I didn't get a chance to update our blog, mostly due to the fact that we didn't have internet access til the end of the trip, and at that it was spotty.
But Trevor was email our communication team and updating them while we were gone, here are some of the updates:
> Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 6:53 AM
Hi Everyone -
Heard from Trevor and Yvonne and the team! They texted me last night at 10:54p our time saying they made it safely to Amsterdam! Yea! Their flight took 9 hours and still they are only half way there. I am expecting another text later today with news of their safe arrival.
Keeping you posted.
Sincerely,
Barclay and Edna
> Sent: Friday, February 18, 2011 12:33 PM
Hi Everyone -
Got a text about 9:30am our time.
The team arrived safely in Uganda. They landed early this morning and are tired, but well fed! :) Pray for safe pickup and travel to Kampala.
Barc and Edna
> Sent: Sunday, February 20, 2011 7:17 AM
Hi Everyone -
The Team has made it safely to the Orphanage. They had a wonderful time of greeting with shouting, clapping, and singing. Dentistry work has begun.
Candy and toys are being passed around and they are enjoying their time. The children love to sit and talk with them and especially love their long, soft hair! :)
Please pray for the dental work and their time with the kids.
Barc and Edna
> Sent: Monday, February 21, 2011 7:03 AM
Hi Everyone - Got a message late last night, here's is what they are saying:
Dentistry work has begun, many soccer games have been played, the children have loved the bubbles we brought and gifts of candy and soccer balls. We were also privileged to experience a wonderful church service with heartfelt praise. We've already seen 9 patients, ages 12 -91!and have done 15 extractions, 1 reconstruction, and 1 filling.
The library looks fantastic and the cafeteria is 3 times as large!
We will be plastering the library today. Looking forward to the work. Please pray for the well - it broke yesterday and may be expensive to fix. We are ok for water now as it recently rained, but fixing the well is very important. Keep praying for health.
Trevor and the Uganda Small Group.
That's all for now.
Barc and Edna
> Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 9:10 AM
The well is fixed! The well contractor tried a home-grown technique and got a broken pipe from inside the well.
They had a very humbling day as they visited village homes and water holes.
They passed out bags of clothes to all ages. They worked on the library again and passed out letters and supplies to the classrooms. They had a great time also passing out hundreds of toys and candy pieces ("sweeties" as they are called there).
The children also performed a special assembly for the team - just wonderful singing and dancing. They had many tears on their team as they prepare to leave tomorrow. They said it will be sad to drive out of there. They ask for continued health and safe travel to safari and are thankful for your prayers!
> Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2011 22:32:28 -0800
"Well the end of our journey has begun. The last days of our trip were amazing as we were able to see hippos, buffalo, lions, elephants at very close distance in the wild on our safari. What a beautiful landscape Uganda
has - quite a contrast to the village poverty we have witnessed. We have just loaded the bus for our 8 hour drive back to the capital, Kampala, where we hope to see the Uganda cultural center and then fly out tonight. Please pray for a safe drive and our safe and restful plane ride home. See you all very soon."
-Trevor and the Team
When I finally got a chance to get email, here is the update I sent out to my family too. It was so hard to wrap up such an amazing trip, but I tried to do my best:
Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 9:03 AM
Good evening to me and good morning to you all back in Seattle! It is 546pm here and we finally have wireless!
First I want to say a very Happy Birthday to dad! Wish I could be there for you!
We are laying by the poolside in Queen Elizabeth safari lodge.
Let me do a quick debrief, I know there is way too much too explain now!
We arrived in Uganda after a very very long day of flying!
Got to our hotel and just crashed! Than took what was supposed to be a 8 hour drive to the orphanage in the Rakai District, turned out to be under 4!
We stopped at the equator too! Everyone here is so nice and so excited to see us, the children come running and call us Mzungu! (White people) most haven't ever seen any before, but have been taught since young that we bring hope.
Once we pulled in the orphanage the children came running and started singing to us, such a great greeting!
We have seen a lot of things at the orphanage, wonderful spiritually uplifting and heartbreaking hard to handle things too, the sickness, the filthy water holes, but all the big smiles! All the kids have torn clothes but huge smiles that shine through straight to your heart! So much hope and light of God shines through those smiles!
We played with the kids, helped them fill and carry jerry cans from the dirty lake when the well was out, visited the neighboring mud huts, helped with plaster in the orphanage and the dentist team saw over 50 patients!!
We left at 530am this morning, so difficult to leave those children, so many stories to tell you all!
We arrived at the Queen Elizabeth park after a 7 hour drive, we are staying a gorgeous lodge that blows our mind, we did a boat tour earlier, saw up close, hippos, cape buffalo, crocodile, baboon, monkeys and lots of birds, there are over 615 different types of birds just in this park. Enjoying the beauty God created!
We just took a dip in the pool and will head to dinner soon. The big safari tour starts at 630am to see the rest of the land wildlife.
I miss everyone and for the next two days will have internet so please feel free to write back!
Please give Burton a kiss fr me I saw our first dog yesterday! And Jess give my kitties a cuddle too!
Love you all, the Griffins!
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
we arrived in amsterdam
We arrived in Amsterdam! I'm writing on my phone on free wireless in the airport, but its on limited time, sos sorry I can't proof read or fix my mistakes!
Let the fun begin!
Made it safely to the airport after pictures, packing all the vags, or should I say stuffung them in the van!
We arrived with plenty of time to check in and get our bags.... wait bags? Dennis realiszed at that moment he forgot his carry on that had his malarone!
Originally he thought he left, I called dan had him frantically check our car, no bag, than ebterpprise checked the van, no bag. Just than my sister called "did you know you left a bag?" There is the missing bag! Ahh we were the ones hlding everyone up!
As awesome as my sister jessica is, she jumped in her car and promptly got to the airport! We sent the rest of the group through security already. She made it just in time, we ran outside gave hugs and dashed back to security, we got super lucky and they opened a new lane for us to get through! Just in time to meet our group and catch our first 10 hour flight!
Let the fun begin!
Made it safely to the airport after pictures, packing all the vags, or should I say stuffung them in the van!
We arrived with plenty of time to check in and get our bags.... wait bags? Dennis realiszed at that moment he forgot his carry on that had his malarone!
Originally he thought he left, I called dan had him frantically check our car, no bag, than ebterpprise checked the van, no bag. Just than my sister called "did you know you left a bag?" There is the missing bag! Ahh we were the ones hlding everyone up!
As awesome as my sister jessica is, she jumped in her car and promptly got to the airport! We sent the rest of the group through security already. She made it just in time, we ran outside gave hugs and dashed back to security, we got super lucky and they opened a new lane for us to get through! Just in time to meet our group and catch our first 10 hour flight!
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Safe Travels
Last night my sister Jess came over to bring us a little gift before we left.
She gave us pins of Saint Christopher, the patron of safe travel.
Always so thoughtful! I was so touched and will wear him everywhere! Thanks Jess!
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I can fit a little more
I woke up this morning, and the first thing I thought of was... we are leaving tomorrow!! Wow, I can't wait!!!
Saturday morning we all got together with our families to Trevor and Yvonne's to pack all the donated and purchased kids items in our second bag dedicated to the kids. This is what the table looked like:
So awesome! Some were items that Fred specifically requested, that can't be purchased in Uganda, and most were donated, it was so great to see what everyone got for the kids.
We also packed soccer balls and a net!
Than just a couple more of the kids and our protector Trevor :) He's ready to bust knee caps for us!
Saturday morning we all got together with our families to Trevor and Yvonne's to pack all the donated and purchased kids items in our second bag dedicated to the kids. This is what the table looked like:
We also packed soccer balls and a net!
I'm sure I will blog again before I leave, but I really can't concentrate to write more!!
Monday, February 14, 2011
Associated Press 2.12.2011
Uganda opposition threatens Egypt-style protests
Opposition members in Uganda are threatening Egypt-style protests if next Friday's presidential election is rigged so that Yoweri Museveni can extend his 25-year grip on power.
By MAX DELANY
Associated Press
KAMPALA, Uganda — Opposition members in Uganda are threatening Egypt-style protests if next Friday's presidential election is rigged so Yoweri Museveni can extend his 25-year grip on power.
Museveni is widely expected to win another term in office, and the Ugandan military and police likely would crush any attempted revolt.
"As long as people are oppressed for a long time, as long as they become hopeless in all processes ... then a time comes when their anger explodes," opposition candidate Kizza Besigye said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Museveni, who seized power in 1986 as the head of a guerrilla army, faces Besigye and six other opponents in the election. The longtime leader, who has been accused of quashing dissent and reversing presidential term limits, warned against unrest during the upcoming poll.
"I hear some characters talking about violence during elections. There will be no violence. Whoever attempts will do so at his or her own risk," he said earlier this month.
Pro-democracy protesters in Egypt brought down President Hosni Mubarak on Friday after three decades of authoritarian rule. Analysts are playing down the possibility of a similar Ugandan uprising.
"There may be some pockets of people coming to protest, but it won't be full-scale," said independent security analyst Levi Ochieng. "The police and army would act with decisive force."
At a rally Friday, Museveni arrived to the sound of his hit campaign song, a rap tune featuring him singing the chorus "Do you want another rap?" Museveni has tried to appeal to Ugandan youth; most are too young to remember any other ruler.
The top opposition candidate is Besigye, who is Museveni's former personal physician. Besigye lost to Museveni in 2001 and 2006 polls that were tainted by intimidation and violence. Besigye claims a pro-Museveni electoral commission means next Friday's vote is already "fundamentally flawed."
Museveni has won plaudits from the U.S. for contributing thousands of troops to the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.
Uganda suffered twin terror bombings that killed 76 people during the final of the World Cup last July, and the Somali militant group that claimed responsibility said Uganda had been targeted because of its AU troops. Police have warned of possible terrorist attacks ahead of the election, though the run-up to the vote has been largely peaceful.
Despite concerns over human rights and spiraling corruption, Western diplomats in Uganda say the election campaign has been largely well-managed. They point to Uganda's rapid economic growth as justification for Museveni's continued popularity.
Some observers say the peaceful run-up to Friday's vote is because the president's ruling National Resistance Movement is bribing the electorate with money likely funneled into the campaign coffers from public funds.
"This time, the level of bribery is unprecedented," said Robert Lugolobi, executive director at Transparency International Uganda. Bribes handed out on the campaign trail range from just a couple of cents to envelopes stuffed with cash, Lugolobi said.
Anti-corruption campaigners have faced harassment and intimidation for raising the issue of alleged bribery during the campaign, Human Rights Watch said in a statement Thursday.
But ruling party spokesman Ofwono Opondo denied claims Museveni is using public funds to bribe voters.
"The claims of bribery are just being used as a scapegoat for people who are surely going to lose," Opondo said.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014208881_uganda13.html
Opposition members in Uganda are threatening Egypt-style protests if next Friday's presidential election is rigged so that Yoweri Museveni can extend his 25-year grip on power.
By MAX DELANY
Associated Press
KAMPALA, Uganda — Opposition members in Uganda are threatening Egypt-style protests if next Friday's presidential election is rigged so Yoweri Museveni can extend his 25-year grip on power.
Museveni is widely expected to win another term in office, and the Ugandan military and police likely would crush any attempted revolt.
"As long as people are oppressed for a long time, as long as they become hopeless in all processes ... then a time comes when their anger explodes," opposition candidate Kizza Besigye said in an interview with The Associated Press.
Museveni, who seized power in 1986 as the head of a guerrilla army, faces Besigye and six other opponents in the election. The longtime leader, who has been accused of quashing dissent and reversing presidential term limits, warned against unrest during the upcoming poll.
"I hear some characters talking about violence during elections. There will be no violence. Whoever attempts will do so at his or her own risk," he said earlier this month.
Pro-democracy protesters in Egypt brought down President Hosni Mubarak on Friday after three decades of authoritarian rule. Analysts are playing down the possibility of a similar Ugandan uprising.
"There may be some pockets of people coming to protest, but it won't be full-scale," said independent security analyst Levi Ochieng. "The police and army would act with decisive force."
At a rally Friday, Museveni arrived to the sound of his hit campaign song, a rap tune featuring him singing the chorus "Do you want another rap?" Museveni has tried to appeal to Ugandan youth; most are too young to remember any other ruler.
The top opposition candidate is Besigye, who is Museveni's former personal physician. Besigye lost to Museveni in 2001 and 2006 polls that were tainted by intimidation and violence. Besigye claims a pro-Museveni electoral commission means next Friday's vote is already "fundamentally flawed."
Museveni has won plaudits from the U.S. for contributing thousands of troops to the African Union peacekeeping force in Somalia.
Uganda suffered twin terror bombings that killed 76 people during the final of the World Cup last July, and the Somali militant group that claimed responsibility said Uganda had been targeted because of its AU troops. Police have warned of possible terrorist attacks ahead of the election, though the run-up to the vote has been largely peaceful.
Despite concerns over human rights and spiraling corruption, Western diplomats in Uganda say the election campaign has been largely well-managed. They point to Uganda's rapid economic growth as justification for Museveni's continued popularity.
Some observers say the peaceful run-up to Friday's vote is because the president's ruling National Resistance Movement is bribing the electorate with money likely funneled into the campaign coffers from public funds.
"This time, the level of bribery is unprecedented," said Robert Lugolobi, executive director at Transparency International Uganda. Bribes handed out on the campaign trail range from just a couple of cents to envelopes stuffed with cash, Lugolobi said.
Anti-corruption campaigners have faced harassment and intimidation for raising the issue of alleged bribery during the campaign, Human Rights Watch said in a statement Thursday.
But ruling party spokesman Ofwono Opondo denied claims Museveni is using public funds to bribe voters.
"The claims of bribery are just being used as a scapegoat for people who are surely going to lose," Opondo said.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014208881_uganda13.html
Friday, February 11, 2011
Craft Project
Yvonne came up with a great idea to do for a craft project with the children while we are there, breaded cross necklaces, they are great because they are easy, functional, and religious too.
We headed off to JoAnn Fabrics to pick up the items after we exhausted ourselves with dehydrated goods at Wal-Mart :) My mom manages the Smokey Pointe location so we stopped in said hi and hit the pony bead aisle. Lots of an assortment, we decided on the mixed color variety pony bead boxes, now we need the string. Typically you would use leather, which we found out is $1.49 a yard, and we needed 400 yards! Wow that wasn't going to work, so mom came up with an alternative.. hemp twine. The price was much much better.
I decided to take on the project set up, I love feeling involved and helping! Set up included making a sample cross, than separating out all the beads needed for each necklace in to 400 bags. (We wanted to make sure there was enough for each kid). I was so excited when I got home that I starting working on my sample, this should be an easy kids project right? Wrong! hahah since we changed the twine it changed alot of the functionality and design, I had to overcompensate for the much thinner floppier twine and try and make them as small (to use less beads) as possible. 7 trial crosses later.... I will admit most looked like plus signs! Here was my top three.
Number 1 looks a little floppy and too even, Number 3 was nice and sturdy, but really difficult to do, I had to tie little knots in the middle to reinforce the cross from flopping all around, than I came up with the idea of the bead in the middle. Number 2 ended up being my pick, more resembled a cross and used less beads.
I had to have someone "test" out my cross, who else better than Dennis, my big kid! I had made up directions on the computer, gave him the right amount of beads and twine and let him play away, his cross turned out pretty good.
Okay now to package all of the 400 different packages! Grabbing all my goodies, I headed over to my sister Shannon's and wrangled her in to helping me. After hours we only got 150 packaged up! ahhh
Luckily I got my little helpers to package them all up tonight.. Thanks Jason, Dennis and Shannon (I'm sure I can get more too!)
We headed off to JoAnn Fabrics to pick up the items after we exhausted ourselves with dehydrated goods at Wal-Mart :) My mom manages the Smokey Pointe location so we stopped in said hi and hit the pony bead aisle. Lots of an assortment, we decided on the mixed color variety pony bead boxes, now we need the string. Typically you would use leather, which we found out is $1.49 a yard, and we needed 400 yards! Wow that wasn't going to work, so mom came up with an alternative.. hemp twine. The price was much much better.
I decided to take on the project set up, I love feeling involved and helping! Set up included making a sample cross, than separating out all the beads needed for each necklace in to 400 bags. (We wanted to make sure there was enough for each kid). I was so excited when I got home that I starting working on my sample, this should be an easy kids project right? Wrong! hahah since we changed the twine it changed alot of the functionality and design, I had to overcompensate for the much thinner floppier twine and try and make them as small (to use less beads) as possible. 7 trial crosses later.... I will admit most looked like plus signs! Here was my top three.
Number 1 looks a little floppy and too even, Number 3 was nice and sturdy, but really difficult to do, I had to tie little knots in the middle to reinforce the cross from flopping all around, than I came up with the idea of the bead in the middle. Number 2 ended up being my pick, more resembled a cross and used less beads.
I had to have someone "test" out my cross, who else better than Dennis, my big kid! I had made up directions on the computer, gave him the right amount of beads and twine and let him play away, his cross turned out pretty good.
Okay now to package all of the 400 different packages! Grabbing all my goodies, I headed over to my sister Shannon's and wrangled her in to helping me. After hours we only got 150 packaged up! ahhh
Luckily I got my little helpers to package them all up tonight.. Thanks Jason, Dennis and Shannon (I'm sure I can get more too!)
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Food Shopping
Last night Yvonne, Jen and I went to Supercenter Wal-Mart in Tulalip to pick up the food that we can't get in Uganda. We had a blast, but did tire ourselves out fast!
Luckily Yvonne is super organized, she had lists of everything that we needed to finish our fist aid kit (we got a ton of items donated from a fellow group member that isn't traveling that is a firefighter), our dehydrated foods, and the kids supplies.
After wandering through the aisles we found the best section, the kids aisle! I do wish I ended up with the photo of Jen in the kids size safari jacket, utility belt, bug net catcher, and her wand thing, she is ready for the safari!!!
We got jumpropes, hand air pump, and lots of candy for the kids, they love lollipops and smarties!
Off to the food section, after walking down almost every aisle to get to the food aisles (cause you never really know what you really need right?) ahaha that would be me wandering! After picking up our staples, pancake mix, tuna fish, and oatmeal, we found some very exciting specials for the group, dehydrated hashbrowns, and precooked bacon!!!! But for whoever doesn't read my blog that will be a surprise :)
After pulling Jen away from the lifetime supply bottle of Cholula Hot Sauce, we finished up at Wal-Mart (after 5 seperate ring ups!)
Off to JoAnn Fabrics for some craft supply shopping. I'm going to add this to my next post though cause I'm in charge of getting the craft project together for the kids!
Luckily Yvonne is super organized, she had lists of everything that we needed to finish our fist aid kit (we got a ton of items donated from a fellow group member that isn't traveling that is a firefighter), our dehydrated foods, and the kids supplies.
After wandering through the aisles we found the best section, the kids aisle! I do wish I ended up with the photo of Jen in the kids size safari jacket, utility belt, bug net catcher, and her wand thing, she is ready for the safari!!!
We got jumpropes, hand air pump, and lots of candy for the kids, they love lollipops and smarties!
Off to the food section, after walking down almost every aisle to get to the food aisles (cause you never really know what you really need right?) ahaha that would be me wandering! After picking up our staples, pancake mix, tuna fish, and oatmeal, we found some very exciting specials for the group, dehydrated hashbrowns, and precooked bacon!!!! But for whoever doesn't read my blog that will be a surprise :)
After pulling Jen away from the lifetime supply bottle of Cholula Hot Sauce, we finished up at Wal-Mart (after 5 seperate ring ups!)
Off to JoAnn Fabrics for some craft supply shopping. I'm going to add this to my next post though cause I'm in charge of getting the craft project together for the kids!
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Its starting to feel so real....
The most exciting thing to say now is "We are leaving next week" can you believe it, next week? The trip is all I think about, I don't know how I will survive trying to function and work for the next week and 2 days! Yes the countdown is on!
Everytime we do a little more things for Uganda, be it planning, shopping, or research it makes it so much more real! Last night Shannon and I went to Under Armor and picked up shorts that keep you dry, cool, and comfortable (which I really needed in Europe, so I know it was worth it!) after she came over and Dennis and I showed her what we have packed in our backpacks (yes we packed them 2 weeks ago!!!) We did have to take our bags apart anyways cause we packed them all nice and perfect, but forgot to spray all our clothes with the insect shield, which is much much neeeded, so now they are ready to spray, we will start doing that this week.
Thanks to an AMAZING Superbowl Party Fundraiser, (a big big thank you to all that attended, supported, donated and spread the word!) our group raised another $733 that will go directly to funding the kids art, sports, and school projects! It was such a great time, good game, lots of give aways and a great crowd!
So tonight I'm going shopping with Yvonne and Jen to get the dry food our group needs (pancake mix, oatmeal, instant soups and dehydrated food) things we can't get while in Uganda and than we are shopping for some things for the kids that Fred asked for cause we can't get them in Uganda either, like math cards, candy, and craft projects we are doing with the kids. I think that is probably going to be my favorite part!
I am starting to treasure my time with Burton and the kitties, cause I know I will miss them! This time I'm bringing pictures, cause I missed that in Europe.
Stay tuned.... :)
Everytime we do a little more things for Uganda, be it planning, shopping, or research it makes it so much more real! Last night Shannon and I went to Under Armor and picked up shorts that keep you dry, cool, and comfortable (which I really needed in Europe, so I know it was worth it!) after she came over and Dennis and I showed her what we have packed in our backpacks (yes we packed them 2 weeks ago!!!) We did have to take our bags apart anyways cause we packed them all nice and perfect, but forgot to spray all our clothes with the insect shield, which is much much neeeded, so now they are ready to spray, we will start doing that this week.
Thanks to an AMAZING Superbowl Party Fundraiser, (a big big thank you to all that attended, supported, donated and spread the word!) our group raised another $733 that will go directly to funding the kids art, sports, and school projects! It was such a great time, good game, lots of give aways and a great crowd!
So tonight I'm going shopping with Yvonne and Jen to get the dry food our group needs (pancake mix, oatmeal, instant soups and dehydrated food) things we can't get while in Uganda and than we are shopping for some things for the kids that Fred asked for cause we can't get them in Uganda either, like math cards, candy, and craft projects we are doing with the kids. I think that is probably going to be my favorite part!
I am starting to treasure my time with Burton and the kitties, cause I know I will miss them! This time I'm bringing pictures, cause I missed that in Europe.
Stay tuned.... :)
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