2022 Vacation with a Purpose
It happened again.
Our 2020 trip -- Postponed.
Our 2021 trip -- Postponed.
We finally made it in 2022!
Since we didn't make it in 2020 or 2021, we went ahead and had our Ugandan Partners Patrick and Eva Walusimbi build a three-room school building for Maranatha schools in Kigalama. This included building a new kitchen and a new latrine. Pictures below.
Our team in 2022 really enjoyed our time in Uganda. We were able to see the children (and the teachers) return to school after almost two years of being closed. We watched the children at Salem Christian School put on a play for us and read a poem to us. They wrote the play and poem themselves about the pandemic and lockdown in Uganda and how it impacted them.
At each location we visited, we did crafts and put on skits for the children. We also watched them perform for us. What a joy we had with them all.
While at Salem Christian School, we began work on a security wall. Where the school is located, they have issues with people coming onto the property, putting the children at risk. They also have issues with snakes and other critters coming in from the surrounding forest.
We were only able to get a start on the wall. While we were there, during a rainstorm, part of the wall washed out, requiring drainage changes and rebuilding. We still need almost $15,000 to complete the wall.
Walking up to the new boy's dorm at Salem Christian School | Working on the wall at Salem Christian School | Working on the wall at Salem Christian School |
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Working on the wall at Salem Christian School | Working on the wall at Salem Christian School | Working on the wall at Salem Christian School |
Working on the wall at Salem Christian School | Working on the wall at Salem Christian School | Working on the wall at Salem Christian School |
Working on the wall at Salem Christian School | Partially finished wall | John and Francis |
Playing with kids at Salem Christian School | Children | Children |
Classroom | Hanging out with royalty | Showing off the craft crowns |
The students at Salem Christian School wrote and performed a play for us depicting what life was like during the pandemic | The students also wrote and read a poem for us | Outside where they performed for us |
Our group worshipping the Lord | When Andy sees a termite hill, he must investigate | And when Dave sees a dog, he must investigate |
Craft time | A welcoming chalkboard | More play with more kids |
Preparing for a team picture | We enjoyed a volleyball match with the secondary students at Maranatha | And when Jane sees a baby, she must hold itne |
Some dancing was done | And some praying was done | A vocational student learning to sew |
Another vocational student learning hairdressing | A vocational student holds her child | This is Ruth and her children who are supported by TIM |
A Hoffman Home student playing guitar | Team lunchtime | Some people just attract the children |
Always holding a little one (but not her phone) | Sponsor family and their sponsored student | We performed skits for them. This is Goliath |
What is everyone taking a picture of? | This is what they were taking pictures of. Right outside out hotel in Jinja | This is our hotel building in Jinja. That guy went right down into the courtyard. |
Some pictures from our safari | A warthog. I was told they bend their knees that way because they don't have necks that can reach the food on the ground. I still say it looks like they are praying before dinner. | This is Solomon, son of Patrick & Eva Walusimbi. He runs the tour company that drove us around. |
This is Murchison Falls on the Nile river | Maggie our Ugandan Coordinator and Dave | Baby Hippo |
Storks | What a great team! |