Webele Uganda

One of the two Lugandan words I know. Webele, thank you. Said about 75 times each day by your one and only. 

All eleven of us decided to journey all the way from Arusha, Tanzania to Uganda Kampala, an 18 hour bus ride each way. This trip came fully equipped with visa and immigration from one border to the next at 5 or 6 AM, allowing us to feel like we are crossing the border illegally. Don't worry, we paid and were stamped each time, on each side. 

The bus ride itself is it's own story. On the ride to Kampala, we had to switch buses in Nairobi at midnight because they somehow overbooked the first bus. We then were given the back rows of the next bus. One of the worst nights of travel I have ever had. Don't get me wrong, Kampala Coach (the company) was wonderful and I was over satisfied with my overall experience with them. However, sitting above the axel on a huge charter bus that doesn't have any shocks and driving over unpaved roads is a bit bouncy. Each time we went over a bumb, especially a big bumb, I was literally lifted out of my seat on the back row. Although I really didn't sleep more than an hour on this half of the journey, it was most definitely worth it. 

We arrived in Kampala, checked into our guest house, and picked up a quick lunch before venturing over to Sseko. If you are ever in Kampala and are looking for a cheap but good and safe place to stay, check out Sahel Suites. It is $18 per person per night. We had our own bathroom and shower with running water and 2 full sized beds. We even were served breakfast each morning including eggs cooked as you wish. 

Sseko (click here) is a women's organization that makes sandals which are sold around the states to provide a living for widows and girls wanting to go to University. The girls that are wanting to go to University don't just want a scholarship, but want to work for money they can earn and then use for school. How inspiring is that? Come on lazy America! Through their work, they still don't make enough to fully pay for University so they can apply for a scholarship from Sseko which will match their salary they earned and finish paying for school. These women were so joyful. I ended up going all three days we were there because different people needed different things. The second day we went, it was POURING, and I mean POURING rain. They ushered us onto the porch, put down their shoes, and gave us the biggest hugs as if we had known them for years. This is a snapshot I will never forget. Get excited for their summer and fall lines, I saw some of what is coming and it is GREAT! 

 The sweet women at Sseko

The next day 7 people went rafting down the Nile and 3 of them also bungee jumped! They loved it and I would love to have the opportunity to go back to Kampala and conquer that. While they were rafting, the other 4 of us went to the Friday (only Friday) craft market. It was wonderful, there was beads, bags, drums, wall art, clothes, placemats, cards, and about anything else you could want.


 My main purpose in going was to buy beads for my friend's non profit, Be the Joy (click here!). Lauren started BTJ after her family visited Uganda and saw the need of education for girls. You can buy these handcrafted, paper mache beads from BTJ and all the proceeds go back to Uganda to send girls to school. Lauren has even been able to provide some scholarships for girls to attend University. Here is the best part, Lauren is my age, an Aggie sophomore who felt the Lord calling her to do something and obeyed. I look up to her for what she has done and the difference she is making in Uganda. There were about 25-30 women at the market selling beads and I shopped from each and everyone of them. They were all so excited. My mind blowing moment at the market was when I met a woman who was nursing her baby. I asked how old the baby was and get this, 2 weeks old! 2 weeks laying on some fabric in the dirt amongst the hustle and bustle of market. This tiny baby had some congestion and somewhat wheezy breathing. I held the sweet girl, prayed for her, and returned her to her mother. This is the life of the African woman. 

can you find the baby?

2 week old baby girl at craft market

We then were joking with our driver, Fred, about meeting his family and we told him we wanted to meet them. He got SO excited and immediately told us he would take us to them. He lives at the top of a hill where you can look out and see Lake Victoria. It was a BEAUTIFUL view. We met his son, Joshua, and his beautiful wife, Lydia. It was such a treat to be accepted into his neighborhood and community. Fred made the trip about 5 times better. He was absolutely hilarious without trying to be at all. The whole time, he kept telling me he loves Jesus very much but he will be saved tomorrow. Each day he said no, not today, tomorrow. We had some talks but due to the language barrier, only God will know what seed was planted in his heart.

FRED!

After we met his family, he took us to a dock on the lake. We were the ONLY white people around. It was great. We took lots of pictures and then were offered a ride around part of the lake. I paid about $7-8 for all of us to go for 30 minutes. What made it better was that we went while the sun was setting. It was absolutely BEAUTIFUL!

Kampala is full of all different nationalities. It's a much bigger city than Arusha but still a little smaller than Nairobi. From recommendations, we found Mzungu Central which was fully equipped with a bowling alley, movie theater, mall, food court, new york pizza, cupcakes, mexican food, an african "starbucks", and Spur restaurant (based off the Native Americans). Let me just say I didn't take advantage of all of this, but I did have some darn good quesadillas & chocolate cake!

The bus ride home was much, much better! I had the opportunity to sit by one of the kindest men I have ever met. Matia is a father of four who loves his children very much. He took all of us under his wing and ensured our safety until we made it across the Tanzanian border. He bought me some food and I shared some o my snacks with him as well. We had some in depth talks about East Africa and the way of life and education here. These are the two things he said that really stuck out to me. 

Take street children and let them live on a farm where they are able to work and get an education so they can better their country in the long run. And the money they make on the farm will go into a savings account which will be used for their education. 

and... 

So many children grow up with one parent or no parents. Children then go to school and get very upset because all the kids talk about their families and parents at home. He thinks children should receive some form of extra care at school so they are able to perform better and able to talk about their home life and troubles at home so their burdens can be somewhat alleviated.

I think the second one needs to be done in America as well. 


Here are some pictures:

When it rains, it FLOODS-- this is flowing mud

One of the little babies in Fred's neighborhood

On lake Victoria

Kampala was wonderful. I don’t think I will ever want to live there because it is too big city for me for Africa, but it is fun for an Americanized vacation in Africa. And yes, I know that sounds oxymoronic. 

the hillside of Uganda