AIDSPIRIT- TRAVEL TEAM

aidspiritwebsite
4 hours ago
5 min read

Good evening from Kayunga!!!

Day 11 of travel-

A little FYI, it takes me a good 4 hours to do these posts, not because the writing but from the internet, or lack of. There are storms daily and the power goes off, on, off, on, off….on again, 4 times during my shower and a good 10 at dinner. So you may not get today’s pictures loaded until tomorrow. But let’s begin anyways!!!

Today I led our wonderful team of volunteer teachers for a short class to teach the children the sign language alphabet. I learned it in 4th grade gym class in Bozeman, MT, and never forgot. There’s a young adult woman here named Shamim who’s def, Charles’ niece. Imagine being def in a foreign country, with minimal to no programs, to help. Charles asked if I would teach the kids the alphabet and I gladly obligued. I printed the sketched hand signs off the other day, and stapled them to the cork board in the cafeteria today. Shamim was insisted once she saw I’d posted them, almost pushie. Like “NOW, don’t forget about me, this is important.” She helped me gather the kids, and we signed through the alphabet one letter at a time, repeating it multiple times, then showing them how to sign their names. Our team assisted and helped the kids get the fingers in the correct positions. I shared the experience later with a girlfriend through text, and she said “she finally has a voice.” What if you spoke one language and no one around you knew it? How alone would you feel? How unheard, unimportant, how silent? I certainly can talk up a storm, especially when I find a good conversation, or have something to say. Now, hopefully this class will encourage the others to learn more so they can ALL talk together. So what she wants to say is HEARD.

After sign class we started the kids with journals. Gretchen wanted each child to have a folder, and to be able to express themselves. Also, to be able to look back on their writing, and to have a creative space to call their own. They started simple with name, age, and birthday. Most knew their birthday but some may not, depending on how they came to Tender Mercies, and at what age. Some of the children had been dropped on the door step at 8 months and 18 months (?), and left there. So obviously important information, like their birthdays, was not included. I laughed and said if you don’t know it, feel free to make it up. Cindy, our beautiful cook, then called us all to lunch, so we gathered up the folders and told them we could do more tomorrow.

Karen, one of our fabulous teammates, had stayed back at the hotel after breakfast, to catch up on some needed R&R. Travel can really suck you dry with the jet leg, foreign foods, sun, smells, tastes, emotion, etc., things your bodies not accustomed to. It’s so important to take good care of YOU, and listen to your body. Wise words taught to me by my Mother, “remember the first rule of triage, secure YOUR safety first, so you can be safe (and healthy) enough to help others.” Karen joined us at lunch. She said she hitched a ride with Nyanzi (a wonderful past TM student who later led Career Day), who brought her on the back of his Boda Boda (motorcycle). What a fun mini adventure down the muddy roads. Getting yet another unique travel experience, other than our large conspicuous “tour” bus. We were all secretly jealous, hahaha!

After lunch we had Career Day, where former grown TM kids came to speak to the students, and share which profession they chose, including the challenges they faced along the way. What an absolutely awesome idea! These were people the children could RELATE to, their PEERS. One gentlemen named Dumba, who became an attorney, spoke of his hard work and challenges. He once lost his university paper, and said he could have argued and thrown a fit, and tried to talk his way out of it. Instead he chose not to waste time and energy, and simply wrote another paper. I related to him deeply, because I once wrote a paper in college and accidentally forgot to push SAVE. All my work had magically disappeared, and I felt so defeated. I had to rewrite the entire thing. He said “Failing does not mean you’re a failure. You only fail if you stop.” My brother, one of my hero’s, told me similar words, “you don’t fail unless you stop trying.”

Next, Alex spoke. He is now an electrical engineer and MC. For those of you who dont know what MC is I will define it. He basically is entertainment, the man with the microphone. The one who stands up at wedding and sports events and leads the crowd through song and dance. He said he started small. He spoke of the importance of being disciplined person, humble, and respectful to people. He could dance, he could entertain, and he enjoyed it. He got more contacts and raised more money, then, went back to school. He expressed the importance of focus. He said “I am now sitting with the rich people I once respected. Fight as hard as you can. Understood the value of digital marketing and social media, that’s where many of his contacts come from. Sometimes you have to do a job that you don’t really like but, you can always go back and add to your career.”

I was asked impromptu to get up and share from Nyanzi. I never once expected it, and wish I would have said something more meaningful. I wasn’t sure how well what I said would be received from these kids from totally different culture than I, who may have been told to choose one profession, and do it for a lifetime. I personally never subscribed to that mentality, and have got a lot of flack along the years from not fitting in to the mold. I always wanted to do a multitude of different things, or at least try. I guess I like variety, which is why I have a few businesses. So I shared my story as authentic and honest as I could, encouraging them to work hard, be on time (even though I’ve struggled with that), and get tools to better their future. I hope I inspired at least one.

Next was Janet, a retired judge, who has also been a florist, and now a painter. She encouraged them to find a great partner to share their life. Which is truly quite important. Your job can change, but a great life parter is a true treasure when you have one, like Janet and I share in our wonderful supportive husbands.

Momma Jean spoke after, shortly, and reminded them to “NEVER GIVE UP.” She said “I’m 80 and still working. Life will always have ups and downs. Talk to Your brothers and sisters, they can help you.” Her intense enthusiasm and optimistic insistence, forced smiles from everyone. Like a bubbly cheerleader who you FINALLY give in to, and join in bouncy cheer.

Gretchen ended with “find a job you LOVE that you want to do very well, and find someone else and HELP them.” It’s so true, it’s so important to find a mentor, someone to look up to, and to help others. In the words of MY big brother, “all kids need is a hero and a hobby,” and they can do anything. I like to add my personal advice, to find someone you want to be like, and ask them how they got that way. Most people are very willing to share. Especially when someone is willing to listen. Have a glorious day! Love from Uganda! Talk to you again tomorrow.