Thursday, January 31, 2008

Lots Down, Eight to go...

Well I have been preparing for this trip for what seems like ages. Emails, applications, visas, passports, vaccinations (a lot), mosquito nets, weird drugs, and now it comes down to these final eight hours.

For those of you who aren't quite up to speed on what I am doing I will give a little synopsis:

In the Fall I decided that going into regular veterinary medicine just wasn't for me at this point. I wanted to do something a little different while I still could. Then a friend of mine reminded me of Christian Veterinary Missions. I contacted them as well as some other veterinary/humanitarian organisations and through a round-about way I was put back in contact with one of my old profs. Dr. Card is involved with the organisation called "Veterinarians Without Borders" and she had recently sent in a proposal for someone to go to Uganda for about 4 months and work in co-ordination with an organisation called "Foundation for AIDS Orphaned Children" or FAOC (http://www.faoc.kabissa.org/). They are an organisation that works with orphans and widows who have been plagued by AIDS by helping them get back on their feet. They have started a goat program where female goats are given to orphans and widows and there are community males (bucks) that are to be shared. The first couple goat babies (known as kids for you non-vet type) are to be given to other families. Unfortunately, it is hard to raise the goats to an age where they are profitable. Enter Dr. Weir....goat vet extroidinaire. ha ha ha. I will be helping them to learn basic goat farming techniques, goat care and in general helping monitor the program as there is little infrastructure right now.


So tomorrow morning at 8 am I fly from Edmonton to St Paul, St Paul to Amsterdam and finally Amsterdam to Entebbe, Uganda (just re-read that and got butterflies). I will then take a series of cabs (I think) to arrive at Mbarara. Mbarara is at the Southwest tip of Uganda and reportedly has 40,000 people. When I "Google Earth" it...I see 4 streets. Riiiight! Should be interesting. Upon arrival I will learn where I will be staying (as it is still undecided at this point), I will either be in a house that FAOC has or in a gated compound. Either way it will be something totally new and likely a huge eye-opener.


I have all sorts of thoughts floating throught my head right now. I am excited to see what this journey will unfold and what God has planned for me. I am nervous that I may not be entirely qualified to do this. I am happy that I have been given such an amazing opportunity. I am sad to be leaving behind such amazing friends and family. I am scared to be going to a country all alone where I am a minority. Most of all I am hopeful that God will use me in ways I never imagined possible and that my work in Uganda will make a difference in someone's life. I don't know what kind of internet access I will have but I look forward to hearing from you all and sharing with you my stories and pictures.


Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Kent!
Just wanted to say that I am so excited for you and so amazed that you are taking on this new adventure in your life. I can't wait to hear your stories and see your pics. Be safe and have fun!

Love ya tons!
Jade

Anonymous said...

Hey Kent!

Good to see you are doing some great work! My wife and I "purchased" a goat through Unicef so it's nice to see that there are some good people taking care of these animals in Africa. (different program, yes, but same idea) With the HIV epidemic, poverty and lack of equality for women in Africa, it is important to do things to empower the people at a very basic level.

Don't sweat the veterinary end. With your degree and maybe a Merck manual or Radostits or two, you'll be able to make a difference! and you've got some pretty knowledgeable people and support networks at home.

Good luck!
Jason Rowan

Anonymous said...

Correction, it was not Unicef, it was The Plan (formerly Foster parents plan). http://plancanada.ca/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=292&srcid=651

Anonymous said...

Hi Kent!

Wow, so proud of you for doing this. I'm praying for you.

Bonnie

Anonymous said...

Hey Kent-

Kyle and I are really excited for you, too! We will be thinking of you and praying heaps. We trust it will be an incredible journey. Let us know if you need anything...we are always here...and slightly closer than your other friends and family at the moment!

Much love, Many Blessings.

Andrea

Lorraine said...

Kent. We are so excited for you. I didn't realize you were leaving so soon. Know you will be in our prayers. May God bless you and give you a wonderful, growing, encouraging, building and safe experience. Thanks for the great friend you are to Erik & Yuriko.

Love
Elwood & Lorraine Larson

Anonymous said...

Hi kenty!!!
I am very proud of you and know this will be one of the greatest experiences of your life!! Knowing you, you will touch many peoples lives and make a huge difference to the people whom have the pleasure of working with you. Take care and spend every moment out there, taking it in and just breathing.
Love you,
Alice

Anonymous said...

Yo Brothers n Sisters

Looks like www.blogger.com justmight be a wicked forum for me
I am content to have discovered it.


In the beginning just remember it was darked and then someone smiled! try this: Everything is always okay in the end, if it’s not okay, then it’s not the end. :


Lol!

Anybody do Ghost Hunting


Looking forward to a good long sojourn here!

North Dakota,Calio

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