Anyone out there?

Hello All,
I am wondering if I am writing this for my own entertainment. If you are reading and want me to keep posting updates. Please click on the comments link and sent me a message.

This week I sent $1,200 collected from the fund raising efforts to Pastor Frank for them to start work on the school.
They finally received the boxes that we sent last November. (Talk about a slow boat). The cost of shipping was $1,700. (that took a lot of fund raising). Then when they received the boxes customs wanted to charge Pastor Frank $300.00 to receive them. The note I put on every box help them to recognize that they were for the Orphans so they reduced the charge to $127.00. The orphans should receive them this week. The shipment included a blanket, a t-shirt and a beanie baby for every child.

The balls we bought as gifts for the Orphans enabled them to compete with the region schools. Small gifts can make a HUGE difference.

The Flat Bread Pizza fund raiser is scheduled for August 26th. $3.00 for every large pizza and $1.75 for every small pizza will be donated to the children.
Mid- September we will be have a craft sale at TCC. I will keep you all posted.

I will stop posting if I do not receive any response so please send me a post.

Post Cards

Hello All,
Ok I have yet another thought on how to send a message to the orphans that people in the U.S. care about them. This summer as we travel on vacation pick up a post card and send it to the Orphans. (It can even be a post card from where you live)
They do not have an actual address so they can be sent through the JPC (Jesus Power Church)
Jesus Power Church/Christian Friends Mission International
P.O. Box 34547
Kampala, Uganda Africa

The cost to send a post card is .94 cents

Links to pictures

http://web.mit.edu/user/m/l/mleskiw/www/2008_uganda/index.html

This is the link to Michael's pictures. You will be able to tell by his web site how much fun he was to be with during this trip.
My pictures are on snapfish, where I need to send an invite to you to allow you to view them. So if you want my link send me an e-mail.

Orphan Shoes and Uniforms

Hello All,
I am requesting support from my readers. Please help provide the Orphans with shoes and Uniforms. The need is only $37.00 per child in the US this is not much money but in Uganda this is more than a couple months pay. Please sponsor 1 child by sending a check for
$37.00 for both the shoes and uniforms
$31.00 for shoes
$6.00 for a uniform.

Trinity Covenant Church
7 Clematis Road
Lexington MA 02421
Attention Sandy Gannon

The total needed to fund this project is $4,440.00
There are now 136 Orphans in the school program this year. (There school years starts the end of May.)
The shoes are sturdy and will last for a couple of years and can be passed down as they grow.

Week of June 13th in review

While the shipment of clothes and blankets have finally arrived in Uganda, but not without an issue. The Uganda customs is trying to charge Pastor Frank $300.00 to receive the the boxes. I have contacted our shipping company to call the Uganda Customs agent to tell them that the clothes are not for resale. Pastor Frank is being charged daily for the boxes staying in customs.
Please pray that this is resolved without any cost to Pastor Frank. I will keep you posted.

Pastor Frank has updated me that they are working on the school but he did not send me what the cost of improvement is. The Uganda Ministry of Education will be inspecting the school on June 20th.

Thursday I spoke at the Waltham High School about the trip to Uganda. The children were a very good audience listened to me and they asked many great questions. I have been invited back in the fall and they want to plan a fund raiser.

Orphanage Update

Today Steven and Pastor Frank, transported people from the shoe store to measure the children for shoes. They need closed in shoes to prevent jiggers (insect that crawl inside there skin and lay eggs) They are very painful and distort the childrens feet. The shoes will provide protection.

A Contractor (my terminology) was also transported to the Orphanage to measure for windows, doors and floors. This will allow the teachers to leave their school supplies at school. (they have to carry them back a forth now). The floors will also help prevent the children from sitting in dirt while they are learning.

The next plan of action Pastor Frank is arranging a Doctor to come out to the school to check on the children. I will be provided a detailed report of each childs health needs. (I will be asking for support to meet these needs)

The children will also be measured for uniforms for school. (Many of the children are wearing the same outfit they had on last year when Pastor Doug, Todd and Dave visited them). We will also be providing them with draw string back packs to carry their supplies back and forth to school.

A BIG THANK YOU TO CHRISTINE FROM DANCE PLACE! She organized a fund raiser called Nourish the children which will be providing the orphans with a meal everyday for the next 30 days.

Walking In the Village

When we walked in the village you would think that Hillary and I were celebrities. Children bowed to us, they wanted to touch us. They followed us calling Muzungo (White person).
Even little children barely able to walk would come up to touch us. We were the only white people in the village. We asked Esther why they wanted to touch us. She told us that our white skin looks so soft that the children want to feel the softness.
The streets were always crowed with many people walking around day and night.