HUGS News
March 2009 - A dream come true for Vicky Gibson, President of HUGS
In March of 2009 a dream came true for Vicky Gibson, President of HUGS. That dream was to share Uganda with a member of her family, up close and personal. The arrival of her grandson, Nikolas, on the property in Bulanga was the fulfillment of that dream. Joining Nikolas was his mother, Vicky's two Ugandan daughters, Rose and Racheal, and three others.
The group traveled to Bulanga in southern Uganda where they worked with local children gathering health information and taking many pictures. A local women’s group came by to entertain the group with singing, dancing, and a display of their craftwork. Nik and the others joined in the dancing, trying to learn local dance moves. Nik and his mother joined some of the children during an evening drive into the nearby village to buy a soda and a small bite to eat. There was dancing and celebrating all the way back to the property. The highlight for Nik and his mother came when they went to the home of the child they have sponsored for years. Seeing their child's home, her bed, meeting the family, and seeing how far she had to walk to school daily was humbling for them. With the work done, the team left the property. Many tears were shed while leaving the property. The drive to Queen Elizabeth National Park was quiet, while we reflected on what we had experienced during our stay with the children.
The next two days were spent at the National Park viewing animals and talking over the team's reactions to their work. The safari was just the ticket for those needing to unwind before going home. Before traveling home, Nik was able to meet with three members of Parliament to discuss issues faced by the Ugandan government. This lively discussion shed light on the troubles and challenges that must be faced to make a better life for the citizens of Uganda.
Even though the trip was a short one lasting less than two weeks, a lot was accomplished and learned. There will never be another trip like this one for Vicky - and for Nik.