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| Hills of Rwanda |
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| Ladies along the roads of Rwanda |
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| Hitchin a Ride |
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| Busy roadways |
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| Assembly to welcome me |
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| "Humbling ourselves to pray" |
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| "What song would you like to sing?" |
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| "shake it all about"...a.k.a. The Hokey Pokey! |
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| Testing out their new instruments |
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| The delicous Ubushera drink |
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| My favorite place to eat..."Peace's place" |
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| The Chef in the kitchen |
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| Friends I've been missing |
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| So good to see you again! |
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| Jael exhausted after jumping on the neighbors trampoline |
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| Little friends |
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| Martin and the kids |
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| Sweet Jael and I |
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| So many happy friends who love the camera! |
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| My BFF and I....reunited at last! |
Hello Friends!
After a loooooooooooooooooong, tiresome journey...I made it safely to Uganda! The trip within the U.S. was quick and easy, MSP to Chicago, about seven minutes to run to the next gate; then, Chicago to New Jersey. On the flight from New Jersey to Brussels I had three seats to myself and was able to lie down and sleep for the majority of the eight hour flight! As if that wasn't good enough, I spent a couple hours in the Brussels airport visiting with a very kind man from Maryland who was also on his way to Uganda. He also has a project in Uganda; he is digging wells in the northern region. Needless to say, we had a great visit and I learned a bunch. When we boarded the flight from Brussels to Kigali, the plane was nearly empty! This time I had four seats to myself! I watched a movie and then I lay down and slept like a baby! It was long, but definitely more comfortable that usual! By the time I arrived in Kigali after two days of travel my ankles had no resemblance to an elephants trunk, which they normally do, no swelling at all with all that laying down! Also much to my surprise the two oversized bags that I had drug along with me also made it….we are off to a good start!
The second I stepped off the plane and descended the steps a smile spread across my face at the smell of the hot tarmac and the cooking fires I could smell in the distance. Aaaaah….Africa, I have missed you! The simple airport, with two small, beat up baggage claim carousels as soon as I step inside the door, the leisurely pace with which the Immigration officer inspects my passport then stamps it and takes my visa payment, all of it is a reminder of the culture change in which I am emerging. I mentally downshift, to a muuuuuch slooooooowwwer gear. African time, here we go.
After a loooooooooooooooooong, tiresome journey...I made it safely to Uganda! The trip within the U.S. was quick and easy, MSP to Chicago, about seven minutes to run to the next gate; then, Chicago to New Jersey. On the flight from New Jersey to Brussels I had three seats to myself and was able to lie down and sleep for the majority of the eight hour flight! As if that wasn't good enough, I spent a couple hours in the Brussels airport visiting with a very kind man from Maryland who was also on his way to Uganda. He also has a project in Uganda; he is digging wells in the northern region. Needless to say, we had a great visit and I learned a bunch. When we boarded the flight from Brussels to Kigali, the plane was nearly empty! This time I had four seats to myself! I watched a movie and then I lay down and slept like a baby! It was long, but definitely more comfortable that usual! By the time I arrived in Kigali after two days of travel my ankles had no resemblance to an elephants trunk, which they normally do, no swelling at all with all that laying down! Also much to my surprise the two oversized bags that I had drug along with me also made it….we are off to a good start!
The second I stepped off the plane and descended the steps a smile spread across my face at the smell of the hot tarmac and the cooking fires I could smell in the distance. Aaaaah….Africa, I have missed you! The simple airport, with two small, beat up baggage claim carousels as soon as I step inside the door, the leisurely pace with which the Immigration officer inspects my passport then stamps it and takes my visa payment, all of it is a reminder of the culture change in which I am emerging. I mentally downshift, to a muuuuuch slooooooowwwer gear. African time, here we go.
On the three hour drive to the Ugandan border the next day I watch the school kids running alongside the road, many of them are barefoot. They are laughing and shouting as they make their way home for lunch. The women and the unfortunate kids who aren’t at school are carrying loads on their heads bigger than their own bodies. Men are pushing bicycles that are so laden with goods they are sweating profusely as they push them up the hills. As I wave and smile at the little ones my mind drifts again to the many opportunities we have that these kids will never know. They’ll never have piano lessons or swimming lessons and they’ll never know what it feels like to have a new pair of shoes. This is the only thing they know, hard work and relentless struggle. I’ve spent the past ten months with hot showers, food overflowing from the cupboards, meeting so many of you while eating or drinking delicious red wine, and doing a wide range of activities from ice fishing on the Mississippi, long, silent and peaceful runs with my dog, water skiing, going to a movie or listening to exceptional live music. Then, there are wild things like snow tubing down a hill at completely unsafe speeds and screaming with both fear and delight as the -25 wind chill sends tears down my cold, stinging cheeks. The random opportunity I had just a month ago to go on an incredible all-expense paid cruise in the Caribbean; these are all reminders of how incredibly lucky I am. How blessed I am and how different the life of a Ugandan is.
When I finally made way back to Amazing Grace I find the kids in disbelief when they see me again, I don’t think they actually believed me when I said I would return. The teachers are wearing the same long dresses they were wearing when I left, eating the same meals two times a day of potatoes and beans; everyone is doing the exact same thing that they were doing a year earlier when I left. If they aren't working, they are sitting idle. I find myself feeling a twinge of guilt for all the pleasures I've experienced, but mostly I find myself swelling with appreciation and gratitude and especially an overwhelming desire to share my blessings, as I know so many of you also feel by your generosity and support.
The past two days in Kisoro have been spent visiting, planning and scheming. The plan seems to change hourly, but at least we have a plan! I have been busy distributing the many clothes, books and goodies that I lugged along. The appreciation, clapping, singing and dancing that follows each and every time is both overwhelming and incredibly gratifying. Thank you to all of you who have donated clothes, books, apple butter, money or anything else! I cannot put in plain words how grateful they are.
Friendly reminders to you all; if you’d like to mail a package, send it soon! I'll only be here until mid-May; also remember that shipping is very expensive and your dollar would go farther as a donation. I can buy almost anything here. The exception to that are books! I cannot buy kids story books here.
Amazing Grace Pre and Primary School
Attn: Bonnie Bzdok
P.O. Box 290
Kisoro, Uganda AFRICA
Attn: Bonnie Bzdok
P.O. Box 290
Kisoro, Uganda AFRICA
With all my love,
Bonnie
"Never underestimate the impact you have on the lives of others." - Faith Halverson-Ramos
"Never underestimate the impact you have on the lives of others." - Faith Halverson-Ramos
If you'd like to donate to Resilient Uganda please choose from one of the following:
For a tax deductible donation:
Send a check payable to H.E.L.P. (our partner organization) to:
H.E.L.P.
1041 S County Rd 3
Johnstown CO 80534
Please include a note (separate from the check) indicating that the funds are for Resilient Uganda and then let me know you need a receipt and the tax i.d. number and I will e-mail it to you!
For a non-taxable donation:
Send a check payable to Bonnie Bzdok to:
Bzdok's
9161 Great River Rd
Little Falls MN 56345
or
Visit our website: https://resilientuganda.webs.com and donate through our paypal account.
Thank you so much, your donation will go directly to improving the lives of Ugandans and building projects of empowerment.
Wacozey Chaney! (Thank you very much!)
