Saturday, July 11, 2009
ENTEBBE
We have bid farewell to the Colleen Hotel in Mukono. After a stop in Kampala to see the Namboole church that is currently under construction, where we picked up Henry, and lunch and a trip to the Ugandan-style flea market to do some shopping, we are now in Entebbe at the Sophie Hotel. Tomorrow, we SHOULD be on a plane home (Ethiopia Air). Bye for now!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Chickens
Because the goodbye to the children last night was so emotionally draining, I forgot to mention our experiences Friday morning. We had decided it would be nice if we could add a little something to the children's Friday night dinner (this was before we knew there would be a big celebration hosted by the bishop). Somehow, it was decided to buy chickens and, oh, by the way, we had seen many chickens at one of the many food stands in Mukono on our walk, so we knew where to get them. And since refrigeration is not common in Uganda, fresh meat means live chickens. So Friday morning, we loaded up the clown van and headed to the chicken store and bought 20 fat roosters. Now, as an animal lover, this is a tad hard to write about, but it was for a good cause. Anyway, the vendors tied five roosters together by the legs into chicken bundles and then they were stuffed under the seats. When all 20 chickens were in the van, we reloaded and headed off to Humble. (The children enjoyed the chicken later on)
P.S., I passed on the hello to Adechan Sarah for the Careys last week and she returns her love
P.S., I passed on the hello to Adechan Sarah for the Careys last week and she returns her love
Jajja Jen
Today, we headed off to Humble thinking it would be another brick throwing day, but the kids were out playing when we arrived, so we got to play instead. (By the way, the guy in charge of computers here at the hotel threw me off last night before I could mention that Jil actually mastered the task of catching and throwing two bricks at a time -- 22 pounds total. Before this point, Doug was the only one to be able to do it more than a few times with the locals). Doug's mom and dad came to the school to visit.
The afternoon was dedicated to a farewell celebration that the bishop held for the team. The children sang and did skits for us and presented us with gifts they had made. They are very talented and the school is hoping that by teaching them skills like weaving and bead making, they can make money later in life, if necessary. We will be bringing some of their beadwork back with us.
One of the highlights of the celebration was when the bishop baptized Jen Score with a Ugandan name. He said because of her compassion and love of the children and because she was (these are his words) an elderly female of the team, he was now naming her Jajja, which translates into Grandma. Jen turned a bright red and Pastor Dave was rolling in his seat, he was laughing so hard.
The bishop had a nice dinner buffet brought in for everyone and we all sat around eating with the kids. What a pleasure it was to sit on the grass as dusk fell surrounded by kids with plates full of food and lightning bugs dancing about. Finally, it was time to go. It was so hard to tear ourselves away from these incredible children. Tears fell readily, hugs and kisses were shared, and our hearts were broken. We will miss them all. Our prayers are that every one of these angels has his or her opportunity to shine in this world and that they live up to the promise God has placed in them.
The afternoon was dedicated to a farewell celebration that the bishop held for the team. The children sang and did skits for us and presented us with gifts they had made. They are very talented and the school is hoping that by teaching them skills like weaving and bead making, they can make money later in life, if necessary. We will be bringing some of their beadwork back with us.
One of the highlights of the celebration was when the bishop baptized Jen Score with a Ugandan name. He said because of her compassion and love of the children and because she was (these are his words) an elderly female of the team, he was now naming her Jajja, which translates into Grandma. Jen turned a bright red and Pastor Dave was rolling in his seat, he was laughing so hard.
The bishop had a nice dinner buffet brought in for everyone and we all sat around eating with the kids. What a pleasure it was to sit on the grass as dusk fell surrounded by kids with plates full of food and lightning bugs dancing about. Finally, it was time to go. It was so hard to tear ourselves away from these incredible children. Tears fell readily, hugs and kisses were shared, and our hearts were broken. We will miss them all. Our prayers are that every one of these angels has his or her opportunity to shine in this world and that they live up to the promise God has placed in them.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Back to Humble
Today, we went to Humble School. The women and Tom threw bricks (I was allowed back on the brick line and didn't drop a brick. Whoo hoo!) Kara discovered that at the bottom of the brick pile is where lizards like to live. One of the local workers did a very admirable job of imitating her screaming and hopping in circles. We also learned that it is true that lizards drop their tail when you grab them by it and that it wiggles for a very long time after it detaches.
Doug visited with his parents, who are with the Anglican Church and just happened to be in Mukono at the same time (isn't that weird?). Pastor Dave also had lunch with them.
Drew, Rhett and Dave Bennett put the finishing touches on the new basketball half court that they have put in for the kids. The kids seemed very excited about that. We also bought rope for the girls so they could play the African-style jump rope game they like to play.
While at Humble, we were informed that the bishop was coming with a team from California, who we were supposed to meet. We enjoyed the children's choir as they performed for the Californians, who were from the Oakland area. Afterwards, we all had lunch together.
Later in the afternoon, Pastor Dave took some of us on a walk through Mukono, which was a very interesting journey.
Doug visited with his parents, who are with the Anglican Church and just happened to be in Mukono at the same time (isn't that weird?). Pastor Dave also had lunch with them.
Drew, Rhett and Dave Bennett put the finishing touches on the new basketball half court that they have put in for the kids. The kids seemed very excited about that. We also bought rope for the girls so they could play the African-style jump rope game they like to play.
While at Humble, we were informed that the bishop was coming with a team from California, who we were supposed to meet. We enjoyed the children's choir as they performed for the Californians, who were from the Oakland area. Afterwards, we all had lunch together.
Later in the afternoon, Pastor Dave took some of us on a walk through Mukono, which was a very interesting journey.
Wed - Gulu - 7/8/9
We visited the Koch-Goma IDP camp today and attended another church service. The people here were very nice. It was sad to see a little baby with malaria among the group. Kids in the Gulu camps are definitely shyer than the Humble kids, but they were very sweet.
We had lunch with the New York team at the Diana Gardens, then set off for home. We were now a clown car of 13 people as we had picked up two additional people (long story). Journey to Gulu was about the same as the one going to Gulu, just reversed. It was a long day and we were quite glad to return to Mukono and the Collene Hotel.
We had lunch with the New York team at the Diana Gardens, then set off for home. We were now a clown car of 13 people as we had picked up two additional people (long story). Journey to Gulu was about the same as the one going to Gulu, just reversed. It was a long day and we were quite glad to return to Mukono and the Collene Hotel.
Day Two - Gulu, Tuesday 7/7/09
In the morning, we traveled to the Opit camp. On the way there, we stopped and the pastors in our group and the New York group, plus Rhett tried plowing a field with a team of oxen. As we have learned time and time again, nothing is as easy as it looks.
Pastor Titus, the Opit camp pastor, rode in our clown van to the site. Normally, he rides a bike the 35 kilometers over dusty, rutted dirt roads to church with his wife as a passenger to get to church service. And then he has to ride back home, all while wearing his best suit. And even more unbelievable is the fact that, as is the case with most pastors in this region, he is not even paid for his work.
sidenote: this was probably one of the dustiest roads ever. By the time we got to camp, our van was filled with red dust and we were covered in it.
Opit was a surprisingly clean and orderly camp with wonderful people who came out to greet us. We had a short church service under a tree, then walked about the camp and was shown their bore hole (well).
We then traveled back to Gulu town to have lunch where Rhett and Drew managed to find a game of pool with the locals.
After lunch, we went to the Layibi camp, which was closer to town. The children in the camp performed dances, played the drums, and sang for us. It was better than any show we could have paid for. After the show, we walked around the camp. I tried to help a small woman with a baby on her back carry a plastic container of water up the hill, but much to my chagrin, I couldn't carry it for more than a few feet. After observing my feeble attempt, she motioned for me to lift it onto her head, and after struggling to lift it, I finally got it on her head, and away she went -- baby on back, 50-pound container of water on her head up the hill, with me looking on wondering how I could possibly be any weaker.
We retired to the hotel after that and had dinner. During the meal, we realized the odor everyone kept smelling was coming from a stinky milk pot that came with the tea. It contained good milk and had a verse everyone liked from Jeremiah 11 on it (which I can't remember at present), but smelled to high heaven. So it became the Bible lesson for the meal -- don't judge things by their outsides. Weird story, yes, but the team wanted to remember the tea pot, so I'm including it in the blog
Pastor Titus, the Opit camp pastor, rode in our clown van to the site. Normally, he rides a bike the 35 kilometers over dusty, rutted dirt roads to church with his wife as a passenger to get to church service. And then he has to ride back home, all while wearing his best suit. And even more unbelievable is the fact that, as is the case with most pastors in this region, he is not even paid for his work.
sidenote: this was probably one of the dustiest roads ever. By the time we got to camp, our van was filled with red dust and we were covered in it.
Opit was a surprisingly clean and orderly camp with wonderful people who came out to greet us. We had a short church service under a tree, then walked about the camp and was shown their bore hole (well).
We then traveled back to Gulu town to have lunch where Rhett and Drew managed to find a game of pool with the locals.
After lunch, we went to the Layibi camp, which was closer to town. The children in the camp performed dances, played the drums, and sang for us. It was better than any show we could have paid for. After the show, we walked around the camp. I tried to help a small woman with a baby on her back carry a plastic container of water up the hill, but much to my chagrin, I couldn't carry it for more than a few feet. After observing my feeble attempt, she motioned for me to lift it onto her head, and after struggling to lift it, I finally got it on her head, and away she went -- baby on back, 50-pound container of water on her head up the hill, with me looking on wondering how I could possibly be any weaker.
We retired to the hotel after that and had dinner. During the meal, we realized the odor everyone kept smelling was coming from a stinky milk pot that came with the tea. It contained good milk and had a verse everyone liked from Jeremiah 11 on it (which I can't remember at present), but smelled to high heaven. So it became the Bible lesson for the meal -- don't judge things by their outsides. Weird story, yes, but the team wanted to remember the tea pot, so I'm including it in the blog
Time to Play Catch Up - Heading to Gulu
So we stuffed the 11 of us in the van, which has affectionately been dubbed the clown van, and headed off to Gulu, which is approximately five hours away. After meeting up with a New York mission group, headed by a man named Bob Schooley, that was also heading up north, we set out two hours behind schedule.
For background info, Gulu is in an area of northern Uganda that had been hard hit by the Lord's Resistance Army, a group that kidnapped children and murdered untold numbers of people. To escape falling victim to the LRA, local villagers fled to what are known as IDP, Internally Displaced Persons, camps. The difference between IDP camps and refugee camps are that refugee camps are for people fleeing from one country to another. IDP's are for people who are fleeing from one region of their own country into another part.
Until two years ago, the Gulu area was considered too dangerous for most people to visit. In fact, my Fodor Uganda book actually had a passage that said it was suicidal to attempt to go in this region but it was written two years ago. Everyone says it is now safe to travel even without military escort in northern Uganda as the LRA has moved to Congo at present.
So now back to our journey. You may think that riding in a van with 11 people, each with backpacks for two days of travel would be fun, but add in rutted dirt roads that are sometimes covered in miles of random speed humps, and you have a small picture of our trip.
Guess what we learned on our long drive? They have drive throughs in Uganda, but they are very different than American drive throughs. If you pull up into most of these little villages or trading centers, your car is swarmed by people selling boiled peanuts, a flatbread called chipotti, orange drinks that have been made and put into bottles to look like orange soda, and meat on a stick. We actually bought batches of the chipotti, which was very tasty. I guess we'll find out soon if it was a smart thing to do.
On the drive, we saw approximately three fleeting glimpses of monkeys and passed a beautiful waterfall. We arrived in Gulu around 6:00, then had to wrangle rooms, which turned out to be surprisingly hard to do. Apparently there are very few hotels up to western standards and lots of relief type workers in Gulu. Three van loads of people pulled into the hotel compound as we were waiting. Bob Schooley's group ended up not getting rooms at the Pearl Africa and stayed instead at a hotel with plastic tub showers, but at least they had toilets. As for our rooms, they were rooms. It's probably best to leave it at that.
For background info, Gulu is in an area of northern Uganda that had been hard hit by the Lord's Resistance Army, a group that kidnapped children and murdered untold numbers of people. To escape falling victim to the LRA, local villagers fled to what are known as IDP, Internally Displaced Persons, camps. The difference between IDP camps and refugee camps are that refugee camps are for people fleeing from one country to another. IDP's are for people who are fleeing from one region of their own country into another part.
Until two years ago, the Gulu area was considered too dangerous for most people to visit. In fact, my Fodor Uganda book actually had a passage that said it was suicidal to attempt to go in this region but it was written two years ago. Everyone says it is now safe to travel even without military escort in northern Uganda as the LRA has moved to Congo at present.
So now back to our journey. You may think that riding in a van with 11 people, each with backpacks for two days of travel would be fun, but add in rutted dirt roads that are sometimes covered in miles of random speed humps, and you have a small picture of our trip.
Guess what we learned on our long drive? They have drive throughs in Uganda, but they are very different than American drive throughs. If you pull up into most of these little villages or trading centers, your car is swarmed by people selling boiled peanuts, a flatbread called chipotti, orange drinks that have been made and put into bottles to look like orange soda, and meat on a stick. We actually bought batches of the chipotti, which was very tasty. I guess we'll find out soon if it was a smart thing to do.
On the drive, we saw approximately three fleeting glimpses of monkeys and passed a beautiful waterfall. We arrived in Gulu around 6:00, then had to wrangle rooms, which turned out to be surprisingly hard to do. Apparently there are very few hotels up to western standards and lots of relief type workers in Gulu. Three van loads of people pulled into the hotel compound as we were waiting. Bob Schooley's group ended up not getting rooms at the Pearl Africa and stayed instead at a hotel with plastic tub showers, but at least they had toilets. As for our rooms, they were rooms. It's probably best to leave it at that.
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