(Diary No 1 - posted 7th April 2006)      see also Spring of Hope News Letter  click here   Hi all, I arrived a week ago in Uganda, it was raining again! every time I have flown into Africa it has rained, even the guy behind me in the queue said that he has been flying in and out of this place for 40 years and it was the first time he had landed in torrential rain! Had a challenging first week, have had to learn to sit side saddle on a boda-boda (motorbike or bike) as it is 'indecent for a lady (that's me) to sit straddle. Had many times when I thought stuff it and hitched my skirt around my knees and climbed on like a man would, much to the amusement of my African colleagues. I started work in the villages last week and have seen some well weird things, all you physio's, be expecting a "HELP ME" e mail shortly. Some of the children are so disabled and it is heart wrenching to think of the care that we would get compared to what I am seeing here-not because they don't care but they just have no money or services.
I am hoping to do some teaching with the OT who is out here, she is a kiwi and has come out with her husband and 2 small kids, who often come with us to cause more mayhem around the villages. We are about to loose power (we have 24hour power cuts every other day but sometimes they just decide to cut it off!) will be in touch soon, be great to hear from you.   Lots of love  Adi  x x x
(Diary No 2 - posted 25th April 2006)        click here for (Diary N0 3 Posted 27.4.06)            **click here Diary No 4 Update posted 6th June 2006** **click here Diary No 5 Update posted June/July 2006**                                                                                       **click here for last diary No 6 July 2006 - posted 17th July**   Hello! Thanks for all your e-mails, it is great to hear what you are up to at home. I have had a tough couple of weeks with sad news from UK, but things are getting easier, and i have lots of support over here. I am finally pinning myself to this seat to do e-mails, you have to do a long block as the machines are soooooo slow and the power is quite random. The whole of Jinja town has 24 hr power cuts every other day, but the villages don't have power so finding a machine that works when i am in town is always fun. I managed to get away for a couple of days over Easter. I headed to Murchison Falls and did a 2 day safari which was great-lots of giraffe and heffys (my favourite!). An African lady said i was like a giraffe! (not sure why-tall maybe?) but i was rather glad that she hadn't likened me to the elephant. Work has been picking up as well. I had my first physio clinic with the physio they call 'Uncle Paul". He comes once a month and books in all the patients requiring surgery or splints. This clinic i sent a baby to the surgeons who had hydrocephalous-she has just had a 5 hour op and is doing well (top marks to my text book for that one!) We had lots of congenital deformities, post malaria brain damage, CP, plus a bunch of other things that i haven't got a clue about-but i am learning! Many of the kids with long term disabilities we visit on out-reach and once a month have them attend a MOVE clinic (MOVE is a treatment programme-used a lot in New Zealand i am told), only we have no equipment other than a bamboo hut, toys that we brought out and our imaginations!! I was shoved in front of a group of parents and children of various ages and abilities, only having met a few, and told to get them all doing stuff. I sat like a rabbit in headlights for a few seconds thinking where the flip do i start, once i regained the ability to move i started with the first kiddie. I was shattered that day and almost lost the ability to speak  in adult conversation! Ian is coming out 2 weeks today-yippee! so i am planning on dragging him round the villages to work with the kids! I think i have waffled on for longer then i meant to-i find it harder to read long e-mails and had planned to keep mine short but typically i find it difficult to stop talking! Missing you all lots, keep  in touch lots of love Adi x x x
A few quickies...... To all the peeps from Poole- i hope everything went ok a week last thursday. I was so sad not to be able to be there with you all, just wanted to send everyone a big hug and let you know that i was thinking about you all. x Kate-thanks so much for that,  it meant such a lot to me, would love to catch up when i get back. Am off to Paraguay in august so we will have to book some time in sep. Naomi- you lucky girl do you get a free supply of Ben and jerries? i think you have my ideal job! Claire- I reckon you have a gymnast in training in there-you take good care of yourself missy! Dav- well done matey, i knew you would get it. Good luck training the little darlings of Willenhall! (not sure i spelt that right) Kat -how come you are changing jobs chick? what you planning to do now? Jo- i heard from ian about the marathon, well done chick, you did really well. i would have collapsed at the 1st mile marker-ok maybe the 2nd! Paul- how's the land of stars and stripes? have you visited the temple of the golden arches yet?-get in touch you cheeky monkey. Cath- hi honey, hope you are ok, could you pass on my congratulations to rachel and give her a big hug from me. Andy/Rhi - i hear the sofa is really nice!!!!!!!! i hope you don't have a dog yet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rachel, thanks for the offer about your friend, will be in touch should i need to contact her. Hope you are ok . Bye x

- For good health during my stay
- That i will be able to impart the necessary knowledge and training to the staff of spring of
hope(SOH) in the time i have, and that it will be enough to make a lasting difference.
- For the children of SOH and their families, that they will realise the potential in their child and come to know the love of Jesus.

- For continued blessings so that equipment can be provided  and operations (often life saving) can continue to take place.

- For growth and unity within the SOH team, plus wisdom and strength for team leaders.

Thanks again, will be in touch soon
lots of love
God Bless
Adi Budd
 

Diary Update posted 6th June 2006
Hi all

Things are still busy as ever over here. Ian came out to visit a few weeks ago so i dragged him round the villages with the whole boda boda
experience included. we also visited Sippi falls for a couple of days-it is set in the foothills of Mount Elgon (very beautiful) and is great for walking. Like true hikers we got the old walking boots out and climbed up the 3 waterfalls and realised how totally unfit we were-then collapsed in a pile with a much needed beer! The views were amazing though, and we put our level of fitness down to the high altitude (obviously!!!!)

Since then i have been in Kenya for a few days R +R combined with a visit to a disabled project near mombasa. The project teaches disabled people various craft making skills-from textiles, jewellery, carving, plants-you name it , they make it. They also make aids and equipment to help themselves and give out to local people with physical disabilities. It gives our children a hope to realise that they can achieve skills with the right support. With this in mind we are trying to set up some workshops for the children who want to learn various skills like weaving and sewing, so that they can start to generate an income for themselves. Hopefully they will be up and running soon (things tend to go a lot slower here!)

I have to say though that these kids pick up things a lot faster than me, i tried to learn weaving (OT's you would have been proud!) and it took me flipin ages to do the smallest scrawny little bit of weave-the children put me to shame.

I am now back into the swing of things in Uganda and off to see a wee kiddie on Tuesday, they live in a village far, far away (sounds like the start of a fairy tale) so that means a very long boda drive-(bring on the numb bums!) This child broke my heart when they arrived at the last physio clinic. She has what appears to be severe spastic CP and has been unable to feed for the last 2 years, and on top of it all their house was washed away in the rains. Kind of puts my worries in perspective!

We also have another MOVE clinic this week, so all the children with longstanding conditions come and we generally sing, dance and get them as interactive as possible with each other-i have bought some new musical shakers from the market so we can make even more of a noise-yippie!!

Sorry , another long ramble, well i wish you all the best and hope that the nasty English weather starts to get nicer as its almost summer-woo hoo. Thanks for all your supportive e-mails, keep them coming!
Loads of love
Adi
x
__________________________

Diary Update posted June 10th 2006

Hi

They try to intimidate, as I later discovered in order that you give money, and are often drunk or drugged up to the eyeballs. Sadly for them I had
 no money on me and was not aware of this little gem of information!!!

We had one of the key members of the team leave this week; sadly she has had issues with the team leader, and has gone to work for more 
money in another project.  Most of the Ugandans who work in these projects get paid a small sum but rarely is it enough to live on, but they 
somehow manage. So this means me and Mwazi have now got double the number of children to get round-will be a busy few weeks but Mwazi
 is so positive and fun, plus a great translator when he listens!

Am off to have a treat-some of the chocolate Ian brought out when he visited, never have I been so disciplined with a bar of chocolate!!

-----------

Diary Update posted July1st

Hey, y'all

Have been hanging around with too many southern Americans! Hope y'all doing good. I am ticking along just fine, mostly flying around the villages
at top speed-Mwazi (my co-worker/translator/boda driver) doesn’t know the meaning of the words 'slow' or that pot hole really hurt my bottom', 
I think he is learning from the fact that several times I have nearly joined him in the drivers seat due to his bad gear changes!

He wants me to have a go at driving a boda before I leave, but each time he gets me to try there are too many kids in the area and for those 
of you who know my driving reputation-I don’t want to hurt anyone, so I need to find a place where there are NO other people around-will
keep you posted!

Last week we took a couple of Ugandan families swimming at a local pool, it was so funny trying to teach them to swim. They splashed and 
squirmed but they had such a good time. In the end we decided it was much easier to float in tyre inner rings-and much less of a drowning risk!!

I headed back to the baby orphanage to see a few of the kids that I am following up and they were doing ok-but they heard a physio was
around and asked if I would see a baby who was having difficulty breathing! I had a little (massive) internal panic then went to see this little one 
(the last baby I treated for a chest was 3 years ago) thankfully the trusty textbook came out and I had a go-gulp!!! 
 Better shoot-take care y'all (I love that phrase) and catch up soon.

Lots of love, take care

Adi x

Diary No 6 posted 17th July 2006
Hi all,

I had my last manic day in the village
yesterday-muchos saddius! i will miss the mud and smiley faces. we had
amother MOVE clinic and one of our kids with hemiplegia (problems with
one side of his body for all you non physio bods) took 4 steps all by
himself-he then fell flat on his face but even he was still giggling at
the prospect of what he had done-we all had smiles like the cheshire cat
for the next few hours, it was a nice note to finish on.

We have an OT from the states who arrived last week, he will be here for
5 weeks which is great as i have been able to hand things over and the
team will continue to get teaching.

Well on the boda driving lesson front-i had planned to do it on my last
day behind the clinic where not many people hang around, however, that
morning on the way to the clinic i managed to trip and wedge what felt
like half a tree in the nail bed of one of my toes and couldnt walk let
alone balance myself on a boda-never fear, i am told that the person i
am going to for lunch on sat has a bike of his own so i will see if he
is willing to let me have a go!

Well, this is my last epic in a while, so you get a breather from the
long e-mails, thanks for all your support while ive been away and i look
forward to boring you all (theres no getting away from it) with the 4
million (only kidding its 3 million) photos of cute african children
when we catch up.

All my love
Adi x

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