All of us back in New Jersey are waiting for postive news and updates now that Tom and Luke are on the ground safely in Uganda. I have sent this blogpost link out and told people to check back in a few days or so for any info.

Mom & Dad are missing Luke already and we were receiving phone calls and text messages regularly from friends and family asking for the updated travel status. We did officially receive 14.5" inches of very heavy wet snow on 2-6-10, breaking the old 24 hr. record of 11.7" set back on 2-6-78. They are now forecasting another major snowstorm to start 0n 2-9-10, so stay warm over there because you are not missing much here.

Please let us know how the scheduled projects are going and when they commence!

We Love you Luke & Uncle Tom!

Mom & Dad

Kontact person: Sarah Chege, sarah@lindersvold.dk, www.lindersvold.dk, +45 23674906

Hi Joe and Elaine,

It has been such a joy to read about all that you accomplished during this most recent stay in Lukaya.  To echo Jackie's sentiment, your wonderful blogs really bring this special place and its people to life.  You are truly an inspiration to me, and I know I speak for my fellow Xavier volunteers when I say that. 

Thanks so much for having invited me to be a part of this phenominal project and for all that you do!

Ashley

 Our time is drawing to a close and we are packing with mixed emotions.  There is so much more that we want to do--especially spending more time with the children at MSA and planning more for next year.  And, we are enjoying our Ugandan friends and being with our Peace Corps volunteer, Kristen, so much; we are sad to have to say good-bye.  But, we are also eager to get home and be with our family and friends, and, to tell the truth be in a clean, quiet and organized place.  

Yesterday was a real high point!  We had a parents meeting at MSA and over 120 parents attended!  It was SRO, with a good representation of men, and all were very attentive, appreciative and vowed to help as soon as a date is set for working on the new land.  "Tell us when and we'll be there!"  The meeting was called for 2, and by 3 we were actually starting (a compromise between Mzungu time and African time).  Before that, as parents arrived, the various classes came in and performed for the gathering crowd.  They were all amazing--so cute and really musical and with great motions and rhythm.  What a joy.  We got to introduce our new Peace Corps volunteer and they all welcomed her warmly. 

We are getting to know more and more parents and children, and many of them actually recognize us.  The children call me Jaja (grand) Elaine.  I like that much better than being called "mzungu."  

We have some great photos but will have to wait to post them until we get home and have a faster internet connection.  Stay tuned. 

Friday, Oct. 16th

Meetings and more meetings.  Ahhhh...bridging the cultural gap is an ongoing struggle, and requires a lot a communication.  Our new Peace Corps worker sat in on a very spirited meeting with our leaders David and George plus Elaine and me.  Opinions were strongly expressed, disagreements dealt with, misunderstandings cleared up, and a consensus of sorts reached.  Really a Ugandan style meeting.  What impressed me most was the respect and trust among participants, even as viewpoints differed.  Then after a lunch break we gathered in a small rural church in the village of Kalungi to meet with our Board of Directors from Tree of Life Ministries.  The cast of characters was interesting in itself.  The Muslim headmaster of a large government school, a very softspoken Church of Uganda priest and a country clinic doctor along with the other leaders mentioned above.  Again, a very good exchange took place with the Board giving very good ideas and feedback on how we are doing in various areas.  We have been challenged by them to do the very things we have been planning to do with Kristen's help--a nice affirmation that we are on the same page. 

It was market day in Lukaya which is a spectacular show of people and color with booths, blankets spread on the ground, music and an amazing diversity of things for sale from live goats, chickens and pigs to amazing materials in long sashes that the ladies wear.  We shall bring some home--though probably not the livestock.  Tomorrow we finish our teacher interviews and host a dinner party for all the teachers.  This will be a huge event for them and the women will be dressed in finery and everyone looking very "smart."  Cheers from Uganda, Joe

J&E - Enjoying keeping track of you and your activities.  It sounds as if you're accomplishing a great deal in a short time - and it doesn't surprise me at all.  Please give Nassuna Catherine a big hug and kiss for me.

Thinking of you, Cris

Joe and Elaine - What a joy to read of all your activities!  It's hard to believe you have packed so much into just about ten days!  The accounts are so vivid -- it's almost like being there.  Wonderful news about the school, the children, the new property, Kristen, your encounter with the engineers, new food experiences, etc. -- there is so much to celebrate (although I also sense some adversity at times).  Can't wait to return.  Please give my warm regards and hugs to David, George, Dr. Peter, REv. Godfrey, the Peckhams, and others we know in common.  I'm so anxious to meet our newest "friends" in Lukaya.  May our God keep you safe and healthy.  Love and prayers, Jackie

 Hi Joe and Elaine,

What wonderful news that Kirsten will be working with TOLM on site. It is also so encouraging to hear about the quality of the teachers and the progress for developing the new land. Yours days are so full. Try to keep rested and we raise prayers for your continued good health. Love from us both. Kathryn and Dana

Dear Joe and Elaine, I have been following your blogs with great interest and am excited for you with the continuing success you are achieving in Lukaya!  My thoughts and prayers are with you on this memorable trip there and for your safe return home as well.   May God continue to bless you in your vision and efforts to impact the quality of life for these wonderful and deserving people.    Linda

Events converged today in a wonderful way, and we are sitting around tonight catching our breath and counting our blessings.  The two engineers from Kampala arrived at 11am with a phone call from our new friend James Nsereko.  We met at Bismilah Hotel and were introduced to his main partner, David.  Five of us, including David Bakeine drove to the current school and had a brief tour and welcome.  Then we continued down the road a quarter mile to our new property.  We began to walk the perimeter and look at the soil, water and vegetation to familiarize us with what is there.  90 minutes later in the broiling equatorial sun we finished.  We were jumping the water courses and got a bit wet so went back to change before sitting at our place and discussing the ideas in depth.  The engineers worked very hard in gathering information and trying to understand our goals.  They asked dozens of excellent questions that suggested they really were understanding and buying into our goal of being a model school and project with plans to do the buildings, farming, water management and waste composting in effective, environmentally friendly ways, offering an opportunity from people all over Uganda to use us as a resource for ideas to break the cycle of poverty that now grips the people.  And they had some great suggestions, most of which were spot on.

As we were discussing Kristen arrived with David Bakeine and joined us after getting her belongings quickly moved into her new home,  four doors down from us in the new building.  She came in, meeting everyone and was immediately thrust into Tree of Life work, and got a good introduction to how we work collaboratively.  Although it was a bit hectic, we were all pleased, especially Elaine who now had a second woman joining us in leadership in the project.  

David and George arranged for us to visit a small building near the property which specializes in serving excellent pork. Imagine sitting in a round thatched hut on benches as a group of 7 being served an enormous plate of pork, cut into small pieces, cooked by frying with cabbage and a excellent sauce.  They said the central plate included over 2.5 kilos of food.  After handwashing we began consuming the pork, with our hands, actually one hand, from the common plate.  It was exotic not only to Elaine and I but also Kristen, James and David the engineer who are used to a more modern city life in Kampala.  Next door a huge leg of raw pork hung down in the main kitchen area.  We had a great time of fellowship, laughter and discussion.  James drove us back to our apartment and we said farewell to James and David as they headed back to Kampala.  They would not take gas money from us!  They were incredibly generous to spend their entire days driving 3 hours out to our little town and project, spending four hours with us and then driving home.

We went to town to shop with Kristen and met another Peace Corps person David “Chimuli” Paradis and another volunteer in town.  We were picked up with the mattress and plastic chairs for her apt. by David Bakeine and George returning from Masaka.  Got home and the power went out.  I was exhausted and fell into bed for a nap.  What a day!