First of all, let us say a big thank you to all of you for your get well messages to Tim as he dealt with his first and hopefully last case of malaria. He had all the classic symptoms for a few days: high fever, major sweating accompanied by chills, headache, nausea, joint pain, dizziness etc. so we decided he needed his blood tested which we did at the school clinic. It was kind of cool to see the moving malaria parasites with our own eyes in our new microscope. Once everything was confirmed, Tim started on the treatment pills that we brought along with us from Canada. I’d say between the malaria itself and the side effects of the pills, Tim was a real sickie for about 10 days ending around last weekend. Anyway, needless to say, we didn’t get as much footage and work done as usual so if this update reflects that, sorry, but malaria is a really good excuse isn’t it??

 

Along with completing two more houses this week, a big one and a little one, we continued visiting the homes of the kids from Ray of Hope school. We went into each zone, assessed the house for possible fixing, the immediate needs of the family, found out the living situation as far as parents and number of siblings etc. Then, after many trips to buy nets, blankets and mattresses, went back to each house and gave everything out. We don’t just give these things to the kids from the school, but to all the children in the family. We have gone into about half of the homes so far.

 

Occasionally, and I stress occasionally,  it is quick and easy. Other times, we are in a slum area for a really long time, in the burning hot sun, with a full bladder (me, not Tim) listening to family disputes, holding hands with little guys that should be in school, people asking “for assistance” and jobs, others asking us to take them to our country, another saying she lost the key to the house we built for her, another saying she can’t pay rent, and this week we came across a man in army fatigues yelling out lines from American war movies at the top of his lungs. Sadly, a few days ago, at one of the houses we went to for assessment, we were told by a crying widow that her 4 year old son, John, had been missing for two days. We never know what we will have to deal with when we go into these areas, it is never just a supply drop off, it is working in the middle of real life here in Uganda and it always reminds us why we are here.

 

Since we began working in Uganda at the beginning of August, we have given out approximately 130 mattresses, 160 mosquito nets and 215 blankets. But we are not responsible for keeping so many children dry and warm and protected from malaria, you guys are! We are so privileged to be able to go into these areas and personally pass out the stuff that you guys bought and we get to see the look in the mother’s eyes as we care for her kids. I wish you could see it too!

 

$2650 has come in for this project. Each house costs an average of $45 so that’s 66 homes so far with about another 60 houses to go. Thanks Canada!