Actually, its Thursday, the 20th....I had this all written and then the power went out while I was editing - silly me.....but, thanks to another volunteer, I learned that it saves drafts - YEA! The internet has been out quite a bit, but I'm on now...might send short segments just so they get there.
Last Saturday we went to Kampala to see the tombs of the last four Baganda kings. There is a current King - Baganda is a tribe - there are about 40-50, but the Baganda were the ones the Europeans favored so they are the most prominent right now (according to them). Saw a small museum and went to the Mall....it really was a mall. Small, but four stories and fun to "cruise"...got some great American food which was much appreciated.
Updating on monday....had a very interesting day. We went to Kampala and walked around the big hospital, Malago...a huge campus...reminded my of the Mayo Clinic, just not so neat. We spent some time with TASO which is the biggest NGO dealing with AIDS patients...it's a huge set up and they have 10 satellite clinics around the country. Got to talk to some clients...some of whom were diagnosed in the early 1990s! And they looked good....amazing what the medications can do. One lady was telling me here story tho' and she lost a son at 6 to pneumonia (he had AIDS)....she knows it was her "fault"......I made it through the story but cried afterwards.....will have to get tougher or I'll be crying all the time I'm afraid.
Then we went out to Mukono and an orphanage for blind children....it was very nice and funded by Germans mainly. Quite a project. The area is near where we will be stationed and it's really very nice - very green and hilly. Mukono will be our nearest "big" town so it was good to see.....the usual shops alongs the dusty road, but more variety than Luweero. Looking good!
Corky said the economy is bad....sorry to hear. Affecting the lumber yard quite a bit.....at least I'm not spending any money!!
Went to conferences yesterday (yes, Sunday) at my host family's school....they go to a private school about a 1/2 hour walk away. Beautiful location and the grounds were so nice....not all the litter you see everywhere in town. The two older girls (9 & 10) are both in P-5 and there are 54 children in their classroom (1 teacher)...three to a desk. They have little assignment books and they write all day in them whatever the teacher writes on the board. Then they are tested on it. They post the term scores and class rank for everyone to see at Conferences. My girls hadn't done so well. The little girl (4) goes to pre-school all day and there are 50 in her room (about 30'x30') - five to a desk and two teachers. The teachers write the assignments in their little books and they fill in the blanks!! What a project! But the private school are much better than the public ones where classes are usually 80 or more!! They get rice and beans for lunch every day.
Hope everyone is well. When I get a P.O. box I might publish a "wish list".....you don't have to send anything, but you'd be amazed how much we appreciate stuff from home. Bottom line is send prayers....good health, stamina, good work and PATIENCE!!
Will send this and update for Thursday.
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