Uganda

05.03.2014

• Tea in the lobby this morning - met Davie, Scottish guy who is working as a guide here - had breakfast on the road in the back of a large tour truck - Spanish couple traveling by motorcycle for two years all over Europe, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, and now Africa - Waka, Japanese woman visiting friends here
• Drove through rural area and beautiful forests - arrived at a steep slope with steps leading down to the river - here is our departure point for a day of whitewater rafting on the River Nile - boats onto launch ramps and filled - walked down - helmets and life jackets on - practices maneuvers and discussed safety - off down the river
• Class 5 rapids - flipped on the next rapids but didn't fall out - finally flipped the boat and we all went for a swim - kayak guys around to help - long stretches in between - great workout - chatted about travel and lives - snack of fresh pineapple - another set of rapids - great fun - wished there was more and bigger - guess I am addicted - swam for a while at the end - floating down the Nile - such a dream - out and up to a building to have lunch - great beans, veggie curry - long drive home trying not to fall asleep - kids waving hello - back over the new dam where we were informed not to take photos - great day
• Back home to rest and try to use email until the power goes out in a thunder and wind storm.... 

06.03.2014

• Up and packed – shower – boda boda with Molly downtown – went to The Keep – breakfast – met woman who was hosting dentists at orphanage – lovely food with extras because they forgot my order – wandered around town – long walk through shops – boys flirting with Molly and me pretending to be her boyfriend – we are each other’s beards – grabbed drinks and boda boda back to hostel
• Checked emails and such then boda bodas back downtown – singing in the lobby – minibus taxi to Kampala – reading a bit from Molly’s book – Father Andrew called from Jinja just behind me – had come to find me and we were now in different taxis on the way to Kampala
• Arrived at sunset – said goodbye to Molly – taxi to try to get bus ticket before meeting Father Andrew at Christ the King church – introduced by Bob and Deborah – history – sat for a drink – walked to get taxi home – about 45 minute ride in evening traffic –
• Arrived at home of Elias and Lydia – son Joshua is 3 – relaxed and watched TV – dinner – such a sweet family – Elias head teacher at a renowned school in Kampala – shower and bed – so tired
• HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEVIN SKIENA AND MARLEY MAGEE – Marley shaved her head to donate her hair – I have a 13 year old hero

07.03.2014

• Up and breakfast – drive with Lydia and Joshua to doctor – they aren’t feeling too well – stopped by _____ Garden (means Peace Garden) to see ____ and his friends whom Father Andrew is mentoring for a social enterprise project training youth to raise chickens – drove into town – left Lydia and Joshua at hospital and caught a taxi into town – got me a bus ticket to Rwanda for Sunday – said goodbye to ____
• Father Andrew and I got another taxi out of Kampala toward Masaka – long drive with delays for road construction – great to see countryside – people selling items to us when we stopped – reached our destination: the equator! My first time straddling the northern and southern hemispheres – buckets to pour water and watch them swirl in different directions on different sides of the line – walked through shops – took photos of each other – taxi back to town
• Back in Kampala met up with his friends, Henry and Michael, at a café terrace – talked about what Americans can do for Uganda – tell the real story of what people need and bring investment and oversight to avoid corruption – Henry got his MBA in the USA, Michael his in Japan, Father Andrew lived in London and a short list of African countries – all have a variety of world perspectives – Henry and Michael working on projects to promote small scale agricultural development for rural families – promoting a coffee product and training famers – told me about how the government killed the cooperative farming sector – talked about different agricultural innovations from various countries related to food security and economic development – Henry also a practitioner of transcendental meditation – teaches it to students, trauma victims, business leaders – such an amazing group of men – took photos and exchanged emails –
• Stopped at an internet café – friend coming to see me in Rwanda – notes home to say I am ok – said goodbye to guys and took a long taxi home – run to the store with Elias – played soccer in the house with Joshua and finally made friends – great to be playful and hear the laughter of a child – nothing sweeter in all the world – had great dinner – watched some TV – played more with Joshua – went to bed – such a long day but so happy to be with great people

08.03.2014

• Up early – breakfast – goodbyes to the family – trying to marry me off to sister – drive to Elias’ school – read a book about counseling youth – sexuality – met his right hand woman, deputy head teacher, nun – off again
• Grabbed a taxi into Kampala center – met up with _____ - went back to café – met Henry who gave me bags of _____ coffee – said goodbyes and walked down to taxi rink where Fr. Andrew and I negotiated for a ride to Masaka – lots of traffic – what should take less than two hours took us more than 3 – taxi took side roads and got lost a bit – finally on the way and making good speed
• Arrived – first stop to see his sister at her home – grandmothers who have been left to take care of their grandchildren – most parents had died from complications related to HIV/AIDS – widows – support each other in the community to care for children – school funds – no govt support – small support to buy livestock for income generating – lots of photos
• Took the car and drove out to the parish – wedding – found our place to stay – laughing that I am staying in a Catholic church my last night in Uganda – wonderful Fathers – took lunch with Lucy and asked what kind of beer I want with dinner
• Took the car out to Fr. Andrew’s family home – drove through beautiful hills and backroads through banana orchards and papyrus fields – stopped to take photos of the church he atteneded as a child and the school where started primary one – stopped at the nursery building he opened nearby where a small girl peeked out of the doorway – put her in the car and drove the rest of the way down the road to Fr. Andrew’s home – parent’s house – they are buried out front – now a space for orphaned and at risk children – people who are there to take care of them and help provide food and education – kids surrounded me but were mostly shy to talk – gave them my camera to play with and they were well distracted – one boy acting as master photographer lining up shots – went into the house and met lifelong family friends – Fr. Andrew’s new game of having people guess my age – 18! I guessed him young too at 71 when he will actually be 80 soon – food with chilies – spent time chatting and playing with kids and then we were off
• Stopped at a few homes to see people – kids waving and yelling, “Hello Muzuko (white person)!” Stopped at house of Fr. Andrew’s brother – met nieces and their kids – little girl who just kept her hand on mine for the longest time – more food – caught up on family life – more photos outside – drove his niece home – boy in the backseat talking to me nonstop in Luganda – very sweet – showing me where the moon in – such a sweet moment
• Home to parish – time for dinner – ate with Lucy and four other Priests – food included mashed white ants – a little crunchy but actually light and tasty – talked about many things – many have worked or studied all over the world – retired to TV room after dinner and talked more – one had a PhD in Theology from Cambridge – another talked about being installed in a church two days before war broke out in 1979 and the friends he lost as he fled the area and as fighting spread in the following months – 
• Back to my room for a shower before bed – giggled that my room has a box of “Climax, Exotic Air Freshener” in the bathroom with “Forest Fruit” scent – too good. 

09.03.2014

• up and ready for church - service in Luganda - Fr. Andrew did the service - talked with boys after, some of whom Fr. Andrew had worked with for years - breakfast with Fr. - talked for a while - packed to go
• Waited for bus - thanked Fr. Andrew - reflect
• Long bus ride through the countryside - rain - hills - guy from Kigali - border to Rwanda - 
• arrived late - taxi to hostel - met up with Robyn from Kisumu (come Seattle) - out to dinner at Magda Cafe - talked and relaxed - bed early