Well, here we are... 4 days into Uganda! It's been great so far, but quite full!
I don't have time now to write much more than than - we are leaving tomorrow morning for 9 days or so on the islands of Lake Victoria!
For a bit more of our story please check out the following...
www.truthbeautyjustice.wordpress.com
We made it... 10 days ago or so.
As a team we've already had a number of roller coasters to ride. Sickness. Communication. Jet lag. Cultural adjustments. Blah. But, at the end of the day we can honestly look back and say it's been a good day.
There is much going through my mind at the moment - things to share, emails to write, bed to seek out, and finding a cup of tea in the midst of it all. Yes, I fancy a cup of tea often, quite often.
The team has settled in well - better than I expected anyway. I probably had the most difficult time of adjustment with learning how to lead in the midst of this new experience. Thankfully, my co-leader Jess, can now count this current trip as her third leading such an adventure - experienced to say the least.
We've been doing what we can at a community project and 'orphanage' (not really, the kids are placed with 'adoptive' parents in on-site apartments). Many of our days have looked like manual labour and/or working in the day care centre with kids from the surrounding 'informal settlements' (or shanty towns).
The vision of this place is amazing - it's really about the WHOLE Gospel message - providing life for all. The community of mainly Africans is dedicated in their mission of not just seeing through the lives of 48 (or so) children but also providing opportunities for those local people who come into the sphere of influence. Quite an amazing place I say.
I've had the opportunity to learn how to hand-mix more than one cubic metre of concrete and brick mortar. Jonathan and I have been sharing the last couple of work days in constructing a brick wall with Innocent and Victor. The girls have been sharing their time between other site work (like weeding or creating tire retaining walls), spending time in the day care, or visiting the informal settlements nearby. There is always opportunity when we are not 'working' to just hang out with the kids here. It's currently a school holiday (or break) and so the kids are outside much of the day. We've also all shared in a bit of a youth program last Friday evening, going so far as to make the first performance of a skit and chatting with the kids about it.
Weekends have provided a chance to get out into the city of Johannesburg and visit a few malls as well as a friend's home for some African braii (a barbecue). We've visited a church in the city as well as the church her at this community project. Next weekend we hope to adventure into the lands north of the city and witness some of the beauty of the land.
In the midst of this all we've made at least three trips to the clinic for two health problems which are now on the mend. We've also been learning the finer art of communicating as a team and as co-leaders. Certainly there is also the day to day art of figuring out where people are at and walking with them through the struggles of the day.
Here's some pics to throw your way! (not the greatest - more to follow in coming posts I do hope!)
Jonathan & Innocent at work on the brick retaining wall - Innocent wouldn't pose for me...
A view of the wall in progress - to the right are steps we are working on as well
Some of the girls and site crew at work on the tire retaining wall - beautification in progress!
Rochelle, Dortje, and Cheryl enjoying some coffee at Mugg & Bean this past weekend
The lounge of our apartment - just Cheryl and Jonathan hanging out with Piet
