Projects, computers, water and more - very productive first week!

It's been an intense 5 days since I arrived in Ddwaniro. We've stuck to the itinerary pretty closely and excluding one or two post-lunch naps, it's been a sun-up to sun-down affair. I'm currently in Kyotera, at Motel Highway taking a Sunday break (which is really due to the fact that my Econ midterm was due today and I needed good signal and a consistent power source). Now that my exam is done, here's a brief pictoral update:

Data entry training with the health committee...They love working on computers!

Meeting with Paul's aunt, Mrs. Naome Kabanda, who is the Principle Land Officer Governess at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development of Uganda. Also a lawyer, she's been helping us with the land purchase agreements. Here she's witnessing the final forms for the tenant payments.	The Reconxile business training program that was completed last month as a prerequisite to the loan program has ignited some really exciting business prospects. This is a petrol station started by the Local Chairman, which now earns him 500,000 shillings a day in revenue (about $250 US). He's applying for a loan to add a paraffin tank.
A view of the approximately one acre plot that now holds the 100 Kenyan Top-bar beehives of the GCCDI Beekeeping project. The profit from the business will support the Glory of Christ Primary School budget and serve as a community training project in beekeeping. Phase two of the project is to set up a processing and packaging operation.	Walking the land with the guys. The landscape is lush and green but June is at the end of the rainy season. They need more rain, especially for the maize to produce well.
Nurse form practice in a classroom at the school. After talking with Dr. Eddie, we're revising the form to the Uganda standard Form 5, which will help us move towards a registered community health clinic.	Demonstrating the Sawyer water filter. After having them assemble the filter to the bucket, demonstrating the filtration process and explaining that the filter never wears out, I asked how much they would be willing to pay. "10,000" or about $5 they said. The filter costs $45, so I asked them how much they spent on medical care a year. "About 200,000", 80% of which is bad-water related treatments. "So, is it worth it to invest about half a year's doctor bill's for a life-time of clean water?" I asked. Yep.
A second demonstration to the child-monitor group. Here we're backwashing the filter and showing all the dirt it trapped. We're working with the Business Sub-committee to work out a loan program to make the initial purchase of the filters more accessible.	Some of the children at one of homes visited by child monitors. Three of the children are orphans. They are standing on their bedding sheets which the put out in the sun everyday to reduce bed bugs. The mother gave us a sugarcane stalk as a gift just for passing by.
Pastor Geoffrey shows me the bench the carpentry instructor is working on for the Integrated Production Skills (Vocational) Program that is starting. The male students will be constructing their own desks and chalkboards for the school. The girls will be learning sewing.

I have a short week here ahead of me. Tomorrow morning I travel back to Ddwaniro first thing for the Spiritual Sub-committee meeting then an afternoon split between PenPal letter distribution and database development. Tuesday and Wednesday we'll be making some visits to other villages to see some school start-ups and potential expansion sites. The cracks will be filled with data entry training. Thursday it's back to Kampala, with Friday recap with Paul and departure home scheduled for 9:30pm.

Please continue to pray for the people of Ddwaniro. The Lord is doing a magnificent work here, which is more spiritual/behavioral than material. It's a true privilege to be a part of.