188 Speed Bumps

I know that it has been a LONG time since I have updated this. I have just gotten so into things here in Africa that I have found it hard to find time to update it.
Well, on Tuesday I will be leaving where I consider my second home to be to go back to my first home. I am both excited and sad. I am so excited to go home and see everyone that I have missed dearly. But I have grown to love it here so much. I love so many people here and I dont know if I will ever see them again. But I have many good memories that I will always remember.
K, there is sooo much that has happened since I last updated that I cant write it all. So I will just summarize a few things.
The past month I have been working a lot with the eye camp that HELP International started and funded part of it. We got a huge donation from Sight Savers, an eye clinic in Kampala, and many from people back home. We went around to about ten surrounding villages, one or two a day, and screened everyone that came and they were able to see a doctor. Vision is a huge problem here that many people dont realize is an issue. We spent many hours each day at each village because there are so many people that have problems with their eyes. Anyways, we provided surgeries for those who needed it. When it was all over, we provided over 100 surgeries!! It was so cool seeing the reactions of thoe who had surgery. They were so happy! One man threw down his cane and yelled, "I dont need that stupid thing anymore!" It made me so happy! I am so glad I was able to be involved in a project that helped so many peoples lives.
I have done a couple of trips in this last month as well. I went to Rwanda for a weekend which was so amazing. And I just got back from Gulu. The bus rides on both of them sucked so bad! Esspecially because I get motions sickness in the back of vehicles and I am closterphobic. They pack the buses to the max! Oh, and on the way to Gulu, no joke... there were 188 speed bumps in the road! All one right after the other! Dont ask me why, but the U.S. did provide the funds for them. I found them pointless, but hey, why not?! I have come to find nothing to be surprising here in Africa. Anything can happen. We visited genocide memorials in Rwanda. It was so sad going to all those places where many mass murderings happened. You could just tell that everyone there has been affected by the genocide whether first hand or through the effects of it. We also attended the first and only branch in Rwanda! It was at the branch president's house which was a cool experience. There are only about 20 members but about 20 or more investigators that come every week as well. It definately was one of my favorite experiences here. About 3 weeks ago half of our group traveled up to Gulu and built some adobe stoves. They take about 3 weeks to dry. So the other half of our group went up this last week to finish the stoves. I was with the second group. Our main job to was put the chimney in and plaster the stoves which will make them last 3 times as long. Like Rwanda, you could tell many people's lives were affected by the war that just left Northern Uganda. We visited a few idp camps. Many people have left them and returned to their villages, but many are still scared to leave because they still fear the LRA. When those who return to their villages, many find that their land is no longer theirs or there is nothing there for them. So they return back to the idp camps. Many people that you talk to usually have a story of themselves being captured by the LRA and living in the bush for a while, or a member of their family has. After both these trips, I have come to appreciate America so much more! I have been so blessed to grow up in America and be given so many opportunities in my life.
Speaking of America, I was able to celebrate our Independence Day here in Kampala. The U.S. embassy invited all Americans to come and celebrate with food, beer, and dancing. Haha. Two of them were great! ;) However, everyone around us kept saying that our group has had too much to drink when we were the only ones not drinking. But we did bring the party! ;) Oh! And I cant forget the fireworks! Which were awesome as well! But I have never appreciated my country as much as I did that night. I love America!
Well, there are many more stories but I guess you will have to wait to hear them when I get home! Which is really soon!! 4 days!!! Love you all! See you back in America!