Day 28: 
 
You know when you have a really good idea… and some “bubble buster” sucks all the fun out of it by immediately rapid-fire questioning your steps to implementation/feasibility? I am, both one of, and highly frustrated by, those people. I am getting better at running all scenarios in my head, and not out loud to avoid getting, or giving, the exasperated sigh. 
 
Case in point… Child Sponsorship. When I was told everything that a sponsorship covered, I did not think it was physically, financially possible. For the predictable ongoing expenses, they work magic and make it work. However, after asking a million questions, I figured out what it takes just to bring a child through the door. So, before a sponsor can even be found for the ongoing expenses… The one time purchases/medical testing necessary to add another child as a full time resident of Hope Children’s Home costs over $100.00, or 170,000 Ugandan Schillings. So until sponsorships can be found, and even after, intake and monthly costs come out of the general budget, the budget meant for upgrades, or the unexpected. 
 
I do not over-analyze to exasperate. I over-analyze because I am the crazy person that actually believes “it” can be done… I just want to know all of my options about where to get started. 
 
How do you feel about options? You like ‘em? You love ‘em? Here’s a few: 
- Sponsor a child – and as you stay connected to the Hope Home monthly, you’ll keep them in a home filled with hope. Lots to choose from. 
- Help offset the intake costs of children, with a one-time gift, so the sponsorship dollars can go a little farther. (Psst. There are over 100 kids so don’t be afraid you will “overgive”.) This choice is like choosing all of the children. 
- Recruit a care team for a sponsored child. One guy who recruits adoptive families, for foster kids here in the U.S., tells people, “for every one that steps up to adopt (or in our case, “sponsor”), five others will need to step up to fill support rolls. Why not get $20 from 5 of your friends to cover the initial cost to Hope/Show Mercy? You could give regular updates to them about your kiddo. We would naturally talk about our biological nieces and nephews, how much more should we chat about the children we have chosen? :>) Then maybe you would be able to draw from the same 5 friends if you wanted to send birthday or Christmas gifts, etc. 
 
If you are overwhelmed by your choices, listen to Maddie’s advice. Maddie is 7 years old and a former foster kid who was adopted. “When my parents heard of all the children who needed help… they said, ‘This is an emergency!’ and they just picked one! It was me. If there are still kids who need help, you should just tell people to pick one.” Out of the mouths of babes… 
 
And to answer one question, before it is even asked: My hope is not to reuse any of the items bought for one child’s intake needs for another child. If, and when, a child is able to leave Hope Children’s Home to have their own home, I would love to be able to send their few possessions with them, (like their bed, blanket, etc…) to aide them on their journey. Did your parents give you anything when you left home? Did you give your kids anything when they left? 
 
Fully aware that more than five of you check on/care for me, 
 
Lia 
 
Day 29: 
 
You made it!! You made it through more than 29 days and pages of my emails. Good job. ☺ These emails have taken hours and hours to write, as I have had to edit them down so much from their rambling beginnings. Believe it or not, I didn’t get to share everything with you that is on my heart. ☺ But I won’t flood your “in” box. I still might send you an email once a month or so… just to let you know how the projects are coming along… say, around the 29th? 
 
I have enjoyed going through all of my old notes, journal entries, and conversations with people from Hope, Show Mercy, other Ugandan ministries, and some new African friends to compile these emails. Mostly, though, I write and work for projects for Douglas. He is the last child I put to sleep in my arms before I left Hope Children’s Home, and the first one I would keep if someone would let me. I loved all of the children, but for some reason, he and I had a special connection. Douglas’ birth mother cannot work to ensure he is provided every opportunity to thrive, but I can. And I will. I can’t not do it. Even if I fail. He’s in my “Once.” 
 
Once 
“Because being here is much and because all this that’s here, 
So fleeting, seems to require us and strangely concern us. 
Us the most fleeting of all. 
Just once, 
Everything, 
Only for once. 
Once and no more. 
And we, too, once. 
And never again. 
But this having been once, though only once, 
having been once on earth – Can it ever be canceled?” 
Rilke 
 
Today is Easter, the celebration of the biggest “Once” ever! The kids at Hope are 10 hours ahead of PST. So, their celebrations have drawn to a close. As you think about them, picking up the new outfits, new shoes and accessories, and cleaning up the evidence of the feast you enjoyed, know that it is not too late to help. Keep spreading the word! Keep contributing. Invite everyone you know and come to my birthday party on Saturday, April 26th, 2008 to see all of my Uganda pictures and touch what I touched. You don’t even have to bring a gift, but if you want to bring one… can it be for the kids? I have included a list… just in case. ☺ 
 
Celebrating resurrections, because sometimes, just sometimes… God allows twice. 
 
Lia 
 
 
 
If you choose to purchase/bring any items to the party, please keep these things in mind: 
The adults and the older children at hope can all read in English. The goal for each item is 100. Please do not purchase anything that needs electricity or batteries. Please do not gift wrap anything. If you would like you can put it all in a drawstring backpack with your name and address on a card inside, so that Show Mercy can give you a receipt. 
 
Home 
Quick dry towels (and anything else quick dry – “shammie” type fabric) 
belts, 
clean clothes with all of their buttons and no holes, sweatshirt weight and lighter, 
shoes in good condition, 
shoe laces, 
underwear – all sizes, 
training underwear, 
plastic pants 
Sewing notions, 
trash cans 13 gallon, 
hand brooms and dust pans, 
gardening tools, 
seeds, new, Storage containers (clear rubbermaid totes, small to medium) 
Medicines of all types and other first aid supplies. 
Nalgene(or another heavy duty brand) Water bottles, 
Feminine Sanitary Napkins, 
Deodorant 
toothpaste, 
toothbrushes, 
duck tape, 
heavy duty camp silverware, plates and mugs, 
Wind up flashlights, 
Training potties, 
biodegradable soap(dishes, laundry, bathing), 
Rubbermaid 24 gallon “action packers”. 
twin size fitted sheets, 
cash/check/charge 
 
School Supplies
glue, paint, pencils/crayons, notebooks (the kind where the pages are sewn in, not holes with a circular piece of wire, plain paper for coloring, And lined paper or tests, colored paper for fun. tape. 
teaching aids with CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS, flash cards, etc. learning games. 
Books in good condition, 
Backpacks (Freddy’s has the drawstring ones for about $5-10 and those are perfect for the grade schoolers), 
Cash/check/charge 
 
 FUN
Heavy duty toys, (they are very rough on things, nothing fragile please), 
black baby dolls, 
baby/toddler toys, 
Sports equipment with CLEAR GAME INSTRUCTIONS 
Musical instruments. (they have drums covered! ☺ 
Simple board games with CLEAR INSTRUCTIONS. (No cards, please. Gambling is a problem in the village and the Ugandan pastor doesn’t want to appear to support it.) 
outdoor play structure toys, (minus play structure), swing, rope net, bar, rings, 
cash/check/charge

Day 26:

 With WORLD WATER DAY fast approaching… Let’s talk water. We use it for drinking, cooking, bathing, cleaning, laundering, and recreation. So what if you had to pump it and carry it? Oh, but on your long hot walk back to your home, don’t take a drink! You should boil it first. If you can afford filters you could do that, or buy bottled water. Or you could put it in a clear container and put it in the sun for six hours to kill all of the cooties. Just gotta find a large clear container. Does anyone know where the Target, Home Depot, or Container Store is Uganda? Anyone? 

These cooties are varied and many. There are bacteria and parasites, and with little to no access to healthcare or medicine, removing the cooties shouldn’t be treated as optional. A common misconception is that the “local” bacteria won’t harm the locals. Just because it doesn’t kill everyone, doesn’t mean it is good for you. They battle all the illness you would expect from these conditions. Sometimes they do lose the battle. A big killer in third world countries is dysentery, and the ensuing dehydration… from drinking lots of bad water. 
 
So how can we keep the plight of others at the fore front of our minds, for at least today? Only get your water from your garden hose in a dirty bucket for the whole day. Though they have to boil their water over open flame and hall their wood and water from much further away than your local garden hose, you will begin to get the idea. Or just go down to the Willamette and stick your face in and drink. Actually don’t do that, just remember why you wouldn’t and that other people don’t have the options you do. 
 
Don’t use your dishwasher. Use your bucket of water. Don’t use the washing machine. Use your bucket of water. Don’t use the shower. Use your bucket of water. Don’t use your bathroom or kitchen sink. Use your bucket. And certainly do not use your filtered water or ice cube maker in the fridge door. Use your bucket. 
 
Recite the reasons you are grateful for your potable water and brainstorm ways to help those without. 
 
Reciting and brainstorming, 
 
Lia 
 
Day 27: 
 
“Muzungus (white people) drink water from the sky, Africans drink water from the ground.”, they tell me. 
 
They were proved right. Last year Show Mercy volunteers created “gutters” out of bent tin, as there was no “Guttershield” outlet within 10,000 miles. The water from the “sky” was redirected to a huge water container at the back of the Children’s Home. This helps a lot during the rainy season with flooding and time spent heading to the well for the day’s many needs for water. 

Does your house have gutters? Do you think they are necessary? Helpful? 
 
There are three other buildings on the property that also need this improvement for the longevity of the buildings, but mostly the safety of the women and children. Am I being a bit dramatic throwing the word “safety” out there? I must tearfully tell you, “No.” It will, of course, be more secure to have most of the water collection happening on the property vs. trips down the road to the well (potential abduction or abuse), but it will save lives (possible and probable accidents). 
 
They have a couple of 55 gallon drums around the property to catch rain water. They are great “Dish Washing” stations. The kids never leave a crumb on their plates, but they go through the motions of dunking the plate in water and scrubbing it with their hands to clean it. Now there is no scent of food to attract bugs when they put it back in their rooms until the next meal. 
 
We had called all of the kids into one room to weigh them so we could medicate them accordingly with “de-wormer”. Jared went to wash his dish before joining us. There was no one left outside but Jared. It hadn’t rained in a couple of days so the rain barrels were low. He leaned way down to reach the water and fell in. He was too small to pull himself back out or tip the barrel over and too big to get flipped around inside the barrel to raise his head above water. We don’t know how long he was in the barrel. 
 
By the grace of God, Margaret ran outside for something and began screaming. Everyone poured outside. Someone pulled him out, but they put him upside down again to get the rest of the water out. Jared began flailing and David, a 22 year old from Albany, Oregon had Jared clinging to his neck. Jared wouldn’t open his eyes, or verbally respond, but he was breathing. He would go back and forth from passing out when held and feeling secure to shear rigid panic when moved away from David’s body. (He would put his arms over his head as if still pushing himself off the bottom of the barrel.) David held him for an hour and a half with no change in his condition. 
 
I don’t know how to describe the emotion of that day, but it might help you to know the trouble I had processing the possibility this would most likely happen again, and probably happens so many times a day, all over the world, when I tell you that my nephew’s name is the same as the boy. They are even about the same age. I still have a knot in my stomach and a lump in my throat when I think of that day. 
 
You will be happy to know, there was no permanent damage, as far as we can tell, to Jared. He was running and playing the very next day. We didn’t dodge a bullet, we heard a warning shot. 
 
Can you hear it? Can you help? 
 
Hearing that this American Auntie can’t forget she is also a Ugandan “Ahhntee”, 
 
Lia

Day 24:

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” What if you cannot afford the preventative measures?

“Vincent, why are you home from school already?”
“Tis’ a touch of Malaria, Ahhntee.”

From runny noses to HIV: the self-diagnosis is almost always “Tis a touch of Marlaria.” So we test them before administering the expensive drugs. The test costs too, but physically, and financially, is not as costly as the children being on Malaria medication they don’t need. Most all of the disabilities I encountered in Uganda were blamed on Malaria or a high fever early in childhood.

Did you know people die from Malaria? Remember the worst most violent flu you have ever had and then imagine on that exact same day having someone put you on the “Scrambler” carnival ride with a megaphone in your ear and flashlight shining in your eyes. The only hydrating fluid you have is the well water that always gives people tummy trouble.

Sleeping under a net at night helps keep the malaria infecting mosquitos away, but time, the weather, and the rickety metal beds have worn holes in the nets. They try to sew them up. Which is very responsible, only now, due to the unskilled patch job, they do not drape far enough to cover the second mattress on the set of bunk beds.

They need more nets. The good kind. The “dipped” kind, that are treated with stuff to kill the mosquito when it lands on the net, not just frustrate it to move on to the next bed. They need the $10 kind. One for everyone. And some spares, just in case.

They also need regular doctor visits, dentist visits, and eye exams. Some most definitly need surgery and/or speach and physical therapists. Specialists are needed for the seisures. Who can go? Who will go? Who will help send them?

They need treatment plans and medicine. And people to properly administer that medicine who can read the directions.

Can someone volunteer to petition the chewable vitamin industry to send their products to the malnourished?

I would have killed for some Pedialite for a limp 4 year old who really did have Malaria. Will someone negotiate or beg pedialite on the children’s behalf?

It is starting to get overwhelming, isn’t it?

A very wise woman once helped me with my “all or nothing” participation on things, (If I cannot do this perfectly by myself, I wasn’t meant to do it. Right?) “You are not required by the Almighty to hand-hold every person and project that comes your way, but you could very well be meant to make the hand-off. You do the possible, God will do the impossible.” Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:16

So you aren’t a neurosurgeon? Big Deal. Can you put these needs and requests in front all the people you know, in case they might know a neurosurgeon? Have you heard of Northwest Medical Teams? The guy ran a small business. He wasn’t a doctor. He saw a horrible story on the news, and said, “Somebody should do something!” His wife said, “Yes, you should.” Two weeks later he was on a plane with volunteers he had gathered. How? He prayed alot, and ran off at the mouth to anyone who would hold still. That’s it. : >) We can do that, can’t we?

Curious to see who will pray, who will spread the word, and who will answer the call,

Lia

Day 25:

The children struggle with r’s and l’s. They can speak and read them just fine, they just mix and match them. Lori, one of Show Mercy’s founders, is known as “Mamma Roli” to the children. I, therefore, am not “Auntie Lia”, but “Ahhntee Ria”, or just “Ahhntee”. Which is greatly more affectionate, but not said with as much curiosity/excitement as what everyone else in “town” cheerfully calls me; or rather yells at, me. “Muzungu!!” (White.) To tease them I would yell back while smiling, “No! Muganda!” (Member of the local tribe.)

Another fun fact is that a piece of candy is a “sweetie”. As in, “Hey Lady, give me a sweetie!” This was translated for me, as I did not understand the two year old speaking contributors. She was in her “front yard” with her mom near the road I was walking on. I told her I didn’t have any “sweeties”. Her glare told me she thought I was a mean liar. I immediately began to explain that truly I did not have any, or I would have shared with her. Her two year old eyes still accused me of being a hold out.

Her mother was trying very hard to not laugh at her daughter and me, for manners do not allow it. But she did not chide the child for asking, or for being upset at the refusal either. Doesn’t she also want her daughter to have manners? Or does she want me to have some perspective? … Truthfully, I was the only way that child was going to get “extra” that day. No shame, just reality. It was worth the risk of “no” to ask.

Food is hard to come by for most families in Uganda, and the luxury of a treat even harder. Even if you can get enough to keep your stomach from growling, it probably won’t be “a well balanced diet”, and it will take hours to prepare.

One of my favorite “let’s expose how much Lia DOESN’T know” questions I was asked was this: “Madame, do you have to pick your own rice, or do you have a machine to do it for you?”

“Huh?”

She showed me the plate of uncooked rice she was picking through, kernel by kernel. There were tiny rocks everywhere. Her fingers were pretty fast. Rocks to one side, rice to the other. I explained that no one can sell rice with teeth breaking rocks mixed inside in America. They would be sued. To further shock the Ugandans at our laziness and ease of life… Ahhntee Ria told them all about Uncle Ben’s Minute Rice. They were wide eyed and skeptical, not nearly as harsh a look as the two year old had given me. I think I will bring a box with me next time to prove it.

So as you prepare your Easter feast, will you remember them?
- They could use your prayers.
- They could use some help to provide a feast of their own.
- They could really use someone to write out a completely balanced vegan* diet so they can be the best stewards of their resources as possible. (*Not because of any ideology, just because of cost.)
- They could use some money to buy meat, eggs, and dairy products to supplement the above whenever possible.
- They could use consistent sponsors and one-time gift givers.
- They could use people who will spread the word and encourage others to be sponsors and contributors.
Will you be one of those people?

Because truthfully, you are the only way these children are going to get any “extra”. No shame, just reality. It is worth the risk of “no” to ask.

Risking it,

Lia

Ooooops. I need to retract the Ugandan post office address and replace it with the Albany address (35194 Cortez Place SE, Albany, OR 97322) for presents of books/clothes etc… , (correspondence for your sponsored child is still fine.) This way you will get your receipt mailed back to you as well. :>)

I forgot some details. Import taxes. It is going to be better/cheaper if the stuff is carried in with the team. The post office is not near the Children’s home and as no one has a car that lives or works there, they would have a hard time carrying all of the loot back to the home on the “bus.” Now when I say “bus”, don’t think tri-met. Think mini-van with 16 people in it. and prices for this little trip have escalated to cover the rising gasoline prices, so they are few and far between. Guess how much. C’mon guess. Got your guess? OK, scroll down.

Close to $18/Gallon!

Yikes! But you can help!! There is now a 292929 button on the www.showmercy.org website and all of the donations made to that designation will go directly to Hope Children’s Home. Your donation can help get these donated supplies shipped together to Hope With the June 08 team. (There will probably be additional charges for excess baggage.)

I would love to have “action packers” donated to carry all of the supplies over and then leave the crates at Hope. “But why leave them, Lia?” Oh, I am glad you asked! I can answer in one word. Rats. Not like the expletive replacement, but the animal. There is nothing more frustrating than finally getting these kids in decent clothes, (an entire outfit, top and bottom, with all of the seams, buttons and zippers reinforced or put back together) and then notice the large hole chewed through them. What is more frustrating is that there is no furniture, no dressers, etc. So there is no way rats can turn down the huge pile of clothes in the corner of each room (on the one shelf they have). If each kid, or even set of bunk bed mates, had a foot locker to put their things… It would at least be a deterrent for the rats, but a great encouragement to the residents!

Anything Plastic costs a fortune over there, if you can even find it. I wanted some tupperware to sort the medicine cabinet and keep the “silver-dollar and larger size” cockroaches out of the bandages. I gave up and started handing them to the ladies who work at Hope to put food in for protection at their homes, beloved cootie-keeper-outers. The cockroaches will dine on the bandaid glue a little longer.

And guess what else? Target has Rubbermaid Action Packers in 24 gallon capacity that meets airline regulation sizes for less than $29.00. Isn’t that interesting? Will anyone volunteer to get Target to donate 100 of them? Make it your pet project? Email me.

I also need someone to explain how to set up a Library once we get the books there in a simple school setting? My dad worked in the Library for tuition in college, but I think he has done everything to forget his, “marian the librarian” torture years. Can I get a volunteer?

Hopefully,

Lia

Day 23

I lean towards minimalism in most areas. My primary job as “the Lady’s Housewife” is to streamline people and their things. No nonsense. If you don’t like to dust, get rid of the dustables. Don’t keep stuff out of guilt. Don’t keep stuff that reminds you of a bad relationship, even if it is a quality item. If it has been broken/mending, pay to fix it or toss it. Now. etc… From your calendar to your car… justify to me why it is taking so much or your time, money and energy or sell/share/pitch it. No nonsense.

I live in less than 300 square feet with ALL of my worldly possessions. In most areas, I practice what I preach. Shoes is not one of those areas. I have not always been known for my totally girlyness. I have embraced more of the “feminine glories” in recent years. Mascara, chapstick, and pink outfits. Very big steps. But my shoes… I have a seven pair stiletto collection that could cause any set of feet to fear immediate and permanent injury, but I don’t listen to my feet. Heels signify “pretty for the sake of pretty” and my hearts adoration of “beauty just because” cancels out my unusally practical/mechanical mind.

I love girly shoes. I wait for hand me downs or gifts for the practical sneaker or work boot. But anything that I could only reasonably wear “for an evening out”, (and I don’t go out much), I have paid good money for. (I almost packed a pair for Africa. Just to look at them from time to time.)

Then I got to Africa. Shoes are a blessing, whether they fit or not, are comfortable or not, or are stylish or not. They don’t even have to be a matched pair to be a blessing. The kids at Hope usually have shoes, but the shoes that they have are cheap and fall apart, so untill more can be purchased they spend a day or two without. Lots of other kids don’t have shoes anytime, though. And the “new arrivals” to Hope are so used to going without shoes that it takes awhile for them to be trained to wear them all the time even if they feel foreign.

Do you know what “chiggers” are? As near as I can tell, they are these wormy, buggy things that burrow into your feet and are very painful. Of course the insueing infection is also a danger. But these kids are tough. they just find a razor blade or needle and cut or dig them out, and then walk around with bleeding feet and pick up more. If there is any spare Karosene they will dunk their feet in it long enough to suffocate the little buggers and get them to come closer to the surface for removal.

Would anyone like to help me up the quality and consistancy of the shoe availability at Hope and the surrounding village?

For anyone that needs a little help “thinning the herd” of dustables and collections at their own home, and begins a new child sponsorship of one of the Hope Home or School kids, I will come to your house and give you a free one hour consultation to get you started. Then if you choose to continue my services, I will only charge you what my prices were in 2004, (The previous Leap Year and the year Show Mercy started with Hope Children’s Home.)

Walking with appreciation,

Lia