Well...

This will likely be my last post from Uganda.

Thoughts are the same. Nothing has shifted at this point for me.

We had unique Sunday. Heather and I visited with 9 women in the villages for a couple of hours. Then we went swimming in the Nile. No crocodiles - so that was good.

Hopefully this blog provided some insight on the situation in Uganda. I guess we all have to decide if we're going to help or not.

Something to consider...

If not you, then who?

If not now, then when?

Needs vs. Wants

I was a guest in the home of a Ugandan woman yesterday. She had a place to sit, a place to sleep, a few dishes, a few clothes, a roof, some food...and that's about it.

I started to think about how many people in the U.S. are striving to simplify their life and de-clutter. Including me.

This woman had only necessary items for survival. Nothing extra. Yet, she is striving to attain more. Why? Is it because we do in America?

What do the extra material items we accumulate do for us? Do they make us happier? More comfortable? Distract us from real problems in our lives?

What do we need to live? How much of our money is spent on unnecessary items? Would we be better off donating a chunk of that money to people without the basics?

Just a few thoughts for today....

Kids

On September 8th, we helped another non-profit (Serving His Children) dish up 850 meals for kids. We served massive amounts of rice, beans and bananas. These meals are served on Tuesdays and Thursdays each week. The rice and beans are constant while the fruit selection varies.

This was definitely a highlight of the trip.

Eating. It's an immediate and frequent need for all of us. Many Ugandans don't have the resources to buy food, so they rely on organizations serving it for free. If these meals aren't served, the kids aren't eating.

Can I hear it for pressure? If you are an organization serving food to those in need - how could you ever shut your doors?

While I loved helping serve meals, there is a big "BUT."

I kept looking over the massive line of kids and thinking about one fundamental issue - OVERPOPULATION. Too many peeps.

Then I thought about all sorts of population related concerns...

• What creates such a massive demand for food each day?
• Why isn't there enough food to go around?
  
• What dilutes the job market?
• What leads to noise, chaos and confusion?
• What leads to water scarcity?
  

Same answer.....Too many people.

I don't see Uganda making any real strides until people step up and limit kid making. Seriously. I just cant' see it.

And before we get too smug in North America - we aren't far behind Uganda.

We are pumping out too many kids as well. We need to remind ourselves that planet earth is finite. We can only hold and support so many people.

Not too excited about using a contraceptive? See here.

You'll find me in the contraceptive aisle....

Oh - if you want a pic from last Saturday - see Kate's blog. Since I'm working from internet cafes - my pic posting is limited.

Lots of random bloggage

Saturday is the core day for the Suubi project. It's when all the action happens. Let me summarize my past Saturday...

• Suubi = Hope
• We meet with 91 Ugandan women in a small room each Saturday at 3pm.
• The women bring the necklaces they made during the week
• We make announcements
• We inspect the necklaces (quality control)
• We pay the women 18,000 Ugandan Schillings ($9.00) for the week
  
• We pass out necessary materials for the next batch of necklaces
• We chat with everyone and enjoy the Ugandan sun
  

New product ideas for Light Gives Heat (take note Dave)

• Dried Jackfruit - I can see this stuff selling at Whole Foods
• G-nut packets - Just like Justin's Nut Butters

Food prices

• I purchased 2 small eggplants for 10 cents
• I purchased 3 bananas for 20 cents
• I purchased a bunch of greens for 8 cents
• I went to lunch today and had sweet potatoes, beans in a sauce, pumpkin and bottled water for $1.75.

New food update

• One of the volunteers (Heather) made an amazing meal last night with cassava, sim-sim sauce with greens and peas. Best meal I've had yet in Uganda.

Entitlement

• I've noticed that Ugandans don't feel the same sort of entitlement that many Americans feel.
  
• Have you ever felt that you deserved the best car? House? Schooling? I have. Ugandans don't seem to feel that way. Anything beyond basic food, shelter, health and safety is a bonus. This has been an excellent reminder for me.

Uh oh - just had a power failure. I better post this blog.....

Oh - wait - has my oral hygine tanked since I left the U.S.? See here.

Volunteers & Jackfruits

First off, the volunteers here are amazing. Actually - "amazing" is an understatement.

Seriously.

If you ever follow my other blogs and articles, you know I'm not impressed with most people. I rarely meet someone that challenges my thoughts. Further, I rarely meet someone that leads a life I admire and strive to mimic.

Translation: The volunteers here are badass.

They devote their lives to helping people here - and they do it with a good attitude. It's exactly what they want to be doing. They are leaving friends, family, comfort, etc. behind in the U.S. to volunteer in Uganda. Say what? Who actually does that these days? I'm impressed.

Food update:
I had a DELICIOUS fruit today. Jackfruit. Very tasty stuff (pic at the top).

I feel like a pregnant woman

I feel like a pregnant woman.

My thoughts and emotions are all over the place. Up one minute. Down the next. I feel optimistic at some times about things improving in Uganda - but MOST of the time, I feel negative. I feel frustrated about overpopulation here. That seems to be a major, fundamental issue. It seems to me that until the population gets controlled here, they will always be a few steps behind and never quite caught up.

Side note: I'm in an internet cafe in Jinja right now, it's mid-day, and they have my man Timberlake on the stereo.

One other thought I've had a few times since arriving deals with role models. Role models are powerful and can influence thousands. It seems like positive role models are lacking here. No one is rocking the boat and setting a new standard. There are lots of people following others.

Enough serious stuff.

Food update....
Went to the markets yesterday. Picked up oranges (but they are green and tast kind of like limes). I've had lots of bananas - they are smaller and sweeter here. I bought groundnut paste (g-nut) - it's kind of like peanut butter. I haven't tried it yet - but it looks good. I had some chickpeas, lots of rice, matoke. I'm keeping things simple here and cooking all of my food. I'm not too excited about lots of raw fruits and veggies, simply due to sanitation. The avocados are good - and I eat those raw. The bread is pathetic. I think there is one type, but at least the ingredients are simple. People eat the same staple foods.

Oh - and I had a diet coke today. I was at a coffee shop and didn't know if they boiled the water for tea - so I played it "safe" with a coke.

That's enough for now.....

Are we needed?

I met a bunch of missionaries on the plane to Entebbe.

After chatting with them, I started to wonder... do people in Africa really want all of us (e.g., missionaries, non-profit groups, volunteers, etc.) coming in and trying to help? Are we really leading to a better life for them or are we just getting in the way?

How are we able to measure the "help" we provide? The amount of food on the table or the number of kids in school? Maybe the help we provide isn't something that can be measured. Maybe for them (and for us), just knowing that others around the world have hope is enough.

I've started to think, if I was in a similar position in the U.S. - would I want people from other countries coming and trying to help me?

Made it

I made it over. It's warm and humid. I like it.

I'll post more when I find a better internet connection.