Hansens in Uganda: 2nd Trip to Adjumani-- Sudanese Refugee Camp

When we visited Adjumani in April, the women of the camp told Honorable (MP) Minister of the State for Relief, Disaster Preparedness and Refugees that they were in desperate need of hygiene kits. He promised to get them as soon as possible. Elder and Sister Moore, a Senior Couple serving in Gulu, Uganda took up the project and immediately posted the need for hygiene kits on their blog. The response came from all over the U.S. Days for Girls, an international NGO joined in the effort and the Uganda Chapter helped Sister Moore get the project moving. Members of the Church, Primary, Young Women and Relief Society as well as non-members helped put kits together. The Missionaries both Sisters and Elders assembled kits and even the five couples here in our building put kits together. It was a great project that didn't involve the Church Humanitarian Services as it was small enough that it could be managed from Gulu. The Days for Girls and the Camp Coordinators worked with the Moores to coordinate distribution. Sister Hansen and I invited the Mission Medical Couple, Elder and Sister Squire, to ride up there so we could cover the event and enjoy the experience.

Elder and Sister Moore with the Humanitarian Driver and church member, Ssimbwa Buslwa

Susan and I on the left with Sswimba, Sister and Elder Squire then Sister Moore.

The hygiene kit consists of soap, panties, liners, shield, and instructions. The shield snaps around the crotch of the panties and holds the liners which serve as a washable, reusable sanitary pad.

Sister Moore directing traffic...Note the colorful dresses and a few young men hanging around the meeting for women of the camp ages 12-49.

I wanted to show the design on this woman's forehead...this is a tribal marking.

Boys gathering to find out what all the excitement was about...I tried to get them to smile but they were not interested. The little girl in the background was laughing though. Cute kids.

Sister Hansen handing out kits

These women have been taken from their homes and are living in less than ideal conditions. I see sadness in their eyes but they are doing the best they can. The pictures to follow do not need a lot of explanation.

Several of the women were working on embroidery projects while they waited in line. Their work was a beautiful satin stitch design. When we asked her what she was going to do with it she indicated sleep with it so we assume it was going on her bed. We were glad to know these women have things like this to do in their spare time.

Sis. Moore in pictured in the background in the red dress. Several men served as interrupters for the large crowd of women. We handed out 3200 hygiene kits.

Some beautiful young girls

Lots of smiles of appreciation for the kits.

The women, both young and old, were warm and friendly. They definitely have a style of their own and Sudanese people tend to be quite tall.

We had the opportunity to stop at Chobi Safari Lodge on the Nile River

East of Murchison Falls in the Murchison National Park. This park is an extension of the big park at Paraa where we went in December. This section of the park is very wooded so it is hard to see the game. We found some giraffe, cape buffalo but no elephants. The hippos were in the water and we saw a few. We were going to the lodge for lunch so our stay was only for a few hours.