Day 7: Swimming with kids from St. Judes and Family Dinner at Frederick's

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

By Holda:

St. Jude's is home to around 150 children, many who are orphaned or disabled. APF reserved a swimming pool at a resort hotel in Gulu and brought the children in two groups to the pool to swim. Thanks to several generous APF donors, we had new swimsuits waiting for the kids to wear. Most kids did not know how to swim, so we provided float rings and joined them in the pool. Initial splashing chaos turned into further splashing chaos as the kids got more comfortable being in the water, playing and laughing with each other. After swim time, each child received a new outfit to wear home. 

In the evening, we joined Frederick at his parents' home for a traditional Acholi dinner, prepared by his mother. Six of his seven siblings also came, along with friends. Everyone sat in a long dining room, and introduced themselves "as thoroughly as possible" with others adding "supplements" if someone had been too modest. As on many evenings, Gulu's power had gone out, so we ate and talked by lantern light. All the APF volunteers were so thankful for the host family's hospitality.

By Suzy:

Today we had an action packed day.  We started out with a shopping trip to Wawoto Kacel, a wonderful craft shop that employs disabled adults, and HIV+ men and women.  It as so much fun to see the actual craftsmen and women making their pieces of art and the being able to purchase them knowing that we were helping to empoy these sweet people.  After our shopping trip, we then went to St. Jude Children's Home with our 28 seat bus.  We had 8 of our volunteers which meant that we technically could only take  20 more kids.  But, if you know APF, then you know we never turn a child away.  It was quite the ordeal trying to load about 30 children, most with severe disabilities, onto a bus that had little room.   We noticed that there was an older girl named Christine, who had gone swimming the year before who was quietly crying off to the side.  Because she had bedsores, she was not on the list of kids that were invited.  I talked to the headteacher and begged him to allow her to come, even if it were just to enjoy the day and eat chicken and chips. He agreed and somehow we managed to squeeze Christine on the bus.  

When we arrived at the pool, APF volunteers had organized all of the donated swimsuits and blown up the floaties.  Each child was helped into their swimsuit and then the fun/chaos began!  Smiles were big and laughter loud.  I quickly noticed that Christine, the one who was to not enter the water was sitting alone sad, but later when I glanced over at he, she had managed to aquire a swimsuit  and was modestly and quitly dressing herself (even though she cannot move her legs). She then summoned the strong lifeguard to carry her to the pool.  From then on, she at with a smile on her face, legs dangling in the pool. It was reported to me later that she actually fell in the pool, but was quickly rescued.  The plan was to treat the kids to chips and chicken and give them a real feast.  Our plans quickly changed as a torrential downpour moved our direction.  The kids were quickly loaded  onto the bus, and were off .  We had planned on receiving a second group after the first were dropped back off, but because of the rain, we did not think the headteacher would bring them.  We were all pretty hungry, we ordered 10 plates of food and started to organize and get cleaned up.  

As our food was arriving, we heard the bus reappear and out of the bus stepped 40 more (able bodied) children.  We were all stunned!  We quickly organized our 10 plates of food and with exception  of some complaining German volunteers, we all gave the food to the children to share.  There was some murmuring (not APF volunteers) that we should eat and then order for the kids. I put my foot down and said that under no condition were we going to eat before the kids.  Can you imagine? We, who do not even know what real hunger feels like, sitting down in front of 40 kids while they watched us eat? Not on my watch! We fed the kids, jazzed them up in their new swimsuits and the chaos quicky ensued!  Several of the volunteers were a nervous wreck with 40 kids, none who new how to swim, splashing and playing in the water. The rain had decreased to a drizzle and that made the swimming more enjoyable.  Our group had to be somewhere at six and so to save time, we decided to have the bus run us back to St. Monica's and then go back to get the kids and return them to St. Jude.  When we arrived back to St. Monica, we all quickly started showering and getting ready for our evening  out.  About 45 minutes later, Jen and I walked outside to notice that our bus driver was still  outside.  Due to poor communication, he was still sitting outside of our dorm and forgot to get the kids back at the pool.  We quickly sent him back, were a bit late to our dinner appointment at Frederick's mom house, but all in all, a good time was had!

"One Good Thing":

Holda - Being in a bus with 39 orphaned children singing the African anthem as well as some American classics like "Do-a Deer..."

Suzy - Seeing Vincent walk!

Leah - Swimmig with Monica, who was disabled and could not make many facial expessions, and then seeing how excited she was when I let go and she realized that she coud float on her own. 

Jen - Seeing our bus driver, Rogers, come alive when he was lifting and helping the children who could not walk in and out of the bus and the pool. And seeing how the children took care of each other, with many of the abled ones literally putting their arms around the disabled ones. 

Stacey - Talking with Lilly by the pool side. (She was not allowed to swim because of bed sores.) She told me the story of how she became paralyzed two years ago because of a tumor and then, after a year in the hospital, "God gave me back my hands!"

Shantall - Dressing all the kids in brand new outfits! 

Melissa - The food at Frederick's house, especially the boo, which is a delicious peanut sauce. 

Kiera - Diner with Frederick's family, espcially the long introductions and all the "suppements."

Jessica - Holding the lamp in front of everyone's face as each of the thirty-some guests introduced themselves.

Jen - When Frederick gave a "supplement" about me, he introduced me as Joe Biden, i.e. Suzy's second in command. Best compliment ever!