Writings from Carrie's Personal Diary in Uganda

Julie walking off the plane in Entebbe, Uganda

The beautiful rainbow is behind us just as we stepped off the plane.

Driving in Kampala. Lots of water being carried by bike.

6/17/2012  We arrived early this morning in Uganda after a 10 hour layover in London.  We walked off the plane to find a huge rainbow greeting us after a short shower of rain.  Our names were written on a small white piece of paper from a man who was waiting to pick us up.  Julie Stephen and I went in 1 cab and Steph and Dave went into the other.  It was an eventful 1 hour ride passing thru traffic on 1 lane roads with cars, bicycles, carts, people walking and crossing the street.  Our taxi driver would pass on a one lane road going up a hill.  Crazy!  It is green in Kampala.  Beautiful trees and plants! Can't wait to try the fruit.
When we got to our hotel outside the gate we had to wait for security to check the car.  He held a mirror on a long stick and searched underneath the whole entire vehicle. For bombs I'm assuming as they have had an increase of terrorist threats in the area.
We all came in and slept and then met later for dinner.  Our group gets along great and we are starting to gain our energy back from the long flights and travel.
The people here are quiet, humble and very welcoming.  I hope to show as much kindness to them as they show to us.
I am feeling blessed to be here.  I love this work and I am excited to get started.  Tomorrow we head to Gulu which is about a 6 hour drive.

View out of hotel room in Gulu.

Our FOA group along with Brenda at Map International's office in Gulu.

6/20 So we arrived in Gulu where we had lunch and stayed for the night.  The next day we went into the city to go exchange money at the bank.  I had to exchange $1000 US dollars.  They wouldn't take some of the bills if they were ripped or marked with ink.  The lady kept flashing our money everywhere and there was a big line behind us. They exchanged $450. They handed me a huge stash of shillings which was so nerve racking with everyone watching.  Then we went to Western Union to exchange the rest. Also, a bit nerve racking.  Then with our money stashed away we went to the store, the MAP office and then we were off.  The road was immediately bumpy not missing a pot hole every few seconds.  And, yes that was our next 6 hours.  The terrain was gorgeous.  Some of the most beautiful sights I'd ever seen.  We finally arrived!

Road that we traveled on to Kotido. 6 hours!

Kotido, We checked into our questhouse and went to dinner. Oh, on the way to Kotido, Brenda our guide showed us where Kony lived and went to school.  She was almost abducted by Kony in 1996.  She was 15 years old and at school in Gulu.  He came with his rebel soldiers to capture her and the girls.  The Uganda soldiers were able to fight them off and she fled to Kampala where she finished her schooling there.  Brenda has been so amazing to work with so far.  She is so kind.

Our first water filter presentation!

After Filtering the water from their water hole I drank it in front of the crowd.

So today we went to 3 villages and handed out 33 filters at each one.  The people are happy but live in extreme poverty.  These water filters will be so amazing to them.  They were so accepting and ready to learn and understand them.  They understood that the water they have been drinking is making them sick.  They see the value of the filters.  It was a very successful day!

Julie helping put together a water filter for a family.

Going over the water filter set up individually with each family.

Drinking the filtered water out of anything they had to store it.

Presentation by the water hole. Notice the cattle using it also.

6/21 Last night I was so tired that I fell asleep writing in my journal.  This morning we went to the Map office in Kotido.  We drilled holes in the last of the buckets.  We headed to a new village in the Karamoja region where we did a demonstration.  We then walked to their water source(about 2 miles) to show them how to clean and use the filters.  As we walked back I was speaking to our leader and interpreter and a lady told me that she wanted to give me her child.  Oh my! I know they just want their babies to be taken care of but I just told her that I couldn't take him but that I would gladly hold him for her.  Everyone was so thankful for the filters.  They say the clean water is sweet and tasty and I have to agree.

Showing the crowd how to put together the filter.

 6/24 Okay so yesterday turned out to be a different adventure.  We woke up at 6 to leave by 6:30.  After 3 hours of bumpy driving we came across a fallen down bridge.  There were crews working on a new bridge but it was too muddy and deep for us to cross.  So sadly we turned around and headed back to home.  On the way back the rains began.  Our car (van) got very slippery on the road.  I decided to take a little snooze.  All I remember is feeling the car go out of control and I grabbed onto the seat in front of us as we went straight into a ditch head first and then the left side of our van followed. Holy crap! We were able to reverse out of it but this did happen a second time.  To say the least it was a bit intense in the car.  Jeffery our driver just turned up the happy music to ease the silent intensity.  We got back safe. :)

6/29 I am sitting at the Nairobi, Kenya airport.  Everything went so well on our trip to Uganda.  We were able to go back and visit the people in their villages and see them using their filters in their homes.  It was awesome!  They knew how to clean them and some were already storing their filtered water for use.  It was wonderful spending time with the families.  I feel so grateful to everyone who helped get these families and their beautiful children clean water to drink.  It will be life changing.

The last day we traveled 15 hours in the van.  Everyone was tired.
This morning I saw everyone in our group off to the states.  That was a great feeling.  I am exhausted but happy.  I am excited to see what new adventures await me here in Kenya! - Carrie