A slide show of my trip!

Uganda With The Wind. in And Out of Africa Slideshow: Abby’s trip from Salt Lake City, Utah, United States to 7 cities Chicago, London, Nairobi, Kampala, lugazi (near Jinja, Uganda), Lugazi (near Masaka) and Buvuma Island was created by TripAdvisor. See another United States slideshow. Create your own stunning free slideshow from your travel photos.

"I'm Proud to be a Girl"

Can you imagine living somewhere where as a girl you were treated as an object and told you had no worth? Can you imagine wanting an education so badly but being forced to have sex if you wanted to get an "A"? You can't go to school when your on your period, you don't even know what a period is... The list goes on and on!
The young women of Uganda are facing these challenges and more everyday!
After seeing this need I teamed up with a local named Wilson and created the "I'm proud to be a girl" campaign.
My team and I travel around Uganda to high schools where we divide the boys and the girls into different groups and while Wilson teaches the boys we teach the girls. The lesson plan is designed to inspire these girls to know that they are not a mistake and have SO much potential. Wilson works on teaching the boys to have respect for the girls and more.
Our lesson not only talks about confidence but goes over HIV/AIDS, pregnancy, and feminine health. During the lesson it is an open discussion for these girls to ask or say whatever they want! And after the lesson is finished they are invited to come speak one on one with one of the volunteers.
We have had tremendous success with this project in just the few weeks its been going. These girls never have the opportunity to talk about these issues and they are so open with us. It can be discouraging to hear their tragic stories and problems they are having that don't have solutions but they are so happy to have someone who will just listen to them and offer some comfort. 
I love hearing the girls yell, "yes!" in agreement to my speech, "We should all have confidence. We don't need a boy to tell us we are beautiful to know that we are! All of us in this room are beautiful and smart and talented. If we know that for ourselves we can walk in confidence no matter who tells us otherwise!"
I am trying to travel to as many schools as I can before I leave but I hope this campaign will continue for years to come.

We have already talked to over 300 girls!

Buvuma Island

I spent a week on a romote island in the middle of Lake Victoria. Its sad to say that as much as Lugazi made me appericate all I have at home this island made me appericate Lugazi.
The poverty there was absolutely amazing and the lack of education was great. We traveled from village to village teaching many different kinds of lessons to help prevent diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS.

Although it was hard it was also an amazing experience! The islands are beautiful and I met some truly amazing people.

P.s. Remember to check out my other blog: http://musanajewelry.blogspot.com/

Story Time!

Cute Kids in a village near by Lugazi.

This is the road that I walk up and down at least 5 times a day.



Uganda is home to many Indians so its no surprise that they have amazing Indian food here! Well I guess I wouldn't know if it was any better anywhere else because this was my first time eating it! It was SO good! It is now my new favorite kind of food for sure.

Please ignore the finger in this photo I just had to put it up! This is Godfrey, the man who saved my life. The story actually happened several weeks ago but I was just able to get a picture with him last Sunday.

One day after church Godfrey was walking with our group to someones house for lunch. We were walking on back roads where there werent very many people. I was at the very front of the line walking with him and talking when suddenly he stopped and said, "Be careful." I looked up and two feet in front of me was a very angry bull with very large horns. In a split second, before I could even think, it lunged forward and at the exact same time Godfrey jumped in front of me and grabbed the bull by its horns. The fight began and I was off. I ran back the other direction towards the rest of the group who had no idea what was going on. I stood panicked peering over someones shoulder to watch the rest of the battle. He was twisting and turning the bulls head and being lifted into the air. Finally he kicked the bull so hard in the side that it gave up the fight and ran away.

I couldnt thank Godfrey enough. I still cant believe he actually fought a bull and won. Amazing! He saved my life.

I couldnt stop laughing the rest of the day.

Update with Pictures

First of all this is to remind all of you that I blog as part of my job with Musana so check it out. It will probably be updated more than this blog. http://musanajewelry.blogspot.com/2011/06/paper-bead-necklaces-on-their-way.html

     This blister arrived day one of my journey and has happily stayed almost 6 weeks until yesterday. We had to amputate the blister because I was afraid there were bugs living inside. Turns out it was normal. (bet you all wanted to know that)

Now for something more cute! Some street children who gather to watch my Musana classes.

And now Rosett, Betty and I! They are learning quickly. I am very proud of them.

Right by our home

A Few of Photos!

Finally I had time to upload some photos of Lugazi. Enjoy!

This is a crowd of children who followed us to Pastor Francis's school.

Musana Update

Here is a post I just put onto the Musana blog. Please follow me here as well to see how my Musana internship is going! http://musanajewelry.blogspot.com/
Hello everyone! It's Abby Evans. This is my first post from here in Lugazi, but a lot has been going on the past month since I have arrived.
The women are doing really well. Each of them are so amazing, and each have such loving and caring spirits about them.
Today we started our first literacy class. Every Wendesday we will have these classes, and then every Monday we will have classes on health.
The women seem to really enjoy learning and when I asked what they wanted to know they said, "Everything!" They are very smart as well. Betty and Rosett have never had any schooling, but are so eagar to learn. We have set up an extra class just for them on Fridays to keep them up to pace.
It's funny because as I stood there in the class watching Betty write her "A" as the rest of the women repeated, "A. ah. A. ah." I suddenly got goosebumps as I thought about how much I already love these women, and how much I want a better life for them. These classes which seem so simple will hopefully bless their lives immensly. I am so grateful for Musana and the help that has been given to them through it, I can only imagine how grateful they are.

We have a big order coming up, and these women have come up with some new designs. The rest of the summer is going to be exciting, and I am really looking forward to it.

May 24th 2011

Recently I have been building my muscles by helping to build both a piggery and a classroom. Also continuing to work on my classes. Pastor Francis wants me to teach a 3 hour class! Crazy...

Oh ya and I am also working with Musana Jewelry on many new projects. The women are darling and incredibly silly. Check out their website.

Work can get stressful but every day is an adventure.  

Living in a 500 sq ft house with 12 other people can be a challenge as well. Only space and toilet wise though. I love the new friendships I am making.

A young Ugandan boy decided to give me a Lugandan nickname the other day while building the classroom. "Mukisa" He says it means "blessing". That made my day :) 

I hope I can be a mukisa to these people as much as they are a mukisa to me.

Short Update:

Things are going well. Today is a great day because the power has been on. It rained hard today as walked through the village to a meeting with Pastor Franicis. We were quite a show since everyone else is afraid of the rain here.
I'm starting the first steps of my project idea which is to teach classes on abstract ideas. Basically developing  a broader range of thinking. Goal setting. Looking past just surving today... I think thats something they really need here.
I've done so much in just the past 10 days... I dont have time to list them all.
I went swimiing in the Nile river and had to be pulled back into the boat...got laughed at today as I ran away from a fight in the street (a little kid came at me with a stick! but he was actually just runnning past me...) I've been to waterfalls... almost crashed on bodas... did my laundry which is hanging outside in the rain now.... but moslty have been sitting through many long meetings... its been great though! Love every minute.

I'm here!

It only took 37 hours but I'm here! I don't have a lot of time today in the internet cafe but heres a quick update:

I'm here in Lugazi as you know. Second day! Its so crazy beautiful here! but very dirty in the village...still its so amazing! its crazy to just be living here with all of these people. All the little kids yell, "Muzungo Muzungo!" as we walk past which means white person haha. our house is small but good and protected by a big wall and huge cow with horns. we sleep in bunk beds, not bad. I took a shower which was cool.
i love the people here. I think i will be quite happy.

Its steaming hot though.

3 more days

Sometimes I'll look back on my trip to Ethiopia and wonder how in the world my parents let their 17 year old daughter take a month off of school to go? 
For whatever crazy reason- I am so grateful that they did!
 That was really the movement that began my journey and landed me here on my way to Uganda. It has changed my whole life and the passions I persue. 
I read a passage from the last day of my Ethiopian trip that says, "I will come back here. This was good practice, but I want to help more." I am going back to Africa. I haven't forgotten the people I will always love in Ethiopia but I'm going to meet the people I will always love in Uganda. 
Thank you to my wonderful parents who allow me to presue what my heart tells me to do. 
Also, most importantly, I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father who blesses me with the opportunities to serve His children of the world.

Hoping My Cheeks Deflate in Time...

It's hard to imagine that in just 16 days I will be in Lugazi. Especially as I am litterally laying in my bed right now with a sock full of ice tied around my head. I'm hoping that my huge chickmonk cheeks will deflate soon so that I won't have to stand out even more while in Uganda. Although, maybe my snow white skin will be distracting enough for them not to notice my cheeks.
Anyway I should have planned on getting my wisdom teeth out a year ago but didn't remember I needed to until 5 days ago and then there was definetly no time to spare.
The best part is I'm going back to school tomorrow, with just one day of healing, because I have no time to waste! It's crunch time. It's almost here! And not even the extra air in my cheeks can stop me now!

Ps I hope this makes sense. It does to me right now but who knows when your on pain killers....
I guess it will be a good laugh later.

Just Get Me There Already!

This is embarrassing but...you WILL often find me running (Ok maybe just jogging) on campus. Not running to exercise. Running to get to class, with my heavy back pack and all. I'm not late either! I'm hardly ever late to anything... 

So why then am I running/jogging on a college campus looking like a complete dork?

I'm trying to get to where I'm going, NOW. Or as close to now as possible...

I'm a bit impatient you could say, not always but most of the time. 

The trip to Uganda IS something I am impatient about. I feel just like I do when I want to get to class and not have to walk a whole mile before I'm there! I want to be in Uganda right now. 

I'm done with thinking about it constantly and having to replay all the worries. I've had so much time to think my mind is now getting very creative! Worries have gone from the typical "holy cow 4 months is a long time!" to: what happens if I meet King Kong and he tries to take me captive? Also I've had dreams of being chased by an African tribe blowing poison arrows at me as I run through the jungle. (Strangely resembling one of the first scenes from an Indian Jones movie...hmmm) 

So maybe I'm exaggerating a little about the King Kong thing...but still. You get the point! I've had way to much time to think and I think its time to go. 

Luckily I only have one month, packing and finals week left to go! 

Alight I'm starting to jog!

Thank You!

I would just like to thank all of those who have already donated to help me to even be able to go to Uganda this summer! I sincerely appreciate it and it has helped a lot! I hope you can see that the money is not just going to help me get there but its going towards the poverty stricken people of Uganda and the over all cause. 

If anyone would still like to donate I could use all the help I can get! 

You can do so by sending a check written to Help International with Abby Evans written in the memo line. There address is: 

HELP International

455 N. University Ave.

Suite #212

Provo, UT 84601

Or you can go to http://help-international.org/donate-now   and donate online. Just make sure you put Abby Evans in the designation box. 

Thank you again so much!!! 

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure."Helen Keller 

 

My favorite is the man on the right...

For those who don't know, I've been to Africa before. (Ethiopia and Kenya)

It was an amazing experience in which I fell in love with the people, culture and adventure of being in a far away world.

Though, Not everything went perfectly.  (For those who have heard my stories you could argue that nothing at all went perfectly!)  From drastic change of plans to being terribly sick....you may wonder why I would be going back? 

 

I find myself asking that same question! But it all comes down to this: the absolute joy of service can never be duplicated with anything else... 

As I find myself (and others) doubting why I'm going to go live in a tiny town, with no showers, for 4 months I have to remind myself why I wanted to go in the first place.

My mind can get so wrapped up in the adventure aspect of it too easily. I become so excited about the trip but then fear will sometimes enter my mind as well. I have realized that the excitement of adventure (however powerful in my mind) can never conquer the fears of doing something like this, unless I remember a greater motive- which is service. I am going to serve those beautiful, amazing and happy people of Uganda who I can not wait to meet!  

My eyes are closed.. but I love the kids in this picture!!

 

  

First Update (Before Departure)

For anyone who may follow this blog (few, very few)  I would like to give you a short update of my preparations I have been working on for before I leave! -by the way, I depart May 4th so less than 2 months...wow. 

Ok so I've teamed up with Musana Jewelry and will be interning for their company this year! Basically what it is is a small group of about 7 women living in Lugazi, Uganda who are employed to make jewelry which we sell back in the U.S. 100% of the proceeds go back to the women! It is awesome, I'm super excited to be partnered with them. 

http://musanajewelry.org/index.html