The day begins quietly as rain softly falls on my home here. The thunder rolls in the distance and the birds chirp their morning calls. A cow moos and voices around the cottage, some near, some far contribute to this peaceful morning. It is Saturday and my minds wanders to Adolph and his sisters who are most likely working to get enough money for food to eat.
I am finding it harder to write the last few days. Not sure why, maybe the stories just seem like too much at times or maybe the longer I spend here the more it feels like they aren’t stories anymore. The poverty is so palatable yet despite it all the people are so full of warmth and a spirit of determination. The staff at KIDA works tirelessly, always with smiles on their faces to change the outcomes for so many surrounding the hospital.
This morning we met Marjorie at KIDA. The women were still working on their baskets. Lydia, a 12 year old, HIV + young girl is learning to make baskets. She lives with her grandmother as both her parents have passed. Lydia made her first sale to Debbie in order to buy fabric for her school uniform. The joy on her face was priceless as she knew she would be able to support herself.
After loading up the van to the gills with nurses and counselors and the drama team and loading the truck with speakers and more staff we headed off into another village about an hour away for an afternoon of outreach work. The original plan was to leave before 1 pm but by the time we got everything together it was nearly 230. Community outreach is something relatively new that they are doing at KIDA. Staff gives up their weekends to travel to remote places and do HIV counseling and testing, check on the nutrition of children which includes giving them de-worming pills and vitamin A. We arrived and started unpacking. Villagers began arriving from throughout the area. By the time the nurses had set up there was a long line for HIV testing. Two young mothers eagerly waited to get their new babies care. As the drama team set up Debbie pulled out her guitar. We taught the kids a few songs as they gathered around clearly curious about the music and the white people in their village.
Two young girls who spoke very good English began to stay near my side. Oliver and Docas are 12 and 13. They have come to the village to live with their grandmother along with several sisters and a brother. Their mom is in Kampala and she wanted them to know this side of their family. They are in Primary 5 and will stay in the village for 3 years until Secondary 1. Oliver wants to be a pilot and Docas wants to be a lawyer. They shared that they are the only two who speak English in their class since their early schooling was in Kampala. As we sat and watched the dancers and the drama group the girls were curious about my life. They asked when I was coming back and said “We shall miss you so much when you go”. They wanted to invite me to their home to meet their grandmother and great-grandmother so, accompanied by Marjorie, we headed deeper into the village. These people of Uganda are so welcoming as grandmother invited us in to their living room to share a little of their story. Great grandmother was living on a small bed in the living room with a sling on her arm. It appears she dislocated her shoulder falling into a hole. I gave the girls my water bottle and one would think I had shared an enormous gift. We exchanged numbers (another anomaly of life her) and I promised I would visit next year when I come and that they could come to KIDA to inquire with Marjorie about me.
While I was sitting with the children watching the drama Debbie, Virginia and Marjorie went into the village to check on a family. The went to a home with an extremely poor family and were struck by how this family and people were living. As always Marjorie takes mental notes and knows she will come back to figure out how to help this family.
Back to the park and hours later the nurses still had lingering people in line. We pulled out the guitar again and in a tight circle surrounded by several dozen children we sang a few more songs. It was nearly 7pm when we were packed out and headed out. The drama team had shared about the Health Insurance program and the staff saw probably 200 people today and decided they would definitely head back to this village.
As we headed back the rough road to KIDA I again marveled at the country-side. Deep crater lakes are littered throughout the area, people were washing motorcycles in the stream and children again lined the roads waving their greetings.
Sunday arrived with a beautiful sunrise. The sun rises and sets here the same as at home but the depth of the landscape is so rich. Off to church for a Sunday service in Ft. Portal. We found Lydia on the road walking to her own church so we scooped her up and took her with us. No cell phone she willingly hopped in the van and went with us.
The service was beautiful. Hundreds of people packed the enormous St. Johns cathedral. What a treat to worship in this place with new friends. Lydia snuggled in to Debbie and pointed out things for us if we missed anything. On the van ride home she alternated between playing a game where she poked us and hid and then snuggled tightly into our arms. I relished holding this little life, so young and so sweet. Debbie gave her a protein bar and her eyes got so wide when she received it. She tore into it and ate a piece half the size of a dime. I gave her a small plastic bag as she struggled to find a way to save the rest. We all marveled at her youthfulness despite being 12 years old.
After a late lunch the afternoon was peaceful. Internet was strong so we were able to connect with some family. I still am enthralled with the monkeys and will be able to fill a book with just the photos of flowers that I have taken. Tomorrow we will head to a village with Robert to watch another K-CHIP group. So much still to do and see.
