Dorcas Children's Home

Filming begins...

2010-01-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

There are about 3 million people in the greater Los Angeles area.

Kampala is 1/8th the size of Los Angeles and is inhabited by over 3 1/2 million people everyday.

There is not a single place from corner to corner, suburb village to suburb village and every road in between that is not filled with people. Everything is counter-intuitive here.

Don't stop for pedestrians. Don't let another car in...5 will fill the same space. Stay on the left side of the road.

This trip has been a blur of activity...jumping back in full swing, spending my time not only in one home, but divided between 7, and the kids in the village who all live in separate areas now.

The days start early, are filled from start to finish with work, and at all times contain huge groups of people.

I've had the pleasure and insane task of getting the supplies, new clothes, and making necessary improvements with the money people sent me with.

Today the kids at Bukesa opened up their new school backpacks, filled with towels, clothes, a new pair of shoes, bed sheets and underwear. All of these came from two grueling days Owino Market (a large 3 square block enclosed area that is like some insane circus of vendors who grab you and yank you to their stand, two foot wide walkways filled with hundreds of people, constant yelling, and which requires a 10 minute bartering yelling match to get the price on each piece of clothing, pair of shoes, or bath towel you buy.) Needless to say all the kids have new stuff.

We've been eating rice with vegetables which is a big change from their usual staple posho and beans.

We're building a chicken coop and re-painting the entire home.

And I have officially begun filming. Its taken a 7 days to spend enough time, and talk to a majority of the home's mentors, and cornerstone workers to see how to tell the story.

There is still a huge fear I won't be able to get enough shots, or have enough time, or capture what I need to in the next four days to create what is taking place in my mind, but I'm pretty hopeful.

I'm so blown away at the transformation so clearly seen in the lives of so many of the kids, and former Leadership Academy graduates. I'm so excited to share this story with everyone when I return.

4 days till my plane leaves, every hour between then and now planned out.

I hope it all works out.

See you when I return.

2010-01-13T07:52:00.000-08:00

Written on 1/13/09

It's the dry season right now in Uganda. The tropical smell of warm morning is through the window before my eyes open, and the air is filled with craziest sounding birds; calling in long honks, and sharp chirps among insects and a host of other sounds creating a buzz that radiates loud enough to wake you.
I have finally adjusted to the 11 hour time difference, making the full transition into being awake and active when my body is used to sleeping, and staying awake longer than a nap at night when I'm used to being awake.
The days are moving swiftly, but are full and productive.
This entire week has been devoted to becoming fully acclimated with Cornerstone's way of life, and the way the children homes, Bukessa especially, function within this "family of friends."

There are two main types of NGO's in Uganda; the development organizations that are here to develop the roads, the land, the clean water supply etc, and the non-profits that are here to do humanitarian work.
What is unique in Cornerstone, is that in formation, after being associated and working in both sides of the NGO's, the founders decided what might be most productive for the country is developing people.
You develop roads, they eventually break down. You give food, people become hungry again. You invest deeply in the character formation of someone, make resources available, and promote healthy living, and suddenly your work begins to multiply. But it is work that needs longevity and continual commitment. It is one thing to invest in the education or a few years of help for someone, it is quite another to make a lifetime commitment in young people, bringing them into a family of support and love.
The young men and women I have spent the last 5 days with are unbelievable examples of what can happen through mentorship and community. They live and work with children from the streets and simultaneously attend classes at the University. They laugh easily, love to speak about the future of this country and look you directly in the eyes as they listen to your words. They are eager to learn and quick to work.
They are mentors for kids off the street, in the same way they have been mentored.
It is a pleasure to see our kids in their care.

It has also been so wonderful to be around the kids again. MAN IT IS GOOD TO HUG THEM AFTER A YEAR APART!!
They are all much taller. But they're personalities and mannerisms haven't changed a bit. I know it is much different for them, but most of our interactions so far have been like picking up where we left off...a lot of wrestling.

Back In Uganda

2010-01-11T03:53:00.000-08:00

It's been a full year since I (Chris) left Uganda.
When Kami and I left, everything we worked to build through out the year, and all that we hoped the future would hold for the home and kids, was falling apart.
We left heartbroken and unsure of just about everything.
Yet, there was still an assurance that the same Spirit of God, that cared for the kids every month we were at the home, bringing food, or volunteers unexpectedly when we were at our greatest need, was still as apart of the work as we had seen Him throughout our time in the country.
And today, all the kids are still cared for, have been moved to a new home, or are living with relatives with their school fees and needs still provided for.
It is exciting to be back.
It is a true honor to return to this country hopeful, when I left so discouraged.

I am here for two reasons. The first is to be with the kids. Tomorrow morning after a few meetings will be my first chance to see the kids, and it is my hope to return to a daily living with them for the full amount of time I am here.
They are all a year older, many have grown out of their clothes, need new sandals, need new mattresses or school supplies for the coming year, and by the generous giving of family members and those of the Ridge Crest Church of Christ in California, I have the money to address some of the immediate needs not covered in the monthly budget. It was as hard for the kids to see Kami and I leave, as it was for us, and I am grateful to return to their sides in order to reassure them that we will stay committed to them and support their lives as they grow into young men and women. Raising money is one thing, but children who have known abandonment many times before, need far more than support. They need a continual presence of familiarity and to know those who support them can be trusted.

The second reason I am here is to gain a full understanding on the changes that have occurred in the kids lives as they have moved into a new home apart of the Cornerstone Family. The needs, budget, and daily life is different in the Bukessa Home, and in order to continue linking support with the specific needs of the home, I need to be able to have a thorough understanding of its functioning. Kami's trip last May helped her to do the same.

I cannot express how happy I am that our work has joined with Cornerstone.

Cornerstone's mission is:

"To be a family of friends in the spirit of Jesus who love and support each other while committed to:

-Equipping and advancing a movement of "servant leaders" with a shared vision for the transformation of their communities, nation and region.

-Compassion for the poor

-Working across the lines of culture and faith differences"

They are a community of workers committed to be focused on "who they are" first and then secondarily "what they do." In this way, the quality of character is the focus, and the achieving of the work they set out to do is secondary.

For most of us, we think its the other way around. But its incredible what transition takes place when personal character takes precedence over any of the amazing works we accomplish.

This was clearly seen in Cornerstone when we worked side by side with them in 2008, and I have felt it so strongly in even the two days I have spent here so far.

They invest every year in mentoring a core group of young people in their last two years of high school, mentoring them in the precepts and spirit of Christ, and then assist them in studying at a University. During this time, these young men and women work in children homes through the city with street kids, living with them, and mentoring them in the same way they have been mentored under coordinators of the homes. It is a community of Ugandans working with, mentoring and loving each other, and those overlooked by others.

During the second week of my time here, I will be shooting for a film on Cornerstone and the work they do through the Children's Homes.

Thank you for the many prayers and the continual support so many of you offer in this work.

I will keep you posted as these weeks unfold.

Coming to a close.

2009-06-02T01:05:00.000-07:00

Tuesday afternoon.

In the past two days so much has happened.

We have had numerous meetings to settle where the kids should go, what is best for them,

meeting with the kids to help them understand, figuring out how to get their things from point A to B...

Abaduh, Musisi, Eddi, Bayla, and Meddy were all moved to the Bukessa Home.

Mohammed, Senfuka, Frank, Kato and Juliet are in boarding school.

Bosco, Wasawa, Sebuma, Choto, Moses, Reagan, Marvin, and Muyingo are being moved home.

Meeme and Nakato are in the Mango Home.

After assessing their situations, we have made these decisions based off their needs, coming to fellow Ugandans for their opinion and consulting Cornerstone. It has been very hard for all of them because none of them want to be apart from one another. For some, they feel left out or not as special because they didn't get what they wanted. We've had to sit and watch some of the boys cry and plead for us to make an exception. It is so difficult to explain to such young minds that since they have family they must go home, that this is not a game of favorites.

Some of them are very worried that when we go they will be forgotten or not cared for, but all week, we have purposely worked alongside Michi and Peter for them to see we trust them and know they will work diligently. Even for Kami and I, everything we have asked Michi and Peter to do, it was done quickly, above and beyond what we could have expected.

Today, we are going through the final budget under Cornerstone so that things can finally get rolling. Money for moving them home, school fees, uniforms, transport for Michi and Peter, monthly visits, planning for the future as they change schools, emergency money for sickness, bicycles to get to and from school, shoes (because they all have holes in their current ones), pocket money to help improve their diet (posho and beans)...

-------

All the while, it has been such an emotional roller coaster for us all. As an American, all of these kids seem in desperate need, but we have to trust that God completes all things. Though we all long to see, in times like these, we must listen to the Spirit when we can't understand.

I recollect when my parents changed school and church for my siblings and me. My little brother accepted it with open arms, loving every second. Whereas, my sister and I were somewhat angry and slow to the change. It must have been hard for my parents as we weren't making it easy, but looking back, I would have had it no other way. Likewise, with our kids, where the young ones are fitting in just fine, the older ones (Bosco, Sebuma...) are finding it hard to accept that things are changing.

-----

Today is our last full day.

We leave tomorrow at 10pm!? and arrive back in Greensboro at 8ish on Thursday.

Thank you to all of our supporters and we can't wait to share with you more

the things we have seen, gathered, learned... Things are growing and our hearts

are filled with hope.

Let us pray.

God blesses us.

2009-05-30T12:03:00.000-07:00

It’s Saturday morning, Eric Kruetter is picking us up from the guesthouse at 7:10am. We are headed out to the Bukessa home where some of the boys will be relocated, Abaduh, Muhammed, Eddy, Musisi. We have decided to start moving the children back to their homes on Sunday. Yesterday, we sat them all down and explained to them that we are not deserting them but simply want to do what seems best.

In Uganda, family is very much a part of their culture. We have come to see that if we continue to try and take them out of their origin, then what will come down the road when we have to let them grow up? Who do they have as family? Of course, they have us but we are hardly someone they can run to if we are thousands of miles away.

We are setting up a partnership with Cornerstone where a man named Michi will be traveling throughout each month to visit with our boys in Nansana, making sure their school fees are covered, their health is good, that they are shown love and care. We explained to them, we need to create a file for each child to take back to America to find them proper sponsorship, some stability in their lives. We took a lot of pictures and everyone got a minute or two on the camera to introduce themselves, dance, sing, laugh, be shy… it was all so surreal.

The truth is we never wanted to become just sponsorship. It has been tough accepting our current need and role to be supporters. But it doesn’t really douse out the fire that we want more. We long to be next to them, touch them, and show them attention. We long to embrace the hardship they carry and show them we are all equal. It is hard to be 22 years old and have to accept that we may not be able to do everything we want to do. We know it is for the better and that God has planted this desire for a reason. May we always overlook our own desires for the greater good, continuing the kingdom. God is good and knows all things. We are praying that we can come to understand why things must be this way for now, trusting in His divine power and wisdom.

-------

We visited Kato yesterday morning and he is doing very well. The headmaster knew him by name! Seems his scores have caught quite the attention. He introduced us to one of his friends in S-4, Chris, what a character he was!

He told us of all the books and materials he needed and how he is still keeping from all the girls. S-4 is one of the biggest years for any Ugandan, so we are going to be taking a second trip out there to make sure he has everything he needs.

----

Okay! Eric is here, must go… update later!!!

Thursday, May 28th

2009-05-28T14:49:00.000-07:00

Thursday night here.

Yesterday, We went to the meeting and got a complete update on the kids from three mentors working with Cornerstone, Michi, Peter and Desmund. We spoke a lot about what to do next, relocation, immediate needs, whether the kids were being good or bad. It didn’t take long for Kami and I to look antsy about visiting them, so….

We saw the kids yesterday! Since we didn’t know exactly where their new home was, every turn intensified our anticipation… Eventually we passed Choto on the road and he simply waived, kept walking… hahaha! The hugs and laughs came to us before we could really get off the boda. I found myself wrestling, trying to film it all while Kami immediately became a jungle gym for the young ones. Abaduh was under the weather but looking out the window at Kami with tears running down his cheeks. The boys introduced us to Moses, the older brother of Bayla and Choto, and Wasawa, a young fella that joined after Kami and Chris left.

Peter, the mentor from Cornerstone, has created a beautiful relationship with the boys. You could instantly see how much he has a passion for helping the youth in Uganda, especially how they respect and treat him.

They all seem happy and healthy. This is going to be a difficult weekend, seeing that we must talk to them about relocating, reassuring them that we will be taking care of them, though we are not always near.

------

Today, we went out to Cornerstone’s ranch, the primary and secondary school, and saw both leadership academies. We spoke with all the headmasters personally, each telling us about their mission and desire for the children. It was a comforting trip, reaffirming that Cornerstone truly has a grasp on the Ugandan culture, making a God-filled impact.

I loved that the headmaster of the boys’ leadership academy kept using the word contribution when referring to society instead of difference, as to note that we are people with gifts and blessings to help, not enforce or burden others with our ideas, but approach people, places or situations longing to simply offer a contribution, to share God’s love.

------

We got back into town around 2pm and spent the rest of the day trying to organize, assess, and document as much as possible. We are making individual files for each child, their situation, location and our commitment to them. Both days have been filled with picture taking, writing, filming, asking questions, visiting all that have and will be a part of this next step. Tomorrow we are going to visit Kato at boarding school, and then spending the rest of the day with the boys.

On the coming schedule is to visit the Bukessa home where some of our boys will be staying, visit the girls at the Mango Home, go to Owino Market to get necessities and small gifts for the boys.

-----

It has been difficult to take it all in, but rewarding to see how God cares for all the little children. The change taking place in our hearts has shocked us with some of our current interactions. I never would have believed or understood this, but today, I did not hand money to a paralyzed street beggar. Instead we sat and talked together about the necessity of spiritual food. It was a relief for him to understand I could only offer him a sweet banana and love from my heart, to which he showed gratitude to be seen as an equal, perfect man.

Let us pray.

God is moving.

May 27th

2009-05-28T06:54:00.000-07:00

For many of you, the last you may have heard was the wonderful news of the children being moved together into a home with Cornerstone. The organization was renting a home in the same village and the boys and girls were continuing to go to school. A huge thanks to those who were able to help get those costs covered so quickly.

Since the move we have been in conversation with Cornerstone on where to go from here. About 3 weeks ago we all came to the decision to relocate the children, who still have living relatives, to their families. For the children who have no family, they will be moved to an already established home with Cornerstone, the Bukessa Home. There was much thought and many prayers put into this decision. The thing most weighing on our minds was the need for a stable home environment, which is very important for the development of the children. We will continue paying their school fees so an education can be obtained.

When this decision was made, Joe and I (Kami) were able to collect enough support to make the trek to Uganda to assist in the process. We booked our flights, packed our things, and that now leads us to the present...

-----

Good Morning!
It’s Wednesday already?! May 27th and we have arrived safely in Kampala.
All three of our flights were delayed, with a grand finale landing in Rome because someone on our plane was dying. But we finally touched down at 11pm last night and moved into the guesthouse at Cornerstone Development off Acacia Rd.

Got up around 7am this morning, walked to the local Forex, exchanged our monies, now having the best tea in the world at Speke Hotel. (African Spice Tea, such simple ingredients, but I have yet to taste anything close in America even when we try.)
-----

We have a meeting with Eric Kruetter and staff at 10:30. For those that do not know who Eric is… He is the son of Tim Kruetter, the founder of Cornerstone Development. Cornerstone is the organization that has been housing our kids for the past 6 months, now housing us, and the community that is helping us move forward.

The meeting will be with the directors, supervisors and mentors of their schools and homes. Kami and I (Joe) will get a much better view of how things function within the community, seeing how we (all the Dorcas Children’s Home people) might fit in and continue to make a difference.
-----

We’re hoping to see the children today. We have no idea who we will see and find ourselves quite anxious. We’re going to try and see them most every day. However it turns out, there is much on the list of seeing and accomplishing. Kami and I made about 5 different efforts to organize what we would do each day, only to recollect how the Ugandan culture is. It is nostalgic and surreal, yet things seem more civilized and structured… Kami says it’s because it’s not new to us, I think things have changed.

My little brother lent me his video camera, so I’ll be documenting as much as possible, save that I don’t run out of film.
-----

All in all, many thanks must be given to the Lord God Almighty. How He works with His community is astounding and humbling. We couldn’t be here without you guys and the faces we will see today have changed all of our lives. Kami and I said the prayer of Francis Assisi this morning and the words of my little brother keep passing through my mind, “Remember it’s about the kids.”

Since this is a community effort, then please contact us with questions, concerns and desires. Kami and I aren’t over here individually or separate. We want to work hard and accomplish as much as possible while we are here, so feel free to remind us of things we might forget. joseph.d.hedrick@gmail.com or kamicoy@gmail.com

May all things under this sun be done with the Love of Christ.
Thank you for everything.

Answered Prayers...Now Moving Forward

2009-02-03T18:20:00.000-08:00

Dorcas Children's Home as a compound and school system has come to an end.
But the mission and family are still together and after many months of uncertainty, are beginning to move forward again.
Sam has officially retired and has rented out the buildings that comprise the compound of Dorcas Children's Home and the kids have been moved to a new location.
Although this is a truly sad event, causing the children to leave behind a place they have seen as a home, they are still together and now have a new beginning. They can once again be supported by us directly and are excited that this move allows them to have unabated contact with us.
If you did not receive the update email listing the events that brought this change, please email one of us and we will send it to you immediately.
This week we are working with Cornerstone to determine the best ways to send support with exact documentation of how its spent, necessities for the kids, getting them back into schools (the Ugandan school year starts in Feb.) and organizing the home's structure. As soon as we have all the details worked out, we will notify all of you who have supported the home and explain the new situation in full and the ways you can keep supporting the kids in their life and education.

It is an answered prayer to have the kids safe and together and out of the conflict some of Sam's actions caused. But it comes with responsibility because once again it is our gift and duty to provide for them. We hope all of you continue to work with us to further their lives.

Stay posted! We love you.

Send love and prayers...but please no more money

2008-11-27T09:57:00.000-08:00

For those of you who still read the blog, I thought it would be important to stay active in explaining the process we are going through in our attempt to close the home. (If this sentence is a shock to you, please scroll down and read the last entry before continuing.)

Kami and I are both back in the states now in Portland, OR. Although it is so good to see friends and family and be able to email many of you freely, we are far from feeling peace about the situation we left.
The problem is that the home, under Sam's direction is not a place of safety and family for all the children. Its important to note that most of the children feel very happy and content there, receive good education and that we simply joined a home that Sam already had in place, doing all we could to bring stability and love to the kids. The painful part was that as we worked with the kids trying always to show God as a father who will never leave them and always loves them whether they have felt that in their lives or not, the girls had a father figure who was taking advantage of them sometimes nightly. They received a completely different message of what a "father" meant and the conditions that were in place if they wanted security.
Unfortunately, Dorcas Children's Home is not an entity with Sam only as the director. It is a group of buildings built on his land, under his foundation and with a board of men powerless to make decisions against Sam because legally he owns everything. In that understanding, we simply can't ask Sam to step down and have the work continue. The home is his project and part of the idealism in the situation before we knew this was happening was that we, as so many people before us, were happy to join a man's work that required him to invest everything he owned. Because it was a personal calling to him, he had put all his assets into the home, but over time, it became his way to have the life he wanted, with constant support from outside, visitors from around the world, chances to travel, and sadly, and ability to have girls when he wanted them.

Because of this, Dorcas Children's Home cannot keep moving forward. Unless Sam was willing to sign the land and ownership over to others as signatories on the NGO (Non-government organization) and let the home continue as an independent organization as it is supposed to be, the home can't continue.
Right now, Kami and I have no contact with Sam and plan to keep it that way. However, men from Horizon International are doing their best to work with the board, and Sam to see what is possible. The role Kami and I play is an intimate knowledge of the home and the way Uganda works and the requirements the country has on organizations like DCH. (We inadvertently gained this knowledge in going through many of the hoops in planning the music tour.)

For now, please continue to pray for the children and that God will work, as He has all year, in this situation.

We will keep you updated as it goes along.

With the greatest sorrow...

2008-11-03T05:26:00.000-08:00

It is with the greatest sorrow that we write to you the following letter. After working here in Uganda for 10 months with Sam Mutabaazi and the children of Dorcas Children's Home, we have learned of a line of corrupt behavior which works directly against the full mission of the home. Both in years past and in the time we have spent here we have discovered that Sam Mutabaazi has been sexually misusing female workers and girls under his care. In his position of power, he manipulates females in this home leading them to believe their provision and livelihood depend on pleasing him. This is a gross misuse of power that even in this culture is looked down upon and thought of as morally evil, not to mention, highly illegal.
We have carefully and prayerfully worked in seeking to know if these accusations were true, and do not give our testimony lightly, understanding how destructive this information is to so many people's lives. We have nothing to gain from writing this letter to you and everything to lose for through it, we compromise the work we have done through out the year, and our plans to continue working with a home we have come to love. But, it is our moral obligation to make a stand for what is just and right, and let those who have invested so much faith and monetary support be aware of what has been taking place in secret for so many years.

We first came to know about Sam's conduct through a close friend of ours and niece to Sam. After months of a friendship, she began to confide in us about the sexual misconduct at the home pleading for us to help, or at least speak to the girls about their rights. Sharing a close friendship with Sam, and believing him to be a moral man, we struggled with this information knowing that rumors and false accusations are commonplace in Uganda. We did speak to the girls about their God-given right of choice and personal control of their body. Throughout the year, Kami read nightly through a book based on Hosea's wife, seeking to show God's redemptive love to those who have been used and mistreated, and the beauty they contain within themselves. We wanted each of the girls to know that even in a male-dominated society they still had great worth and always had a choice, especially when it came to how they would use their own bodies.
As the months went on we began to see certain things that bothered us. First, whenever Juliet, a 16 year-old who had been on the streets as a prostitute came home from boarding school, she lived in Sam's room. Sam often allows many of the children to sleep in his room and keeps his door open, so as strange as this seems, we did not think too much of it at the time. But, one day as Chris went into the room, he found Sam wearing no clothes, moving to cover himself and Juliet re-clothing herself. First, let us make it very clear that no sexual misconduct was seen, but enough of an implication was left for us to begin taking stock in the stories we had been hearing.
In the same period, our former matron asked Kami if it was normal to have to sleep with an employer to keep one's job, telling Kami this was the normal situation in Uganda. She was soon there after let go.
In the last two months, as we began to become more concerned about this situation and constantly prayed for truth, more people revealed the same information about Sam, including former volunteers on two separate occasions, former boys who had lived in the home, workers, and current children.

The following lines are the way they have come to place:

During the last holiday, when our oldest boy returned from boarding school, he confided in Kami about concerns that his girlfriend (a teacher at our primary school near his age) was being unfaithful. One day he came to Kami in tears telling her what he had found. Sam had given her a phone (a donation we had received from a church) and on the phone were messages from Sam asking her to sleep with him, confessing love and affection and wanting her to come to him. She admitted to accepting invitations to go to the Sauna with Sam. Our oldest boy was heartbroken looking to us for advice on what he should do in a situation like this.
We decided to talk to our cook and matron individually, explaining them our concerns and asking them to be honest with us about Sam's conduct with them. They both explained that “yes Daddy did tell them in their interview he would ask them from time to time to sleep with him, and had many times, but if they refused, as long as they continued to work hard, he would not fire them.” They both thought this was something not too serious, and said they refused to sleep with him regularly. We pressed them explaining it was something to be taken very seriously and asked them about his conduct with the young girls at the home (12-16 years old.) They replied that the girls just needed to know that Daddy wouldn't force them and to say no. They said, “that the problem rested in them lacking maturity to know they could say 'no'.” They also told us several of the girls had come to them upset about Daddy trying to kiss them or touch them inappropriately, and did not want to bring food into his room.

At this time we were also planning for the music tour and received emails from a former volunteer, warning us of deception in the past and refusing to support Sam because of his manipulation and many moral reasons.
On two separate occasions, the first in 2001, and the second only just over a year ago, the same sexual misconduct accusations were brought against Sam resulting in the volunteer's names being ruined in Uganda, cut sponsorship, and many of the boys leaving or being sent away from the home. We had heard stories of both, but in each, we had heard they were people trying to take over the home and tarnish Sam's name for their own benefit.
But, recently, we have learned this was not the case:

After hearing more and more stories about Sam, and having only prayer to rely on, we went to seek advice from a missionary here in Uganda, who has worked in this country for over 40 years. Before we even explained the struggle we were having, he informed us he was fully aware of Sam's sexual misconduct from previous volunteers in 2001. He knew them personally and said they thought the world of Sam and faithfully worked with him until they found that he was sleeping with many of the girls. Being powerless without proof, they attempted to take pictures and ascertain specific evidence without avail. Unless the girls testified against Sam themselves, nothing would happen. But, because of Sam's power in Uganda, and the fear for their lives being ruined, the girls would say nothing until the volunteers ensured them they would be taken care of and gave each money so they could sustain a livelihood without Sam. 20 females came forward against Sam and he fled arrest for over a year. When he returned, he was imprisoned for two weeks and then all charges were dropped.
(We do not have any evidence for bribery or unlawful conduct) but we do know from workers and family that Sam had a very nice house in Kampala before this trial, and after his release no longer owned the house.
Whatever happened in the situation, Sam was released, the volunteers were forced to leave, and any boys Sam thought might have supported the volunteers were sent away.
A very close friend of ours who lives in the village recently confided in us that he had been living at the home during this time. He explained that all the boys at the home knew it was taking place and anyone Daddy suspected as a threat to him, including this boy, were sent away.

We had also known of a girl taking boys from the home in the past. We believed on Sam's word she was deranged and sleeping with some of the boys and had wanted to start a home for herself to get money. He told us she gave each of the boys a kiss on the mouth and told them to leave with her in the middle of the night.
From former volunteer letters, we learned that they too had been accused of sleeping with the boys as well. So, anytime volunteers have begun to suspect Sam of misconduct, their names have been tarnished and smeared. (As if a long line of volunteers have brought money in, worked here selflessly and then tried to destroy the home for their own gain.)
Recently, we have heard the true story of this woman: She, like us, was working here and fell in love with the children, and then discovered the sexual misconduct that was taking place. Without any proof or any power, she asked her father for money to rent a building and took as many boys as would leave away in the night. Many of these boys still live in the home she started today.
And then we learned even more devastating news. This had happened only September 2007! When Sam came to America in early November to meet us and seek support, almost all sponsorship had been lost for unexplained reasons.
Instead of being skeptical, based on Sam's story and moral demeanor, plus the urgent need the children were in, we jumped in with both feet and began raising the necessary support for the home.
This was 12 months ago. From that time until now, we have been working tirelessly to provide the best situation possible for this home. All money has gone directly through us and been accounted for since our arrival and because financial corruption was the main fear we concerned ourselves with, we felt confident in asking for your faith and support in this home. Daily, weekly, and monthly we have met with Sam and lived with the children being apart of all functions in the home, accounting for each and trying to the best of our ability to maintain complete transparency. In wanting to see this home continue for many years into the future and assist Sam in his retirement, we both agreed to stay on past our year commitment, offering not just years, but a commitment of our life, whether stateside or here to sustain this home and help these kids grow into well-balanced adults. For all of these reasons, when we began to learn the truth, it was the most devastating blow of our lives, shaking us to our core.

But we felt that a strong enough friendship had grown with Sam and that if we approached the situation in love, and complete forgiveness, we could work through the situation. We saw the only real option was to accept his requests that we take over the home, help work towards his retirement, provided that he stepped down and removed all girls from under his care. It was the hardest decisions of our lives and both of us spent days and nights in prayer trying to understand the responsibility of what we were undertaking. But, our affirmation came in our love for the kids, and the commitment we have that no girls should live under such oppression, fear or abuse. We knew that if we informed sponsors before talking with him, Sam would not even listen.
Our talk with Sam went as badly as we could have conceived. We told him that we loved him, offered our forgiveness but had to bring these things to light. He had spoken to us continuously about standing up for what was right and just, and because he was misusing his power and doing what was morally corrupt in the eyes of both man and God, we told him we held firmly that it had to stop. If he would allow us to work towards his retirement and raise money for the sustainment of the home for the following year, we would help him in whatever ways we could. It was not about us or him, but about these children and the work that is so valuable. He did not consider what we said for a moment. A change came over his eyes and in second he went from seeing us as friends and instead saw us only as threats. He demanded proof and for us to bring any girl before him that would say he had touched her. We told him we would not speak to him of any girl, nor would we say any names. We also would not go to the police. We were here as his friends. He refused and said we could prove nothing. At this, we told him the only other option was to make all sponsors aware of what was happening, and what kind of lifestyle the director of the home they were supporting was living. His eyes grew even darker and he rose from the bed screaming repeatedly for us to get out of his room, and that he was not a pauper and did not need us.
We both left the conversation deeply hurt. But, we needed to continue to try. We spoke again the next day. This conversation was much more calm, but even more damaging. In a very diplomatic, but manipulative way he explained that he was not doing what people were accusing him of, and played on our emotional connection to the children asking us to stay until our agreed upon times. He brought up things people had told him about us, saying children had spread lies or accused us of misconduct too, and should he believe them? Should he tell the sponsors? In every way, he turned the conversation on us and put the children before him like a shield. Kami and I could say nothing. We knew the truth, and now watched him lie to us and try and manipulate the situation to his favor.

We left and again were at a loss. We love these children. We did not want to leave them and were completely powerless in the situation. Sam owns all the land and the buildings, and the board here in Uganda are made up of his friends. He knows the president personally and many judges, and both times that we knew people had brought these charges against him before, they had failed and were forced to leave, their names tarnished and their reputations ruined in the country. We prayed daily. We asked for God to show us a clear path. After two weeks, we found to our horror that his behavior had increased. He had sent messages, which we saw ourselves, telling teachers and workers he would provide them with a full month of food if they would sleep with him, and our cook, whose room lies adjacent to the girls' reported Sam continually entering their room late at night for extended periods of time.
And finally, we found out that Sam told his daughter (who is completely unaware of any of the misconduct) we had been spreading lies about him, and that he would let the situation quiet down and let us keep raising money for the home and the kids, and once we left, not allow us back.

We have been manipulated with children as leverage. Sam has used them to deflect the actual child and women sex crimes. This has happened to all those who have worked here in the past.
We have evaluated all sides of the problem but find ourselves completely powerless. No girls will stand against Sam and he will not be brought to justice by Ugandan law. Bribery and corruption are apart of all levels of government, and even missionaries and mentors have made it known to us that there is no judge that cannot be paid off in Uganda.
Our only ability to stop this misuse of power is to bring Sam's addiction into the light and make it known to you who support this man and his home.
We know that the children, who are innocent, are caught in the crossfire, but Sam's lies and manipulation of sponsors spreads even to his stories about these children. In trying to understand what steps to take, we have found that only 5 of the children left in the home are actually from the streets of Kampala but have reached the age of adulthood. We have also discovered that every child in the home has living relatives or parents they can live with. (They may not be great situations, but they are not destitute or starving and still have options for education.)
For us to continue in this capacity, we would only be supporting his lifestyle, and allowing ourselves to be manipulated further.

It is with the deepest pain we offer this request:

PLEASE STOP SUPPORTING DORCAS CHILDREN'S HOME.

We can assure you that the money you have sent has gone to the children's welfare and neither Sam, nor we, received any salary from your money. When we return, we will send out an end of the year report listing every donation received and where the money was spent. Sam's position and power has allowed him to act in these malicious ways, and it is this we are trying to stop, not the caring for of these children.
Although to leave them is the hardest thing either of us has ever had to do, we have found some peace in understanding that God took care of them for many years before we arrived and will continue to do so afterward. They will be cared for.

Lastly, we need to ask you above all things, to not lose hope or faith in doing what is good in the world. We ask that you continue to love and support good works despite the possibility of deception. Deceit exists everywhere, and there are always men and women who will use the innocence of others to feed their greed. It is this exact reason we can never stop doing what is right, continually seeking to care for and love those in need, especially children.
Pray for these children. Pray for the work going on all over the world. And never stop supporting those who are going to do this work.

We understand how much pain this letter will cause and that you may have many questions you need answered.

We will be returning to the states within the month. Kami will be returning within the next couple of weeks and Chris will be staying in Uganda until the end of the month. In this way, we can answer your question in person, over the phone or through email. We have asked you to have a great deal of faith in us and the work that has been going on, so we will work in every way possible to answer or meet any needs you have for us, whether stateside through Kami, or here in Uganda through Chris.

With the deepest appreciation for your love and support,

Chris & Kami

christopherandrewwest@gmail.com

kamicoy@gmail.com

In Gods Hands

2008-10-26T04:18:00.000-07:00

This is the hardest work Kami and I have ever done. Somedays there is so much need and we feel pulled so tight, we wonder what we got ourselves into. But, we are constantly reminded in moments of peace that it is also the most defining experience either of us have encountered trying every part of us. The most difficult problem is always trying to run a two homes and 3 schools on half the money fully needed. But, this is also one of the most rewarding experiences because it constantly puts us in the hands of God, completely reliant on his care. It is the situation of every organization in countries all over the world in this line of work: too much need and not enough support. But, every month for 10 months now, we have seen God take care of this home. Because of complications already mentioned, it had been 6 weeks without money when the monthly sponsorship came in Oct. 10th. And this was 1/3 of the amount we needed to make it through the month. Kami and I had both had individuals wanting to help sending money at times through our bank accounts and when the money ran out, we went to take the last bit of donation out of Kami's bank. It was getting very late and we had to go to a bank in the middle of the city. Kami put her card in, and I watched her face from outside the glass door grow frustrated and then helpless. The bank had feared her card had been comprimised and took it, saying a new card would be sent to her parent's address in Oregon. Suddenly, we were in the middle of the city, had no money to get home or for the home, and after 10 months of this life were pretty frustrated. We both walked a good ways and then a boda (motorcyle taxi) picked us up and said he would take us home. We told him we didn't have money and he said he didn't mind (he might have been an angel, we still don't know). We had spent the previous Sunday with a girl who was traveling through Uganda by herself spending her birthday with her and spoke with a lady she had met that weekend. This lady then went to Jinja and met two Norwegian girls who had come to Uganda with a program to teach, but found their jobs were in posh schools for the country's elite rather than children in need. They were looking for a place they could really invest. The lady we had spoken to for just minutes told them about us, they called, we picked them up and they came. They will be with the home for 6 weeks and brought money in for their stay and to help. Their names are Mira and Reuden and are fabulous. They love the kids and are helping us so much. It was such an answer to prayers. But it didn't stop. They had met a man for one evening while they stayed in a hostel who told them he and his girlfriend had raised 500 Euros to give to an orpahange. He came out days after they arrived and stayed with us for one night. After 3 hours at the home, he told us it was the place he wanted to donate the money. So sweet. We went from being in the middle of the city with no money, in more of a struggle then the home has been since we came to two volunteers and two donations within the same week. We know how many people pray for the home, and above all things, have seen how powerful it is in sustaining this home. Thank-you so much to all of you who keep us in your thoughts and prayers. The impact the home is having on these kids lives astounds even us.
Only one more month of school left! Which also means Kami has only 5 weeks left here! We both can't believe it. The children doing tests say they feel like they are doing well and the rest of the children all had mid-terms this week. I just finished administering mid-terms to every class which means I have a lot grading to do this weekend...kids think teachers have no homework...we have there's times the amount of kids in each class! So if your in school and reading this, do your homework. Everyone who was sick is healthy, our dog Fifi just had another liter of puppies (5 weird shaped hairballs we know will be cute in a few weeks) and the gardens and home looks beautiful.
Were so excited for the election and have an all night election party to attend with close friends in Kampala where we will sit and watch live what you are watching in the evening. Its going to be crazy close!
Happy Halloween this week. The razor blade in the apple was an urban myth so eat away kids.
We love you guys and will see you sooner than any of us think.

Trying to bring the pearly gates to the pearl of Africa

2008-10-15T07:16:00.000-07:00

Hello from the Pearl of Africa. First, as always it seems, we must apologize for the elapsed time since our previous update. We are currently running on full cylinders in so many areas that to stop and report on all of it is both difficult in trying to encapsulate all of it, and also in trying to understand how transparent to be. With three schools and two homes, new needs arising every day, and a seemingly always depleted box to pull resources or money out of, we walk daily on a reliance of God and a struggle not to lose our minds.
So where to begin. With the bore-hole breaking and car collision both occurring in August we dropped behind a month's budget. Our current situation, which we hope to change in the time we return to the states, is a meager one; always just barely making it through each month looking back and asking how we did it. We live month to month on the sponsorship and aid you who support the home offer and like most families in the world, try to budget needs over wants providing for them the best we can, but watching so many fall through the cracks because we simply don't have the money. Its a headache, but we remind ourselves that this is the current position all over the world, and we certainly didn't think we would be living the high life in offering our time to work in a 3rd world country. It seems the state of the world to have more need than the resources to meet it. Or, perhaps the resources are simply misappropriated, either way, millions go hungry every day and millions have more need than can be met. Above all things though, there is a paradox in the need that develops offering a hunger and reliance on God deeper than ever before. Verses showing God as a provider speak loudly as comforts and there is a beauty in finding peace in him for the ability to provide daily meals.
Money ran out over two weeks ago and only through the grace of God have we been able to keep the home going. Your prayers are needed. They are powerful and they do bring help, so please keep offering them for the children and work going on here.

In the last post, we discussed the music tour. As stated, when the doors starting opening for it to happen, and advice from those who have worked in Africa for several decades showed us how much benefit a tour can have on the children's lives and in raising awareness and support for the home, we began taking steps to make it a reality. The constant prayer that Kami and I asked was for two things: that God would speak through people we trusted to show us whether or not to continue, and for him to close doors if it was not the right time. In response to feedback we have had from people we trust, and in looking at the current situation of the home, and of course the struggling economy in the states and all over Europe, we have decided that it is not the appropriate time for this kind of tour. When we are struggling to make it through each month, to raise money for a tour seems unethical (whether the tour's purpose is to bring in support or not.) It seems more appropriate to work through many of the volunteers who have brought up ideas for raising support, organizations and churches who have wanted to join in the mission, and other encounters we have made to find a sustainable income for the home through out the following year. If this is in place, then we can begin work on a music tour.

But, we are extremely content with all the benefits our work on the tour has already brought us. First, in beginning the work, both Kami and I saw the need for us to continue in this capacity at least for the following year and in whatever need follows. In short, we are still planning on returning and working here next year. Second, it opened many doors and excitement in churches and individuals not only for the music tour but in looking towards ways to be apart of the home in the future. It also prompted us to get paperwork and background documents on the children which has allowed us to begin a full filing system of each of their history's (two nurses from Tennessee are performing physicals and filling out medical sheets on the kids next week to add to those files). It has opened up doors to us in several levels of the government including passports, immigration, district officials and several others. And all of the work started can easily be continued even if it is some time down the road.

The rain continues to pour at least once a day, bringing booming vegetation, deep greens and lush gardens all around us. Each of the teachers, besides a salary are given a room to live in and a their own plot of land to grow food on. With these added to the gardens of the home, the compound looks beautiful. The rain brings with it sickness and more of the children have fallen ill recently but quickly recovered. I was down for a few days with a bad cold and chills, but also am feeling better.
There are so many struggles and so many rewards in work like this. On one hand there is the stress of money, meeting needs, budgets, paying workers, and directing the home, and on the other is watching kids grow up in front of you, bring home good reports from class and learn to tell time on a hand watch. There are chores and laughs, morning rituals before school, wrestling matches, singing and dancing, hide-and-go-seek and kick the can. There are hard times and trials which lead to such rewards in the good events and successes.
And there is the continual and never ending struggle to let go of ourselves and find that in giving them up we find such better lives in place. And yet, even when learned, the next day it is a struggle again.
The impossible and never-ending letting go.

The long, but important update.

2008-09-30T02:05:00.000-07:00

After a few months of work without full disclosure Kami and I thought it was about time to divulge our future plans both for our lives and for the sustainment of this home.
When we first came, we both had dedicated 1 year, hoping to help those who need love and gain understanding on what Christ's asks each of us to do. We both had plans for after our time here, but quite a few things have changed for us in the last months.
Right now, our minds are focused on two things; the love we have found in working with these children and the long term sustainment of the home to continue this work for many more who will need help in the future.
We have seen God work actively, opening up doorways for us in all levels of the Ugandan government including the educational, financial, and immigration depts, as well as in the states with many individual people, churches, as well as groups like Blue Earth Farms wanting to get involved with this work. It has gone so much past just this home, but transitioned into us longing to be apart of a movement of people going to the sick, the marginalized and the least of these in the world.
Our place, for now, we feel is here working in this capacity.
Our primary purpose is to stay until the home is sustainable on all ends including financially, agriculturally, structurally, and in directorship, with Sam needing to retire.
So here is where we are:

Kami and I both have been planning on returning in January. Unfortunately, her flight could not be changed so she will now be returning in Dec. while I return in Jan. However sad this makes her (she definitely shed quite a few tears to have to leave the kids so early) it actually is a blessing because of what we are currently working on...

For everyone who doesn't know...we have begun planning a music tour for next year. Understandably, the idea to most seems incredibly naïve, and far too massive of an undertaking for us (and we did share this thought while it was still in conceptional form,) but let us explain:
Kami and I have been running the accounts of the home this year, and been going over the home's budget through out the years before we came. Currently, caring directly or educationally for over 50 children through the home in Kampala and the one in Kunungu village, with three schools, over 20 workers to keep them all going, and the constant everyday needs that come with raising children, the home needs around $3,000 USD. Through individual sponsorship and self-sustaining projects in place, we are receiving just over $1000 USD each month. We see two things from this. For us to only begin to understand the situation months before we left, and through word of mouth to have so many of you who support kid's lives join us in the work to bring in that much money each month is a true blessing. And, in light of the deficit each month, rather then dismay, we see it as such a beautiful tribute to the way God carries this home each month. God doesn't make money fall from the sky when his people are in trouble. He answers their prayers through other willing believers (and non believers) who have a heart for those in need. Although so difficult at times, in looking back over the last 9 months Kami and I are both moved to tears when we discuss the random traveler that came, fell in love with the kids and began raising money, for those who came for one night or a few weeks, went directly home and raised money through their church, for long time sponsors who heard about trouble and through one prayer breakfast raised money to meet needs immediately, for college students to bring money, gifts, support and ready-to-work hands to be with us, and then went home and are still working with us in support and planning for the future of the home. The list goes on and on with some people only hearing about the work second hand in another's conversation or address and emailing us to send money, letters,and supplies. Each month, the 2,000 dollar deficit has been met.
The only thing Kami and I have to boast in after the year we have been experiencing is the way God works through the lives of those who devote themselves to him.
This deficit still remains though and will continue to exist as the work moves forward and expands.
We have been praying and wrestling all year with ideas on how to meet this need. If we did return and raise the money for next year, when January came around again, the home would be back in the same situation. And even more, although we are satisfied in the work we are able to do through the home, we are living in a environment of absolute need, with millions more in this country and the ones surrounding it filled with young and old with no hope for life, let alone education. We will never be satisfied, nor should any of us, while we have the ability to help and offer nothing.
Our answer is to share the story with not only hundreds but thousands, and to do so, first hand allowing the kids from these situations, whose lives, smiles and voices sing everyday of hope be apart of affecting their own future through their God-given gifts.
We have sent out letters to many of you explaining the tour in full. If you have not received one, please forgive us, email us and ask for one to know all details.
The quick version is that we are currently working on passports and visas for the kids, as they during every school break and Saturday work with a famous Ugandan composer and songwriter (who luckily is a good friend of Sams') learning traditional African dances, instruments, and drumming. For the first months while at home, Kami and I will be raising the needed funds for plane tickets, and traveling through the country setting up shows through churches, groups, schools, venues and the traveling details between each. (Massive undertaking we know, but after what we have been doing for 9 months, we feel ready to handle anything) The kids will join us in the states during their first holiday break and for 4-6 weeks will tour the country sharing the story of the home, their lives and the many lives still desperately in need. In one month's time, the children will gain information and education that will last them a life-time through staying with invidual families, meeting their sponsors face to face, and coming to new understandings such as seeing there is poverty, homelessness and brokenness in the United States just like everywhere else. (Seeing mountains and snow for the first time, a flushing toilet or the inconceivable idea that we can cook dinner in less the 15 minutes.)
We want to open the eyes of thousands; to have them look at their children, know the life they want for them and to say, “I'm going to do the same for one more that has no hope.” We want people to see either how simple it is to invest in one child's life here by supporting their care and education , or be inspired to join the work themselves whether its here or in raising support or ideas there.
Stories move us. Hope moves us. Changed lives that show both let us see the story of Christ's grace better than through any other lens we know.

If you would like to be apart of the tour, to help in any way or to kindly remark its a horrible idea, please email us.
For now, we are moving forward with it, putting full trust in God for its success or failure. Either way, we are sure he will take care of this home and guide us in our work.

We love you all very much. We miss home from time to time but are so happy in the work.

2008-09-11T03:49:00.000-07:00

The new libraray and play room. (Other bookshelf not shown) Thanks Laura!

Maps and Glue\\\\= wallpaper

Miquel & Dasha...our new friends from Spain and Cheq Republic...they found us online and showed up to help love the kids for a few weeks.

Every afternoon around 3 on the dot, the clouds look like this...The rainy season is like a timed sprinkler here. Ask me if it will rain today? Yup

Miquel & Dasha putting on a language lesson...English, Luganda, Cheq and Spanish translations. The kids did muy bien.

These were some of the pictures taken from Miquel and Dasha's camera.
More pictures from our computer of the holiday events coming soon...as soon as we learn why what went wrong with the internet browser.

2008-09-07T03:45:00.001-07:00

Another holiday is coming to a close. This one was pretty long and with the time being the same back home, it feels like we are ending summer...when instead we are now heading into the 3rd and final school term. By now, Kami and I are seasoned teachers...which means very little...and the kids are set in their school routine for the year. This week will be there first back. Some of the older kids who have hard tests at the end of the year are pretty nervous (Meme in P7 getting ready for High school, and Muhammad in S.6 getting ready to graduate) Yet, it really does feel like the end of summer. So much happened during this holiday. The wedding with all its guests. Joe working witht the kids and heading back for school. Kevin Dyne coming to stay and work with the kids. And of course Laura...who came for the last month and was gracious closer. Joe came and helped more than Kami and I ever could have believed, teaching, bringing music, and helping on every area of need the home had including taking every bit of slack in my absense during my trip home. Kevin came in for several weeks and spent time the kids, helped paint and contributed to the home in the same gentle, quiet support he offers everywhere he goes. Laura came in and decided she was going to do in a month as much as anyone else would do in 6. With her help, we completely re-designed and re-built our library turning it into a cold, dark room, into the brightest, most welcoming room in the complex, with books in order, a blue carpet, bright colored walls, painting the kids got to help on, stools, and a table. Its a perfect place to do homework this next term and the kids love it. (This computer is incredibly slow, but we will have pictures up within a few days.) She also took all the kids swimming, which was an out of this world experience, since some had never been around water, let alone swam in it. She re-organized Kami's and my room, taught the kids how to paint, taught gutair lessons like Joe, helped in the kitchen, supported Kami in a million girl things I don't know about including someone of the same sex just to talk to. And, if none of this was not enough, with her help she organized a paint project each of the kids got to contribute to. The picture is two bannana trees, cut into 25 squares, each painted individually showing the kids' personalities...which is now being sent to New York for a benefit art show to raise money for the home.
And so the home keeps moving. Kami and I continually thank God for what he does through this home, and who he brings here. In this one holiday alone, several massive projects have begun, Joe brought new life, Kevin came and helped, Laura opened her heart and pulled everyone along with it, we had hardship, a broken borehole, a head-on collision in the car, lack of money, found money, so many sponsors shower me with support when I returned, and send boxes of supplies for Kami and the kids, pictures, new lessons, new friendships...and so much more.
We are so blessed to be apart of this work. The kids are thankful everyday for the food, the activities, the lessons and companionship. They are held, read to, loved and played with.
And none of it would be possible without your continual support. So, always, thank you.

Pictures!

2008-08-29T02:49:00.000-07:00

Fetching water right before the re-construction of the bore hole. A huge thanks to the sponsors who pitched in to save us from a huge water emergency! It should be completed by Saturday.

Traditional dancers from the Laos tribe at Rachel's wedding.

The road leading to Kampala City School

Students at Kampala City school studying in a skeleton of a classroom. With many prayers and support, we will be adding onto the school to build more rooms and finish this one.

Rain before the Sun

2008-08-28T05:45:00.000-07:00

Life seems to always come in cycles. The rainy season has begun again, and this time the weather seems to match the state of the home. With the weather suddenly dropping in temperature, over half of the kids have become sick in one way or another, and everyone included Kami and myself have been dealing with conditions from colds to flu. Since the wedding the car has been in a head on collision, the borehole (our villages main sorce of water) has broke, we've had problems with 3 of our 4 staff members to the point of having to suspend 2 of them for a month, a temporary shortage in food has developed, and several other problems have arose. But as always, they are things that happen when running a home, and we see God's faithfulness and blessing everyday. Kevin Dyne from Portland, OR came to visit the home and spend time with the kids. Laura Peters, from Vancouver, Candada came in for a month and helped in many areas, including re-doing our entire library, bringing loads of art supplies and giving the kids lessons, as wells as putting together an art project, which is going to be sent to a benefit art show in New York. The work is a tree broken into 25 parts, each painted different by individual kids and then brought together for a beautiful mosiac. She is also in the process of helping us paint a mural on the entire wall in the sitting room for the kids. We will post pictures soon! A couple also some how found the home and came to work with us for around 10 days. Their names are Miquel and Dasha (probably spelt the names wrong and apologise for doing it) but there story is amazing. Miquel is from Spain, while Dasha is from the Cheq Republic, and both of them met through their company based in London. They have only seen each other for two weeks in the last 9 months of a relationship through phone calls and emails, but together they quit their jobs and are traveling through Africa for 3 months to help in areas they can, but also just to learn and explore the cultures and get closer to one another. There on a proper adventure, and have been such a blessing to have at the home. Sam's health has been good, but unfortunately now his wife Dorcas' has grown worse so please pray for her.
So its another month. Mishaps, downfalls, and struggles, new faces, new work and new blessings. The constant ebb and flow of an African orphanage. We seem to be on a proper adventures ourselves.

The Wedding festivities have come to a close

2008-08-18T05:10:00.000-07:00

Traditional dancers welcomed the procession of honored guests, the groom, bride's attendants, and bride to be. Lovely ladies in their traditional wear of wrapped dresses tied up like bows. Dashing men in their robes. There was the brushing bride. Speech after speech after speech. Gift after gift after gift. Did you know if you get a bride in Uganda you receive many gifts with her? Yes you do have to give up a few cows, sodas, jerrycans of cooking oil, etc...
Everyone here at Dorcas has been working tirelessly to make the wedding for Sam's daughter, Rachel, a success. A new fence went up, trees were cut, compound was spotless, hair was done, barrels of water were fetched. 50+ family guests stayed at the home. Not even kidding you. Pans 2 feet deep and 3 feet in diameter filled with matoke, rice, beans, and meat cooking over firewood.
After 6 to 7 hours of the introduction wedding, it was time to dance. A disco was available to all the guest and was taken full advantage of until 5 am. Dancing with the kids was so fabulous! And yes...I taught them a thing or two about shaking what my mama gave me.
The more “western” wedding was Saturday. Wedding and reception went from 11 am until 10 pm. Absolutely beautiful. Way too long but beautiful. More traditional dance took place from the Laos tribe which was great to be able to decifer from the Buganda tribal dance that took place on Friday.
Today is the recover day. Many visitors are still here at the home from Kanungu. A trip is planned to go into town with them. Many of the people from Kanungu (a remote village in Southwest Uganda) have never seen the city with all its splendor.
Joe will be leaving on Wednesday as Chris comes back to us. Please keep them in your prayers.
Ooooo. My camera, the last existing camera here at Dorcas, was broken a week ago in a laughing fest with the boys so pictures will be few and far between for awhile. Please keep with us. I'll sketch what is going on....?

The Road Home: Good and Bad

2008-08-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone. On Monday the 4th, I went to leave Seattle to head back to Uganda and was met with a terrible surprise. The date of my ticket had been entered wrong, and with it being a specialty ticket (at a lower fair) the stipulations involved stated that if I didn't show up or notify the airline before the date of my departure, the ticket (both there and back) would be come invalid. I spent 6 hours on the phone Monday between the airline and booking agency and ended the afternoon so tired and unsure of what to do that I simply sat on the floor of a friends house, unable to move.

I had trunks packed as tightly as they could go, fresh cookies for the kids, money to bring back to the home to further the work over the next few months, presents for the kids from many of you as sponsors, an anxiousness to see them and suddenly I had no way to get there. I was utterly heartbroken. I called Kami and told her the situation, and as we talked, we both understood that somehow it was in God's hands.

Although this is a little more in depth, than some of our other posts, the state I found myself in going back to Uganda was a hard one. Both Kami and I have been dealing with things and responsibilities we have never encountered before this year and it has been extremely overwhelming to us both in the best way. We have had to live daily on the guidance and assurance of God to accomplish the work, or at times, just to make it through the strenuousness of the day. But part of that foundation for me has been slipping for some time, and even the time I hoped for some peace in coming home, as wonderful as it was to see friends and share stories, as well as speak easily and passionately about the home and work with many of you because it is our entire life right now, I found no time to be alone and almost not a single moment to rest. Although I was excited to return to the kids, I felt like I was returning almost a shell knowing the work that needed to be done and easily caring for family we have found in Uganda, but not being founded.

And then, I was on the ground of a friend's home, with no ticket home. Although it was devastating at first, somehow in prayer through out the evening and into the night, I found a sense of peace that there was a reason for this.

The next morning I posted a blog that I needed help in returning and within two hours, 3 people had already called and offered support. But, one lady, who deserves to be placed in the echelons of the highest realms of service, and to whom I am eternally grateful, told me to find the ticket and tell her the price, and she would take care of the rest. Because of fuel prices and the continual upswing, the only reasonably priced ticket was 12 days out.

Although this is hard for me to bear, with how much I miss the kids and long to be with them, Kami, and the rest of the home again, this was a unasked prayer that God saw in me. There are walls we all reach at times in our lives, and I certainly have been at one for some time now, overwhelmed without enough time to be at peace and understand it. It seems these days are a gift to finally stop, and find the heart of God again, in which we all move, and find our strength. As I do though, one of the continuos prayers I would like to share with you is such thankfulness to how many of you contacted me while I was at home and privately wrote a check for the work, or went to the stores and bought supplies, or brought sheets for the kids, underwear, a computer for the home, gifts and cards for Kami as she continues the work with Joe in Uganda and repeatedly asked how you can do more for the kids individually. It filled me with such an immense thankfulness to hear how many of you have been praying for us, and reading our updates and remembering us while we felt so far from home.

My trip back has reaffirmed the love so many of you have for these kids, for those who are marginalized in the world, and also for your love for us personally, which continuously strengthens us to continue working.

You are in our prayers as well. May God bless and keep you, prompt you when you are needing to serve, and give you rest when you are weary.

2008-07-30T11:26:00.000-07:00

did you know they advertise for quick weight gain and bigger hips?

2008-07-18T04:42:00.000-07:00

After much help from Joe, Camila, and the rambunctious boys we finished painting the apartments.
Kampala City School students... aren't they so studious?

they hit a bird with a rock. with a rock. can your child throw with this aim?
sunset. acacia tree. monkey within.
fabulous joseph finishing the veranda... thanks to our sponsors!
We are headed to Kanungu for a 4 day trip.

It's my turn.

2008-07-09T03:11:00.000-07:00

I, Joe Hedrick, have the privilege and joy of joining the dynamic duo.

As the blog already states, Chris has officially left for the states.

At this moment, Kami and I are borrowing internet from a Hotel downtown Kampala.

Random Updates!!!

Sam's daughter, Rachel, just had her dowery, so now all the anticipation for the wedding in August. The boys were so cute in their best dressed.

Money continues to find its way right when we need it. It is so amazing to be on this side of things, where I don't just read about it on the blog but feel the pressure of bills and loans building. Then BAM, God does His thing and laughs.

And tomorrow is the beginning of life full time.

No Chris to hold my hand in front of all the city school children.

He has done such a fantastic job with the senior school... they love and will miss him.

Poor Kami left to drag little ol' me around and get me into shape.

Pray that she doesn't kill me.

I am so thankful she is so stinkin patient.

This is a picture of Hanny.

He is a Senior 5 student who lives in our village.

I met him waiting outside our room wanting to talk to Kami. Since then we have hung out almost every night. He has such an amazing heart. He loves football and is such an incredible artist. Within a week of being at the home, we started guitar lessons. He works with our children all the time, teaching them art and helping with homework. His heart is set on going to Lipscomb University someday.

One of the biggest struggles here is this fear that everyone you meet just wants a visa or money.

Sadly, we don't have that kind of power. Hanny is the first person I've met that loves and gives to me without any intent on getting in return.

The reason for his picture!!!

Hanny makes the most fabulous necklaces I have ever seen.

They are made from recycled paper... I have no idea how he does it, but we realized the possibilities once we saw his work. So we have sent a bag full of them with Chris to the states.

Women, get them while they are hot.

Men, get them for your women while they are hot.

The price on these suckers are going to sky rocket, these things will be on high demand before you can say, "holy kiss a monkey on the lips."

The cool part about these necklaces is what it supports.

The money goes to support the home as well as Hanny.

SO not only are they recycled (Mother Nature nods her head) but God will bless you with a thousand good feelings!!!

So, email Chris: christopherandrewwest@gmail.com

Price for now will be a suggested $10 donation... but the work alone is worth more so you judge. See the picture below for the effects of these beads.

For the first time ever, love to all of you back in the states.

Life here is a blast. The boys are so inspiring.

Kami is working her butt off and thanks all of you for your supports.

Sponsors: be on the look out for a suprise?!

Sola bulungi?

July Visit

2008-07-06T08:40:00.000-07:00

During the month of July Chris will be in Portland to do some work stateside for the home and be in Chad Turner's wedding.

If you are sponsoring a child and want to send any letters, pictures or donations to them, please email them to:

Chris West

5319 SE 69th Portland OR 97215

If anyone else would like to make any contributions to the home, please send them accordingly.

We love you all.

For All the Sponsors! And anyone else...

2008-06-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

Chris will be returning to Oregon on July 11th. He is flying home to be in his friend's wedding, but will also use the time to do some of the work we want to accomplish for the home stateside. If you have letters you want to send the kids (they want to hear back from you) or pictures, any resources, anything you think your child would want, we will post an address in the next few days and Chris will be able to bring all of it back to the home on the plane.

For those of you who read the blog and aren't necessarily supporting a specific child and would like to help, this would be a perfect chance to do it as well. Old clothes, donations for pens, pencils, school supplies, shoes, or anything else you can think of would all be greatly appreciated. He will return Aug 4th and pack as many bags or trunks as needed.

THANK-YOU FOR ALL YOU HAVE ALREADY DONE AND CONTINUE TO DO FOR THESE CHILDREN!

Life always gets busy

2008-06-30T07:03:00.000-07:00

It seems a lot has changed for Kami and I since 6 months ago. Leave the loads of experiences, lessons and growin up we've done aside, and still a lot has changed. Although it was intense at first, we settled into the home the first two months and found such a peace. A silent calm that lasted no matter how crazy things got lost somewhere in the perpetual breeze, and brilliant dusks that lasted for hours. Just as it is any time you move to a new place, at first the circle is so small. Your world is what you see and what you see is all you know. But steadily and surely, our world has continued to expand here until now where I look at an average day and actually remark, "what happened to the simple times." Our cell phones are full of contacts working here for endless amounts of reasons, our plates are full with teaching, accounts, hiring and firing, projects, plans, fundraisers, and so much more, our vocabulary has expanded every day to the point I look around now and actually know what people are speaking about in Luganda in the next circle, (well every 3rd word or so), we travel with ease through the country, riding with chickens and goats, know every inch of the city and best places to get the cheapest posho and beans, what times to drive, which alleys to take if police are out looking for bribes, and I even take the occasional Sunday morning motorcycle ride to a place you can get real coffeee and sit on a porch! So like any place, after you settle in, the world starts expanding and your as intrenched in business as you were when you left. Besides the expansion of our world though has been that of the home and of the kids' with all the visitors we have had in the last few months. With traffic the airport trip is a full 4 hour ordeal and I've been driving it too much lately. (I'm just kidding, if you want to come, I would love to pick you up from the airport!) It started with our great friends Kip and Megan from Oregon, moved to many people we met in Kampala, then more, then 8 great visitors from Colorado, then our friends Johnny and Courtney who worked with Invisible Children and last Tuesday brought in the newest member to our workforce Joe Hedrick, a good friend of Kami's from North Carolina. The kids have grown to know all our movements and can't even try to tell us something not true anymore. They look up, see we know and then smile sheepishly and produce the real answer. Everyday still brings with it new challenges and the future of the home is always in our minds. Sam's health is really leading him towards retirement and Kami and I are working diligently on coupling the home with an incredible mentorship program here called Cornerstone. They do the same thing we do, only much better and with more resources. They take kids out of horrible situations, pay for all of their schools, provide a strong community and mentorship based on the principles and teachings of Christ and the men and woman we have met who have gone through their homes are testaments to the work they are doing. After they are done with secondary school, their college is payed for too and during this time, the older ones take over the leadership of homes for other children, and always still have the community of those who have come before and are living and working in higher positions through out Uganda, Kenya, Sudan, Rwanda and even further. In this way, they always have mentors above them, peers they share mentorship with, and those who they mentor below. We are excited to see where it goes. I will be meeting with one of the directors this week again to discuss it further.

We will keep you posted. We're both still safe and healthy and loving the life we have found here. Unfortunately, to all the children's dismay as well as Sam's, Kami and I have still not fallen in love. Actually, our friendship has grown so much and we both come from such similar families, something resembling a brother/sister relationship has developed and I would venture to say we are much further from seeing in the other something more than when we first began. Which suits us both great, but disappoints the Ugandans who keep trying to get us together.

We had to fire the headmaster of our school today. He kept starting fights with the teachers and one time stole the cooks food because she did something he didn't like. It was so intense. I sat as a 24 year old firing a 35 yr old and actually said the words, "clean out your desk and hand over the keys." (Its not as fun as it sounds.) So if anyone wants to be the headmaster/mistress of a primary school in Uganda, the position is now available...we're taking applications. haha. We love you all. Thank-you for the support!

2008-06-19T06:25:00.000-07:00

Chris, Kami, and Courtney in an awfully crowed matatu(taxi) heading back to Kampala.
The best and only way to travel if you ask me-by boda boda.
We have had many bonfires as of late! Full of glowsticks courtesty of the group from Colorado!
Bonfires are the greatest for singing and praying and learning that Chris and I cannot make a fire.
One of God's many wonders.
Another of His many wonders.
Not so much a wonder...but I wonder why he has to wear things like this.
This little guy is Choto. He just came to the home. His brother Balya stays with us and he came after his mother's house burned down. He is four, speaks no English and will sit on the floor next to me for hours talking to me about who knows what.
Meeme, Molly, and Kami having girl time off course.
During one of the many gorgeous rains!

The past month has been full of visitors and excitement. The boys have received many necessary items! Yeah! Shoes and badly needed clothes to be specific. We are about to hit the midterm mark of the second term this year. Pray as they are studying hard!

It's a wonderful life! And it's not even Xmas time..

2008-06-05T05:05:00.000-07:00

We can’t believe its June! The weather must be getting so beautiful back in the states. It continues to be an even 75 every day, and the fact that it is now June seems to only be amazing to us. We’re back in the full swing of school and both enjoying teaching more than last term. There was so much to figure out the first months we were trying to learn as much the kids we were teaching, but this time around, both of us have a far clearer understanding on Ugandan culture, learning patterns and work habits so the teaching is easier. And added to this, is the reward to see definite improvement in work, reading and writing in the students. Some of our younger boys we began teaching to read last term are getting more confident in their abilities and we help them less in stories. Math is still a little slow for some of Kami’s students. The first term she spent the entire time trying to correct some of the learning habits her kids had picked up. (Counting on toes for example when they ran out of fingers for adding and subtracting…gets very confusing and only works when their not wearing their school shoes.) She still finds herself having to go back and teach things some of the kids already know, but on the day they do get the concepts, she comes home beaming. She also has started teaching a music class, which she was born to do. Sometimes I look into her classroom and I have no idea who is having more fun, her, or the kids watching with open mouths.

At the secondary school, we have moved from the necessary, but monotonous rules of English writing to applying them in story telling. This is enjoyable for several reasons. First, the unfortunate, but undeniable truth about Ugandan curriculum is that there is very little room for imagination. No matter what subject is being taught, the formula is the same: The teacher gives the kids information, they write it down, memorize it and expel it back on the exam or when called upon in class. The kids don’t grow up here like first and second world children. They have almost no exposure to the world and with such limited resources, have barely even seen pictures of things like creatures in the ocean or thought of other worlds. They know all about Uganda, about digging, the animal life here, the fruits and trees and bore-holes and football. When given an assignment in writing, these are the things they call upon. But, I’m asking them to go past this now and some of them are really responding. I tell them that in every class, their asked to give the correct answers, but in mine, although we learn about proper story formula, characters, plot development etc. the story can be completely made up; a new world created by them. To learn to be more descriptive they learn 6 new adjectives each day to take the place of ordinary words and then write them in sentences. So instead of just saying the “big” tree they use words like “massive,” “enormous,” or “expansive.” They couple this with similes and metaphors and although it started out very slow, some of them have been turning in some excellent stories with beautiful descriptions. One boy who was writing about visiting a big city said he “heard the cars rushing past, sounding like babies crying,” and another one wrote about walking under a tree describing the branches as “bare arms against a blue sky.” (I almost wept, and am personally going to try and support this kid through college…he wrote that as a freshman in high school and came from a village in the furthest corner of Uganda. He has yet to get less than a perfect score on one of my exams.)

We miss showers, refrigerators, sleeping without a mosquito net, varieties in food and friends and family, but wouldn’t trade this for anything. It’s a wonderful life.

Finally an update

2008-06-05T04:30:00.000-07:00

Sam Senfuka carrying water for cooking.
Hussein, the sweet neighbor boy, pretending to be spiderman of course.
Very artistic picture taken by one of the boys. We only teach the basics here.
The group of 8 people from Colorado brought stuffed animals that the kids held onto as if they were their own children. Oh so cute!
We were blessed with a puzzle within a huge package mailed to Chris. The kids loved it.
We bought 10 meters of rope on Market street for making double dutch ropes. I think we may have tried for 5 minutes before one side was turned into a sweet swing from the Jacfruit tree.
Yes we did make ninja masks/headbands for the ninja in every boy.

Some of the college group from Colorado helping paint our Primary School.
More paint...
on very durable ladders too. Here are Chris and me with our typical discussion faces on. Do we seemed stressed?

Here are some of the boys taking lunch on the side veranda of their house.
Musisi mid-bite. Thank you, thank you to all the sponsors for sending money to help us out. What the boys are eating here is posho and beans. This is what they eat every meal at lunch and dinner. It is the staple for young and school aged kids and the cheapest way to feed lots of people. Yet, we still struggle at times to be able to afford it all. So, thank you so much for feeding the mouths of the kids we have grown to love so much. I hope and pray you feel you are a part of their lives as well, because you are. More than you know.

2008-05-16T02:00:00.000-07:00

We’re civilized again! Well, so to speak… This last week, with our good friend David (an mechanical engineer helping oversee the building of a school near us) we put in a ceiling in the guest room to get ready for 8 guests coming from a college in Colorado. While we were on the ladders we discovered some electrical wires. This got us thinking, and by the end of the day we had run wires to Kami and my room and for the first time in 4 months we now have a working light. No more stumbling in at night, searching for matches, and lighting the kerosene lamps. (This is actually untrue as Kampala only has electricity sporadically and you never know when it’s going to be on or not.) The lamps are always still necessary. Although the holidays were supposed to be a break for us, life at the home has actually gotten busier. The last week has been unbelievably stressful with problems or needs arising in every part of the home, including dealing with strife among the teachers and new headmaster at the primary school. It was like rain. One thing went wrong, a few minutes later our door was knocked on again with another problem brought by someone else, then another, and when we started leaving to town to address some of the issues the car began misfiring and stopped working. Whew! There is nothing that will make you grow up faster than running a home. But, its always good work.

Despite the problems, one of the nicest parts about the holiday has been our ability to garden and work with the kids in the morning and play in the afternoon. Kami just got some long ropes and today they are getting their first dose of Double Dutch jump roping. Chicken pox hit the home and the oldest boy got pretty sick. We debated back and forth whether or not to let the small boys rub against him so they all get it now when they are younger and it causes less harm to the body (as well as doesn’t make them miss any school.) I’ve never been in favor of giving someone a virus on purpose, but Kami said it would be for the best. In the end, we compromised by not telling the kids to stay away from him, so nature could take its proper course. It’s been over a week now, Muhammad is healthy and no one else became sick. We’ll see how the next week goes.

This is the last weekend of the break and on Monday its back to school and back to daily schedules. With as much has happened lately, both Kami and I are struggling to add on class prep work again, but we’ll fight through it. The kids always look forward to school though. (So strange)

Thank-you again to all the sponsors. Each of the kids know you by name and its not to uncommon to hear one of the small boys walking by saying a first and last name over and over as if everyday he needs to rememorize it incase one of you just show up. They are always so thankful. Every night after singing and dancing they say their prayers and I’ve never known a night to go by where they didn’t thank God for your support and for him to keep you safe.

Keep the home in your prayers.

With love, Chris & Kami

Musisi, the beautiful artist.
This is daily cooking. Every meal prep time, apprx 2 hrs.
Kami is a horrible influence on the boys
David explaining British 240 watt electricity to Chris.
The gardening crew.
The maze is looking good.
These kids never leave our side, or our clothes.

Lunch time. Posho and Beans

April Was Rough

2008-05-05T01:50:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone,

During the month of April, a lot has happened at home that has exceeded our usual budget provided for through child sponsorship support. The home's car broke down, badly damaged from the rough roads here as we traveled between the home in Kampala to the one in Kunungu. Food prices have risen, several workers children became very sick and asked the home for money to take them to the hospital, many of the kids needed extra supplies for school this term such as new pants or a scientific calculator for physics. These are just things that arise when raising over 50 kids, but none of which is out of God's hand in providing for the home.
This post is a request for extra help this month. For anyone reading it and able to help, we are asking for any aid possible. Even if its an extra 10.00 this month, every bit helps. All of it will go directly to the immediate needs of the home.
Please send any support to
Dorcas Children's Home
P.O. Box 762
Dallas, OR 97338
Thank-you to everyone who has already done so much in providing for these children.
God Bless.

Bonfire, singing, and marshmellows

2008-05-05T01:35:00.000-07:00

Firewood loaded and ready to make a measly bonfire.
Hassan and Kami make the marshmellow sticks...aka deadly weapons.
Chris and a few select boys attempt to light the bonfire.
Abudduh, Nakato, and Balya try their best to master the art of marshmellow eating.
Reagan and Sebuma happily eating the remains of the sticky sweet goodness.

Pictures from past activities!

2008-04-30T03:36:00.000-07:00

The room we leveled in Kanungu. After digging, leveling, and carrying rock by rock into this room it was read to be sludge hammered. Strenuous!
A day of mask making. Inspired by Spiderman.
An escapade of fort making! Chris headed it, the boys loved it. Later watched Spiderman from within.
Girls day out! We got done up in our nicest, went to town, and yes, had icecream!
Reagan pretending to help with the weeding...

Maviny (Marvin) weeding in the newly dug/planted garden.

Holiday!

2008-04-30T03:28:00.000-07:00

Its officially school holiday here. Its funny how many of our words have changed. Kami and I are going to come back saying, "I'll take food now," and "should we play football this holiday after we have received our marks?" It was definitely an English province.
We're as happy as the kids that its holiday though. We spent the first week visiting Kunungu where the other home is. We went running through the mountains at dawn, worked and dug all morning, and laid around in the afternoon and read with the perpetual Ugandan breeze coming through the open house. Not a bad way to start the break.
We were invited by some friends to visit Fort Portal, and so from Kunungu we had a planes train s and automobiles day, taking an 8 hour trip north using a car, a bus, a special hire and a small taxi van to get there. But we made it and had a great friday night with our friends who run a home for children with AIDS in that area. On Sat we visited some missionaries from Oregon who Kami used to work with at Portland Urban Ministry Program. They just moved over to Uganda and to be in an actual house with friends from Oregon was unreal. We both just kept looking around wondering if we were still in Africa.
The trip home was a tough one though. Many of the taxi vans are in extremely poor conditions but their drives still speed around corners going 50 mph (or 65 k) and one the day we took the bus home there were many accidents. We had to stop at one point and directly out Kami's and my window was a distorted van, crushed to the point of being almost unrecognizable. There were bodies everywhere twisted and crushed from the crash. They were the first dead bodies Kami and I have ever seen and it was extremely sobering. Your brain immediately tries to believe its just like movies you've seen, but its so much different. There were several of these crashes all the way home, and the images stayed with us the entire ride.
For the last few days since we came home, we've been organizing break lessons for the kids, gardening everyday, and trying to take it easy. Some of our closest friends just left this week. They worked at an orphanage down the road and we already miss their company a lot.
Uganda's corruption continues to wear on us. We've come in contact with so much of it lately. This morning we gave a ride to one of the teachers into town. When we went to let her out, a taxi bus was on the side of the road so I pulled over as far as I could. The door handle wasn't working and it took a moment longer than it normally wood and we blocked a few cars for about 30 seconds. A police officer saw us and seeing we were right told us to pull over. (They are all on foot here and extremely corrupt, always looking for money and bribes.) He told me he was going to take me to the station and then to court for my traffic vialation while behind me vans without lights or blinkers carried 14 passengers sporadically pulling in and out of traffic to load and unload. I told him we wouldn't be going anywhere with him. He responded by getting into our car and told us to drive to the station. In the end I had to pay him 20,000 shillings to get out and leave us alone. I was so angry my hands were shaking. Anything they can do to rip you off here, they do. Sometimes, Kami and I get so fed up with the amount of corruption, brutality, molestation and child abandonment that goes on here, we don't want to deal with it anymore. But, its the exact reason we're here. From the government down (stealing money for roads and public safety) stretching to almost every family we've seen, Uganda is quite a broken country. Kids are ignored, often beat when parents aren't happy, many girls don't make it to 16 before experiencing molestation of some kind, and the list goes on and on. But, its why places like Dorcas Children's Home are so important. The kids are safe, fed and loved. It makes the greatest difference in their lives.
So thank-you to everyone who continues to support the work. Its vital here.
We love you all. Peace.

2008-04-16T07:41:00.000-07:00

Saturday forts.
Who said flooding was a bad thing?
Kami grading endless finals.
Some of the girls at Kampala City Secondary School
Boys outside one of the classrooms

Today is Wednesday, April 16^th and we arrived at the home Wednesday January 16^th, so I its officially 3 months. A lot has happened this month. With Sam’s health continually wavering, Kami and I have taken over almost all managerial aspects of the home. It’s both challenging and exhausting, but its work we are both proud of. With a full home of boys, school teaching, helping with homework, repairs, gardening, traveling for supplies, budgets, planning upcoming work and projects for the home’s continual presence here, there is never a dull moment. I think we are both learning more about life in this year than the rest we’ve lived combined. We sound like a married couple with a family when we talk at night. (…”This boy needs new socks, we need to pay the night guard, someone’s school fees are due, we need flour and cooking oil from town when we pick up supplies, three of the boys have exams in the morning so we need to help them study tonight for math…”) It’s like growing up warp speed. But we love it. The kids are amazing, and so responsive to love and a true interest in them. When you focus on them, they open up so much.

We’ve definitely had an eventful month in the city. This last week the government started impounding taxi buses that they deemed unsafe on the road. (Most local transport from the villages to the city is based on these bus taxi’s called “Mutatu’s.”) The swerve in and out of traffic picking people up and taking them far distances for the equivalent of .50 US. The few drivers whose buses were impounded started a riot downtown. We had just left town when they started trying to force other taxi’s not to drive and to strike. They lit fires and protested. The police sent out detachments and downtown erupted in tear gas, riots, fights and looting. Not knowing who was causing it, the police just began beating and arresting anyone near the occurrence. Over 500 people were arrested (most beat first) and only a few were actually the cause. Don’t worry too much moms. Kami and I have been very safe here, even when events out of our control have taken place.

Actually, that’s just what happened on Monday. We went into town to buy medical supplies and other needs of the homes and as I made a turn onto the street, a motorcycle taxi (called a “Boda-Boda”) went to pass me. He collided into my driver’s side door and his head actually went through the window I had just rolled down so our heads were nearly touching. Whenever anything like this happens, huge crowds form, and it was pretty intense for a few moments. I drove to the side of the road, we helped him with his bike and got his helmet off. More and more people were coming so we had him leave his bike at a shop right where the accident occurred and took him to a clinic. Nothing was seriously injured and he was just sore. We got him pain medicine and helped fix his bike. Although it was such an unfortunate event, everything that could have gone well did. Kami and I were uninjured, the man had nothing broken, the accident happened directly in front of a motorcycle repair shop so his bike could be fixed easily, and a really nice man helped us take him to the hospital, translated everything for us and when we tried to pay him a little in the end for all his help, refused payment. Its definitely Africa, there is definitely danger, but no matter what happens here, both Kami and I feel taken care of by God. We are always thankful for prayers of everyone supporting the home and have seen them answered.

Its officially the rainy season which means it rains every morning. When all the paths to school are nothing but thick clay, I usually end up at the school soaked and a few inches taller. (Clay doesn't come off like mud, it just builds up more. But, the rain does make some fun times for playing with the kids, as seen above.

Every Saturday we find something fun to do as a break from school, and this last week we used the mattresses to make forts with the kids. They had a blast.

We love and miss you all.

2008-04-02T05:34:00.000-07:00

It is strange the way we as humans adapt to our environment around us. Seriously when does goats running on the street in the middle of a major city, 40 chickens on the back of a boda boda(motorcycle), or women carrying pounds and pounds of charcoal become common place. This lifestyle which at first appeared so mind blowing now does not cause a second look.

Welp, Chris is officially in Zanzabar soaking in too many rays. The word on the street is he stopped taking his malaria meds as docy causes skin to be more sensitive to the sun. That is just the word on the street...but maybe for good measure we could get some extra prayers for the boy's health. Just in case some lil bug gets him whilest on the beautiful island.

Sam's health is not so A-okay right now. So prayers would be helpful on that one. The boys on the other hand are all healthy and great lil buggers. Less than a month and a 3 week holiday will be here! I may be more excited than the kids...but lets not tell huh?!

Here is the trouble we get into when Chris is gone: Abudduh being his cute lil self...
Marvin with one of his typical expressions...

Some African Stories

2008-03-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

10 months from now, I think Kami and I will still be laughing over dinner at the daily happenings of this place. Here is a few of the latest stories we have laughed about at the end of the day.
1. I had my first soccer match on Wednesday. The kids were really excited and the game was set for 3:00 in the afternoon. At 2:30 we found out the pitch we were supposed to play on was being used (no one organizes anything here) so both schools (and I mean every student in both schools) walked 3 kilometers together to find another pitch. Warm up, practices and everything else on the field are always a scattered mess of me yelling the few Lugandan phrases I know trying to get a team of 40 kids to do one thing. But, by 4:30 the game we were finally ready to begin. This is how football matches go here. (Sorry, every bit of our lingo has switched, so yes its football and pitch and kilometer etc.) Everyone from both schools come as well as any passer by's who stop. Both sides of the field are littered with people and the girls from each team stand behind the keeper of the opposing team screaming, yelling, singing and trying to distract them. Then when a goal is scored (my team scored first after 5 minutes of playing) the entire school and team rushes the field to congratulate the players. After a few minutes play resumes again. Then my team scored again and as the time before, everyone rushes the field and both Kami and I look at each across the field like "what the heck?" The second half changed things. We were winning 2-0 and so the other team allowed 3 players from clubs around Kampala to put on a jersey and play for them. None of them went to the school and have been playing high-level football for a long time and they quickly scored two goals. My team went nuts. All of them starting yelling at the other coach and the ref came over to explain to me my team said they wouldn't play anymore because the other team was cheating. I came out on the field to see what was happening and suddenly both the teams were yelling at each other. Then both sides rushed the field so I was in the middle of 300-400 Ugandan high schoolers, coaches and villagers screaming at each other in Lugandan. There was nothing I could do but start laughing. What else can you do when that happens. I decided I would just start walking back to my side until things starting cooling down. I just wanted to leave. But, since we came, Kami and I both made an agreement that we wouldn't give up on things here no matter how tough they got. So I went back and just starting pulling my players back to my side one by one. I was yelling for about 10 minutes at my players and for the rest of the people to leave the pitch. I had to actually hold my hand over several of my players mouths until they were all quiet. I told them I knew the other team was cheating, and that was on their own conscience but I told them they were a better team and they could still beat them, whether they had new players or not. This got them pretty fired up and after several more minutes of clearing the field play resumed. And...we tied 2-0. But after, the ref asked us if we wanted to go to PK's to see who was the real winner. I talked to the other coach and told him, although it was only a friendly match, after everything that happened we should let the kids finish it...and that he should have only the players from his school kick. They were agreeing until this point, and then the other team all just walked away. I'm still not sure what really happened that day, but I was really proud with the way my team played.
2. Kami's daily lessons and experiences at the Primary school still continue to be pretty priceless. Everyday, even after months, the same smaller children run in and yell at the top of their lungs: "Muzungu!" and grab her legs and lift their own off the ground. She has to stop her lessons, waddle over to the door with kids on both legs and push them out of the classroom. She is also teaching in a class with such a shortage of pencils that half of the time is spent trying to sort out fights between students stealing each other's pencils.
3. Yesterday I went to school and found everyone still outside, even though I was a few minutes late. (I always show up late now because the first few weeks I was on time every day and had to wait over 10-15 minutes for students to enter my class. Since school is 9 hours every day, classes start at more of a general time than any specific one.) Anyways, on this particular day, everyone was looking at something and after squeezing through the crowd I saw there was a 16-17 year old standing facing a tree with his head down like he was in trouble in the corner. I asked the headmaster what was up, and he told me that the boy had been walking across the school grounds and he suspected him of wanting to talk to one of the girls...so he tied him to a tree! I'm not joking. Then for 20 minutes all the rest of the kids sat around sort of chuckling at this kid. (We are still in the middle ages here.) Punishment is public disgrace and beating with sticks. We just sort of try and figure it all out as we go along. And no, neither of us have adapted to punishing our students in this way.
Life continues everyday at the home. We are on as much a daily schedule as any other part of the world in the week. Chores in the morning, school, play, homework, fetching water, dinner, reading, fnishing more homework, reading lessons, prayers and singing and then lights out. But each day still brings with its own crazy events. The weather has been beautiful, although we have officially entered the rainy season and it has rained every day this week. But the rain is only periodically through the days and the rest of the time, its beautiful and sunny.
We're healthy, the kids are healthy, Sam is healthy.
Everyone is excited for Easter Sunday. The kids are having their first ever Easter egg hunt and everyone is excited to do a Jesus re-enactment play they do every year. Kami and I are are pretty excited to see what how these kids reenact the event. Either way its bound to be a good day because all the kids get meat, potatoes and several other types of food that only happen occasionally here.
We will let you know how it goes.

Month 2

2008-03-10T07:57:00.000-07:00

We have become good friends with 3 Americans who live less than a kilometer down the road, working on building a school. After long weeks, we go into the city with them on Fridays and talk normally again. It’s so nice to have the outlet. As soon as we started going out on Fridays, we began meeting different people every week. And normally, since white people are in Africa for some pretty cool reasons, we have had some incredible conversations with people from all over the world. It’s brought a sort of normality to life, and suddenly Africa has not only become a place we are enjoying because of our work and the children, but also because of the times and conversations we’re sharing with people who are like-minded from completely different countries. Its been really inspiring.

The thunder storms here are out of this world. We’ve never seen anything like it. A few nights ago it started raining at 4 AM and became this massive, ear piercing storm. The thunder was so loud outside our house it sounded like something was smashing against the wall. It was so loud and repetitive that both Kami and I got up thinking our metal door was not locked and was opening and slamming shut. But it was just the thunder. The wind was so fierce it knocked down several trees around the home. With all of this on a tin roof, and lightning continually coming through the window as bright as someone turning on a light, Kami and I lay in our beds for a long time without sleep just listening to the storm and yelling back and forth to see if the other could hear a yell over the storm.

We’re clearing land and starting a garden this week for the home. We’ve met some good friends who know how to garden better than Kami and I are at speaking English. Once we clear the land, they are going to teach the kids and us how to plant and keep the garden going. In a few months, our hope is that the kids will have vegetables apart of every meal from a garden they cultivate.

Month 2

2008-03-10T07:55:00.003-07:00

This week will make 2 months since we left the states. And we have definitely settled in. At first we needed a driver to take us everywhere, but now as confusing as any capital city can be with no street signs and about 4 lights, we can easily manage our way around it driving by ourselves. At first we had to ask people we could trust to tell us prices so we wouldn’t get ripped off, but now we are well versed in all forms of buying in Kampala. The general rule of thumb is that there is no set price, so whatever you think is far in your head, you offer 2,000 shillings less. By the time you’ve agreed, you pay the price you wanted, and they feel happy they got 2,000 more out of you. We have found some great places to eat if we ever need to have a meal other than potatoes, rice, beans and cabbage and have finally gotten plugged back in…meaning we bought a cell phone here. We fought it for awhile, but they really are a must with how many contacts we’ve been making here in Africa. To buy a new phone was 40,000shillings which is $25.00 USD. Then each month you put on however many minutes you need. We put $6.00 on to start and it will probably last us 2 or 3 weeks. ($12 a month is definitely a little less than Kami and I were paying for our cell phone bills at home, especially since we share the phone.)
We have become good friends with 3 Americans who live less than a kilometer down the road, working on building a school. After long weeks, we go into the city with them on Fridays and talk normally again. It’s so nice to have the outlet. As soon as we started going out on Fridays, we began meeting different people every week. And normally, since white people are in Africa for some pretty cool reasons, we have had some incredible conversations with people from all over the world. It’s brought a sort of normality to life, and suddenly Africa has not only become a place we are enjoying because of our work and the children, but also because of the times and conversations we’re sharing with people who are like-minded from completely different countries. Its been really inspiring.
The thunder storms here are out of this world. We’ve never seen anything like it. A few nights ago it started raining at 4 AM and became this massive, ear piercing storm. The thunder was so loud outside our house it sounded like something was smashing against the wall. It was so loud and repetitive that both Kami and I got up thinking our metal door was not locked and was opening and slamming shut. But it was just the thunder. The wind was so fierce it knocked down several trees around the home. With all of this on a tin roof, and lightning continually coming through the window as bright as someone turning on a light, Kami and I lay in our beds for a long time without sleep just listening to the storm and yelling back and forth to see if the other could hear a yell over the storm.
We’re clearing land and starting a garden this week for the home. We’ve met some good friends who know how to garden better than Kami and I are at speaking English. Once we clear the land, they are going to teach the kids and us how to plant and keep the garden going. In a few months, our hope is that the kids will have vegetables apart of every meal from a garden they cultivate.

Month 2

2008-03-10T07:55:00.001-07:00

Month 2

2008-03-10T07:53:00.000-07:00

Month 2

2008-03-10T07:50:00.000-07:00

2008-02-29T04:34:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone. Life keeps moving on. The kids are loving their new clothes and shoes. Such a blessing! One of the best parts about being here for Kami and I is just to be on the viewing end of all the support and love people from other countries are showing for these kids. And especially to see the support from our families and friends has been made this such an affirming time in our lives. So Thank-you. Everyday we are here teaching gets easier. Our students understand us better, and we get to know them more. (They are finally getting my jokes.) Let's just say American and Ugandan cultures are as different as the accent we speak the language in.
This weekend we took trip to Kunungu in Southern Uganda. The beauty was unreal. At 6:30 AM, on one of the mornings, Kami and I climbed to the top of a mountain and watched the sunrise over the sweeping green hills covered in tea leaf fields and banana palm trees. I don't really have words to describe it, so I'll just say it was pretty sweet. We drove to the edge of the Impenetrable Forest where all the mountain gorillas live. Unfortunately, we didn't see any. (All the moms back home just breathed a sigh of relief) but we did get as close as we could. We didn't know you have to pay money because its a national park and so when they started crossing the path we were on, the person with us said we had to turn around. Man, I was bummed. We did see some pretty cool monkeys though. The kids are all healthy and happy. Every night they thank God for the sponsors in their prayers so know you are being prayed for. Thanks for all the prayers on the other end. We love you, and miss you.

2008-02-29T04:05:00.000-08:00

Sickness, Recovery and Sticks

2008-02-22T01:18:00.000-08:00

Hello Everyone. It's another beautiful day in this place of perpetual summer. Everyday the high is 75 and low is 55. Not a bad way to spend your days after 4 years in Portland rain, and then 5 months in the Alaskan Rain forest. (At least for me...Kami saw more sun.)
There has been a pretty big gap since the last time we wrote, but its been for good reason. A few weeks ago I was playing football with some of the kids and fell into some bushes. I developed a rash on my chest that over a few days spread to my arms, then my legs, then my feet, my hands, my back and my neck. It was like having Chicken Pox again. I started getting really weak and then couldn't go to teach anymore. At night I had really high fevers. After a few days we went to a clinic where Sam knows the doctor from family friends. Unfortunately, in Africa, clinics like the one I went to diagnose people so they can make money and stay in business. So, after checking my blood and urine, they told me I had both Typhoid fever and Malaria. (I couldn't believe and was a bit rude, demanding to see the sheet the nurse was reading off of and telling here I didn't think she was telling me the truth.) Eventually I conceded though and spent the rest of the day, the night and much of the following day in the hospital with a malaria drip and Typhoid fever injections every 6 hours. After a day of thought though, I realized something. Typhoid fever can only come through drinking the water here. Kami and I only drink bottled water, and I did not have any of the symptoms of Typhoid fever. So, I pulled the IV out, picked up my stuff and walked out. A few days went by and although I started feeling better, I still fluctuated a lot, felt weak at night, and the rash wasn't leaving. So, we did what we should have done the first time and will always do if something turns up in the future. We went to the best Hospital in the city: the International Hospital of Kampala, and the doctor (who was very helpful and explained about the way clinics do business here) told me it was a common happening when foreigners come in contact with plant life here in the Bush. An allergic reaction takes place, the blood of the body is drawn to the surface and away from the muscles, and as a side effect, the body feels weak and has a temperature when fighting off the reaction. He diagnosed some medicine that has cured the reaction, and I am back to full strength and teaching again. Valuable lesson learned about the health system in Uganda. Kami and I continue to work everyday at the schools. And, big news for everyone at home, the teachers in primary school use a stick! They are required to and its the normal procedure that children react to in learning here. So, despite the disbelief, Kami now uses a stick while teaching math. And its quite affective! I don't have to do anything of the kind with the High schoolers and am really enjoying getting closer to my students. I was welcomed back very warmly by all of the school after being sick.
We're headed to Kunungu this weekend to visit the other school and Sam's home village.
Also, supplies, shoes and clothes have arrived for the children, brought over from out visitors form Oregon! Thank-you for everyone who have helped...especially you Mom!
We love you all. We're on a proper adventure here.

Pictures Below!

2008-02-22T01:14:00.000-08:00

Sorry it's taken so long to get some of these up guys. The below pictures are some of the kids at play, the house we live in that the Acosta Family donated money to be built, the Jungle scenery off the path that I walk to school on, a pic of how we prep for school each night by lamplight, and just Kami and I here.

2008-02-22T00:18:00.000-08:00

Albums!

2008-02-19T02:34:00.001-08:00

We have created an album and more pictures are to come.
http://picasaweb.google.com/dorcaschildrenshome/Africa
Check it out and we love you.

Donating Shoes or Clothes!

2008-02-11T05:09:00.000-08:00

With shipping costs and theft on the Black market Kami and I have been praying for a way for those of you who want to help in donating shoes or clothes to these kids can make it happen. And we have found a solution! A couple is coming from Oregon on the 22nd of this month. They can bring a couple extra trunks with them. So if you have shoes to donate, or clothes, please send them to

King Medical Supply
431 W 13th Avenue
Suite 4
Eugene, OR 97401

as soon as you can. Then the couple will bring them on their flight over here, and we will be on the other end when they arrive. Thanks to all of you who have expressed interest to help. These kids are certainly worth it.

Growing Up Fast

2008-02-11T04:48:00.000-08:00

Before beginning, let me say that while I was waiting for the 2 minute page upload, I glanced over what I wrote last week. For someone who is currently teaching English, there were definitely a few spelling and word errors that leave me quite embarrassed, all I can say is its quite a task on the internet here. Whenever Kami and I make it to town, we have about 1 hour to email everyone we need to and its like a race against the clock blinking down in front of us. So we just write like the wind and hope its readable.
Normally in life, a marriage and some time happens before you begin raising a full family and working a full time job. Kami and I have laughed a lot this week because without having any idea, this is basically what we got ourselves into here. Sam, the home's founder is 65 now, and has Diabetes and so is restricted in his abilities. We have developed a really good friendship over the last month, and as his trust in us has grown, he has started allocating a lot of the responsibilities of the home into our hands. Actually, the truth is that Kami and I can't stand not working so we both basically jumped in with both feet and now basically raise a family of 21 kids. We wake up early, eat, have a short Bible study with Sam, make sure all the boys have eaten and off to school on time, teach until the afternoon, then come home and make sure they have done their chores. Then there is time to play for a couple of hours before they come in at 6 to start homework. Every night we go over homework with each of them, and then they work on our assignments. Each of the age groups have different assignments everyday that teach them to read and write English better, and for each day they finish all their work, they get a sticker. After they receive 10 stickers they get a prize! After homework its time to light all the lamps, the boys wash (we tell them, "okunaaba!" -"go wash-yourself," check if its done because younger boys never want to wash, and then eat dinner. (This is basically Kami's and my one opportunity for quiet in the day.) After dinner we all meet in the sitting room where we sing and dance, play drums and then say a prayer. We wrestle or play with the kids for a few minutes, get them into bed, hug each one and tell them "Suula Balungi" -"good night" and over the last week we have also telling each one "kagala nnyo" -"i love you." There is no doubt about it, we have fallen in love with these kids. You just can't spend everyday with them, playing, teaching, laying with them when they are sick, planning activities like treasure hunts for them on the weekends, sharing prayers and singing every night and walking home from school to see them all running towards you after a long day, and not fall in love. We are so blessed here. Neither Kami or I knew quite how much these kids would affect us or they way in which they would become our family but it has definitely happened and we are thankful. We miss you guys. Thank-you for your prayers and your support. Chris and Kami

Back to School

2008-02-05T06:23:00.000-08:00

Its sounds so strange even to us to say we are now back in school when it is the beginning of Feb. but.. we really are back in school. The first day for both of us was like the beginning of any inspirational movie in which the first day for the character is the worst experience ever. Kami and I both came home for lunch on the first day and each of us was wearing this awkward smile like "was your day as nuts as mine so far?" Let's just put it this way. In Africa, things like schedules, specific room assignments and teacher coordination aren't really priorities right away. There theory is to leave all the prep work until school actually starts and sort out as the first week goes along. I guess this is very normal. Kami showed up to the primary school, excited and ready to go only to find that half the teachers weren't there yet, parents send their kids from the villages around the time school starts, not necessarily the first day (I mean why rush it, right?) and there were no benches in the classrooms. So, she spent the first 2 hours moving desks and benches from a school near by. The headmistress had not finished the schedule yet and kept changing her mind on where she wanted Kami, and even when she did get her in the right class, kids from all other grades just start walking in and out to see her white skin. Its not easy to teach when your kids are walking in and out, and you know very limited Lugandan. Luckily she knew, "Bambi Tuula" which means "please sit down." She came home very exhausted.
I left to school with high hopes. I had prepped all weekend to teach History and honestly have been thinking about the first history class I would teach since before I entered college. The walk is beautiful, along burnt red dirt roads, and through palm tree covered paths. Its about a mile to the school and to walk it in the early morning makes you feel alive. (the temp is usually around 65 degrees as I walk in the morning.) I got to the school to find a very similar situation. The schedule was not made yet (I mean why work before you have to, right?) There was an opening assembly where they introduced the teachers (there is really 11 but only 2 beside myself made it: traveling from the city is not always easy.)
I then found out that History would not start until next week. During this time I was looking around for the teacher I was supposed to be co-teaching English with. For the first week, because he had all the books, I was going to sit in class and get a feel for Ugandan curriculum. He never made it to school though. You are in Senior 3 for the first class they told me. Have fun. If you have never stood outside of a high school classroom before with absolutely nothing prepared, two pieces of chalk in your hand, a full classroom and a language barrier, let me tell you, you need to try it sometime. It's a strange feeling. I made it somehow though. Luckily, taking Greek in College drilled the definition of verbs, nouns, direct objects and all the other basic parts of speech into my head and I just winged it. I have to talk so different here. I pronounce all my letters like they do even when I speak English so I don't recognize my own voice when I am teaching. I left the school 6 hours later with my head buzzing. I walked slowly all the way home. The kids were nice, but being in the presence of a white person, (some for the first time since they come from small villages hundereds of miles away) they were very quiet and very unresponsive. Girls are so submissive here they don't talk barely above a whisper to me in class.
I thought soccer practice would be redeeming though. It went worse than school, if that's even possible. None of the kids have had a coach before. The only soccer they know is what they have seen in snipits on TV. The only thing they all know for sure is that they are supposed to be obsessed with it. (You can't be a Ugandan and not love football, so even when people don't, they won't admit it.) They were all over an hour late, and then came out onto the field at different times. It took me over 10 min for everyone to actually gather together and be ready. I asked the kids, do you want to just play, or do you want to learn some skills and get better? They said they wanted to learn. I asked them if they wanted to win, because that would talk a lot of hard work. They said they were ready. 20 mins into the first drill they all started asking, "coach, coach, why can't we just play?" I didn't even have the energy left to refute them. They have so far to go, most of them aren't sure even about positions. But, we're going to make it work.
I came back from my first day more exhausted than all of the days we have been here.
I need to wrap this up, so let me close in saying that the second day was much better. Everything is lost in translation here so the first encounters with everything is rough at first. Classes went well today (still no English teacher but this time I was prepared.)
We had two visitors from Oregon last night. They were a couple who is going to help with some water holes in the villages in North Uganda and crashed at the home for a night. They were like angels. We have not had any contact with Americans since we got here. (You can't believe how much it means, even after 21 days out. Just to talk normally again, and to laugh about things we all got was so great. We had a great dinner at the home, went and sang and prayed with the kids outside, sent them to bed and then walked down to a small place we could sit on the deck and talk. We talked until 1 AM until they asked us to leave. We heard that Health Ledger died from them, and I feel a little embarrassed at how much it took us back. I mean there has been some serious years of movies we have shared with him. We're ok though.)
We love you all. We are going to post more pics soon. It just goes so slow here on the internet. You have to set aside a couple of hours to upload photos. We're safe, we're happy and we fall asleep every night so satisfied with the work we did in the day. It's an amazing feeling.

Backbends!

2008-01-31T05:30:00.000-08:00

Sam with some boys...Ooo so cute!

2008-01-31T05:23:00.000-08:00

and again

2008-01-31T05:15:00.001-08:00

Boys will be boys

2008-01-31T04:58:00.000-08:00

Ahhh and now...

2008-01-31T04:36:00.000-08:00

Two full weeks and one day in. Life is about to pick up quick. Monday we met with the primary school and discovered that Kami, me, is soon to be a not-so-renowned math and english teacher. Today, Chris met with the secondary school and will soon be teaching East African History, European History and English. He just ran out of the internet cafe to get back to the village for futbol practice that he is coaching. Our days of waking up slowly, yoga, studying, and playing with the kids all day are quickly disappearing. The holiday is over this coming Monday. Ugh. No pressure huh! Ha ha. Chris is very excited as my feelings are a little more like anxiety. But soon it will be great and you know I will be bursting at the seams.
Sam returned from Kanungu yesterday and we were so happy to see him! He left on Friday to go visit the girl's home, visit his wife, Dorcas, and see to the work being done there. Studying of Lugandan is coming along...let us just say it is coming along. We'll leave it at that. :)
We are getting closer and closer to each of the boys as the days go by. Every one of them are a giant little booger full of joy and life. They are willing to pour their love out to us with no reserves.
Today we jointly decided to bring in another boy by the name of Mowingo. He is such a bright kid that has been nothing but helpful since the first day we met him. Mowingo just lost both of his parents in the past year and has been going without food and being beaten by the girls he lives with. It didn't take very much thought to invite him to come to the home.
Chris and I are loving it here. Today we had pizza for the first time since leaving. I know I know, it has only been a couple weeks, but after eating potatoes, cabbage, beans, pinnapple, potatoes, potatoes, and rice for every meal everyday, our American diets need a bit of a spice up, if you will. Anyhoo, it was amazing. So glad you got to hear about it! :)
Thank you all for your constant prayers and support. We feel at home and very loved knowing your prayers are with us.
Love to you

If you would like to help...

2008-01-25T00:45:00.001-08:00

If you have any clothes or shoes (new or used) you would like to donate, the kids would love them. Most of them have only 1 or 2 changes of clothing, so they wear the same things everyday. They don't mind because they have never known different, but anything you might send would be greatly appreciated. They play football all day, but only one boy as shoes to run in, the rest just tough out and never complain, but after any good games, its very common for them to come back with cuts, bruises, or bent toe nails.
The oldest boy is 18 and the youngest is 6. None of them are very big so anything in that range (large being the biggest) would be great. Shoe sizes anywhere from size 4 for the smallest to 11 for the oldest would be great. They are not picky though.
Send any donations to:
Dorcas Children's Home
PO Box 7161
Kampala, Uganda
Africa

Settling In

2008-01-21T00:35:00.000-08:00

So much has happened in the past 5 days so I'm going to try and keep this succint. We love it here. The weather is always beautiful. It is either beautiful and sunny, or beautiful and raining. But if it does rain it lasts for only a few minutes, then drys back up and everything just looks better. The scenery is often too much to take in. Green, palm tree covered hills as far as you can see, red clay ground, and clouds that stack up like mountains in the sky. We've really never seen anything like it. Leaving Portland, the thing we thought we would miss most in the scenery were the giant mountian peaks, but here the clouds stack up so high, it looks like you are surrounded by mountains. School does not start until the 7th of Feb so over the last few days our time has been spent settling in, getting to know the kids and learning the culture. Its very different. All of the smaller children do not know much English and so both Kami and I are studying like crazy everyday to learn Lugandan. Its a really challenging language (esp in pronounciation) but its fun trying to learn and the kids love to help (and laugh at us when we get it wrong.)
Right now our life includes: Waking up at 6-6:30. Gronola bar, then we run about 4 miles through several villages. Everyone stops and points, little kids shout Mizungu! over and over. Come back, walk to the water hole, pump water, bring it back, wash body using a basin. Eat a pinneapple for breakfast. Study for awhile, see how the kids are doing. Help around the the home till lunch. Eat lunch around 1 (the food is amazing: beans, rice, bannas, potatos (called Irish), cabbage, chipati (basically like tortillas only way better tasting) and jak fruit (really sticky, really sweet.) Study vocab, help around the home. Play with the kids. Teach them songs, help study english.) At dusk every night I play futbol on a clay pitch beside the home until dark. Its my favorite time of day. When the sun sets with these clouds, the sky has a hundred layers each with a different color. If it has not rained the ground is very dry, almost like rock and none of kids have shoes. But they play anyway. At this time, Kami, if she is not playing, sits with the smaller kids laughing and playing. They crawl all over her fascited with her skin and her hair. The call her Beronzi (not spelled right) which means beautiful in Lugandan. Eat dinner around 7:30 or 8. Only time in the day Kami and I are alone, so we talk about the day and laugh and the cultural differences or stories from the kids. At 9 every night we all join together in a big room, sing songs, play drums and pray. No matter how old each of the kids are (even 6 years old) they all have perfect rythym and every night different kids play the drums. The singing is beautiful. See goodnight, kids go to sleep. Wash face, write in journal or study more words. Sleep by 10-10:30. Night is filled with more noises than I have ever heard before. Wild dogs fight outside our windown, cows walk by, birds, bats, hundreds of different sounding insects, heat bugs, periodic rain that sounds like thunder on the tin roof (it rains harder here than anywher I have ever been before), and several other sounds I have not identified yet. Haven't slept all the way through an entire night yet. Get plenty of rest though.
We're happy, getting darker, getting smarter, exhausted in the best way every night and totally content here. Tons of adjustments that make life interesting. We love you all.

We're in Africa!

2008-01-17T00:15:00.000-08:00

Kami and I made it into Kampala, Uganda Wednesday morning. (Tuesday evening for everyone in the states.) Its basically like walking around in a dream. We both keep looking at each other wondering if it is real.
The trip was pretty eventful. Kami had something bad to eat for lunch before we left and as we began taxiing out she starting throwing up. This continued periodically through out the night. Probably about 14 times in all. Lets just say all of the flight attendants knew us really well. (Sub thought: British people are really nice, and they use great words like cheers even when someone is sick.) Don't worry moms, she is fine and smiling. They gave her a first class sleeping seat and she slept the rest of the morning away. We found a place to sleep in the London airport and both slept for 5 hrs until we boarded our plane that evening. Since we slept all afternoon, I couldn't sleep the entire flight, but it paid off because at 5 AM I opened my window shade and saw the outline of the sunrise begining. There was no clouds and no obstructions as far as I could see and for the next hour I watched the sun rise over Africa. It was unreal! The sun really does look burnt red when it rises here. As it starting unrolling over the land, I saw the Nile river below us, and just like the light, it was so expanisive I couldn't see where it ended. We landed at 8:40 in the morning and drove through Entebbe, the outskirts of Kampals, then the city itself and finally through the last road toward the home.
When we got to the road leading to the home, we got out of the car to find all the of children and the kids from the surrounding village there to meet us with drums and other instruments. 3 or 4 kids, probably around 6-8 years old grabbed Kami and my hands and like a marching band, we walked up the hill to the home. Pretty dang cool welcome.
We're in an interet cafe and I don't have many minutes so I have to wrap this up, but we're both healthy and so excited to get to work. We've settled in, Kami and I have our own house that more workers will come to join as the summer comes around. Its freshly built and pretty comfortable.
Last night since the eveving was 3 in the afternoon in Portland, Kami and I both couldn't sleep so we sat up all night eating licorice we brought with us and reading a really good book back and forth.
We're definitely going to sleep tonight! The kids are great. The surrounding village is warm and welcoming and we're set to get to get to start teaching and helping in the clinic. When we found some more time, we will upload pics and maybe some video.
We love you guys. We're so thankful for the support from all of you. Peace.

The Orange Book Show

2008-01-09T23:32:00.000-08:00

The Orange Book Show

2008-01-09T23:20:00.001-08:00

Our last fund-raiser for the home went well. It was so good to be in a room full of friends and faces we haven't seen in awhile. Thank-you to everyone who came. For those of you who couldn't be there, here is a little bit of what you missed.

2007-12-11T14:29:00.000-08:00

Our first local fundraiser was a blast! On Dec 5th, the pub and conert section of Mississippi Pizza was filled almost to compacity. The Dustbowl Refugees opened the nigt and Ellen & Felons finished things off with a killer performance. (It is safe to say that every guy in the room was secretly in love with the two lead singers for Ellen & the Felons.)
The best part of the night though was the money raised for Dorcas Children's Home.

Just over $1,000 was raised in two hours from the $5 door charge, silent auction, raffles and child sponsorships!

Every bit of this money is directly going to provide for the children at the home in the next months.

We would like to thank Mississippi Pizza for the venue and The Dustbowl Refugees and Ellen & the Felons for donating their time to this cause. Check them out on Myspace if you get the chance.

And a great thank-you to everyone who came and helped support the home! We will keep you updated on the way your money is being used in the lives of these children.

How To Get Involved:

2007-12-05T13:25:00.000-08:00

Child Sponsorship

The home's main purpose is to get kids off the street. As a result of military unrest, genocide and the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the number of orphans has grown to 2 million in this small country alone.
We are fighting to change that...

It takes .67 a day to provide all necessities for a child.

That is 20.00 a month.

With every donation, we can take another child from the slums of the city and began caring for him/her in the home.

If you would like to be apart of this work, simply...

Contact Chris West or Kami Coy.
christopherandrewwest@gmail.com kamicoy@gmail.com

Monthly checks will be sent to:

Dorcas Childrens Home
P.O. Box 762
Dallas, OR 97338

These then will be transferred to Dorcas Children's Home branch in Entebbe, Uganda.

All donations are tax deductible and guaranteed to go to child care.

The Home

2007-12-03T17:04:00.001-08:00