Handover in Amuria County with Musa Ecweru, minister of disaster relief

Just another bike load. This man is delivering milk! He fills the
white plastic with however much you want of raw milk. We see
many of these in the morning. The milkman!

This is Musa at our first handover in Soroti area. We always
hand out mosquito nets to mothers with babies first. Then older
women and last the single men who don't have a wife with a net.
Friday, Dec 4, 2015

We try to find the very oldest for Sis Howard to personally hand
her a net. Everyone is very thankful. Malaria is a huge problem
in this area because of so much water.

Another grateful mother. We are at Ajota school, where we
gave out about 500 nets.

Elder Howard trying to find a way to be useful.

He finds a diversion! A bike that is very useful.

The bike owner has made a portable grinder. He will come and
sharpen your knives, no matter how far away.

E Howard was very impressed with this whole set up! He even
has a movie of all the workings.

An assistant giving E Howard a demonstration!

He seems proud to show a Muzungu the set up.

The bike owner, knife sharpening businessman!

He sharpened several knives during the handover.
Imagine how happy the mothers are to go home
with a net and sharp knives!

Another handover in Opiriai and Amoru villages, Sis Howard
and Musa have gathered the older woman. 

All are thankful and appreciative!

The kids have gathered to check out the Muzungus. The truck with
nets in the background.

This is Musa's personal bodyguard. He was with us as
we did the hoes our first month in Uganda.

Just a small handover near Musa's compound in Amuria county...

where we picked up more nets that had been stored.

Saturday, Dec 5, 2015
Aten, Olagai, and Aciloa villages. During the handover a woman
in the crowd had an epileptic seizure. 

Another 500 nets handed out here!

A cute little family waiting for a mosquito net. Hopefully 2!

We saw this young woman coming from quite a distance. She is
handicapped and gets around by dragging her useless legs behind .

We talked with her and her brother. Her mother has died and she lives
with her brother. She is 17 years old. We have contacted Pres Owidi
in Mbale who is helping us with this. This young sister could
benefit from a wheelchair!

2 small villages, Olianai and Alakaituk and 400 nets given.

Anzaro and Osekai villages, about 500 nets given here.

I am reaching out to a mother whose name is Magdalenia. Pretty
close to Madilyn. She was thrilled to have the same name.

Handing my namesake a net,

It has been a long day and we have given many nets.

Never too tired to take another pic of a bike load. I think this
is the local tupperware dealer!

After that last handover, Musa decided we had time for one more.
They introduced Musa here as the 'Son of the Soil' Musa saved these
people from the crazy Idi Amin. Everyone loves him! When we
had finished we had handed out approximately 4,000 nets!!
Hopefully a great blessing and help for these wonderful people.

We returned to this hotel every nite to sleep in comfort. A bed,
mosquito net, but no electricity the first 2 days. So we were
kind of camping. Ralph got eaten by bedbugs!! I don't know how
they missed me! Thank Heavens!!! We were even in the same bed!

When we got home I decorated a small tree and got ready for the
Christmas season! Then we took off the next day for Safari!

Johannesburg Temple, 2nd Stake Organized in Uganda, Nov 29, 2015

While in Johannesburg the Blakes (Richard Blake's brother
and our Welfare Specialist) took us to their favorite restaurant...
Mikes. Quite fancy and good food! We stayed at the courtyard, very
nice with a wonderful breakfast every morning! And had NO
water the whole first day! We have come from brown water to
no water!! Maybe this is only a test!?

The entry to the mission offices and temple. Everything
is gated with guards and electric wire. All shops close
at 6:00pm in town and they said it isn't safe to be out.

This reminds me of the Dallas Temple. Lots of beautiful flowers.
This is Sis Blake in front of the temple gate.

Lovely flowers and courtyards with walkways everywhere.

I don't know the name of these flowers, but they were my favorite
there at the temple. We will be in Johannesburg again in January.
We found a water pump to take back to Uganda to fix a water problem
and a ham for thanksgiving dinner. Yeah!

On Saturday we went to check on a water project at the Home
of Hope. We got stuck in a parade and couldn't resist a picture
of these cute kids. We threw them a package of cookies out the
car window and the big brother caught them and never dropped
his little brother! Little sister has quite fancy hair for a village.

This is a school marching with sticks instead of rifles. Also,
full band and lots of admires watching along the dirt road.

Sweet potatoes planted along the road.

The 2nd stake in Uganda was organized today. A huge tent was
set up to accommodate the 750+ members there. This is before
 meeting started. It was wonderful, with lots of young missionaries
and a few senior couples. They had a hard time finding a tent. The
Pope is in town and we have had lots of traffic problems since his
arrival on Friday. Our traffic is pretty hectic without anything extra!

Pres Chatfield, our Mission Pres, pointed out that the young men
at 12 years of age in our church have more authority then the Pope.
And usually don't cause as much confusion.

The meeting at Walukaba Branch was historic. They have a very
lovely chapel and nice grounds. Everyone was excited to be there.

Had to add the bike transport. This guy had 4 bags of cement!
Probably close to 200 lbs!!

I handed him a package of cookies as we went past! We always
keep them in the car for kids and guards! They call them biscuits.
It's always a tight squeeze! He is trying to keep his bike on the
pavement, so it is easier to push!!

Bike and Boda loads, Our Day Hike to Sipi Falls and members of Njeru Branch.

A Boda transport delivering bread.

This is a load of wood being delivered by bike.

Taken out our truck window and I completely missed the bike!

0n the left is our guide, Thomas, Then Ralph, Sis Goodwin,
Elder Goodwin, Sis Gillett and Elder Chabra. Some
must be in pay toilet. We are celebrating Goodwin's 40th
wedding anniversary at Sipi Falls high on the mountain above Mbale

Sis Chabra showing us the wonderful PAY toilet! YIKES!!
We really did have to PAY for the use!!!

We all used hiking sticks, it was so steep and very, very muddy.
By the time we got to the top we were socked!! And our feet
covered in mud!

Madilyn and Ralph on another mountain top overlooking the falls.
Sipi Falls is in the background  just above Ralph's left ear.

Some thorns on the bushes they use for cattle pens.

Elder Goodwin, Elder Gillett, Elder Chabra, young bull
and Elder Howard.

This sweet, old lady was sitting by her house and needed
someone to visit her. So I did! She has a bad leg.

Ralph and Madilyn at the bottom of the falls, quite wet!

Rosemary Apio from Njeru Branch will leave
next week to serve in Cape Coast Ghana.

This is Patience, the branch pres daughter, very
sharp and smart and my friend.

Moses Mesindi also leaving to serve in Cape Coast

A sign on the road by Mission Office. I have never seen a zebra!

This is the taxi park and Suzy insisted that we walk through
the middle of it on our material shopping trip! Ofcourse
we were covered in mud!

A favorite drink at Prunes, a great place to eat!

Bike Transports, Nets going to Soroti, New Truck, Wheelchair Clinic, and Mad/Cow?

Lady carrying load of seats to market. We see them carry
anything on their head...no matter size or how heavy! Amazing!!

More Bike transports. This time campaign posters to a rally.
It is election time here in Uganda!

Bike with load of gerry cans for water. If these are full
this would be a very heavy load!!!

Probably no water.

We have had mosquito nets stored at the Mission Pres home.
We are getting ready to deliver to the Soroti area.

His driveway is very steep so safety measures are taken!

The drivers have been very careful.

Trying to get everything to fit. This is the 2nd truck load.

These are the new ford trucks, parked in our compound.

 E/S Howard's truck. Silver, 6 speed, 3.2 diesel, leather
seats and blue tooth. Constantly in need of wash from the
unfinished roads and huge potholes!!!

This man has come to a wheelchair clinic, sponsored by
Ministry of Health. E Howard attended without his comp
who was at another function.

Previous wheelchair recipients.

Various wheelchairs available for any need.

All shapes and sizes!

Young Lady at the clinic.

This is no bull! In my previous pic the calf was nursing! These
horns look heavy.

We just finished loading all the mosquito nets and decided to
try on horns. This is our Mission President. Sis Chatfield in the
doorway and Pres Chatfield adjusting my horns. Ralph is amazed!