Nov.7 Dark Territory

Dark Territory

Uganda turned out to be a whirlwind over four days and we were unable to correspond for a number of reasons, one being the need for a Ugandan SIM card, and another being blackouts so we couldn't charge up our equipment!

After crossing the border from Rwanda, we stopped at a service station for a rest stop.  Unfortunately, as we were disembarking from the bus, one of those wicked, sudden rain squalls came up in a rage...horizontal rain, winds that shredded the large, fabric highway sign, throwing it onto the power lines and causing some sparks.  You couldn't stand under the garage canopy for shelter because the rain came and drenched everything.  Passengers scattered and we headed for the little convenience store.  The rain beat so hard against the glass doors that the store began to flood and the proprietors were rushing for brooms and rags to stop the influx of water.  Branden had to use the facilities so urgently that he ran through the downpour about 50 yards and got into the latrines which had NO roof!  He came back absolutely drenched and shaking with cold.  Back on the bus we both changed into dry t-shirts, but Branden continued to shiver uncontrollably for quite some time.  We still had another 7 or 8 hours to go before reaching Kampala.  Branden was feeling very poorly and I began suspecting malaria since he was fluctuating from a fever to chills.

When we got to the Jaguar Bus Line depot in Kampala, we were mobbed by taxi drivers vying for our business.  Meanwhile, Branden, dizzy and unable to stand is lying flat on his back, eyes closed and moaning.  One driver insisted he was going to die if he didn't take us to a hospital immediately.  I got suspicious when a lady nearby continued to loudly harass the drivers.  I asked what the problem was and she said they were thieves who had taken her money and refused to return it or give her change.  I didn't know where to go, since Prima was supposed to meet us.  One taxi driver loaned me his cell phone so I could call her since my phone wasn't working.  Prima had just called the bus service five minutes previously and was told the bus wouldn't be in until 7:00. Well, we had arrived just before 5:00.  It would take her almost an hour to get to us given it was rush hour.  Now Branden is vomiting out both ends and needs to find a washroom to clean up.  A couple of taxi drivers help him walk to a nearby restaurant with a washroom, come back for some clean clothes that I dig out of his suitcase.  We again go through the ritual of insisting that he take us to a hospital, but I insist we have a friend coming to "pick us".   Eventually, Prima shows up and the two drivers insist on being paid.  She demands, "For what?". And they reply, for offering to take us to a hospital!  But you didn't!  I took out the money I had changed at the border and she took a 5000 shilling note and gave it to them whereupon they began to fight over the note and how it should be divided.   (Equal to about $2.00).

Prima took us to the International Medical Center located at Watoto Church, formerly Kampala Pentecostal Church.  The doctor took him in immediately, ran a complete blood work up and had the results in less than 30 minutes.  No malaria.  It was food poisoning.  An IV drip with two litres of saline  and glucose, an injection to stop the vomiting and a regimen of antibiotics.  If he improved within two hours, he might not hospitalize him.  In two hours, the fever and headache were gone and Branden, now feeling good somewhat better, was able to stand and walk quite well.  Prima drove us to the Watoto Guest House in Kansanga.  We got there about 10:30 at night.  It was a long day, over 18 hours since we had woken up to catch our taxi to the bus station in Kigali.

Tuesday (Day 2)

Early to rise, with breakfast at 7 a.m. We are picked up at 7:30 and arrive at 8:30 for team devotions.  There are 600 people present, some of them country representatives who have been here for director's meetings over the past week and a half, people from Canada, USA, Norway, Holland, UK, Australia and other countries.  An amazing worship band leads off for about 20 minutes and then we have some reports from team leaders in charge of self-sustainability projects.  There are amazing reports of the progress in establishing farms, chicken ranches, goat herds, vocational and trade schools that all contribute to the sustainability of the community.  In northern Uganda, two parcels of land, one 600 acres and another 1000 acres in size have been purchased for farms.  A good report included the construction of a dam 20 acres in size that would irrigate the 200 acre vegetable farm and store enough water to carry them through the dry season.

Bonny was assigned to us as the Watoto leader who would be our guide for the duration of our stay.  He and Benson were absolutely amazing, full of information and good ideas.  Benson was our van driver, and I must compliment him on his skills and patience, driving in the Kampala traffic.  Kampala was designed for a city of 65,000, but it now has a population of 3 million, with another million commuting in and out of the city each day for work!  The traffic jambs are horrible, causing commuters to spend up to 5 hours a day in their commute.

In the morning, we went out to the 207 acre farm that is almost in full production with crops like corn, maize, watermelon, eggplant, tomatoes, carrots,  cabbages, sweet potatoes and rice.  We were told that last  year they harvested 35,000 tonnes of rice from 70 acres.  A lot of the crops are planted in sequence so that the crops mature over a period of time rather than just the one harvest.  A lot of the crops are used to feed the 2400 orphans in the Watoto Villages.  This was the farm where they have constructed the 20 acre dam and have irrigation pipes throughout the fields so dry season will not have the dire impact it usually does.  With irrigation, it's possible to grow 3 full crops a year.  Uganda is on the equator, thus creating ideal conditions for growing.

We visited the chicken production plant where they currently have 8200 3 month old chickens that should start laying eggs in February 2014.  The entire operation is automated, from feeding to watering and egg delivery to the egg crating room.  Plans are for two more chicken barns which will result in approximately 2000 dozen eggs per day.  It will have a positive impact on the community providing local employment and supplying eggs and meat.

We then visited the goat pens where there are a couple hundred goats that provide about 500 litres of milk per day.  There were a whole lot of goats in the milking stalls ready for milking.  Each goat has an ID number and the quantity of milk from each goat is logged at each milking.  It was the funniest thing getting Branden to milk a goat.  He was squeamish and uncertain and freaked out just touching the udder and teats.  Eventually, he did manage to produce a couple of streams of milk!  It provided a lot of laughter for the hands present as they observed his antics and exclamations.

We went back to the church for the supper hour, and then back to the guest house for bedtime.

Wed (Day 3)

Pick up was a little later because of heavy traffic. We first went to "Bulrushes", the Watoto Baby House.  Interestingly, it is located on one of the seven hills of Kampala where all the important buildings, the seats of power and economy, are located;  the parliament buildings, the state house, the Supreme Court and justice buildings, and the 5 star hotels.  The Baby House formerly housed the officers quarters during the reign of Idi Amin Dada.  It had been confiscated from Asian owners under the Asian Properties Act.  After Amin was deposed, the property sat vacant for quite awhile.  Watoto saw an opportunity  for an orphanage for abandoned children, so close to the seat of power for the country, much as the baby Moses in Egypt survived under a death decree by being placed in a basket in the bulrushes and being rescued by the Pharaoh's daughter and raised under the shadow of the authority in the land.

This is the first orphanage I have ever seen that is equipped with incubators.  Newborns, including pre-mature infants, are rescued from hospitals, garbage heaps and latrines.  "Rescued, Raised, Restored" is the motto of Watoto Childcare Ministries.  The number of babies under care during our visit was 32, but there have been as many as 120 under care at one time.  The babies remain here until about the age of two and then are integrated into a family unit in one of the Watoto Village homes to be raised in a family unit with a "mom and dad and siblings".  Children with disabilities are kept longer because they need specialized care.  We found some that had cerebral palsy, scoliosis, blindness, asthma and other debilitating diseases.  But they were all being loved and cared for.  The staff is amazing!  There are nurses and trained professionals and pre-screened volunteers who give the babies the care they need.  We were surprised by the height of little sinks in the washrooms, just 16" off the floor, giving toddlers ready access to washing facilities so they learn good hygiene.  Our visit here was very moving as we were able to hug and hold these babies.

Richard had spent a year on oxygen.  Now at 3 years of age, he is very lively and has an attention span of 15 seconds before he's off running or climbing onto something.  We turned around to find he had overturned a desk on the lawn and climbed up onto the pedestal like a monkey.  He didn't seem to need any oxygen at all now and will likely graduate to a proper home environment.  I was able to hold him for less than a minute, the whole while his head turning in every direction for his next conquest.  It took 5 attempts for Branden to finally snap a picture with Richard looking towards the camera!  We met Jason in special care.  Jason has cerebral palsy and scoliosis and had contracted pneumonia.  He was on oxygen to help him breathe.  Couldn't help but stop and pray for him. There were six volunteers from Newfoundland who had come to help care for these children, some coming for six weeks, others for a little longer.

 We then headed out to Subbi Village which has 1240 of the 2400 children.  We had met Brian earlier at CLA in Kigali where he is the head cook.  He comes from Subbi and asked us to greet his family there, which we did.  Mama Maureen is a widow with 4 of her own girls (now grown up and in university) who is now a house mom to 4 girls.  Josephine and Bernadette (aged 19 and 20) and Jemima (11) hosted us for lunch.  Lunch included matoke (cooked green bananas), potatoes,  cooked peas and carrots, beans, sweet potatoes, beef stew, peanut sauce and cabbage.  It was delicious!  

We brought some gifts for the children, but they are pooled in storage for special occasions, like Christmas, and distributed fairly to all the children.  We interfered just a little, asking for a little grace for the girls who had prepared lunch for us.  They received a small note pad and pen, and were so delighted.  Whew, third suitcase down.

After lunch we toured the trades section where students are able to learn automotive, metal work, welding, amd carpentry.  A tradesman came from Canada and trained 4 young men over a three month period, who in turn trained others, now numbering about 50.  At the facility, they make the furniture, chairs, metal window frames and everything the homes need as they are built.  Very impressive!  Each new home is a duplicate of all the others that have been built.

Thurs. (Day 4)

We left at 7 a.m. and headed for Jinja at the headwaters of the Nile River where it flows out of Lake Victoria.  Three countries share this massive lake with lots of papyrus flourishing on its banks.  We took a chance that we might arrive in time to catch a rafting trip.  We arrived just before 10 a.m.  A group had arrived at the rafting company office at 8:30 and were still there waiting to leave, having donned life jackets and helmets.  Could we join them for a half day of whitewater rafting on the Nile River?  Had we booked in advance?  No.  But Moses talked to the big Australian, suggesting we could ride on the support raft and be picked up at a certain point by Bonny and Benson in the van.  So it was that Branden got to live out a dream and take on Class 4, 5 and 6 rapids on the Nile!  Well, the Class 6 we portaged half way down before putting in the rafts in a slightly calmer section of the rapids.  We got good and wet, often jumped out of the raft in the warm, calm waters and hung on for dear life in the raging waters.  Three hours later we were put ashore to join Bonny and Benson with the van.  We drove back to Kampala for a fantastic Thursday evening service on our last night in Africa. We stopped to get a couple of pizzas to go as we made our way to Entebbe and the International Airport.

Farewell Africa and all the new friends!  Wheels up at 1 a.m. on Friday morning.  We flew for 18 hours plus a 2 hour layover at Heathrow in London to land in Seattle at 11:00 a.m. on Friday morning.  How do you get to live the same day twice?  We caught a bus from Seatac at 3 pm for Surrey, BC.  Hello Canada and home!  And unforgettable 3 weeks...