Well, the epic journey was completed in 9 hours - 3 hours quicker than our journey there! We left our heavenly lodge after breakfast with beautiful birds collecting crumbs from the table, mongoose by our feet and a family of wart hogs near by! Our journey was broken up by a quick stop off at the equator again, a stop for our packed lunch and another flat tyre!! Interesting that we all adopted our stereotypical roles for the flat tyre episode. The men jumped into action like a formula 1 pit stop team, the boys threw stones at targets and the girls........chatted!!
I spent all morning watching Africa. I considered this Ugandan life compared to mine. Lots to think about. They bring up their children to be fiercely independent. I've seen children that look no older than 6 or 7 looking after their younger siblings, walking with them beside busy roads, carrying them on their backs if necessary. They bring up their children to work hard, I've lost count of the number of times I've seen children collecting water and carrying the heavy load home. The girls at Kiwi come home from school and do the washing and cook dinner. Imagine me coming home from work and the dinner being cooked and the washing done!! A more likely scenario is facebook, x box and "what times dinner?" !!
Perhaps what has struck me the most though is their pace of life, they do life slowly. They watch the world go by. The men sit by the road on bikes of mopeds and chat and watch. The women gather in groups with the young children and chat and watch. They don't text, email, facebook or msn, just simply chat! they model this to their children. Perhaps some parts of their lives are enviable?
One town we passed through seemed like 'Coffin City'!! There were coffins for sale everywhere! It was a stark reminder that whoever we are, whatever our circumstances, what ever we have, 2 things are certain we live, we die and the wheels on the bus go round and round. There's a start date and and end date and of course the bit in the middle. This trip reminds me that how we do the bit in the middle that's important; the things we do, the choices we make, the relationships we build and for me, may be not you, our response to God. My friend died at 33, my dad at 61, lives cut too short. I am resolved to live mine with hopes and dreams but most importantly I am resolved to take steps to make those hopes and dreams a reality! Nothing happens unless you make it....
As we passed towns and villages we often saw slogans on buildins or cars, things like God is Able, but the one that stuck out for me today was "Never Lose Hope" (actually it said never loose hope - but we're surely all allowed a typo or two?!?!). Never lose hope. There have been times when I've thought the situation here is without hope, that this country and even this continent are with out hope and yet I've met people that have hope and are bringing hope. People like Benedicta, bring hope to orphaned children, people like 'coach' bringing hope in the face of corruption, theft and poverty to a community, people like Rob & Denise who are bringing hope. Hope to the orphans, the under priveledged, the poor and the needy. These are people that have hope, have dreams and are choosing to take steps to make their hopes and dreams a reality.
Never lose hope.
We arrived at our hostel last night....oh my!! It's basic! Having left the comfort of the lodge this morning this was a jolt back to reality. In another circumstance I may have protested! But I have over these last two weeks seen how folk live day in and day out, I could live like this for two nights - it's all part of the adventure!! We ate out then slept. Our accomodation is a hostel for girls who are in school or college. At 5am they began singing - like singing I've never heard before. If I could set my alarm to wake me to that sound every day I would, beautiful.
This morning we have visted Bula, the orphanage I hadn't yet seen. We were shown around and then played with the few children that were't in school, simple ball games. I have yet to see any toys anywhere? I even saw a child today playing with a stick and a hoop....We had lots of fun with piggy in the middle and blamed Jess & Kev entirely (as Zoe's middle school PE teachers) for her lack of ball skills!! Fun times.
And now? Now we have just been spolit with lunch at Pauls and as has become the norm I've managed to borrow a laptop & internet! It feels a bit like we're done and have almost begun our journey home, a few more bits to do, another visit to Kiwi, a craft market and tonight! Tonight the boys are joining Charles' (one of our drivers) football team for training. Apparently this team are just below the Ugandan national side (if I've understood correctly?!) Jack doesn't even have trainers!!!
The story's nearly over....thanks for reading it xx
