Continued...

Monday afternoon, we set a few things in motion for getting the donated money spent where needed (didn't waste any time!!)... ordered some supplies and worked some things out. We also went to MARKET MONDAY (apparently usually a pretty crazy experience... not too crazy for us, but interesting). We spent a bunch of money buying the bed-sets and house supplies generously supplied by our Friends and Family... for our sponsor-child, Grace, and her family.

(no, we didn't buy a radio... I this just stood out as interesting to me!)

I also spent some time in the Dyck-Classroom where Shan home-schools her kids. This made me miss my own kids a little... made me wonder what they would do in school that Day. Shan runs a great classroom and the kids really enjoy being taught by her! ...Amazingly, Finny does everything Av does even though he is a full year younger. Kinda neat! Later in the day, Jeff and Jamie set up 7 Lap Top computers in what is their new Computer Lab for the Staff here ...and with Sean, they helped introduce some Staff to making simple worksheets and excel spread sheets. A pretty exciting day for the Staff here!

Tuesday... Jamie and I started the Day by leading a Devotional for a gr.7 class, then went to deliver TONS of medical supplies that we brought for the Medical Clinic here (and had to sort them!!) ...and I spent a little time helping in the clinic. That was kind of funny b/c I ended up being most needed with the pharmacist... dispensing meds. Not totally my specialty but I was glad to be put to work.

Then we went out with another couple of staff members to check in on a NEW project that has been set in motion (called SODIS).... the purpose of this project is to help people in the surrounding area disinfect their water with SOLAR exposure rather than having to boil it. We found that the set-ups that have been distributed were all in use when we arrived and the community was, in general, very happy with this alternative to boiling their water. Of course it was very eye-opening to walk into these remote communities and see the people who live there (remind me to tell you about the Woman who was so happy to see us that she ran into the bushes and dropped the ANIMAL LEG that she was carrying and ran over to greet us... yuck!but still a testimony of how thankful people are for the work that PAOS is doing in Kibaale).

...the REST of yesterday and Today was AMAZING ...and I will have to write about it at a later time... I'm monopolizing the computer right now. (sorry!).

We are loving being in Uganda. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. This is truly an amazing place!

What we've been up to...

We arrived in Kibaale on Sunday evening. The Kibaale Community Centre where the Dycks live and work is truly beautiful, and the people are genuinely lovely. The Staff and Kids are very warm and welcoming... and the Kids are quite shy (and very respectful ...with "Good Morning Uncle James" when Jamie greets them :0) Very cute.

(we're being introduced to the Students & Staff)

(the Nursery, Primary and Secondary Students are separated into 3 different locations on the Campus... these are some of the Primary Students).

We're having a lot of fun hangin' with the Dyck family. Joel, Avin, Finn & Mazzy are right in their element and are happy to show us the ropes around here. Jeff & Shan are amazing hosts, making us feel very welcome and loved. It is very fun to be back together with them!! ...nice to hear Jeffy calling Jamie "jamie-lynn spears" again :0) haha.

On Monday, Jeff just gave us the tour of the grounds and the projects that they have under way (very impressive!).

(some of the Kitchen staff peeling Matooke ...which is a staple food in Uganda. They boil it and serve it ...similar in texture to our Sweet Potatoes)

(this is the Medical Clinic - which Jeff was in charge of building - and it it continuously busy! This Clinic serves the Kids & Staff at their Centre as well as the People in their Community. They have assessment/treatment rooms, a functioning lab, and a pharmacy dispensary on site. I wish I would have taken a picture of the clinic we visited 5 min down the road... not even remotely comparable!!).

(their Chicken project... which is supplying eggs and meat (& soon fish food!!) for their Centre)

(the newest project underway... a Fish Farm! I'm not sure I can do it justice by explaining it... but it will be part of a much bigger plan for sustained living... chicken waste feeds fish, fish waste feeds crop, harvested crop feeds chicken...) ...I think.

We were praying like mad for Rain to come b4 the Fish-Expert arrives this next week... and apparently, the Heavens have opened up!! Rainy season has finally arrived!!

Finally some Pictures :0)

The pics are in reverse order... sorry.

Shan home-schools the kids




Then on Sunday after Church, we traveled South of the Equator!! ...and headed into Kibaale (the middle of nowhere Africa!) where we are working and living at the Kibaale Community Centre.Can you see ME in there?? ...I was showing the Kids pictures of our Boys... the Kids swarmed me!!!

Jamie and the House Mamas/Aunties
on our last night in Mpigi, we went to the Kids' houses (there are 3 of them) and tucked them in and gave them some gifts.  Jamie gave the Boys a special soccer ball from the Mackies... they were verrrrry excited!





The Boys came out in FULL soccer (football) uniform (all of which had either Peace Arch Soccer Club or Semi logos on them!!).  They loved playing with Jeff, Jamie, Joel and Finn.
Hanging out with the Kids was so much fun!!





Christine held Jamie's hand or snuggled up to him whenever possible!  Cute.

Jeffy
yes, Shan rides a Boda Boda with Mazzy...

This was a highlight for Jamie... We took a Boda Boda ride into the town of Mpigi, where we toured the shop where Jay Duncan (a Musician from the Lower Mainland) has created a workshop and taught some of the Locals how to make guitars to sell and export.  The company is called Duncan Africa.

Wanna see Pictures?

Jeff and Shan actually posted a few pics on their blog... so you can take a look there.  I will try to update ours with some pics tomorrow.

jeffshan.blogspot.com

We had 7 Bags FULL!!

This is in Mpigi (we had just barely arrived!).  The kids were sooo warm and welcoming!

The grounds are BEAUTIFUL... this is where our Church-plant PPCC is.

Hi Everyone! 

THANKS SO MUCH for looking after our kids and sending the re-assuring emails! 
We have NOT been worrying about the kids at all... but it's so nice to be RIGHT!  We're glad that they seem to be doing awesome!  WE DO MISS YOU BOYS A LOT THOUGH!...many of the little kids remind us of you b/c of their fantastic smiles and sillinesss!!  Dad played soccer with some Really good little soccer players too! 

We just arrived at the place where we be staying for the next 2 weeks ...KIBAALE!  Jeff and Shan have a beautiful place here... and we have our own small house to stay in while we're here... cool.  We will have access to J&S's computers now that we're here so we will be able to keep in touch a little. 

SO!...the flight to London was long... but good.  We left one hour late but arrived on schedule (?!)... tail wind :0).  After a long line in Customs we did a swift (and brief) walk around London - Loved it.  Would love to spend a few days there!!!  Will have to go back some time!  The weather was really nice... like a fall Day at home :0) 

We flew into Entebbe at 8am Friday (would have been 6pm for you guys).  Made a quick stop there to have a shower and drop you guys an email... and headed off to Mpigi (where our church-plant is... PPCC).  AMAZING people there!  we felt so warmly welcomed and appreciated!  The kids and staff are wonderful.  We've already taken over 500 pictures... might have to go thru them at some point!  I'll see if I can load some up in the next couple of days! 

We love you all and are very thankful to you for taking care of our boys. 
I'm going to try to post to the Blog in the future sot that we can keep everyone up to date at once! 
HUGS AND KISSES TO MY BOYS!! 

Mom, did Aiden make it to VT ok?  How's that going, Aiden??...Aiden, get Grandma to help you type me an email :0) 
xoxo 
r.