Uganda - Village of Hope

Monday, July 6, 2015

Uganda team 19 Day 9

Day 9

We have now been in Uganda for over 216 hours! What? (Or as Richard would say, “You’re joooooooking.”)

Although we may be feeling (and looking – thanks to the Ugandan sun) a little bit more like locals with each passing day, the firsts are still coming in thick and fast. Today is no exception!

After the gals scaled Monkey Mountain and the boys … woke up … we headed off for our second Ugandan church service - this time, prepared and charged for the three-hour service ahead. With the band consisting of one pianist, who also served as the drummer … and sound guy … and music director, the praise was filled with more energy and life than ever. It was so contagious that even Josie was shaking her hips!

But it was only after the service today’s adventures really began.

We were off to find the source of the Nile!

It may have taken Nat, Richard, Ryan, Charles and John pushing our mini van down the block and around the corner to get there … but we did finally get there!! Travelling the rest of the distance by boat, we spotted monkeys (sah cute) and monitor lizards (but no hippos ☹ ☹) until we reached the Nile’s source – a point where Lake Victoria and the Nile River meet. Although the sign signaling the Nile’s starting point was pretty impressive, maybe more so was the water-based souvenir shops ten metres from the Nile’s source … fully kitted out with electricity and all!

We then went from perusing the Nile to some fine dining at the “All Friends” restaurant. With a lightening storm to finish the night off (dinner and show), we are once again feeling totally relaxed and rejuvenated. Bring on the next week!!

Maddie!!

Pics below...

Abundant life church!!

On the Nile river ..

Running the souvenir gauntlet!

Some got caught!!

Team Pic..... except Charles the photgrapher

Great way to end the day!!

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Uganda team 19 Day 8

Day 8

Today started off with a nice early breakfast so we were ready to head out to the Welcome Home orphanage. We were all looking forward to playing with the cute little babies and toddlers. We all crammed into the bus and took off to start our adventures for the day.

As we arrived at the Welcome Home gates, we were greeted by Mandy - one of the board members. After telling us the story of the orphanage's journey, we were then "set free" to spend time with the kids. :)

Of course most of the girls ran off into the baby crib room, while the boys took on the toddlers. After an hour, Mandy gathered some of us to take the toddlers for a little drive. (Uganda doesn't believe in baby seats ... they believe in human laps ;)) While driving, we serenaded the children, starting off with "Jesus Loves Me" then on to some awesome Ugandan tones - all us mzungus tried to unsuccessfully sing along!

After our mini bus adventure, it was the children's lunch time. One by one the toddlers gathered, sitting down in their high chairs (... or should I say low chairs) ready for their delicious pocher and cabbage lunch. Yummy!!

Now it was time for our lunch! After saying our goodbyes, we headed off to town to check out one of Andrew's favourite cafés, "Flavours". Josie and Maddy decided to risk it all and put their lives on the line by riding a boda boda! (Best 2 minutes of our lives!)

Once we arrived at the café, we ordered our food and then waited ... and waited ... and waited ... and waited for our food. Ben seized the opportunity to interview us ladies on our love lives. Obviously, he was trying to get some future tips on how to propose to his future wife. ;) Thank goodness our food finally arrived!!

Once we finished our food, we then headed back into the main road to hit the shops for some paintings and souvenirs. Josie!!

Check out our pics again...

This ones coming with me!

Amy style discipline :)

Simon (no Richard) say....pat your head

Sorry kids, no room for you!!

What a cutie.. Ryan that is!

Nana Sue - Awww

Just cuddling.. Kids love it.

Yum.. feed me!

look of shock ...

Helping to feed..

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Uganda team 19 Day 7

Day 7

We have officially been in Uganda for 1 week!! Today started with the ladies up on the deck doing some early morning pilates and only one of the men going for a run. (The men are getting weak IMO ;)). After another lovely brekky of rolex’s and banana and cinnamon chapattis, we walked down to the Village of Hope and got to work on building a parking lot. On the way we got to meet the local ‘Mr Whippy’ selling ice cream from the cooler on his bike. Our work consisted of hacking at the ground with a couple of hoes and pulling up pumpkin plants and shrubs. We then went home for pancakes, and “like a good boomerang” we made our way back up to the village. However, Nathan, Ben and Amy. G went down to the school to assist with teaching some of the classes – English, P.E and knitting!! Meanwhile the rest of us raked and hoe’d the remainder of the grass and rocks, wheel-barrowed it off to a large pit out the back, and started laying down bricks for a wall around the side of the parking lot. All in all, it was a fairly productive day. After dinner (which was a vegetarian frittata – thanks Juliet!) we headed down to the Bugembe markets to get some ice cream and re-stock the sodas. Over all a good workout of a day, and we go to bed expecting to wake up with six-pack abs and some bulging biceps. J Amy S.

Pics below as usual!!

Look at us - butt exercise no 1

How good are we??

Mr Whippy!!

Typical Africans already - one working, 3 watching

Except this one!!

This is how you stretch ladies!!

All cleared.

Trench man John!

Look! I'm working too!

Friday, July 3, 2015

Uganda team 19 Day 6

Day 6:

Today we woke up and it was time for Elaine, Sharon and Jenny to leave us and it was sad. We’ve enjoyed having them with our team. Then we went upstairs to sit on the roof and have a new thing for breakfast; they were called half cakes, kind of a hard donut thing. They were absolutely delicious and well cooked by Juliet, Peace and Elizabeth. After breakfast we drove up to Home of Hope to get to work. Half of us went inside with the kids and the other half outside to finish the kitchen. We took some of the clothes we had with us from Australia with us and the knitted beanies were a real hit!! We finished our work at Home of Hope today because we have now done all we can do for the kitchen. At about 1:00pm we went back to Suubi house and had lunch. For lunch we had vegetarian pies, witch were really nice and we soon discovered that a bit of peanut butter on the top made them even better! (for some!) After lunch we rested for a bit then walked up to the village to see the kids and a big soccer match begun. It was the mzungus (white people) vs. the kids at the village. It was a very close game and it came down to the last second, our keeper scored a goal from the other end of the pitch to win us the game 17-16. Our ‘player of the match’ had to be Maddie, her intense focus led us to believe she had ‘white line fever’!! We came home proud of our victory to another great meal of rice, potatoes and beans. We’re eating like kings and enjoying the great hospitality of Suubi house! Ben!

Lots of pic again today! Have fun…