Nairobi 1/29/10_Nairobi Childrens Home, Nairobi Kenya, with just five of the 95 abandoned orphans.

This is Irene Wairmu, the Executive Director of VICDA. She has been committed to providing replacement housing at several the Internally Displaced People(IDP) camps. These 'temporary" camps were established by Kenyan government. In 2003 The United Nations tents provided for the surviving Kikiyu people and thier families who were viloently attacked, killed or forced from their homes and land because they failed to vote for " suggested"  govrnement officials inthe 2003 elections.  The UN tents have become unfit to live in. A few  camps have a ground water, but no food is provided. Charitable contributions are the only means of survival. In visiting the IDP camps with Irene and meeting the people, once agian I am impressed with the intelligence and resilience of the African people. In spite of their starving and no medical treatment  or santiation facilities. They  able to be kind hearted, hopeful and resourful with the little they have.

These are a few of the 95 children at Nairobi Childrens Home(NCH). VICDA donanted the facility, but it's run by the Kenyan government run orphange. Most all of the children at NCH have been either severely neglected, sexuallly or physically abused and then abandoned. They were brought here by the local police. They suffer with emotional problems and various curable diseases( ring worm, scabies, impetago etc) .  It's a very difficult place to volunteer. The staff could care  less...

in Kenya/ Trip Week 6

12/4 We arrived in Nairobi on Dec. 4. The first week we stayed at the home Irene Wairumi the Exec. Dir. of our volunteer organization VICDA. We mostly relaxed and got to know Nairobi,kenya.  Jordan made friends with her 15 year old brother david, who was and briefly visiting  her on his to his village home from his Boarding School.  Irene is a 35 year-old single women who is vey dedicated to helping the neediest of the needy. She runs an organization that helps build schools, simple homes, hospitals and provides volunteers to those organizations.

Nairobi, is a very big, developed and commercially city. It is very much more developed than any city in Uganda.  It's pace is just like that of a big city in the U.S.   From what I can tell,  It has all the benefits of  capitalistic development,  as well as all the drawbacks.

Downtown Nairobi, Kenya  

12/7/10 Nairobi, KY, at the International Conferance Center

Uganda Summary & Relections/ Week 3-4 pictures

12/4 We had an absolute wonderful time in Uganda....very undeveloped  country,  but with such amazingly kind  and geneorous people. The WOMF/UGANDA or UCOM, teated us so well!  We experienced so much and  loved on the babies right up until the hour we left.   Jordan did not want to leave, but we had to move on to do  our volunteer work in Kenya

What's most revealing is to see  this country in "Africa" that is much different than what's portrayed in the media (TV and newsapapers). it's much much better than we expected As Jordan said "It's not at all how it is on TV.. the peple are very kind and not everybody is poor..In some ways it is better than the U.S". I also agree with him. Don't get me wrong, I've witnessed, first hand many travesties, some too horrible to put in writing.

But much what's keeping this country from moving forward is lack of infrastructure investment to provide adequate  health care for  life threatening  diseases and inadequate investment in basic municipal services(i.e, realiable and clean supply of water, good roads  and indoor plumbing,sewage treatment, power generation systems)

The next major issue is the death of the last 2 generations of  adult parents, due to the savage genocide years of Idi Amin's  leadership (1963-1986) and the lack medical care for curable an incurable diseases (1980- to current). This has left Uganda with greater than 50% of the population is less than 14 years old(that's 16 million children).  In fact, most people  under the age of thirty have been orphaned   and raised without one or both parents for most of ther lives. They lack parental nurturing and moral guidance.

The bright side is that these  young people are  resilient innovative, creative, self motivated and hard working people. Did I mention that they  are, very very smart!  In addition, they are very articulate and speak English better than most  of the Americans that I know. They are serious about getting a good education.   Despite the the quality of their education being unequal (especially the  poorest orphans).  they have high career aspirations. Jordan made many friends like this (i.e, Brian, Aaron, Mark, Julius, Paul, John).
Even those that are fortunate to get a college degree have trouble finding jobs. So many start their own small businesss and there are literally hundreds of thousands of small ramshackle businesses. Unfortunately,because lack of  infrastructure and poor business management skills  there is little finacial success and most are unable to afford adequate shelter. 

The final positive about Uganda is that this country is known as the Bread Basket of Africa! The soil and growing conditions are perfect for farming. Whether out in the village( bush country)  or in the "city" there is plenty of fresh food an people are well fed and fit. if  a person owns a plot of  land and they can grow all kinds of  tropical fruits(pineapples, mangoes, coconuts bannans of every kind,oranges) vegetables9 carrots, cabbage , potatoes) and a raise a variety of meats. In general the people are well nourished and fit from as walking the hilly terrain is a way of life .   The weather was a very pleasant (70-80F a)nd flowers were growing everywhere.   I often said that I felt like this region around Kampala Uganda was the "Garden of Eden) oddly mixed with undeveloped urban life). The economic growth in the region is good and there's huge business development opportunity here. It makes one want to go ....Hmmm!

We'll do our best to keep in towuch

Last 2 weeks in Uganda

These  are a few of the children at the Ckhlamblywa Orphange supported by WOMF/ Feed His Lambs Ministry. The kids there were so kind and very funny, once they got over how old I was! They danced and sang in traditional uganda style for us. We were only there for a day, but it was great. we played cards, jumped rope, played checkers and ate great food...especially the chipati and matoke with peanut sauce... mmmm!

At the equater in uganda on the masaka- jinja hwy.. 5 minute after this picture, it rained nearly 3 inches in 10 minutes, the temperature dropped 10 degress ..and then the sun came out and it was 85 degress again!

We took a quad ride through the village jungle..( theNile river is in the background)  while  in Jinja, UG.  First we took a 'boat" ride on the Nile River and saw where this river first develops water way leaves Lake Victoria. On the Nile we witnessed class 4 whitewater rafting on the rapids of Bugali Falls(which in 6 months will no longer exist, due to a dam being built for much needed hydroelectricty(ugh!)...  witnessed large rafts with  expert Ugandan(black) raft  guides! Next we saw wild komoto dragons speedily crawl across our path on the road as we were walking...What a day.. more pictures to come....

Week 1 Pictures

This is me(Jordan) with baby Micheal at Bethany House. At first  I was not sure  how to hold babies. Now I spend time playing with them and spending  time with them and let them  sit on my lap. I even climb trees with  4 year old Seti and 5 year old sanjo(Joy). 

 Annette(Left) nanny at Bethany House and Ester (right)  our wonderful housemom at Segeku Guest House. This is sunrise over Masaka, Uganda.

WOMF Missionsary work

1. The ugandan people have very humble,  kind,  gentle, generous spirits, even the prisoners.
11/8/10 : At 5:00 AM joined Pastor Mike on his daily visit to 2 village prisons (local jails). The final road into the village was very bumpy without lighting. The ministry reads scripture, dispenses life saving medicines, brings gifts (2 slices of white bread, a used shirts or pants, caps), makes calls for acceptance of Christ .  Most of these individuals arrested are "accused" of theft and must wait 3-12 months to get in front of a judge. The prisoners sleep on the ground, meals of ground corn & water. Most are barefoot and every day do +12 hrs hard, manual labor outdoors . While visiting the minister introduced Jordan and me and asked us to share "our testimony". For the most part of an hour or more,  the prisoners were very attentive and receptive. Jordan gave such an amazing speech, that touched their hearts and mine. When leaving first group of 60 villager prisoners...most were yelling "Goodbye Jordan!

It's the rainy season, so by the end of the day our shoes and pants were caked with inches of heavy red clay mud.  Jordan said" it"day was worth getting up at 4:00 in morning . I am convinced that commitment to this Prison Ministry is not done by choice, it's adherence to an undeniable calling from God!
2. The WOMF missionaries  are extremely committed and live w/out many of the luxuries of daily life in America, but live at a much higher standard of living than the Ugandan people around them. Many of them have very modest homes with toilets. Young ugandan girls help cook and keep house. But even for the missionaries, having available , clean water is a challenge. Some go days/months without running water. Sometimes the only source is catching rainwater then boiling "cups" at a time for food preparation or hygiene needs.


11/6/10 The Ugandan women are much more reserved when interacting with me... more reluctant to say hi,  or enter into repeated or continued conversations. As in the US & else where most of the men find it easier to have conversations with me and are friendly and open to talking about many subjects.

11/9: A new missionary group from Portland arrived last night. Seventeen healthcare workers. One brought her 12 old son. Jordan was estatic at the chance to develop the next termite eating kindred spirit. This morning, once again, he told me was going to join this second group of total strangers on an all day outing to the market place in Entebbe. I'm proud of his developing independence and courage. So many strangers have complimented him.. One said she believes he's destined to both "Have lunch with Presidents and Serve the poor". I feel blessed to serve as his mother....

Fir me, I'm spending the day with children at the baby house. LittleJohnny is 14 mos old and considerably "round". He is not walking but can walk pushing a stool.  He is sweet, yet doesn't like to exert himself.  When at the babyhouse, I like taking them outside we walk around touching and smelling nature, and letting the students at the bible college see and touch them. On the first day here, WOMF's Pastor Scott said that in Uganda, adoption is not very well accepted. Even if a relative adopts a child, the child is treated more like a servant in the household, instead of family member. 

One of the objectives of the WOMF infant ministry is to promote adoption and " role model" that adopted children are family members.
3. There is this unrealistic  assumption that  from the big smile on Ugandans face,  that they are happy. My interpretation is that Ugandans are able to put a "smile on their face" even when their personal situation is dire. They don't display sadness in "mixed" company or tell the missionaries about personal problems for fear they might be perceived as an unemployable or an unstable employee.  Because jordan and I are of African decent, they are more relaxed with us more open to sharing their personal spaces and stories with me.   There is undeniable kindred spirit here, in this cradle of humanity.
P.S.Jordan said to tell you that "Uganda is Awesome!"

First days in Uganda

This is a truely blessed trip. Yesterday was our first  full day here at Segeku village about 20 min drive from Entebee airport and Lake Victoria and the presidenital palace.   Jordan says it feel like "home"  in his spirit. I agree. It's late  spring and very beautiful, bright red soil, green rolling hills, song birds all around and flowering trees and bushes. There are two sides of  city life here... some very rich, a lot of poor.  In the city english lteracy is high. Seven years of education is required , but there are no jobs for even for college graduates.

Yesterday, we spent time at the infant nursery all of the babies here have been abandoned and are recuperating from life threatening illnesses. The great thing is  Ugandan Government works very hard to reunite the infants with next of kin. So it is a temporary  hospice facility. Initally Jordan was very skeptical about holding the babies, but before long he was on the floor tickling and playing with them.  Jordan became especially fond of John, a 14 month old "brusier" with big round and healthy and loves to eat. His little legs are so fat and he began standing about two weeks ago  and has been at the orphange since he was 3 mos old. My favorit was grace, who is 9 mos old, but is the size of a 4 month old. When she arrive at the  3mos ago  at hte orphange whe was severly malnoursihed, had TB and pneumonia and could not even close her fingers. Yesterday she was  sitting up, holding  rattle anf hitting me with it, smiling. relatives have been located so she will be reunited with family

 We are  staying at the WOMF guest house, a wonderful  home which temporarily houses up to 18 individuals on missions as they venture out to rural villages visiting and checking-in on sponsored needy children at schools and orphanages, newly establisehd churches. This morning Jordan went with a small group of  indiviudals to visit a 600 child orphanage/school that is a very rough 3 hour drive away.  He was very excited, I could not go becuase of my back and prayed about my concern of letting him go without me and God answered that  it was  part of his plan for Jordan's "journey" here . They left  in the fog  at 6;00 am this morning. So I am at peace and will carry on my day with out him.. I will go down to the bible college and then over to the nursery and get to know, Ester our cook, the students at the collge, Rachel at the nursery. Plus the Ugandan driver of the van and  the recent graduate ofthe bible college said" we will take care of him " he is one of us....

11/2 - The Departure

Day 1: The departue- We left Seattle for London on Tues.  Neikisha and her son took us to the airport. We arrived with plenty of time to spare.! Minor glitch...bag with teaching supplies too heavy(just repacked into extra empty suitcase) . I then received a personalized security escort( counter flow gate traffic ) to retrieve my red carry-on med's bag left on cart outside of security area across from check- in counter.  Angels watching over ....
The 9 hour flight on British Airways Flight to london was great. Great great service and very good dinner and saw a really good movie . "Salt" . after movie and dinner, I slept for the next 5 hrs and  Wordan watched airline movies for 6 hrs, then soundly passed out to sleep ..30 minutes before landing!!

Day 2: Arrived London Heathrow airport, Jordan promptly headed for Krispy Kreme counter. We then took a taxis to hotel (Crown plaza at airport...very nice) only issue WA we arrived hotel one day later than my reservation. ( just pleaded ignorance to hotel manager about forgetting difference in travel time/date ( got 50%off "our 2nd night's stay")!  Exhausted  we took a nap,  had dinner(of fish & chips & waffle)s.   Jordan is lovin' the trip. He said " mom the people in London are really nice. I expected them to be all proper and stare at me, but they act a normal, a lot like us ....friendly and helpful. :)

Bon Voyage Party

 Hi All! 
Last Sunday we had a great time enjoying the company of all who came to our party(see attached pics). Thank you all who came to share their love. Well it's 10 days before we leave! I am "planned out" .. I just want to get on a plane and go. Last Thursday we had lunch with the Founder of WOMF/Uganda. He sincerely thanked all who gave donations. He assured us that we are going to love Uganda and their people.... this eased Jordan's fears.