Boy do I miss it.

I fell in love with Uganda this summer, with the country and oh man with the people. Here is my Ugandan family, Mummy Idah, my sister Michelle and Renata, and my older brother Jerome (Bosco too!) We became a family this summer and they were really great. (Don't worry my family at home! I love you just as much, and I miss you right now too!) I've been asked numerous times how Uganda was, and that question has been so difficult to answer. Uganda was AMAZING, but that simple word doesn't give it any justice. I wish everyone could go there, and experience a summer like I had.



Goodbyes at Entebbe International Airport


Mummy Idah! She is absolutely wonderful!


Bye to Jerome =(


Dance party, Uganda style!


I wanted to update everyone and let them know how I'm doing right now. I think everyone knows that I was in a bus accident in Uganda. I spent the night in the ICU at Kampala International Hospital and was released the next day with papers simply saying I had severe whiplash and was given some meds and a neck brace. That was June 29th, 2008. I continued to stay in Uganda until July 10, 2008, I decided to leave a few days early because my back was still in pain from the accident. I traveled for the first time by myself back home with relative ease, and was ecstatic to finally see my parents after 6 and a half weeks. I ended up going to the doctor the Monday I got back, just to see why my back was still in pain, and got new x-rays since the ones I brought back from Uganda weren't clear enough. They saw an abnormality on my spine and told us to set up an appointment with a spinal doctor. We went that Friday, and the doctor came in after seeing the x-rays and told me I fractured my T-9 (middle of my back). It was compressed a 1/4 of a inch from the impact of the accident. Let me tell you I was a bit shocked. I am okay, I still have pain, but usually it's not too bad, some days or worse then others but it feels like it's getting better as of today. I'm currently at ISU and classes started last week, and I'm already feeling overwhelmed, and anxious for the summer to come so I can be in Uganda again. All things willing!

=)

I've fallen in love with all of these children.


There was a parade for a married couple in the street, they were being pulled by a tractor. TIA


Me and this little boy had fun taking pictures together, he was absolutely adorable, and made sure he was by me the whole day!


He's a cutie!






My favorite! =)





This is Fred, AKA HOLLYWOOD he's our bus driving, and simply amazing!

Second Safari!

A family of elephants we saw during the Nile boat ride


Me and the falls in the background


JJ being a goof. Gene gave her some Dramamine and well she was knocked out for most of the boat ride.


Water buffulo with a bird on its head.


I saw elephants this time! =)


Hippo! We got very close to them this time!



Mamma Idah and I at Murchinson Falls


Murchinson Falls


The crocs open their mouths to regulate their body temperature.


Lots and lots of crocs


Murchinson Falls from the Nile River

A bit of an accident

So on Saturday we were heading back from the safari and when we got into Kampala the traffic is horrendous, lots of bumps and pot holes. I was sitting in the back of the bus where the ceiling is a bit lower, and we hit either a pot hole or speed bump and everyone flew into the air, and I flew and hit the ceiling HARD and then came back down and hit the seat HARD. I couldn't talk or anything because the wind was knocked out of me, and my ipod and hat flew off. I guess I asked for help and they stopped the bus, and I was panicking because I knew something was wrong, I have never felt pain like that before. It took about an hour or so to get an ambulance to escort us to the hospital, we were still driving VERY slowly in the bus so we'd be as close as possible to the hospital. I was taken in for x-rays, and everything looked fine. They said I have severe whiplash and will be sore for quite a few days. I was in the intensive care unit for the night, Renata stayed with me thank god, and I was released the next morning. I guess I needed to get the full experience of Uganda while I was here! haha.

I am okay, I PROMISE. Just a little sore. We have a few days until team 3 gets here so I'll be resting as much as possible.

I wanted to say thanks to team two for everything they did that day for me! I'm so sorry I didn't get to send you off, I hope you have safe travels back home, I love all of you and miss you already, it was great getting to know every single one of you!

Oh and P.S. I love how I've been on six boda boda rides and never got hurt, and I get hurt on the bus.

Children in Namyoya

So proud of their artwork!!!





All the children getting ready to draw.

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Waving to the camera!


The teachers loved the ribbon pens!


Inside the nicely painted church.


Namyoya church with concrete floors and painted walls!


Drawing with the children.


We did some arts and crafts with the school children in Namyoya! They loved it!


Me and two little girls drawing.


School children drawing pictures.


Look at all this art work!!!


The school children.

Even more photographs!

The well in Namyoya! It's working now!



My brother Hussan and me! This is the community facilitator that my family sponsors, and he kept introducing me to everyone as his sister! I have family in Uganda too!


Jerome and Bosco acting like brothers! Jerome is GFR's accountant, and Bosco is the communication liaison between the Uganda and the USA


This is the church in Namyoya! They've gotten so far, they have a roof, cement floors, plaster on the walls inside, almost done with the outside plaster, and the inside is getting painted light yellow!


Pastor Davids house!




Little boy on stilts in Fort Portal! He was so good at this


The primary school in Kamwenge.


The little children ran out to our bus greeting us with palm leaves. They were absolutely adorable.


Passing out stickers to the children! (thanks to the Downen Family!)


Kamwenge is beautiful!


This little girl carried the guitar all the way from the school back to the church for us, such a sweetheart, all the children here are.


Oweno Market!


This is Oweno market, its absolutely nuts how crowded it is there.


This is Kibale forest, and team two.


The sewing room Parents Concern use to team vocational skills to women.


The kids loved these balloons!!! =)


The family with the balloons!


School children in Namyoya





Waving to the camera!