Voyage to the Heart of Uganda

By Tim Blythe,

Tim’s log, Stardate 300614.  We will soon be leaving Uganda and heading for home where luxury will await us.  Life will soon be normal again…..or not!

During this visit, I have seen great pride in the people of Uganda.  For example:

1. The football field at Wakiso.
2. The pride of representing your school. 
3. Kids showing off their classroom and where they sleep.
4. People give you a firm handshake and a hug.
5. They wash their vehicles even though they will get dirty very quickly due to the roads.
6. The food stands carefully organize the food for the best presentation possible.

I have also witnessed the kids here get to play the game they love.  Without Fields of Dreams Uganda, they would not be playing these games. They would only be kicking around a banana leaf ball.  But now they are playing tournament games, they have uniforms, boots and real footballs.  I have seen kids from the Central area (New Kabaale Busega) travel from there to play against a team (Laroo) in the North area (Gulu) which is a six hour trip.  Yes, this means they actually traveled to play in the tournament and spent two nights in Gulu.  Think about that!  Kids here go to school then back home and then back to school again.  A child here would not even know kids from a school nearby.  I think about back home and how many of our kids have friends that go to different schools!  These kids don’t get that chance….but with football and Field of Dreams Uganda it is a reality.

To hear both the children of Gulu and New Kabaale sing praises of each other is beautiful music.  A lot of bad myths were shattered this past weekend.  If you don’t know the kids from your own area, you sure don’t know the kids up North.  The teams from the North were disappointed that the girls from New Kabaale Busega did not come up and play.  Maybe next year this will happen.

This has been a wonderful trip and a true joy for me to be a part of this team, but where do I go from here?  Can I possibly forget these kids and how much help they need?  I pray I do not.  Maybe next year you will feel the urge to come and feel and see the blessings this place has to offer.  

Time to sign off from Uganda and catch the plane home.  I am excited to see my family again, but this place will always have a special place in my heart.

Good night from Uganda. 

The Pearl of Africa Also Known As Uganda

By Lee Ann Pendergrass

Today our American team said farewell to the Fields of Dreams staff in Gulu.  What hearts, what passion and love they demonstrate over and over by assisting, believing in them and dreaming with the children so they can have hope and work hard for their achievements.  It is with mixed feelings that I leave Gulu. I watched how the children welcomed us at each school, met the staff at the different schools, developed dream plans with individual children whom I fell in love with, and watched the joy and smiles from the adults and children during the football tournament yesterday.  All this proves to me that people are more alike than different regardless of where you were born.

The real difference is geography, educational and employment opportunities.  Uganda is called the Pearl of Africa.  It is hard to see the pearls among the poverty and lack of opportunities.   The pearls in Uganda are hidden at times- hardworking adults and children, their strong belief in God, their respectfulness to each other, their smiles in spite of their circumstances, their excitement in football, their pride in their country, the ability to sing their national anthem and know meaning of the words, and love to smile and wave to strangers.

Could Americans become pearls to Ugandans?  Ugandans need a leg up not a hand out. To me, Fields of Dreams Uganda does this through their programs by combining the love of football and their educational dream plans. Fields of Dreams Uganda hires local people to help develop and implement the programs through football coaches and educational advocates. This is not a job to them, but a passion to see youth become serious and confident about their future. These children are the future leaders of Uganda. They will become pearls to their own country's future.  They in turn will have a ripple affect on other Ugandans.

I want to close by thanking each of you who have supported Fields of Dreams.  Your funds, prayers, encouragement, donations of items, time and expertise are your pearls to Uganda 's future.  As I return to Georgia, there are a few pearls in my heart from this nation.  I don't say farewell to my new friends and children in Uganda for I pray I can return to the Pearl of Africa.

The FoDU World Cup

By Henan Miller

As I told people that I was going to Uganda in June 2014 I always got the same reaction “but the world cup is happening then!”, and my answer was always the same one “I know”.

Today was the FoDU tournament and also the day that confirmed that missing a few world cup games was just the right decision. It has been an amazing trip where I got and will get to experience very unique feelings.

Six schools got to attend the tournament with both boys and girls football teams. We started very early with a band and a nice parade to the only pitch to host all 11 games. Many people from each school got to attend the tournament, staff from FoDU Uganda, the FoDU team from the US, and the Gulu community as well. The day was beautiful, a little hot for the foreigners, but great for a football tournament. And by the way, the games were only 30 minutes long.

I know what some of you are thinking, and the answer is yes. I got to play at least one game. I was super excited to play an official football game in Uganda. We also gave the referees a break and I was designated as the center referee. It was great to be part of this event at so many different levels.

The unique thing about our tournament is that we included a cultural/musical theme. Each school got to perform their own music piece in between games. Again, an amazing idea and a simple way to get to know these kids and schools much better.

There were winners and of course losers, but at the end of the day we are “slowly by slowly”, as Ugandans would say, accomplishing our goals as an organization.

Please consider helping others in Uganda via Fields of Dreams, or even others closer to you. You are making a difference, I promise you.

Thanks to my family, my friends, and the entire FoDU team from Uganda and the US. It won’t be long before my family and I get back to this country to get our son. Until then thank you!

Unexpected Uplifting

By Jen Wilson

We have an amazing team here in Gulu.  I have felt blessed all week to serve with the six other members of our June Dream Team.  We each have a different set of strengths and gifts that have blended together so well.  We've laughed together, we've cried together, and we have so many phenomenal memories of the last six days.

However, every journey has a low moment. A point in time where you begin to question the work or wonder if you can take another step forward.  For many members of the team, today was a difficult day.  Nothing catastrophic happened, but after six full days...we were tired. The needs of our schools in Gulu are great.  As we visit each campus the head teacher shares with us a long list of challenges and needs.  Electricity, fencing, curriculum materials, classroom space, etc. What we consider basic necessities are items of luxury in Uganda.  It's humbling to realize we take so much for granted in America.

Today after visiting two of our partner schools and seeing the same level of needs I thought...how are we ever going to make this right?  How can we adequately serve and help these children and teachers?  Are we making an impact? These questions were running through my mind as we made the turn into the driveway of our lodging and immediately all of those thoughts left my mind.  Lining the driveway were 30 JOYOUS faces.

The players from New Kaabale Busega, one of our partner schools in Kampala, and our Kampala coaches were lining the driveway clapping and singing to welcome us home.  Their faces were glowing.  Huge smiles.  Warm hugs and handshakes.  It reminded me that hope is alive and progress is possible.  As the champion team in the Kampala region, the team from New Kaabale traveled to Gulu to participate in the tournament.  Over the last two years, our Ugandan staff and Amercian staff/team members have invested time, love, and resources into the lives of these children...and you can see the fruits of this labor of love.  These young men have grown not only as soccer players.  They have grown as leaders, scholars, and young men of great character.  I wish you could have seen how excited they were to be in on the surprise to bring such a great blessing to us.  The team piled back on the bus to head to Gulu PTC, their hosts for the tournament, and we returned the favor.  We lined the driveway to clap for them as they left...and they loved it!

As I watched them drive away, it hit me.  In two to three years, our children in Gulu will hopefully have the same spirit, love, and joy.  Each time we invest in their dreams, hope grows.  Each time we host a tournament for them, hope grows.  Each time we are able to meet a challenge or need on their campus, hope grows.  Today started at ground zero, but it ended in a place of joy.  It was a great reminder that change takes time...but hope can blossom.

Unexpected Uplifting

By Jen Wilson

We have an amazing team here in Gulu.  I have felt blessed all week to serve with the six other members of our June Dream Team.  We each have a different set of strengths and gifts that have blended together so well.  We've laughed together, we've cried together, and we have so many phenomenal memories of the last six days. However, every journey has a low moment. A point in time where you begin to question the work or wonder if you can take another step forward.  For many members of the team, today was a difficult day.  Nothing catastrophic happened, but after six full days...we were tired. The needs of our schools in Gulu are great.  As we visit each campus the head teacher shares with us a long list of challenges and needs.  Electricity, fencing, curriculum materials, classroom space, etc. What we consider basic necessities are items of luxury in Uganda.  It's humbling to realize we take so much for granted in America.

Today after visiting two of our partner schools and seeing the same level of needs I thought...how are we ever going to make this right?  How can we adequately serve and help these children and teachers?  Are we making an impact? These questions were running through my mind as we made the turn into the driveway of our lodging and immediately all of those thoughts left my mind.  Lining the driveway were 30 JOYOUS faces.

The players from New Kaabale Busega, one of our partner schools in Kampala, and our Kampala coaches were lining the driveway clapping and singing to welcome us home.  Their faces were glowing.  Huge smiles.  Warm hugs and handshakes.  It reminded me that hope is alive and progress is possible.  As the champion team in the Kampala region, the team from New Kaabale traveled to Gulu to participate in the tournament.  Over the last two years, our Ugandan staff and Amercian staff/team members have invested time, love, and resources into the lives of these children...and you can see the fruits of this labor of love.  These young men have grown not only as soccer players.  They have grown as leaders, scholars, and young men of great character.  I wish you could have seen how excited they were to be in on the surprise to bring such a great blessing to us.  The team piled back on the bus to head to Gulu PTC, their hosts for the tournament, and we returned the favor.  We lined the driveway to clap for them as they left...and they loved it!

As I watched them drive away, it hit me.  In two to three years, our children in Gulu will hopefully have the same spirit, love, and joy.  Each time we invest in their dreams, hope grows.  Each time we host a tournament for them, hope grows.  Each time we are able to meet a challenge or need on their campus, hope grows.  Today started at ground zero, but it ended in a place of joy.  It was a great reminder that change takes time...but hope can blossom.

Walking

By Peggy Cox

Today I stayed behind in Gulu while the rest of the team went on a tour of Murchison Falls National Park. FoDU’s national director, Jonathan Ssebambulide escorted me on a walking tour of Gulu. First we went to the Ugandan Red Cross where I was able to donate blood once again. We then headed into the “downtown” area of Gulu where we walked through a very large market, the largest I’ve visited in Uganda. You could buy everything from smoked fish to deep fried White Ants; tomatoes and onions; more varieties of fresh peas than I could identify; backpacks and electronics; prepackaged spaghetti and elbow macaroni; gently used leather shoes with fresh coats of black shoe polish and what every person in Uganda needs, a t-shirt with Daytona Beach emblazoned across the front. (Thank you, Goodwill Industries.)

I have been blessed to visit Uganda five times now, but this was my first time to walk to my destination like the average Ugandan has to and to experience a little of what their everyday life is like. I am even more impressed by these humble and strong people.

Today I walked a little over six miles in their shoes. For me, today was a one day adventure and cherished time spent with a dear friend. For children like Kevan, the student we met yesterday at Pageya Primary School, it is a distance they have to walk each school day, if they want an education. Let me briefly tell you about Kevan. She is a beautiful, healthy, 14 year old young lady. She seemed to be taller than your average 14 year old girl, but I’m a smidge over 5 feet tall, so most people seem tall to me. Kevan walks approximately three miles each way to school. Some days her brother, who she lives with, has the 2,000 Shillings (75¢) for her to take a boda-boda (motorcycle taxi) either to or from school, but not both ways. She usually walks 6 miles round trip each day, just to get an education.

Pretty amazing, huh? It gets better, or worse, I guess I should say. Kevan is an amputee and has a prosthetic leg. She stepped on a land mine and lost her lower left leg at the knee. She was only 6 years old. She walks three miles to school and three miles back home again, on a prosthetic leg, just for an education that is not guaranteed beyond the 7th grade. Now then, pretty amazing, huh?

Connecting While Disconnected

By Tim Blythe

Wow it is hard to believe how quickly the week is slipping away.  I have not connected to the internet for almost a week.  I have no idea what is going on in the news.  It is nice being disconnected from work.

If you asked me to explain my first couple of days I think I would say “I was a deer in the headlights”. I really did not know what to say with everything that I was seeing.  The journey began in Kampala for a couple of days and then to Gulu for the rest of the week.   I witnessed in Kampala a great worship service where the kids sang and danced.  The kids in Kampala were very friendly and right away they would get very close to you.  In Gulu the kids are very friendly but yet a lot more reserved when you first meet them.  You can get so quickly attached to both the kids in Kampala and Gulu.   At New Kabaale Busega I met three girls named Juliet, Sarah and Cissy.  They wrote me some letters asking me things like:  Did you love Uganda? Is it a nice country?  Where I live do you really have more than two seasons?  They also thanked me for coming to their school.

Day 2, At Wakiso Children’s School of Hope, I met three girls named Margaret, Leticia and Ritah.  I found out that their dreams were to become Nurses and teachers.  I also saw the new football field and was told how they planted all the grass by hand.

Day 3, At Laroo Primary School, I met Faith and Michael and learned that their dreams were to become a nurse and a minster.  I also was able to observe in the classroom and watch and listen.  The first class was a math class.  There were 57 kids in the classroom and just one teacher.  The teacher was teaching rounding off decimals and numbers.  The kids were quiet and listened well to the teacher.  A couple of students went up to the chalk board and tried to work the problems.  The second class was a literacy class.  This class had 132 kids in the classroom and only one teacher.  The kids in general were quiet and when they did get loud the teacher would get them to immediately quiet down.  The teacher would walk around and check to see if the students had completed the exercise correctly.  Of course the teacher could not get around to all the students.  The classroom was packed with kids.  The next class that I attended was another math class which the teacher was not there so one of our staff (Jonathan) taught the class and did a great job.

Day 4, At Pageya Primary School, I met Samuel, Peter and Stella.  They wanted to become a Doctor, policeman and a teacher. When roaming around, this was the first school that I had been at that I actually looked inside the restrooms….it was pretty disturbing site.  I really don’t know what I would have done if I truly needed to go to the bathroom.

Regarding the kids that I have seen at these schools I have found them to be happy and caring for each other.  They are really excited to see us and they are ever so thankful for our gifts of cleats, sports bras, and soccer balls (footballs).  The teachers were excited to get the supplies that we brought them.  And many of the teachers seem committed to teaching and helping the kids, even though they have very little supplies, no classroom books, and very large class size.

The staff here in Uganda is doing an outstanding job.  Johnathan is well respected at all the schools and just does a tremendous job.  Our soccer coaches in the North, Mercy and Walter are working hard with the kids teaching them soccer. Florence is the Education advocate for us and is working real hard with the Heads of the Schools.

I am very blessed to be serving with this team.  All the team members Mike, Jen, Lee, Peggy, Hernan and Dotty are doing an outstanding job working with the kids, teachers and administrators of the various schools.  Mike is tremendous leader and well organized, Jen being a principle understands so many of their issues.  Lee is a joy for the kids and makes them all laugh.  Peggy is recognized as a familiar face since she has been here so many times.  Hernan is looked up too by the kids because he played soccer in college and Dotty is like a daughter to me and the kids just adore her.  I am truly blessed to be a part of this team.

Goodnight from Uganda!