June 12

We started the day waiting on ice.  Apparently, they have to chip it off the block when you buy it, and it took a while.  Typically, the person who chips the ice sleeps in and we have to get it later.  While we waited, we enjoyed handing out candy to passing children and watching the traffic go by.  We could develop a game of African car bingo:

            Man carrying strainers and plastic wares in a basket on head

            Man with pig on back of bicycle

            Bicycle loaded down with sugar cane

            Pelican-looking birds waiting for remains from fish market

            Banana truck

            Banana bicycle

            Bananas on lady’s head

            Child who chases bus and screams “sweets”

            School children in uniforms of all colors, including pink

            Toddlers with no pants (potty training)

            Random cows in pedestrian crosswalks

            Chicken cages stacked high

            Fish market smell

            Guards carrying rifles

            Bicycles with timber poles

            Streetside shoe salesmen

            Termite mounds

            Pot holes deeper than the tires on the bus

            Small rivers flowing through the street on rainy days

            Person wearing glasses or braces (very difficult to find!)

            Woman with laundry on head about to be hit by motorbike passing taxi in front of Hindu temple (see picture)

We finally made it to the work site and we managed to complete the outside walls of our house.  Simple things in our world are not so simple here.  The sand to mix the mortar didn’t arrive, so we had to make do with other sand from the lake that was not so good.  This slowed us down considerably.  We did get to try a new food—kosava root.  It tastes, well, like chewing a stick.  They say it is better sliced and fried.  It couldn’t get any worse, so we imagine they’re right!

Jake turned 16 today, and some of the house mothers brought down a special surprise of fresh fruit.  They sang us a traditional song and then sang “Happy Birthday.”  Everyone got fruit, even the workers.  The house mothers are so grateful for what we are doing.  We shared some dried apricots with the mothers, and they pretended to like it.  Most had a puzzled expression on their faces when they tried it, and called it “interesting.”  We realized they had the same reaction to the apricots as we had a few days ago to the traditional African foods we were served.

We witnessed an actual accident with a vehicle today.  Actually, it was a taxi that hit a curb and then got high-centered.  We got stuck in a traffic jam downtown and got to see some different parts of the city, including two different Hindu temples.

Tonight we expect another night without power—very typical here.  The cool thing is that the internet café uses a generator so you never lose computer access!

Comments

[Julie]

I am so proud of all of you! You are truly living out kingdom life in the building of this house and the relationship-building with the people of Kampala. I wish I could be there with you. Take care of yourselves and we look forward to more stories and pictures. Remember that we are all taking this trip with you...

[Heidi]

I have loved looking at your pictures and reading your posts! It's so awesome to see people I know...in Africa! You are all truly inspiring as the embodiment of the great commandment, and we love you!