Thanks to those that kept me in the game

I am unemployed teacher, novice pizza cook, quite friendly bartender, free tutor, large man. There have been times over the last year where I have felt sorry for myself. How could this have happened? Now I am Lapwony Cura (mathematics teacher pronounced LaFone Chura) in Atanga SS. I walk around as one of two white people in the whole town, and all I see is people that work really, really hard to struggle to have an existence of maybe a fourth of what I currently have. They for the most part are welcoming and smiling and sometimes even make up a song. I was serenaded by 12 young ones all under the age of 6 today. The song went something like “Bye, bye, munu, bye, (sing song Lwo), bye, bye” it was accompanied by the uncontrollable laughter of a small child. Barefoot in the dirt, as happy as can be. ___________________________Oh and one more thing, and it is a big thing, today I dedicated my teaching to all those that I have tutored over the last year. By trying your best and overcoming many difficult obstacles in your path, you have done something quite special for yourself. But also, you did something for me, you kept me in the game, when some in power said I was not a teacher, you gave me your smiles and your questions, but most of all you let me watch you unlock knowledge along your journey. At our best that are what teachers are just interested travelers who help you keep the path true. You can do it yourselves, but everyone once in a while, you need just a small nudge. I am honored and blessed that I was in your life this year, and you will always be special, because it is you who linked my teaching past to my teaching future. “Good morning, Lapwony.” , said a couple of students on the path today. I cannot tell you the joy that greeting gave me. It reminded me of the best days walking down the halls of Nerinx, afterall—I am a teacher.

On earlier years, I think I got the name of the village incorrect, but I do have it correct now. We got started a little late to Atanga SS on Monday, first there was the usual delay (of course), but then when we all packed and ready to leave, we realized that the bicycles we were tieing to the top of the mutatu (van) were locked in a shed, and the only man with the key had gone into town for some errands. I would love to spend one of these delays with Mike Barry or Tom Magee, not that anything would happen, of course, I would just like to be a fly on the wall. We embarked on our journey with 5 people and all of our stuff in the back of a Land Rover. I had two empty jerry cans on my leg, had one leg on top of a case of water and balanced a kerosene lamp in a bucket made from a water bottle in the other. Isaac and I took turns pushing the shelves back on to the top of the other case of water. The seats had very little padding and the bumps were brutal, but I was headed back to Atanga SS. All was good. Unfortunately, none of us thought to check if the kerosene lamp ( which I did not want, and have yet to use) had kerosene in it. It leaked into the bucket. I also noticed the bucket was leaking a little and we stopped to empty the kerosene. The driver did not like throwing away any kerosene (it is too valuable) and hollered at a young boy to come get, my homemade trash can at the kerosene that was in it. Skip ahead, I was talking about living in the concrete room that is Lacekocot, and I tried really hard not to get the same room as 2009, but guess who is back in the room with a metal window that catches all of the afternoon sun. I had cautioned Isaac about sitting very broad on the bed as all of our weight focused on our seat, might be too much for these beds to hold. As I was telling him this tale, I pulled up the mattress on the bed I was going to sleep on, and saw my bright green duct tape repair job and lashing that I had made on this bed 3 years ago. Luckily there was a non-fat ass damaged bed in the same room. Finally, the story about the killer pig. To use the outhouse at night, you have to go out the room, to the courtyard and open up a heavy metal door. Then walk around back to outhouse # 6 and open up the lock. In the middle of the night, I thought I heard someone messing with the door, there is no noise politeness in Uganda, loud noises, people talking, and loud music are frequent. But seriously, could this person not know how to operate the door. After not being able to sleep, I finally dozed for 25 minutes or so, and then work up really having to use the latrine. I woke up, pulled on some pants, and was ready. Just when I got to the door, I made out the outline of a pig in front of me. I decided not to cross an angry pig at 2 am, but then realized I had no choice. It was me or the pig. But then again, I thought it out and decided maybe the pig was a livelihood for one of my roommates in this place. What if the pig escaped, and it was detrimental to some poor soul.

Love Does

At least two people on this trip are reading Love Does by Bob Goff. It looks Like something I will also read this summer. Sarah read me the introduction on the bus to the Rhino trip. It was inspiring. It talks about love being active and going out and doing things and being the spirit, that ennui that can make a real difference in the world. It is what we in Biloxi talked about when we said about hearts have been in the right place, but now also on this trip our feet are in the right place too. It is that kinship that we strive for.-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------At the bottom of my frustration over my techno problems I read some kind words that Josh Franklin wrote on his blog. And there it is that simple power of love or kindness to always triumph. I am so excited for Josh and Sarah to begin the first day at Sir Samuel Baker school and in my dream scenario, it will be Ronald Kwoyelo to open that first door for them. They are already good friends and I believe great teachers. Sarah actually sang a lot of the songs on the TV show Barney when she was a child. The actors lip synced her voice. Sarah and I have already bonded Over our love for Defying Gravity. I see in both Sarah and Josh what Marian Wright Edelman calls "the sound of the genuine" and I feel blessed that they are my colleagues and my friends. but most of all I feel great that two great people are here to give their very best to my friends in Uganda, especially a young man named Ronald.----------------------------------------So I think my goal for the next 5 weeks is simple--it is to love, and maybe be known as the man who loves. "I'm though accepting limits because someone says they're so.". I think there are no limits on love, and I will do better because if I ever need an example of love, I have all of you, my friends, my family, and 30 of the most amazing young women I know who showed loved every day, Building ramps, painting, and building homes in Mississippi.

Rhinos and Frustration

9 of us went to visit Rhinos and we once again had a great time. The Rhino Sanctuary in Uganda has grown from 6 rhinos to 12 rhinos with the birth of six new ones since I have been coming to Uganda. There are only 14 rhinos total in all of Uganda. This seems to be a great start in returning native animals back to Uganda. The boys, Josh Franklin, Isaac Morford, and myself shared a nice room and Sarah Allen and Li'l Feisty were in the other room of Chalet # 2. Two great meals at a very nice retreat about 3 hours away from Gulu. It was a great trip before the first week of school Nothing seems to be working this year, and I again have phone problems which means I will add to the 14 hours (not a joke) that I have already spent at the MTN phone store. My phone stopped working right after I had loaded $30 dollars worth of credit on it. (so that credit is now lost somewhere in cyberspace). I have an ipad that is not connected to the internet because of some SNAFU somewhere. It is frustrating, because Dana Larkin went to the store in Kampala at the exact same time, and did the exact same thing and hers has been working for almost a week now. My internet stick for the laptop, does not seem to be loading or some other problem. So the current score is Devices that I brought to Uganda to connect with all of you that are not working 3 while devices I have working 0. I am not sure whether I will be able to connect on a regular basis with you this year, but know that I am working on solving these problems several hours each day, and will continue to try until I leave. There are several good teachers that are a part of this group and another dozen will be arriving within a week. If any of my students were having these problems I would advise them that the things that are frustrating them are just things and getting frustrated by silly things is not worth your worry. We should be concentrating on people not things. Tomorrow, I will arrive in Atanga after a 2 year absence of seeing the students, and I will remember again why I come to Uganda. This week I will also be in a classroom teaching for the first time since May 2011. It has been awhile and I cannot wait.

We Bless the Rains Down in Africa

Okay, so here is the update on my connectivity. My phone's sim card is corrupt, so I have to get a new one before I can call or receive calls. Unfortunately, power has to be up for this to happen( there has been no power for 36 hours). My stick works on my laptop, but I was excited when I got home last night, and tried to squeeze a last sentence into this post and the computer died, and finally the sim card for my iPad still will not load. Now back to the story We all went to quiz night at BJ's, which is the old Bamboo. All of the teachers went so it was a good time. There were two European cup matches to be played so the bar was full of interested soccer fans. Italy vs. Croatia is a big draw in Uganda. We then got going on quiz night and the 11 of us were joined by 3 Ugandans and a young woman from Holland. My trivia skills were not good, and several of our right answer were marked wrong. But it was still a good night, half of the group left early and got caught in a downpour. The hardcores benefitted from sticking around and having another Bell. I had told Josh Franklin about dancing with the imaginary hacky sac and mid conversation he reached into his pocket and found an invisible hacky sac and we soon had a good 10 minute game that several Ugandans thought was hilarious. (See Holly Schoen it is fun, and now has been played on two continents) I then had a great conversation with Rebecca aka li'l feisty. We talked about teaching and family and many other things..., but mostly how great this whole experience is going to be. I think she is going to be a fantastic teacher and is a great part of the Teacher Exchange Program. Isaac was there keeping watch on everything, I am looking forward to working with him. Dana had her Ugandan friend David along, who is fast becoming everyone's friend. Sarah found a few Ugandans to chat up, and it was just a great night. Since the rain had come and the roads were muddy, we decided (mostly me) to walk home. Headlamps pointed out a few puddles, but not all of them and we laughed and joked all the round home. It is a great group, and this just reinforced how enjoyable it is going to be to spend time with this bunch. The final 6 were all the guys: Isaac, Josh, and myself and we were joined by Sarah, Dana, and li'l Feisty. I might actually buy a generator today, as the lack of electricity is seriously hampering my ability to communicate. All is well, and don't forget to send a brotha a shout back on the comments below. Tonight I get to meet my partner teacher, Okidi Polycarp and met old friend Calistus today. So many good people here..... until later, John

Finding Comfort in Gulu

Okay sorry about the last couple of days. I purchased two different ways to get on the Internet and neither one is working. Then tonight, I had more problems, started at Cafe Larem, Moved because a nothing was loading, moved to Kope Cafe, and now back at Cafe Larem using Dana's computer whose modem is working (we bought the exact same thing) to type this. TIA...TIA I am soon headed to Atanga SS. My colleague will be Isaac who played football at UNC and had to battle Julius Peppers in practice. This is his story. We all hoped on Boda Bodas to get to town and it was an adventure for 12 of us were having their first ride. I was not with Isaac but met up with him at the IC office. He had a big smile on his face and was sharing a child's drawing with a Uganda woman. He was explaining to her that his 6 year old daughter Rigby had made this drawing for her. She had apparently stayed with Isaac's family when she was in Flordia advocation for IC and the children of Uganda. When Rigby found out that Dad was going to Uganda, she asked her Dad to find this young woman in Uganda. A difficult task, but not in the dreams of Rigby. Dad made a few inquiries and was ready when he got to the IC office. The young Ugandan woman was there and Isaac greeted her warmly, a two day visit in the past had already made them fast friends. It might have helped that Isaac has two wonderful, cute daughters...Rigby and Layla. I have not met them, but aren't all 6 and 3 year olds wonderful. The young woman took the painting and the message slowly crafted on lined paper by Rigby. She laughed and said, "I am so excited, I could collapse.". The young Ugandan woman's name was Comfort. So this morning, that is how a 6 year old I never met, and her father, a man as big as a house showed me how to find Comfort in Gulu. I told the Biloxi students last week that their greatest talent was to love. If I needed any more proof of how love can bind us all together---I found it today in Gulu.

First Night in Uganda

Although I did not sleep more than a 5 minute nod off on any of my flights. I got a 3 hour nap tonight and ready to begin the latest chapter. Good night in NYC with Frank Hellwig who got up at 500 am to help me hail a cab. A 7 hour flight to London....there just enough time to buy 2 waters with the 5 pound note, I had saved from several years ago, then on to Uganda.... We arrived at 715 am Monday, and walked across the historic Entebbe tarmac. Soon got to see my good friend James our Kampala driver. Spent an hour in the phone store trying to get ipad internet access with Dana Larkin. We were not successful, but I loaded up more time on my stick and that should get me internet access in Atanga. We are going to the US Embassy tomorrow, and then home to Gulu... I cannot wait. After a tough year, I am so inspired by the 30 students I just spent a week with. They are amazing talented, but most of all the spread joy and love to everyone they touch. We did incredible things there, and most of them were done by the hard work of the students.... of course could not have done it without the adults either. For the first time in 13 months, I am ready for the classroom. I am going to work tirelessly to do my best, because Boo Yah, Aahahanana, Jump Around, and 27 others have shown me that hard work and love can make a difference. to see their blog www.sharekindnessstl.blogspot.com