Ivan, Henry (14yr. old boy from Abba Home) began the painting of the second Abba House today! Yesterday we sanded the walls and had help from half the orphanage, as well as a family with 8 kids, and Judy from Canada. It was complete chaos, to say the least :) But we did get the sanding and the undercoat finished!
Today we added another undercoat and the top coat of paint to all three bedrooms. Turns out it is going to need a second layer, so Ivan is going to finish it up for me within the next week. There is now one bright red bedroom, one lime/granny-smith apple-green, and one cappuccino brown. The kids picked the colors. . .
We were covered in bright red and the only thing to get this oil-based paint off our skin was. . .petroleum. You can imagine how much I reek even as I sit here typing. I'm hoping I don't spontaneously combust at any moment. . .
Right now I am at Brent and Virginia Earwicker's house just down the road from where I am staying. I met them the last time I was here in Uganda. They are a family from Oregon who does work on the islands here and also at a church near Entebbe. They are feeding us stale Starbucks coffee that has been hand-crushed (no grinder) thanks to Seth's bright ideas :)
This will probably be my last post before heading back to the states! On tomorrow's agenda is going to Abba Home early in the morning to bring school shoes and clothes for the children, to give them the paintings my Vista boys made for them, and to have them paint pictures for sponsors and my Vista Health 3rd-5th grade boys :)
OH! Almost forgot--we are having a pool party tomorrow! It will only be the second time EVER the kids will be going to an actual swimming pool (the first was last year when Stacie and I took them) for the day. . . all 42 of them! I have recruited Ivan, Seth (friend of Brent and Virginia's from Oregon), and Judy from Canada to be life guards for the day. Most of the children cannot swim. . . Also we were able to purchase for the kids a meal of chicken and fries which is a HUGE treat for them.
Okay. . . back to stale Starbucks. . . thanks again for reading and I'll see you on the other side!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Saturday, August 28, 2010
3 days in counting. . .
Just 3 days left until I fly back to the States! I just returned from quite a long road trip to Kamuli, Jinja and Mityana. I was able to meet with the pastor and his wife in Kamuli and get a ton of pictures of the building of their orphanage, as well as sit down with them and write out a detailed list of cost of pricing for all the building materials. I visited with their kids some, had a lot of fun with stickers, bubbles and blow pops, spoke at their church gathering, and then headed back down to Jinja!
While in Jinja I was able to meet one of the tailors for Tukula (tukula.org) whom works with Joe and Melissa Terranova (Bruce's cousins!!!). It was so good to finally meet them and see their work, and we had a blast doing a photo shoot for the website (although it was QUITE toasty dressing 'fall-like' in the blazing heat), doing screen prints for the products, and meeting Esther (tailor).
From Jinja we went to Kampala to meet up with the Peases, who are the family Stacie and I stayed with last year while in Entebbe for 6 months. I stayed in Mityana for a few days with the family--soooooooo good to see them! Eric (papa), Colby (brother), Dan (Ugandan they work with/disciple) and I took a walk down to the water source which is a muddy hole in the ground, and were able to get some good pictures of locals fetching water there for possible future water projects. It has not rained there in 3 months!!! I don't think I've ever seen a dustier place. Not so good on the allergies :(
We headed back to Entebbe at 5:30A.M. this morning. . . still no good sleep since I left the states. . . And today Ivan and I and some others will be working on painting the second house of the Abba Home orphanage, and I will be meeting with Jackie to discuss the budget for the meal we will be providing for the kids on Monday.
Please continue praying for sleep, health, and safe/smooth travels back on Monday!
LOVE.
While in Jinja I was able to meet one of the tailors for Tukula (tukula.org) whom works with Joe and Melissa Terranova (Bruce's cousins!!!). It was so good to finally meet them and see their work, and we had a blast doing a photo shoot for the website (although it was QUITE toasty dressing 'fall-like' in the blazing heat), doing screen prints for the products, and meeting Esther (tailor).
From Jinja we went to Kampala to meet up with the Peases, who are the family Stacie and I stayed with last year while in Entebbe for 6 months. I stayed in Mityana for a few days with the family--soooooooo good to see them! Eric (papa), Colby (brother), Dan (Ugandan they work with/disciple) and I took a walk down to the water source which is a muddy hole in the ground, and were able to get some good pictures of locals fetching water there for possible future water projects. It has not rained there in 3 months!!! I don't think I've ever seen a dustier place. Not so good on the allergies :(
We headed back to Entebbe at 5:30A.M. this morning. . . still no good sleep since I left the states. . . And today Ivan and I and some others will be working on painting the second house of the Abba Home orphanage, and I will be meeting with Jackie to discuss the budget for the meal we will be providing for the kids on Monday.
Please continue praying for sleep, health, and safe/smooth travels back on Monday!
LOVE.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Road Trip!!!
Tomorrow morning at 8:30a.m. myself, Ivan (my Ugandan brother, my right-hand man) and Pastor Paul Basula will be headed to Kimuli to check on an orphanage that House of Friends started during one of their previous visits to Uganda. We will be getting pictures and video footage, and hopefully providing funds for doors and/or windows for the house.
From Kimuli, we will head to Jinja, where I will meet Joe and Melissa Terranova (tukula.org) in order to get pictures/video footage of their tailoring project as well as discuss future partnership with their ministry. I will also be meeting with Edwin in Jinja. He has started an orphanage their called "JjaJja Barbara's House of Angels" which is named after my very dear Canadian friend Barbara, whom I met in Uganda. I will be providing him with a laptop and digital camera as well as taking pictures and video of the orphanage in order to promote future funding for the project.
From Jinja, I we will return to Kampala where we will meet the Peases; they are the family Stacie and I stayed with last year in Entebbe, Uganda. We will travel to Mityana where they are now stationed, and I will be looking at a possible future clean-water project site.
On the morning of Aug. 28, I will be returning to Entebbe, where Ivan and I and possibly Judy (just met her today~!) will be painting the second Abba House, distributing school shoes to the children, and doing an art project for the sponsors involved in the Abba Water Project in the States.
Please pray for safe travel, health, and that all that need be accomplished will be done so in a timely manner.....also that visits with Melissa and Joe, the Peases, and Edwin are blessed.
Thanks for reading....feel free to leave comments....lets me know you're actually here :) :) :)
LOVE.
From Kimuli, we will head to Jinja, where I will meet Joe and Melissa Terranova (tukula.org) in order to get pictures/video footage of their tailoring project as well as discuss future partnership with their ministry. I will also be meeting with Edwin in Jinja. He has started an orphanage their called "JjaJja Barbara's House of Angels" which is named after my very dear Canadian friend Barbara, whom I met in Uganda. I will be providing him with a laptop and digital camera as well as taking pictures and video of the orphanage in order to promote future funding for the project.
From Jinja, I we will return to Kampala where we will meet the Peases; they are the family Stacie and I stayed with last year in Entebbe, Uganda. We will travel to Mityana where they are now stationed, and I will be looking at a possible future clean-water project site.
On the morning of Aug. 28, I will be returning to Entebbe, where Ivan and I and possibly Judy (just met her today~!) will be painting the second Abba House, distributing school shoes to the children, and doing an art project for the sponsors involved in the Abba Water Project in the States.
Please pray for safe travel, health, and that all that need be accomplished will be done so in a timely manner.....also that visits with Melissa and Joe, the Peases, and Edwin are blessed.
Thanks for reading....feel free to leave comments....lets me know you're actually here :) :) :)
LOVE.
Friday, August 20, 2010
sLeEpLeSSSS.....
3 days now. Three days and no sleep and it is starting to wear on me. Sleeplessness and jet lag don't exactly mix well. The first night I understand my schedule was off from sleeping all day/night on the plane. However, last night I was slo completely exhausted I was falling asleep in the midle of conversations. . . but when I went to bed--I could NOT fall asleep! I finally did, for about 10 minutes if that, but then awoke at 2:30AM to literally every single dog in the entire village of Katabi howling at the top of their lungs. No sleep after that.
And at 3:30AM!?!? The rooster, sitting just outside my bedroom window, decided to crow/cocka-doodle-doo, in 15 second intervals, for the next THREE HOURS STRAIGHT.
Ridiculous.
I finally gave in and got out of bed, realizing sleeping was no longer an option. And while walking down Wavah Road on my way to the orphanage, ran into a herd of cattle in the middle of the road. For those of you who have been to Uganda, you know this is quite a regular occurrence. I had two options. 1).Stay behind the heard and arrive at said orphanage in about an hour due to slow travel, or 2). Walk through them.
I chose option #2, and realizing half the village was watching the Mzungu(white person) closely, courageously began to make my way through the herd. These are angola cattle, by the way. Meaning. . . they have horns.
I was almost home-free when a certain black cow decided he was not so keen on sharing the road with me--and proceeded to run at me, horns and all, making full contact with my left arm and rib cage, and throwing me in a heap into the bushes.
And the onlookers?
They laughed, and pointed, and did not offer a single hand.
I got up, dusted myself off, and continued walking, obviously quite frustrated with the entire situation, which was magnified by my lack of sleep. I contemplated going straight to the school office to use internet and avoiding all human contact, but last minute decided against it and changed my route to go through the orphanage.
I was welcomed by the kids running, arms open wide, full speed at me, shouting "AMYROSIE, AMYROSIE, AMYROSIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And then I remembered. . .
This is why I am here.
And at 3:30AM!?!? The rooster, sitting just outside my bedroom window, decided to crow/cocka-doodle-doo, in 15 second intervals, for the next THREE HOURS STRAIGHT.
Ridiculous.
I finally gave in and got out of bed, realizing sleeping was no longer an option. And while walking down Wavah Road on my way to the orphanage, ran into a herd of cattle in the middle of the road. For those of you who have been to Uganda, you know this is quite a regular occurrence. I had two options. 1).Stay behind the heard and arrive at said orphanage in about an hour due to slow travel, or 2). Walk through them.
I chose option #2, and realizing half the village was watching the Mzungu(white person) closely, courageously began to make my way through the herd. These are angola cattle, by the way. Meaning. . . they have horns.
I was almost home-free when a certain black cow decided he was not so keen on sharing the road with me--and proceeded to run at me, horns and all, making full contact with my left arm and rib cage, and throwing me in a heap into the bushes.
And the onlookers?
They laughed, and pointed, and did not offer a single hand.
I got up, dusted myself off, and continued walking, obviously quite frustrated with the entire situation, which was magnified by my lack of sleep. I contemplated going straight to the school office to use internet and avoiding all human contact, but last minute decided against it and changed my route to go through the orphanage.
I was welcomed by the kids running, arms open wide, full speed at me, shouting "AMYROSIE, AMYROSIE, AMYROSIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And then I remembered. . .
This is why I am here.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
I AM HERE!!!
I am here! I arrived last night around 7:30p.m. and though the beginning of the trip was QUITE stressful, it all turned out more than alright. Here's here's how it went. . .
My friend A.P. and the family brought me to Bentonville, AR airport, where I learned that my flight to Atlanta was delayed. So--I proceeded to wait for TWO HOURS while the lovely Delta customer service lady called a bazillion people, messed around online, and eventually got my, tickets all sorted out. Not only did she get me on an Atlanta flight that afternoon, but she got me FIRST CLASS for the Atlanta to Amsterdam flight!!! Sadly, I only had eight minutes to make it from concourse A to concourse E (across the entire, very large, very crowded Atlanta airport).
Imagine, for a moment, a 115lb. girl, SPRINTING throught the airport, carrying a 35lb. pack. Quite a sight to see. I did make it, and excitedly made my way to 6A--my very first, First Class experience--window seat and all :)
I sat next to a man named Fred, who helped me with my luggage, showed me how to work my reclining chair, helped me climb over all the trays and champaigne and himself when I decided I needed to make a bathroom run in the middle of dinner . . . . :) He showed me the ropes of first class, and we talked of ADHD, clean water, and family. He was a psychiatrist from Amsterdam. All in all it was quite an amazing flight.
My flight to Entebbe, although not in First Class, was also quite amazing. The flight was not even half-way full! I was seated next to a Puerto Rican man named Rico, who told me of a friend he has in Entebbe (where I am staying) who works with autistic children! I got his contact information and I may be meeting up with her later this week.
After take-off I moved to an empty row--4 seats allllll to myself, and ended up passing out for seven hours. It was nice--but made for ZERO sleep last night.
Last night I crashed at my friend JjaJja's house. She is a missionary from the states whom STacie and I stayed with for 2 months the last time we were here in Uganda. As I said, I had no sleep, as well as an allergen and mosquito attack. Not fun.
Today I came to see the well and my kids!!! Jackie and I sat down and made a budget for the food for the well-dedication feast on Saturday. As soon as the money is wired to me we will be purchasing the food. The next couple days will be all Living Water International days-buying food for the feast, preparing for the dedication, etc.
I think that's all I have for now. Thank-you all so very much for prayers for my health (I was reallllly sick Tuesday morning) and for travel! Oh! Almost forgot, I also didn't get charged a single dime for any of my checked baggage!
Would love to hear from you all here or e-mail me at amyrose.tomlinson@gmail.com
My friend A.P. and the family brought me to Bentonville, AR airport, where I learned that my flight to Atlanta was delayed. So--I proceeded to wait for TWO HOURS while the lovely Delta customer service lady called a bazillion people, messed around online, and eventually got my, tickets all sorted out. Not only did she get me on an Atlanta flight that afternoon, but she got me FIRST CLASS for the Atlanta to Amsterdam flight!!! Sadly, I only had eight minutes to make it from concourse A to concourse E (across the entire, very large, very crowded Atlanta airport).
Imagine, for a moment, a 115lb. girl, SPRINTING throught the airport, carrying a 35lb. pack. Quite a sight to see. I did make it, and excitedly made my way to 6A--my very first, First Class experience--window seat and all :)
I sat next to a man named Fred, who helped me with my luggage, showed me how to work my reclining chair, helped me climb over all the trays and champaigne and himself when I decided I needed to make a bathroom run in the middle of dinner . . . . :) He showed me the ropes of first class, and we talked of ADHD, clean water, and family. He was a psychiatrist from Amsterdam. All in all it was quite an amazing flight.
My flight to Entebbe, although not in First Class, was also quite amazing. The flight was not even half-way full! I was seated next to a Puerto Rican man named Rico, who told me of a friend he has in Entebbe (where I am staying) who works with autistic children! I got his contact information and I may be meeting up with her later this week.
After take-off I moved to an empty row--4 seats allllll to myself, and ended up passing out for seven hours. It was nice--but made for ZERO sleep last night.
Last night I crashed at my friend JjaJja's house. She is a missionary from the states whom STacie and I stayed with for 2 months the last time we were here in Uganda. As I said, I had no sleep, as well as an allergen and mosquito attack. Not fun.
Today I came to see the well and my kids!!! Jackie and I sat down and made a budget for the food for the well-dedication feast on Saturday. As soon as the money is wired to me we will be purchasing the food. The next couple days will be all Living Water International days-buying food for the feast, preparing for the dedication, etc.
I think that's all I have for now. Thank-you all so very much for prayers for my health (I was reallllly sick Tuesday morning) and for travel! Oh! Almost forgot, I also didn't get charged a single dime for any of my checked baggage!
Would love to hear from you all here or e-mail me at amyrose.tomlinson@gmail.com
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Six Days!!!
I still have MUCH to plan and have not even begun to pack yet (no surprise, I know), but I am STOKED about the trip! It is looking like the evangelism/hygiene training via Living Water International will take place Aug. 19-21st with the dedication of the new clean-water well and feast on August 22nd.
Then, tentatively, I will be headed a little ways north to Jinja for a couple days to check out some possible future projects including Tukula (www.tukula.org) and JjaJja Barb's House of Angels (orphanage). I will also be visiting an orphanage started by House of Friends (www.houseoffriends.org) which is the C3 non-profit I am currently working alongside.
Following my trip to Jinja, I will be headed south to Mityana, where I will be staying a day or so with my previous host-family, and will be collecting footage/information on a future water-project for an orphanage the Pease family (host) volunteers alongside.
And then??? Back to Entebbe to paint the newly built house for Abba House orphanage, to shop for clothing, school supplies, food, and other needed necessities for the kids, to see to completion and collect footage for the building of the security fence around Abba House/New Life School property, and to plant new seeds and tend to the vegetable garden on the property which was planted during an earlier trip.
Dates are not yet set in stone--except for the evangelism/hygiene trainings. . .but I will be sure to keep you all updated and would LOVE to hear comments and/or receive e-mails at amyrose.tomlinson@gmail.com
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