Wednesday, August 21, 2013
We traveled northwest out of Gulutown to a village in Awer (pronounced "away") to purchase beads from a goup of women there. They greeted us with traditional dancing and drumming before we all settled under the mango trees for introductions and viewing their beadwork. They had also prepared a traditional meal for us. We all left with several pieces of jewelry and full stomachs.
On the road back into Gulu we met Tiger, the old man to whom Suzy had originally made her promise, inspiring the creation of APF. Unfortunately yesterday's rains prevented us from driving to his remote village, but we were able to say hello and send him back with two boda bodas full of gifts and supplies.
Finally, we visited Tribe, another beaders group. We were stunned at the amount of beadwork available by this group of about 20 women. After emptying our wallets, we were saying our goodbyes when the women honored Suzy by singing a song thanking her for hard work for Africa, and each woman placed a necklace around her neck.
We wrapped up our final evening at St. Monica's with "shopping" from our donations for our four sponsored girls, and our last menstrual kit distribution for the 150 St. Monica's girls.
"One Good Thing":
Holda - Speding the morning walking the streets of Gulu with Jen and going into the tinsmith shop, the stationary store, the "hardware store" and the dress shop
Sophie - Picking up my awesome hand-made dress from the market
Stacey - Seeing "You're highly welcome" written in chalk in huge letters on a hut as we walked into Awer
Melissa - Watching the women at Awer do their traditional dance coplete with live drumming
Leah - Dancing with the women in Awer!
Brinlee - Seeing my brother Joseph! Seeing Tiger again
Becca - Watching Brinlee's impressive bargaining skills with the bead sellers
Suzy - When the APF/Tribe beaders put beads around my neck and sang "Suzy, working so hard for Africa..."
Jessica - When I went back to the prison with Frederick to deliver the rice and my volleyball, and they remembered us! They put their faces up the gate and said, "Thank you!"
Ali - "Shopping" with our four sponsored students, as they went through and chose things for themselves from all of our donated items
Shantall - Seeing our four students take the cute little boy outfits for their sons that I brought
Jen - Demonstrating to the St. Monica's girls how to use their menstrual kits with a little individual performance and dance while standing up on a chair
Kiera - Seeing the sass, attitude and smiles of the St. Monica's girls as they posed when I took their individual pictures with their new menstrual kits
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