We worked so hard on Saturday we took Sunday off

Seriously, in spite of jet lag and long hours by the end of the day on Saturday, all the equipment was set up and working and the clinic was ready for business. But without patients due until Monday, Sunday became a day off. if we leave the Mildmay campus the preferred transportation is by Coaster, basically a mid sized bus.


So on Sunday we headed out on the Coaster to Watoto Church, a local market, a local mall and also to a resort on lake Victoria. Kim, Julie and I plus five others chose the local Market and mall after church vs the resort. it was a good choice!! The sevice was great, contemporary Christian, with lots of great music. there must have been several thousand people there +. There was an overflow area. and that was just for the 10 am service. We had to pass through metal detectors on the way in, plus have our bags searched. i don't know how much 'faith' I have in the metal detectors as they seemed to go off constantly, yet everyone was okd to go in.


In the largest city in a country of 31 million people, at the market we picked to go to Julie and I ran into Badru, our friend and Safari driver from last year! All we could do was laugh, hug, say Happy New Year and marvel at this coincidence. Here is Badru


Later shoping at the market one of the vendors looked me up and down and asked "how was service at Watoto". I guess we stood out. Slang here for white people is Muzunga. I believe it is sort of an affectionate term?? Maybe.


Beyond runing into Badru, the market was great also. I never was able to make it to there last year so it was fun to go. Below is one of our felow volunteers Molly with the 7!!! Purses she bought!!





After shopping at the market our group of eight walked to a local indoor air conditioned ! Mall. Above you see some of the famous giany storks of Kampala nesting in a tree right in the city. Hot, thirsty and hungry we sat down at a local restaurant that seemed to borrow it's logo from good ole Starbucks, Green circle with coffee beans. With great flourish our food was served by our kind and professional waiter. i had beautiful tomatoes, cucumbers and mayo on my baguette, because of some past experience I was skeptical of all of it's freshness. My dilema was solved when we had a racauous cockroach chasing session at our table, with lots of screams and finally lots of laughter. We were causing a scene and the waiter came over and very quietly asked if we had a rat at our table. That was pretty much it for appetite. Trying to catch our visitor..


There's more from Sunday, but i gotta run. All for now ~~ C

Location:Kampala Uganda

Safe Travels and Set Up

Hi all, I am catching up after a few days without internet, its early Tues am in Kampala and I have connectivity so will drop in a couple of posts. After almost 24 hours of safe travel all 25 volunteers from the US arrived in Uganda intact and with all our stuff. Although, it turns out the containers we packed and shipped in Dec had been held at the airport and were just released and sent to Mildmay almost at the same time we arrived. So from scratch the setup begins...unpacking and assembling exam tables below.


Everyone was happy to find out the clinic would be in the same bldg as last year, so you kind of knew where to set things up





Above things start to come together. It's great to see familiar faces at Mildmay, below are Freida on the right and her daughter Cathy. Freida works at Mildmay and her daughter Cathy comes to volunteer with our group, helping with registration, translation and helping with the kids.





Two of the dentists, Joni and Justin (who famously met two years ago during the 2010 Mission trip, then got engaged on the 2011 trip & are now married) are above counting out Ugandan Shillings converted from USD. Below, a few beverages at the end of the first day.


.. All for now. ~~C

Location:Kampala Uganda

The Countdown .. One week out

One week out, and just when I think I either have everything I need or have plans to get it I uncover something else I abolutely must have. Then I remember just how people in Uganda are living with so little. Things we throw out on a daily basis would be treasured.

Still,  I still need to pick up my anti Malarial meds, Malarone. Last year my insurance covered this med,this year not, so I have been procrastinating. Fortunately it has gone generic so it costs about half. I need to get bug juice. It goes on and on. Last night I found lots of Christmas candy for 75% off. Please don't tell the Dentists that I am bringing Candy on a trip to help kids with their teeth .. smile...  The candy will go in my extra suitcase with other kid stuff, clothing for the kids etc. I've heard the 14 or so shipping crates we packed in December arrived in Kampala! great news! Those were filled with Dental supplies, donations, many things for the children and Hundreds of pairs of shoes with great Thanks to Dr Joanie's Mom who runs a shoe drive to collect them. And Thanks to the great Iowans who donate them. it takes a Village doesn't it!!




Thanks for read and please keep following ~ All for now C

Location:Minnesota

Hi All,  

As many of you already know I have decided to go to Uganda again in Jan 2012.   I will be part of a mission trip supported by Crossroads Church in Woodbury Mn and the African Christian Fellowship Mn.    Our team will be serving in Kampala Uganda for two weeks Jan 12 to the 28th.  Uganda is located in East Africa and lies on the Equator.   This country has a tragic past with turmoil and strife.   Today Uganda is a safe country but still suffers greatly from the tragedy of the AIDS epidemic.

While we are there the Dentists and Assistants will be providing free dental treatment to orphaned children, many whom are infected with the HIV/AIDS virus.   We will be at the Mildmay Health Center near Kampala, Uganda.   The Dentists and Assistants do amazing work with the kids, many of whom may not have had previous dental care.  Along with the 'professionals',  we need a strong support staff to  keep kids busy, help hold kids in the clinic, run the electrical and dental equipment etc.     I will be going as support staff helping to register the kids as they arrive (sometimes 25 or more kids in one small van),  keep the kids busy before and after clinic,  The other support workers and I will be pouring out love for the kids, sharing messages of hope through games and crafts and reading them stories.   I was as times last year overcome with emotion and overwhelmed to be with the children.   Their are often many children with a single caregiver.   I truly feel so fortunate to be able to go again and help.   This year my daughter Kim will be joining the group.    I know she will bring so much care and love to these children.

I am writing this post today to ask you to consider joining our team through your support either monetary or supplies.  

Along with Dental supplies we are able to ship a limited amount of some things ahead.         For example one of the volunteers runs a shoe drive and sent  500 pairs of shoes last year.  Almost all of the kids that came through the clinic received one pair of shoes.    The kids also received a toothbrush and most received also a toy or stuffed animal.   The kids are so grateful for the little things we are able to provide.

I am already collecting some things to bring in my extra suitcase.   Things I can use are Matchbox Cars, Beanie Babies and children's socks and underwear.  

Another way would be to consider becoming one of my sponsors for this outreach. This trip is paid entirely through sponsorship and personal funding, with an estimated total cost of $2800.00 (including airfare, travel clinic, anti malarial meds, food and supplies) per person.

If you feel led to join our efforts through a tax deductible gift, you may send me a check.  Please make your check payable to African Christian Fellowship-MN and write “Uganda Dental Mission”.  Please do not write my name anywhere on the check.  A donation in any amount (large or small) would be greatly appreciated!  Anything that I collect will go partially toward Kim's travel and partially toward the groups overall needs.  

You can mail to me at 

Colleen Gauron

11608 Sunset Trail

Plymouth, Mn 55441

If you have any questions at all please email me at colleengauron@gmail.com


One more thing I ask,   If you haven't read my blog before please check out some of my older posts,  including a post from last January titled  'Are you from America,  Do you know Mr and Mrs Kelley

Thank you so much for your consideration.  ~C~

Two Things

Hi,  if you have landed here today,   two things.

1. You can check out the links to the right- there is a new link to a great video Terry made out a selection from the 3700 photos he had gathered up from the 29 or so of us who went to Africa in Jan- thank you Terry!! and thanks Justin for Posting it to You Tube- the link is over on the right and also here for you: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozPs5CcWi5o
2. Probably even more importantly I got an email from our good friend Gladys Kobusingye in Kampala  and she is suffering from Malaria,  so send her prayers and healing thoughts if you would.  Gladys is on the left in the picture with Deb Lamb

If you feel so inspired

Hi, 

If you have been reading this blog and are feeling inspired to donate,   a good option would be to donate to Crossroads church  at www.crossroadschurch.cc/onlinegiving  ,  they are a crucial part of the support of the group.   Many in the group raise their own donations or self fund, but the church has provided great support for big things like shipping supplies and donations, like shoes for the kids, dental & equipment ahead of the trip. 

Another Option would be African Christian Fellowship, PO Box 14494  Mpls, Mn  55414  or www.acfmn.org  

Please indicate that you are donating to the Uganda Dental Mission

Thanks for considering.. ~~  C

Mildmay Clinic Children's Choir