Soccer match, stealing, feeling inspired

I have kind of sucked it up when it comes to blogging lately. My apologies.  Here are some pics and deets of the latest and greatest.

You know very well that I can't resist showing you pictures of the children in the Namatala Slum.  I AM in love with them.  The cuteness is without end.

I'm working in a group to teach business and agriculture classes to women in a village about 30 minutes away.  (What I didn't tell you is that you have to voyage on the scariest boda ride of your life to get there.  But now I've told you so...cat's out of the bag.)  While we were at the meeting on Thursday, I got this little lady to come sit with me.  She was singing on my lap and happily kicking.  It was one of the most darling things.  I'll try to film her next time.  Want to take her home.  I know it's illegal and that she has parents and stuff but good crap, she's a doll and I adore her.

Look, the beautiful mom.  But...I still covet her baby.  She's so darling.

The next village that we went to in order to teach these classes is the home to the boy pictured below--Moses.  Holy smokes that boy has the most darling laugh.  It was one of the most lovely sounds I've ever heard.  

Last weekend I stayed home from the Nile rafting trip to get a pedicure, watch a movie, and celebrate Ryans b-day.  This weekend, I wanted to bust out of the house and do something fun.  Coincidentally, the whole team went to a Uganda Cranes soccer match.  Boom. We picked up some jerseys, took a four hour bus ride, snuck into the VIP section (pretty sure the only reason we pulled it off is because we're white), and had a hilarious good time.

The Uganda team is not really that great.  They ended up tying with Senegal 1-1.  It was fun to get all crazy and be at a sporting event again.  I loved it.  The thing that was crazy to me is that even with people with their faces painted and bizzarre costumes, we STILL didn't blend in.  People are very aware of where the white people are and it made me uncomfortable being in a big group of whities sometimes.  But for the most part it was all good in the hood.

AFTER the game the fans were going nuts.  The people were tight on the street and acting crazy.  Our friend Freddie (he's Ugandan) saw someone steal a phone out of the backpack of one of our friends (a white person, but not a volunteer).  Freddie full on started beating the man with his yellow horn that he was blowing the whole game.  It was insane.  A crowd formed, and the phone was retrieved.  Robbing is NOT tollerated in this country.  It was crazy to me how fast everyone reacted.  If anyone is seen stealing--by anyone--people chase them down and...get physical.  The sad part is that later that evening, a man came at a sprint, stole the iPhone out of one of our volunteers hands, passed the phone off, but then was caught by a group of people chasing after him and, you guessed it, started beating the lad up.  I can't believe how everyone looks out for each other here.  They don't have to know you but if someone sees someone else take something from you, they sprint after them and take them down.

We had the missionaries over tonight.  It was a wonderful experience.  There aren't a lot of members here and they don't get fed very much so we had them over for french toast and mango juice. haha We'll have them over for something fancier some other time.  But it's the Sabbath and that's what we had. haha Talking to them made me miss the mission so much.  It was such an amazing time of life.  Sometimes I have little moments where it's overwhelming thinking back on that time, what it did for me, how it shaped me, and how I continue to be deeply soaked up in that time of my life.

One of the elders--he's from Zimbabwe--was talking to a couple of us. We talked what a powerful influence music is, the concept of understanding your potential, the missionary work in the area--who's investigating, how they do the work around here, etc.  I was asking him how many members of his family are members of his church.  After a bit of awkward tension about whether or not his father is a member, he informed us that his dad passed away--two weeks ago!  My heart just sunk.   He doesn't have anyone to go home to now.  His eyes pooled with water, but he stayed very controlled.  I can't imagine going through anything like that at all, let alone on the mission. We talked about how different and real the Plan of Salvation becomes when something like that happens.  I sat there in awe of his strength and great faith.  The conversation made me want to be better.  I love those types of conversations.  I love being around people that inspire me and help me understand where I could pick up the slack.  It was a great evening.

Well I've got to go to bed.  We're leaving early in the morning to work on the medical clinic.  If anyone's still interested in donating to the medical clinic or water filters, please visit our Indi gogo site.  We could still use the help. Thanks for the love and support.  Love and miss you!

Working in the village, adoring the children and spilling the syrup

We've been pretty busy lately.  Our Monday-Wednesdays are all spent up in Bunabuyoka working on the medical clinic.  The children are literally the cutest things you've seen in your life.  They're beautiful to look at, have heart-melting smiles, and their cute little voices are to die for.  Last week I spent a lot of snuggle and play with time this cute girl:  Sharon.  Can't even handle the cuteness.

We have to fend for ourselves on Sundays for meals.  Last Sunday we made french toast.  I dropped mine on the floor and said near profanities.  I had a syrup covered bossom and had to do some clean up.  But the french toast was ideal!...I got a new piece.  I didn't eat off the floor...obviously.

The villagers at Bunabuyoka had a right nice dance party with us after a meeting.  They sure know how to shake it.  Even the kids have killer cool dance moves.  

Kelsey and I had to teach english to the youngest group of kids in the village.  We taught the alphabet and then the Hokey Pokey.  It was a hit.  Nothing's cuter than watching them put their "whole bodies in" and shaking them about.  Webster could define cuteness like these kids can.  Adorable.

We spent all day one day carrying rocks down the mountain for the foundation of the medical clinic.  How inspiring is it to see these cute kids carrying bigger rocks than you when you think you're tuckered out.  Never was there better reason to keep working.

Here's the clan carrying some of our rocks.  We were all so dirty and sweaty by the end of the day.  But so happy.

Alexis, Josh and Jennilyn.  Alexis and Jennilyn are dang tough...and Josh is mad about it.

We took a break from making bricks and I was chilling with my buddy Derek for a while.  We call him Derek Jeter.  

This is little Rebecca.  We're good friends.  She hangs all over me when I'm within site of her.  I love this little girl.

We're working hard to get the clinic built and I fall more and more in love with these sweet people the more time I spend with them.  If you'd like to donate to the clinic, please feel free to hit up our indie go-go site.  Love you lots.  I'll post more laters.

Thank you, video casette, stove cake

Thanks so much to the people who've already helped out with the fundraising for the Bunabuyoka medical clinic, school roof and water filters for the Namatala slum.  We're still trying to raise the funds needed for all three projects but the whole team expresses gratitude and amazement toward all those who've contributed.  It really means a lot to us.

Things have been really good here.  I went up to Bunabuyoka Monday and Tuesday last week.  It was an incredible, incredible place!  I have pictures and videos that I'd love to post to show you but...they'll have to wait for another day.  The location of this place is mind-blowingly beautiful.  It seems like it must be another planet or something because it's so green and I find myself blinking repeatedly because I'm sure my eyes must be deceiving me.  I'll have to post pictures.  It's unreal!

Downside:  I experienced my first squatter toilet while I was there---which wouldn't have bothered me if I wasn't violently sick. haha I don't know if it was the food or what but my body revolted.  It was funny because of course I'd get super sick when my digestion center is a hole in the ground the size of a video casette.  Hilarious.  I got a lot of practice and now feel well-versed in a skill that I...will not be putting on my resume.  I felt oddly proud, however, being that not high maintenance. haha

The next morning I was still feeling sick so instead of staying another day we had a couple hour hike out of the village.  Then we had an hour bus ride in ...not cold weather.  So I was getting increasingly hot and nauseous during the taxi home.  My whole body was feverish and I was certainly I'd throw up at any moment.  Listening to the sounds of the other volunteers voices was nice.  It distracted me and I felt like I didn't have to address it.  When we got home, the country director was informed that I wasn't feeling well and just said, "What's wrong?"  And...if you know anything about me, when I'm in a stressful situation, just show any concern for my well being at all and I'll cry.  haha It's awkward but kind of hilarious.  I didn't know what was wrong with me but my body felt like it was on fire, I was kinda loopy and just felt horrible.  Thankfully, a cold shower was just the ticket, followed by some meds and sleep.  My fever was only 101 and one of the country directors thought it was malaria. haha It wasn't.  I'm fine.  I was tired for a few days but the first day was the only one that I was actually a mess.

Things have been going well though.  Today we had a 2.5 hour drive in either direction to district conference.  For some reason it was a very pensive day for me.  Thinking about how I got here, what I'm doing here, and where I'll be when I go home.

Just the other day I was looking through some facebook pics and kind of laughed at how differently I look here. haha My hair was in place....ish, I wore pencil skirts, funky tights and ballet flats.  Now my hair is dancing around in all directions, make up is for a special occasion and skinny jeans are not plausible. haha

It's just crazy that I live in Africa.  I just never would have thought I'd be THAT girl to live in a third world country.  Not that I ever thought I was high maintenance or anything but...this is wild! haha I love every second.  I love the volunteers and the people of Uganda.  But sometimes I'm riding into town on a boda or hiking into a village or walking home at night and just wonder how I got here.  Trying to retrace all of the little paths that somehow got me to where I am.  I then can't help but wonder where I'll be in 5 years...or even 5 months.  I just try to take in the moments--wherever I am, however I'm feeling, whatever the hour and just appreciate the opportunity to experience it--any of it!  Even when I was sick, it was funny.  Funny that I was living in a little village in the most green lush place I'd ever seen.  Just happy to be there--in any condition.

Sitting outside our house after dinner, talking with our guard David, I noticed how lovely the African sky is.  No, it's not the bright, vibrant Italian sunrises and sunsets--those took my breath away everyday.  But the sky here was beautiful to me.  It was a dark grey, but the trees were so distinctly black in front of them, they seemed like paper cut outs or something.  And the moon seems small, but it lights the night.  It feels peaceful, it feels good.

Yesterday was Ryan's birthday.  Rebecca made him felafel and I made him pineapple upside down cake on a stove.  It was an experiment...that went very well.  It was delicious and I was oddly proud of the fact that I cooked a cake on a stove.  You do what you've gotta do without an oven. :)  The whole HELP team is in Jinja for the weekend rafting the Nile.  So Rebecca, Holly, Ryan, Jenny, David and I sat around the table eating dinner and dessert just enjoying the evening.  It felt like we were at a college dorm or something.  It felt cozy.  Like we were all just hanging out celebrating a friends birthday.

I just love taking everything in.  I'm fascinated that I'm here-doing this.  I love it.  I'm happy.  It's right.  But I can't help but wonder what tomorrow will hold.  Who will I meet?  What will I learn from them?  What about the day is going to be hilarious?  I can't wait to live tomorrow but I'm always so thankful for today.  For the little details that distinguished it from all the others.  It wasn't perfect, but even its imperfections were beautiful and made today unique.  I want to always go to bed saying "I loved today."  "I loved this day."  Yes, there are things to look forward to, lots to do, lots to anticipate, but I want to love today.  This moment.  Here and now.   I wasn't intentionally trying to quote a Mika song but I don't regret it.  That darling brit with sleek skinny ties deserves to be quoted I feel. :)  Anywho, this post was random and I'll post pics and vids next time.  But I just wanted to write down some random thoughts that have been dancing around in my head lately.  I love you all very much.

How to contribute--the indiegogo site is up!

I'm so sorry that it's taken me so long to post this site.  We had technical difficulties and then had a commitment in Bunabuyoka--which is really far away and internet is unheard of.  If you're interested in contributing to our two big projects that we're doing over here, please click the link below.

PLEASE comment in the comment box which project you want your donation going to.  It's very very important to me and the other volunteers that your contribution goes to the project that you're most passionate about.  So please remember to comment where you want it going.

I love you so much!  Thank you for asking me how to help.  I know times are hard financially for everybody right now so please only contribute what you can and know that anything you do contribute is so greatly appreciated by us volunteers and the people here in Uganda.   Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Click here to get to the Indiegogo site!

You can also click here if you'd like to read about more information about the projects that we're doing--though the indiegogo site will give you background information about both projects as well.  Anywho, I'm done blabbing. haha Thank you so much, really, for your desire to help.  All of us are so touched that you guys care like we do about these people.

Sipi Falls

On Saturday, the clan and I decided it'd be killer swell to hike Sipi Falls.  I tell ya what, I had NO idea how beautiful Uganda was before I came.  But yikes, yikes, yikes...it's breathtaking!

Here's Kelsey, myself and Kara.  These girls are delights.  We're all going to be here for all four months so...I'm going to be in great company.  They're both hilarious and grand.

A view of a bit of the hike.  Zero photoshopping going on.  It's THAT green.  

Me, Cami and Josh. approaching one of the three waterfalls of the hike.  You can see it behind us. 

We made it to the first waterfall and decided to walk underneath a trickling part.  It wasn't the intense downpour, but it was cold and lovely.

Me, Josh and Ashley...we're behind the waterfall .  We thought this was a huge deal--which it was--but there were two more waterfalls to hike to after this.   Count. Me. In.

Cami was taking our pic and told us to celebrate.  Apparently my celebrating pose promotes world peace and an awkward dancing squat.  I dunno...but I can't say I regret it.

Sam and I again.  She's a dear.  She sleeps on the bunk next to me and I enjoy her very berry much.

My nieces Mya and Sadie gave me Lightning McQueen for my birthday to take pictures with him in places where I go.  Wouldn't you know it, Mr. McQueen showed up on our hike.  :)

This is the last waterfall that we were hiking to.  Umm...is this my life?!?  Really?!?  I was blissfully happy.  Nothing could have ruined this moment.  Not if I got mauled by tigers, mugged by a creepster or shot by a sling shot.

We made it to the third waterfall!!  Soooo wet and not minding.  I was wet the rest of the day, my calves and ankles were all kinds of muddy but...oh well.  I spend my everyday life in a skirt.  Why can't I be a bit muddy after a hike to some waterfalls?  I can.  It was sooo fun, so beautiful and reminded me how much I love Uganda and the whole clan of peeps that I live and work with.  Happy and thankful to be here.  Love to you all!  Mals

If you've wanted to know how you can help...this is how.

Let me start by thanking you all for even reading about my adventures here in Africa.  It means a lot to me that you care about me, what I'm doing, and the people that mean a lot to me.  Really, a few of you have written blog posts of your own talking about what I'm doing, and I've been surprised and so thankful for those that have contact me in some way wanting to help.  Blog comments, e-mails, talking to my mom, etc.  I can't tell you how much it means to me that you care about what's going on over here like I do--and your desire to be involved.  We had a discussion about it as a team and here's how you can help:


We are VERY excited about a lot of work that we're doing here.  For the most part, we have the funds to help people--because a lot of the things we want to do don't cost a lot of money.  There are two projects, however, that we feel are very compelling, can help a lot of people, but are going to cost more than say...200 bucks.  Here is what the projects are and then I'll tell you how you can help.

Namatala slum water project.  I've posted a couple of times about Namatala.  That place has a big piece of my heart.  It is a slum with 20,000 people that are drinking and cleaning with dirty water.  The majority of the people are therefore sick very often and have no way of preventing disease that is spread through water--like cholera, for example.  It's a big deal.  Last year, the team was able to get 3 water filters donated to two different "neighborhoods" (like a group of 10 huts) to filter their water.  These groups have not been sick, they're using the water filter, they're cleaning it properly, they have someone in charge of it to make sure it gets cleaned, they completely avoided the cholera outbreak.  So...it's working!  The problem is, these water filters are helping 200 out of 20,000 people.  We really want to get more water filters to these people.  They are hands down the most lovely people that I've met--who coincidentally have the very least I've seen, and close to the least you can humanly live off of.  They teamed up with Rain Catcher last year.  The water filters cost 55 dollars.  We flat out cannot afford to buy all of the water filters necessary.  HOWEVER, we're going to set up an Indie-gogo site on Monday.  IF you are interested in contributing to this project, you can go on this site and donate as much or as little as you'd like. Write a note that it's for the water filter project in Namatala.  We, as a group of 15 people here in Mbale, will get the money directly, as well as your notes.  It's really important to us that your money goes where you want it spent.  We would love to get 50 water filters for the slum.  That's our practical goal.  You can see, however, that they could use more--so earning more than 50 water filters wouldn't be amazing.  I will be updating on the blog about the project with pictures and I'd be happy to mail you pictures and videos about people that you're helping.  They're incredible people and there's no reason they should have to be sick because of water--such a basic necessity.  So that is the option for the water project.  Here are some of my pics from my time in Namatala:

Here is one of the water filters that was donated last summer.  Up and running!

If you'd like to read about my past visits there here is where you can do it:

http://malloheartseurope.blogspot.com/2012/05/visit-to-namatala-slum.html

http://malloheartseurope.blogspot.com/2012/05/returning-to-namatala-slum.html

The other huge project that is greater than our funds allow is in a village called Bunabuyoka.  It's a village that you have to take a boda and then hike straight up for two miles.  Last year the team built a school for the children there--because they obviously didn't have one.  Because of the location of the village, people aren't able to come down very often--nor do people frequently go up.  So having a school there was greatly appreciated.  In fact, not only have they been using the school that was built, but they ADDED on to it!  They ran out of funding so they just need a roof to complete the addition to the school.  So we really want to help finish the roof to this school that they're using and have put great effort into finishing.

The left silver roof, is the school built last summer.  The right side with the orange tarp is what they've added on...and we'd be replacing that tarp. :)

View from the inside of the addition.

  In addition to that, when touring the village, their "medical center" was heart-breaking.  They have a dark room, about four feet by four feet, one cupboard, and like seven bottles of medicine--like aspirin, etc.  That is the room where the 2,000 members of this village go seeking medical attention.  It's also the place where all of the women give birth...if not outside.  There is ONE midwife who administers health needs but has very little training.  Our team would love to build a health center for these people.  We've researched costs, supplies, and even have a doctor, nurse, and a community health worker committed to go up during the week to provide for the villagers health needs.  The cost of the school roof and medical center is $3,000.  If this is something you feel interested in, this will be the other project that you'll be able to contribute to on this indie go-go site.  Once again, please specify what you'd like your donation to go to.  We're very passionate about these projects and are so grateful for your willingness to help.  Any donation will be used on exactly what you're most passionate about.

These are some of the children in Bunabuyoka.

This is the ONLY fundraising that we're going to be doing this summer.  We talked about these projects, how important we feel they are, and decided that we will fundraise for them but these are the big bangs.  I'm not going to be asking you for money or having continuous fundraisers throughout the summer.  This is it.  These are the big papas.  We feel they're both very compelling and have the possibility to influence so many loving and wonderful people.  Thank you so much for your interest and outreaches to contribute.  It honestly fills my heart with gratitude that I have such loving, sweet, generous friends and family that care about what's going on over here.  It genuinely means the world to me.

I'll post on Monday how you can access the website to donate to these two causes.  If, for some reason, there are other things that you want to send, we have a PO Box.  I have heard from several people that want to send clothes, coloring books, candy, etc.  Soooo sweet of you guys.  The postage is expensive, the mail is slow, there's no guarantee that it will get here, but you are more than welcome to send whatever you'd like me to distribute.  I'd be happy to take pictures of the people receiving them so you can feel apart of all of it.

HELP International
PO Box 2258
Mbale, Uganda

Thanks again everyone.  I love you to bits and my heart is filled with gratitude toward you and your willingness to contribute to the well being of these people that I love.

Returning to the Namatala Slum

Today I returned to the Namatala slum.  I've been sooo excited to go back to this area because the first time I went left a huge impression on me.  My feelings hadn't changed on the second visit.  It takes zero effort on my part to just soak these people up and love them.  They are in by far the most humble circumstances I've ever seen and they're so kind and humble.

I returned joining a team that's working on a water filtration system.  There are currently 20,000 people living in the slum and last year the team was able to get 2 water filter systems donated by Rain Catcher and put in place--they help about 100 people each.  We went back and re-evaluated how they're doing, if they're been kept up, how effective they've been, etc.  We were pleasantly surprised.  The groups of people that have a water filter in their area are using it, cleaning it, the people haven't been sick in these areas and completely dodged the cholera outbreak...which is obviously wonderful!

So today we toured around talking to little groups of people throughout the slum to identify hypothetically how many more we'd need, which adults would be responsible for the filters and would take care of the upkeep, etc.  They could easily use 50 more water filters.  The problem is that they cost 30 pounds to buy...so 55 U.S. dollars.

We visited many areas within the slum asking lots of questions.  All of them are bathing in the nearby river--that is really dirty.  The drinking water is purchased for 200 shillings from one of two men selling it within the slum.  The water they're selling is not even clean...just cleaner than the river.  So the people  have been really sick in these areas, lots of diarrhea, etc.  So to give you an idea, each of these "neighborhoods" (they're not separate in any way...just groups within the slum) have about 10 houses/huts and have 50-100 people living in the neighborhood.  They share ONE toilet--which is literally a hole in the ground and when it fills up they dig a new one.  They also share ONE "shower"...which is pictured below.  It's essentially an area that has tarps more or less covering up to your shoulders.  You scoop up a bucket of water from the river and that's your shower.

I love taking pictures...especially in the slum for some reason.  The people are so real.  There's nothing fake about them.  I saw this little boy crouching next to one of the huts watching us during our visit and just found him so beautiful.  The eyes of these people just pull me in.

Here's another little guy that I just came upon.  He was just watching our group but didn't notice me pull out my camera.  It's just so easy for me to photograph within the slum.  And I almost filmed the boda ride out of there for you.  I might do it next time.  There's so much I want you to see that I can't describe with words, nor can they be fit within a snapshot.

There was a little girl in a purple tank top that approached me.  She told me that she wants to go to school.  I directed her to one of the people from Child of Hope that was leading us around the slum.  As we toured the slum for hours, I noticed that she was still following us.  With some translation we found out that her mother died a year ago, she is a twin--but her twin sis died a long time ago, she's 11 years old, when her mother died her father abandoned her in the slum, she's unable to attend school because she doesn't have money to pay the fees.

While her story breaks my heart, what might have been equally hard to swallow was her demeanor.  When the translator would ask her questions, she didn't look at his face once.  She would be looking to the side, but wouldn't look at you in the eyes.  Her arms were crossed across her chest, her fingers playing with her collar bone.  I asked the man if I could give her a hug (feeling completely helpless and not knowing what to do), she seemed nervous about it.  I couldn't help but get the feeling that the only form of physical touch she's familiar with isn't to express love.  We spent the rest of the tour just aching for this girl--Deborah is her name.  I don't know what to do with her, but the feeling she left in our hearts has us wanting some way to fix the horrible things that this little 11 year-old is having to live with.

On a lighter note...I hope my posts are never depressing.  Little things that fascinate me are the things the children do for fun.  A girl in the slum had some long pieces of grass or hay...or something braided together to be a jump rope.  While we were in her part of the slum she's jump through her homemade rope blissfully happy.  Other kids draw in the dirt with a rock and play hopscotch.  Then I ran across these two boys having a handstand contest.  It needed to be photographed.

You can find joy in whatever circumstance you find yourself in.  It may take creativity and your resources might be different, but you can have fun and be happy--and you should.  I love these people. I need to continue to work with them.  They completely inspire me.  A song that I really enjoy by The Paper Kites has a song called Featherstone.  I love a bit of the lyrics that say, "When you go what you leave is a work of art--on my chest, on my heart".  I feel that way at the Namatala slum.  I love it.