CHRISTMAS 2011 IN GULU, UGANDA

It didn't seem like Christmas until the Elders came over and decorated our tree so we could put their packages under it.

Elder Ledwaba, South Africa, Elder Tyler, Provo, Utah, Elder McNeill, Syracuse, Utah, Elder Chaya, Zimbabwe, Elder Mushonga, Zimbabwe, Elder Molefe, South Africa.

Elder Ledwaba

Elder Mushonga

For dinner on Christmas Eve, we had curried rice pilaf,  sweet potatoes with g-nut sauce and rolls.  For dessert we had custard and brownies.

Christmas Morning at our house.

Of course Robert got a tie for Christmas.

On Christmas night, we had a devotional and sang carols.

For Christmas Dinner we had baked ham and chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, scalloped corn, jello with fruit, cabbage and pineapple salad and rolls.  For dessert, fresh pineapple upside down cake.

Elder McNeill and his family

Elder Tyler talking to his family.
 Shortly after the Elders all made their calls, the internet and the power went off and we weren't able to call our children until the next day.  That was a disappointment.

The Elder's with their gifts that someone from the US sent money for.
 It's a good thing that Elder Ledwaba got some new socks.

OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS IN UGANDA WAS A VERY PLEASANT EXPERIENCE.

Branch Christmas Party

Our branch planned a Christmas party for Dec. 23rd with games, food, a devotional and a dance.  The dance didn't materialize but it was a very fun and well attended party with games, food and a devotional which was a showing of the 1st Presidency's Christmas Devotional.  For the games, they played volleyball, the bean bag board game and the children played with jump ropes.  The food was rice pilaf with beef, doughnuts, water and safi (a fruit drink).

Robert enlisted Steven, the first counselor in the Branch Presidency to help make the boards for the bean bag game.

They had to make it with whatever materials were available here in Gulu.

These are the rules

Many enjoyed watching and visiting.

The dumpster in the background is really the baptismal font.  The hose is filling it for the baptism on Saturday.

The cooks, Louries, Brenda and Gloria.

Angel, the son of President James and his cousin brother. 

The tournament board with the missionaries in charge.

The game was a hit!

Jacinta, the Relief Society President, President James and his wife Barbara.

Agnes and Dickson were the champions.

Wheelchair Hand-Over

On Monday, we were asked by the Humanitarian missionaries in Kampala to go to a "Wheel chair hand-over" here in Gulu, to represent the Church in their behalf.  They were not able to get here in time and we were happy to do it.  The church recently donated 350 wheelchairs to this area and they have all been given out but they also donated some money to a company here in Gulu to make some more.  It was a wonderful experience for us.  We had driven past a place several times with a sign that read "Disabled Persons Union" and wondered what it was.  Now we know.  They employ many handicapped persons and also help many others.  There are a lot of land mine victims in this area and the victims run a pottery shop there where they have a large wood fired kiln and make pots, besides their main product which is ventilator bricks for construction.  Right now it is shut down due to a lack of good clay but Monica, it's head person, showed us around and told us all about it.

There were 5 wheel chairs given out on Monday, and then again on Thursday they gave out some more. The Beckles, the humanitarian missionaries were present for that one.  They spent Wednesday night with us and that was fun!

The Recipients

This man is the non paid chairman of the citizen's Union  and talked about how the
 Disabled Person's Union came to be.  He is also in a wheelchair.

This little girl is 4 years old  and she has cerebral palsy.

The man on the left is Fred and he is the managing director of the Disabled Person's Union.  He is paralyzed from the waist down from falling out of a tree when he was 10 years old.  He's a very friendly, talented and committed advocate for the handicapped.

This little girl was very upset at first when put in the wheelchair but after I took her picture and showed it to her she was happy again.

A better look at Fred, the director.

Thursday's recipients with Elder and Sister Beckle, the humanitarian missionaries.

The wood fired kiln where they fire the ventilator bricks and other pottery.

Ventilator Bricks which are placed over windows to allow air movement in and out of the house.
Fred is also a ceramics artist.  He's not able to use the kick wheel but does sculpturing.

The machine that makes the bricks.

Monica is the director of the ceramics program at the Disabilities Union.  She lost her right leg and her baby when she stepped on a land mine about 15 years ago during the war here.  She also has burn scars on both arms and has an artificial leg from the knee down.

This is Monica's office.