Bricks, Mud, Fashion & Fun

This Morning we all rolled out of bed and started on a high with Juliet cooking up a storm of our new favourite food Mandazi. We were able to get our two guests for the night onto the best food on the planet too. Breakfast was not complete without the mild natural laxative of pineapple. Also, next team that comes you have to bring your best as Juliet said we are such a great group and the best she had and always laughing, dancing, singing and embracing the culture.

After a solid feed we got straight into it. Bricklaying in the rain with our best Ugandan mates. We were first used as labourers to carry all bricks and 50kg bags of cement while the workers stood around like garden gnomes. After prepping and getting ready it was time to lay some bricks. The wall is just structurally sound and more bendy than a banana. Definitely complying with Australian standards. They used little trowels that weren’t the strongest and a plumb line to check the walls every so often. It all felt like a long day and was very hard to watch (do not zoom in on the photos as it is very quality) – Ben

After what felt like a lifetime it was time to come home for lunch. We have the greatest cook here with us. We came home to the smell of fresh bread made by Juliet with eggs and salad and passionfruit. We then went back on a little mission to give our work boots and clothes to the workers as it was our last day working on the wall. On the way we bumped into one of our drivers (William). This big African man has sweetest heart and always driving us around town to get the best mandazi and chapatti. We gave him a pair of boots some socks and some garden gloves which might just fit his big hands and he reassured they will be getting good use when he gets even more swole at the gym. The walk there to the workers was filled with waving and chatting to the locals. We then had to rush back for the next adventure of the day.

We then headed to YSU (Youth Support Uganda) to see all the hard work the girls do in their fashion and design course. They welcomed us there with some volleyball and then went inside for an even bigger welcome dance by the girls. They kept whipping out heaps of dances for us which was wicked. Half way through the dance the girls grabbed us and pulled us in. We got to dance with the ladies and it was so much fun. We got to use it as a warm up before we taught them the Nutbush. This was accompanied by the girl doing a fashion show to show off all the pieces they made so far this year. Andrew struggled to figure out the difference between spaghetti straps, low back and strapless dresses. We then got our own clothing hand made by the girls. We  then showed them off with our own fashion show and they frothed it. They even thought we strutted better than they did ( boys can strut and move their hips).  They even said to Andrew  “ Pastor Andrew your team has vibe.” Surprisingly us boys were the stand out and were the best at moving our body. The ladies were loving it. We then had one car to get home in so we did two trips. The lads stayed longer and played musical chairs with the kids and spent so much time laughing. The hips are definitely warmed up and Ben got distracted dancing with the mummas as kids were zooming around the room to the music of musical chairs. Us mzungus really suck at this game and would always loose to the Mudagavu (Ugandans) as they were just too fast.

Last stop was home to have a shower and some much needed rest after so much sweating and dancing. Dinner was roast potatoes and veggies and it absolutely slapped (a slapperchino). We all were rocking our baggy shorts and skirts until bedtime. We continued dancing while doing the dishes. Girls were on clean up but Ben and Kate kept the entertainment up. we then got the night going with some teas and some even more dancing. The night was still young by then and was filled with more laughter and dancing.              We burnt our phones up with photos, but  we can only show you a selection.... but enjoy..

Goodnight Bloggers Xx – Benny and Harry :)