Greetings from Uganda!

Meet our team:

Sue Waechter- USA founder of ACT along with Richard and Generous Turianwe from Uganda. A strategic planner by profession Sue plans to work side by side with all programs, especially Muko High School, HANDS (agricultural development) and HEAL (health initiatives)

Dick Dolinski- a chemist and founder of Midland's Legacy Center dealing with educational research, Dick plans to work with our educational and youth development. His study of youth success will be explained in a public address to community leaders

Diana Stubig- a logistics expert by profession and a sewing crafter, Diana heads up our craft sales. She has already taken a look at newly made baskets and is excited about our fall sales. Diana will work with our Uganda sewers and weavers.

Barbara Disko- a retired judge from Chicago, Barbara traveled one day ahead of the rest of the team. She plans to work with our Honor Council at Muko High School which is a group of students and staff who meet to hear disciplinary cases for our high school

David Viele- a businessman by profession, Dave specializes in balance sheets and bottom lines. He will be working with ACT and MHS finances during the trip. We can't wait to see his hair stand up on end.

Karen Viele- a musician and teacher by profession, Karen is meeting with ACT's MUSIC teacher, Keneth, in person after working on ZOOM with him for nearly two years. She will also spend much time supporting the teachers at MHS and visiting with our HONOR scholars and orphans.

Our team met up at the Protea Marriott in Entebbe on Monday Aug. 23rd. All luggage came through beautifully. Everyone is very grateful to be safely in Uganda with all the instruments, supplies, and gifts.

Travel was long this time. In Amsterdam we prematurely celebrated coming in at Gate F9 and boarding the next plan at Gate F8- an extremely short walk. However, things were going too smoothly! After sitting on the next plane for about an hour it was announced that mechanical problems were preventing us from taking off. We were all deplaned, down the stairs not the jetway, and Diana fell coming out of the door of the plane onto the platform of the stairs. Luckily, she bounced back and we all lugged our heavy carry-ons down the stairs to buses prepared to return us to the terminal. Glitch #2: Drivers accidentally returned us to the wrong terminal door and we had to wait over an hour to stand in security AGAIN. The anticipated three hour layover in Amsterdam took eight hours. The next leg of the journey went well until Sue fell in the Entebbe airport. She face-planted causing her tooth to puncture her upper lip and bled profusely in her face mask, on her clothing, and all over the airport floor. The airport nurse was summoned and spirited her quickly through customs to stitch her lip but the sutures were too coarse and decided not to do it. Sue ended up with a colorful black eye.

The team spent their first night at a lovely Marriott Hotel adjacent to the airport. Arriving there about 5 am we had until 10 am to catch up on our sleep!

On Tuesday we joyfully reunited with our staff. Gift tote bags were presented to our staff along with affirmations from our USA Board for their outstanding service. Reverent Philip, our Muko High School, Head Teacher guided the team on a quick tour of the main compound of MHS. It was very exciting to see the frame of our new science lab. The lab will consist of two large rooms, one for biology and physics and another for chemistry with adjoining storage areas for chemicals and teaching aids. The tour ended sooner than we liked so we could drive back to Kabale for Dave and Dick could attend the Rotary meeting there.

The Rotary meeting went well. Dick and Dave were spontaneously called upon to be the presentation of the evening. They also met with officers to discuss the solar power project at MHS.

Sue, Barbara and Diana shopped for fabric and returned with some beautiful new material for sewers both in Muko and Michigan.

The team is staying at the Cephas Inn since our former hotel moved its business to support university housing at Kabale University. The Cephas Inn is comfortable and modern and we are able to have hot showers and good food. 

Sending our best to our dear friends and family- We will submit posts to our blog as often as we are able! Be well until our return! Photos next time!

Comments

  1. LynnAugust 24, 2022 at 2:00 PM

    Hooray! So glad to read that everyone arrived (more or less intact) and even the luggage all made it!
    I know the time spent working with our Ugandan partners will be well spent.
    Bon courage to all.
    Blessings to all for the many wonderful contributions you are making & building together.

    ReplyDelete

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