A Walk on the Wild Side...

The older kids were in school until noon taking exams and the younger grades were in class. As we were again left to our own devices we decided to see some of the countryside. although this time time our final destination was not a burial. We drove west of Iganga about 1 1/2 through some beautiful landscapes. The roads were paved (at least partially) and the view was green fields as far as the eye could see. In some areas there were swamp lands planted with rice. Even a few hills sprouted in the background. There were stretches where there were no villages and no people. Quite a change from what we are use to. At one point we stopped at a roadside stand to buy bananas and were surrounded by different vendors all trying to sell their wares. There were oranges for sale, as well as chicken on a stick, sodas and even live chickens hanging upside down. All we wanted were bananas. After much talking (none of which I could understand) the gentlemen came back with bunches of bananas and wanted certain payment. Susan gave him the money and waited for her change which he was reluctant to give. They kept negotiating (actually she was not moving the car until she got her change and since the bananas were already in the car he did not have much bargaining power) until one of his friends finally gave her the coins. She then put the car in drive and off we went. Our final destination was to see the baboons that we had the opportunity to see last year. But unlike last year we actually saw a man walking along the street with the baboons and Susan asked if he was safe. He must have answered her yes because the next thing I knew she was opening the car door and getting out. Well, that was that was all the incentive I needed. My camera and I quickly left the vehicle and there I was walking right among the baboons. It was an incredible experience. I think I was actually in more danger of getting run over by a passing car than I was of getting mauled by a baboon. And so there we stayed about 15 minutes, Liz throwing bananas at the animals and me clicking away. Finally even the babies came out of hiding and literally posed to have the paparazzi take their pictures. We were literally within a foot of these animals and all I could hear was Liz warning me to get out of the street! I have to say they grow up to not be so cute, but those little ones are just adorable!

On the way home we passed a burial sight that Susan said held about thousands of people. She said there was an accident there a few years ago. A truck carrying gasoline rolled over. The driver was also carrying a large sum of money from previous sales and when the truck overturned the gas and the money went flying everywhere. The people came from all over and started stealing not only the gasoline but the money as well. The driver asked repeatedly for them to take the gas but to leave the money. When the people wouldn't listen he lit a match and blew up the truck killing all those around. He then fled and has never been caught. We also went through a village that was the first village in Uganda to be identified with the AIDS virus. The village was known for prostitution and still is. If you drive by the village at night you can hardly get by on the highway for all the cars parked along the road. But overall the scenery was beautiful. There were vegetable stands every where and the colors were so vibrant.

We then got home and headed immediately to the Kid's house to begin taking groups out to buy shoes. Last night Liz and I sat up past midnight trying to record who we had already bought shoes for and who we had pictures of. Today we managed four trips to the market and bought shoes for thirty children. I had the luxury of being in the backseat with all the kids today. There were never less than nine of us in the backseat so it was a little crowded to say the least! The girls were a little squirmy but we managed and even had a few tickling contests. We made name tags for everyone and the girls especially loved sticking them right in the middle of their foreheads. What a crazy bunch of kids! At one point we had a little boy with us who was not on our list of kids. He had gotten into the car at the kids house and so we gave him a name tag. He was not on our list and no one seemed to know who he was. Susan called Phil and it turned out that his brother is one of ours and he has been invited to the house for meals to help out the family but he is not really a sponsored child. Well, by this time the little boy had already picked out a pair of shoes and I was not going to tell him under any circumstances to put them back. So we purchased his shoes with all the others and he is now one happy camper. After that we made sure that all the children we took were ours before we loaded the car to the max. Once again the little children at the market flocked to us. And they are all so darn cute. So now we have twenty two children still to buy for. We won't do any shopping over the weekend but will resume on Monday. Tomorrow we will be going to some celebration party for those kids in Primary 7. Not sure what that will hold in store but I guess we will find out! After that we intend to stay at the kid's house for awhile and play!

On our third trip back from the market place Susan pulled off the road about 100 yards from the children's house and told Liz she was driving the rest of the way. Now you have to realize that the steering wheel is on the opposite side of the car and they drive on the opposite side of the road. In addition, the turn signal and the windshield wipers are reversed. So Little Lizzy jumped into the driver's seat and off we went. I wasn't too concerned as it was a desolate road with no cars coming in either direction until we turned onto the road with the house and I realized she had to pull into the house through the narrow (let me restate that - very narrow) gate. I have to say she did a fine job! Her first Ugandan drive was a huge success. Then after our last trip of the day I drove home to Phil's. This was an adventure as chickens, goats and cows, not to mention kids and people on bicycles were in the streets. In addition to avoiding them I was trying to avoid the potholes. I will say I made it back though getting through Phil's gate did take quite awhile. No dents in the car after Mzungus first day behind the wheel is considered a success!!

Sylivia is doing better though not fully recovered from typhoid and now Phil is sick. The doctor has just come by and taken some blood to see if he, too, is suffering from the same. So far Liz and I are holding our own. I keep telling Phil to cough in the other direction! Sylivia is still staying at the house and Angela and Rehema are here as well to help look after her. Tonight the three girls ate with Liz and I. They are all such great young ladies and really kind and gentle with one another. I'm hoping by another day Sylivia will be up and feeling 100%. The good news is she now has two days to fully recover before heading back into exams.

My story for today is a little boy named Adrian. Adrian is five and last year I met him at Scovia's house when we went there for lunch one day. He was on the ground at the time drawing with a pencil and Amanda and I took several pictures of him. I happened to see him at church last Sunday and he is as cute as he was last year. I was immediately drawn to him from a photographers standpoint. I took a lot of pictures of him in his dirty white button down shirt and tattered brown suit. Susan had brought him especially to see me since we had talked about him the day before. Well, since then he has come to the kid's house just about every day. He doesn't even stand three feet tall but he can eat with the best of them. He loves to hug and he loves to smile. He also loves to have his pictures taken. He grabs for my hand when he sees me and always gives me a huge hug at the end of the day. Both his parents have died and he is living with his grandmother. Yesterday he didn't come to the house and Susan said he cried all day. He is just the cutest thing in the world. I would bring him home in a heartbeat except Steve warned me against any more stray dogs or children!!!! He has certainly touched my heart. His smile can melt anything! And he has that glint in eye that spells trouble. It just adds to his personality. He has been such a blessing to me this trip. When I need a hug from a child he is always there!

The kids are getting more and more comfortable with Liz and I. As we go to the kid's house they greet us with handshakes, smiles and hugs which are now coming from the heart. Of course, we are greeting them the same way. It is no longer stiff and mandatory because the Mzungu is in town. They have etched their way further and further into our lives. Tomorrow we will get to know them even better...