Friday, November 30, 2007
Prayers for disease
Last night it was reported that the neighboring villages where some fellow missionaries live have a break out of ebola. So far in the one village it is around 79 deaths. They are not sure if they are going to quaranteen it or not but it has already begun to spread to other villages. It has no cure and they haven't seen it this far west in Uganda before. Please pray that it will not continue to spread to Fort Portal and for the safety of the missionary doctors helping out.
I am now a teacher!
Hello everyone!
Well, I have now been here two weeks...man, it feels like centuries. I taught my first class today! Yes, I am now officially a teacher...scary thought. = ) I stood up and wrote math problems on the board and helped the children answer them in their notebooks. Walked around with as stern as a face as I could muster so they would do their work and quit talking. Then I graded all the problems and handed them back. It was so much fun but quite a shock to find out that in just one of my classes P3 (3rd grade) there are 78 students!!!! Can you believe that! I was shocked to realized I would be teaching around 150 different students and need to remember their names and everything. Thank goodness that my memorization skills are up to par. Here in school it is very common for the teachers to beat the students with reeds. I witnessed my first beating today. It is not as if they beat them to a pulp but they do make them lie down and they beat them on their bottoms. It is hard to get used too. But evidently the parents expect their children to get all their discipline at school. I won't be doing any beating, thankfully they don't expect me too. They start their exams Monday and I will be grading over 5,000 problems...yikes! Cassie and all you teachers have my utmost respect right now!
Well, I have now been here two weeks...man, it feels like centuries. I taught my first class today! Yes, I am now officially a teacher...scary thought. = ) I stood up and wrote math problems on the board and helped the children answer them in their notebooks. Walked around with as stern as a face as I could muster so they would do their work and quit talking. Then I graded all the problems and handed them back. It was so much fun but quite a shock to find out that in just one of my classes P3 (3rd grade) there are 78 students!!!! Can you believe that! I was shocked to realized I would be teaching around 150 different students and need to remember their names and everything. Thank goodness that my memorization skills are up to par. Here in school it is very common for the teachers to beat the students with reeds. I witnessed my first beating today. It is not as if they beat them to a pulp but they do make them lie down and they beat them on their bottoms. It is hard to get used too. But evidently the parents expect their children to get all their discipline at school. I won't be doing any beating, thankfully they don't expect me too. They start their exams Monday and I will be grading over 5,000 problems...yikes! Cassie and all you teachers have my utmost respect right now!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Torro Babies Home
My main focus until school starts is the Torro Babies home. I visited for the first time a few days ago and it nearly broke my heart. I told the Head Mistress that I would be back every day except Sundays from then until school started. There are about 40 babies there a mixture of healthy, mal-nutritioned, and HIV positive.
It is a real struggle. You walk in and all the toddlers come running to attack you with their sticky hands and mushed up grass hoppers (a specialty here). If you forget to take all your jewlery and special clothing off, prepared for it to be pulled at. They fight to sit in your lap pulling each other off. They wrap their arms around you neck so tight you can hardly breathe and yet don't know what they are saying as they jabber at you in Torro a mile a minute. I bought a ball for them today and it was fun to have them running around playing. After about two hours with the older kids I sit down on the cement porches with the babies who are set out there for the day.
The babies either have no diaper or have soaked through the one they have on. As they make a wet puddle, they are moved and set in another spot. The first day I constantly cringed as I would feel the wetness soaking into my clothes from holding the babies. Some are rolly polly babies and others have arms and legs that are twigs and yet will be one or two years old. They wrap their tiny arms around any part of you. After sitting and just holding for a while, we move in for lunch.
Their are about 8-10 kids per small room each with his/her own crib. I help feed and clean the older toddlers and babies. Then we move to the infants who you wouldn't even know where there. 2 weeks old, 5 months old.....tiny babies in cribs all day. I feed them bottles and just sing to them while the other crawl in bed for nap time. It breaks my heart each time I walk into a room and realize there are more babies in each corner every day that I didn't know about the day before.
It has been a real struggle for me. I want to cry for each child and yet it does no good. They greet me with huge smiles and I force myself to continue smiling until I leave for the day. I want to shower....wash away the urine, spit up, poop, left over food, filth, and any trace of HIV each time I walk home. And yet, I hold onto each baby tighter each day...hoping if I get enough of it on me, they will have to endure less of it. And yet it is the children and babies who show me God's pure happiness each day. They laugh and play through out it all and are happy to be alive. I pray that I will learn to be so thankful for everything I have and love my life to it's fullest.
It is a real struggle. You walk in and all the toddlers come running to attack you with their sticky hands and mushed up grass hoppers (a specialty here). If you forget to take all your jewlery and special clothing off, prepared for it to be pulled at. They fight to sit in your lap pulling each other off. They wrap their arms around you neck so tight you can hardly breathe and yet don't know what they are saying as they jabber at you in Torro a mile a minute. I bought a ball for them today and it was fun to have them running around playing. After about two hours with the older kids I sit down on the cement porches with the babies who are set out there for the day.
The babies either have no diaper or have soaked through the one they have on. As they make a wet puddle, they are moved and set in another spot. The first day I constantly cringed as I would feel the wetness soaking into my clothes from holding the babies. Some are rolly polly babies and others have arms and legs that are twigs and yet will be one or two years old. They wrap their tiny arms around any part of you. After sitting and just holding for a while, we move in for lunch.
Their are about 8-10 kids per small room each with his/her own crib. I help feed and clean the older toddlers and babies. Then we move to the infants who you wouldn't even know where there. 2 weeks old, 5 months old.....tiny babies in cribs all day. I feed them bottles and just sing to them while the other crawl in bed for nap time. It breaks my heart each time I walk into a room and realize there are more babies in each corner every day that I didn't know about the day before.
It has been a real struggle for me. I want to cry for each child and yet it does no good. They greet me with huge smiles and I force myself to continue smiling until I leave for the day. I want to shower....wash away the urine, spit up, poop, left over food, filth, and any trace of HIV each time I walk home. And yet, I hold onto each baby tighter each day...hoping if I get enough of it on me, they will have to endure less of it. And yet it is the children and babies who show me God's pure happiness each day. They laugh and play through out it all and are happy to be alive. I pray that I will learn to be so thankful for everything I have and love my life to it's fullest.
My Job Here
What am I doing here? Good question...glad you asked. Well the first two days I spent with the kids at school. I got to know the teachers and how things ran. Classes end tomorrow and the kids are on break until February 1st. So I will spend that time writing my lessons and getting ready to teach. I will be teaching math for 3rd and 4th grade and another unknown class as of right now.
Then I began language lessons with a local girl named stella. Man, I thought it would be easy cause English is spoken here. WRONG. First off I am learning to speak with an accent or a broken staccato like English. But the real challenge is that most of the children and older adults speak Torro a village dialect. So to teach and work with the children and pretty much interact in the community - I must learn the language. I am really excited to get it down. I am meeting with my tutor for an hour or two every day for December-January before school starts.
We live in a village about 5 kilometers from town. So I walk into town in the mornings to work at the Torro babies home for most of the day until 1500. It is a hillly long walk but I enjoyed it. I love the people I wish I could describe how different it is here. The kids come out to say hi as you pass by and everyone is so friendly. Personal space is not really in exsistance here....you hold hands with everyone and I am learning to enjoy it.
Then I began language lessons with a local girl named stella. Man, I thought it would be easy cause English is spoken here. WRONG. First off I am learning to speak with an accent or a broken staccato like English. But the real challenge is that most of the children and older adults speak Torro a village dialect. So to teach and work with the children and pretty much interact in the community - I must learn the language. I am really excited to get it down. I am meeting with my tutor for an hour or two every day for December-January before school starts.
We live in a village about 5 kilometers from town. So I walk into town in the mornings to work at the Torro babies home for most of the day until 1500. It is a hillly long walk but I enjoyed it. I love the people I wish I could describe how different it is here. The kids come out to say hi as you pass by and everyone is so friendly. Personal space is not really in exsistance here....you hold hands with everyone and I am learning to enjoy it.
Some Free Time
Well, I have a little bit of free time because the babies ate lunch and took their nap early and the internet cafe is open. Man, I don't know where to start. First let me describe my home.
I arrived to find that the little stone place that I would be sharing with Rachel is so delightful. So much more then I expected so I am in love with it. She has worked hard to make it homey. We share a bunk bed and I have all my stuff on these local wicker shelves. And we have a little sitting room to greet guests in. I plan on taking a little video of it and posting but today is not that day. We have attached outside a kitchen with a stone outside stove and a shower room where we hang a bag of water with a hose to shower. And Rachel and I are working on a garden. I am hoping to buy some tomatoe, carrot, cucumber, squash, and corn seeds today in town. We already have lettuce, peppers, dodo, and green beans. Everyone has a garden because that is how you eat around here.
Rachel is a delight of a room mate. Really fun and down to earth. Definitely my stlye. She cleaned out her closet and has some hammy downs for me....Kathryn made me think of you. The house is right next to the church and school. So every morning I wake up to tons of children running by on their way to school in purple and blue uniforms. The picture of the bathroom I posted earlier is a dream bathroom...I wish I had. We really just have a stall with cement floors and a hole. But I thank God for everything nice that I didn't expect and can't complain.
I arrived to find that the little stone place that I would be sharing with Rachel is so delightful. So much more then I expected so I am in love with it. She has worked hard to make it homey. We share a bunk bed and I have all my stuff on these local wicker shelves. And we have a little sitting room to greet guests in. I plan on taking a little video of it and posting but today is not that day. We have attached outside a kitchen with a stone outside stove and a shower room where we hang a bag of water with a hose to shower. And Rachel and I are working on a garden. I am hoping to buy some tomatoe, carrot, cucumber, squash, and corn seeds today in town. We already have lettuce, peppers, dodo, and green beans. Everyone has a garden because that is how you eat around here.
Rachel is a delight of a room mate. Really fun and down to earth. Definitely my stlye. She cleaned out her closet and has some hammy downs for me....Kathryn made me think of you. The house is right next to the church and school. So every morning I wake up to tons of children running by on their way to school in purple and blue uniforms. The picture of the bathroom I posted earlier is a dream bathroom...I wish I had. We really just have a stall with cement floors and a hole. But I thank God for everything nice that I didn't expect and can't complain.
Friday, November 23, 2007
Things to Send
I have only 6 mins to type this in the local internet cafe. If you would like to send care packages this is what I need. I am working with children 2 weeks to 4 years old. All this can be hammy down and thrift store...they don't have much so it doesn't need to be new.
I NEED:
Baby and Toddler clothes - shirts and shorts
Cloth Diapers LOTS! (ones that can zap or button on preferably)
*no socks, shoes, or hats* (won't be used)
Coloring books (dollar store ones will work)
Coloring crayons (or pencils)
Gum (they love gum)
Toy Balls (a bouncy medium size one or soccer or anything)
That is all for now! So much to tell you but no time yet. Will be on once a week and will write more. Love you all!!!
I NEED:
Baby and Toddler clothes - shirts and shorts
Cloth Diapers LOTS! (ones that can zap or button on preferably)
*no socks, shoes, or hats* (won't be used)
Coloring books (dollar store ones will work)
Coloring crayons (or pencils)
Gum (they love gum)
Toy Balls (a bouncy medium size one or soccer or anything)
That is all for now! So much to tell you but no time yet. Will be on once a week and will write more. Love you all!!!
Sunday, November 18, 2007
I am HERE!
Well, so my idea of arriving at 1400 on saturday was wishful thinking. Fog rolled into Dubai and I ended up being there from midnight (friday) until 1900 (saturday). I arrived in Uganda at 0145 very tired. Thank the Lord though, because my luggage came in and I was given a visa. We drove to a hostel close by for the night. It was late so I didn't really see anything. Though driving on the wrong side of the road and sitting in the passenger seat which to us is the drivers seat was a little weird. I showered and crept into my mosquitoe net covered bed.
I woke up early and Jennifer, Rachel, and I headed to a local church. As we drove there, I couldn't take it all in. There was so much to see and absorb. Jeeps with armed soldiers, children running around everywhere, red dirt roads, huts/houses all crammed together in alleyways, and so much more. We stopped at an India restaraunt and ate AMAZING food. (thought of you Justin & Tracy) We leave tomorrow morning for Fort Portal. Jennifer says I am seeing the nice and developed area but it is a lot different where I will be living. Hard to imagine.
Well, I will try and get on in a week or so.
I woke up early and Jennifer, Rachel, and I headed to a local church. As we drove there, I couldn't take it all in. There was so much to see and absorb. Jeeps with armed soldiers, children running around everywhere, red dirt roads, huts/houses all crammed together in alleyways, and so much more. We stopped at an India restaraunt and ate AMAZING food. (thought of you Justin & Tracy) We leave tomorrow morning for Fort Portal. Jennifer says I am seeing the nice and developed area but it is a lot different where I will be living. Hard to imagine.
Well, I will try and get on in a week or so.
Friday, November 16, 2007
1st Leg of the Journey
Well, I am sitting in Dubai airport. I have made it half way. So much has happened and I wish you could see what I have seen so far. Let me share my last 26 hrs (with time change).So, I left home at 1045 yesterday (thursday) to catch a shuttle to JFK. I departed JFK (thursday) at 2315 for Hamburg, Germany. I boarded the plane and glanced around in amazement. We each had our own TV with over 150 movies and also music. We were all given blankets, pillows, head sets, heated towels, sleeping masks, tooth brush & paste, and socks. They served a spicy chicken cury, rice, and okra dinner with also a roll, seafood salad, fresh salad, cheese & crackers, rice pudding, and brownie. And then later on a breakfast that was equally as big. I felt like royalty. It was a 7 hr flight to Germany but with the time change I landed at 1330 (friday). The lay over was 1 hr and I was soon on another flight for the next 5 hrs to Dubai. I landed and it was 2345 (friday).
As I walked around Dubai airport, my mouth h
ung open with wonder. It is huge and as busy as Times Square NYC. Everything is decorated in gold and deep colors. There are shops everywhere selling absolutely everything. It is late so there are people EVERYWHERE laying down asleep on the ground. I went to the restroom, thinking nothing of it. And discovered, I have now entered the realm of hole in the ground toilets. I must brag that I did pretty well for my first time. = )
I don't leave Dubai until 0800 (saturday). So, I will sleep here all night and resist the urge to go exchange all my money and buy tons of goodies. I will, hopefully, arrive in Uganda at 1430 (saturday).
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Farewell USA
Well, it is finally that time. I head out tomorrow morning for JFK. I scrambled to finish packing my two bags tonight. They are awful heavy and I pray that they aren't over 70 lbs. I kept thinking of last minute things to stuff in them. I packed really tightly so I had all this extra room but tons of stuff in zip lock, air free bags. I can't wait to check them and not have to worry about them until the other end of the journey.
I just want to take time to thank all of my family and friends. I would not be here today with out your love and support. I tease my mom all the time telling her that she is fabulous but I really do mean it. She has done SO much for me. I couldn't be more blessed or wish for anything else. And not just my mom but also my siblings, extended family, new friends, old friends, friends of friends...I am so fortunate. I look forward to meeting new people in Uganda with eagerness but will never forget the wonderful people in my life already. Thank you all.
A rough sketch of my first week was shared with me. Here is what it looks like: Saturday I arrive in Kampala (the capital of Uganda). Jennifer and Rachel are picking me up but may be late because there is a traffic ban that day due to a high security conference going on. We will spend 2 nights in the city to tour around, get over jet lag, go to church. Monday we will begin the 4 hr jeep ride to Fort Portal. Tuesday & Wednesday I will settle in, start learning about the culture, observe classes at Hope School. Thursday I will meet the other missionaries at Thanksgiving dinner. And Friday I will spend back at the school.
I have my camera charged and ready. I will report back with pictures and an update in a week or two. Love you all!
I just want to take time to thank all of my family and friends. I would not be here today with out your love and support. I tease my mom all the time telling her that she is fabulous but I really do mean it. She has done SO much for me. I couldn't be more blessed or wish for anything else. And not just my mom but also my siblings, extended family, new friends, old friends, friends of friends...I am so fortunate. I look forward to meeting new people in Uganda with eagerness but will never forget the wonderful people in my life already. Thank you all.
A rough sketch of my first week was shared with me. Here is what it looks like: Saturday I arrive in Kampala (the capital of Uganda). Jennifer and Rachel are picking me up but may be late because there is a traffic ban that day due to a high security conference going on. We will spend 2 nights in the city to tour around, get over jet lag, go to church. Monday we will begin the 4 hr jeep ride to Fort Portal. Tuesday & Wednesday I will settle in, start learning about the culture, observe classes at Hope School. Thursday I will meet the other missionaries at Thanksgiving dinner. And Friday I will spend back at the school.
I have my camera charged and ready. I will report back with pictures and an update in a week or two. Love you all!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Bathroom Mix Up
The drive to Philly today wasn't bad until the last leg where I got lost and went 30 miles too far. It was about a five hour drive and by the time I got to the mall, I had to go to the bathroom REALLY bad. I rushed down this narrow hallway and saw "women" written in large cursive letters on the wall. The opening was like those at an airport - going straight in you would hit a wall..you go to the right to enter and exit on the left. Well that is what I assumed. Little did I know that the men were on the right and the woman on the left. The hallway was dark and I only saw the women's sign. After going to the bathroom, I walked out of the stall to be faced with a gentleman using an urinal. He was as shocked and mortified as I was. I rushed out in complete embarrassment. I don't know how I find myself in these type of situations but I am scarred for life. yikes!
Hands Up!
My mom and I were shopping for last minute items and remembered we needed to get Advil cold medicine for the family in Uganda. We hunted the shelves and could not find it. Finally, we realized you had to take a card to the prescription counter to get Advil cold medicine. We chuckled and went to the counter; not knowing the shake down we were about to go through. To get this medicine- you must now show your ID, sign an agreement, pay right there, two more signatures, and then you receive the medicines in a stapled white bag. All of this for Advil cold medicine. We walked away feeling like we had just bought illegal drugs!Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Packing IQ
How does one know exactly how many things of deodarent to bring? Will two sticks carry me through or will I begin to stink at the end? Will the one dark chocolate bar curb my craving for the next seven months or should I bring a large stash? Can you ever pack too many colorful (barbie, superman, glitter, sponge bob) bandaides? These are the thoughts that race through my mind lately as I scramble to pack my bags. One more week, ladies and gentlemen.
It is so thrilling. As I sat excitedly waiting to get my shot today (yes, I like shots...weird I know), I realized how far God has brought me since around this time last year. It was in January when I first dared to mention that I felt like God wanted me to be in Africa and not at the Academy. I was sitting talking with Chaps when it slipped out - I was as shocked as he was. Now here I am, trying to think of how much suntan lotion I should bring with me!
It is so thrilling. As I sat excitedly waiting to get my shot today (yes, I like shots...weird I know), I realized how far God has brought me since around this time last year. It was in January when I first dared to mention that I felt like God wanted me to be in Africa and not at the Academy. I was sitting talking with Chaps when it slipped out - I was as shocked as he was. Now here I am, trying to think of how much suntan lotion I should bring with me!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
My Ticket Outta Here. (edited)
Ok, so here is my flight information! UPDATED
Leave: 15 Nov from JFK at 2315.
Arrive: 16 Nov in Dubai at 2355. *lay over 8hrs
Leave: 17 Nov from Dubai at 0825.
Arrive: 17 Nov in Entebbe, Uganda at 1450.
How to write letters or send packages.
Address:
KATY VOIGT C/O WHM
BOX 383, FORT PORTAL, UGANDA, EAST AFRICA
**You can send all letters and packages to this address. When sending a package, please put "gift" or "no commercial value" on the packing slip, even if it has value. That way there won't be a tax placed on it.
Leave: 15 Nov from JFK at 2315.
Arrive: 16 Nov in Dubai at 2355. *lay over 8hrs
Leave: 17 Nov from Dubai at 0825.
Arrive: 17 Nov in Entebbe, Uganda at 1450.
How to write letters or send packages.
Address:
KATY VOIGT C/O WHM
BOX 383, FORT PORTAL, UGANDA, EAST AFRICA
**You can send all letters and packages to this address. When sending a package, please put "gift" or "no commercial value" on the packing slip, even if it has value. That way there won't be a tax placed on it.
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