Strange and Unusual

We have discovered in a very short time that most things don't work or happen the same in Uganda as they do at home. We've made a little list of things we've done or experienced here that would never happen at home. 

-- We answer to different names here. At the babies' home we soon realized our names were impossible for many of the staff to pronounce. We are now known as Sherry and Maureen. 

-- Each baby has two names that are often used interchangeably - one is Ugandan and one is English. Distinguishing one child from another has been a challenge.  After being here for two weeks we still couldn't tell Mark and Anatole apart. We then discovered he is the same boy. 

-- When crossing the street look neither to the left or to the right. Just find a Ugandan who is crossing the street and stay on their heels like your life depends on it - which, in fact it does. 

-- In Jinja we used a toilet that was flush with the floor. 

-- We frequently hear the whistles of traffic cops, especially during busy times ( which means busier than the usual busy). 

-- Many things are more complicated and time-consuming here. Like brushing your teeth and trying to remember not to use the tap water, trying to use our already-challenging communication devices and getting the mosquito net in place before settling for the night. 

-- In the afternoons the infants lie outside under a thatched shelter. It always seems strange to us to see the hens and roosters strutting around right beside them. 

Ahhh Africa!  It's an amazing journey. 

Jinja

Today we took a day trip to Jinja, the second-largest city in Uganda. It has a much different atmosphere tha Kampala - quieter, less chaotic. 

Just before we reached Jinja, we stopped for a boat ride in Lake Victoria, which is the second-largest fresh water lake in the world.  It was very peaceful and gave us a great opportunity to enjoy some of God's amazing creation -  many varieties of birds, monkeys, lizards (about 2 feet long), as well as the beautiful trees on the banks.  We rode to the source of the Nile River where we could actually see the current where the water flows out of the lake to become the White Nile. It 

flows for 90 days until it empties into the Mediterranean Sea. 

We then went into the town where we had an amazing experience to remind us that this is where God wants us to be.  A few years ago both Cheryl and I had read the book, "Kisses from Katie".  It is written by Katie Davis, a young women who came to Uganda from the US and began caring for orphans in the Jinja area. She ended up moving here permanently and adopted 13 girls.  She has started a ministry called Amazima Ministries which operates a sponsorship program for 700 orphaned children, provides a meal each weekday to 1200 people and is planning to open a school. The book had been used to plant seeds of interest in coming to Uganda for both of us. 

While we didn't meet Katie we were surprised to just "happen upon" the office for the ministry when we went to use a washroom off the courtyard behind the cafe where we were having lunch. We were able to chat with the fellow (who happens to be Canadian) in the office and learn about what Amazima does.  It's amazing to see how this journey is unfolding bit by bit. 

Wet and Wild

This was a fun and exciting day for the older children at Sanyu. And for us too. We packed 14 (max capacity) adults into a taxi van and 12 of us were holding a child.  (Two other children went in a private car.)  We then embarked on a 45-min. sardine-like drive with no air conditioning. We were human car seats wearing no seat belts. There are definitely different safety standards here on many levels. 

During the trip the children were very quiet and  the most well-behaved we've seen them since we arrived - like they were wary about what was happening. 

We safely reached our destination, a play centre with a pool. While trying to entertain and contain them for about an hour while the pool was cleaned, Cheryl and I got a head start on the wet portion of the outing as the sweat began dripping from every pore - pretty much a daily occurrence. 

Finally we were all able to get into the pool and what fun we all had (except for one or two).   It was nice to be able to spend time focused only on one child doing a fun activity.  And nice to be able to spend a bit I social time with the staff. 

After a catered picnic lunch the sardine packing began again. The trip "home" was another quiet ride as most of us held a sleeping child on our laps. 

We are all grateful to the father of a volunteer who is here from the UK for the special outing he provided. 

Rescued

Today was a day of mixed emotions.  We were able to talk to Barbara, the administrator, this morning about what we have in mind for providing some education to the staff regarding hygiene and safety issues we've identified. Barbara is a wonderful, hardworking lady who lives out the mission of Sanyu Babies' Home by "providing Christ-like love" to the children by using the gifts she has been blessed with. We were pleased that our thoughts and ideas were well received and pray we will be able to implement them in a way that will have a lasting impact. 

This afternoon the nurse on duty called me in from outside to inform me that Florence, the 3-week-old baby whose weight and feedings I've been monitoring would be "graduating" to join the bigger infants in a room of 10.  She's been feeding well and slowly gaining weight. However, the reason for the move was that her crib in "isolation" would be needed for a new arrival. 

We were thrilled that they allowed us to be part of the admission process for wee Joselyn.  She is a very bright newborn who was found abandoned.  It was a teary time for us as we got to hold, snuggle, and pray for this precious new life--tears of sadness that this dear child had been unwanted and discarded but tears of joy that she had been rescued and can now be cared for at Sanyu.  And Cheryl was blessed to feed her her first bottle. 

We wonder what plans God has for this sweet girl. 

Moving Day

The big news for us today is our upgraded accommodations. We moved out of our shoebox into a much more spacious room.  

I know all you folks in NB don't want to hear this, but the heat has sucked the energy out of us today.  So this is a short post as we are crawling under our mosquito nets, lying in front of our fans and trying to get some shut-eye a little earlier tonight. 

Bath Time

It was a wild time at bath time tonight. Picture Cheryl and I kneeling over two wet and naked two-year-olds who are wiggling all over a mat on the floor while we try to dry them off and wrestle them into their nappies and night clothes. 

The task was already challenging enough when suddenly a four- year-old jumped on my back like a monkey. I knew it must look funny so turned to tell Cheryl to look at the situation I was in. When I did, I discovered she wouldn't be able to see a thing until she removed the towel that had been place over her head like a veil by another toddler. 

These are the moments that bring us joy and laughter. 

Weekend Activities

After devotions and helping the mamas get the day started with the babies yesterday we set out on a trip to the equator. It was about a 2-hour drive with a driver that Laura Bonney arranged for us. Another gal (Jodi) staying here at the guesthouse joined us. 

We started out making the slow exit from Kampala through bumper-to-bumper traffic. The rest of the drive was through rural areas that made us feel like we were in an African documentary - people carrying large, high loads on their heads and shoulders, solitary cattle on the roadside, 3-4 foot high anthills, goats, huge loads of produce being transported by motorcycle or bicycle. 

It was pretty neat to be at the equator and be able to just step into the Southern Hemisphere. They even demonstrated the different direction that the water goes down the drain. 

Once we got back to Kampala we dropped Jodi off. Cheryl and I went to shopping centre to pick up a few things. It was strange to be on our own to figure out how to. find what we needed but we we're quit proud of ou accomplishment.  Then we went to the home if Laura Bonney and Ruth Haynes who live here as long-term missionaries. It was a nice treat to enjoy their warm hospitality. We spent the night there where we each had our own room. Quite different than having to coordinate our movements around 7x11 room at the guesthouse. 

This morning we attended Watoto church. It is the church associated with the African children's choir that has toured in Canada. 

Cheryl and her husband hosted some choir members a few years ago and were very touched by them.  Attending the service this morning was the fulfillment of a dream Cheryl has had since that time.  

It was amazing to be among more than  5000 people singing and worshiping together. 

Back to the babies home in time to help with the evening "routine" and enjoy some goodnight hugs and cuddles.