So earlier this week, I had the opportunity to meet with the proprietor of the school in Kasawo.  They were the leading candidate for submission and request of HANDS teams.  In the meeting, I was pleased to have the opportunity to tell this person that they will potentially be receiving foreign teams to come construct their school.  It was quite the moment for him, as it seemed he was close to tears.  Especially considering this culture does not show much emotion.

So I have been finalizing the paperwork needed and will hopefully submit early next week.  Yes!

On a less happy note, I am no longer the only stinky person attracting mosquitoes.  Lydia was diagnosed with Malaria on Wednesday.  And Isabel was diagnosed this morning, Thursday.  Even though the outlook is good, please pray for their healing.  There are many studies saying that adverse effects could be a problem.  So we need Divine healing!  In my case, I have felt fine after the first two days.  Lydia, when she has some Advil, you cannot even tell she is sick (thanks Bible studying Chicks from Knapp for all of our drugs!).  Isabel, they said we caught hers very early.  With the exception of some moody-ness, it is hard to tell she is sick either.  But tomorrow is another day, pray that she will take the medication needed to be healed!

I may be the first person to say that getting Malaria is an answer to prayer.  Seeing that we live in one of the Malaria Capital's of the world, having it present in our home is inevitable.  So the last time I had it, I prayed that if there is going to be Malaria in our home... I need to be the one that gets infected.  So Praise God for my Malaria.

Now the last time was not too horrible.  Either I have a strong immune system or I got the weaker of the four strands of Malaria.  Regardless, I will take the worst one every time in place of my wife and children.  And that is because I am a MAN!  Not in the egocentric sense, no, that means I cannot handle illness well, I will whine about it enough so that my wife will force me to get tested or shut up.  Because early recognition of Malaria is the best scenario for treatment.  That results in tablets rather than an IV drip!

So I will say it again, Praise God for MY Malaria!

On a side note, while I was at the clinic.  Which is about the size of a single stall garage in America.  I saw first hand how poor the population is in a serious way.  As I entered the clinic there was a man, a woman, and their baby who was about the age of Isabel.  Keep in mind, I saw them as I walked in because they were on the bench where you wait to be seen.  As I was sitting there, I was kind of nauseous.  When I saw what came next, not only was I really nauseous, I was almost in tears.  The baby that the woman was holding was about to get an injection.  As the nurse came closer I thought it was weird that the injection did not have a needle.  As the baby's arm was exposed I saw the IV line that had been left there from the baby's previous visit.  At that point, like everyone else in the world, I was curious what was wrong with a poor little baby that would require a semi-permanent IV.  However, moments later I found out why... just after the injection was given the mother started to take off the clothes that were draped over her child.  To my horrified eyes, the baby had severe burns over a large part of its backside.  At that point, my eyes welled up (so much for being a MAN!).  The nurse started cleaning the wounds with iodine and other solvents.  All of this while the little baby boy was screaming in shrieking pain.  I literally had to get up and leave.  I was about to throw up and cry.  All I can say is EVERYONE needs to pray for that little man.  I am sure he is not out of the woods and he needs Divine healing.

So on that note, I will end this entry.  I now have a more concerned awareness about my children's well being.  Screw Malaria, I can kick that!

Chad Neeley

Construction Coordinator - WWCS Uganda/USA

I know you read that title and think about the mold that was broken after God made me.  It's OK, its totally natural to think that immediately!   Really, I am talking about a compliment we received lately. 

This past Sunday, we hosted a dinner for a family that we have become quite close to.  The father, Rev. Martin, is my colleague at Worldwide Christian Schools - Uganda.  His sons and wife have become friends through repeated contact.  So we decided to invite them over for dinner after church on Sunday.  All said and done, there were 11 people that came over to enjoy some American food with our family.  Yes 11, 18 with our family!

The menu:  Hamburgers, Empanadas (aka Meat Pies), Mac and Cheese, and Mashed Potatoes.  The preparation lasted roughly 5 hours!  We had to grind the meat up for the burgers and meat pies.  We had to make the tortillas for wrap the empanadas.  And all of this was accomplished with two charcoal stoves!  The hamburgers were the biggest hit.  I think I made a total of 24 burgers.  All but one of them were eaten (even though I could have eaten it... Fatty!).  There were over 30 meat pies (all but three were eaten).  And to our surprise these were the first Ugandans we have met that like spicy food like us.  So my homemade BBQ sauce was demolished!

As the night progressed, you know us, it was just a ton of fun.  When they were all preparing to leave they stopped to tell us that we were the first social white people they have ever met.  They expressed how all of the missionaries and foreigners that come here want to stay in their comfort groups and not enjoy the local people and culture.  So we took that as a compliment... mold breakers!

Of course, the day after they leave, we bought a refrigerator!  We had tried to get it the day before so we could make a refrigerated dessert but it did not work out.  So next time, we promised we would make them homemade chocolate pudding pie.

Another connection we have with this family is that they are the proprietors of two start-up schools and one of their daughters is the Head Mistress for another well established school.  So we are excited to assist them in planning and hopefully building some classrooms for their schools.  They are extremely well situated.  The surrounding communities are ready and willing to contribute as much as they are able.  So these two schools require the least amount of assistance that we have encountered.  They can have bricks made, trees cut down and turned to timber, and sand and stone harvested from nearby properties.  The only commodities that are needed for construction are cement and metal components (roof sheets, windows, and doors).  That is AMAZING!  I am really hopeful to help them in some way.  They are busting their butts to get quality schools in places where there is not Christian schooling available.  Praise God for such devoted faith walkers!!!

Quite honestly, I am proud to be friends with the Ssebugo family.  They are awesome!

We had some more progress on another school too.  The Kingsway Primary school, which was most likely to receive teams first, has graded their property to make it ready for construction.  How sweet is that?!  So now, pending completion of the building plans, which are pretty close, we can start surveying the property to layout the footprint of the buildings.  Yes, Yes, Yes!!!!!

I tell you what, this is an exciting time to be here.  We are getting very close to construction.  We are up to our eyes in planning for other schools.  We can feel the Lord using us!

Chad Neeley

Construction Coordinator - WWCS Uganda/USA

So if you did not know, I have a big mouth!  About a week ago, I mentioned to a colleague that I was surprised that we have not had more meetings to discuss what we have done and what we can do.  Man, my foot tastes good!

The team here in Uganda met here on Saturday.  We went over the typical what has happened since last time, etc.  Then we started discussing about the schools that we have visited since we have been here.  I presented my drawings, which were a big hit for those team members who had not seen them, with updates and we had discussions of where they are and what we can do to help them along.  By the end of the meeting, which lasted for about three and a half hours, we started talking about the next round of schools.  Holy cow is there a need for schools.

Let me remind you that there have been a total of 5 schools that we have visited.  I have been working with them to design conceptual plans for the use of their property taking account the vision that each proprietor has.  For those who have agreed to the plans, we have started some budgetary planning.  We also discuss where we need to go to proceed.  So with that in mind, at the end of the meeting on Saturday I was told of SIX more schools!  Don't worry, today is Tuesday (evening) and I have already visited two of them!  And tomorrow has another visit planned... from what I hear, next week will be similar!  I wish taxis used comfortable seats!!!

Of the two schools I visited this week, I am still amazed at how much need there is here for schools.  The Monday visit was to an established school in a fishing community.  They have about 228 students currently enrolled.  Unfortunately, the school they are using is literally temporary structures.  The walls are made of 12" wide boards stacked like siding.  The floors are dirt.  The ceilings are horrible... oh man it would be hard to focus there!  (go ahead, make your jokes about me having ADD)  The second school is also established.  And it is the first secondary (high) school that I have been introduced to.  The buildings are quite nice!  So that is a great blessing for them.  However, this school is a day and boarding school.  They have 318 students currently enrolled.  The crazy thing is that 168 of those students are orphans!  So that means they likely have no way of paying for the schooling.  So students are huddled into classrooms for dorm sleeping.  If I were to guess, I would say there are about 80 children in a room that is 20 feet by 20 feet!  They desperately need dormitories to house their current population.  Having that would be a huge draw for the neighboring kids who are starting to migrate to the Islamic school nearby.  It is really a sad situation when you hear about established Christians who are changing their faith to have a more comfortable education!

Long story short, so far... every school I have visited has a different draw for my concern.  I really pray that what we can do, will help get these schools what they need to offer a valuable and life changing education to their students.  Not to mention, knowledge about the saving grace of our Savior!  Please pray for each of these schools:  Lakeside Primary, Kirisa Fortitude Secondary, Agule Primary, Paidha Primary, Kingsway Primary, Tentmakers, and the more that are to come.

Chad Neeley

Construction Coordinator - WWCS Uganda/USA

So today was a fun day, so far!  Liz and I went to Kampala today to go to the post office.  We were pretty confident that we had received a package.  In fact, it is package number two!  Our first package was received on July 12th, and now our second on the 21st.  It is sooo much fun to sit down as a family and all be giddy and bubbly about chocolate morsels or beef jerky.  Our sincerest thanks go out to the loved ones who have taken the time and money to send us gifts.

This week was a little different than the rest.  On day 112, which was yesterday, I finally got my hands dirty doing some construction.  Unfortunately, it was construction on our home, not a school.  It was actually minimal work.  I just helped the maintenance man sent by our landlord to mix and set some concrete to repair our gate entrance.  However, it was an opportunity that was taken advantage of.  Now I know the methods of how Ugandans mix concrete, which really is not much different from Americans (without a mixer of course).  Now we have a beautifully paved entrance to our compound!

Well continued prayer is needed for the work going on here.  We are still progressing on the construction plans for the first school that will receive teams.  Unfortunately, there was a set back when we heard that the Director at the school had resigned.  It would not be a big deal to me if he weren't the main contact for WWCS and the construction activities for the school.  So now there is a little back-tracking to be had, but we will do it with smiles on our faces.  There is a Divine Power in our favor that will allow us to overcome any hurdle or stronghold!

Liz and I did meet with the other HANDS team affiliated school, Tentmakers.  They are the school that has been delayed by land title issues.  Again, this is another instance where prayer and petition are the only means we have to proceed.  But we are hopeful that what we last heard is true... that the title issues should be resolved in the next month.  Man, when that green flag flies we will be off and running.  This school has been "in progress" in the US for sometime.  Which means that there are resources available to start something quickly.  In fact, the property has been cleared and is just waiting for grading.  When considering the last site visit, there were potatoes and bush/jungle everywhere, that is a big step because this is a HUGE property on the side of a hill!

Tomorrow is an unofficial vacation day!  We are taking the kids to Kampala to celebrate Azeda's 20th birthday.  We are going to the European Mall.  Our kids are excited to play on the outdoor play place.  Which is the only one in Uganda, I think.  Azeda is excited because she has never been to the European Mall.  Liz and I are excited because we get food that is outside of our daily diet.  Yes!

Again, I want to thank the people who put us here.  I want to also thank the people who support us as we are here.  Praise God!

Chad Neeley

Construction Coordinator - WWCS Uganda/USA

So Lizzy and I are BOTH over the hill now.  We have passed the age old mark of 30.  As I type, my joints are aching, my arthritis is acting up... boy I pity the elderly!  Just kidding!

I will say, that my 30th birthday was extremely memorable.  We experienced our first public transportation strike (which made getting to our final destination very difficult!).  The kids got to see why we are here.  We were presented songs by a choir from Edusabo Community Junior School.  And we were privileged to have the opportunity to learn how to make bricks.  For the record, we are not very good at it!  The quota for an acceptable days work is 500-1000 bricks.  In an hour of brick making, we made 38 bricks.  Pathetic!!

The school where we were at was in Kasawo.  It is about an hour and a half drive north of Kampala.  The school is currently blessed with 431 enrolled students.  As you can see briefly in our video of brick making, the school has a modest start for construction.  However, it really needs to be finished so that the students have an acceptable learning environment.  They have most of their current classes held in three temporary rooms and a church.  More importantly, this church is an outreach into a majority Muslim community.  There are many Muslim students that attend this Christian elementary school because of the high level of academics.  So completing the school would improve on the appeal even more!

We did ALL have a really good time... as you can see from the picture!  (FDA does not approve of excess mud swallowing.  The result is turrets... see Grace in the picture!)

We have made a small tutorial on traditional Ugandan brick making.  Please excuse the misbehavior, we were cooped up in a taxi for two hours prior to starting.  Check out our video library on the weblog...

I personally want to thank everyone for the birthday wishes.  Thank you!

Chad Neeley

Construction Coordinator - WWCS Uganda/USA

I think this will be a short entry.  I feel like it has been a while since I posted, and I am a little excited.  For a while there, I was just complaining and now there is nothing to complain about.  If anything, we are excited because we will have visitors coming in December.  Amy and Collin Wallish, Liz's sister and our nephew!  Yippy!!!

Another thing that I was pretty happy to find was a meat grinder!  Oh, is it nice to have ground meat!  Tacos, hamburgers, sausage, empanadas, samosas, etc.  I can testify that tacos were a huge success.  Nothing better than some homemade tortillas, fresh ground beef, and some fried rice!  Mmmm, Mmmmmmm!

On the work side, I am pretty proud.  I finished a cost analysis worksheet today.  It is a self calculating worksheet that estimates building materials for cost accounting.  I have not tested it, but I will soon.  I am a nerd, but proud to say that I love Microsoft Excel!

I got an update yesterday, from the school in Palissa/Agule.  They were the community that we wrote about in our June newsletter.  They are the community deprived of simple healthcare and obviously a school.  They have set a plan to prepare for construction.  They have a goal of making 20,000 bricks by September 1.  They have put the plan in motion to have the pioneer enrollment of students in February 2012.  They are extremely motivated!  Because this is irregardless of the construction status.  They will hold school in a field if they have to.  Any chance to save the community from the downward spiral of having no educated children.  I am really excited for them.  Keep praying for their faith!!!

So the plan at this point, is to keep on keeping on.  We are talking to schools to see if we can participate in making bricks.  What is better than playing in the mud?!?  I will go visit the Ebenezer II Clinic site and measure to start the planning phases of that.  It is cool because the clinic will not only be a healthcare facility, but also a hub for VCT clinics, where the community is invited to come and be tested for HIV/AIDS for FREE!  So I get to coordinate with a few people to see the best layout for the multipurpose use of this facility.  We plan to break ground (actually some houses) on October 1.  We hope to have construction start the beginning of 2012.  So there is a lot to do, but plenty of time!!

For now, have a blessed day.  Enjoy the comforts and keep thinking about us!

Chad Neeley

Construction Coordinator - WWCS Uganda/USA

I always thought it was funny that people buy all of these "Smart Phones" and they only make us dumber.  They come with random gadgets or apps that will almost do anything, maybe even brush my teeth.  One of the dumbest app I ever saw was a tip calculator.  If you have to rely on a tool to tell you how much you should pay a server you have a problem.  Can the phone interpret how well you were served?  How about the quality of the food?

Well yesterday, we met a walking tip calculator.  He is a friend of a friend that was helping us with our saga over the immigration.  We were nearing the date where we either had to leave the country to get another stamp in our passport, or do something else.  Well this man met with us and informed us of a free service that the Immigration of Uganda offers.  It is called a visa extension.  Now do not get all literal, we have a six month visa, so they are not actually extending our visas.  Rather, they extend the visitor passes that you get stamped into your passport at the airport.  But to our surprise, it was free!  Well, it is free-ish!

Apparently the process for getting the extension is very long.  Long enough that you would need to apply for it before you even got to Uganda, if you wanted to get it before the pass expired.  So if you do not get my drift, it is impossible to get for FREE.  No, no, you GET to tip someone to get it done.  Now my gut told me that this was a bribe.  It sounded like a bribe.  it smelled like a bribe.  It looked like a bribe.  But it was a tip.  We had the opportunity to pay a man named Sam (I pray that the Ugandan Government reads this blog, finds the man named Sam, and punishes him for receiving money for a free service while in a government office) a tip.  We were originally told by our "friend" (aka Tip Calculator) that the tip should be in the amount of one hundred thousand shillings (which is really only $50, but sounds more dramatic when you put it shillings).  When we got to the office, the man explained how another person had to be involved so the "tip" needed to be double.  Yes, now they wanted TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND SHILLINGS!

The scariest part to all of this was that we had to leave the money and our passports with this man for a small period, over his lunch.  It was already awkward enough that we are being dishonest and paying someone to do a free service, which already makes you question his morals, but leaving our passports too.  Aaaahhhh!  But we had to do it.  We have no choice.  Either that or we mobilize our entire family and get on a day long bus ride, one way, and pay five times all of this to do the appropriate means of getting our passports stamped.  So we did it... reluctantly.

Well we returned to the office after lunch.  Sure enough, our passports were extended.  We can now legally stay in Uganda for another two months without penalty.  Now we have to pray that our work permit is processed quickly.  They said that it could take 2-3 months, so it is possible!  Our Tip Calculator said that he can help walk the permit through the process when I get the file number.  However, I did not get a good feeling in my tummy (of course I do not remember what a good feeling in my belly was anymore these days... I want some Salvatore's pizza!).  I think that that may include "tipping" several other people...

***The Neeley's do not condone tipping of government workers.  This is circumstantial and hopefully will not happen again, Lord willing.***

So hopefully, this will be the last of our blogs about immigration, at least for the next two months.

On a positive note, Azeda's mom, who works as a council person in her village, moonlights as a tailor.  She was nice enough to make dresses for the girls (less Isabel).  It was a really nice treat and the girls were in their glory putting on silk gowns...

Sorry, the photo does not show Lizzy's dress very well.  She hid behind the kids!  And for the record, what is a better backdrop to a picture but razor wire?  Nothing!!!

Update... The malaria was not too bad.  I felt it for about two days.  It felt like I was drunk (dizzy, balance loss, sensitive to light) and achy.  Otherwise, no real big deal.  Praise God!

Well, I made the venture down to immigration again today.  It was lots of fun!

The good thing to report is that they accepted our application for the work permit.  In three weeks, I will have a file number (Lord willing) and I can pay the fees.  Then two months later they may actually stamp my passport with the work permit allowing us to legally stay and WORK in Uganda.  This time, it was a quick in and out and no questions were asked.  That is why I am a little leery about the conclusion.  But I will continue praying...

On the bad side of it all, I feel like crap today!  I thought that I had slept bad, because my body just hurt all over.  Then as we were going on the taxi (one of four) I started to feel like I had a fever.  Without the chronic throat pain that usually plays in tandem with these symptoms, I started to think I was coming down with Malaria.  After the ordeal at immigration, I went home and Liz suggested we go to the clinic today while the local kids are in school.  After a few more taxi rides and a blood test, it was confirmed.  I have Malaria.  Yippee!  Now I can place a finger why my body feels like it is dying from the inside out.  (exaggerating a little bit)

I am really excited that the blood test and medication did not even total $13.  What a steal!  Of course without treatment, Malaria can kill a person.  Azeda's father died from Malaria.  And 14% of all deaths in Uganda are attributed to Malaria.  They say that 13 million people have been infected in Uganda with Malaria.  That is a third of the population.  But I should be in the clear.  I just hope that the kids do not meet the little @#$% who bit me.

Anyway, I thought I would add some more information to the continued saga of our immigration experience.

So we learned what it is like to be an immigrant yesterday!  Through poor communication from the US Embassy and the Uganda government, we slowly realized that we are in violation of immigration laws here in Uganda.  Apparently a visa is not enough to remain in a country.  Especially one that is noted to have multiple entries.  That means that they will allow you to enter the country with no visa payment in the airport.  That's it.  If you want to work (even as a missionary or volunteer) you need a work permit.

It all started at the airport on March 31.  Because we were such a large family, we were escorted to the front of the immigration line as we exited the plane.  We thought we were cool.  However, as they stamped our passports they briefly said "you have three months to apply for residency."  What in the world did that mean?  We did not want to live here for good!

So after settling down with the house and furniture and schooling and our ministry, we started inquiring about the "residency" thing.  After emailing the embassy with no reply, I started calling them.  After two weeks of calling, nearly twice a day, I realized that we did not have to apply for a residency permit rather a work permit.  Which in Uganda, is handled by the Ministry of Internal Affairs (translated... Corrupt Government Organization).

Once we finally realized that that is what was needed to legally stay here, we started doing our research.  There is a website that tells you the numerous requirements needed to apply.  Of course every one of them were vague and irrelevant.  But we did our best to interpret what was needed to apply so we could get through this.  Well, we went there yesterday, thinking we were good to go.  We brought our pastor, Paul, who is also the director of WWCS-Uganda.  Thank God!

When we finally arrived there at 12:45 pm, we only had to get two photocopies of documents for a "complete" application.  Coincidentally, right by the office where you apply there was a photocopy station.  So we went there and realized that they did not have paper.  So we waited ten minutes for that and got our copies.  We then approached the line to submit our application, it was now about 12:55 pm.  By the time we got to the clerk, she said that they were now CLOSING for lunch.  Yes, closing!  So we had to wait until 2 pm to talk to them.  That was delightful!

So an hour passed... we were first in line!  We offered our novel of documents to the clerk to review.  We were applying for the G1 classified work permit for missionaries/volunteers.  The cost is $250.  After her review, which took about 35 seconds, she said that we needed to apply for a G2 classification.  This classification is for employees (??).  The documentation requirements are twice as long as a G1 classification.  Most of which we would have no way of producing.  And the cost jumps up to $600.  They claim that WWCS-Uganda is not a (NGO) Non-Government Organization.  So we argued for a little while and they sent us to the NGO board.

Well apparently the NGO board takes a later lunch!  So we sat there for another half hour waiting to talk to the Secretary of NGO's.  He reviewed our documents, 40 seconds later said that WWCS-Ug is not an NGO, but an organization limited by guarantee.  Again, what does that mean?  But he had no comment otherwise for our situation, and sent us back to the Permit clerk.  So we went back, but before we called our legal adviser for his comments.  He did not have many.

So we waited in line at the Permit Clerk.  Heaven only knows how long that was, I was too annoyed to look at my watch.  But we got a different clerk this time.  She actually reviewed our file, for like 2 minutes!  Then she started to say that we needed to apply for the G2 permit and I just about blew my lid.  I started raising my voice and then they escorted us to the back room to talk to the supervisor.  Keep in mind, the pastor is reassuring us that every effort they make is to line their pockets.  Whenever money is paid, they have means to skim off the top for their personal gain.

So we finally made it to our last stop, the Secretary of Special Passes.  She rudely explained to us that the visa is not the only documentation required to reside and work in Uganda.  It only allows you to enter the country.  Immigration (at the airport) offers you a Visitor Pass for a set period.  In our case, it was for 3 months.  Which means ours expires June 30th!  Well what we need now is to complete our application, because our interpretation of the requirements was all wrong.  We are short 4 documents and have two that are incorrect.  Not to mention, come June 30th, we are here illegally.  Oh yeah, and that the processing time for the work permit is 2-3 months!  Ahhhh!

All said and done, now we are ferociously working on finishing our application documents.  Pastor Paul is working on seeing if we can get Visitor Pass extensions.  Otherwise, next week, we are forced to leave Uganda.  We believe that the easiest means to correct this is to drive to Rwanda, pay the one time visitor visa fee, then return to Uganda to get another 3 month Visitor Pass.  Yes, come next week Thursday, we may have to leave Uganda!

What a pain in the butt!

I forgot to mention, we missed lunch because of all this crap!!!

The plus side to all of this, if we get the Work Permit we do not have renew our visas!  But we do have to apply for Student Permits for our kids, even though they do not attend a local school.  Oh, and that I have to get dependent permits for Liz/Isaac/Isabel.  Welcome to Uganda!