Day 6-10
Back to Myaliiro. Prior to our arrival, 40 boxes of school supplies had been gathered at Maplewood School in Edmonds and delivered via Sister Schools Ministry to a location north of Kampala. We traveled to Mukono to pick up the boxes that had been lovingly packed last November. Wow. They made it! Next we delivered the boxes to the container that Tom had been working to retrofit for a library and staff quarters in Myaliiro. We could see it was quite a project to oversee and keep on budget. Well done! Â Over the weekend, Tom traveled through the night from Kampala with a semi truck, and then up the 15 kilometer, narrow dirt road to deliver the container and all its contents safely to the school site in Myaliiro.
We pulled up to the faded red container ready to paint and put to use the bounty of blessings it contained. Despite heat, fumes and African quality painting supplies (! ) we worked so hard, but it was with pure joy because the sponsored kids, village men, women and children turned out to work right beside us. All the boxes were moved in and out, the inside primed and painted, the roof was swept and painted, the outside primed and eventually painted. Over three days, the big red box was transformed into a  lovely shade of “ripple green†for the library, staff room, and supply room. The kids could hardly stop looking at the books long enough to help us put them on the shelf. Soccer balls, jump ropes, baby dolls, crayons, notebooks, pencils, teaching supplies- everything was put into place and prepared to enrich lives. It was incredibly rewarding to see it all come together and the joy and camaraderie it brought between HEED and the village was immeasurable.
While staying with the team doing the work, we enjoyed sweet fellowship and laughter as God knit us all together. We had some good laughs at the accommodations which “required a flexible attitude.†I’ll never forget the quizzical look on Trudy’s face as she contemplated the dirty, common-use shower floor. Not to worry- there was no water (until much later)! We also had the opportunity to meet with the district leadership (equivalent to our state government) to ensure that we were in good standing with the government and its policies. It was a very encouraging meeting as the leadership confirmed our vision and direction for community based help for children.
We also delivered the water cistern provided by Karen Parkinson’s Missionette’s class and the Magnolia Rotary Club that will harvest water from the sheet metal roof of the school, be filtered, and provide healthier, more consistent water for the school children. We purchased a hand washing station and supplies for cleaning the latrine so that better hygiene will contribute to improved health. These are all small steps sown in the love of Jesus’ name and shown with smiles and hugs of appreciation from a people who are so appreciative of opportunity for their children.
