Uncategorized
Uganda Day Zero
1/12/15: Bags checked, through security, cup of coffee, and wifi. Good thing we got here five hours early eh? When’s nap time?
What A Difference A Day Makes
Yesterday feeling like a psalmist and today like a crybaby.
I had two or three weepy episodes today.
Sadness and homesickness washed over me with no warning.
Poor Wayne is trying to drive and negotiate and say something, anything that will calm me down.
I miss my dogs, I am realizing we are leaving the United States to live, not just visit, and everything we now own is in 8 suitcases.
As I always ask my doctor “is this normal?”
I didn’t expect all of these emotions and have been rather cavalier the last six months about giving it all away and serving others.
The reality is that we are all just humans with all of the shortcomings and frailties that come with the territory.
Perhaps, my motto could be, like St Joan of Arc “I was born for this!”
/s/ Bonnie
Mission Musings
By Bonnie…
January 10, 2016
For the Grace to see you in each one I encounter today
For the strength to always seek Thy will
For the courage to leave behind everything just for the sake of serving
You called me
You led me
You strengthen me
For without you I can do nothing
I am nothing
Fill me up Holy Spirit with your guidance, comfort and courage.
Feeling like the Old Testament psalmists this morning; weak but sure in the knowledge God will not abandon me.
Last night, feeling lonely, missing my little dogs, curled up in bed, sleepy and listening to Wayne pack his carry on and backpack.
Thinking about the incredible event at the end of Mass, when the entire congregation rose, outstretched hands, as we were blessed, sprinkled with Holy Water, and given plain wooden crosses to proudly wear. We were commissioned by St Peter’s The Apostle Church to go forth and evangelize, to spread the word of God in Africa.
Two thousand years of Church history in front of us last night, all around us like the original disciples sent to teach and preach and bring truth to God’s children.
Oh what a sinner I am. How could it be me? I am not worthy to gather up the crumbs or as Saint John the Baptizer said, “There is one greater than I and I am not worthy to unlatch his sandals.
Our worthiness has nothing to do with our calling. We can never be good enough or holy enough.
Thinking God has a great sense of humor because He loves the least of us so very much. Some of the greatest sermons I have heard were in a soup kitchen or the Alzheimer’s ward.
I am still me; vain, proud, silly but, different somehow this morning. A little weepy, very humbled and in awe of what we are doing. At the same time I am feeling o.k. with it all.
Our Uganda goals
Wayne and I were advised to make a list of short term goals and long term goals to take to Uganda.
We will sit and share them with Sister Angeline and perhaps the Board of Directors to see if our goals mesh with theirs.
It should be interesting to compare the lists with the reality in six to twelve months.
We are truly clueless about what is possible and what is just a dream.
The number one goal is always to go to morning Mass and remain open to God’s will because all things are possible through Him!
/s/ Bonnie
Those Uganda Travel Myths People Believe as Real | Safaris to Uganda
Those Uganda Travel Myths People Believe as Real Those Uganda Travel Myths People Believe as Real ?- But are They? There are many Things one can find about Uganda on the Internet that are simply Wrong Those Uganda Travel Myths People Believe as Real – Uganda – the Pearl of Africa – Uganda often gets […]
If God can work through a sinner like me
If God can work through and with a sinner like me.
I finally heard someone I love say the words “going off to love children that are not your own” yesterday.
I knew it might be said so I was ready.
I have no guilt going 9,000 miles around the World and “loving children that are not mine”, because that is what I want to do, am called to do, am ready to do.
I am healthy, retired, no children at home and overjoyed to be able to do this mission with my life partner.
If someone does not “get it” then it’s not up to me to explain it.
/s/ Bonnie
Our Uganda Home, a few before shots
No one’s asked, but when did that ever stop me. LOL
Here’s a few from where we’ll be living in Nkokonjeru, Uganda, beginning in January. The top photo is our two-bedroom apartment, although we figure to turn the second bedroom into a dining area. The left door leads to the living room, the right door to the second bedroom, and the open door is a small clinic where Sister Regina treats wounds and dispenses medicine. Bottom left are the flowers we’ll be planting in the garden out front. Nothing like bluebonnets and hollyhocks to remind you of home. Bottom right is the sun rising out front.
Before photos of our apartment in Nkokonjeru, Uganda, beginning in January. The top photo is our living room. The walls will be painted white and the floor will be polished cement, once we get there. The bottom left is our patio, with the hot water shower room on the left, an emergency outhouse-like toilet behind the closed red door and a western-style flush toilet in the open right door. Bonnie is standing next to the area where we figure to install an outdoor sink/food prep area/gas cooker. Bottom right is our main bedroom.
Top left is our water tank. Sister Angeline is issuing instructions to the plumber, who’s holding up our South wall. Top right is a small anthill out back. Bottom is entering Nokonjeru.
Heading to Uganda; making a list and checking it twice
12/7/15: One of those many items we needed to check off our Uganda to-do list.
Wednesday we’ll be dropping off approximately 500 pounds and one cubic meter of shoes, clothes, religious items, books, other charitable contributions, and household items to Amid Logistics in Grapevine, TX.
From there, the boxes are heading for Houston and the Maersk Pittsburgh for shipment to Kampala, Uganda. The Pittsburgh’s estimated departure date is Dec 17, and the estimated delivery to the Ransami Uganda Limited warehouse in Kampala is Feb 28.
$835.00, so far, for one cubic meter, which is the least expensive way were able to find for shipping this weight and volume. I say so far, as we were warned there could be destination charges.
The biggest item remaining on our check list is selling/getting rid of our 2011 Chevy Silverado 1500 LT Crew Cab. It’s valued at about $23,300 and the current payoff is $22,700 (and about $22,300 in January). Excellent shape, 50,000 miles, pretty consistently 17 MPG around town.
We purchased the truck used about a year ago, planning to use it for something else we had planned. But, as we all know, plans change.
All we want for the truck is enough to pay off the note. Interested?
Less than 40 days to go before our move to Uganda
Less than 40 days to go before we board our flight to Uganda.
I’m quite sure some people thought we’d never be leaving. We’ve been sharing, updating, talking about, and promoting the Little Sisters of St Francis and Providence Home for what seems like forever.
Our friends still see us at church and still participating in local activities, and are probably wondering, “I thought they moved to Uganda?”
For us it’s seemed like forever, even though it’s “only” been six months.
If we were independently wealthy we probably would have been long gone John, settled in, and doing what we could for as long as we could for the children, seniors and Sisters at Providence Home.
There were a number of times we wondered how and when we’d ever come up with the cash for our plane tickets. But, as one of the Nuns at the Sisters of St. Mary of Namur in Fort Worth counseled us, “everything happens on God’s time, not yours”, as she told us to be patient.
From Antique Alley craft sales, the help of friends, and basically selling off everything in our apartment but the bare essentials, we were able to buy our plane tickets.
We still have a couple other very big ticket items to take care of before we head to DFW Airport Jan 12 but, as always, figure everything will work out.
The past six months, as agonizingly long and slow as they’ve seemed, have also served a valuable purpose. Through handmade jewelry sales, fund-raising, and personal contributions we’ve been able to send 26,223,872 Ugandan Shillings to various groups and individuals in Uganda.
We’re also helping a young girl in Malawi stay in Catholic Secondary School, to the tune of 410,623 Malawi Kwachas.
In U.S. Dollars the total is around $8,300. We’ve been happy to do what we could, and overjoyed at those who have helped us help others. The influx of cash we’ve been able to send is more than a small fortune to people who make, on average, a dollar a day.
We hope to be able to send a bit more before we head to Uganda and, once we get settled in, should be able to make an even more significant difference in time and resources.
God Bless.
- ← Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- Next →
Which Way? Our Way! 