Mzunga Tribe Go-A-Trekking

Dear Friends

-------April is "Childs Month" and what that entails in Uganda is that the government supplies Vit A to be given to all children from 6 mo. to 5 years. Also all children from 1Yr. to 14 years , receive Albendazole, which is a deworming medication.


Well-we-the Mzunga Tribe (Myself, Marty Coda and Sofie from Sweden) visited all the local walkable schools, suppling over 2,000 children with these drugs.



This week we had received directions to a school called Kagira, which we understood to be perhaps 2 or 3 miles away. Unfortunately we asked directions from someone with limited english who said he was going that way and we should follow him. This pic of me with the red backpack (thanks Carol) was only the beginning of what turned out to be a long uphill, climbing trek.

-------Sofie named us the Mzunga Tribe (White people) and what a tribe we were. I have trouble walking up hill (always have) , Marty has a bit of trouble going down rocky terrain and our youngster Sofie is afraid of cows! Yep , afraid of cows! So while Sofie assisted me up steep inclines and Marty down, we had to protect her from the " fierce" cows, that she was sure were just waiting for their chance to gorge her. It was hysterical! ----------------------

------The best part was when we finally arrived at our destination, it was not anywhere near Kagira, but rather Gakenke, some 2 hr. walk-about AND it was the wrong school AND they had just received Albendazole "yesterday but one", which translated into english means two days ago! HA -------What a day we had and what memories we made! A favorite was when the school wanted us to sign their guest book and it was the LAST thing, I intended to do----my exhaustion and subsequent testiness led Mother Marty to say "Mind your Manners" to me -smile

The view on our unexpected journey was breathtaking (and in my case it was literal) Here a little boy is going to "fetch" water for his family to drink.

When we FINALLY arrived at what we thought was the correct school, I looked down at the building and thought-"Can't the children come here and get the pills-smile?"

This is me pretending to be having a good time.(HA) Truth is I was worn out from trekking uphill for 1 and 1/2 hrs

-----------Now that's a message worth teaching ---and living.

-------Maybe I'll get it someday without be accused of be aggressive

This one class room had over 130 kids crammed in, in perfect behavior.

There are many many signs painted all over the walls and grounds of the schools, most related to HIV-AIDS, in one way or the other. This one says "Don't let anyone touch your private parts"

. ----A wonderful Ireland-type wall, we saw on our trek

----This is an entire bed being delivered on a bicycle boda-boda!