WOW!!

!! WOW!!

I can't get my photos so you will have to wait and the internet isn't fast or reliable enough for me to post as often as I'd like to but let me say WOW!!! This is an amazing country, the people are so kind, my safari was unbelievable, and my school is fantastic. You can see that I am really enjoying myself!

Keep smiling - I know I am!

:) erika

I'm almost on my way!

So tomorrow the adventure begins! I am leaving with Elaine in the afternoon to drive to Vancouver with our 8 suitcases (2 belong to someone else!) and then we're all meeting at the Vancouver airport on Monday afternoon. I can't believe it's already here! Six months have certainly passed quickly.

I will try to update this while I am away but it may not be possible. You can always get updates on the NITEO website. I'll be back at the end of the month with photos, videos and details. "See" you soon!

Socializing before we go!

After our packing party, we had a pot-luck social with our significant others. It was a great chance to relax and chat and get to know each other better. We were also able to say goodbye to Donna and Dodie who are leaving today (Monday). See you in Kampala!

Packing Day!

July 6th we all met and did a big group packing party of the suitcases that will be left in Kampala. We can each take three cases there but we leave two each at the resource center for them to use as they need!

In case one suitcase gets lost, all the supplies have been spread out in all the cases so that all of one thing is not lost. We put all the supplies in the middle, made a big circle with all the suitcases and then just threw some of everything in each one! They can weigh a maximum of 70lbs each... :) Think of us next week when we arrive in Entebbe after 36 hours of travelling and we each have to cart 210 lbs of suitcases plus our carry-on!!! It will be a chance for us to see the real us!

Look at what the money from the class bought! Awesome art supplies!

A case full of art supplies properly packed...

The shade tent purchased with the Canadian Tire money collected through school.

Fat Cat Festival

This is a month old already but time in June just seemed to escape me!

Marissa is a student at a local Middle School (grades 7-9) who is a friend of another teacher who is coming to Kampala. Marissa is a a very globally aware young lady and decided to make NITEO her project to raise awareness about the organization as well as to try to raise funds.

Kelowna has a Fat Cat Festival at the beginning of June which is a festival for children. Marissa decided to get a tent for the festival and then to have children paint tiles for a mural at the Eva Ruf Resource Center as well as create postcards for the children there from the children here. It was a huge success!

Well done Marissa! It was amazing!

And thank you to those who donated supplies for this to come together. It couldn't happen without your generosity!

The container has arrived!

What awesome news! Our container has made it across the ocean and is now leaving from Monbassa to reach Kampala at the same time as us. While I breathe a huge sigh of relief, I can only imagine that it is double for our leaders Karine and Donna. YAY!!

Welcome to Mombassa!

And soon welcome to the Eva Ruf Resource Center in Kampala!