For Pat!

Also, on Monday we visited two other local Catholic Schools, the Kanjuki R/C Primary School and High School.  I met Emmanuel Mutebi, the head teacher at the Primary School and Barbara, the Principal of the High School.  We were invited into one of the senior high school classes.  I introduced myself, explained that both my husband and I are teachers and that my husband teaches high school math.  I asked the students to raise their hands if they liked math and that brought a lot of nervous laughter and hesitant hand raising.  Then I asked it they could raised them again for a picture, which I have included here.  I noticed that the second time around there were more hands in the air!

Kanjuki R/C High School in the Kayunga district of Uganda.

Hands are raised in response to the prompt, "Raise your hand if you like math!"

Nancy meets the Principal, Barbara.  She is travelling with a group to Toronto in May to attend a Catholic Teaching Conference.

Monday Afternoon: Net Distribution at Seat of Wisdom

On Monday, after leaving Kasana we had lunch at a local restaurant.  We were joined by Father Emmanuel and some of the Village Health Team leaders.  Next we drove to a local private Catholic Boarding School called, Seat of Wisdon.  Nets were distributed to all students.  These nets were purchased with fundraising dollars raised by Sarah Lefebvre, Debra's daughter.  Sarah lead a successful fundraiser at Regiopolis Notre Dame High School, in Kingston.  The receiving students were well organized and the delivery went quickly.  Following this second successful delivery we loaded the van for the long drive home.  Another great day!

Three team members, Alison Tallman, Sarah Lefebvre and Joanne Douglas wait to distribute nets to students.

Sarah addresses the audience of students to tell them about her fundraising efforts and the work of Buy-a-Net.

Students lined up to receive nets by year.  High school in Uganda starts with senior one (equivalent to our grade 8) and goes to senior 6 (which would be similar to our former grade 13).

The Seat of Wisdom students present a thank you sign to Sarah!

Kingston to Kasana.... A Caring Connection (more photos of Kasana)

The entire village turns out for the net distribution.

I present a scrapbook and story book to one of the village leaders.  The scrapbook highlights Truedell Public School and the fundraising efforts.  The story book is one that Truedell students enjoy and was donated  by our Parent Council.

Mrs. Grew hands a net to a young mother and child.

I hope this young fellow sleeps well under his net!

Monday in Kasana!

On Monday, February 20th the team drove to, Kasana, a rural village in the Kayunga district, which borders the river Nile.  Apparently it has a real mosquito problem and as such,  it was one of the villages chosen for net distribution.  It has been declared a "Truedell village" as the money raised by our school was directed towards net distribution here.  When we arrived the whole village was gathered to receive us.  As we exited the van we were greeted by cheering, applause, and throat singing by the locals.  It was quite a spectacle and very, very heartwarming.  The children were especially excited to see us and it seems that they were excused from school for the morning to be part of this important community event.  Everyone was dressed in their "Sunday best", especially the women, and I had a hard time taking it all in.  Before I knew it I was surrounded by children and Debra had to come and collect me for the ceremony.

Announcements were made, the team was introduced and I said a few words on behalf of our school.  Sarah translated for me and my few attempts at Luganda met with laughter and applause.  After this, Sarah conducted a short training session to ensure that all families knew how to use the nets, then we broke into groups to deliver them.  Names were called and people stepped forward one by one to receive a life saving net.  It was a magical morning and time went quickly.  While loading the van the children sang for us.  We met the headmaster of the school and many team members donated much need school supplies and soccer balls.  It was a wonderful experience for all and especially rewarding for me to see the delivery of the nets purchased with our fundraising dollars.  Students as you look at the pictures you can truly say, "I helped these people fight malaria.  I helped to save a life!"

The women greet us with throat singing! 

Debra delivers a life saving net.  

Alive and Well

Hi there!  To my frequent followers I send this message.  I am alive and well in Uganda despite the fact that I haven't posted anything since Tuesday.  You may have noticed that I was continuously running two days behind in my blogging.  That was largely due to busy days and unreliable internet service.  Well, things got worse.  We have been without power and internet service for almost three days and I expect to lose it again any minute.  I will post this quick without pictures to let you know things are fine, then I will go back to posting in sequential order.  I have some great things to share so cross your fingers that the service continues!

Sunday: Murchison Falls

The ferry took us back across to the south side of the park where we drove for 15 to 20 km to the site of the falls.  The power of moving water is amazing to witness and we were not disappointed here.  For $10 American or 5000 Ugandan shillings (price for Ugandans only) a guide will lead you on a short hike where you can view both sets of falls.  The falls on the right, from this vantage point, were the original falls, made by nature.  The falls on the left we formed in 1962 by flood waters which made the river reroute.  We were told it was named Freedom Falls as this was the year that Uganda declared its independence.   


Murchison Falls is located in the Victoria Nile, which flows across northern Uganda from Lake Victoria to the north end of Lake Albert in the western branch of the East African Rift Valley.  This amazing river eventually ends in Egypt, the same Nile which we hear so much about while studying Ancient Times.  At the top of Murchison Falls, the Nile forces its way through a gap in the rocks, 7 metres wide, and drops 43 metres, then flows westward into Lake Albert. The outlet of Lake Victoria sends around 300 cubic metres per second of water over the falls.  Murchison Falls was named after Sir Roderick Murchison, of the Royal Geographical Society and was also the site of a plane crash carrying Ernest Hemingway in 1954 .


After viewing the falls we had a delicious boxed lunch, enough to feed all of us, the guides and even the three park rangers!  We set out for Ggaba once again and believe it or not we had another flat tire on the way home.  Needless to say we were glad to see our hotel when we pulled in at 10:30 p.m.

Murchison Falls, Uganda

Sarah joined us on our safari.  It was her first and she enjoyed all of the views!

At this point the mist from the falls feels like a light shower.  Can you see the double rainbow?

Sunday, February 19th: Morning walking safari

Some of the brave hikers!

Our guide explains that this plant can be used to ease the pain of labour and delivery.

A hug for the world while we await our ferry!

On Sunday morning some of our team chose to sleep in while others opted for a short walking safari.  Our trail led us away from the lodge, up and over a few hills and then down to the Nile.  Along the way our guide described much of the flora and fauna.  She was very knowledgeable about plants and pointed out several which are used by the locals for home remedies.  We saw the hippos again and I have a wonderful video of them in which you can hear their vocalizations.  Thankfully we did not see any crocodiles!!!