AIDS education for the island people
This past week I sat in a three day seminar concerning AIDS counseling for the people of the Lingira Island were I was staying. I hadn't been planning on going until the last minute but was glad to have the opportunity to sit in on the meetings.
Meetings like this can be difficult for me because of the translation. It seems that the majority of people who speak english well are around my age or younger. So needless to say in a teaching such as this it is best to make it available to all and speak the local language. In almost all meetings they will have a translator. It actually is good for so many people because of the difference in language between the regions of even Uganda you find that english is really a common tongue for so many people.
For the AIDS meeting I had my own personal translator, my friend Henry. It is always good to have someone you know translate for you because you are more familiar with their accent, and much easier to offer a mint.
The premise of the conference was to offer education on AIDS awareness, testing availabilities, and training for counseling. It is so necessary here and good to see how they teach things. Many at the meeting were still unaware of the causes and preventions. Now this was a little sad to think about because Uganda was the first to embrace AIDS education and has been remained the leader in education and numbers reflect that since the start of such programming numbers have decreased. With training for counseling available in a program like this people are taught the importance of counseling people through the needs of testing. They also covered how to counsel someone through the process of accepting they are HIV positive. Going through this they are hoping to see less orphans having no were to go and losing the things left to them from their parents. The only support available really is the community. The people here need to be built up to know the steps of the process especially for those infected by the virus. With a community changed it is likely that infected people can still live a long healthy life. Meds were covered, diet, cleansing, emotional counsel, and how to prepare for the future.
The man who lead the conference was a man named Gavan, he has been infected since 1992 and completely volunteers his time to this organization. Here in Africa when some one is infected it seems that they give up on life. Gavan was able to speak from experience that you need to find purpose and that life is full of meaning regardless of this disease. This man really does practice this. Besides this program he is a teacher and has started an orphanage were he cares for children that are sick with AIDS. There the children are given a home, loved cared for, and given an education. It challenged me, this man who was delivered such a blow moving forward in life with such conviction. If we all carried that sense of purpose I wonder what the world would look like.
Education for AIDS is different here. I think this is the first meeting that I have sat in for instance that they didn't go over all the different means of prevention. When asking Henry about it he stated that those things were not practiced or were so rare that they are not covered. All I can say is that it was an awakening to what a sexual society we live in. It seems like a whole new world in all its differences.
My only hope is that people here will begin to not fear so much. Those who are infected would not hide themselves away to avoid rejection and shame from the community, family, and friends. People are scared, with education I hope that fear will be reduced and that they can find support from the community around them, they so desperately need it.
That's all from the home front. Keep me posted on the happenings of life in Madison.

As I have already posted the transportation in Uganda takes some getting used to. Mostly I have been trying to make it by foot but when the distance is too long you have to give in and use either taxi or the boda boda. Preferiable the boda boda is the choice, they are quick, easy to find and the most comfortable. The taxies are packed with no give. Boda Boda motorcycles are much better than bicycles for obvious reasons. So you must remember that as I am saying you must remember that traveling this way is usually done in a skirt so you must go side saddle and remember to tuck your skirt in between your legs. In the states I always have seemed to not be a good passenger so for sure this is taking some getting used to. Amanda has it down and can ride not holding on with a bag balanced on her lap with her arm resting upon it. I however find myself ok with two hand gripped tightly. She tells me just wait this is a relaxed ride they wipp in and out of traffic in Kampala.... Maybe I'll never leave jinja after all.
This last weekend we have stayed the whole time in Jinja at a man who we have known from our two previous trips Sam Kasolos house. His home is large and he has a guest house so he was happy to welcome us. His home is warm and filled with people. Sam and his wife Else have six children but have many others whom they have taken in that were once orphans. Two girls are nieces from two of Sams sister who has passed. One is a girl from friends that were unable to care for their daughter. The last two are boys from some friends who have passed that left their children to them with no were else for them to go. One of those boys is George who has won my heart. George is mentally disabled and my guess is that he is eighteen or nineteen years old. He is full of laughter as he is always coming to steal my book or dig in my bag. He laughs in his teasing way and runs off. I think that God places George on earth for people like me who need to remember joy, simplicity and rest. A good message for me as I have been so busy even in my week away. Sams home is also full of a ton of company as people are passing through and family always comes to stay.
There has been at least twenty people there this weekend. At night we have gathered in the kitchen which consists of three grills fired up as we drink tea and chat it is good watch this portrait of a family in Uganda.
Last night I helped the girls cook snacks that they are bringing back to boarding school. It was good to learn how they do things as often times preporations and cooking here is so different then anything I am used to.
I head back to the Islands today but first will be heading to the market to shop with Mr Okoro who has made my duty on the base to help him shop and create a balanced diet were we are staying. I will write when I return. Thanks for all the great updates!!!!!

Finding Home
After a few hours of sleep at the hotel, we grabbed breakfast and headed on our way to Jinja. It took a while to find tranportation but at last we found a cab that could take my baggage, Amanda, Olive, and I. Our cab driver was so great, I have been lucky to have good traveling companions the whole journey through. Making friends on all of my flights with some really fantastic people. I was glad to have some commpany as this was my first long trip that I have taken alone.
Jinja is the same old busy city that I remember. Constant noise and traffic pushing its way through. I have to trust the transportation more because I have a hard time being a passanger in the states and this is soooo much worse. In the last 48 hours I will have traveled by rail car, plane, bus, car, boada boada (this is the motor bike taxi), and boat.
In Jinja we hurry through our list of things to do so that we can make our boat in time there is only one boat that leaves to our island each day. Internet, banking, and paper work must get done to day as I will not be back for a while.
Finally we make it to the docks. So transport on the boat is so crazy. The public boat is the worst to take because it is always full and makes for a very uncomfortable ride. The islands also require me placing on a skirt as they are more strict and a women in trousers is unexceptable and many may even think you to be cheap (imagine what they would think of our hot pants and mini skirts). Placing my skirt over my trousers I wait to be loaded onto the boat after all of the shipments, and baggage has found its way on. Getting on the boat is just another piece of this odd transport to the islands you must be carried on and off the boat by a kenyama (which means strong man). The water is not safe and is known for causing infection/disease for those who are not immune. Making it on the boat I am set to ride on a bag of salt, flour, and sugar. I have to say that this is one of the more comfortable items to have been placed on. I was even able to sleep for some of the ride. Two hours, my long journey has come down to this I am heading what will be home. Home....In Africa. On an island.
When we approach the shore all I can hear is the sound of the children calling my name from the shore. Jeska is more the sound of it. I dont think there is a place in the world were you would get a warmer welcome. Getting carried off the boat the children surround me hugging me laughing and repeating my name. This is what I came for, the faces I love. Everything leading up to this was for this moment.

The rest of this week I have been able to get adjusted and have been greatfull for the time to get to know all the new faces and settle into my room. It will take some time to adjust still but I have been warmly welcomed into the community that I will live with. They created a big dinner the night I arrived an flowers were placed everywere in my room. Its really amazing to be surrounded by warmth after such a long journey.

Roomate??? So I thought I had a room to myself. You know the room right by the tree were the cobra lives... YIKES! But it seems that some one wanted to share my room also. Going to bed the other night I pulled down the sheets before turning my latern off and was greeted with company, a gecko had found its way to my bed were it layed spread out in the center. You would think that me choosing to go to Africa would mean that I was brave or at least not afraid of some small lizard. But now I couldnt handle it. Waking Amanda I made her come and assist me in moving him out. With a good try we kicked him off my bed but could not find were he got to. So I talked myself into sleeping figuring he would eventially find its way out. I was not disturbed again untill the next day in the afternoon when I was sleeping. He crawled his way back up. This time he would be out. Can I just say that even African men are not as brave as I would once think because they too wouldnt touch it but maybe just to humor them it left.

If home is were you make it, than let it be said that a week is nothing but a good begining.

Nebraska, Colorado, Texas, to my final days in Cottage Groves
The road to departure this summer has been long as I find myself in my final days sorting and packing to leave what has been my home for the last twenty eight years of my life. It seems pieces of life seem more magnified when you prepair for a jorney like this. Realizing how interwoven your life is and how all of those around you the constant assurance of support, that holds and protect you. But it is also within these ties that I find assurance that my road ahead will be just as rich because the support of this thread has constructed itself into the fabric of my being and can not be broken. Thanks to all my family and friends you have been essential to my growth as a person and have loved me well. I will miss all your beautiful faces this year but expect to hear from you all through this year.
For my clients you all are so wonderfull I was thankfull to see so many of you before my departure and for those of you I missed I will hope to see you in a year. Thank you all for your support and encouragement. I really have the greatest job, and you all make it possiable.
I spent the morning on the phone with my friend Amanda. She has been living on the islands since June working primarly with the secondary school that just started there. She sounds so great and has been an encouragment to me in my arrival in Uganda. It will be great to have not only an American but one of my dearest friends there for a year. This adventure for me has been so long awaited as I recall my first return from Africa at eighteen being love sick for the people of this continent and knowing that it was far from done with me. It was my dream to be able to spend a extended period of time in Africa to love, learn, and serve these people. Here is to a dream long awaited.
I will blog again upon my arrival to Uganda. Peace and love to you all.