Emily prayed and worked hard to raise funds for her upcoming trip. Emily and Liz (our close friend/part of our family) made a chart for funds. This way Emily could see progress for the funds.
Emily did a lemonade stand on a Saturday morning and it ran all day in front of our house. Caleb was kind in helping her out. We jumped up early that morning and began making homemade lemonade. We ran out of our first batch fast and ended up purchasing a case of lemons to keep up with the demand. Emily raised over a hundred dollars that day. If you could see how few of houses we have on our street you would recognize the miracle in that. It was a huge blessing!
Emily and a few friends also made a video telling how she has felt called to go to Africa. We prayerful sent it in an email and was blessed by the response. This journey was completely organized by G-d himself. We couldn't have done this without prayer and without the support from those that helped. We are still overwhelmed by the generous support we received to help make this journey a reality.
The preparation for the trip required a yellow fever vaccination. This is Emily getting hers. Ouch!
Prior to us leaving, Emily had a sweet friend make her some pictures and gave her a necklace to give to a little girl in Iganga. Emily did find a sweet young girl by the name of Faith at Bulbandi School.
Before our departure we had a team packing day. Everyone met up at Riverside with suitcases that could be checked in at the airport, we packed them with tools, bibles, shirts, and treats. This was a happy and sad day for me. I was sad to be missing the Texas A&M vs. Alabama game, but happy to be going to Africa. I did make it home in time to watch it on TV, not the same as being there, but glad to be able to see it.
On September 17, 2013 Emily and I began our journey to Uganda. Suitcases packed and backpacks ready.
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| Top Row: Glenn Green, Jen Taylor, Judy B., Judy H., Sue Henderson, Paige and John Rodriguez Bottom Row: Emily and Vicki Marquez, Liz Mendoza, and Jaimie Piatnik |
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| Starbucks in hand and ready to board! |
First flight of the trip!
Detroit was an interesting airport. We had to take a moving walkway, like many airports have. This one was extra long, with lights and music. We called it Club Detroit.
Left Detroit at 6:20pm, 8 hour flight to Amsterdam! We are all still excited!
Emily with our friend, Jen Taylor
Front row: Paige and John Rodriguez and Judy H.
Middle row: Vicki, Emily and Jen Taylor
Back row: Jaimie, Liz and Judy B.
Big plane to Amsterdam! We watched movies most of this flight!
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| We did encourage Em to work on her class assignments |
Arrived in Amsterdam at 8:05am and running out of steam. That's Emily with her hoodie over her head taking a nap in the floor of the Amsterdam Airport. I crashed as well, not sure which one of our team mates got my picture. I'm sure it's not as cute as Em's.
We left Amsterdam at 11:00am headed to Kigali, this to is an 8 hour flight and then from Kigali to Entebbe.
We did sleep on this flight!
Leaving Kigali at 8:20pm to Entebbe.
We arrived in Entebbe, went through Uganda customs and headed to pick up our luggage. We all had carry on luggage that was check at the gate. Liz didn't receive her carry on, it stayed in Kigali. We all made our way to the airport parking lot. We watched out luggage be loaded into the back of a small truck, as we loaded in a van/taxi to carry us to our stay for the night. We stayed in a hut in a place called Banana Village. It was nice, quaint place. The picture below is the bunks that Emily and slept in for the night. We tucked in our mosquito net and slept great. We shared out hut with two other friends.
Below is the hut was slept in.
Roosters roamed the place as well as monkey's
I think there is a monkey somewhere in the tree.
They did have instant coffee. I did not try it, but others said it was good.
First stop...Kampala. Money exchange and to the book store to pick up books for one of the schools!
It's so exciting to see all of the learning material for students.
While we were in the book store waiting on the material to be pulled from the back, we were able to shop around the store. It was interesting to see all that they had. Mean while back in the streets, Haji is double parked waiting on us. The book store staff is working hard to collect all of the books purchased, there is no scanning or computer help, this is all done by long hand. The girl that is taking the money is holding each shilling up to a black light to make sure it's legit. Needless to say she was a busy girl. We are getting closer to loading the books. Haji is still double parked outside. They begin to box the books and we begin to load them in the back of the bus. As the books are being loaded, the girl is still scanning the shillings against the black light. A traffic police comes up, these guys are everywhere. He is talking in swahili, Haji is speaking back, both people are speaking with no expression and with a harsh sounding tone. Haji laughs, the officer smiles, then the slip of a shilling and we are done. Bus is loaded and we are off. Headed to Iganga!
What is an hour and forty minutes away, takes us nearly five hours. The traffic in Kampala is like non I have ever seen, and yes I have driving in Austin. It's even crazier than New York City. Our bus driver, Haji lives in Kampala and is the best bus driver! Haji pointed out high lights of the city as we passed them.
This is their football (what we call soccer) dome.
This is the beautiful scenery. On the left is sugar cane.
We did pass over the source of the Nile river, but it is prohibited to take pictures going over the Nile. (We do have pictures of the Nile in an approved location)
We finally make it to the Mum Resort. This is not what we Americans would call a resort by all means.
Mum Resort was a nice hotel. However, I didn't see some of the rooms and places at the hotel that are shown in the website. We are greeted by The Tree Of Life Ministries pastors that are locals.
It was the warmest greeting I have ever received by total strangers. They welcomed us with beautiful smiles and huge hugs and hand shakes. If only we Americans could take lessons from Ugandans on how to treat a total stranger. After our greeting we were able to take our bags to our rooms and then asked to come back out to get to know the pastors. There were at least 6 that I can think of at this moment, but I'm sure I'm forgetting some of them. We sat on the front porch of the hotel and visited until it was time to eat. We said good-bye to the pastors and went to get cleaned up for dinner. Our room is nice, we had a queen size bed and enough room just to one side and the foot of the bed for a walk path. The bath room was an all-in-one. It was the potty, shower and sink...all one room.
The above picture is the bathroom/shower. This picture actually makes the room look larger than what it was. Can you see the pink bottle of shaving gel? To the left of that is the shower handle laying across the hot and cold knobs. Needless to say that the potty seat got wet every time we showered. The pink bottle of shaving gel is sitting on the sink next to the hot knob. So it was close quarters for sure.
Dinner was good, some of us had the same thing every single night. Fried fish fillet, if you didn't specify fillet you got the whole fish, eye and all. This was the safest to order, so Emily and I had that every night. However, Emily was brought a whole fish for one meal. No, she didn't eat it. Haji was kind enough to trade meals with her. He said he would eat it only for Emily. He also ordered the fish fillet every night. After dinner to bed we went. Our mornings started early, we met at 7:30am in the dinning room for breakfast. Breakfast was good. There was a staff member that cooked eggs, omelets, or french toast over a gas flame wok/skillet each morning. They also had a toaster for you to make toast.
Friday, Sept 20th. Our first full day in Iganga, Uganda! We met for breakfast, had our daily devotional, and Glenn played the guitar he brought in hopes to give it to someone that wanted to learn to play. We are ready for the day!
First stop is in a around about, you know the circle island in the center of the road and the cars circle in one direction around it. This is where we picked up the pastors each day. You never knew which ones would be there, how they got there. We just stopped and they got on. Interesting ways in Uganda. Sometimes we would have to wait a bit. It was neat to watch to locals communicate and sale their products.
This lady walked up to our bus and offered bananas.
I watched a lady stir her cooked food over a fire on the side of the road in the market and serve it to locals, these are the ones that bought from her. I watched her rinse out the used cups and rinse off the used plates in a bucket of water, and serve the next person.
We leave the side of the road and now headed to Top Hills School. This is some of the scenery along the way.
This is common to see children carrying babies.
Cows and goats are tied with a rope around one hoof or leg and tied to a tree, branch or road sign. They are found randomly along the side of the roads with not a village or person in sight. Chickens and chicks roam freely all over, near the road, in the street. We would yell "No chicken, no"! When it would dart out in front of the bus. Haji would laugh at us for yelling at the chickens. Then we started saying "Chicken in a basket" Sue our leader of our trip had ordered for dinner chicken in a basket on her last visit here, and as you probably guessed already, that's what she got. A cooked chicken in a basket.
Finally arrived at Top Hills!
When we got off the bus we had instant friends of all ages.
We played a game we all know and love. We call it duck duck goose. In Uganda we call it kuku (koo koo) kuku mbwa, which translated is chicken chicken dog.
Jen Taylor ended up in the cooking pot in the middle
We put together "mercy bags" in these re-usable bags that were donated for this trip we placed flour, sugar, laundry soap bars and tea. All things that are used in every day living. We later went into the surrounding villages and delivered the bags and talked to them about Jesus and why we were there in their country. Emily was not on my team during this, but I understand that she did great in all that they witnessed. Small children are seldom dressed and mothers of infants feed their babies any where at any time. In our journey out into the villages we were blessed to meet and pray with those that we met. Some had specific prayer request and other just wanted us to pray a blessing over them. Super sweet moments.
The picture below are grandparents and take care of their grandchildren. He has a leg that is paralyzed and she has a hurting knee and leg. They are elderly and can you believe that they pulled those chairs out of their home and were wanting us to sit and be their guest. Such a sweet gift of hospitality.
I understand that the group that Emily was evangelizing with, that the kids attached themselves to her at ever home they went to.
Below is a picture of coffee beans.
This picture is just of the beautiful view as we were walking back to Top Hills
This is also just a picture of the beautiful view as we were walking back to Top Hills. Those big boulders are just sitting on top of that peak.
Goats tied up to the trees.
These men are bagging up coffee beans
These are chickens and chick roaming free by Top Hills school
Below is a picture of Emily (in orange shirt) and Liz (in blue shirt) playing and making the kids laugh. They both looked so at home as if they were raised there and visit here in the US. Such a sweet blessing to my heart to see them in their element.
Below is a picture of lunch that the ladies made and served us. Rice, beans, chapati (flat bread) , matooke (cooked bananas), and peanut sauce (the first time I saw the peanut sauce, I thought it was refried beans. It was like a paste. Not refried beans, but peanuts smashed and cooked) A garden green of some sort was offered as well. It looked to me like spinach. I stuck with what I knew. The small yellow on the plate is the matooke.
Saturday, September 21, Traveling to the round about to pick up the pastors. Then headed to Bulabandi School. Busy streets lined with vendors of all kinds.
Harvested Sugar Cane
Jen Taylor making friends at Bulabandi School
Sue Henderson with a friend at Bulabandi school.
Emily made lots of friends at Bulabandi, she was loved on wherever we went.
Below is a picture of me and my friend, Emma. Emma is 6 years old and stole my heart. He walked up took my hand and led me between two building to sit in the cool of the shade and where a breeze could be felt. Anytime we were at Bulabandi school, this little boy would be at the bus door waiting to see me. Everytime.
Emily and Jaimie spent hours getting their hair done.
My friend Emma and his friend.
When we left Bulabandi our next stop was lunch at Phil Jone's house. Phil Jones is the man that found the kids that a majority of Riverside family's sponsor. Through Riverside and Elpis Ministries is how we selected our son, Achila, Samuel back in 2008. Emily and Caleb actually selected him from a picture on the outreach table at church. We have been communicating with him over the years through letters. We have only seen each other through pictures sent to him and pictures obtained through the ministry or Liz, when she has visited Uganda. This was such a blessing for us to finally be able to see him face to face. We arrive at Phil's with excitement of finally meeting Samuel. We are greeted by Phil and Ken from Elpis, along with Susan and her mother Scovia. The women and some of the girls were preparing lunch.
Susan preparing the rice for lunch.
This is the kitchen!
We left Phil's place to walk down about 2 to 3 blocks to where the kids live and in hopes to see Samuel. We asked several of the kids where he was, we were told he was gone, but would be back. We were able to meet several of our friends sponsored children and even able to call some of them back home so that they could for the first time talk to their sponsored child. It was such a tender moment to be a part of. After seeing the facility that the kids live in we headed back to Phil's. We did take a different road back, to see more of the surroundings. We get back to Phil's and we still haven't seen Samuel. It's getting close to eating and Emily and I are still asking around about Samuel. Sue comes up and walks with us toward the back of the house as it gets closer for lunch. We inform her that we still haven't met our Samuel. She tells me he is here. We walk back to the front of the house out the front door and Sue blurts out "Achila, Samuel", children part and out from a small crowd of boys is our Samuel. He embraces me and hugs me like Emily and Caleb do after a few nights way from them. It's a feeling that every mom cherishes, but his embrace was followed by him burring his face in my shoulder crying and saying "I thought you hadn't come". My heart broke in half and I began to cry too and repeat "I'm here, I'm here". We pulled it together and some pictures were taken.
This mom here couldn't be any happier at this moment. The only ones missing from this family picture is Philip and Caleb.
Emily and Samuel
Headed to lunch in the back of the house. The kids aren't allowed through the house, on the count that there are a lot of them. They led the way between the house and wall.
Samuel talking to Phil back home.
We brought him a Texas Rangers shirt from home.
After lunch the kids scattered, some were listening to Glenn play the guitar, some were sitting and visiting in the shade of the wall that surrounded the house, some were playing their own invented game, and some boys (including mine) were lined up taking turns bumping a soccer ball with their heads. I was sitting in the shade of the wall with some of the girls watching Samuel when it came to be his turn to bump the soccer ball. He is so adorable, just like any child would do when they are playing a game or sport, he would look back at me to make sure I was watching him when it was his turn. I have a short video clip of his turn, that I will cherish.
Visiting with the girls in the shade of the wall that surrounds Phil's house.
Below is a picture in front of Phil Jone's house. The house is surrounded by cement walls with iron bars. If you can see on the cement pillar next to the iron gate, there is broken glass in the pillar to keep out what is to stay out. That's Samuel in the pink looking shirt.
It was a difficult good-bye. Our time had come to a close. We hugged Samuel good-bye and told him we would see him later. I blew him a kiss and he blew one back. We waved to one another until we could see each other any longer.
Sunday, Sept 22nd Church in Kokombo was a Sunday to be remembered. We were greeted at the village entrance with drummers, dancers, and of course beautiful children of all ages.
Haji drives in and parks under a shade tree. We are surrounded before we can ever stand to exit the bus. We are told that you will have a child hold each finger, just to be holding your hand. We exited the bus, the drums playing the women dancing hand hollering out with excitement and kids surrounding you. No boundaries of personal space here. All of the kids want to hold your hands. The drums went on for at least 15 minutes or longer. The singing and dancing went on as well. There was one lady that went around and tired a sash around each of our waist one at a time for us to shake our hips with her. They have dance moves like you see a Hawaiian dancer. This was all still part of our long welcome. After the music stopped Pastor Wilson took us around the village to share the history and the future plans.
Children care for their siblings
This young girl was holding this 1 week old baby. The baby is her brother. I was so happy to hold him!
Glenn was able to share some of our worship music at church. He had some assistance from some of our team. (Emily is in the striped skirt)
Pastor Wilson gave the teaching and Pastor Steve B. translated it into English. We had special guest seating up front and to the left as you came in the building. During the service, children were tapping us on the shoulder through the open window for us to reach out and hold their hands. The church building was full and people gathered at the open doors to hear the message.
After church we gathered for lunch in a hut. Emily had made a friend when we arrived there that followed her into where we were eating. Sue asked permission to fix the child a plate of food and was granted the request. This little guy cleared his plate.
The little guy in the floor is the little guy that attached himself to Emily
After lunch we all hike up to a peak in the village to look out and see the beauty that G-d created. The paths like you see here lead to villages. You sometimes can barely see a path at all, they start in end out of nowhere.
We made it to the top! Such a beautiful view.
This is Irene, the women's pastor
On our way back down from the peak we stopped at a village and Glenn gave this women's husband a t-shirt that we had brought to give out. The man came over to our group to tell us that we may all build a home on his land in his village. We were all blown away by his generosity. We then gave his wife, the woman pictured below with the child a re usable bag and she dropped to the ground at the givers feet in appreciation and was so grateful. One of the team members suggested that we bring them a "mercy bag" filled with necessities. As we traveled back to the church to do just that, she some how got in front of us in travel and came running across this garden with the child in her arms and asked us to take her picture. She hollered out as they did in church and danced for us with excitement.
This is pastor Wilson. Always with a smile.
Below is a picture of Emily and Favor, Favor belongs to Jackie that is pictured w/Me and Jen below
Jen, Jackie and Me
We also went to the Iganga Prison. Pastor Steve has a passion for this ministry. They were very welcoming to us being there. They sang us songs and we taught them songs. We stood up one at a time and introduced ourselves to them and shared why we were there in their country. Once more I was overwhelmed with Emily' maturity and her heart.
This ministry purchased blankets, sugar, and laundry soap to leave with them.
At Top Hills to take some individual and class pictures!
Emily. Looks like she is hanging in a tree.
While we were taking pictures a small person made themselves comfortable in Emily's lap. She napped in Emily's arms for over an hour. Emily's arm became very tired. She finally propped her arm on the front of the desk she was sitting at to give her arm a break. Emily never complained about it, she just created a solution.
After Jen T. took the picture of each child, Emily handed them a letter and read it to them. Some letters had just a drawing. These letters came from a child in the States.
While we were at Top Hills our team represented some of the sponsors that had purchased chickens and goats for their sponsored child and families. Yes, those are chickens in Emily's hand. Live chickens!
The next day we went back to Bulubandi School to take individual pictures as well as class pictures. On one of the 1st few visits to Bulubandi, Pastor Steve Baidu took me by the hand and lead me through a building and to a back porch where he asked me to pick out a fabric for his daughter, Emily. He wanted to have a tailor make her a dress. I was so overwhelmed by his gift. I told him that Emily was of an age that she picked out her own clothes and that we didn't share the same style of clothing, and that it would really be best if Emily could pick out her own fabric. He said okay and took off to find Emily to come pick out her fabric. I informed Sue of his kid gesture and she accompanied them to pick out the fabric. So, this visit was the day that Emily received her dress. Steve was so excited for Emily to receiver her dress. The moment we arrived he took us by the hand and lead us to the same porch where she just 4 days ago picked out a fabric. Steve helped Emily into the dress over her clothes and was over joyed with how she looked. What a sweet gift. He always called Emily his daughter and made sure she was cared for. He by far was my favorite pastor of all of the others. Very tentative and caring of all of us on the team.
Thursday before our departure we were able to go into the market to purchase items for our sponsored kids. I had previously asked Samuel if he was in need of anything. He mentioned a backpack and a soccer ball. While in the market we were all able to purchase fabric for the women's pastor, Irene's husband, Patrick to make us a skirt. He's occupation is a tailor.
Walking single file down the street, if not you will get run over. Pedestrians do NOT have the right of way in Uganda.
This is Glenn purchasing his sponsored daughter a new shirt. He was so cute shopping for a girl. Glenn and is wife Sharon have an only son, Tyler.
We were able to purchase fabric for our skirts to be made and items for our sponsored child. We could wait to see Samuel again to be able to personally hand him his new backpack with his new shoes for school, colored pencils and his new soccer ball. We see our Samuel tomorrow!
This is our team with all the Pastors and our bus driver, Haji.
Jen Taylor, Emily, Haji and I
Friday! Lunch at Kyembia's house! In the picture above is Kyembia's son, Kybmbia Ali-gore. Kyembia's wife and family prepared a beautiful lunch for us. It is amazing to experience the hospitality that is shown.
Sue and Liz washing hands before we eat.
These are Kyembia's grand-kids named after a Father and his two kids that live here. The Father is Jack and his kids are son, Josh and daughter, Jamie Dean. So the three pictured are Josh, Jack and Jamie. Such a sweet way to honor the Dean's.
Lunch!
This is Kyembia.
Banana trees line one side of his property
The lady pictured is Kyembia's wife she laid the wicker mats out for the neighbors kids to feed them what was left over from lunch.
She is washing the children's hands before they eat.
Jen Taylor and Emily
Kyembia's wife,
Kyembia's wife and Liz
This is one of my favorite people! This is Haji, and he was our bus driver. That's our bus! He is the best bus driver in all of Uganda!
This is Kyembia's family.
This is the well located across the street from Kyembia's house.
Children lined up to fill their jugs with water.
Goats are tied up any where. This goat is just tied to a tree near the water well.
This is another goat tied a few trees down from the other goat.
This is looking from the water well back at Kyembia's house.
Water well
Kyembia's daughter, Liz and Kyembia's wife
This is cut up sugar cane for us all to try. So yummy!
Emily chewing on some sugar cane. Leaving Kyembia's house to head to our kids place! We are so excited to see our sponsored children once more before we leave tomorrow.
Glenn giving his sponsored girl a rope to use as a jump rope.
Samuel with his new back pack full of needs and one want item.
Emily and Samuel
Emily, Samuel and I
Such a sweet and cute boy. He taught me a hand clapping game and was so kind to start over each time I messed up or clapped out of turn. Who knew you could love someone else's child so much and even in another country.
This is the last picture I took of him as we said our good-byes. The second we drove away, Emily burst into uncontrollable tears at having to say good-bye. I fought back my tears to be strong for her and then my emotions couldn't hold back any longer so we both sobbed at having to leave him. Such a hard moment and one I will not ever forget. Who knew you could develop so much love for someone you had never met. Then when you do get an opportunity to meet, that your heart would then feel complete. My arms long for the next hug I'll receive from him.
Tomorrow we leave for Kampala for a nights stay and for church, but before heading to Kampala we visit a school/boarding school called Musana.
Musana teaches the kids a trait that will help them make a living. They have a craft room where they teach the girls to make purses, computer cases, and jewlery.
This is one of the happy kids there.
This muriel was hand done by the sister of one of the founders of Musana. This is located in their church building.
This little guy followed us around on our tour of the school and enjoyed being carried.
This is one of the many chick holding rooms for them to start their chicken coop business. They are planning to start a business of selling eggs and chickens to help fund the school.
Jaime holding one of the chicks.
Emily carried this little guy around a majority of our time at Musana
Sugar cane
Sue and Emily
On our way to Kampala. First stop. The Nile River. Did you know that the Nile River runs through 11 countries?
Liz looking out into the Nile
Jamie P.
Nile River
Emily standing on the metal barges in the Nile River
Emily in one of the many selfies that I have! She blesses me.
Liz and Emily walking back toward the bus from the Nile River. Such a sweet picture of these two precious girls. I love them both so much.
Wild Monkey's! When we arrived back at the bus these monkeys came out of the tree's. Emily and a few other jumped off the bus to run and take pictures. Don't get to close! Good thing there was a telephoto lens!
Laundry day.
Carrying a load how ever you can.
Coffee beans. Preparing for bagging them.
These young boys are carrying their water supply home. Looks like a heavy load and they don't look very old. They look to me like they are close to Caleb's age, and he's 9.
This guy has a load as well. Notice how close our bus is to him in the picture below. He doesn't have the right of way. So scary at times.
Finally we arrive at the Nile River where it is roaring! The sounds was so powerful and amazing.
Sue Henderson and Paige Rodriguez
Sue Henderson and Emily.
Liz and I. We look photoshopped in this image.
This is one of my favorite selfies of Emily. She is so much fun.
Emily found a safe place to stick her feet in the Nile River.
This young boy followed us down to the rocks. Not sure where he came from.
Sue Henderson and Emily
Beautiful view of the Nile river.
On the road again! Headed toward Kampala, but before our final stop, lunch in Jinja! In front of us is a truck full of sugar cane.
It is so beautiful there.
Lunch here at The Source Cafe in Jinja
Jamie P, Glenn and Liz
John and Paige Rodriguez
Our sweet neighbor and very much loved friend, Esther George is an amazing artist. While eating lunch Emily saw some paintings that made her think of Esther. This is the painting we brought back home for her as a gift. Pictured with Emily is the artist himself, Ben.
On our way to Kampala for the night.
Meat market on the side of the road. That room is not refrigerated.
Total gas station
The below picture is the view from our hotel in Kampala.
Ggaba Community Church is considered a mega church in Uganda.
This a gynormous fan in the worship space
The pastor is the gentleman on the left. He taught in English and the gentleman on the right translated into Ugandian.
Todays teaching...Staying Pure.
This is the worship team. What an amazing and powerful time of worship! Can they come visit us? Wow||| We could have listened to them and worshiped along side them for hours.
The bath room at the church was one of the nicest we had used. This is an opening in the wall.
Caffe Roma was the most american type food that we had. It was so good. They even have a Facebook page.
This is a panoramic picture of the kitchen. To the right is a brick oven.
Headed to the Enttebe Airport
Our sweet friend and bus driver, Haji. This man will forever hold a special place in our hearts. He loved us all so well and really took watch over Emily.
Preparing drums for travel!
The Detroit airport. We called it club Detroit.
27 plus hours of travel. We would do it all again.
A Big Welcome home at the airport!
A special treat for the welcome home. Phil truly knows how to make things extra special. He has the biggest heart of anyone I have ever met.
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