Uganda Be Kidding Me!

They charged you HOW much for 2 one-way airline tickets from Uganda? $6,000? Uganda Be Kidding Me! Face Mask Fundraiser Although missing our Ugandan friends who became like family, we are very blessed to be back in Riverside during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was quite a memorable time getting everything in place before we were finally allowed to leave Uganda. If you haven’t read about it, check out our blog at: Weinsteins2Uganda.blogspot.com We were fortunate to be on the last flight out of the country which was arranged by the Embassy. It was a commercial flight. Unfortunately, the one-way tickets cost nearly $3,000 each for a total of $6,000. Usually round-trip tickets cost anywhere from $1,400 to $1,900. This $6,000 is an expense that is not a part of our budget. In addition, we are maintaining our home in Gulu and paying staff until we return. We have been making face masks of Ugandan fabric and giving them away.  A friend suggested instead of giving masks away, we use them as a way to raise support for funds to cover the cost of the tickets. After prayer and careful consideration, that is what we are doing and would ask that you please support us in this way. We realize there are a lot of people who need financial assistance at this time. This makes us especially appreciative of anyone who is willing to come alongside us and support this effort. Thank you.  Questions and Answers Q1. How much do the masks cost? A1. The suggested donation is $8.00 per mask. A friend pointed out that Yvonne will need to make 750 masks to raise the entire $6,000. We are up for the challenge, but would also appreciate other suggestions on ways to fundraise. People have been so generous to us, and we feel strongly that we must put in personal efforts to raise funds. Q2. May I donate for more than one mask? A2. Sure. There is no limit to the number of masks that you can have. Q3. The masks are amazing and I would like to donate more than the $8.00 suggested for the mask I am going to receive. Is this possible? A3. Yes, that would be wonderful!  Q4. I really do not want a mask, but would like to make a contribution. Is this possible? A4. That would be such a blessing! Q5. With this pandemic our finances are not where we would like them to be. I love the masks and would like to show you that I support your mission. A5. We would love to send you a face mask so that you will remember to pray for us. A donation of $8 was only a suggested amount. If you find that you are not able to donate at this time, just email Jeff with your request and we will make it happen. Here are the details on ordering the masks and contributing money toward the tickets. Step 1: Review the choices of fabric on the order form: https://forms.gle/ZrDeck3gn5nmPRs98  Step 2:  a) Send Jeff an email at: Jeff.trailman@gmail.com telling him which fabric and number of masks you would like; or  b) Complete the order form by clicking here: https://forms.gle/ZrDeck3gn5nmPRs98 To make a donation: If you would like a receipt for taxes, make your contribution though our sending organization, Harvest Alliance, at this link: https://tinyurl.com/jeff-yvonne  If you do not wish to have a receipt, please use Yvonne’s PayPal account: mrsweinstein@fastmail.fm Use the “send to friends and family” option. Thank you for your love, prayers, and financial support. This has been quite a journey, and would not have been possible without your participation on our Weinsteins2Uganda team. People are making many types of face masks. The type we make is shown above.

The REAL Reason We Came Back to Riverside

April 9, 2020 Update

Some Observations and Random Thoughts

There are many things that I could have included in this update but haven’t because it would have ended up a 20-page document. Here is a summary of what is NOT included:

·       The utter magnificence of having loving support on both sides of the globe.

·       Friends and family members who cheered us along using the internet.

·       A church family who stepped up in tangible ways to help our transition back to the US. Thank you, Gibeault family, for allowing Andy to pick us up at LAX very late on a Saturday night;  The Andersons for providing a luxurious yet homey place to stay the first few days while we took care of business and began to overcome jetlag; Bob and Cathy Adams for the offer of the use of your place in Lake Arrowhead (we regret that it was snowing so that arrangement did not work out); Susan Miller for providing a house to call home in Riverside; and the Grove for the use of a car.

·       Friends in Uganda who supported our decision to abruptly leave: Pastor Martin and Hope Onen and others, who prayed for us and provided suggestions for smooth travel; Evelyn and family who are staying in our home until our return; Gabriel, our friend and guard, who is keeping the property in order; and the many pastors and their wives who texted us to encourage us during our difficult days there and as we are transitioning.

·       A description of the 48-hour trip home from Gulu to Riverside. It was interesting. No lines in customs. Very few people in the airports. The lack of education regarding expectations of quarantine in the US.

·       And, of course, a big good God who loves us. He provides. He knows our needs. He carries us through. He holds our future. We are blessed!

Here is the update:

We are safely back in Riverside.

We were not scheduled to be here for a visit until July. We had our tickets for the flight and were looking forward to visiting family and friends.

But our plans changed drastically, just as yours did, with the intrusion of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We will go back to Uganda when the airport reopens.

Now you know all of the important things. If you want details, keep reading.

*Let’s Get Together! *

I thought that it might be interesting and fun to have a chance to meet to ask questions, hear more, or just socialize with us. I am sorry that it cannot be in person with refreshments, but we have the next best thing – ZOOM!
I’ve scheduled a Zoom session for Saturday, April 11 at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time. If you would like to join us, use this link:

Join Zoom Meetinghttps://zoom.us/j/9515006484?pwd=blJNUGo3QmJMbDJhUTdyc0I3aFIxUT09

Meeting ID: 951 500 6484
Password: w2u

April 9. 2020 UPDATE

Two weeks ago, we were following a happy routine. Ladies were arriving for sewing. Men were coming for fellowship and exercise. We had reached our stride. Then Ugandan President Museveni, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic around the world, took action to prevent the entry of the virus into Uganda. He closed all borders and the Entebbe Airport. He also prohibited the gathering of more than 5 people. The sewing and computer classes stopped. So did the sounds of young men enjoying sports.

It made me feel uncomfortable knowing that there was no way out of Uganda now.

At that time, there were no known cases of the virus in Uganda.

Just like in the USA, the mandate of no large gatherings had a profound impact on the ability of churches to meet. Unfortunately, the majority of Ugandans don’t have access to technology to allow them to attend services virtually. And there is no mechanism for online giving, so we worry about how our pastors will survive with no income.

A few days later, one case of COVID-19 was reported. A few days went by, and a few more cases were reported. Museveni announced that only stores selling food could remain open.

The US Embassy sent an email indicating they were working with the Ugandan government to allow one commercial flight out of the closed airport. Instructions on how to purchase tickets on the flight were included. Jeff and I talked about possibly flying back to Riverside. We considered how the US was being overcome with cases of COVID-19, and how there were so few cases in Uganda. We discussed the potential exposure to the virus while traveling versus staying in Uganda and restricting visitors to our home. Our adult children shared their concerns. Ultimately, we decided to remain in Uganda.

The days went by and the number of cases in Uganda rose. (Currently, there are 53 cases.)

As more and more restrictions were placed on the Ugandans, I became more and more concerned about what this would mean to our safety. It was well known that the place we rented was occupied by “wealthy Americans” and the concern was about the increased risk for break in because we had food available. We had one round-the-clock guard, Gabriel, who was on-duty during the night time hours and available during the day if a crisis arose. However, his only weapon was a bow and arrow which would be little deterrent for a large crowd. We discussed hiring a guard armed with a gun for nighttime. This would free up Gabriel for disturbances during the day. Even so, I remained unsettled about our safety. I had already experienced the stress caused by the break in when we had first moved in and did not feel completely secure when I heard sounds in the house at night time. Jeff, good husband that he is, reassured me that there was little cause for concern.

Things reached a tipping point for me with another Embassy’s email informing of the use of gunfire to force shopkeepers to close businesses. The email included a warning that due to food shortages there would be an increased potential for civil unrest and looting. The email indicated that they were going to work with the Ugandan government to allow one final flight out of the Entebbe airport to allow Americans to leave. Jeff began to reassure me that things would be fine, but I stopped his comforting pep talk. After a discussion, we agreed that leaving Uganda would be the best choice for us.

The Embassy was up front about the cost of tickets and that this was not a flight that would be paid for by the US government. Tickets were going to be approximately $2500 each one way, a hefty price but a low cost to pay for our safety. This expense was something not included in our monthly budget, and we know we will need to raise additional support.

We found out that there were only 3 ventilators to serve a region of 1.5 million people. Not good odds for adequate health care if we were to become ill. And at our “advanced” age we were very concerned about treatment options.

On Friday March 27, we submitted our information to the Embassy to be placed on a list to be allowed to purchase tickets. It was a weekend spent in prayer waiting to hear if we were accepted. Before noon on Monday, we were informed that we would be able to purchase tickets – when/if the flight was approved by the Ugandan government.

Of course, things did not go smoothly. That evening, President Museveni announced additional restrictions to the nation, most notably prohibiting travel by motor vehicle except for bodas (motorcycles) delivering food. How were we going to get from Gulu to Entebbe, normally a drive of 5/6 hours?

The next couple of days were spent reading Embassy emails with updates on negotiations to allow the flight and instructions on how to purchase tickets. There were some twists and turns including: our power going off in the middle of ticket purchase resulting in our internet going down, the airline’s website crashing which resulted in messages saying that all the tickets had been sold (boy, was I upset at this point), and rejection of our credit card. Ultimately, we were able to purchase the tickets on the flight which would leave on Friday April 3.

It was not until late Thursday afternoon that our friend and driver Robert was able to obtain the permit allowing us to be in a motor vehicle Friday. The uncertainty of how long it might take for inspection of our travel documents by police or military required an early start. Along the way, we were stopped 5 times; twice our paperwork was inspected and we were waved through, three times the officials called for further verification. Ultimately, we made it to the airport with several hours to spare.

Even with cancelled flights along the way and long layovers in the quiet airports, we made it home safely. And we are very happy to be home!

 

Sporting our masks made of Ugandan fabric, we arrived at LAX

When Things Change They Change Rapidly

Greetings from Gulu!

Last Wednesday March 18th, our home (The Mission House) was a busy hub of activity. At all daylight hours it was being used for sewing lessons, computer trainings, exercise and sports, overnight visits by young pastors, and a new chicken raising enterprise we are hosting in our storage room in the building behind our home. Wednesday evening Ugandan President Museveni addressed the nation, talking about the Coronavirus and how there were no known cases yet in Uganda. He gave orders to close churches, schools, and other large gathering places. He is prohibiting more than 5 people from meeting. These restrictions became effective midnight Friday the 20th of March.

Chicks, a part of the chicken growing enterprise housed in our storage room.

Folks gathered on the front porch to visit next to the sewing studio.

Young men enjoying an evening on the volleyball/basketball court.

So we in Uganda have had our daily living changed just like you. Our changes just came about more abruptly. Thursday there was a mad scramble for many parents to find spaces on the public buses so that their children could arrive home from boarding school before Friday. A ticket to ride the bus from Kampala to Gulu increased overnight from 20,000 Shillings to 65,000 Shillings.

As a result of these directives, there will be no more people entering our home; we have the perfect guard, Gabriel, to enforce this. He lives on the premises and has become like a member of the family. Gabriel is anxious to keep people out of our living space; he makes us feel secure in that respect.

This morning, the 22nd of March, we awoke to the headlines that the airport and all of the borders were being closed effective today.  Click here to read the article on the airport and border closures. My preferred boda driver, George, told me that the price of salt his wife uses has already risen from $800 sch to $2600 sch, because it is imported across the border from Kenya. Before he told me this I had paid him an extra large amount because I just wanted to bless him. I had seen that there were so few people on the streets I knew his business was (and would continue to be) suffering,

Our plans to visit the U.S. this summer are now on hold.

We are set with the food and supplies we need for a month.

We are praying that this horrible virus will wind itself down soon, or stop abruptly without affecting more people, or touching the lives of the ones that we love.

Please pray with us.

Here are our email addresses if you would like to contact us:

Jeff: jeff.trailman@gmail.com
Yvonne: mrsweinstein@fastmail.fm

To find out more about our ministry, or to donate, click here.

Yvonne and Hope

Just had to share this picture of me and my friend Hope at church yesterday. (I’m the one on the right.)

My name is....

I realize that after seven months in Uganda...I miss my name. My name is Jeff or Jeffrey. Thanks to the British influence in this country I have met a few Ugandans named Geoffrey, but it is not the same.
Nobody calls me by my name. 
To our friends I am Papa or Daddy, or Muzee (word to honor an elder). 
On the streets of Gulu they call out “Hey big man” or “Boss man." On occasion I am called Muzungu (white westerner). Even Yvonne rarely calls me Jeff (I can’t repeat what she calls me).
So when I saw “Jeffs” at the western style market I had to buy them. They are like a small Cheeze-It with an Indian spice. I have also seen “Jeff’s Tech Service Center” in town. I will have to stop in one day and say hello to my fellow Jeff. So if you send me an email,
Facebook message, or WhatsApp can you start off the text with “Dear Jeff” just because? 
Thank you, 
Jeff

Jeff's Tech Service Center

Sounds of Grief

The wailing went on for at least 2 hours. I knew something horrible had happened by the intensity and raw hurt in the sound coming from the woman next door. I wasn't sure what to do, so nothing was the option that I chose. The wailing finally petered out to just sobbing, then to nothing. Over the next 24 hours the sobbing would begin, then end, again and again.

The next day when we were outside under the mango tree talking to our dear friend Robert, the sounds of several people singing began next door. A peculiar look came over Robert's face. He speaks Acholi, the local language. Robert said the song was sung when someone died, and that he could tell that it was a child. The song was interspersed with the sobs of the mother next door. Robert said that when he had walked past the opening to the yard next door, he knew someone had died because the stalks of a banana tree had been placed on both sides of the opening to their compound.

Over the next few days, there was crying, singing, and talking from next door. Lest you think that we were eavesdropping, you need to understand that the people next door sleep inside but the rest of the day is spent outside in whatever shade they have from the trees in their compound. I've included a photo that I took right after we arrived; I thought the assortment of structures  and activities was fascinating. I especially appreciated the juxtaposition of the straw hut and small stucco house, tin shed (and a wooden house) next to our property which contains a large and permanent house.

The intermittent sounds of grief left me sad and wondering what I should do. I found out that, no different than at home in the US, it would be appropriate to pay a visit and take some basic staples such as oil, tea, and soap. So we bought the basic items, and included a non-essential item, sugar. Robert went next door with us to translate. The father and mother met us in the center of the compound, and explained that their three year old son had died of pneumonia while in the hospital. The grandmother joined us and pointed to a 4 foot high freshly-turned pile of soil and indicated that he was buried there. The mother didn't cry the entire time we visited. Our gifts were accepted, and Jeff added a very small amount of money. Other children from the family joined us in a line and introductions were made. The father told us how much he appreciated our visit. He also told Jeff that he enjoyed it that Jeff waved while passing by on his daily walk.

Over the next few weeks, sounds from our neighbor's yard returned to normal. I wonder if life had reached its new normal with a child missing from the family. I wonder if the young boy would have died had there been better health care. I try not to wonder if the mother still sobs.

So This is Christmas?

No, this is not a post about whether or not it might be difficult to be away from our family and friends during the holidays. You can probably figure that one out yourself. No pity party.
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Yes, this is a post about why I can walk around town and not tell that it will be Christmas tomorrow. No gaudy decorations (no classy ones, either.) No Christmas carols being gently piped outside so that when you walk around you'll be in the spirit to spend money. No unusual rushing, no children crying about what they want, no parents frantically trying to buy presents for family and friends.
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Several weeks ago on FaceBook there was a friendly battle about whether it was too early to decorate your home. So as I watched the comments on FaceBook and looked around Gulu, I kept thinking that it must be too early. Okay, it is still too early,  But here we are - Christmas is tomorrow. It must still be too early. The only sign in town that something is different is that there are more people on the streets. This is because villagers have just harvested their crops and have come into town for shopping and to celebrate. And live chickens are being sold on street corners for dinner on Christmas.

Still, I wait for Christmas to arrive.

I looked forward to church last Sunday. I love Christmas carols. But no; no carols were sung. It was explained to me that the celebration of Christ's birth happens on Christmas day. On that day, people wear the newest clothes that they have. Some even stay home, I've been told, because of their lack of a new dress or suit. I've been told that on Christmas the church services will be very special with Christmas music, dances, and skits. I'm looking forward to participating in this tomorrow, even though I don't have a new dress.

I haven't quite decided if I like the way things are done here with respect to the celebration of Christmas. I could conclude that this is a better way, focusing on the day that Jesus was born. That would be easy. "Yes, that is what Christmas is all about," I would say. Too easy.

Things are just different here with respect to Christmas, just like they are with just about everything else. That is just a fact. Not good, not bad. It is just the way it is.

Have a Merry Christmas wherever, whenever, and however you celebrate.