buy a goat!

Hey guys, today I made a “marketplace” page on the Hope For Uganda website. You can buy goats, chickens, bikes, even water towers! Ok, well, it’s not for your self -- it’s for people in Rakai, Uganda.  

It’s super cheap and makes a difference in peoples lives. I’m pretty pumped because I’ll probably be delivering some of this stuff once I’m there. So buy a goat for a

family in Uganda- it’s cheaper than a movie and popcorn here! And all you Critical Mass kids, get together and buy a bike for a poor person in Uganda-- it’ll make a HUGE difference in their life, they will be able to go get food, medicine, go to school, and go to work! 

It’s Christmas time, and since most of us already have everything we want, why not ask someone to donate in your name? You’ll even get a photo of your gift and the family. This is how we can make a difference, you guys. For realsies.

Your friend, Olga 

Go to WWW.HopeForUganda.com and click "Marketplace" then click "staff" and check out my SWEET PROFILE.

here's the goat i'd want for myself:

And his name shall be "SOO SOO"

A Second Summer (California!)

Friends, family,

I am now in California... and yes, I have visited In-N-Out, quite tasty. I left New York just before a major snowstorm hit, and now, here, every night feels like a summer evening. I’m wearing summer clothes and it's December! I'm enjoying the West Coast for the weather and the scenery-- so much open space, and rolling hills, and Valleys, it's unlike anything I've ever seen before.  The strangest thing, though,  is seeing Christmas lights next to palm tree's. No snow, no naked tree branches... but I don't mind. A second summer. Oh, and! Magic Mountain is part of our backdrop!  

In Uganda news, it looks as though the trip may be postponed again due to Ebola. There's been a terrible outbreak in Western Uganda (if you've seen the film Outbreak, then you'll remember what a nightmare this plague is). It's an atrocious and painful illness, kills 90% of those infected with it. Highly contagious, and requires quarantine. Entire villages are being quarantined, and those infected are being abandoned because of this deadly, new strain of Ebola. It's unbelievable how much the natives endure. Pray for them. 

Being here is making me more aware of what's happening in East Africa, and is helping to prepare me for the big move. It was wise to come here. I help at the office with administrative tasks-- there is a remarkable amount of legalities and paperwork in NGO's, it's enough to keep staff on this side of the ocean! These women are not only compassionate souls, but also diligent businesswomen. True role models. I feel as though I am part of something truly good, and am grateful for the opportunity to help. I think it's rare that we love what we do; rare that we believe in what we're doing...Believe in it so much that you are willing to give everything up.  I am deeply moved by the stories and the photos, so much so, that the daily grind is a reward. The harder we work here the more we can accomplish overseas. 

 

Check out this article about the Wedding Shoppe we will try to open in Kampala:

http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070423/NEWS/704230323

PS:  my mom is having a hard time now that I've left home...Give her a hug next time you see her. Ah, the impeccable endurance and patience of mothers, as we children venture off into this wild, unpredictable world! These sort of life decisions affect more than me, and I thank you, mom and family and friends for giving your blessing to me. 

confession

I have 10 remaining days before I go to California, and from there I go to Uganda.
I have these streams of thought that tell me I Don't Know If I Can Do This. It keeps me up at night, and keeps me in solitude during the day...
-- still, I am without a doubt convinced about the goodness of this
-- I am hungry for Truth and Love and Suffering...as though these forms of God were a magnet, pulling me.

I don't want others to know that I'm scared, I want to be brave...because when I'm brave, others can be brave, too.
And so, for them (my family, my friends) I remain in this state of Trust and Faith. And from this comes a passion, a will to follow where I believe I am meant to go.

Last night I went dancing, a weekly celebration of being alive and staying alive. On the way there I became more overwhelmed than before.

I sat alone in the parking lot, hushed with a slight panic, smoking my clove cigarette and I felt so afraid. What will it be like to leave everyone again? Will they be alright? Will I be alright?
I walked away before the noise was too loud in my head.... but not before I asked two people to pray for me. One said, "Be strong, you can do this", the other said, "I promise to pray for you everyday until you return". When others are brave, I can be brave.

I find peace in knowing that others are praying for me more often than I pray for myself. No matter how far I stray, I always, always find comfort in hearing those five words...I will pray for you. It is the most lovely secret confession that a person can offer me. Quietly, I hear the words of a Kindred say... I will mention your name to The One that I pray to... and I know a Lace of Love will surround me. And I know God knows my secret, and he follows me as I trace hearts in my palm. He literally shows me signs each day to say, "I'm here"...



The Alchemist says, When you choose to follow your destiny, the whole universe conspires in your favor.
The Shepard boy in that story went to Africa, just like me.


I admit: I am afraid...but I am devoted.



By the Grace of God, in times of fear I end up being grateful.



I believe there are two great things that humans can say: I love you and I hear you. These are the things that I know to be true of God...and from our lips they speak his Truth and our capacity.

When I am afraid, let me know you can hear me.

Trip Delay

My trip has been postponed for December 21st, instead of October 22nd. In the mean time, I will be going to Los Angeles to receive training and do some prepatory work "on this side of the ocean" before I go to Uganda.

My objective has been specified as initiating and developing three self sustained businesses in Uganda. My goal will be to start a Wedding Shop, a bakery, and a jewelry making endeavor, in order to provide jobs and income towards the village. If this goal is acheived, then the village will no longer be dependant on donations and will be able to move forward on a larger scale, reaching more of those that are in need. I will travel to the capital, as well as Kenya, and perhaps some other countries in pursuit of business idea's and supplies.

In between the business developement, I will be living at the village, helping at the school, serving the HFU staff, teaching English, serving food, reaching out in the community, and pretty much whatever else they'll have me do.

I am so satisfied with this assignment. I know it will be a big challenge, but I think really good things can and will come out of it. This is a dream come true. I know I might seem backwards or out of my mind for actually being excited about this, but I see this as a major opportunity and life changing (for me and them) experience. Many have told me, "stay home. get married. have kids." or "get a career, get a house, settle down"... but that just doesn't work for me right now.

as my man Bruce Springsteen says, "Baby, I'm on fire".

wedding dresses

hello friends,

One of the self-sustaining businesses that i will help start in Uganda will be a bridal shop. Wedding dress rental is a very popular business there-- brides don't purchase one dress, they rent 5!

Hope for Uganda has collected many beautiful wedding dresses that will be rented in Uganda, with the proceeds going to the orphanage.

I have a bunch of dresses that I'm bringing with me, and would like to collect some more.
So if you have a wedding dress that's just sitting there, consider donating it. It will be worn by happy brides in Africa and it will help raise money for the children in Rakai, Uganda.
This is a great way to be involved, so please think about it! The bridal shop will be a main source of income for the orphans.

Contact me asap if you're interested-- olgainuganda@gmail.com

blessings,
Olga

Benefit Show!

hooray, and we'll have African food, too!

Tuggin' Along

The past week and a half has been filled with work to raise support. Every day for several hours I'm making phone calls, sending emails, and trying to set up benefit shows and fund raiser events.

At this point I've informed several hundred people about the trip to Uganda.

I didn't expect it to be so emotional. Each time a person says "no" or doesn't give me a chance to tell them about the village-- I get very sad, and have cried a few times.

It's not for me that I get sad but for the kids. I haven't met any of them but have been talking to friends that have gone over, I look at photo's each day, I read the personal accounts of people like me. I already feel attached to the people I will be serving in a few months. And when someone refuses to help-- which they have the right to do-- my heart breaks a little. I'm not speaking of the people that can't help, but of the people that choose not to-- often out of ignorance, prejudice, or simply, cold hearts.

For example, this past weekend I went to a big Christian Conference to speak on behalf of the orphans. I've been attending this conference annually with my family for 13 years. Over 1,000 people attend and each year-- this was a prime opportunity to raise some support for the kids. I spoke to the director and he basically declined my proposal and told me to write a letter and maybe his family would help out. He showed no interest, and quickly said his goodbyes.

I was so hurt. I was so furious, too. Here was a prime opportunity, and he wouldn't even let me ask the people! But you know what, I am going to forgive him and I refuse to judge him. I had prayed ahead of time, and I trust God has a reason for why this happened. Perhaps the money they collected has to go to a more immediate cause with bigger limits. It was a lesson I had to learn. As much as I wanted to say, "LOOK! These little babies have nothing, but I can bring them our love and help!", I just nodded and went to cry quietly in my room. I think now of Little Charles in Rakai, paralyzed because of Polio-- HFU was able to give him a wheelchair and he can move around now. I cry when I hear about him from Sam, and I see the photos on Karla's blog.

It feels unfair to me that people ignore these stories, and I imagine I will experience this type of feeling a lot-- but I refuse to love people less because of it. After all, I have passed beggars many a times. I have told people to "get a job" and not given them a penny. I am guilty, too.

Regardless, I am very blessed and encouraged by the amount of people that are showing interest in donating. This is restoring my faith. I've already received about $250 in donations via paypal-- close friends, family, people I've worked with, acquaintances, and even a boy from Ireland that I've never met! Young students that eat Ramen every day are promising to give me $100 dollars! Bands that barely make money while touring, are volunteering to do benefit shows. There are so many beautiful and willing hearts-- and they are of every color, of every lifestyle, of various faiths (or even atheist); so many people telling me they want to help in every way. Like it or not, we are all God's children and there is a bit of his love in each of our hearts-- we are all capable of Holy Compassion, and I am seeing it first hand. And soon, you too, will see it when I go to Uganda and I show you how your support, prayers, and gifts are working.

Together, we are participating in True Compassion--we are going to help the people of this world that have been forgotten, forsaken, and brushed aside. Together we can do this. It's not for someone else to do. It's you and me, friend.




"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ "Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ "The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me'" (Matthew 25:35-40).