The Dairy & Poultry Project

Hey Everyone!

So finally, after a month of planning and preparations, we are ready to begin a Dairy & Poultry project that will help support Lesperance Orphanage.  The thing is, this project will only be successful with the help from people like you.  Now, you might be wondering:  How is building a Dairy and Poultry going to help the 100 orphans at Lesperance?  I’d like to briefly explain a little bit about the situation they are currently in. 

Right now, Lesperance relies on monthly donations that come from Germany, but each year those monthly donations get smaller and smaller.  Currently, the orphanage receives 2,000,000 shillings each month which is roughly $1,000, and this goes towards everything from food, utility, and salary expenses.  Amazingly, Wilbroad, the orphanage director, has managed to keep everything running smoothly on this extremely tight budget for the last nine years.  However, Wilbroad is concerned that in the next couple of years, the donations they receive just won’t be enough to cover the expenses, or even worse, they could stop coming in altogether.  This is when he decided that a project needed to be started that could generate a steady income for the orphanage to operate on and help invest into further development of the organization. 

Wilbroad’s vision is to build a dairy and poultry house, along with a small staff house and store on a 4 acre piece of land that he just recently purchased in the country outside of Kampala.  I have gotten the chance to sit down with him and make an extensive overall plan for this project and we are now to the point where we can start breaking ground this week!  Megan, Krystin and I were able to help donate funds to get the ball rolling with the groundbreaking work, but after this week, the work can only continue as fast as the resources are available to us.  This is where we are asking for your help.

We have realized the importance of using the valuable resources available while we are here, so we don’t want to waste any time getting started on our fundraising campaign.  The three of us are dedicated 100% to see that the necessary funds are raised to get this project up and running and we have set a goal that we would like to reach before we leave in 2 months… $20,000!  Yes, we realize this goal seems WAY OUT THERE, but I have personally seen a goal like this reached before, plus some! (walkathons, merch sales, offering collections, etc… for Invisible Children). 

Now, I can see why helping raise money to help build a house for some cows and chickens might not seem like the most exciting and appealing project to support, but you have to look at how it will affect the lives of the children in the orphanage.  With the future of Lesperance Orphanage up in the air, it is necessary that they begin supporting themselves so that the children can receive the best care possible, whether that is adequate food or access to better schools.  With this Dairy & Poultry project in effect, these things can happen!  Also, it will allow for Lesperance to expand with other projects and programs that will reach out to more children in the community.

Our plan for raising this money is to get 4 schools or church groups to set a goal of raising $5,000 each, while still focusing on finding individuals that are interested in making one time donations.  The idea is to make it as exciting and personal for the students that are raising the money by providing weekly updates, photos, and videos of the work that is being done.  For example, if enough money is raised to build one of the structures, by the end of the week, they will actually be able to see photos and video footage of the finished product of what they helped build.  It is always exciting to see quick results of what you helped accomplish!  The thing is, we can only work as fast as the money is raised, so when no money is coming in, we are at a standstill and have nothing we can do.  As soon as money is raised and in our account, it can be spent on the next phase of the project.

The overall amount needed to complete this Dairy & Poultry project is about $25,000, but if we can reach our goal of $20,000 in 2 months, it will allow them to finish the necessary projects so that they can begin generating some profits.  If you are interested in the extensive plan and expectations for this project, we are finishing a grant proposal and financial plan that we can make available to you.

Thank you all for your continual support and interest in the work that we are doing and we would love to hear any ideas or comments that you may have.  Regardless of what each of you have to give, we believe that a bunch of littles can and add up to something BIG that will make a difference!

Thank you all, and keep checking back regularly for more updates!

Travis

Zuuuumah!

So you know how we posted that blog telling about our friend Zumah a few days ago? Well, not 30 minutes later, Travis' mom called to say that someone already wanted to front the money. Thank you Thomas Pyke. =) The next day, Zumah got a call from a hotel. They asked him to come in for an interview. He did and they offered him a job as long as he had his papers in 2 weeks. We pulled the money out today and hopefully, Zumah will be a happily employed man by the end of the week.

We are so excited for both Henry and Zumah as they head out into the world to follow their dreams - dreams that all of you made possible. We are sad to see them go but we know that God is working in their lives and that they will both do great things.

We have decided that we don't even deserve friends like the two of them. Just the other day, we were out of water. They hadn't filled our water tank in days so we had been showering at the director's house. While we were out, Zumah filled the ENTIRE tank by filling jerrycans up one by one and hoisting them up to our tank on a string. We came home and scolded him for going to all that trouble for us. He said, "I didn't want you and Krystin to have to walk all the way up to the director's house to shower again." (Its only like a 2 min walk.)

We decided that we would make the guys facebook pages. The main reason was so that by the time we left, they would know how to use it and we could stay in contact. The other reason was so that you guys would have the opportunity to get to know these guys. Many of you have become their friends and let me tell you, they LOVE it.

Zumah and my friend Julenne started messaging back and forth. Julenne has cancer. Well actually, she HAD cancer. She has just finished her chemo treatments and is now waiting for the final scans to tell her she's set to jet. Zumah heard that many of Julenne's friends were shaving their heads so that they could all grow their hair back with her. Zumah immediately decided to join in. Here is the footatge:








Zumah immediately broke into song, following his great and noble deed.

Death, Divorce, a Wizard and a Eunuch

Death here is like divorce in America - it's so common that there is hardly any mercy or pity for those left behind. I haven't decided if that is a good thing or a bad thing. On one hand, people don't sulk here. They just keep living. On the other hand, I can't help but wonder what kind secrets lie just beneath the surface in all of the children. I have come to realize that everyone has a story. That sounds ridiculous - of course everyone has a story. But here, I guess I am sometimes afraid to hear it. I think that if I hear of their heartbreak, little pieces of my heart might start chipping away as well. That might be ok though. I already know that part of my heart will always be here.

It amazes me how resilient the children are. I'm in awe of their constant willingness to serve me, while I am from privilege and they are so poor. Then again, they might just be far richer than I will ever know. They know the "secret". They have that relentless contentment that Paul talks about in Phillipians 4. I'm kinda jealous...of an orphan. I digress.

We went to One Love Beach the other day: Krystin, Zumah, Violet and I (Travis was on a trip with Wilbroad, the director). The beach is owned by this famous singer and it is surprisingly...nice. That sounds awful but seriously, it has sand, these little huts for shade, food, a bar, a stage for bands to play at night, gardens, a pier and even a cute little pony that keeps the grass short for them. I guess it just opened in December.

Anyway, when we got there it was deserted, due to the fact that it was the middle of the work week. The only people around were the guys that worked there. After we ordered sodas from the bar, the guys came over to chat with us. They were really fun. One started rolling weed into a 1000 shilling bill and I gave him a hard time for smoking mare-jah-wana (as they say it) in his cash. He asked if I wanted any and I told him "No, I don't smoke. Plus, its illegal in America." He said it was illegal in Uganda too...except at One Love Beach. I laughed and switched the conversation over to asking him where he got his dreads done. Travis had been wanting some but Milly didn't want him to have them. She said Joseph Kony and rasta men always have dreads. We knew of Kony (head of the LRA, hence the organization Invisible Children, Inc.) but we didn't know the term "rasta". She explained it to us. Basically, it is the equivalent to the American hippy except a bit more hostile. We told Milly that all men who have dreads weren't necessarily rasta men. Go figure. I was just asking a rasta man to do Trav's dreads. He said he would when we came back the next week.

We came home and told Trav about the dreads and he got all excited. The 3 of us talked and I think maybe one of the times we go back (oh, and there will be many), we will bring my guitar and start up a little vespers. You never know.... We've been doing that a lot lately, thinking of ways to interact with "outsiders". Sometimes it is so easy to just stay in L'esperance and forget about the huge community right outside our front gates.

Just the other day, Zumah told us that Aisha and her friend wanted to come over to our house again sometime. (They were the two girls heading to see the witch that ended up rock climbing with us a few Sabbaths ago.) Zumah giggled and said, "I want for them to come so maybe we can sneak Jesus into the conversation." I laughed and told him I had been thinking the same thing.

We have been working on the little pavilion in front of our house. We are making a fire pit and some benches. We keep clearing the area out and figuring out better ways to burn our trash. Travis is building a cob oven so we can bake break and make pizza. We want it to become a place where we can invite people over for songs around the fire or a good meal. We are starting to see opportunities in places we didn't see them before. Reading Acts has changed all of us I think. Who would have thought we would be scheming about how to interact more with rasta men and muslim girls headed to see a witch? I know I didn't.

I was reading this story in Acts 8 the other day in The Message Bible. It was talking about Phillip and how he cast a demon out of Simon the Wizard. After that, Simon didn't leave Phillip's side for days. Then it went on to talk about how Phillip hopped in that Ethiopian eunuch's chariot because the Holy Spirit told him to. He ended up telling the eunuch about Jesus. The guy pulled off at the next river and was baptized. It made me wonder: At what point did we drop the ball? How come Christianity has become so religious and stories like "the wizard" and "the eunuch" have become a thing of the past? Then it hit me. There ARE stories out there just waiting to happen. All I have to do it make my faith bigger somehow. Actually, I don't have to do anything. I just have to open my eyes to what's right in front of me, and let God do the rest.

Zumah

This is Zumah. I'm not sure how it actually happened but somehow Zumah became our resident cook, bed maker and all around good friend. Often, the 3 of us wake up to Zumah knocking on each of our doors telling us good morning and that he will have breakfast for us soon. We all moan and roll over. Sure enough, we all amble into the kitchen (aka walk 5 feet) 30 mins later and breakfast is served. 

It sounds as if we take advantage of Zumah's kind spirit but the truth is that he loves it. Zumah went to a vocational school that basically trained him to work at expensive hotels. He knows how to make beds in over 5 fancy arrangements, he is a professional in culinary art, and he is more than willing to do the dirty work that the 3 of us put off. 

For example, all of our water us pumped from Lake Victoria a couple times a week. It goes into a big tank above our shower and we use that water to bath, clean, flush the toilet and wash our dishes. Sometimes the water from the lake is disgusting. Add to that the black tank it sits in.....in the hot African sun and you get really disgusting smelling water. I took a shower before church one day and I'm almost positive it smelled like straight up poop during the entire divine service. Due to the height and supposedly inaccessible location of our tank, we just assumed we would have to put up with it. Oh but Zumah wouldn't take no for an answer. While we were gone one day, he climbed INSIDE our tank and scrubbed the whole thing with bleach. Our water has smelled pretty good for the last few days...thanks to Zumah. 

Zumah is 21 and you may wonder why he has all this time to hang out at our house. He grew up at L'esperance. He went through the school system there and on to secondary and vocational school. The problem is that when Zumah came back home to L'esperance for one of his breaks, his paperwork got stolen. The paperwork proved that he had gone to school. It costs 300,000 shillings (about $179) for him to get the papers replaced and the truth is that he can't come across that kind of money. He has been looking for a job for 6 years. Just in the few weeks we've know him, he has gotten calls from multiple hotels that want him to come in and interview for different jobs. But, when they find out he has no paperwork, they send him back empty handed. 

Zumah's first ascent

Thats why Zumah loves helping us so much. He gets to practice his skills and pass the time while helping us out. Oh and does he help us out. Keeping house in Africa is an all day job and with Zumah's help, Krystin and I are free to make lesson plans, focus on fundraising, and go teach class without having to worry so much about the state of our house. In return, we give Zumah full access to our computers, he eats for free and often, he sleeps on our sofa. Our house definitely feels empty when Zumah isn't there. 

Just the other day we made Zumah a facebook page. We are helping him add friends and he is so excited to become aquainted with our American friends back home (you). So, if you sign into facebook and find a friend request from a "Zumah Kato", make sure you hit the "accept" button because Zumah is one for the best friends you will ever have. 

Valentines Day

Just to make the day special, the 3 of us decided to throw a little dinner for our African friends. We went into town and bought yellow flowers (for friendship) and came home to decorate and cook food. We made everyone leave the house while we got everything ready. When all was prepared, (with Celine Dion playing in the background) we invited everyone inside and gave them each a flower at the door.  We had an amazing time. We're not sure exactly what happened but somehow 'flower dancing' became a part of our Valentines Day adventure....

                                              The whole gang



Flower dancing at its best.

This One's for YOU.

You all should be proud of yourselves. God has been moving here and it’s been incredible to watch. First of all, last Friday, we challenged 12 of our friends to each raise $100 in one week to send 2 girls to school. To make a long story short, the girls have had a rough life and really deserve a good education. As of now, $1430 has been turned in and $200 is still on the way. (For those of you who are bad at math, that’s $430 over the goal!) Alice and Mary-Bo started school today. We know many of you were a part of our friend’s success. Thank you. Your gifts here change lives and we love to tell you all about it.

                                                    Alice and Mary Bo

Henry bought his bike last Friday. He uses it often. A special thanks to Abby’s mom and Michael for making it happen. The money for his school fees is tricking in and someone has asked how they can start paying for his sister’s school fees as well. Like we said, God is moving.

Henry in front of his house with his new bike.

Everyday, we feel like the bond between our communities in America and the community here at L’esperance grows stronger and stronger. It seems like someone is always reminding us that we are in his or her prayers. People we don’t even know ask how they can help fulfill a need. We are humbled everyday by our small faith and the greatness of God’s plan for all of our lives.

This blog entry is more about you than us. Its about what YOU’VE let God do through you. It’s about how your faith in our calling has enabled us to be a catalyst for good in so many situations. It’s about the lives you’ve allowed God to help you change. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We promise to keep you updated.    

Family Portraits