I’m in Uganda! Sorry it has taken me so long to write…life here presents all kinds of obstacles to accomplishing one’s goals. But I finally have an internet connection and a bit of extra time, so here I am.

My first day here, I was greeted at the SOVCO compound with a procession of children and their guardians, the women emitting this high-pitched warbling sound that means they are happy and excited to see you. I immediately recognized many of them from last time, and they were touchingly grateful for that. A committee of parents had organized the program.  I was seated under a sun shelter with the director and board members. Parents and guardians were grouped under a tree, and the children were under another sun shelter. There was a wonderful program with songs by the children, and a traditional dance by the women.  All the while there were women working hard preparing a meal over fires around the compound, and children trooping to the cute new outhouse hut and back. There’s always so much to look at here in Africa! Click here for a link to a video of part of the program.

We did not give the gifts to the children the first day, as there were children there who are sponsored by a church in Florida, who would not be getting gifts. They wouldn’t have understood why they didn’t get anything, so we have been giving out the gifts to the kids as we see them. Yesterday several stopped by after school to get them: Arach Eunice, Agnes and Babra, Ivan, Gerald, Brenda, and Prossy are the ones I remember.

Building has started on the SOVCO school! They had made bricks during the month before I came, using money from fundraisers some of you have done. My church sent $2,000 along with me, which we have spent on more materials. The land was cleared, and a trench has been hand-dug in the dry, rocky soil by local men grateful for the work. Soon, the foundation will be laid, and we hope to have enough to build the walls up several feet before running out of money. That’s the way it’s done here, since banks take such high fees, and money hidden in the house is not safe. So they just start building. They know with a growing population, and a fierce demand for education, a school is always a good investment.

I have visited several of the existing schools this past week, and always get a warm but shy welcome from the children. Tonny and I establish ourselves  in the head teacher’s office, and someone is dispatched to gather all the SOVCO sponsored children in the school. Then we sit and visit for awhile, me giving a speech about how much you care about them and pray for them, that it’s not just money you are supplying, but spiritual support as well. Then Tonny gives a longer speech about how therefore they should work hard to achieve their goals, and SOVCO will be so proud of them. And I take pictures, which I will send to you when I get home.

I am constantly feeling amazed that I am actually here, experiencing a life so different from life in North Manchester, Indiana (where I hear the snow just keeps on coming). I’m so grateful to God for letting me do this work! And to you for supporting these children. Thank you.

Blessings,

Sally