As For Me and My House We Will Serve the Lord!

Today we got a taste of what life in Uganda will look like. Having much to accomplish, we separated today and went to work. Alisa went to Hope for the day while Randy hit the road with Patrick the builder to get some errands done.

At the home I (Alisa) found a more peaceful version of the children. With only Lia and I there as visitors we found the children more into their daily routines. It was nice and a lot quieter. We started off the day by continuing the interviews we had started when the team was here. We are attempting to talk to each of the 94 children and ask them questions to update their files. This worked great until the battery ran out on Lia’s computer (Hope had no electricity today). So then we went to plan B, “Sock Day”.

All the Kids with socks.

A portion of the socks that our children raised were handed out to the children of Hope. They were so cute coming in one by one choosing a pair they liked and fit them. They smiled from ear to ear with excitement. When the children all had their socks, the staff each selected a pair themselves as well. Then, came some of the people who live in the village, pleased that they were invited to share some of the blessing; choosing a pair for themselves. Finally we commemorated the event with a picture. Later in the day we had lunch, walked to the boy’s home, visited with friends and read stories to the children. I brought a book out and just sat on the front steps. Soon I had a crowd around me and began to read. But before I could read, two of the boys began to take turns reading to the rest of the children. When the book was over they said “we want to read it again!” So of course we did. Life is slow here. We can take time to visit, to walk, to read a story once again. I noted that this is the life the Lord is calling me to and I think it suits me well.

I (Randy) on the other hand went to run a series of errands; we went looking for a mobile modem for our computers and found the only office in Uganda that sells them! Next we were off to look for a medical clinic to see what they have to offer. Yes Randy went to look at a medical clinic. It not what you would expect to see in the States, but more of a rundown country business run out of a side room of your house. When you get inside, you see they were rather adequately supplied. There are 6 British and/or Ugandan trained MD’s along with a few specialists, two ambulances (I have only seen one on the roads in the past two weeks), and I was rather impressed. After a lunch of a packet of Costco peanut butter crackers and some bottled water, we were off to look for a 4 wheel drive vehicle. The story is the Ugandans bring in Japanese cars and trucks and sell them by the 1000’s. The newest one I saw was a 1999; the good ones were 1995 to 1997. They are in great shape and only have between 60K to 110K miles! I can only figure they drive about 2000 to 3000 miles a year in Japan. The fun part of all of this is the used car salesmen over here could have come from the “schlocky” dealers on 82nd Drive in Portland! They used the same lingo, the same pressure, the same everything. I had to laugh at this. We did find a great 96 FourRunner, if I was ready to buy for around $11,000. Then it was time to try to cross town to get back to Hope and pick up the gals. An hour later we arrived tired and worn out, but with more knowledge of what we are getting ourselves into. After spending the day with Patrick, I know that God has brought both Show Mercy and myself a great Friend. I feel our lives here are beginning to gel.

Thanks for following along with us on our journey of life in Uganda.

Laundry Day.