TAPPed In

     Greetings from Uganda! Today we were welcomed by Mutungo. This is the home of Moses, our beloved van driver and friend. While there, many of us went on TAPP visits - some of us in the morning and others went in the afternoon. We toured the TAPP property where we were able to see the teaching of tailoring, sewing, and leather work. It was impressive the way the students were learning the basics and practicing valuable skills. Emily led a Bible study for the women. Many of the local women were very affirming of her lesson on the faith of David. Deb participated along side her for support. Emily led the women to share about the "giants" they are facing/ have faced in their lives. Greg worked on a project with Moses to dig out an area for a walkway that will also serve as a ditch to divert water away from the main door toward the playground. The whole area of Mutungo struggles with flooding. Several others of us played with the school children. There was an hour of bubble blowing and giant parachute playing. We then transitioned to a HUGE circle to sing Jesus Loves Me. Some of the older students took over and led school songs. It was so much fun! Laura got roped into a game similar to duck duck goose, with running around the circle and ending in the middle with a silly dance. The kids then broke into another school yard game that reminded me of Red Rover, only it included a 1:1 challenge seeing who could pull the other over the middle line. It was another meaningful and enjoyable day. I forgot to mention yesterday that we finally had sunshine! Two days in a row now without rain. Today it did sprinkle for a few minutes, but was helpful in cooling down the very hot morning.

     I want to spend the majority of the blog sharing about the women we met on our TAPP visits. The consistent prayer needs for all of the women were health, rent money, and school fees for their children. It was evident through all the women's stories how TAPP is serving an important purpose by providing the ability for the women to come together for support and relationship. The women check up on each other. Some of them have even become group leaders for different areas... like Nora.

Nora makes beaded purses for income. She hopes to have her own place to work in order to increase her income. She has a daughter, Abigail at home and a boy at school. She was the first house visited by the afternoon group. It is common for us to sing songs with the women while we visit. After visiting, Nora walked with the group, leading them to the other houses. At the last house she was waiting outside and some of our group members could hear her signing Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone which was the song sang for her during her visit. It was a touching moment showing the impact a few minutes can have on someone's day. 

Betty is 48 years old. She is a mother of 3, but sadly 2 of her children have died. Her oldest child is 30 years old and lives far away on the Eastern side of Uganda. Betty doesn't have any family to check up on her. In addition to having HIV, she also has a disease (we aren't sure exactly what) that causes her to black out for even an hour at a time. She has a large scar across her beautiful face from one incident when she passed out while cooking in her home and was burned. The TAPP staff have asked that she only cook outside to avoid additional accidents. Unfortunately Betty is not able to work and relies on friends, the TAPP program, and visitor groups like ours to help her with food and rent.

Gertrude has 3 little girls: Precious (2 months), Promise (5 years), and Priscilla (7 years). She also makes beaded purses. We learned that the TAPP tailoring students make the linings the women use for the purses. Government schools do not have a reputation of quality education, and private school (all the schools we have referenced and visited) cost money. Gertrude is praying for provision of school fees.

Susan's husband left her and their two children when she tested positive for HIV and went to live with and marry another woman. This is not an uncommon story - and many men have been unfaithful, contract HIV, pass it on to their wives, and then leave them. Susan has 2 school aged children but they are not able to go because she cannot afford the school fees. She travels around washing clothes for people. She is hoping to get funds to start a fruit stand that is located right outside of the apartment she is renting. She would like to earn more money so that she can afford a better place to live. Her current place gets flooded when it rains. She also needs to earn money for school fees for her children who are not yet sponsored.

Olivia buys maize and grinds it, selling it for a profit. This is hard work. She pays for childcare for her 2 grandchildren while she is working so that they can remain safe. We are not aware of what happened to her children that she is responsible now for her grandchildren. We did learn, breaking our hearts, that the grandchildren are already HIV positive.

Ravisia was not home when we arrived to visit. Turns out that she wasn't able to afford rent and had "shifted" as they say here. She has a friend who has been willing for her to stay a little while as she looks for work. Ravisia also has HIV, but she is feeling well, very strong, and able to work. She is hoping to be able to buy wholesale food and charcoal to bring back to her area and sell for profit. She has 4 children who attend government school that are also living in the friend's house.

Fatuma is 40 years old with 3 children, but looks as young as a teenager. Ugandan's age very well! Fatuma has recently returned from a hospitalization for an ulcer. She also has HIV. Due to her hospitalization, she was not able to work and is now 3 months behind on rent. She makes clutch style handbags. Fatuma was Muslim, but came to Christianity after becoming involved with the TAPP program. She was most excited about the gifts of food we brought on our visit.

     Carma shared a sentiment many of us also wrestle with - the balance/the line between helping those in poverty but not transferring our values. How do we empower someone to live well in their culture, recognizing that poverty is a debilitating and serious issue in every culture? We have means to help but don't want to push our values/priorities/opinions of living onto others. We continue to sit with this.

     We returned home early, having dinner and celebrating Tim's birthday with cake and ice cream. There was some down time for resting, packing for the weekend, and chatting. The group got to practice some of Andrew Gale's tips and types of conflict resolution presented at our group meetings as we selected songs for this weekend's events. We continue to be happy group, getting along with one another.

     Shout out to my late night crew who stay up with me and keep me entertained while I type these blogs. Also - it just started raining again.

Tomorrow morning we leave for Gulu, a village 6 hours north, for 3 nights. We will be dropped off on the way back for our safari trip at Murchison Falls National Park. Do not be alarmed if you don't hear from your loved ones until Wednesday when we get back to Kampala. If I am able, I will sneak in another blog before we go on safari, but no promises!
Please pray for safe travels, healthy bellies and bathroom situations, and for the work we will be doing in Gulu.

Thank you for your support,
Uganda Team 2018