The Rattler Uganda Style!

The day is over and we are sitting down to dinner. I have ordered fish fingers again without French fries, though I can guarantee you that they will come with my meal. Every night I order them without fries and every night I get enough to feed a Roman army! Fortunately Hajji likes to eat so I give him half my fish and ALL my French fries! It’s like having Steve here!!!!

Something I forgot to post yesterday (at least I think I did, I can’t pull up email to find out at the moment) was an experience at the market. As we were walking down there was a sign for a “Low Cost Spermarket”. I’m sure they meant supermarket, but it definitely caught all our attention. As we were telling this story last night at dinner, Russell looks up and in a whisper said, “I thought you said supermarket”. We just all cracked up. I’m not sure what was funnier, seeing the sign or hearing his question. Once you’ve been here for a while it doesn’t take much to get the laughter going.

Today we got early, 6:30, and departed at 8:00 for Kamuli a village about three hours away. The first hour and a half we travelled on a paved road (though very narrow) and then the remaining trip was on a deeply rutted dirt road.  Imagine what the Rattler does to the muscles in your back and multiply that until you want to scream STOP! By the time we reached pavement on the return trip we were all one happy group. The scenery was beautiful along the way, so the photographer in me was quite happy. Every time we would pass a village the children would come running toward the bus waving at us. They are such a happy bunch – it just continues to humble me how little they have and how happy they are.

We reached the village and Vicki, Vickie and Judy met with Moses, the senior advisor of foreign affairs to the President of Uganda. He is handling all the custom clearance for medical supplies for us. We don’t pay any custom fees. He will also tell them to release the cargo immediately to us. This is huge as it could normally take a long time to get through customs. He is also going to try to get a refrigerator for us as right now the staff has to travel a long way to get medication for the clinic. The clinic in the village is a private clinic, which Tree of Life partners with and they charge each patient 1000 shillings, which is a little less than $.50 per visit. It was also explained that each health worker will be given a bicycle (by Team III) that will belong to the clinic but will be for their use. The health workers were given a lantern today that is solar powered. The lantern can charge cell phones, which is critical in a country where very few people have power. Vicki explained that they could use this to charge other people’s phones and charge a fee for the service. She said their faces just lit up at that bit of information.  By the way, all the health workers are volunteers. How amazing is that!!!  Edith, the head nurse made the comment that as Mzungus though are our intentions are good, we are actually hurting the system. The Ugandans see us coming and expect free services. It is fine for us to provide the clinics with free medications but then the clinics should treat the people and charge their standard fee.

While they did that the rest of us broke up into teams of two, each accompanied by two pastors and went out into the village to share the Mercy bags and share the word of God. This is not my comfort level and something I have not done before. Needless to say, I was a little uncomfortable. But Lynda was my partner and she was very good and put me at ease immediately. We spoke to both Christians, non-Christians and Muslims and they were all very receptive and willing to listen. We also had the chance to pray with all of them and they were very thankful for us and for caring enough to be there. In the end, it was an incredible experience. The two of us worked with Wilson and he translated for us. He has such a gentle soul and I could see how much he really cares for the people.  We also worked with Irene and she has a quiet sense of humor that I was able to see today. She looked absolutely beautiful in her traditional Ugandan attire. She looks very pretty in pink! As we were walking down the road (I use that word loosely) we were soon being followed by a group of children that seemed to grow in size the further we walked.  

My camera is an automatic kid magnet! Once I show the first child his or her picture the game is on. They surround me and all push forward to guarantee they are not forgotten in the crowd. If there was a wall behind me I would be plastered against it by the end of the day! Score: The children - 1; Sue – 0!  Every time I capture a face I can’t wait to take the next picture. They just keep getting cuter and cuter.

As we were driving home I was amazed at how many children were walking home from school. The truck in front of us kept splashing these poor children with the muddy water from the road. Hajji was very considerate and slowed down every time he approached a puddle saving many a child from getting soaked. The bus rides are always a good time for me to silently go through the day and soak in all we have done. It is a great time of reflection. Today I really started thinking of the kid’s at Phil’s and am really excited to get to spend time with them tomorrow. I will be handing out gifts and letters to them, hugging on them and taking a bunch of pictures. I will be soaking up their love and dispensing a ton of my own. I can’t wait!!!  Phil will be picking up in the morning. I will be sure to tell them all how much you love them and pray for them.

This is it for now. Tomorrow is going to be another busy day and I am going to bed. I miss you all but am loving Uganda. I think it must be in my blood!

P.S. Brian I would have loved your cake!!! Hope you and the gang are feeling better!!!