NicolesLetters.org

Well I finally make it to Uganda, after a few days and nights of flying with two days in London. London was great, we went to Picadilly Circus (it’s like Times Square), The Covent Garden, Chinatown, Big Ben, Tower of London, and London Bridge (which isn’t the bridge you think of when you think of London, that’s the Tower Bridge). We had a fun couple of days there and then took the red-eye to Entebbee. Before we left, I had to pick up the bag that the airline had lost. They are both bright Orange (Go Beavers!). We arrived into Entebbee airport and Pastor Steven (founder of the orphanage/home) along with five other staff members were there from “The Home”. They had two vehicles, one minivan type car which I was in along with three other from the group, Pastor Steven, Jerrard (the driver), Silvia (Pastor Steven’s daughter) and Grace (Secretary at the home). Not to mention all of our luggage. Michele, Andy and two other staff were in the Toyota Carolla (Pastor Gabriel’s car). We left the airport, had to go through Kampala.

Kampala is a busy place, the traffic was really bad in some areas. Everything is on the road, busses, cars, bikes, motos, etc. A minivan hit the Carolla with the others in it. Luckily traffic wasn’t moving at all, it was more like the minivan stuck the front end into the side of the carolla and dragged it along the side of the car. Have no fear, Pastor Gabriel cooly got out of his car, walked through the traffic up a few cars by now and talked to the minivan driver and the police came over. We all went to lunch while Pastor Steven got another car to take us to the hotel. We tried to exchange money at the bank, Andy had a bad rate because he was converting 20’s instead of $100 bills. He was the only one that changed money at that time because Adrienne tried also but they wanted to give her a bad rate also because her $100 bill was printed before the year 2000.

Sitting in traffic was a little rough. It’s hot here and were were all still dressed for London since we took the red-eye in. Jeans, sweaters, long socks, etc. Remember I mentioned that there were people on bikes on the main roads? Well they wind through traffic when it’s slow and one man tried to go in front of our minivan and our driver didn’t see him and ran over his toe. We stopped and the guy said “hey!” Steve looked out the window and said the tire was on this guy’s foot. yikes! We make it to Kampala after all of that and checked in at the hotel.

Pastor Steven came back to get us to go to the school/home. As we made our way in the minivan down the last dirt road before arriving at the school you could tell the roads had been washed out a little from all of the rain this year. The school/home, “The Home” they call it, is shaped in a U with an open yard on one end, the church, the classrooms and dormitories on the other sides. There were about 180 children there today, as the other about 400 come in only during the week for school, they live in the surrounding areas. All of the kids are dressed in pink or blue, no difference in color for the boys or girls. Sometimes it’s hard to tell boy or girl since they all shave their hair also.

We got out of the van and it was obvious that the children weren’t quite sure what to do. Some hung around as if to inquire about us, others went back to playing or whatever they were doing before. After a bit they called all the kids together and Pastor Steven gave a little introduction about us. The kids started clapping in a rythm. It was quite memorable to see all 180 kids in an area, excited to see us. After that, we walked around and talked to the kids. Introduced ourselves. Their English is okay but most can’t understand much beyond, “What’s your name”. We also have a different accent from what they are used to and I have to remember to speak slowly.

As I walked around to see the school rooms and dormitories I met a girl, Angel. She’s my new friend. She’s about 10 and after I met her as I went to other parts of the school grounds I always found her looking at me so I’d wave across the grounds to her. She would always end up near me. I talked with her a while. I felt a connection with her. As most of you know, I have a picture framed inside my house from last year’s fundraiser from when Jim and Andy came here. I am pretty sure it is Angel in that picture. I have to find out for sure.

Some of the children and happy some not. I have noticed already that the girls are migrating towards us women and the boys to the men. The girls love to have their picture taken. Since I have a digital camera, after I took their pictures, I would show them. They LOVED it! They would say, “Now me, now her”. “Let me see”. “Let me see”. There was another little girl that really stands out, she is the only one I was with her ears pierced and she ran up one time and just grabbed my hand to hold it. It was so sweet. I’m running out of time, so I have to wrap this up. Hope all is well at home.

» Next Day