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Published: July 17th 2008
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Hey, the power has been out for days. Not complete days, just several hours multiple times through out the day. When the power goes out and eventually comes back on, the Internet structure seems to be affected.
I also have been traveling. I went back to Kamzinda farms, and Masaka. I love it there. I got to go and see the pigs, and cows again. I actually got to go into the store this time. The computers were up and running. I asked how was that possible considering the power had been out for hours. They said the generator was running off the methane tank to power the computers. I love the sustainability. Some of the ox had been given to the local farmers and the carts for plowing the fields.
I had my first boda boda ride (motorcycle.). It wasn't as bad as I thought. There were no helmets for us, and he went really fast dodging pot holes on a dirt road. About 60mph or so. I would do it again, if I had to. I was impressed with how in control of their bike they are. The passengers just sit on the back no leaning or
directions, and the driver maneuvers all around.
The Ireland team was getting ready to leave. SO the choir sang and danced for them. The choir so good. I am hoping to bring them to the US this winter, November/December. The Ireland team had been out giving food with the local pastor to elderly and shut ins. They stopped at this really old mans house and he was so thankful. HE was trying to get into a shack. They assumed it was his house. So they proceeded to try and help this man open his door that he must of locked by accident. Then they saw fingers emerged form under the door. The guys ripped the door off and there was a child inside this coal shack. It was the old mans grandson, his daughter, who is emotionally disturbed, had locked the boy in the shack a few days before, so he was in there with no food or water. He had sores on his head and feet. The boy was a special needs child. They left and went to the police and the courts. In a matter of two days, they found a special needs school for the boy
to live at, and Uncle Paul said during school holiday the boy could go to Kamzinda where his mother could come and visit if she choose to.
When they went back, the mother was in completer agreement with the plan. You know, you come to Africa to help, and all of us volunteering definitely help, but to actually save a child's life, physically, is so amazing.
When I got back from Masaka, I asked Molly, Molly and Paul's youngest daughter, how she was feeling. She had come home because she was due to give birth anytime, so she needed to be near the hospital. She stressed me out. She had been having contractions, and water was leaking. I thought she needed to go to the hospital. I gave her my watch and told her if the contractions were 5mins. Apart we had to go. She said OK. So about 5 in the morning on Thursday they went. What a sweet baby. Chantel. I went to the hospital the next day to bring Molly and the baby home. What an experience. It was one of the nicest hospitals in the Kampala area. It was just a room with a bed
all of us at the nile
l-r: John the driver, Christine, Betty, Me, Alex, and Mary in it. No sheets, no blanket. No cup, or drinks. She needed to bring what ever she needed. Hot water for tea. The works. I asked about the labor and delivery. No machines to monitor the baby or the heart beat. No pain medication. Good old fashion, all natural child birth.
Mary is back from Peter K. She leaves on Tuesday for America. We played an African card game. I had a hard time learning. I am not sure, but I think they kept changing the rules. Some of them were confused.
Saturday we went to Jinja, to see the Nile river. Uncle sent me and Mary with the driver. So we asked if Betty, and Alex and Christine could come with us. What a great day. We saw the river that baby Moses was saved from, the river that gave water to Joseph, Mary,and Jesus while in exile in Egypt. I was moved by the experience. While I was still soaking it all up, Betty started a water fight. We were in the Nile river up to our ankles, splashing water at each other. I lover her fun adventuresome spirit. We hired a boat for the six of
us and it cost about $30usd total. We sailed about 1.5hrs. We saw the actual source of the Nile river. Most believe its Lake Victoria, but its actually a naturally occurring spring near the edge of the Lake. The poor driver was stuck shlumping after us. I felt bad, I think he was told to make sure Mary and I were safe and secure, and instead we are in the water, climbing rocks. We went shopping at some stalls at the Nile, he held all our purchases. He is definitely a man, he asked Christine, how long Mary and I were going to shop and not buy. We were buying, just there was more shopping than buying.
We went across the river and saw the falls, and the world famous bungee jump into the Nile. We were looking at doing it, but it started to rains so they closed down. It surprisingly wasn't that high up.
We had lunch at this amazing European restaurant. Betty ordered a whole fish, and I mean whole. Fin to Mouth was on the plate. You dig in through the skin and eat away. She shared near the end when she thought she wasn't
going to finish. We were all teasing her because of how big it was.
On the way home we stopped in Kampala to buy a thank you/ goodbye cake for the family. They loved it. Mary and I gave thank you speeches.
The next morning Mary and I went to the English service at church. It was really good. About if you are a believer then the bible has all the answers you need. God is the supplier of all your needs. And Christian business owners need to be thanking God daily for his blessing in the business and to pray before making any decisions. Keeping God daily involved in your life regardless of were you work. Because ultimately you are working for God.
Cliff brought us to the Kasubi tombs after church. It is were the Bogandan king gets buried. There are 3 kings buried their right now. People actually still live at the tombs to keep the place up. It is in the city, but you can tell when they originally built them it was a quite secluded place. I loved the huts. Made of bamboo and thatched roofs. It was great.
Because the two
Kasabi Tombs, inside
L-R: John the driver, Cliff the youngest boy, Mary, and Me of us only had a few days left we decided to make supper for the family. We were going to make an American meal but it more difficult than you would think given that it over an open bed of coals, and meat is very expensive. So we decided to make Indian rice, Mary is from India, and Indian chicken which was all sauced and post slaughter. The family was amazed by the chicken. They asked how we knew that the chicken hadn't been tampered with. We just laughed. So we grilled the chicken, actually Cliff being a guy, did most of the grilling. Mary and I cut the vegetable and cooked the rice. Wicked good food. We bought chocolate balls for dessert. I being a women who has cooked a many of meals looked at all the food and asked Uncle if we could invite his two adopted daughters who live at the school over for supper as well. We had so much fun. There were 14 people all eating and talking. Then when supper was over we took out the drums and started dancing and singing for the next 3hrs. We worshiped, and sang silly songs,and made up
Cooking supper
Me, Mary and Rogers, one of the sons song, some in English, so in Lugandan, and so Jamaican man. I have video as well as pictures, the video is amazing thought. Be home soon. Love you all- Kim
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