Team 15 visit to Home of Hope

It is very hard to describe this experience, but going from the Village of Hope to the Home of Hope was quite a trip... not physically or logistically but emotionally and spiritually.

The Home of Hope is the only home of its kind in Uganda and it provides care of children with disabilities (multiple disabilities). It is generally believed in Uganda that a child with a disability is the result of a curse on the family, so these children are often abandoned, due to the stigma. This home had been struggling to survive and pay for food and staff, which is when HopeBuilders stepped in and now provide support to keep it going. The staff are incredible and inspirational, because of their dedication, care and commitment. The entire team was deeply impacted, but had a most enjoyable time playing with the kids. The kids were extremely excited to see the team and the faster the members ran while pushing their wheel chairs the better it was and the more they laughed, or smiled or simply were content. An incredible place and one that all at HopeBuilders are blessed to support.

 
 
 


 

team 15 - The Journey Continues....

Wow the team has had spent the last few days being challenged and well rewarded for some very hard work.

The walls have been built on the admin building extension and the roof has been peeled back ready for the timber roofing to be extended. Ivan is getting very excited.

The shed is progressing well and the 10m long timber roof iron beams are almost ready to be put in place. Thanks to a great coordinated team effort the dairy shed and milking area is going to be a great asset to the village.

House 9 and 10's kitchen is really starting to take shape, the timber roof frame is completed and the half walls are nearly there.

The wall rendering mixture was being prepared with several outbreaks of cow manure throwing occurring (especially towards certain team leaders).

Yesterday the team also had the privilege of visiting several of the VOH children's home village situation. These were mostly in a slum, where they were rescued from. The visits were back to the children's guardians homes, usually a grand-mother or aunty/uncle. This was both challenging and thought provoking for the whole team.

After this the team spent a great evening at 2 Friends enjoying dinner with Rachael & Robert (HB Directors), Edward (VOH Manager),  Ivan (VOH Coordinator) and William (HB Transport coordinator/driver).

Today the team also visited Youth Support Uganda's (YSU) sewing class - this is another HB project headed up by Luke Vandenberg. YSU is working with older young people to help them break out of the cycle of poverty and live in freedom. The sewing class is changing the lives of 9 young women who in some cases are already young single mums, with no way to look after themselves and their child. The sewing class will teach them sewing, business management and it will give them a sewing machine - the class goes for 6 months.

Stay tuned for the next update which will give you details of the team;s visit to the Home of Hope - another partner project of HopeBuilders that is seeking to give a new lease of life to 35 children with multiple disabilities..  you don't want to miss that!

Team 15 - Day 8 & 7... Ministry and farm!!!

The team has recently welcomed two new members, father and son duo Nic & Reuben, from Melbourne, who couldn't travel with the team but are with them now. Their arrival brings the team count to 20, which makes this team one of the larger teams of HopeBuilders and the first of a Queensland/Victorian combination. Each morning some members have ventured up to Monkey Mountain to reflect and enjoy the sunrise and the beauty of God's creation and even to encounter some monkeys - hence the name.

Team #15 is also now ramping up the pace on the expansion of the Village of Hope farm project, as of today having erected a large portion of the steel structure and pouring the concrete supports. Designs are underway to possibly include an outdoor pen area which will house a Crush (used for keeping cows calm while being milked) to assist in the milking process.

Previously on Day 7, the first Children’s Ministry session was held with great success. The village children were involved in many exciting activities such as a worship time, Bible story & lesson, puppet show, large group games and personalised arts & crafts. The afternoon came to a close as the village children & Team #15 enjoyed watching Happy Feet in the main hall. The team looks forward to hosting the next ministry morning in the coming days.

When chatting to some of the team members about how they feel... here is what they said: Ryan says " great fun", Tom says..."what do you mean we need more bricks", Peter's a bit tired and loves a soda on the balcony!!

Of course. I am cute!

Team 15 - Day 5 work continues at the Village of Hope

HopeBuilders team #15 have spent their first few days in the VoH mingling with the children and taking on three major projects.

The team is working on an extension to the village administration building, which will provide Ivan (the village co-ordinator) with permanent residence in the village. This requires the team to complete brickwork for two rooms including the installation of windows & doors.

 

The second project being undertaken is the continued completion of House 10 and adjoining kitchen. Once completed, this will enable to village to accommodate another 2 widows and 16 more children, an amazing milestone for HopeBuilders. The team has today set down the final brick in House 10 and is now preparing for roofing.

The third & final project is the improvement of Westside Farm, the addition of a steel shed which will house more cows in the village. The shed is in its early stages at the moment, with the skeleton currently being welded & rust proofed. In the following few days, concrete foundations will be poured which will enable the team to move onto more complex components of the project.

Team 15 making good progress...




Sunset from Suubi House

After arriving on Saturday afternoon at Entebbe airport the team retrieved all their luggage, which in itslef was a good start and began the drive to Jinja, Wairaka and the Village of Hope. After a few hours on the road they arrived at the Village of Hope and were welcomed by the awesome children and mothers, it was then time to settle in to Suubi and enjoy and well earned rest. The next day was going to church along with the children and mothers of the Village... a short 3 hour service :) and it was back to Suubi for lunch. The afternoon was spent back at the Village playing soccer, singing songs and some guitar playing by team members and generally 'hanging out' with 75+ children eager to make new friends. 


Considering the options

Monday was an early start and the works at the Village kicked off - the team split into different groups, with one finishing off the remaining courses of bricks on House 10 and the other commencing the extension to the admin building. There was also the digging of dirt for the majenga mix and the moving of earth bricks from the production area to the building sites - always hard work. That afternoon the team ventured into town and some shopped while others kicked back at Flavours (a local cafe) and enjoyed a Mango Lassi.

Tuesday was another early start with a few even trekking up Monkey Mountain to enjoy the African sun rise and the amazing view looking over the Village and towards Lake Victoria. It was then another day of building with tremendous progress being made by the different groups and this was rewarded with a dinner in town at 2 Friends Restaurant - a favourite of Hopebuilders teams.

All in all the team is doing well and enjoying the comforts of Suubi House and the opportunity to play an active part in "Breaking the Cycle of Poverty".

HopeBuilders team 15 - almost there!!

On Friday January 3rd 2014, 8 Brisbane locals and 8 Melbourne locals who had flown up to Brisbane left the Brisbane International airport bound for Uganda and theVillage of Hope in Wairaka. These 16 members will join up with two other Melbourne locals who are already there and on Thursday they will be joined by 2 more Melbournites, bringing the team to its full complement of 20 members. This team will complete the kitchen and amenities block for house 9 & 10 and also do the finishing touches on these two houses, getting them ready for another 16 orphans and 2 widows to move in real soon. They will also extend the admin block and provide a small apartment (of sorts) for our Village Coordinator. The team will also spend some time on extending our farm capacity through teh building of sheds and other facilities, so that the farm can extend its work and take in more animals. All in all we are looking forward to how God will work in and through this team and the way in which they will impact Uganda but more importantly how Uganda will impact them..  another team joins the fight TO BREAK THE CYCLE OF POVERTY - Go Team UG15!!!!