Month: May 2015
So far, so good.
5/29/15: So far, so good.
We drove to Dallas last night because of the potential of flooding and traffic. Had a leisurely Whataburger next to the Comfort Inn, and woke up to flash flood warnings, road closures and water rescues around the Metroplex.
After a spot of coffee, we took a leisurely five-minute shuttle ride to the airport, and found a “free” luggage cart next to our drop-off point.
We loaded up our 250-plus pounds of luggage and took a leisurely walk to the Delta ticket counter. A very friendly agent at the kiosk area checked us in and gave us our boarding passes.
On the the luggage drop-off and another friendly and funny Delta agent checked our bags all the way to Entebbe, which was yet another pleasant morning surprise. We thought we had to pick up all of our bags and run them through customs in Amsterdam, with what seemed to be a way too short hour and twenty minute window to connect to our final flight to Entebbe.
We received pre-check tags for our carry-ons and some sort of pre-TSA screening, meaning a short line, no searches, and we didn’t have to open any of our bags or show anything we were bringing. Remarkably simple, easy and pleasant.
The only glitch has been self-inflicted. I kept setting off the metal detector and kept thinking it was the three screws in my surgically repaired ankle. Just before the required pat-down, I realized I had my cell phone in a lower pocket of my cargo pants and was allowed to continue on my journey.
A cup of Starbucks coffee later, and we’re sitting at our gate, waiting to board our flight to Detroit.
From drop-off at the curb to now took just about an hour. I’m sure it has to do with all the prayers directed our way, but this has been the easiest, least stressful, and best airline experience either of us have ever had.
God, and Uganda, is calling
Only about 24 hours before our departure from DFW, and one other thing comes to mind.
Over the past few weeks or so, numerous people have asked us what organization is supporting us, or if we’re being funded by the church, a foundation, a charity, or some philanthropic organization.
The short answer is nope. We have set up a Go Fund Me page, and have received some wonderful donations, and have also received some very gracious private donations of cash and other items.
But the bulk of the trip is being covered by what we’ve been able to save from our very meager (does that sound pathetic enough?) retirements, craft sales and, quite literally, selling off everything in our apartment.
And that’s okay. It’s what we want to do and, more importantly, we think it’s what God wants us to do.
We probably laugh about it every day, debating whether this really is what God wants us to do.
I guess we’re going to find out eh?
Reusable sanitary supplies for Ugandan girls
Reusable sanitary supplies for Ugandan girls is a project Bonnie found out about quite by accident.
“Millions of girls in Sub-Saharan Africa are disempowered by the simple biological process of menstruation. Affordable and hygienic sanitary protection is not available to girls in many areas. They resort to the use of unhygienic rags and cloths which puts them at the risk of infections. Many poorer girls either skip school when they have their periods or simply drop out completely.
A girl absent from school due to menstruation for four days of every 28 day cycle loses 13 learning days, the equivalent to two weeks of learning, every school term. A survey of menstruating girls in Uganda found that “the biggest numbers of school dropouts are girls because of inconveniences during their menstrual periods.”
Educated girls are more likely to become empowered women; they are more likely to take control of their lives, have economic security, and raise fewer and healthier children who will in turn be more likely to be educated themselves.”
Hopefully, we’ll be able to help in that respect. With the help of some of the women of our local Catholic Daughters of the Americas (CDA) we’ve prepared a number of kits, which we’ll be dropping off at various locations.
Typically, the kit would contain at least two pair of girl’s panties, but we could only afford a single pair this time around. Also included is a bar of soup, a reusable sanitary napkin, a baggie to aid in washing the soiled napkin and, this go round, instructions for making their own.
The St Peter the Apostle CDA chapter is taking on this project, and will be making sanitary napkins for other kits we’ll be putting together once we get back from our three-week discernment.
What every good traveler packs for three weeks in Uganda.
What every good traveler packs for three weeks in Uganda.
I would have liked to pack a few of these items in one of the four other bags we’re checking through, but we ended up packing each of our “extra” suitcases to bursting; clothes, shoes, flip-flops, toys, books, CDs, health items, egg noodle supplies, religious items, wall maps, toothbrushes and toothpaste, gifts, artwork, soaps and personal hygiene products, and more.
48 and 42 pounds in the larger bags, and 38 and 39 pounds in the smaller ones, and there’s not room for an extra sock in any of them.
We also thought we were being really, really organized but, in the end, the bags we’re checking are a hot mess. We had hoped to have stuff in each bag for each location we were stopping, but it seems we’re going to have to open and sort through each bag at every stop on our way.
Oy Vey.
36 hours and counting until lift-off.
Check, check and check
A bit more than 48 hours away from boarding the first leg of our around the world trip to Uganda, and we’re sorta, kinda ready…maybe.
I just popped the first Malaria pill I’ll be taking throughout our trip, and for a month after we get home (doctor’s orders). That, for me, was just another of many signs (as if I needed any) that we’re really, truly going.
Bonnie and I both did a semi dry-run, as far as packing personal items we’d be taking, but sometime between this afternoon and Thursday morning we have to get real serious, as Thursday afternoon we’re heading to Dallas for the night.
Our flight out of DFW leaves at 11:00 AM Friday, but we’ll be staying at a hotel near the airport, and have already paid to park our truck at the hotel for the three weeks we’re on the road. We figured, with the almost daily thunderstorms, flood warnings, construction, and morning rush-hour traffic it’d be best if we meandered over to Dallas a day before, instead of taking a panic-stricken and white-knuckle drive the morning of our flight.
Chat Noir, the black cat, will be an indoor cat while we’re gone. Plenty of food and water, two (2) litter boxes, and a neighbor friend is checking in on him. He usually sleeps most the time anyway, so we imagine when we get back he’ll look at us and ask, “Oh, have you been gone?”
The dogs will be dropped off with their sitter on Thursday. We’re sure they’ll be traumatized by the time they’ve been rescued, and Bonnie is positive Chloe and Gidget, while ecstatic we’re back, will also be pouting for a while after we get home.
Bonnie will be completing her nursing home ministry this morning and we’ll both be at Adoration after that. The rest of the day, we have some final (I hope) running around to do; a few last purchases at JoAnn’s so Bonnie can finish off a couple things she’s working on for the children we’re visiting, Bonnie has to get her nails done, and I have to visit Fuzzy’s for a few pre-trip tacos.
I might wash a final load of clothes, mostly so I can get most of the dog hair off the fleece jacket I’m wearing on the plane.
I’d better quit now, so I can obsess about something else for the next couple days.
WATCH: Jack Black’s Emotional Red Nose Day Segment
Very powerful piece. I don’t know anything about the Red Nose charity, but will have to do some more research into what they do and where their money goes.
Packed…almost
While we’re not officially registered as missionaries, apparently just going to Uganda this time of year qualifies and, besides our carry ons with personal items, we’re each being allowed to check through two 50-pound bags.
Our bags, when we’re finished, will be close to 45 pounds each as we want a tiny leeway, just in case. As you can see, they already seem pretty full, but never fear, there are still a few other items we figure we can cram in before we head to the airport.
Ticks, mosquitoes, chiggers, mites and other biting insects. That about covers it.
At some point, we’re going to have to board our flight to Uganda, and will have to just figure if we don’t have something, it’s just something we didn’t need.
But, in the meantime, we’ll just keep acquiring.
Today’s purchase, which should be here in 4-5 days and a cozy three days before we head to the airport, is a bottle of Sawyer’s clothing and gear insect repellant.
The reviews, including a couple from Africa, are spectacular. We’re still taking a couple bottles of 100% Deet, but Sawyer’s seems almost too good to pass up.
$18.95 from Duluth Trading Company, for a 24-ounce bottle.
Contains Permethrin, an ingredient proven to kill and repel ticks, mosquitoes, chiggers, mites and other biting insects. Odorless, non-staining. One application lasts through 6 washes or up to 6 weeks.
We’ll let you know how well it works.
A late surge in donations means more can be done
We’ve experienced a bit of a surge in donations as we close in on our departure date. It’s gratifying and very much appreciated, as we’re able to make some last minute purchases of items we thought we’d have to delay until we were able to save up.
We’re limited to two 50-pound bags each, that we’ll be able to check through to Entebbe, and those bags will be stuffed to the maximum by the time we fly out of DFW.
For this trip, there are also a number of items we’ll buy in Uganda; blankets, printer paper and ink, more clothes and shoes and, we’re sure, items that come up that we had no idea were needed.
When, as anticipated, we return “for good” in February, there will be a lot more we’ll be able to do, as far as developing self-sufficiency; feeding, clothing and educating orphans and other needy children; helping cultivate clean water sources; helping build and open health clinics and schools; and, hopefully, involving Mary’s Meals in their goal of providing a daily meal to every child at their place of education.
The journey continues. God Bless you and thank you all, again, for your prayers and assistance.
Another unexpected gift
What a wonderful surprise we had today!
We received a generous donation from our friend Timmie for the trip to Uganda.
Thank you so very much for this badly needed donation and the love that came with it.
We will be using 100% of the funds for educational toys, school supplies and basic over the counter Meds for ringworm and other common skin ailments we will encounter while there.
You are a blessing Timmie and will be with us on this trip in so many ways.
Which Way? Our Way! 