recalls... "He took me to the pit." I questioned her, "Esther I don't understand, what is the pit?" "You know, it is where they put the rubbish. He left me there to die." Her eyes stared straight ahead, there was no expression on her face, no emotion. Hard and cold. I asked again in disbelief, "How old were you?" "Six years" she said. I continued my probing. "So how did you end up coming to Hope?" She stated that a neighbor came out looking for her when news of this came to her village. "She took me to the home and now that was 3 1/2 years ago." "How long were you in the pit?" I asked. Again her face went to stone. Speaking in her own tongue once again, Miriam said, "She doesn't remember".

I held her, tears in my eyes, yet her eyes were dry. Then I reassured Esther that she is in a safe place now and that she is loved. I tried to communicate that good fathers would care for their children in any circumstance, and that they would never leave them. She shook her head in agreement and met my eyes in a stare, to confirm that I was telling her the truth.

Earlier in the morning, Esther told me how she has dreams of becoming a physician. She told me how she wants to help her people. I said that was just like the Esther in the Bible. She said she would love to study in America. She said when she is older she will visit me in Oregon. I would love that.


Jerry

Meeting Douglas

Hello Friends:

I first met Douglas the day we were searching for an apartment here in Kampala. We drove up and asked to view a two bedroom place. The receptionist (Harriet) directed us to Douglas who graciously showed us this dwelling. His English was very clear, and he mentioned that his mother lives in the States, she resides in California. He was quick to point out all of the amenities, and showed us our balcony view of the pool, and also mentioned that each room has air conditioning. However, at this time, we continued our apartment search, because this place was (we thought, and is!) too expensive.

After searching and comparing prices and location, we ended up back at the "Prestige Apartments", where once again we were greeted by Douglas.

We quickly got settled into our apartment, though it did smell a bit funny. We needed to take a grocery store run to buy food and room freshener, and a few other odds and ends.

Douglas and Mr. Hassan (we are not too sure of Hassan's job, but he's a nice man) made us feel welcome and secure. Both men were quick to be at our beck and call, locating us taxis, walking us to the local Indian market, taking us to the bank, and making sure we were satisfied with our apartment.

One evening after work, Douglas came over for a visit. (This, we are finding is not unusual for Ugandan culture, and we feel honored to have had many come by). He talked to us for a while, telling us his story. His mother left he and his brother at an early age, so he was raised by his father. At the age of fifteen, his father died, and then he was supported by a family friend. This friend paid for his education (through "Senior 6" equivalent to our high school graduate), and then sent him into the world with his older brother to fend for themselves. Though his life has not been easy, he has such an appreciation for what he does have, and hope for a good future.

Douglas told a story of how it is so easy to envy other peoples things... like shoes for example. He said it would be so cool to have a nice new pair of shoes...Nikes or maybe a pair of Pumas...in his eyes, I see him lost for a moment in his own dream. Then he says resolutely, "but when I feel sorry for myself and think why can't I have those shoes, I see a man without feet. It brings me back, to be thankful for what I do have." This is Douglas. He is a young man wise beyond his years. He has told us numerous stories, most are funny, some are of how humble he feels, and some stories are very "proverb-esk".

For this 20 year old young man, I pray for a safe and prosperous future. I am a better man because of knowing you, Douglas.


Jerry

Mind in the Gutter?

Hello Friends!

The real work began this morning. My mind has really been IN the gutter ever since this project of a rain water storage tank was introduced. We determined the placement of the tank, then we hung the gutters, and chipped out a concrete slab in order to lay pipe in a trench, safely out of the way of the children. The work was slow at first, but once the boys got the "hang" of it, everything moved along well. The children at the home were in school, so at first it was just Brian and I and our two 15 year old boys, Ben and Jess. Then, the kids had a mid morning break and once again we were surrounded by masses of little ones. Some of the older boys eagerly lined up to help, so for the short break, we obliged and off to work they went! We still have quite a bit of work in front of us, but what a great start! In the upcoming days and weeks this project will be completed. Then the children's home will have a faucet for laundry, one for the latrines, and one for the kitchen. BTW... my mind was in the rain gutters of course!

Jerry