Success! And happiness.

It’s so easy to get bogged down with the negatives out here sometimes.  I’m sure some of you are wondering, after reading my posts, why the heck I’m out here considering (poor electricity, lack of water, no money, etc).  But today was a great day, one of those days that makes it all worthwhile. 

I’ve been stuck in Hoima town for a solid month, which really isn’t so awful thanks to books and movies, but the town is nothing to write home about.  Today, however, I got out into the countryside.  And while I make a weekly trip out to my second office an hour away, it’s all road and town and office; today reminded me just how beautiful Uganda actually is. 

In my area (western Uganda, along Lake Albert, next to DR Congo), it’s green and has lovely rolling hills.  The trees are huge and lush, with mangoes and jackfruit in abundance.  There are these crazy birds that sound like monkeys, and these cool lizards that are bright blue and green.  Sometimes you can see monkeys, and a chimpanzee sanctuary isn’t far.  And I really like going out into the country with my field officer, because he shows me which trees are good for bees, and which aren’t native, and tells me interesting things about the area. 

So the purpose of our trip today was to visit with some of our farmers, and hear their success stories since our project started.  I sit in our office most days doing budgets and writing reports and keeping the project going from a managerial point, so going out to the farmer’s house and actually seeing the difference this project is making in their lives was a really great motivator.  No, this project isn’t perfect, and I’m constantly working to make it better, but we are making a difference and that means a lot to me. 

This particular farmer has been beekeeping for over 20 years, and has over 200 beehives (unheard of!).  But he keeps traditional hives and methods; he comes to our trainings and is learning things his practical experience hasn’t taught him, like the best methods of extracting honey, keeping it pure and clean.  Since he started selling honey to us, he has been able to buy a cow, buy new clothes for his wife and children (all nine of them), pay for his kids’ school fees (fantastic!!!), build his son a house, and purchase more land in a nearby village.  That’s after four months with our project.  I’m amazed and so proud. 

One of the reasons I love working small, on-the-ground projects is because you get to know the people you are helping, and you can actually see the difference you make in their lives.  I don’t know, maybe that’s a little selfish on my part, but I like to see that the project is working, not just read a report or study stats about success. 

Oh, and a little side note: the farmer was growing chili bushes.  I can’t find chilies in my local market, so I’ve been suffering through with chili powder (oh, the horror!!).  The farmer’s wife gave me a handful of chilies to take home with me.  Yippee!!

Anyway, I have another day of this tomorrow, of which I’m looking forward to.  Right now, I’m a happy girl.