Your Vote = $1500

Hello!
Please visit my project page at http://bloggers.maker.good.is/projects/projectmorelove and click “Vote for this Idea” to vote for me! (Please use either Firefox or Chrome browsers.) Voting began yesterday and I have been waivering between 4th and 10th place out of 58... so with a little extra effort we could really win. Your vote could make the difference! 

Voting ends August 1st and each email address can only vote once. You will be prompted to register in order to vote (I know, annoying) but their website is actually pretty cool and you can unsubscribe easily after you vote. Please share with your family and friends and help us win $1500 for Project: More Love. This could be huge! Let's rally together and go for the win!

Love always,
Katie :)

Week One - 1st Journal Entry

1st Journal Entry - September 21, 2010


I started to write, but then George/Jude came and sat with me.  (Everyone is confused as to whether his name is George or Jude, so we just call him George/Jude.)  :)


Oh, Uganda... it is hard to begin. I lost my first journal on the plane and well, the traveling part was quite an experience.  Tomorrow, it will be one week here!  Hard to believe.  So much to say... I feel at home here in the evenings now... Martin, my mukwa, :) , Maureen, Shafic, Megan... We laugh so much!  Last night I stayed up late and they taught me how to use the latrine.  It was SO hilarious!  Apparently, the secret is to get really low, which I was not aware of.  I guess I will have to keep practicing my squats!  We laughed all night together.


Today, we went to George/Jude's house and I rode my first boda boda.  We walked maybe 5 miles there and I got to hear his story.  I feel perplexed as to what the answer is.  He kept saying he is trusting God will give him things, but its seems like to me, most people I've talked to here pray for things... I am not in their shoes and I have no clue of their struggle, but that is not how prayer has worked for me.  I have to pray for God's will for me and to be useful to others, not demand that God give me things.  But again, I am not in their shoes so I don't know.  I got the idea this week for our students to write gratitude lists.  Maybe that is somewhere we can begin?  The mindset just seems so negative and hopeless here and I feel like thinking that way must perpetuate struggle even more.  In my experience, positive thinking and energy is key, so we will see what develops there.


A week in review:  So far... riding in the back of a truck in the rain, the orphanage, comforting Makanga and holding him down while they razored off his syphilis boils - hearing his screams was REALLY hard to hear.  I had to fight back tears... seeing Brigette try to walk (she has spinal TB) and then her falling down and crying - I hate hearing and seeing kids really cry.  It kills me but I know I have to be strong.  Riding in WILD taxis.  Laughing and hanging out with Megan, our heart to heart talks... she is SO good with everyone.  It's amazing!  Long talks and bead making with Maureen, learning so much about Ugandan culture, meeting students, 2 dance parties, being called "BIG" daily and having to try not to let it get to me - wearing pink plaid rain boots to the latrine, trying to pet goats and be their friend, "helping" milk the cow, dogs jumping on me, snotty kids, poop smell, bathing in a little bowl with cold water, Auntie, Jjajja, Jjajja at the orphanage, all the babies there - love them so much but it is dirty as f*ck there.  Andrew my brother, meeting the elders, meeting Hanne (a German volunteer) and listening to her and letting her know she is not alone, Berni & Auntie my first night- so sweet, so kind, so hospitable, no idea what I was in for - CRAZY drivers, walking down the road like a celebrity, meeting TONS of little kids, trying to learn Luganda, teaching English, sleeping in a mosquito net, being dirtier than my brain can comprehend, getting over the shock of being in Africa, dealing with J--- when he always has to be right and "know it all", praying, finding acceptance as much as possible, serenity prayer, humility, living in a barn-like house (no ceilings), feeling sick, reading cards from friends back home, hysterically crying to Beth, Mom & Dad, trying to use the internet, realizing reality is tougher here than I imagined, realizing J---'s attitude was bringing me down and making me feel sad and stupid.  Talking to Megan was awesome and we both connected and I decided it is okay to just be me.  I'm doing my best. I don't need to take on J---'s guilt or ideas or drama.  I'm so grateful for Megan.  She is one of the sweetest, most fun girls I've ever met!


I thank God for keeping me safe so far and hope He can/will continue to guide me and help me do His will - to be of maximum usefulness.  As Fred says, I am not alone!  :)  SO AMAZING!!!!!  Yay.  I love Uganda and feel at home here in so many ways, yet realize there are probably more stark realities and wake up calls ahead.  Thank GOD for everything He has given me and the gifts and relationships in my life.  I love my family and friends and can't wait to see what each day brings.  Prayer will be very necessary since it is one of my only lifelines here - especially with J--- and Meagan and the people I meet and the circumstances I get into.  ha.  Sooooooo wild.  You just don't know until you know.  I'm in UGANDA.

I made it to the Equator!

Maureen and Shafic

George/Jude

Adjusting to Life in the Village

Email sent to friends and family on September 26, 2010.

Hello, Everyone!

I am doing well and in Masaka, Uganda at the moment.  We are heading into the orphanage for the weekend and I'm really looking forward to it.  We can usually eat American food at this nice cafe, and use the internet on Sunday's and Monday's.  It is hard to explain what it is like in Africa... any idea you might have had may be correct, but seeing, hearing, smelling, & feeling what it is like here is a whole new reality.  Some of this may be redundant because I have emailed a few of you already, but I wanted to try to send out a big email because time online is VERY LIMITED.  It is super slow and goes out often.  We often don't have electricity.  I am someone who WAS afraid of the dark so this has been a big step for me!  Some other fears I've walked through... 40 hours of international travel alone, using latrines, meeting tons of new people, learning a new language, trying African foods, sleeping in a mosquito net, no AC, no showers... hmmmm.. riding boda bodas and taxis- wild stuff!  I have been taking lots of pictures and miss everyone a lot, but I am starting to get settled and getting used to rural life in Uganda.  I already love some of the people here so much. I am sad thinking of the day when I will eventually have to leave them.... but, here and now is all that counts and I am taking things literally a day at a time.  I love you all and any thoughts, prayers, emails, or texts are greatly appreciated.  You have no idea!

Love always,

KTT

Day 1 in Uganda- Leaver's Dance Party

The Journey

Email sent to my friend, Holly on September 18, 2010.

Hi, Love!

There is so much to say and so little time.  Internet goes out a lot and it took 45 minutes in the back of a speeding truck in the rain to get here.  haha.  So.... the trip was sooooo hard.  I had panic attacks and cried half the time.  There was a medical emergency on one of my flights where a man next to me projectile vomited red wine and beef all over the seat and himself.  He became unconscious and I had to run and get help... then had to sit next to red wine vomit for 5 more hours.  HELL ON EARTH.  But... I made it.  The people here are so amazing.  The volunteers are GREAT people.  I love them already.  The kids are even more amazing.  I arrived to the school yesterday and they happened to be having a Leaver's dance party (for the graduating students).  I ran right onto the dance floor and danced all night.  It was one of the happiest days of my life.... a real dream come true and the kids think I'm hilarious.  haha.  I am taking things one day, one moment at a time.  It is so hard and so wonderful at the same time.  No toilet, no ceiling... living in a barn-like house with a tin roof... cows, ducks, goats, chickens everywhere and their shit.  I couldn't sleep but I listened to music and looked at pictures and it quiets my heart... I wish it would quiet the roosters!!!  haha.  4am wake up call.... anyway, I love you and I thank you for your support.  It is so wild being here.  Much harder than I thought in reality, but worth every minute.

 Love always,

 KTT

Crying mess at the airport... never been so scared, but HERE WE GO!!!!!

This is Africa!

Uganda Adventure Begins - First Contact

After finally arriving to Uganda, this was the first contact I had with family.  Email sent September 17, 2010 at 2:50AM EST.

Hello, Dad.

I am including others on this email because I only have a few minutes online.  I made it safely.  That trip was very tough and as soon as I turned the corner from the escalator I began to hysterically cry.  haha.  But I made it and I tried to stay strong for you all.  I have so many stories from my journey.... WOW.  I was keeping a journal the whole time but left it in my seat, so now I need to buy a new one and fill in what I missed.  My friends have been taking such good care of me and I had a lovely breakfast, my own bed, and a bath this morning.  (A bowl of water... it was really silly and would've made for an excellent comedic scene if anyone saw.)  I'll have to get used to the no showers.  Anyway, I have to run because we are leaving now, but I am doing very well and stronger after my trip.  I prayed so much, read, and looked at my photo albums the whole time.  I could not have made it here without my friends and family.  You all gave me the strength to continue on despite paralyzing fear.  Now, it is time to enjoy Africa!!!!!

I'll write more soon!!

Love,

KTT

Berni picked me up from the airport and took great care of me!

I sent this email from his house and will be forever thankful to him

and his mother for their hospitality and friendship!

Project: More Love ~ Non-Profit Organization ~ Uganda

Hello, and welcome to my new Blog!

My name is Katie Thompson and I am the founder of Project: More Love.  I decided it was time to start a Blog as we move forward with this new and exciting project.  So many people have asked me, “Why Uganda?”  I have several canned answers depending on who is asking, but in all honesty it is actually not possible for me to fully explain.  Even though I was born an American, Uganda is somehow a part of my soul and I think in some way I have been meant to serve there, live there, and work there all along.  My journey to Uganda has been filled with the greatest joys and triumphs, and the deepest hurts and sorrows I have ever known.  Digesting my experiences has not been easy, but thankfully I have a wonderful support system of friends and family, as well as a strong faith that helps keep me grounded and sane.   I have emails and journals filled with memories from my first 2 trips to Uganda and I feel like now is finally the time to open up and share these memories publicly.  It has been a long road from where I began to now, but it has been more than worth it!   Today, I am a focused, passionate, loving, and driven person who has been changed for the better.  I am trying to stay in the moment and do the work that is in front of me, but I cannot help but get excited about the bright future that lies ahead, especially with Project: More Love.  I am so happy to share with you the memories, the photos, the stories, the tears and the laughs from all of my experiences.  I truly hope you enjoy.

All my love,

KTT