TCON soccer camp video!!!!

Watch this awesome video that Jeremiah put together about the girls' soccer camp we did last week! Good job Jeremiah!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgWEYOJcaQk


Yay God!

Day 9

Today we went to a village about 30 minutes away to do another field day with the school kids.  On the bus ride there, our neighbors stopped us and gave us this note....

There were about 900 kids at the field day so we are learning to constantly be flexible!  At first, these children were much more timid than the children in Soroti because they don't see white people ("Mazungus") as often.

 After playing a bunch of games, teaching them "Ta-te-ta-ta" and Mingle, they finally warmed up to us and were so excited that we came to hang out with them.

After hanging out with the children, we played a soccer match against the 15 year old boys.  We beat them 1-0 on Matt's first goal of his soccer career!  The crowd of children loved him and would always get loud when he had the ball.  At the end, the children were screaming "Olay, olay, olay, olay!"  They were so excited that we came.


Our team has become very close on this trip.  We are all very flexible and willing to do whatever needs to be done.  We hung out and played the card game spoons.  We saw a baby lizard on the wall and Carrie caught it!

Day 8

Today we got the chance to visit and tour the TASO hospital in Soroti. Our tour guide Dennis or as we say Doctor Dennis showed us around the HIV/AIDS unit, Child Ward, Nutrition Ward, and the Maternity Ward.

Doctor Dennis works with HIV patients to inform on prevention, test, and counsel them through the process. We were unable to take many pictures of the hospital due to patient confidentiality. The hospital was definitely an interesting experience. In the HIV unit a group sang us a song about HIV prevention, it was very entertaining and useful. For patients that are HIV positive they explain the process of how to take their ARVs and if they are disciplined then they can still have a good quality of life.

When we entered the Child, Nutrition, and Maternity Ward sanitation and cleanliness is pretty much none existent. Each room is completely open to the next even if one room is for sick people and the other is for healthy people. While walking around we saw many kids with IVs in their neck and head, when we asked Denis, he said that they will try and put the IV in both arms first but many times they can not find the vein so they will put it in their head or neck.

We also got the opportunity to visit the labor room while women were delivering but all of the TCON team declined except Chelsea and Matt but when Matt saw the women's legs up he immediately left the room. Visiting the hospital was a good experience just to be able to see the difference from an American hospital.

After visiting the hospital we went to an orphanage in Soroti, where we got the chance to hold some babies and play with the kids, which all made us want to adopt!

Charles, the cutest kid ever!!

Tammy trying to lift her legs off the ground while spinning around.

Matt being tender!

Joseph Quote of the Day!

"Dave you need to go repent because you keep falsely accusing me of killing the cat."

Fiona

      As I sat in the chair across the room in a small Ugandan Orphanage, I noticed a very skinny young lady across the room.  Sitting in a chair with her knees pulled up to her chest, a somber look on her face and her big eyes, yellowed from the effects of HIV, strolling around the room in wonder of who we were.  At first I thought she was a seven or eight-year-old girl because of how tiny she was, but we soon found out that she was actually a 15-year-old girl with HIV.   She was very sad today because her Antiretroviral (ARV’s) medication has not been working effectively.

       It was a privilege to spend time with Fiona today and I was glad to see that everyone wasn’t just drawn to the little babies.  All of us took an extreme interest in her and we spent a lot of time holding her hand and just crying for her pain and crying for her sadness and disappointment. 

 

       

     At first Fiona wouldn’t smile at all or even speak one word to us, but after awhile she warmed up to us and we were able to steal a few smiles; we even got her to say some of our names.  Before we left the orphanage, Carrie gave Fiona a necklace and we walked her to the bathroom so she could see what she looked like in the mirror and again, we were able to see her beautiful smile.  We plan to visit Fiona before we leave… I have an incredibly deep love for her after meeting her today and I’m praying that she’ll never go another day not feeling loved…

Tammy – May 28, 2013

Day 7

Day 7

    

   Today was another exciting day here just outside of Soroti in a small village.  Here we have learned that we must be accepting of changing schedules and at times having no plan at all, and today was no exception! We knew that we would be going to a village and interacting with schoolchildren, showing them the excitement of an American field day (sporting competitions in different events). On the way to the village we found out that we would be participating in a football (soccer) game against some of the village men! When we arrived, we also found out that we would be conducting a training session for one of the girls' teams that was in our tournament the prior week.

       Upon arriving, we set up our events for the field day and had a great time showing them some different competitions. About 150 children participated from the ages of around 5 to 15, boys and girls. Among the  events were relay races, forward and backward sprints, throw-ins for distance, and goal shooting.

       After wrapping up the field day, we were excited to find out that the village would be performing tribal songs and a dance for us, as well as a prepared skit. We also were able to share with the people our purpose for being there, namely our love of sports, our love of God, and our desire for them to know God. From there, we went on to play the soccer game against the village men who were very good, on a field with shin and knee-high grass. We are learning how to play in a variety of conditions here and ended up winning the soccer game on an own goal by the other team (with some help from a referee who enjoyed helping the Americans with some calls).

       After a fun filled day, we arrived home to another wonderful meal prepared by Immaculate our cook,
who continues to spoil us. Many of our dinners include rice, seasoned beans, cabbage or cole slaw, potatoes, and a meat dish.

       Sometimes in the evenings we reflect on the events of the day (at times having so-called "cheesy" or "cheeseball" moments). There are a few recurring themes at these discussions. One of them is a feeling of confidence in God even when many of the situations here are out of our hands.  Many times we have felt that our schedule of events is out of our control because of logistical and cultural challenges. But every day we come home satisfied, feeling and knowing that God was in control of the day and trusting that He always has a plan even amidst chaos and the unknown.  Another item that we have been grateful to experience is the simplicity of life here. Each day our schedule essentially consists of serving others, reading about and focusing on God, and eating meals. It is amazing at how simple days like these, focused on others and God, can bring such satisfying and gratifying feelings.

Day 6

DAY 6 - A Day of Rest (we took our day of rest early)

We were finally able to rest today!!  We were able to sleep in and spend quality time in the morning individually with God.  Matt and Andrew experienced a Ugandan church for the first time.  

The church was filled with energy and the pastor would preach and integrate praise music throughout his teaching.  The pastor spoke about how God chooses ordinary people to do great things.  He referenced the story of David and how he was the youngest of many brothers and seemed the like the least to become a king and carry out the powerful works of God.  He wanted to remind the people that they can also carry out these great works because all things are possible with God.  Everyone at the church was very welcoming and kind.  They also required all new people to get up and introduce themselves.  

Immaculate, our cook, in the picture below is unbelievable!  She has prepared meals including, chicken, goat, beef, pork, beens, rice, chipote (fried tortillas, delicious!), coleslaw and much more.  

All fresh and very tasty!!  

She is very sweet and works everyday to prepare delicious meals for us!  She is a very hard worker!

 Getting ready to go to the market!!!  We also had a new friend join us from Oklahoma, who had been here for 5 months already.  Her name is Faith. 

 We decided to go to the market!  These bags that you see below hold 200 lbs worth of beans, rice, or flour.

 The market was filled with all kinds of fruts, vegetables, and clothes.

 LOL oh Dani

 We then went to the grocery store and bought some Ugandan Mango juice and imported chocolate from England.  Always need some chocolate!

 Along the side of the main street they have food, fish, meat and all kinds of stuff.

Matt and Andrew jamming out at the end of the night!