looking back: the ctt teams

It's that time of year when we get bombarded with the highlight reels of 2013: best books, movies, political moves, news show blunders (have you seen that one?!), albums, fashion statements, etc. Looking at the gorgeous photo of Team 7 has caused me to drift back to all the other team photos that have graced the CTT gallery walls (that would be the hallway at Melissa's house).

So, this isn't a best of 2013; it's the best of CTT team trips…. which includes every single one!

I can't adequately thank these generous, adventuresome and caring people. They have made each trip a resounding success. These folks not only took the trip, trusting me implicitly, they have become lifelong friends to CTT, to me, to the children and, in many cases, to each other. Here are the members of the CTT family who have taken the plunge and ventured to east Africa to meet the remarkable kids at St. Mary Kevin Orphanage Motherhood.

Front row: Lonnie Powell, Jane Voorhees, Gloria, fixer and friend Peter Damba
Back row: Carol Joseph, Lynne Melcher, Ann Thomas, Melissa Mosher
2007

This trip was memorable because it was the very first group I took to Uganda! Our specialties were: art lessons and therapy (and the making of the first of several documentaries by Lynne). Since I had only been to Uganda once before, it was still new territory for me, and this patient group kindly put up with all my missteps. 

Front row: Linda Gerstel, Sarah Joyce, Bobbi Newman, Lynne Melcher, Max Feinstein
Back row: Randy Clark, Tom Maddox, Melissa, Gloria
2008

This team was very fun for me because my son, Max, was on it! Our accomplishments included: starting the SMK marching band, providing medical care and therapy, gardening and drumming.

Joseph Kavulu, Lynne, Fred Grossman, Melissa, Gloria, Rosemary Kavulu (not pictured: Carol)
2008

We were a small, but mighty team that spent time at SMK before the rest of the team (pictured above) arrived. It was a special treat for us muzungus (white people) because we got to dress up in traditional Ugandan finery and attend the wedding of Joseph and Rosemary's son. We also played a lot of basketball and volleyball, painted the dormitories and provided new bedding for all the children.

Front row: Antwain Mosher, Eddie Feinstein, Laura Houston, Christy Radecic
Back row: Sara Hjalmarson, Gloria, Melissa, Kaley Herman (not pictured: Bobbi, Carol)
2009

Yes, that's my hubby, Eddie! Having him there made this trip extra meaningful for me. This was an important journey, as it was the one that solidified in Melissa's mind the fact that she wanted to move to Uganda. Once she saw that her son, Antwain (our youngest team member ever) was comfortable with the place and the people, she knew it would be just a matter of time before they left Kansas City. Luckily for CTT, Melissa has been living and working at SMK now for over three years. The specialties this team offered included: reading groups, art lessons, lots of arts and crafts, computer and sports. This was the first year of the Annual SMK Christmas Day Talent Show!

Front row: Gloria, Avis Smith, Suzanne Garr, Bobbi, Emily Collins
Back row: David Muhammed, Jeff Mildner, Jennifer Smith
2010

This was the first year we moved out of our Kampala digs so we wouldn't have to spend so much time in the van traveling back and forth to SMK. We stayed at a lavish resort on Lake Victoria. While it was awesome to be so close to SMK and to come back at the end of the day to really hot showers, the option of a massage, very comfy beds and a spectacular views, we realized rather quickly that there was too huge of a disconnect between where we were during the day and where we retreated to at the end of each day. (Live and learn.) The teams do return to The Serena Lake Victoria for a special dinner one night now. This team's offerings included: therapy, sewing, yoga, photography and computer.

Front row: Gloria, Bobbi, Avis, J. Leroy and Michelle Beasley
Middle row: Shane Evans, Lynne, Suzanne
Back row: Monique Udo, Dawn Taylor
2011

This year saw our first international team member: Monique from the Netherlands. She started a fantastic music program at SMK, which she has quite admirably continued on her own. This team was a lot about music, yoga, art and therapy. It was a lively and creative group! This was the first year we started staying at the Lodge, which is now officially CTT's home away from home. It is walking distance to SMK, and they treat us like family there.

Team Jeff and Jennifer
2012

Jeff and Jennifer returned to SMK on their own during the summer. Because CTT's social worker/liaison Melissa lives on the grounds of the orphanage, we are now able to send people or groups on their own schedule. Jenn and Jeff were the first to do this. They stayed in the guest house at SMK. School was in session, so they did a lot of teaching.

Team Gloria and Bobbie
2012

That's my sister! She and I went to SMK on our own in August. It was incredibly special for me to finally share all of this with Bobbie. She hit the ground running with yoga and art classes. She and I also snuck away for a few days to do a gorilla trek, which was an experience we'll never forget! 

Front row: Leah Sosland, Melissa, Suzanne, Natalie Boten, Holly Cobb
Back row: Anna Cobb, Jennifer Schoenwetter, Josh Sosland
2012

This was the first year someone other than me led the trip. Team 6 was in the very capable hands of Suzanne, who has been an integral part of CTT in many different ways since her first trip in 2011. The team's specialties were: medical care, sports, computer, reading and arts and crafts. This was the first year of Spirit Day, a day of fun and competitive games that has now become an annual tradition.

Strings for Uganda
Amaya Camacho, Lindsey Weaver, Nick Jarrett and Hannah Ho
2013

This was the second group that traveled to SMK on their own. They stayed in the guest house and spent 10 days teaching violin to the children. The lessons continue, thanks to the generosity of this awesome group. A teacher from the Kampala School of Music comes to SMK one day a week to give lessons to 20 kids. The budding violinists love having this opportunity!

Team Gloria Natalie and Lynne

2013

I made my annual trip to SMK in the month of August again this year, knowing that the December team would be led by the dynamic duo Jennifer and Jeff. Lynne and Natalie joined me, and we had a magical time! Lynne worked on a new CTT documentary (which will debut at our annual fundraising event in Kansas City this March), I taught photography and Natalie did, among other things, arts and crafts projects and a field trip to Parliament. We may or may not have watched a lot of episodes of "Glee" with many of the older kids in Melissa's living room.

You've no doubt noticed that there is an impressive return rate on these trips. Lynne and Bobbi have been to SMK four times; Carol, Suzanne, Jenn and Jeff have all made three trips; Avis, Natalie, Josh, Leah and Dawn have gone twice. I have no doubt there will be more team members returning in the future. 

The kids pull us back - time after time after time.

Happy New Year to all! Maybe a trip to meet the children at SMK will be in your plans for 2014!

dreams

“I dreamed that I fell in the lake. Then I shouted at the water.” – Nahia, age 12



“I dreamed that a dog bit me. I dreamed that snakes bit me.” – Martha, age 9



“I saw a devil coming to kill me. I shouted to Mummy to come and help me. I shouted loudly. My mother refused to open the door for the devil.” Leku, age 14



“I dreamed when they were going to take us to war. I was the leader of my team. There was a man who was a president, and he was the one who commanded us to go and fight.

There were seven of us. That man gave us an airplane for war.

The soldiers got a helicopter to come. It was going to kill all my soldiers. We jumped out of the airplane, and the blades started but my team won the war.

We went back to the base, and we made a party for my team.” – James, age 12

dreams

"In a nick of time, having lay down on my bed, I was caught up in a deep sleep down in the forest where we fetched water in the village.
As I dropped the bucket down in the well, an unknown sound from the forest started shouting loudly in a scary voice: 'I have you today.'

Before I could fill my bucket to the brim, my sister Sarah had left. I knew now that I was in for it.

I started hearing a voice coming from all sides of my slim body: ‘I need you.' That’s what it said.

Trees around me started shaking.

I shuddered, then my voice started dying out. However much I could call for my twin sister, Sarah, for a rescue, it was all in vain!

My heart drummed against my chest; it felt like my hair was off my head. I opted to run, but the legs could not make it to their best.

After all this shivering and scary moments, I heard the voice of Sarah saying, ‘Nelson, I am dying. Please come and help me!’

I tried to follow where the voice was coming from, but I was disturbed by the echoes in the forest.

I ran following the background of her sound. I saw her. She cried at me with her tears flowing like a faulty tap. ‘Nelson, can you do something?’ I now started crying as I saw this: an unknown animal I have never seen before.

I came close to her only to see her belly being cut and made open. This gave me much fear and proved little chance of survival. Genuinely speaking, I had no way to help Sarah, and there she died.

The animal then came close and ran after me. I ran backwards calling out for help. Tears of melancholy cascaded down my muddy face as the animal jumped and caught me up. I woke up only to remember that it was just a dream. I felt relieved!" – Nelson, age 18

dreams

Sifting through images I made of the children's dreams, I am finding obvious recurring themes. I am finding that there were few "happy" dreams, even though I often encouraged the children to try to recall those specifically.

I am finding that I am constantly thinking about their dreams, even as I am here in the US on my comfortable bed trying to have my own.



“I walked to our village. It was very far. There my mum was going to the garden and she saw a big snake. She killed the big snake. The mother of the snake wanted to kill my mother because she had killed its child.” – Mackline, age 10



“When I was asleep, I dreamed that I was with my mum at home, and an Englishman came to our home. He took me to England to play football. When we reached there, I started playing, and I sent my mum money.” - Caleb, age 11



“I was playing with my friend, and he pushed me into the lake. I started to swim, and my clothes got wet. After that I went back home, and my mom asked me where I had been.” – Douglas, age 9



“At night when I was sleeping, I had a horrible dream. I saw a night dancer. He chased me all night. I was in the village, and the only solution which I had was to run up to the house. My big brothers came for my rescue, and they chased him away. He went back to his home. He left behind bones of the dead.” - Vincent, age 10



“I mostly dream that my father is one of the richest men in Kampala.” – Billy, age 16



“Sometimes I dream that the ground is breaking and I am falling down in there. When I wake up, I think it is true and I cry.” – Isabella, age 11

snapshot marathon part 2

Tonny and Max

Lynne

The children line up to receive their Christmas gifts

Rosette helps Enock with his new shirt

Otim (aka Boy-Boy) and Gloria

Takia

Sarah and Kato

Esther and Sam playing Sorry

Christmas gift!

Tom and Randy teach some children how to play marbles

Randy, Max, Tom, Joan and Douglas singing carols

Max and Habib

Christmas gift!

Melissa and Henry

Brian

Bobbi conducting group therapy

the gardening team: Josephine, Maria, Randy, Catherine and Zaberrah

before saying goodbye, Tom and Randy exchange addresses with Nicholas

lynne/ a christmas tale from kajjansi

Saracetina and Lynne

After weeks of interviewing the children and team members on site at Saint Mary Kevin, their voices competing with the background sounds of bouncing balls, drumming, and merriment, I finally got smart. In order to hear the compelling words being spoken, I needed to go elsewhere, to find a place of relative quiet, without distraction.

So, for each of these later interviews, I went into the hills of Kajjansi. This time I had only to compete with herds of cattle, roosters, airplanes, and teams of village children running and playing. Often, these groups of children came and sat quietly, watching and observing this strange “mezungu” with her large camera and list of questions.

On Christmas Eve day, I took young Sarah deep into the fields. I had never gone quite that far. Once again, a group of boys and girls sat on the edge of our makeshift “set”. And one girl came alone, from somewhere down the road, to join them.

At the end of our interview, which focused on many things, but ended with thoughts on family, one of the children in our “audience” stepped forward to talk to us. Her name was Saracetina.

In a short time, and in perfect English, this young girl of 14 told us her thoughts on family: that not all children want to live with their families; that not all families are good; but that all children want love.

She told us about her father, and showed us the scars from his beatings and attempted rapes. And then there was her mother, who had knowingly left her with her father when she remarried, as the new man didn’t want her around.

Sarah and I were stunned, mouths agape. Here was this beautiful young girl, only slightly older than Sarah, who had been through so much, who was essentially homeless, yet who nevertheless had a joyful presence.

Not knowing quite what to do, yet at the same time knowing exactly what to do, Sarah and I told Saracetina about Saint Mary Kevin, less than a mile away.

It was Christmas Eve. There was a lot of commotion at the orphanage. And, as I soon found out, there are procedures that need to be followed before an orphanage can lawfully take in a child, despite their horrific stories.

Though Sarah and I were both worried, it was Sarah who was especially concerned about this young girl’s immediate future, and her fate. They were peers, equals and friends, despite their differences.

At the orphanage, and throughout this trip, I have seen an almost instinctual capacity for kids to help other kids. Sarah, in her eagerness and efforts to get Saracetina to safety, showed me this in spades.

I have also seen an instinct for survival, though I don’t know if this is something innate, or something which arises out of need. Saracetina is a survivor. Like so many children in Uganda, and in all parts of the world, America included, she’s had to be.

Saracetina came to the orphanage on Christmas Eve. She sat alone, patiently, as the other children received their gifts. Rosemary followed procedure, and in due time, was given permission to take Saracetina in.

Cissy, one of the children at Saint Mary Kevin, shared her bed with Saracetina that first night.

By the next day, and in the days that followed, in an astoundingly short time, Saracetina could be found leading the young children by hand, helping them wash, bathe, or just play.

She looked completely at home, with her new family. Joy simply radiated.

Some children might have stayed on that road and kept going.

Yet on Christmas Eve, Saracetina gave herself the gift of help, and of hope. And she gave me, and gave Sarah, and the children at Saint Mary Kevin, so much more.

snapshot marathon part 1

Tom and Irene

Saka and Annet trying out the new trombones

Max drumming with the boys

Linda and Tina

Sarah

Twister!

Sam taking a break in the garden

Sarah

Claire

Lynne and Sandra

Billy and Bobbi

Randy

art room

Melissa and Doreen

Freddy's Team: Edward, Saka, Billy, Nelson and Henry

Fred and Joan dancing

lunch time

Gloria, Melissa and Fred at the market

Tina, Gloria, Ivan and Leku

Julius and Fred

Carol and Rosemary