Heads up

If you are sending me stuff through the mail please be careful NOT to mark anything as (or recognized as) a charity item, ensure all listed items are for my personal use....

Sports Items - Is fine

Sports balls for school kids - is NOT fine

We can not overload the military system with charitable items. Still send stuff if you are, just be cautious about the label...

Thanks again!

I am presently in DAMAZIN awaiting my flight to KHARTOUM and back to Canada House. I have also found out that I will be attending a course in Khartoum as soon as I arrive back from my Vacation to Uganda. This is a CIMIC course for three days.

It means 3 extra days away from Kurmuk and living at Canada House. It also turns out that I actually get paid extra to take the course... Hmmm In Canada we just get assigned to the course there is never any "bonus" for being there...

I am looking forward to the course as I am trying to increase and re-develop the cooperation between the military and the NGO's in the Kurmuk region. I have already increased the info sharing and it is proving to be somewhat beneficial to the villages as their problem and concerns are now being passed directly to the organization that can help. Those organizations are becoming very thankful for us because we are becoming their eyes and ears for villages that are way to far for the NGO to drive to just to see if there are any problems.

Essentially the NGO would have to visit a bunch of villages then return to their HQ. They would have to make a plan, get supplies and then go back to the villages. Now they can receive a basic report from us and then gather the supplies and head directly to the village and assist with their needs.

I do hope it establishes a better and more effective working and sharing relationship for the future.

I have blisters on my hands today. Yesterday I started to plant a garden at the team site. With the assistance of some of our workers I was able to design an area, break up the ground and remove some large rocks. The workers are very interested. They appreciated the seeds that came from Canada (thanks mom!) We will have Lettuce, Peas, Beans, Corn, Carrots and herbs. So there is another item if you want to send stuff... I will give any extra seeds directly to the workers inside the camp so they can use at their houses (Tukuls).


I will most likely NOT have Internet access in Uganda so I will not be reporting anything until I return which is on 13 Dec 09. I will be located in Khartoum for the CIMIC course which means that I will have great Internet so I can post the pictures that I will take while in Uganda.

Once again, thanks for reading my post!