Diggin' out Jiggers 2 (the Story Beneath the Foot)

Videoed in Australia, yet videoed in Uganda……wait, let me start again. See the reality of Jiggers on the ground in Uganda. Find out how the Kisoro community & Kisoro Kids ministry have partnered to prevent-by-cement. Nineteen classroom floors cemented to date! A sequel to our claim to fame - the viral YouTube video “Diggin’ out Jiggers,” THIS is the reason behind videoing one being dug out of my toe! (a lot of people who watched the video wondered…and asked).

Ministry Overview - 2012 Achievements

We are now in Australia on furlough, but our hearts are not far from Uganda. This video, which we made before we left, is an overview of the different ministries we are involved in & what was achieved during 2012.

Paech Family Australian Permanent Residency Granted!!

After 13 months of waiting, our Ugandan family members' Australian permanent residency visas have finally been granted! We are off to Australia June 13th! Aggie, Ivy and I will stay for one year (on missionary furlough) and will then return to Uganda. The rest of the kids will stay, and Australia will become their new home, and our family's new home-base. Awesome!

This is a video of our kids' reactions when we shared the news with them!

How to Survive in a Slum

More than a billion people live in urban slums around the world. In Kampala, it's estimated that 60% of households live on less than $150/month. With the help of local council leaders, International Missionaries for Christ (IMFC, who Aggie and I volunteer with) identify the neediest of the needy in Kampala's slums, helping them with crisis-relieving food and Christian counseling. This video looks at some of the challenges such people face, and how they manage to eke out a living.

Aggie's Arts - 2012 Highlights

2012 was an excellent year for Aggie's Arts.  We continued to help 17 families through purchases of beautiful hand-crafted bead jewelry and were even able to increase their monthly purchase amount. Aggie's Arts was also registered as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in the United States.  Very exciting!  We had 2 teams from the U.S. visit us in 2012.  This video captures some of the highlights of those trips, including an eye clinic that the Aggie's Arts ladies facilitated in their own community!

Ugandan Christmas Party

Have you ever wondered what an end-of-year work Christmas party might be like in Africa?  Wonder no more!  This is the one that we hosted this week for IMFC, the organization we volunteer with here in Uganda.
 

The Power of Partnership - Kisoro Kids

It's really amazing to see what is being achieved (and how!) through the partnership of Kisoro Kids and the Kisoro community.  In this video, Pastor George gives us an update of, and some insight into, this unique relationship.

Aggie & The Lifejacket

Another classic from Aggie, filmed on the Victoria Nile boat cruise, Murchison Falls National Park, Uganda.

Sharon's 1st song & video release!

Sharon has just released her first professionally mixed song & music video "Nakupenda Mummy" which means "I Love You Mummy."  The song is a re-mixed version of her song "Mama" which she sang during the Tusker Project Fame 5 singing contest. The artist name that she has chosen is "Sharon Paech" (Simon is honoured!)

Congratulations Sharon! These days Sharon is out most evenings at gigs and has also had exposure on a couple of shows on TV stations here in Kampala. Her new song & music video will be circulated at local radio & TV stations. Very exciting!

 

Aggie & The Elephant

Family Safari, Murchsion Falls National Park, Uganda.  Four hours into the game drive, Simon driving the family vehicle, armed ranger in the passenger seat, family in the back (including 16mo old Ivy).  Ranger has nonchalantly told us stories of an elephant tipping over a car once in the park, a family's vehicle breaking down at dusk & them spending the night in the park, the signs of when an elephant will charge...and then we come across a big elephant right next to the road.  Simon asks Aggie to stand & take video through the sunroof.  Aggie reluctantly does...and the rest is an instant classic!

P.S./Disclaimer: The ranger calmly assured us (with a grin) that the elephant wasn't about to charge, but for Aggie's sake (there were more exclamations after she shut off the camera) we did leave &:-)}  Does anyone remember Aggie and the Rhino at Lake Nakuru National Park a few years ago? Look at http://www.spaech.blogspot.com/2009/09/safari.html *laugh*