Date: Wednesday, December 1, 2010, 10:37 AM
Hello All,
Thank you all for your support and prayers while I was in Uganda.
For the first two weeks, Kemper and I dedicated 13 Christian churches that we completed or built from the ground up. We visited another 18 that were requesting grants for assistance from us to build a small sanctuary that is often used as a school during the week. We were not able to go to Kenya because of the political unrest in the western area we currently working in on the eastern side of Mt Elgon. Each day we traveled in our van about 6 hours or 300 km; over half of the time we could not safely drive over 20 km/hrs. because we were on bicycle trails. What an adventure.
The last four week I was on my own with our staff of 8 people who are contracted with John Skeel Missionary Foundation vocational school.
- We have completed two water collection tanks- one 20,000 liter and one 10,000 liter.
- We constructed a new latrine for the school.
- We have started the next building complex for three more classrooms.
- We completed two fence projects of 1000 ft. each with barb wire and planted cactus on the fence line for all of that.
- We have a new road between the school and the orphanage so we do not need to use our neighbors land.
- We completed the rough cast (stucco) of the orphanage as well as a covered walkway between the main house and the orphanage.
- A veranda was added to the perimeter of both the school and the orphanage to protect the foundation.
- A covered porch was added to both classroom entrances.
A total of thirty students attended classes at the school for tailoring/sewing classes. The carpentry class had eight. We care for approximately 40 goats, 12 kids, 30 cows and 5 calves on the farm.
We gave away nine goats to needy families – the cost has risen to $50 US now so I had to make up the difference. Total goats given away this year is 12.
All of the students we are assisting with their education fees /tuition/boarding /books/uniforms /transportation have advanced to the next level successfully.
- One girl, Christine, has completed APTEC – a computer programing school – and now is employed at a law firm in Kampala as their resident expert and will upgrade their systems.
- One girl, Louise, has only two more terms to complete her studies at the same school – APTEC.
- One girl, Joyce, has only one year left to complete her studies in International marketing at the university to receive a diploma.
- Kasheja and Bridgette are both doing well in their respective primary schools. Kasheja is taking a test to see if he will qualify to attend a better English speaking school in Kabale. Bridgett walk three km each way to and from school with neighbors. She attends bible studies on Saturday. Kasheja’s foster Mom, Patience, works for Compassion International but, also teaches bible study on Saturdays in her home to over a dozen children.
- Pheona is doing well and will progress to senior 1 in January.
- Aida and Emanuel finished senior 4 and will start on senior 5 in January.
- Lilian and Laban (twins) are applying to universities in the US. We have paid for their fees to sit for SAT testing. They sat for three subject tests in Nov and will take the standard SAT this Saturday the 4th. They interviewed with several Universities that were on campus last week and all encouraged them to apply for acceptance and full scholarships.
Last but not least we were given 2,000 cypress tree seedlings to plant by the mayor of Kiruhura with a promise to give us the same amount of Musizi trees when they become available next month. We have a full time person now taking care of the trees on a daily basis – watering/weeding.
We have added 50 acres to our project for a total of 150 acres. Mary Karungi has signed a thirty year lease with option to extend (if we are still around). Total cost of the lease is $5 per year after we contributed $5,000 to acquire the additional 50 acres that are contiguous with the rest of the land.
Respectfully submitted,
John Skeel, Director
