Hospitals...

The last two weeks have been crazy!
Early last week a friend of mine (Emmanuel - aka Emma), who lives with Francis and his brothers, got into a motorcycle accident and wound up in the hospital. Someone came to my house first thing in the morning, asking me to try to get some money to help him and to come down to the clinic as soon as possible. I went down unsure of what i would find.
It turns out that Emma was riding the motorbike and a huge swarm of bees starting stinging him on the head, under his shirt, everywhere! He would have moved away but a car was coming towards him in the opposite lane and he ended up getting a little mixed up and flying off as the bike hit a post.

He got to the clinic before 8am with Francis and I arrived shortly thereafter. As a good friend, it was so hard to see Emma in so much pain. The bone doctor who works in Jinja happened to be in Kampala at the time (which is usually a couple hours drive away with traffic) and so little was done for Emma until that doctor could come in to see him. We waited and waited and waited as I picked bee stingers out of Emma's back and arms that still remained. Finally, after some X-Rays, and the doctor's arrival we found out that Emma had broken his leg (just below his knee in the front), and his big toe, and the gash in the back of his leg was so deep it almost reached the bone. Emma was stitched up and put in a cast and we were told that he would have to stay for at least 5 days as the wound would have to be attended to. The first two days were the worst for Emma, as the cast was even over top of the wound. After 2 days time they cut a hole in the cast to try to attend to the wound from that time forward. Emma's mom came to stay with him in the clinic and many friends came by to see him. I spent a lot of time running up and down, bringing meals and tea and just spending time visiting (and playing scrabble) with both Emma and his dear sweet mom.

Emma was just this Monday evening released from the clinic and went to stay with his mom until his leg is recovered as she can give him the best attention and care at this time. Please pray for Emma that his leg and toe heal well and that he can be back on his feet once again. We all thanked God that Emma survived the accident with relatively minor injuries (though I'm sure not minor pain).

I think the whole situation really made me think again about true community and how precious it truly is to serve one another in love. It also made me appreciate, once again, the free health care that we enjoy in Canada. I truthfully don't know how people ever survive financially when things like this happen here. I always wonder how people survive, in general, with the cost of things in this country and the minimal jobs, but this situation, even more, made me really consider the harshness and reality of just barely scraping by, the way most Ugandans live day-to-day. I suppose that is why their faith in God is so confident and strong, because they truly see God provide time and time and time again when things seem utterly impossible.

I also have learned something about sacrificial giving... God brings challenges our way at times to see how we will respond I suppose and if we'll be willing to let go, even when it hurts, and trust him. I thank Him for such challenges that stretch my faith.

On another note, I have also made three trips to Kampala in the last week as well. I had to renew my visa once again, and the Lord provided someone to help me run around Kampala on the very day that I needed to get the process started. Taking public transport around Kampala is NOT a simple task so to have someone help out with a car was a HUGE blessing.

I also took a baby from Sonrise Babies Home in to a clinic in Kampala on Monday to get the results from her HIV test that was done a couple weeks before. She came back NEGATIVE, Praise the Lord, however we had her tested for TB that day and just today had to take her in for the results. Well, we found out that she does in fact have it. This poor little girl, less than a year old, with TB! The crazy thing is that she had been to a few doctors before but no one could figure out what was wrong with her, but this doctor, after looking at her X-rays from previous months suspected right away that this little girl had TB. She will have to be on medication for the next 6 months. Please pray for her healing, her name is Brenda. I enjoyed so much just being with this little girl this week though... it reminded me once again of how much I hope to adopt some little ones one day. That desire has always been in me, to take in a couple little orphans as my own. I pray that in time God would allow that to happen. The nurse at the clinic told me that I looked like the mommy to little Brenda, I guess I couldn't help but love her. How can you do anything but love a little one who doesn't have parents?! That is our job as decent human beings, and even more so, as Christians!!! True religion is to take care of orphans and widows in their distress, the book of James talks about, how can we not?

One other blessing from this week is this... I met a muzungu (white) friend who happens to be from Canada. I think even just knowing one white person will be good for me... for those moments when I need a little piece of home, and someone to understand where I come from. I love my many Ugandan friends, but thank God for my one new Canadian friend too.

Well, that is enough of my thoughts for tonight...

Thanks for reading, and staying interested in my life here in Uganda.

Love you all!

Karen

New happenings...

A lot has happened since my last post...
Francis and I had the privilege of joining up with a Samaritan's Purse team from Canada in the Kamwenge district of Uganda for two weeks this last month. What a blessing that time was!
I was able to reunite with an old co-worker from Samaritan's Purse. Sarah has been working part-time for SP doing some testing on the bio-sand water filters in Kamwenge. Her and her husband Stuart allowed Francis and I to bunk at their house to keep our costs down so we could join the team with minimal expense. How incredible to see someone from home!!! I didn't realize how much i was missing home and Canada until I met up with Sarah, Stuart and this team.
During those two weeks the team learned a lot about the process of building and installing the bio-sand water filters... we were able to do a couple of hygiene fairs at local primary schools and one day even had an opportunity to vaccinate chickens, de-worm goats and help a man put a grass roof on his cattle shed (all of these people were recipients of projects of Samaritan's Purse). And to their credit I must say how impressive the work of Samaritan's Purse is in the Kamwenge district - they really have made a huge impact on many lives in and around that area by providing households with clean water, and helping many with their livestock projects as well. I hope and pray that Rays of Hope can one day make such a huge difference in the people of Kaberamaido.
For a couple days afterwards we also had the opportunity to go to Queen Elizabeth Park and see some real African wildlife on a game drive. We saw elephants, lions, hippos, kob, waterbuck, water buffalo, and warthogs (I've posted a few of these pics on facebook).
It was sad to say good-bye to the team after spending 2 cozy weeks with them, but life must go on... and so Francis and I returned to Jinja.
The days following my return were difficult, I have never really missed home so much as at that time, and even now still. I think it is especially difficult when i consider the possibility of staying for many years. A few months, a year or two, is not a big deal to give or commit to, but when you start thinking about more than that, the gravity of such a decision is a little scary. One day at a time, that is instead how i must live for now. As for next year... I don't know what is yet to come. I return to Canada in September, the plan is to stay for Christmas, and in January, either return to continue to help Francis with Rays of Hope or stay back and find a job in Canada, and do what i can to help from that end. Time will tell, and i trust that God will lead.
One thing i have come to see, is the struggle it is to have a missionary heart. No matter where you are there always seems to be a pull in two different directions. When i was in Canada my heart was longing to be here, now that I'm here part of me pulls me back to my home. I think i get along really well with the Ugandan people, and yet there are things about me they will never understand as I'm from a place so foreign to them, but then the same thing happens when i go back to Canada, though i am Canadian, the part of me that has been etched by my love of this place can only be understood by those who have spent time here, or are from here. Something to think about the next time you meet a missionary returning from the field, or a person who has just immigrated to Canada, i suppose their feeling is much the same.
Rays of Hope for Uganda, at this point, is still in the process of raising money. I thank everyone who has been helping to sell necklaces and African handbags to help us. Many hands make light work, and we are deeply grateful for all help you've given! Please pray that God would continue to bring in the finances needed to move forward into our next steps. If anyone else would like to help us in any way, please let me know.
Back in Jinja I'm trying to keep busy volunteering at Sonrise Babies home here and there and spending time with many people... my schedule isn't as busy as i'm used to in North America (and that is sometimes a huge struggle as our North American culture is all about the accomplishing of tasks), yet i hope that this time may be helping to develop my character in some way, and that my life here would really be making a difference in some of the lives of others despite what visible, concrete work i see getting done at this time.
Weekly bible study is continuing on at my house and we are learning a lot together.
Life overall is good. God is providing for me month by month for my 'daily bread' so to speak, and i trust He will continue to do so. Thank you to those of you who have been so generous and helped me out financially so i can be here at this time.
Well, that is about all for now. Off to go take out the garbage and feed the chickens.
Love,
Karen

More chicken tales (just for laughs)

Some people have a dog in their yard. I have chickens. You know how people say that if you feed an animal it will love you. That statement is completely TRUE... even with chickens! The whole family of chicken; the hens, the chicks and the rooster follow me to the gate some days when I am going into town (a bit of a farewell i guess)... and sometimes i hear the rooster's footsteps running behind me, just like any other pet would. Kind of reminds me of a puppy actually... Who knew?! They hang around my door, and when i carry out the garbage they are right on my tail following behind to get their special treat. With the exception of the rooster crowing at odd times throughout the day, in competition with the neighbor's rooster, i think I'm rather starting to warm up to the little creatures. :)

Many things to catch up on...

Malaria:
As much as I don't enjoy the feeling of being sick, there is something beautiful about being cared for so thoroughly as I was this past week. On Wednesday morning the beginnings of malaria began and I slept off and on throughout the whole day. Joel and Emma came over and cleaned my house thoroughly for me, knowing I wasn't feeling up to it. In the evening when Ivan came over I was at my worst in terms of a high fever and weakness. He decided i couldn't wait any longer to go to the clinic and we went to town to get me tested. The results came out positive, i definitely had malaria and was sent home to begin medication. We walked outside and as Ivan went into a shop to get me some juice i fainted on the sidewalk. All i remember was looking up at about 6 different Ugandan men all making a commotion and helping me up, telling me i needed to go to the clinic. From that time on i was admitted and put on IV. Even after a few minutes of having the first bag of fluid i was feeling stronger and better. But malaria is a funny thing... one minute you might be feeling okay, but then the next minute you are feeling terrible again. For those of you who have never had it and wonder what it is like I will explain the symptoms i had. You have a constant headache, your joints all begin to ache (this is often a warning that malaria is coming), you get a fever, cold sweats, temperature changes (one minute you're feeling cold and shivering non-stop, the next minute you're hot and need a fan blowing on you), terrible diahrea, vomitting, extreme weakness and no appetite for food (which is a sure sign to me that i'm sick as i never have a problem eating... ha ha ha), and, of course i fainted as well. As much as the sickness was not at all fun, I think rarely i have felt so loved as the way my friends cared for me in that hospital room all through the night. Ivan running up to my house multiple times to get me things (and even making me homemade chicken soup when i was feeling better), people visiting and praying for me, even just showing concern. I thank God that i was able to experience a beautiful thing, even though it was through a difficult trial of illness. I was released from the hospital the next evening after I had received my 4 bags of fluid that my body needed, but now, days later, am still recovering.
Visa Issues:
I have to give God the praise! I was in quite a predicament this past week with trying to get my visa extended (it had already expired without my knowledge). It was my own mistake, as i had assumed that the visa had been issued for the same amount of time that my first one had been when i was here years ago... Well, thankfully God provided a contact for me that helped me to get another one without too many issues. I'm grateful! I'll be watching the next deadline date very carefully!
Computer and Bike:
Another answered prayer is that God has provided Rays of Hope with a laptop! My mom brought it for the ministry when she came and recently we were able to buy an internet stick so i can have internet at home. I'm so grateful as the internet here works quickly and I can use it anytime i want. We also realized the great need for transportation to get around the village when we're up there and so it was decided that we would buy a motorbike to help with that (it is more like a dirtbike). Francis is enjoying having it to get around Jinja at this time and i know it will be useful as we make our trips up to Kaberamaido.
Ministry sometimes shows up on the doorstep:
One day i was home in the morning and a lady showed up with her little boy. Her name was Mariam and his was Reagan. She was young, i later discovered that she was only 23 years old, and had one lame leg. After some questioning, we realized she was looking for school fees for her 6 year old son to go to school. God really gave me compassion for this woman and my heart went out to her and so i agreed to help her son to get back in school, though financially was not sure how I'd manage... I just trusted that God would work things out. As we visited with her for the morning she talked about how she wasn't sure what to do, she had thought about giving the boy to a children's home as he often could not understand why there was no food in the house. As a job she would buy tomatoes from people and then resell them at the market which made little money. As i thought about it i really felt badly for her, that she couldn't work in the garden even if she wanted to with her disability. How difficult life can be in this society for a normal Ugandan, let alone someone with a disability who has a son to care for! A thought came to my mind... for Rays of Hope we're selling necklaces... maybe she could learn to make those and we could buy them from her to sell as well as ones that we will make ourselves. Well, it just so happened that a girl I knew from GSF orphanage had spent the night at my house the night before and knew how to make the necklaces! Mariam was happy to learn so that very day, as Ivan went to the school to pay the child's school fees, we bought the supplies and Mariam learned to make the necklaces. She went away that day with some hope, which in the morning had been lacking on her face.
A few days later we got a call that she had been kicked out of her home (the landlord had discovered that her son was in school and believed she had come into some money so kicked her out because she was behind on her rent), but Mariam had a friend gracious enough to have her and Reagan stay for some time. I visited her at her friend's home and saw that she was doing okay.
Some days past and Mariam showed up on my doorstep once again. She pulled out some of the necklaces that she had made and they were beautiful! Her first beads she had made were very imperfect but she improved quickly and the necklaces she was producing looked lovely. I encouraged her and bought the three really pretty ones she had. Mariam beamed with pride. It felt good to give someone a way to help themselves. She went home planning to finish more that she had began working on and soon, i believe i will see her on my doorstep again. It is her desire to move back into her place soon. Please pray for her that she will be able to do so and that God would continue to bless her new small business.
Rays of Hope:
Right now we're waiting on funding so we can begin building in Kaberamaido, and Francis is working on re-registering the ministry here in Uganda once again. Please pray for us that God would touch people's hearts and the funding would come through as well as all the paperwork that requires wisdom on this end.
Bible Study:
We have started a weekly prayer/bible study every Thursday night at my home. Ivan, with his 5 years of seminary, has agreed to prepare and lead the discussion each time as I host and provide my home and the snacks. So far the turnout has been great, between 10-15 each time. It has been a really good time of digging into God's Word, discussing and learning from one another and praying about the many needs we see day-to-day. A special thanks to my mom who brought me 3 worship DVD's. They have been useful and very much enjoyed at the study!
Samaritan's Purse Water team:
A wonderful opportunity has come up for Francis and I. Samaritan's Purse is sending a team to Uganda in March to build and install the bio-sand water filters and we have been given permission to join so we can accumulate some of that knowledge as well. I am very much looking forward to this time... to reconnecting with Sarah (another former Sam's Purse employee i know who is living in Uganda now and will be leading this team), and with meeting new people and getting involved in this great work.
My finances:
This month has been especially difficult for finances for me, with my visa being due, with my hospital stay, still trying to pay for my car insurance in Canada (it hasn't sold yet)... I find my fleshly self worrying about money, and then the spiritual part of me stepping back and saying, 'NO, i have to trust God, as i know that God always provides in his time'. This, in fact, is what i longed for in North America, to be dependent upon God, even in this area. Well, now i have to be. Still, it requires prayer.
So please pray for me that God would provide month by month for my needs, and that God would help me in whatever way he chooses to to get rid of my debt as well that i still have outstanding in Canada. I thought it was by my car selling in Canada but it still hasn't sold... I trust God knows what's best and it will happen in His time.
A friend coming?!
I may possibly have a friend coming here to visit me in May... my friend Heather. Please pray that this works out. It would be a gigantic blessing to see someone from home. I'm not a person who misses home very often, but lately i find myself longing for Canada a lot... maybe it is the power always going off in my house, maybe it is the fact that my brother and sister in law just had a baby girl i won't see until September, maybe it is the fact that i was sick or the fact that i still feel scattered with ministry in that not a whole lot can happen yet with Rays of Hope. Either way, I've been longing for home.
Well, that is about it for now... I'm glad to have finally caught up on this blog... the rain has not stopped all morning long, so without a vehicle I am housebound today, as are most Ugandans... my plan was to visit the Sonrise babies today as i am missing them terribly, get some groceries (as my house is empty of them since my illness) and wash some clothes, all of which were veto'd today by the rain.
Well, thanks for reading... thank you for caring, and thank you for praying.
I love and appreciate you my friends,
Karen

'Rays of Hope for Uganda' owns land!!!

Hello dear friends...
I feel like it has been so long since i last wrote! It has been a busy last few weeks. My mom arrived at the beginning of January, and just last night she flew away. It was sad to see her go, she really is one of my best friends, and i am thankful to have such an amazing, supportive mom who happens to love Uganda as much as i do. She will be greatly missed here, not just by me but by many of her other 'kids' that she has here. She has left a hole in each of our hearts with her absence. Thankfully, there is email and facebook!!!

I have exciting news to share! Last week we took a trip up to Kaberamaido with the intention of purchasing land. We went with one piece of land in our minds only to find an even better piece of land for the same price. The funny thing about this is that both Francis and I were talking last month that something just like this would probably happen... God always seems to surprise us!
It all happened so quickly and smoothly, just as we were praying it would. The very first day Francis and Allan (Francis' cousin) looked at the land, all the local counselmen, the landowner and his brothers and witnesses all loaded into the van and we made a deal to purchase the 15 acre parcel. We were able to get the land for much cheaper than the man originally wanted for it... as a community everyone encouraged him to sell it to us as the development (our ministry) would serve as a blessing to the community and they didn't want to miss out.

I'll tell you a little bit about it... the land is right along the lakeshore of Lake Kyoga in a small fishing village called Akampala. There is plenty of room to build (and most of the building materials are right there already and the villagers even make bricks right there themselves so we do not have to move far for these but can get the work done on our doorstep!). There is also a lot of space for farming and agriculture. We hope to plant some cash crops, possibly cotton or sunflower one day to help support the ministry in time. And because there used to be a corral somewhere on the land we even have some good manure to spread to give nutrients to the soil! We would also like to have cattle, pigs and chickens one day as well... in time, and there are PLENTY of fish in lake Kyoga!
So far, i think i saw one mango tree and some orange trees (possibly 20 of them), though the orange trees are doing poorly and need some special attention!

The plan is to build an orphanage there, made up of many little homes, as well as to provide a clinic, school and church to benefit these children as well as the surrounding community. The nearest school is approximately 5 miles away and most of the children in the area do not attend, though they themselves and their parents would like them to.

Our initial focus with this project will be to begin construction on a large multiplex building which will work for now as a community centre, church, clinic and the beginnings of a school. Additionally, we will be installing some water tanks to be used for water treatment and a few latrines. We have great need to buy a truck as well as this land is in a remote area and transport is challenging without a reliable vehicle. The villagers are very excited to have us move in ‘next door’ and we will be grateful to hire them to give assistance in some areas of the building/farming process.
We have already spoken to the local counselmen in Kaberamaido and informed them of our plans. They informed us that the registration and paperwork may be grueling but they are thankful for what we plan to do and will help us as much as they can and help direct us along the way.

Why this area in Kaberamaido, you may ask? Well, for those of you who don't know, the vision for this ministry was born in the heart of my friend Francis who is now my work partner in Uganda with this project. Francis was born in Kaberamaido, but after losing both parents was taken to live at an orphanage in another district. For the last few years he has had a burning on his heart to give back and to help his own people because he has seen the great need of the people and has found that there are almost no other NGO’s or local ministries operating in his home district, so here we are, moving towards that dream. The cool thing about the ministry team that God has put together, my mother, Francis and I, is that all along it seems that we are thinking the same thing, are on the same page, so to speak, regarding both small and large things, and are willing to be flexible and hear eachother out as well. I pray that God would continue to grant us the Unity of the Spirit and that it would always be by His leading in His time! Right now, Francis is in school, taking a business and management course that I believe will be, and has already been, helpful towards this ministry. He also, months ago, attended a Watoto Children's Home Conference about starting ministry and gained some very useful information in that time as well.

With a dream and endeavor of this magnitude we also recognize our need of help from outsiders.
If God places it on your heart to help us in any way, by financial means, or by helping us do fundraisers, or, possibly one day by bringing a team of volunteers, all would be appreciated! Already there are a few ladies i know who have graciously accepted the challenge to sell some necklaces for us in Canada.

If you do choose to donate please make the cheque out to: ‘Rays of Hope for Uganda Inc.’
And mail to:

Joanna Hulowski
RR5 site 23 box 165
Prince Albert, SK
S6V 5R3
All donations given to ‘Rays of Hope for Uganda’ will be issued a Canadian tax receipt.

If you have any other questions or would like updates on our project please feel free to email me at hulowski@hotmail.com, or talk to Joanna Hulowski at 306-763-5626. I, or Joanna, can provide you with our registered charity status number upon request.

Thank you for your interest!
Love and appreciate you, my friends!
Karen

Caring Place...

This week I spent a couple days with the boys from Caring Place (a home for kids who used to be on the streets). What amazing boys they are! Every visitor that comes to see them they each greet with a hug. It doesn't matter if you visit them 3 times in the same day you still get 3 hugs from all the boys. Who wouldn't love that?!
My mom flies in tonight finally... I look forward to taking her around and showing her all that is new in this place since the last time she visited with me in 2006.
Not much more to say for now. It will be a busy next few weeks...
Karen

New Years!

New Years Eve was great! I went out to dinner with a friend... to a restaurant where the music was WAY too loud. There was a competition between the Indian and Ugandan parties at the restaurant! Apparently the louder the better! Another reminder as to where I am!
Later on in the evening i got together with a few people here to just thank God for all that He has done this past year in all of our lives and to pray for the year ahead. I love listening to the testimonies of my Ugandan brothers and sisters. The things they thank God for most people in the Western world take for granted. 'I praise God because though i have missed a few meals here and there, most of the time I have had a meal to eat', 'I thank God for health, i only had malaria one time this year', I thank God that somehow i'm able to still rent this room though i often don't know where the money will come from' (and this is a room, not a whole house!), 'I thank God for his provision with school fees that he just provided day by day'. It is humbling to listen to. I had many things to thank God for for this year, the fact that i lost my job because I would not be here in Africa if i hadn't, the fact that before i got laid off i was able to go to Brazil (a country i really desired to visit), and that i was able to lead a team on my own as well (to Brazil) before i left that job. I realize how spoiled I am with the opportunities God has given me! The fact is... we have a lot to be thankful for, for life and the freedom to make decisions about our life, especially in North America, to have family when so many people don't (I for one am thankful for the family I have), for health and eyesight (this comes from someone i met yesterday who mysteriously went blind).
Most born again Christians in Uganda gather together to pray on New Years Eve, many from the villages save money for a long time for the transport to come to churches in the city for this very occasion, and many pray and sing and worship through the whole night. Talk about dependence on God! We have something to learn about faith...
Anyway, hope your New Years was wonderful (whoever is reading this!). Happy 2010, i can hardly believe it is here!
Love always,
Karen