Santa Claus Dec 5

On Friday Dec 5th was a Holiday in the Netherlands called Santa Claus. That is the day the santa claus comes, But the diffence is that he comes from Spain in a boat with black elf's. So the children put carrott's in the shoes for santa horseand when they wake up there is presents in the shoe. The adults have like a secert santa deal and the gift make fun of the other person nice fun thou. Like I got shower cap, comb, and shampoo. so it is fun and they sit around and have nice sweets.

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving I know that it is over but o well. How it all came about is very Monday morning all admin has a meeting. Part of the meeting was christmas and when should we start and I said in america we start on friday. The CEO asked why Friday I told him we always start the day after thanksgiving. I told him a little about thanksgiving, then he said can we do it here and I said sure no worries, So went shopping for food and stuff like that to be ready. So on Thanksgiving we worked all day and I started cooking at noon I cooked ham, chicken, sweet corn, fruit salad, and apple pie. It was very good and I got up and made a little speech to help explain thanksgiving.

The very next day Henry and Nathan moved in with me so we started my 3 years of fostering

Brad

Again I move

Yesterday I was talking to one of my bosses and she told me that I shuld move to the new house. So I said i shold what until the weekend she said no do it when ever you want. So I replied I am going to move now now. So yesterday I pack some thing and move to the other side of the compound.
You ask why did I move again. This is the reason I loved the house that I was living in but it was just to small for the 2 little boys that are going to be moving in with me. The reason that they're going to be moving in is becauseI am going to be adopting them. Here in Uganda I have to foster them for 3 years.
So again I move to a very nice big house.

Brad

What a weekend

The weekend all started on Friday night. There was a team for America here and they had a dinner just for all the missionary's. It was very nice we had great food that made me feel like home.
Then Saturday came in the morning it was a normal day. About 4 o'clock I was on my way to Kampala for a night out on the time. The people that I have been dealing told he that I am to young to stay at home and they are going to take me out. So we did it was a lot of fun we started about 5 o'clock and ended at about 3 in the morning here the bars and clubs close at 7 in the morning.
On Sunday morning I was called to Pieta side of he compound. So I was very nervous because I had know clue why I was called I never get called. SO when I got there she told me to sit down we need to talk. So I sat down and she told me that yesterday they had a person visit. The person was Henry and Nathan uncle, he came to visit the boy's and to see how they're doing. She told him that there is a man here that wants to adopted the boy's. He said great that is good and he said I what to meet him, but I was not around. The man has the power over the children because the mother is very crazy. So when I meet the man he will give me the letter that I need to start the adopting. So that is great news. The rest of the day I what to Church at 2 o'clock and after that it was time to bring the Americans to the Airport to go back home. So we started for the airport and on the way there is a dirt road right outside the compound. So when it rains we can not move. Now being the raining season we wanted to get going so we make it. SO we start and we told the driver what ever to do do not stop put it to the floor and leave it there. so we got half way help the hill and she let off the gas. SO guess what happen we got stuck and bad. The bus that we were riding in half was in he field and the other half was in the ditch.so we were stuck for 2 hours and we finally got the bus on stuck and use the other way. so when we finally got to the airport we all were wet and covered with mud. So all I can say is what a weekend

Driving

This past wed I was in Kampala with work. When I was going home I thought I should see about finishing my driving permit. So I ran from one place to another place and back again. At the end of the 1.5 hours I had a Ugandan Driving Permit. So I can drive in Uganda legally now!! I am excited because it is a new set of freedom I have.
It is very nice to go and get in a car and go and and be done in three hours and not just starting the day. It is a lot different because here people are not willing to wait when they drive, and they drive on the other side of the road so getting used to shifting with the other hand.

Trade Fair

This pasted weekend was the Trade Fair in Kampala. I was lucky to have a chance to go. A co-worker and two other volunteers went along as well. Last week in Uganda was Indepence Day so they had the Trade Fair every day last week. So last Saturday I was at the fair where we got to see all the new inventions or other items to make the home here run better and cheaper. They had everything from solar heaters to new roofs it was very neat to see very thing.
On Sunday was a very fun day as well in the morning it was boring. In the Evening time the Netherlands were playing Soccer for the Worldcup in 2010. So we all got together to watch it. The reason that we watch the Netherlands is because for the people that do not know this Children's Home was founded and run by Netherlanders I am the only Amercian. It was a fun Match to watch they won 2-0. But all's I can Say is GO TEAM USA


Brad

4th of July

It is not 4th of July it is Oct 9th. Today is a National Holiday it is Indepence Day in Uganda. Today back in 1961 was the day they got their Indepence from the British. A lot of things are the same. They have Parades on the T.V. and parties. The difference is that here in Uganda on Indepence Day of you are white you do not go out into the public at night. Why I do not know but I all I was told is that it is not safe for white people to go out after dark. I am one of the lucky ones I guess I get to have to Indepences Days in one Year. Even though I am not a Real African I still have the day off of work!!!!! HAHAHAHA


From Uganda

Max and I are out

Have a great Day

long time

Sorry I have not written in a long time I have been very busy. We have gotten a lot of children in in the last couple weeks. I have been here months and the first to months we have not had any children come to the orphanage. Now in the last 4 weeks we have gotten in 5 kids. The fourth child we got in his name is Enoch. He is a true blessing his was on deaths doorstep. He was one breath away from death he was in that bad of shape. Some he was in ICU for 10 days he had the works done for him. So we had a volunteer with him 24/7 and someone was with the volunteer almost daily to visit and to bring whatever was needed. That was here I was and that is why I have not written in a long time.
We are getting in 2 more children in this month. 1 child is coming from are project in the north he is coming in the next week or so. The other child is from a child that is already in the home. When she came to the home she was 12 years old and pregnant from being raped by her uncle so she is also going to be giving birth this month.
So That is some if the things that I am doing..

Brad

Long time

Sorry for not writing in a long time it is very crazy here lately. This weekend I had the luck to go to a real African wedding. It was interesting to say the least. It was a co-worker he works up in the north branch. The wedding was a surprisingly close to the same as an American wedding.

We just entered the raining season and I am all ready for the weather to go back to the dry season. That is very odd for me to say because I love the rain. The difference is that here they're all gravel and dirt roads so that makes a huge mess in the house and clothes. I used to have a yellow lab but max is now a black lab.

Have a great day all
Max and I are out

Brad

Minnows

Its Wednesday night already where is the time going? My story starts on Saturday I just got back from Kampala and two of my friends where working and I asked them what was going on tonight. They saids that they were going to cook an African meal. I asked of I could join and they said yes. So about 7 I went to Floor's house and a little bit later Rose came with the man course Minnows yes I said Minnows. So I cut the tomato's and onions, Floor made the Rice and also Helped rose with taking the heads off of the minnows. So when everything was done cooking we had rice then tomato,onion, and minnows on are plates. The taste was not bad it was not good but it was not bad.I can now say I am a ready fisherman because I ate minnows. So Shaun, Tempy, Boon, and Andy are not real fisherman.


From the man that ate minnows


Brad

Having Fun!!!

It is now Wednesday and this week like all others are flying by. I have been very busy with interviews and trying to finish getting the bank accounts figured out. Today was a very funny day it started out with the nice Monkeys waking me up. So I got up and scared them all away. I then got ready for work an hour early. I then sat on the internet from 9 in the morning to 1 in the afternoon I mean how borning is that. I then had lunch then A very Very long meeting but it had to be done. The best part of the time I have been here. Max and Jolly are now friends they're playing together and also they're mateing so I think they're now friends. That is my day!!!!


Your Friend In Africa



Brad

Some New Adventures

It is now a beautiful Thursday night. This week as been a very good week. Let go in order. On Sunday night are phone rang it was the police we need to come down to the station. So the 2 founders of Noah's Ark went to the station an there was a six week old baby waiting for us to give it a great home. So we put him in the car and brought him back to Noah's Ark. His name is Yesser he is 8 pound 8 oz. He is very ill he has malaria, Very high fever over 104 degrees, and infection. So everybody please pray for him.
On Tuesday 2 friends and I went to Mukono for lunch and shopping (and I know what you are all thinking Brad shopping go figure) but I had to be back to teach a fire training to the staff. So my boss had a meeting to be at so he could not gave a us a ride to town. So he throw me the keys and asked if I knew how to drive a stick. I told him I grew up on driving a stick. He told me do not crash and hurry back. That was awesome I now can say I have drove in Africa were if you need a inch take it. That is how they drive over here.

Your Friend in Africa

Brad

Max's Bad Day

Hello Everyone-

On Monday morning max came to work with me like now normal. I get a phone call from one of my boss's and he told me to go and meet this insurance lady that is coming I said no problem. So she pulled up and we had are meeting and she wanted to see some of the children no problem i said. So we did that after that we went around the compound and show her what we doing, like I do very meeting with people from outside the compound. we were walking all around and was on the final leg of the tour and one of the kids that was walking with us yelled max is bleeding. I thought not to much of it because he just came out of the jungle so I thought he had some thorns or something like that. So about 1 to 2 minutes went by and the kid yelled again max is bleeding. So I looked and he had a pool of blood all around his paw. So I put my EMT train to use. I ripped off my shirt and rapped it around his leg and ran him up to the middle of the compound where I could get help. When we got there there was 2 meetings going on. They all looked at me and said what happened and I said max was cut. They all thought the monkeys got him. So 1 person ran for the first aid kit and the rest came to help. By the end of it all I was head to toe red of the blood and max was head to paw red from the blood, but he also got three stitches.

So I went and showered and changed then finish the tour with the insurance lady. When she got into her car she said something very interesting. She said of you would do this for a dog I know the children are very safe. I thought that was a very wierd statement. I thought look around we did all this for the children why wouldn't we do something like that, but whatever I guess Just Livin the Dream!!!!!

That was Max's and Mine very bad day.


The now cleaned up


Brad

I am sorry that I haven't updated the blog in a while, it has been super busy. I just got into the new short time office,trying to work with Max and Jolly, and now the Monkeys are back.
We just moved to the short time office. It is very nice to have an office that I share with only one person at a time not four.
We just got done working with Max and Jolly. It is going very well today we play with the children there as well. All the other times there was no children allowed for safety reasons. Max is coming to work with me now. Wherever I go he goes to and he is a lot happier.
The Monkeys I what can I say About the Monkeys, but a pain in the backside. They are back and mad. Last night and this morning they have been wait for Max to return home. They're getting ready to attack him.

Until next time

Brad

Fixing

Last Tuesday my brand new computer crashed. So now on monday night they are trying to fix it though the internet back in Minnesota. How neat what we can do with computers. It is kind of crazy because it is not like America wherer we do not have to worry about power going out your the internet just turning off. So I am kind of hopeing to have it done very fast before the power goes out. Not to much else going on right now.

Hopeing the computer is fixed

Brad

Wild Sunday

It's Sunday morning it started like very other morning. I got up at 700 and got ready to go to Kampala. I was buying a wash machine so I was very excited. So I walked to the main road and a waited for about 30 seconds for a matotu (van taxi).
I got on and off to Kampala I went. It was so full I bet their was 20 people on the matotu. So we got to Kampala in about 45 minutes which is pretty fast. Now the store does not open until 10. That was great because I went to a coffee shop in the mall and had 2 cups of very good coffee. Then it was 10 o'clock so I went into the store and the first time since I been in Africa the wash machine was not on sale. That's okay I only would of save 61 dollars anyways. So I bought the wash machine here you have to buy big items first then finish your shopping. The clerk told me when you come to pick up the wash machine tomorrow you need the receipt or you will not get the machine. So I finished the rest of my shopping an hour ahead of schedule. So I got back in a Matotu and started for home. I got a quarter of the way and the driver stopped the Matotu and said very one that is going to Mukono off because we are going back to Kampala. SO I paid the driver 500 schilling and started walking back to Munoko looking for another Matotu. I found another Matotu and got back right around 1 o'clock. As I am walking up the hill to the house I started looking for the receipt for the washer. I can not find it so I got home and unpacked all of my stuff and put it away. I LOST THE RECEIPT!!! I am looking for the phone number for the store and of course it's not on the receipt or anything else. I found an old phonebook with it inside. The number did not work because they change the phone number 2 years ago. So I went to Peita and she gave me the new number I just had to add a 2 from the old number. So I call them and she stated that I have to come today or it will not be valid. So I asked Peita if I could have Patrick drive me she said that's fine. So I asked Patrick and he said sure so by the time we left it was 2 o'clock and the store closes at 3. On the way to the gate to go I notice a sound it sounded like a hole in the tire and it was. So we had to go back up and get a new truck. We did that and on the we were again. So we get to the store and the people in consumer service started giving it to me on how important the receipt is. She said that we will help you out then I found out that a someone found the receipt and turned it into the store. So needless to say I have my washer. What a Day

The man with the washer

Brad

New Neighbor

Today is other day in Africa. I got a new neighbor last night but only for two weeks thou then she go back to Holland. Today we started cleaning out a new part time office for a couple of us. In 6 months is when we are plan on moving in to the new office building.

Until we meet again

Brad

Midweek

It is now midweek and over here it has been a very busy week. I have had meetings very night this week. The earliest I have gotten home is about 9 at night very long and very tiring. The one meeting we had was exciting for me because I got to see the new plans for the new office. I am very excited for that I do not have to carry all of my stuff home every night anymore that is so great. We are moving hopefully to a temp location for six months until we move to the new building. I just got a new camera so I am going to be getting pictures up I am trying for the end of the weekend.


Until next time


Brad

moving day

Saturday was a very busy day in the morning I went to Kampala for half a day to return the broke stove and to buy some dog food for Max the dog. The was a very interesting experience for me. The reason it was so interesting was because I got a stove, a bag of dog food and some other stuff trying to get in a size of an mini van with about 15 people in it already before I even got in. Then when we got to Mukono I had to get on a boda boda for the last 3 kilometers. So I am trying to balance all this stuff on a boda boda to make thing even worse it started to raining so that was pretty scary.
When I got home it was time to move thank goodness that I was moving about 20 feet at the most so that was good. It still took all day and I do not even have a 1/3 of my stuff. I am very in my new home. My shower works,it seems like more room and more storage. so that is get Max seems to like it as well.

Until we talk again

Brad

The Lizard

A funny things have happened since the last time I have written. The other day I was getting ready for bed and I saw something in the window so I looked and there was a lizard. I tried to get it out of the house. Then the funniest thing happened Max saw it I had never laughed so hard in my life. Max was barking at it jumping at it. If you Max you can just see it it was so awesome.

I will talk to you later

Brad

I guess I have a case of the Monday's

Monday morning what can you say besides it monday. I woke up early like I do almost very day to walk to Mukono. I know that it sounds very crazy and I am starting to think that it is but its so beautiful.
Today I had a meeting for about 2 hours then off for the rest of the day. I had to go to Kampala again today to pick up the fig and stove. It was a nice drive but traffic jams are so bad and I think that they are worse than in New York and I did not think that was could ever happen. That was my Monday very boring yea. I have a lot of meetings tomorrow so that will help make up for todays case of the mondays.

I hope you enjoyed reading my blog

Brad

The Day in Kampala

It is another Sunday. Today was a very fun day because today we went to kampala for the day. The reason that we went there was so that I could but a stove and other items to make my life a little easier. After we went shooping we went to a church called KPC which is a church in Kampala it is a church between the one that you see on tv and a choir it was very fun and neat. Then to a cafe called a Cafe pap the food was amazing and the coffee was outside this world. The way we got there was very fun. We started by walking to the tar road then we took a boda boda to Munoko when we got there we took a Matatu (it is a van that is a taxi) it was very fun. On the way home it was not very fun because to driver and his partner were jerks and kicked us off 2 stops early because they made more room for new riders, butwhatever its all good.

I will see you when I see you

Carpe Diem

Brad

Holy Cold

Hello everyone-

All is going well here. I am was getting used to my shower working until this morning then back to asking other people to use they're shower. I am also getting used to the cold water showers. I learned when to take a shower and when not too.

Today I walked to the roadside stands. It is about a half mile to 3 quarters of a mile so not to far. I walked with Max and we both had are very first Rolex. They're very good basically what they are is a egg wrapped in a thin pancake. Max and I loved them, we will have them again for sure. The best part is that it is very cheap for 2of them it cost me 1400.00 schillings. The ratio is 1620.00 schilling per one dollar. So very very cheap, and it was a very good supper. Not to much going on besides the daily grid. I am finally starting my real job so I am very excited about that. The next couple of weeks that is going to be very interesting to see how everything works and how the new things are built.

Thank you for reading and have a great day


Brad

another day in the nieghborhood

Lets start with last night shall we. Last night the volunteers of the Netherlands had a party for all that work at the orphanage. It was very cool we played Dutch games and at the end of the night we were watching and dancing to African music. It was so fun and that is coming from a guy that can not dance very well. It was a kick in the pants.
Now this morning we walked to Mukono again but this time there were like ten of us it was so beautiful.
Today was kind of weird day the monkeys came down and attack the dogs and the children it was very scary. The dog protected the kids so that was great but now we have to call the vet to fix the dogs.

That is all for the day!!!

Carpe Diem

Brad

seeing the sun raise

It is now July 15th it is a very cool day.

I have experienced a lot that I didn’t have a chance to the first time I was here. My neighbors and I got up at 0630 on Tuesday morning and walked to Munoko to the supermarket. It was a very pretty walk we got to see the sun raise over of the village. We took the back roads because they’re the safest; it took us about an hour to walk it. After we were done at the market it was getting late in the morning so we took a Boda Boda (motorcycle taxi) back to the compound. It is an experience that everyone needs to try, it was so much fun. We then had Breakfast and off to work we all went. It's now supper time in Uganda and I can hear the kids from across the road singing it is very fun to listen to. Now tonight the volunteers from the Netherlands are have a party for very one.

The other reason that is a very cool day is that fact that is is Max The Dog's Birthday!!!! So Max the dog is now seven years old.

Finally I am in Uganda

Hello all-

Sorry that this is the first chance I had to write on the blog very busy and internet very hard to get on.

I left America on July 8th. I went from MN to New York City for a 5 hour layover from New York I went on a 7 hour plane ride to Amsterdam for a 3 layover, then another 7 hour plane ride to Entebbe Uganda. I got to Entebbe at 9:00 night african time which is 1:00 in Minnesota. Then Max and I got to are new home around 10:30 11:00.

On the first day was pretty slow just got to walk around and check things out. I got to meet my new neighbors. Max got to meet the other 2 dogs it did not go very well like I wished it would of. Max is getting better thou!!! I got to see Henry again when he saw me his eyes were wide open and he ran to me. It was very cute and very exciting for me. We got to eat supper together that night.

The Second full day here was very exciting!! A container filled with food came from America so we all helped to unload it. The other thing was that are school was in a soccer match with the neighboring school. WE WON it was very exciting when they got back to the compound the car horn were going off just was like they just WON State.

I got to go Kampala today I got my cell phone hooked help and some shopping done. It was a very neat experience.

On Sat. was a very busy day on the Compound people came from the village. The Children played in the courtyard and the Parents were in class. The parents came to learn how to help their children when they are in school.

It is now Sunday and no to much going on I just cleaned my house all morning and then at 2:00 I went to church very fun otherwise not very exciting.

Until the next time we talk...

Carpe Diem

Brad

Almost Ready

Hello All-

It is now the day before the 4th of July. I got a little behide because there was a huge fire in Green Isle Mn.

I am finishing up my support raising and packing for the trip. My plane is taking off at 700 on the 8th of July. Other wise not much is going on I am having my third and last going away party.

So I will write again when I get to Uganda

Carpe Diem

Brad

It's Now June

It's now June

Hello all-

It's now June 7th with 23 more days,and 5 more shifts of work to go. It's not like I am counting down or anything!!!

Some if the things that I am doing to get ready are of course support raising which is going okay, going to my last Twins game, doing a little shopping, and most important is making sure Max the dog gets all the things that he needs to go with.

Some of the things that I am nervous about are making sure everything will go smoothly with max. If course making sure all the support is raised before I go.

That's all for now later all!!!

Brad

Getting ready to move

It's May 9th 2008
I am getting ready to move to Mukono,Uganda. I have a month of work left and trying to get sponsorship while I will be doing the work of the Lord at an Orphanage. This is going to be my first missionary job and I am very excited. I will be there for at least 3 years and maybe more you never know.

Later

Brad