More surveyor Stones

Judith came back out to the orphanage today with her team of surveyors. I believe it is just to verify the locations that they had estimated during their previous visit. In speaking to her, I have new information.. 

Back when CLM purchased their land in 2003, the work of the surveyor was never finished (Mr. Egoo). If it were finished, the homes would not be built on other people's parcels of land, and the wall would have been built within the black and grey lines, which indicate the city plan. There is a difference between the grey and black because the black lines and circles indicate a land with an owner who has the land title. The grey lines indicate land which has been set aside for some purpose, but there is no title, and no stones to indicate the property corners. You can see the Green line, this is where we have to build our wall to complete the project, because the Plot labeled #1 has been sold and a title has been issued to that owner. The area that is colored blue is the land that the children have been using up to now that they will now have to become used to not having. This is the area in which we have had celebrations every year. The area that is colored pink indicates disputed land where CLM and the owner of Plot #2 have agreed to give and take. Judith informed me that this is not something that they can change the city plan for, this is a word of mouth agreement that could be removed, should one party sell their land or simply decide they want to make the other’s life difficult. The line that is colored a brick red indicates the current location of the wall, which is the result of Mr. Egoo instructing us to build in these locations. The line that is grey, as I mentioned before, indicates the city plan property boundary, which until now has been unknown to us and to CLM. The line that is pink indicates the limit Judith is willing to push the city boundary in order to accommodate Christian Life Ministries. The locations where the existing wall (red line) is outside the pink line are the areas in which there will someday be demolition of property; either wall, or buildings. What is not indicated on the map is the location of the chicken coop, which is in the middle of the road opposite plots 1 and 2. 

Though this is a good portion of information, this made up a tiny, tiny part of my day. I pumped water, I installed solar lights on the peaks of the roofs, I transplanted some grass, “adjusted” the gate, moved some dirt, tended scrapes and cuts on children, and even started my own little retaining wall project in which I will use broken bricks only. I trimmed a tiny bit more of my shirt exposing a new little sliver of white skin that is going to get a little sun treatment. 

Henry found workers that were all willing to work on a day-to-day basis, for a helper's wage of 6,000 UGS each. This is helpful for my dwindling budget. Today I had 15 workers put in a full day's work for 105,000 UGS ($40). Seems ridiculous to me at times, but then this is what the rate is in Uganda.

There were plenty of lightning flashes this evening, so there may be a point in the night when I wake up to a very large volume of water hitting the roof. It is loud enough to disturb my sleep, but I like to listen to it. I worked enough that I need to bathe again tonight. I notice that all the mums bathe mid-day, that might be a better time to do it, but then I will just get nasty and sticky and dirty again. I would rather sleep clean. 

Bibles and Flavored Water

I had a conversation with Francis the other day when I walked near his room, looking for a tool. At first he wasn't there, but there were two men in his room; pastors from a local church. I casually introduced myself and acted as if I were too busy to get into a conversation. I find that many people refer to themselves as pastors, so typically I just categorize the pastor title in with every other first name. Speaking with Francis a short while after, he told me that they are pastors for the church he attends. He wanted to formally introduce me, and so in meeting them for a second round, they asked if I was interested in coming to their church. I told them I would come this sunday, so today being sunday, Francis and I teamed up on our 3rd world bikes and rode to church. It was held in a small classroom at one of the colleges in the area. College means High School in Uganda. There was no speakers, no instruments, only singing and clapping, and very little dancing. I was actually very comfortable being there. After the sermon, the “Bishop” of the church told me about the church’s history. It has been around since the war was going on. They have grown into several small groups that meet on sunday throughout the city of Lira. I asked him what his church’s greatest need was, and he said Bibles...  Go figure. They said that a Luo Bible is about 18,000 UGS ($7) and the English bible is between 25,000 UGS and 50,000 UGS ($10-$20). They told me that they prefer the NIV. So I thought I would ask and see if someone back home wanted to sponsor some bibles to purchase here, or round a bunch of bibles back home and  give them to Bruce Douglas to put on the container. 

I gave Mum Lydia a packet of flavor powder that you put in a water bottle water yesterday, she was telling me about how she was “feeling pressure in her stomach in the evening after she had had the flavored water, and that it was not staying in my stomach;  it wanted to come out of my stomach. When there is pressure and it comes up and it make sounds.” She said, “it was so nice, the flavor was there even long after I drink the bottle.” I laughed and all I could think of was the Costco dogs back home, how the flavor stays with you throughout the day. 

I have now bathed twice here at the orphanage. I feel like I get about 75% clean. I dont even mess with my feet, because I am standing in water that remains from the last person to wash in the stall..  There is definitely a draining problem. I would love to install a pipe that would actually drain. Their whole bathroom structure is simply, not useful. The only thing that it does is provide a little privacy. The first time I bathed, I used a bucket and a cup, but this time I moved to a 3 Liter plastic jug. I think the cup and bucket is easier. after I finish my ballet, trying to keep anything from touching the ground, I go over to the pump house to give my feet a wash and complete the process. Then it is off to brush my teeth, and hop into my bed, quickly lifting the mosquito net and sneaking under, wiping all the dirt from the bottom of my feet, then tucking the net under the mattress. 

"Wound cleaning guy Adam"

I had a slow start today. I found myself not wanting to get out of bed. I heard children getting up and moving to school, and that usually gives me the signal that I have a good hour and a half to sleep yet. 

The workers continued working on the main gate. Henry was trying to get a hold of a vibrator to get all the air out of the concrete, but “the deal fell through”. It seems that the machine was broken. I was pleased that he knew what “Honeycombing” was. So many construction sites I have seen are plagued with concrete that was not set into the forms very well. This gives the appearance of a honeycomb when the forms are removed. The gate will harden overnight, and tomorrow we should be able to open our man-door, but we should leave the form boards on the posts for some time. 

While the workers were doing that, I had a list in my head of some things to do, so I actually climbed the extension ladder and screwed the sheet metal of one of the homes to the trim boards. I noticed the other day in a wind storm that they were lose; flapping. They make a lot of noise in the wind. I also put a hook in the showering stall, and replaced the faucet where we get city water... for the third time. The kids are hard on things. I started to clean the home that I have been sleeping in. I figure now that I am the only person on my little team that is remaining, I should give the place a nice cleaning. I came across a number of papers that looked like they were supposed to go home with Bruce, Julie, and Susan, so I ended up transferring them to my computer and double checking them. While I was doing this a few of the younger girls snuck into the room and started talking to me. I brought out some paper and crayons to keep them occupied so I could finish what I was doing. It worked, but I ended up getting down on the floor and coloring myself, so in the end I just couldn't resist the temptation of unbridled coloring and creativity. 

Around 3:00pm I figured I should walk down and check on what was happening with Henry and the workers. They were moving the “Hard Core” into the trench that they had dug yesterday. This has got to be some of the hardest work. They were picking up the massive rocks and carrying them by hand over to the trench and tossing them in, one by one. I had a flashback in my brain to the construction of the pyramids in ancient Egypt where everything was done for the most part by hand. It was then that my phone rang. It was a missionary boy from a family of church planters here in Uganda. They actually live just down the road from me. He wanted to let me know that I was invited to their house for dinner for the evening. They are a family of 6 from Texas. I was to be there by six o’clock. Naturally I accepted, and was there by 6. They made a potato soup with bacon and toasted biscuits with melted butter...  it was very delicious. Just as I was about to leave, the rain came, so I stayed a little longer and played a card game. The bike that I eventually rode home belonged to our cook, Francis. It is one size fits all; that is if you have really long legs. The seat felt like steel wrapped in thin plastic and promoted chaffing, but it was faster than walking. 

Now that Medic Joe, and Nurse Julie are gone, I am “Wound cleaning guy Adam”. I don't get the swarm that Julie and Joe got, but I get a few every now and then that look like they took a good spill. The scrapes have an even thickness of antibiotic ointment spread over them and the tape on my bandages are always at right angles.

I caught another mouse in the Pump House this evening. I turned the light on, and after I walked in and paused; trying to remember what I was there for, I saw movement. Whatever it was moved down into a hole that was on top of the control box of the pump and filter skid. Big mistake on his part, cause that is one way in, one way out. I put a bottle on the hole so he couldn't escape, and looked for a way to contain him. There was a shoe box nearby that I had brought down to the pump house earlier, which was perfect. So I slowly opened the door and used a screwdriver to herd him into the box. I then closed the box behind him. Now what? I have a mouse in a box. I couldn't think of anything, so I set a nice heavy chain on top the box, and locked the place up for the night. I figure I would leave a little excitement for myself in the morning. 

Off to bed; un-showered, and mildly sweaty. I promise to my someday wife that I will shower before bed.

Hard Core

I had a late night last night while Mum Betty reasoned with some of the older girls in the store house. I came back to find that the home that I sleep in was alive with conversation. Here I was thinking I would just roll into bed, but there were problems to be solved yet. I eventually went into my room, put my headphones in, and fell asleep to worship music. Its hard to fall asleep if other people are in the same house, because there is no ceiling, only the walls. The sound bounces off the sheet metal roof so you have no sound privacy, only visual privacy.

I had a guard watch the gate doors that were delivered yesterday. Someone could easily come in the middle of the night and remove them. We set one of the solar powered spotlights so that it cast a very dim light on the gate. They have been working on the gate today, but seem to be moving slowly. It has been raining off and on as well so I am sure that helps their productivity. 

The wall that extends down into the wetland, which was excavated yesterday, has been filling up with water today. We have ordered large stones, which they call “hard core”, that they place in the bottom of the trench up to the water line, then they build the wall on top of the large stones leaving a way for water to pass under the wall. We have had deliveries of these large stones all morning, while the other workers are working on setting the gate. 

Today in Uganda is Women’s Day. The schools have shut down, so the children are all home, and it makes it a little more challenging to keep track of construction. They all want my attention, and when I give it to one child, a crowd begins to form making it difficult to do anything. I wanted to teach some of the children how to make bracelets, but what ended up happening, is that all of the kids want string, but then they don't want to learn, they just end up walking away with the string. I have really been spoiled having Bruce, Julie, Susan, and Joe. Trying to do activities without help is close to impossible for me. 

Today is also Bruce, Julie, and Susan’s last day in Lira. Rachael and Daniel Graham came to pick them up and take them to Kampala. There they will stay with the Turners for a day or two, then board the plane for Portland. They dropped off all of their things that they wish to leave here at the orphanage, and loaded their things into the Graham’s SUV. As they drove away, I rode away on the bicycle that we purchased for the mums. 

Setting Stones

During the day I don't feel that we get very much accomplished, but when I look back on the last few days, it tells me a different story. 

The boss of our mystery surveyor actually took matters into her own hands and came to the orphanage yesterday with her own team of surveyors. They correctly located the boundaries of the orphanage and set stones to show us where we can continue the construction of the wall. She was alarmed to find the mistakes that have been made concerning boundaries in the area. It is evident that CLM has been mis-informed since they purchased the land back in 2003 and built all of their buildings upon the word of a surveyor who did not complete his work. 

Though we are happy to have stones that we can now build from, the homes on the orphanage step over the lines on almost every side of the property. 

Henry delivered our front gate today, and though we were expecting to see it installed, it sat idle for the whole day, and is now sitting idle into the night. We have hired one of the workers to come and watch it during the night to make sure that someone does not come to steal it. The reason for it remaining untouched throughout the day is because we focused our workers attention on digging the footings for the wall as it extends into the wetlands; a whole day of digging in saturated clay. 

We also received tables that we have purchased for the homes today. They came around 6pm, and still tacky with varnish. We decided to put them into the store house, where I sleep, so that the children wouldn't be touching them and the varnish would cure without fingerprints. The VOCs (volatile organic compounds) coupled with the doxycyclene should make for a very interesting dream. 

Long time coming

It has been killing me to have so much to say and no way to say it.. Some of you have probably been receiving updates from Joe's wife, Cheryl. Others have been wondering, "What is happening in Uganda."

Since so many things have happened, I cant elaborate. I have an entire volume that I was hoping to cut and paste into my blog, but it turns out that there is some issue preventing me from doing that, so I am trying to type directly connected to the internet.

Our progress has been very good. We have built nearly 3/4 of the wall. We have had our setbacks with delay of materials, theft of materials, theft of funding, and delay of surveying. Our biggest challenge right now is getting the surveyor whom we payed back in January to complete his work. This surveyor has been so bad in his work with Christian Life Church, that the orphanage was originally built in the wrong place because of his direction. This is the biggest prayer need that we have currently. We have communicated with his superiors, and called many people in the community with power through friends and other people we have met.

Through all of the surveying drama we have come to terms that the chicken coop that we constructed last year is lost to a municipal roadway, and that we will be losing a large portion of land that everyone understood belonged to us.

We have replaced our old contractor with a man named Henry Jones. He has a very good story attached to him, and everywhere he goes he wears a very nice white leather cowboy hat that looks like it was taken from a cheesy old western cinema. He has more character that he needs, but is very humble and dedicated to his job. He was orphaned when he was young, served in the military, and became a christian later in life working with missionaries building churches, and houses. This morning he showed me all of his certificates for schools in engineering because he wanted me to know him more.

Bruce, Julie, and Susan arrived safely, and have been keeping busy with various projects, and helping with construction. Joe also left on the 28th. I will miss Joe, he added a flare that leaves something lacking when he is gone. I love working with him. We recently purchased tables for each house to place in their main room. I swear we left money for this last year, but there are no tables. We have painted blackboards in each house, and have fixed all the major problems in the orphanage.

We had another lottery for the workers today. They are used to making 6000 shillings ($2.50) each day, so we gave about 2000 shillings on top of it. to them it is a big deal, and it encourages them to remain loyal to us.

Henry might want to flip our crew, he says that most of them are too young and inexperienced. He is not a man who manages by sitting in a chair, he performs work right along side the others and instructs as he goes. I will be having a meeting with him in the morning about some things I want to see him do as well as make sure we are keeping ahead of the workers so they don't have any down time.

March 4

We drove up to Soroti to meet Daniel and Rachael Graham. We left the wall project in the hands of our new foreman and Felix. I actually rode in the back of the Land Cruiser on top of a spare tire, but the road was one of the best roads I have been on in Uganda, so it wasn't half bad. We went and saw the office where they serve, and met their staff. We then took the Boda Bicycles into town and walked through the shopping district. I actually went through the market and found a lady who had a giant pile of bulk tea, and took the opportunity to purchase two kilos for a friend back home. We are now back at the Graham's home waiting for dusk so that we can go to the local pork joint. It is called "Pork Joint.

Squib

I could complain about the flight..  Lets just say my neck is sore, and I am fatigued.

I met a man from San Antonio who is a plastic surgeon doing a medical mission to fix deformations for people in Rwanda.. that was cool. I had a 2 hour delay on my flight out of New York causing Delta to kick everyone on board a $100 voucher and I still made it to Amsterdam with time to spare for my connecting flight... that was cool. After I sat looking at the Luggage carousel for 25 minutes, my bag rounded the corner, bringing a smile and sigh of relief to share with the person standing next to me. Unfortunately, they hadn't seen their bag yet. I hooked up with Bosa, our driver, and as we waited for Joe to walk out of the Terminal, I handed him a snack of soy wasabi almonds and bought him a bottle of water. Joe finally showed up and we headed into Seeta to check into the Ridar Hotel. We got into our rooms right around 1:30am and wouldn't you know it!? my 30 hour sleep deprivation disappeared. I didn’t feel tired. The feeling quickly returned when I decided to lay down and imagined what it was like to be on the plane in the uncomfortable head-bobbing position. It was quiet. It was dark. It was warm. I closed my eyes and before I knew it; it was morning. 

Today we had a nice breakfast and started out trying to get a hold of Felix so that we could meet with him about the wall. His phone was off, so we figured that it would be best to head into Kampala and stop by Christian Life Ministries (CLM) so that we could also run a few of our errands while we waited. We arrived at CLM and asked if we could meet with Felix and found that he was actually in Lira. After calling Felix, talking to a receptionist, talking to a man named William, and talking to Betty, we discovered that the plan was to withdraw the money that we wired for the project and exchange it into shillings to take with us to Lira. We needed to wait for someone to go and withdraw the money. Before long a girl walked out of the CLM building with a brown envelope and handed it to me and said, “here is your money”. Long story short, it was an incorrect amount of money, and we had to eventually get to jackson to actually find out what was going on. CLM gave us 20% of our budget out of their own pocket because the wire transaction had not been completed. He said, “sometimes it can take weeks, and sometimes only a few days.” Finally understanding; we took our funding and exchanged it at a rather good rate, and then bought some boxes of water.

We drove back to pick up some letters for children that were at the hotel, and then drove out to the orphanage to see the children, and to see what has been happening there. The school has made progress. There were several construction workers that were there relaxing as the children were gathered outside the classrooms listening to the schoolmaster. It was a beautiful dusk at the orphanage. Places that I have always seen somewhat dusty and barren were lush and green, and the area down by the pump house was surrounded by large beautiful banana trees. We also met with Daniel and Rachael Grahm, who were in Kampala. They were able to come out and see the orphanage. They are missionaries up north, who we will be visiting a little later in this trip. 

Also to our surprise I heard one of the boys call me “Makurada”. I turned to him and asked how he knew that, and he told me that it was my name; he was from Lira. I ran into a few other familiar faces from Lira later in the evening. Some of the older girls that I know had been moved from Lira to Seeta. They were moved to finish their Primary school and to go to Secondary school. - Today is the first day for primary school in Uganda, and secondary school officially starts in the next few days as well. I asked them who was going to play seven stones with me, but they couldn’t tell me..   Seven Stones is a game where as you try to stack seven stones on top of each other without them falling over, the catch is while you do this, the other team tries to hit you with a rock (balled up sock). The more times you can stack the stones without being hit, the more points you get. 

The Jet lag started to hit Joe quite visibly as he would stand and try to endure conversation. He told me a few times that this was the case, so we started to make our way back to the car. It wasn’t easy to leave quickly, since I doubt Ill see anyone from Seeta again during this trip. It felt strange to me. I almost didn’t want to go to Seeta in the first place because I knew that they would be sad that I was only there for a few hours, not to return till the summer months. I didn’t even get to see my daughter Florence; she was still with her auntie on holiday. 

Tomorrow we will leave for Lira in the morning. Hopefully we will get there in good time. I booked a room at the hotel there for the first night, and after that I am at the orphanage full time. There is a chance that I will get internet, but not until Bruce and Julie come to Uganda.