Finally a sleep in!

On Sunday we headed back to Kampala after only 24 hours in Gulu. Mike and Tanya have been here for a week and a half now and finally they had the opportunity to sleep in past 6:00 on Sunday morning. We keep telling Mike that we are going to turn him into a morning person, but he is not convinced that will happen.
After a wonderful breakfast at the guesthouse, we had the opportunity to spend more time chatting with George. We really wanted to take Mike and Tanya to see the water supply where all the local people go to get their water. The problem is that the community has now put up a chain link fence so the route to the water source is a very long one. If George had taken us there, he would have missed church and we didn’t want that to happen.
As we were leaving the guesthouse, we met some more friends who live outside the walls of the guesthouse. Betty (16 years old) and her mother both remembered us and were very glad to see us. The most pleasant and amazing surprise was Betty’s older sister, Emma. She has had a stroke and last year when we met her, she was unable to speak. Lorenda walked up to her, shook her hand, greeted her and asked if she remembers us. To Lorenda’s surprise, she answered, “Welcome, of course I remember you.” It was such a delight to see the healing in this young woman’s life. Betty is attending school and says she is doing well in her first year of high school. We drove Betty to Watoto Church and then started on our way back to Kampala.
The road between Gulu and Kampala really is absolutely brutal, but the big trucks and buses don’t slow down any. You really wonder why on earth anyone would drive on that highway…but there is so much to see. There is a bridge that crosses the Nile River south of Gulu and the view is breathtaking! There is a little waterfall and some rapids- the river is flowing very swiftly there, it is absolutely beautiful! There is also always wildlife right at that point on the highway. On the way up we saw monkeys at this spot and on the way home we saw a huge family (at least 30) baboons- great big ones, all the way down to tiny ones that appeared to be just a few days old.
All along the road and off into the fields there are hundreds and hundreds (likely thousands and thousands) of mango trees that are just loaded with mangoes. In Gulu the mangoes are going to be ready in the next couple of weeks. I am not sure when the ones in the south will be ready- I know our kids are hoping it will be in June!
In northern Uganda people live in mud huts with thatched roofs. It is so amazing to drive along the highway and see these huts for as far as the eye can see. It really is a truly African experience!
So in spite of the horrible, awful highway, the trip to Gulu was a great experience! I would recommend it to anyone who comes to Uganda.

Gulu

Yesterday was a day filled with many new adventures.
We were up at 4:30 AM as we were traveling to Gulu in the northern part of Uganda and needed to get an early start. We picked up one of Greg’s colleagues around 5:30 and got started on our long journey with five of us packed into our little Rav 4.
The road to Gulu is not great anywhere, but there are parts that are absolutely horrible- one can barely even call it a road at times. It certainly has deteriorated greatly in the last year since our last journey up that road.
On arriving in Gulu, Greg’s colleague took us on a tour of the school he attended as a young man- an all boy’s boarding school that houses 1250 young men. Thanks to some government grants and Invisible Children’s Schools for Schools program, the school is getting some much needed work done, including a new metal roof. We learned that during the insurgency in Northern Uganda, boys were kidnapped from this school by the Lord’s Resistance Army. Fortunately, all the boys that were taken from this school returned alive-  they are very thankful for this, as it was not the usual outcome.
On arrival in Gulu town, we went for lunch to a restaurant that serves some of the local cuisine. Greg and Mike played it safe having chicken and beef with fries. Lorenda and Tanya were a little more adventurous and had their first taste of goat meat. It was good- didn’t really taste much different than beef.
Next we were off to Laminadera, the Watoto children’s village in northern Uganda. The major people group in the north is the Acholi tribe. I talked in an earlier post about the two Acholi nannies from the babies’ home who described the Acholi as loud people who love to sing and dance and have fun. As we arrived at Laminadera, the moms and at least one (maybe more) community women welcomed us with amazing dance numbers. We had the opportunity to chat with Mama Christine who is the Watoto mom for Richard, the boy that we sponsor. She remembered us from last year and was glad to see us. She is such an incredible woman who has been through so much in her life, but loves the Lord with all her heart and has the huge smile on her face to prove it. We were then treated to lunch in one of the homes (because we weren’t full enough having just eaten). The deacons and maintenance teams (including Greg and Mike) then went to look at the new buildings in the village. Lorenda and Tanya then set out to find Raphael (our Watoto “grandson”)- he is sponsored by our oldest daughter and her family.  Lorenda had a great idea to have Raphael meet our grandson “face to face” via Face time. Our internet is via a mobile modem and the package is called Internet Everywhere. Well, it seems Orange (our internet provider) has been lying to us- there is not internet everywhere, there is no internet at Laminadera! Tanya took several pictures and video of Raphael to take home to Canada, but it sure would have been great if the two of them could have met “face to face”.
Prior to leaving Laminadera, we went and checked out the classroom that we built a year ago. Children are now able to stay in this village for high school and Watoto now has the ability to accept children from the community to attend their schools. There is still much to be done in Laminadera village- only half the needed children’s homes have been constructed. If you or your church is looking for a missions project, please consider and pray about the possibility of putting together a build team to help raise future leaders in Uganda. Go on the website www.watoto.com and check it out.
After driving through a Gulu rainstorm ie flashflood, we arrived at Watoto Church in Gulu and celebrated with our brothers and sisters there.
Then it was back to the guesthouse to meet our friends who work there. The staff is almost all the same as last year and remembered us from our visit just over a year ago. George was especially excited to see Greg and was disappointed to know we were only staying for one night. By 9:00 we were all in bed- exhausted from our long day.

Farms

Yesterday we visited the farming sites that Watoto operates. A friend of ours had several family members visiting from Canada (all with Saskatchewan roots). They were touring the sites on a bus and invited us to join them. We met some amazing new friends, as well as seeing the farms. Double portions of blessings yesterday.
Our “tour guide” was a young woman named Leanna. She is American, grew up on a farm, has an agriculture degree and is passionate about the work that is being done here. She oversees the work at all three sites and is so knowledgeable about all aspects of all three operations- goats, chickens and crop production. Watoto is very fortunate to have her as part of the team- it is so evident how the team values and respects her.
First we visited the Suubi site where the goat dairy operation is being established. As we stated in a previous blog, they are currently getting enough milk to feed the babies in the Suubi babies’ home. The existing goat barn is near capacity so they will be looking at expansion in the future.
Our next stop was the Buloba farm (near Bbira children’s village). This is the site where the poultry operation is being set up. You have all heard the saying “Go big or go home”.  Well that is certainly the case at this farm! They are just finishing construction of a huge poultry barn that will hold 8,000-12,000 chickens. It will be state of the art and is being modeled (to some degree) after an operation in the UK. Much of the operation will be automated- some of the equipment is already in Uganda waiting for installation and the rest has been shipped and is on its way. The chicks will be purchased all at once (due to disease reasons)- I believe the chicks are to be purchased in September and they expect them to be laying eggs shortly after the new year. The expectation is that 90% of the chicken will be laying daily so there will be enough eggs to supply the children’s villages with “leftovers” to sell in the market. There is enough space on this land to build three more barns like the first so that eggs can be sold and generate funds for the organization. Remember we have mentioned that the self-sustainability plan was one of the things that attracted us to Watoto- that plan is becoming reality.
After leaving Buloba farm, we traveled down some back roads through “very rural” Uganda and about an hour later arrived at the Lubbe farm site. When this land was originally purchased, the plan was to start the next children’s village there. However, as they looked at this prime farmland, the decision was made to use this site as part of the self-sustainability project and grow vegetables there. Yesterday they were planting a crop of beans- not something they have grown yet because harvesting is extremely difficult without a combine (combines are too big to fit in a shipping container). However, beans put nitrogen back into the soil so they were being planted for that reason. They are trying some new things and are also growing “tried and true” Ugandan vegetables. They have already harvested or are currently growing: tomatoes, carrots, onions, Ugandan sweet potatoes, Australian sweet potatoes (for sale to Mzungu), green peppers, corn, beans, soya beans and rice (I believe Leanna called it “lowland rice” and is not grown in the traditional way that we think of rice being grown). Each week, vegetables are taken to Bbira and Suubi children’s villages and the excess is sold. Again I say, self-sustainability is becoming reality.
On an unrelated topic- we made a decision yesterday to sponsor three more children. They are a family that came to the babies’ home together and will soon be moved to a children’s village. Lorenda has been involved with them since their arrival at the babies’ home and wants to be involved in their futures.
Are you sponsoring a child? For most of us $35 per month is very little, but it makes a huge difference in the future of a child here in Uganda. If you are interested in sponsoring a child, go on the website www.watoto.com and they can get you connected with a child who needs you!

Out Touring

Sorry- it has been a few days since the last update. We have been busy showing Mike and Tanya around Kampala and area. We are all tired by the time evening hits and we head to bed before 9:00- aren’t we just the party animals?!
On Friday we started working Mike and Tanya hard. Greg had Mike doing all kinds of things at the different Watoto sites around the city. Tanya was lugging little and “not so little” babies in and out of the babies’ home. She even got to hold Lorenda’s special little preemie for a few seconds until Lorenda stole her back!
On Saturday we finally got out to Suubi village- we have been trying to do that most weekends since we arrived. First we toured the woodworking shop and metal fabrication shop. In these shops they make furniture and other supplies for use in the Watoto homes, churches and other buildings. These shops are also part of the Watoto self-sustainability plan- they build items to be sold to other organizations.
Next we toured the goat farming operation. Currently they are milking 53 goats and produce enough milk to feed the babies in the baby home at Suubi. The long term goal is to produce enough milk to feed all the children in Suubi village (over 1200 children)- they have a little way yet to go to accomplish that goal.
We then toured the medical center in Suubi village. The clinic is very busy seeing about 40 children and adults from Suubi village each day. They also have a physiotherapist and a psychologist that are available to serve the village children and adults each week. Starting next week there will be a dentist in the clinic one day per week- this is going to be a great asset to the clinic and will save Watoto a lot of money.
Lorenda was already somewhat familiar with the medical building since she and three others spent some time there during our 2010 trip. When we arrived at the medical clinic in 2010, there was a room piled floor to ceiling with donated medical supplies from all over the world. It was a challenge to get them in order, but with three nurses (Darlene Toews, Kelly Picavet from Belgium and Lorenda) sorting and Donalda Rohde organizing, that room was ready to go in just a few hours. The room looks great now with six stretchers where they can admit short term patients. Lorenda mentioned to the nurse doing the tour that she had been there helping to organize. The nurse laughed and said she remembered that day well. Everything we do is for the Lord- even cleaning out overwhelming storage rooms.
Nothing can really prepare you for what an African Pentecostal Church will be like. We tried to explain it to Mike and Tanya before we went this morning, but it really does defy explanation. You have to experience it. Mike and Tanya enjoyed the service and are looking forward to going back next week. All of you should come and join us next week- that would be great!

Guests

We have our first overnight guests. Greg’s brother, Mike and his wife, Tanya arrived last night. After about 27 hours of travel, they arrived here on time with all their luggage- we are very thankful for that.
Their plane arrived at 10:15 PM and then of course we stayed up visiting so we didn’t get to bed until 1:00 AM. It was a short night when the alarm went off at 5:30 this morning.
We told Mike and Tanya they should stay at the apartment today and get some sleep. However, they are at that stage in exhaustion and jet lag where their bodies can’t figure out when it is time to sleep, eat, etc. So by noon, Mike was out working with Greg and getting a taste of traffic in Kampala. Tanya did manage to get a nap or two in before Lorenda got home and dragged her outside for a walk around the neighbourhood.
After supper and a short drive around our area of the city, Mike was done and crashed to bed by 7:30. Tanya fared a little better and managed to make it until 8:00. It was just two short months ago when we were going through that craziness. Waking up at 3:30 AM, wanting to fall asleep mid-afternoon and struggling to stay awake until 8:00. It really is an awful feeling! Please pray that they will get over the jet lag and get their bodies adjusted to life on this side of the planet in the very near future.

Snakes

I had a very important blog item to tell all of you about on Saturday and I forgot! We went over to our friends Randy and Judy’s house on Saturday. As we were standing in the living room, Judy tells me about the snake they had a few days before- a baby cobra. It was small and it was laying in the track of their sliding doors in their living room. When it was discovered, it coiled up and raised its head up- I don’t even want to think about it!

When we were leaving, I was standing by the vehicle waiting for Greg to unlock the doors. He was taking his time getting his tools in the back and rearranging things back there. I finally had to tell him to unlock the doors before I had a stroke standing beside the vehicle thinking about all the snakes that were in the grass watching me!

Now I am on the lookout for snakes everywhere!

Why are we here?

Sometimes when God sends you to another country, you think you know the reason you are going there. We came to Uganda so that Greg could mentor the maintenance team at Watoto Church and help them to get some projects done. Lorenda’s purpose wasn’t as definite, but she has found a place at the babies’ home. So that is why we are in Uganda- that is our purpose for being here. Or is it?

From the beginning (months before we actually arrived in Uganda), we have prayed that God would show us what we are to be doing here. Frequently since we have been here, we have prayed that God would reveal to us what He would have us to do each day. We know that our “main purpose” for being here is to serve the Lord at Watoto, but we also know that God always has a lot of little “surprises” if you are looking for them and are willing to be obedient when He calls you.

Like the other day when we went for a walk and had the opportunity to interact with all the children along the way. I don’t think we mentioned in the blog that the children asked us to teach them a song as we were walking down the street. So there we were, walking down the street singing “Jesus Loves Me” with our whole group of kids. Not part of our plan or purpose for coming to Uganda, but it was part of God’s plan!

Last week at our cell meeting, a young couple approached Greg and asked if we would be willing to mentor them. They are going to be married in December and when they found out that we had been married for nearly 30 years, they wanted to spend some time with us. We spent about 2 ½ hours telling them about our lives, our marriage and our kids. We shared the good and the bad. They were so very thankful that we would take the time to do that with them. Unfortunately, pre-marital classes/counseling is not something that is done in Uganda. It was such a privilege to sit and share honestly with this young couple and they assured us that the time was very helpful for them as well.

So once again, we ask why are we here? Please pray that we will continue to be open to the Lord’s leading and be willing to step out in obedience when He calls us to do something “out of the ordinary”.

What is the Lord asking you to do today in your corner of the world?  You don’t have to be in Africa to be used by God- He has a job for every one of us every single day, if we are willing to listen for His voice and be obedient. Tune in to God and find out what He is calling you to do today. Then send us an e-mail and tell us about it- we would love to hear what God is doing in your life.

What a Privilege

What a tremendous privilege it is to be here.
Many days are long and hectic- we are exhausted by the end of them, but there are so many rewards.
Lorenda has the privilege of helping to raise Uganda’s next generation of leaders. There really are no days that go by where she doesn’t have tears in her eyes at least once- when a child runs up to her with a hug and yells, “Mommy”, when a preemie comes in and starts to gain weight and then there are all the beautiful smiles that absolutely melt your heart.
Greg has the privilege of mentoring a team of amazing young men as they strive to learn and become more effective in the job they do. Recently, the team has received various comments complimenting them on the work they are doing. Teaching others the skills God has given you is such a rewarding experience.
We arrived back at our apartment earlier than usual today so we decided to go for a walk. We haven’t been doing enough walking around our neighbourhood- we need to get to know our neighbours. We left our apartment about 5:25 and started to walk. There is an elementary school near us that lets out at 5:30 and we passed by at just that time. Before long we had an entourage! It reminded me of the movie “The Santa Clause” where all the children would line up to talk to Tim Allen. We walked along chatting with all the boys and girls- learning their names and their interests. That is why we are here- because of the people. When we came to the point in the road where we had to part ways, the children waved and yelled, “We will miss you.”
As we were saying good-bye to those children, another little girl (4 or 5 years old) runs up to Lorenda and asks, “What’s your name?” She wanted a high five and a hug, then she was on her way again. Her mom was standing a little way down the road waiting for her with a big, beautiful Ugandan smile on her face. Most of the kids love Mzungu and want to be able to chat or get a hug. What a privilege to walk down the street and get that kind of reception. We just may go for a walk everyday at 5:25 (or at least every school day).

Babies

Psalm 139:13-16
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Babies really are amazing little things (and we have some pretty little ones). I’m not sure how someone can look at a baby and not believe that God created that little person.

It amazes me how well babies here do, even when they are very tiny. In North America we spend millions of dollars saving premature babies, but here they do it so much more simply. Please don’t think that I am saying we shouldn’t spend that money in North America- that is not at all what I am saying. I am just amazed at how well babies do here with very little equipment. And of course, I am aware that not all of the preemies here do well. The neonate and infant mortality rates here are much higher than we would ever view as acceptable.
However, today we got a little preemie that was hypothermic (low body temperature). She was in an isolette, but still needed more warmth so the nurse filled a latex glove with warm water and tucked it in next to the baby. They do so much with the resources that they have available.
One of the babies was admitted to Watoto with a weight of 880 grams (not sure of the birth weight). It is amazing to me that the child has done so very well and in quite a short period of time. When I see children like that I wonder what God has in store for that child. He has saved them and I always stand there and wonder what God has for this child. It makes me think that God must have chosen to have this child live because He has something big for this child to do in his lifetime! Of course I won’t know that until I get to heaven.

PS
I have a little story to tell you about my two favourite babies- my grandchildren. My daughter commented to her daughter (who is almost 2 years old) that she needed to get her bangs cut soon. My grandson (who is nearly 5 years old) overheard this and you guessed it- he decided to look after this task. He took out the haircutting scissors, used a comb and did quite a job on his sister's hair. He wanted to make her "pretty like a My Little Pony". If you have her on Facebook, you can check out the video there!

What's Normal?

There was a book that came out several years ago called “Normal is a Setting on Your Dryer.” That really is very true! The things that have become “normal” to us here would be considered very bizarre at home.
Yesterday on the way to church we had to wait for a herd of about ten cattle. They have huge horns that would really hurt you or your vehicle if they decided to use them on you. There were two men using sticks to herd them along a fairly busy street. We just waited for them to get by and we carried on our way to church. Neither of us even commented on it- Normal!
After church we came home to find our neighbour’s goats grazing in the lot right behind our apartment. All afternoon we could hear the goats (all seven of them) “chatting” with each other. Normal!
Traffic that once seemed very ridiculous to us has also become normal. Cars and trucks intermingled with bodas (that scratch your vehicle as they go by), bicycles, and pedestrians. No clear cut lanes- just make your own way. What once seemed like chaos has now become normal to us. Scary! Greg will not be allowed to drive when we arrive back in Canada- he would have 50 traffic tickets in the first day. He will have to be a passenger for a while until he gets the Uganda driving feeling out of his system!
We went shopping yesterday and forgot that we were running low on toilet paper. We both laughed and said, “We can pick it up tomorrow on the way home from work.” In Canada when you say that, it means that you will stop at a store on the way to your home. In Uganda, it means that while you are sitting stuck in traffic, somebody will come buy selling toilet paper and you can make a deal right through your car window. Unfortunately, we didn’t get stuck in traffic by the toilet paper guy today so we will have to try again tomorrow. Normal!
For those of you who have never been to Uganda, you can buy just about anything while you are sitting in traffic: newspapers, phone cards, shoes, fly swatters, booster cables, car floor mats, mosquito nets, floating rings and animals (kids’ pool toys), toilet paper, steering wheel covers, belts, ties, hats, pretty much any clothing, umbrellas, all kinds of fruit, eggs, sunglasses, toys, peanuts, maps, pictures of the pope- really, anything someone can carry, you can buy in the traffic jam.
Goats, cattle, chickens, naked kids, people selling stuff have all become familiar and “normal” sites for us now. Often we really don’t even notice anymore. However, we have family coming from Canada in nine days and none of this will be normal for them- as they point things out and comment on them, we will start to notice them again!

Watoto choir

Two weeks ago the Watoto Choir was at our home church. Several people have told us how wonderful the concert was.
Seeing the choir about five or six years ago was our first exposure to the Watoto organization. After that concert we started sponsoring a child and a mother in the Watoto organization, participated on two building teams and now here we are! The choirs travel the world as ambassadors for the organization. They were our “entry point” and are a very important part of the organization so we thought we would talk about them in today’s blog.
When we talk about “The Watoto Choir”, it makes it sound as if there is only one. In reality there have been 61 different Watoto choirs that have gone out touring different parts of the world and choir number 62 is currently practicing in preparation for a tour to Australia.
Many Watoto children have the opportunity to see a part of the world as they travel with a choir. Children only participate in choir one time and no one is required to participate if they don’t want to. Some of the adults that accompany the choirs do go on multiple trips- we have met a few people who have been on tour five times.

Prior to going out on tour, a choir prepares by practicing hard for six months. The children are taught the entire program that they will be performing. In addition, the children are taught what the expectations are as far as behaviour while they are on tour and staying in people’s homes. In a meeting a few weeks ago, Marilyn Skinner talked about this. She stated that in the past some people have said, “Oh, you shouldn’t be so hard on them. They are orphans.” Marilyn’s answer to them was, “Someday our children may be in the presence of the queen or the president of the United States. They need to know what is expected of them.” To date, Watoto choirs have performed for the Queen twice and for three different US presidents. There is a picture hanging in Watoto Central of a Watoto choir having juice and cookies in the White House with the US president.
As we stated, choir number 62 is currently practicing at Watoto Central and will be heading in Australia to minister to people there and raise awareness for the Watoto organization. Although we have absolutely loved every Watoto choir we have seen, choir number 62 is our very favourite! We know that we shouldn’t pick favourites, but the boy we sponsor (Richard) is a member of this choir. This has been a huge blessing in so many ways. First off, Greg gets to see Richard on a nearly daily basis and has been able to get to know him a little better. Lorenda finally got to see him last Thursday- wow, he has grown so much taller in just one year!
Another way that choir 62 has been such a huge blessing to us is by showing us what it has done in Richard’s life. Like all Watoto children, he has a story that none of us in North America can even imagine. When we met him last year, he was very shy and withdrawn. His Watoto mom described him as a child who keeps to himself and has difficulty trusting. Watching him singing, dancing and drumming with the choir brings tears to our eyes. Being part of the choir has brought him out of his shell and has given him such confidence.
Next time you have the privilege of seeing a Watoto choir, sit back and enjoy the amazing singing, dancing and personal stories. We also encourage you to think about the difference the choir experience is making in the lives of each of those children and then stop for a moment and thank God for what He is doing in those young lives.

Interesting things

Well, Lorenda finally did it. She drove to our cell (small group) last night. It really wasn’t very exciting- it is about 600 metres away on roads where we met only one vehicle. It really didn’t even feel like driving on the wrong side of the road because the road is so narrow and there is only room for one vehicle. She has a meeting tomorrow night at a home a little further away, but still in our area. We’ll see how brave she gets.
There have been several girls at the babies’ home who have gotten married recently or will be getting married in the near future so we thought it would be fun to talk about what weddings are like here.
Believe me, we are no experts on this subject so we will just tell you what we have learned and observed. We apologize in advance for any inaccuracies.
Most weddings still seem to be very traditional. The groom pays the bride's family in livestock and/or money so that he can marry her. One woman said to me today, “He needs to buy me.” I think our sons-in-law need to read that- they got off much too easily!
Prior to the wedding there is a Presentation of the Bride (I’m not sure is presentation is the right word or not, we have heard it referred to in that way). This is the official notification that this man plans to wed this woman. When Judith and Apollo got married, this was held one week prior to the wedding. It is a very large affair with hundreds of people in attendance. Judith and her attendants wore beautiful, colorful saris for this occasion. The girls all get their hair and make up done and look gorgeous. There is a huge meal and the event lasts for several hours (I forget exactly how long).
I didn’t mention the wedding invitations. When they are sent out, there is also a wedding budget that is sent out at the same time to all who are invited. This describes all the costs associated with the wedding and states what the cost of each individual item is. People then pledge/give money to help cover the costs of the wedding. Both wedding budgets I have seen included the cost of a 15-tier wedding cake. I have not seen pictures, but I would like to know what a 15-tier wedding cake looks like.
Often the wedding parties are quite large. The photos I saw recently had 9 bridesmaids (that’s not what they call them though), 2 junior bridesmaids (don’t know what they are called) and a flower girl (not sure if that is the right name). The bride’s dress is much like they are in North America- big, beautiful and white.
Many of the males (unmarried) that we have spoken to think it is time to stop with the traditional weddings and go with something smaller and simpler. However, all the unmarried women are still dreaming about that big, beautiful day of theirs so I think the traditional wedding will be around for a while yet.
We have not attended any weddings yet, but if we do, we will be sure to post pictures.

GPS (no that does not mean Gregory Philip Selinger)

We are starting to feel like our days are becoming very routine and it is hard to know what to tell you about. We leave our apartment between 6:30 and 6:45 am to try to avoid the morning traffic. We try to get out of work at the end of the day before the jam starts at 5:00. If we are successful, we get back to the apartment between 5:30 and 6:00. If we get caught in the jam, we usually get back by 6:30 to 7:00, but sometimes the jam is really bad and you just sit until whenever!
Lorenda has started leaving the babies’ home at 3:30 and walking to Watoto Central to meet Greg. The walk is only uphill for the first part, then downhill and finally flat (hooray- something familiar, flat land). That helps us to be able to get out of the busiest traffic area sooner. Today we decided to take a new route home- sometimes things work out and other times, well… We were literally driving in circles (and not in a traffic circle) at one point! The GPS would tell us one thing and we would do something else so it would take us back there for another try at it.
Have we talked about the GPS yet? Before leaving home, Greg purchased a map for Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, maybe Ethiopia, as well. Lorenda thought it was a ridiculous purchase that would be of no help. Turns out, she needed to eat some humble pie and tell Greg how it was the best purchase he has ever made. That little Garmin GPS from Costco knows every back alley and dirt trail in Kampala! It frequently says, “Driving on unpaved road” because there are a lot of those here. Shocking how well the thing works- it certainly has made driving a lot less stressful than it would have been.
Speaking of driving, Lorenda has not got up the courage to try driving in this city yet. Our cell (small group) meets about 600 meters from our apartment (400 if we walked and cut across the field) so the plan is that she will drive there tomorrow night. Some of you probably think that we are very lazy that we can’t walk to our cell. No- we are not that lazy, we actually do a lot of walking, but it is not safe for Mzungu to be out walking at night, even in a neighbourhood like ours that is relatively safe. We are just not prepared to take any unnecessary chances so it will be a driver training lesson instead!
We’ll let you know how the driving goes!