Uganda Day 5 Amazima

Our team traveled to Amazima Ministry today to help with the feeding program.  We arrived and all the children were sitting in a recently built open air chapel.  These children are from the Karimojong tribe, who are the poorest of the poor.  They are bussed in once a week to the Amazima compound to play and eat.

I met some tween boys that fell in love with my sunglasses and camera.  Roy, my new Ugandan friend, was such a charmer!  He spoke very good English and was very curious about Americans.  He kept telling me, "Mzungu (white person), give me a sweet!" With hundreds of Karimonjong children around, I knew better than to open up my sweet loaded, goody packed back pack in front of everyone.  I would have been mobbed!  So of course I snuck him a sweet on the down low…lol!  Roy…that boy, so cute!

A little girl, about 12-18 months old, came crying holding her arms out to me.  I scooped her up and she laid her bald head on my chest and there she remained for the next 3-4 hours.  She had a running nose, and probably a weeks worth of crusted over snot and dirt in each nostril. She had on a camouflage button up shirt and a tattered pink skirt.  She was covered in the infamous Ugandan red dirt, like most of the children, and myself at the moment.  And like all the infants and toddlers there, she had on no panties or diaper.

I carried this sweet girl around the Amazima compound as I searched for little girls with hair.  Little did they know that my Jansport backpack was FULL of barrettes, beads, combs and all other goodies!  I spotted a few of the younger girls with hair, they were babies or toddlers.  Most had yarn braids or extensions.  Their older sisters were caring for them.  I tried my hardest to single them out quietly and hand over the loot.  Not possible. As soon as this Mzungu took the backpack off my back, those kids came running!  They knew that meant there was something coming out!  I tried to explain that the girls would be getting headbands soon, but since I don't know Karimajong they continued to beg.  Girls with hair begged for the beads.  It broke my heart.  One girl told me, in broken English, that next time I come she will have hair and I can give her beads!

These girls had no idea what barrettes were. It was so funny watching them try to figure them out!  But after they did, they LOVED them!

And they LOVED the headbands of course!!!

The children were very aggressive when we were passing our bows and other gifts.  I understand their aggression, as many of these children have to fight for their lives.  I watched as children climbed a mango tree to shake the green unripened mangos loose to fall to the ground.  The other children scattered and danced around the base of the tree hoping to catch one of those mangos.  They hoarded their findings in their clothes or in bags.  The child I carried around Amazima had no way of getting a mango, as there didn't appear to be an older sibling to look out for her.  So I traded a sweet, or candy, for a mango for my child of the day.  She held on to that mango for two hours, not letting it out of her hand or sight.  Everything it fell out of her grip she screamed for me to pick it up before another child did.  It saddened me to see these children of God scavenging for unripened fruit to eat.

When feeding time came around, many of my team members served the children out of these huge pots o ver fires.  They were served rice and beans and little pieces of chicken.  I'm sure there were only 4 chickens to feed over 200 children.  I got in the food line with my little one on my hip and they served her a very large  bowl full to the brim.  We walked over to one of the shaded play areas and i sat down to help feed this little one, or so I thought.  She got down!  I couldn't believe how this little girl could scoop up that rice and beans, so pipping hot, and pile it into her mouth!  In the place about the size of an American bathroom, there were about 15 children squatting over their hot meal that they are bussed in for once a week.  I can imagine the anticipation and excitement these children felt.  They scooped up that rice and beans with their little fingers.  Each child had a very small piece of chicken on the bone.  Very small babies were gnawing on chicken bones and navigating to the meat. The small babies that were being carried by an older sibling were being fed with love.  The little one I had wasn't claimed.  It saddened me to think how did this little one get on that bus?

When it was time to leave, I tried to find someone to take this little girl that I got to love on.  No one would take her!  All the older children, obviously tired of caring for smaller kids, gave me the "no way am I taking her," look!  I was baffled, but could understand.  Finally, I found a girl about the age of five or six.  She carried of my baby of the day and wandered off.

Uganda Day 4 (Canaan's)

In the afternoon, we got on the road to Jinja, a town about two hours from Kampala.  As we left the big town of Kampala, it slowly turned into beautiful, lush land, giant trees, tall grasses, mountains…just beautiful!  You could also tell that the people,e were poorer the further we drove.

When we arrived at the gates of Canaan's the children screamed and cheered.  They rushed to the bus. I handed Kari my camera to capture the craziness.  As soon as i stepped off the bus, I had been picked by two girls who grabbed my  hand and pulled me through the crowd. They pushed off any other child that tried to join us.

Helen and Caroline are the names of the girls who claimed me.  Helen is the shy on but shows so much affection.  She stayed by my side from the moment I got off the bus.  She rested her head only chest and kept squeezing me.  Her English is broken but she still was able to communicate with me.

Caroline has a more outgoing personality and has very good English and helped translate a lot of things for Helen.

We left the kids outside while we ate dinner and they patiently waited for us to finish to claim us again. I held those two girls so tightly and stroked their cheeks as if they were my own children.  I sang to them and prayed over them and then I walked them to their dorm.  They didn't want me to leave, but after the long day I needed sleep.  I promised to be there in the morning.

Uganda Day 4 (M4 Child Protective Center)

We left M3 and headed to M4.  M4 is similar to a child protective center.  Moses, the director of Sixty Feet, told us that the kids that are there, all 150 of them, were either abandoned, removed from abusive homes, tortured , had parents in jail, or committed a crime themselves.  These children were young.  Infants to maybe 10 years old. 

Most of the team had gotten out quickly and picked up small children.  I was pumping up beach balls.  Betty, Moses' wife and also a nurse, was being called over to assist in an infant having a seizure.  By this time I was done with the balls and walked over to the covered area flooded with children. I was shocked to see most of my team with babies and toddlers that laid on their chests with pitiful, weak expressions on their faces.  The appeared tired, but as  a mother, I could see there was pain, illness and hunger in their eyes.  

Within five minutes I had a little girl, around four years old, climb up onto my lap and lay on my chest with a blank stare and no expression.  None of the babies had on diapers and few even have clothes covering their naked bottoms.  There were several special needs children and very few adults. We never really toured the place but could see that they needed everything. Heartbreaking.  We only there for about two hours, and during that time two little ones had seizures, and most children screamed and ran for us when we had to put them down and leave. They obviously needed love, touch, and affection so bad.  The director wouldn't let us take pictures, but I can see why.  This children's home was in extremely poor condition and the children were very sick.  We ALL left crying.  It was on of the most difficult things I have ever seen or experienced. Please keep this facility in your prayers!  These children need it!

Uganda Day 4 (Sixty Feet and M3)

Today…where do I start? What an experience! After breakfast, we packed up the 30 passenger bus and headed to M3, the prison for 12-18 year old children.  When we walked in, the kids were all sitting in an outdoor room anxiously waiting to preform for us.   They have several different claps that express their excitement.  The director Maria, is a healthy woman who obviously loves those children very much.  There were about They danced around to the beat.  They really liked it when we danced as well.  Our team then sang worship songs back to them.  Then the boys asked us to pray for them.  We all disbursed and laid hands on them.  Me and one of the other team members, prayed for the boys who were playing the drums.

By this time, it was time to bring out all the goodies we had for them.  Me and a few of the teams members took the girls back into their dorm and let them pick the bows and headbands they wanted.

They were so excited!  Then we painted their nails and played board games.  

Most of the boys were in the courtyard playing football (soccer).  It was so awesome watching the joy in these kids faces.  I bonded very well with a girl named Doreen.  

She loved carrying around my camera and taking pictures of all her friends.  She had such smooth skin and was so beautiful.  I promised to send her pictures when I got back to America.

Uganda Day 3 Sixty Feet

Being my first mission trip, I wasn't sure what to expect when I woke up this morning.  I packed my backpack with jump ropes, deflated soccer balls, kick balls, a parachute and snacks.  We were told that we would need to pack our own lunch.  Where do you get a sack lunch in Kampala, Uganda?  We just packed whatever American snacks we brought with us.  My lunch today was beef jerky, almond butter and a granola bar.  

Our bus drove through many winding dirt road to a compound that is called M1.  The real name or location of this Children's Prison is not allowed to be posted online.  I was a little confused when I saw little children running up to our bus as it was still driving, looking for a parking space.  The children we happy to see up, screaming "Mzungu," which means white person! Some of them were very small, maybe four years old!  Why were they here, at a children's prison?  

We all stepped off of the bus, one at a time, to be eagerly greeted by precious children who just wanted our full attention.  I can imagine why.  Lutyon was the little girl I got to love on today.  She is an orphan girl about 10 years old residing at M1 because she has no where else to go.  She held my hand and followed me all over the compound.

When we walked all over the place.  I wasn't sure what to expect from a children's prison, but the children were so well behaved!  Of course, the children got a little out of hand when we started passing out the sports equipment, but that was to be expected!  They had nothing, nothing. They just roamed the field in between the buildings that housed them.  The children loved having us there.  We were the first large mission team to visit!

We go to worship and have fellowship with them, as part of the Sixty Feet Ministry.  Sixty Feet visits these children at least twice a week to love on them and teach them about the love of God.  They are doing an amazing thing here and could use tremendous support and prayers!  

We did learn that most of the "offenders" were in this prison for minor things such as accidentally hitting a chicken with their bike.  We also learned that the smaller children where Karamajon, who are the poorest of the poor in Uganda.  They are orphaned children that were picked up and brought there.

Mission Uganda Day 1-2

Day One
Today began with much excitement.  I quickly woke up for the alarm clock and got dressed and was ready to run!  I cut Brandon's hair, and was just about to get in the van when Kari, my team leader, called to tell me our flight had been canceled. It was due to bad weather in Chicago.  It was a crazy day in the Springfield airport!  Many people were told the only way that they would get out of Springfield and to Chicago was if they were to drive.  Not an option for me.  I HAD to get to D.C. by tonight in order to connect to my Ethiopian Airlines flight in the morning.  I prayed and had faith the God would take care of it. After three trips to the airport, I finally got on a flight out of Springfield!  I arrived in D.C. at 1:30 a.m..

Day Two
This morning, we woke up and ate breakfast at 7:00 a.m..  I met and make friends with Amanda, Valerie and Kari H.. I am getting very excited to get to Uganda!  The flight was a long 13 hours.  Not as long as the 20 hours we flew with Marley.  I sat next to a Japanese Canadian that was traveling t Ethiopia to do Humanitarian aid.  Good conversation.
We stopped in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to change planes.  I wanted to get out so bad!  It's as if I am drawn to Addis!  I suppose I will always be!
Finally, after a very rough landing, we have made it to Uganda.  Just looking out the window, I can see all of Ugandan's beauty!  Hills, mountains, green trees and grass, the lake!
We are staying a Adonia Guesthouse for the first few days.  It's nice and big enough to house all 27 of us.

We have to sleep with mosquito netting because of the high Malaria outbreaks.  I'm bunking with Amanda and we seem to get along just fine.  We are al so tired that we crashed as soon as we unpacked! We continued to walk around like zombies for the rest of the day.

Moses, from the 60 Feet mininstry, came by tonight to give us all the details for our visit ot M1 tomorrow.  There are about 250 kids there, most are boys and most are over 12 years old. I really don't know what to expect.

The things we take for granted

Hello everyone,

This is Brandon again.  As many of you know, Elisa is currently on a mission trip to Uganda.  While she is away, I took vacation to stay home with the kids.  During this time, it has kind of made me think about things.  About how when Elisa gets back, I plan on showering her with love, and affection, and maybe a gift or two.  Not just because I missed her, but because I forgot exactly how much work it is to run a household with a 2 year old and a 6 year old roaming the halls.  And that made me realize that we, as husbands, tend go get too comfortable with ourselves from time to time.

We guys (as in I), tend to forget that it is A LOT of work.  Running this child to a doctor's appt, running that child to swimming lessons, then to soccer practice, or a play group, getting all the meals and snacks prepared, putting the house back together after a day's worth of playing, and clean ups, baths, bedtime stories, bed, assuring them nothing is under the bed to get them back to sleep, and press the repeat button in the morning.  And sometimes doing so without getting anything done for yourself.  Now I know that my wife is a Superwoman in her own right, and she is awesomely great at what she does as a stay-at-home-mom, but getting the hands on experience (in her absence) has opened my eyes even wider than before.  That said, I now have a better understanding of how things are when I would normally be returning home from work.  And those things are my own assumptions.

Before I used to joke to her about "living" on Facebook, and checking emails in the evening most nights after dinner.  This is sort of a light-hearted complaint I hear from several husbands quite often.  Well now seeing the full-on routine of the day, and seeing that my kids have only two speeds:  Pedal-to-the-metal and Sleep mode, there is absolutely no time to sit in front of a computer during the day!!  So now I understand why she runs to check her accounts when I get home, because that is really her first opportunity to catch up on things.  So for that, I now feel silly, and apologize for thinking in my own head that things were not as they seemed.

So in short, I just want to tell her THANK YOU for all that she does and that I do indeed appreciate her.  I also have a whole new appreciation for single parents…….for those of you out there, I applaud you for all that you do.  This is a complicated enough job with two people involved, so I just can't imagine juggling the house, the kid's needs and work by myself permanently.  Just can't begin to fathom it.  So next Tuesday evening, I will be celebrating my wife's arrival back home!  I'm sure she will be blogging soon to share her experiences from the mission trip. Until next time……...

A BIG Thank You!

For the past month, I have been collecting hair goodies for all the sweet girls in Uganda and Ethiopia.  The response has been amazing!  I have collected approximately 770 headbands (that includes regular head bands and headbands with flowers/bows, 1oo ballies, 880 cloth elastics, 90 decorative elastics, 600 snaps, 27 combs, 5 quick beaders, 4000 rubber bands, 6 packages of sidewinders and THOUSANDS OF BARRETTES and BEADS!

I had to remove all the packaging and sort all like items to make packing everything much easier.

This is what YOU helped bring in!

I leave on Tuesday and will be back in mid-June.  I can't wait to share the pictures and videos of girls receiving your gifts.  Thanks so much, I could not have done it without you!

A special Thank You to Chocolate Hair Vanilla Care, Beads Braids and Beyond, and many others who helped me get the word out!  And to Twist Braid Snap for offering free shipping and matching all donations!  CHECK THESE SITES OUT…THEY ARE A MUST!

African Princesses

Do you want to be part of something big?  Do you want to help a little girl feel beautiful?  I am traveling to Uganda and Ethiopia with a team of 30 missionaries on May 31.  We are going through an organization called Visiting Orphans.  We will be working with several ministries and hundred of girls.

Here is where we will be:

• Cannan's Children's Home
• Amani Baby Cottage
• Return Ministries
• My Father's House
• Sixty Feet (The Children's Prison) Currently there are only 14 girls here out of 250 kids.  I want to bless the pants off of these girls and make them feel like queens!

I am collecting all kinds of hair goodies for these precious girls in Africa.  All the girls I will be loving on are orphans. Some have hair and some don't.  My dream is to shower these girls with hair accessories to make them feel beautiful!  Please help me by sending new or gently used hair accessories.  I will be collecting them until May 27.  

Some things that would be appreciated are:

Barrettes

Knockers

Rubberbands

Rat Tail combs

Sectioning Clips

Beads

Lots of Headbands (as many girls do not have any hair)

Here is a video of the last group that brought beauty to some precious girls!

Bows & Bows & Bows in Ethiopia from Kari Gibson on Vimeo.

You can mail these items to:

Elisa Hyman

P.O. Box 280

Willard, MO 65781