Ugandan Hospitality

Everywhere we go in Uganda, the people are so friendly! They have such good manners and hospitality is an important aspect of their culture. From people on the street to those at our Guest House (hotel), and especially when you are a guest in their homes.

In Kikondo village, after passing out the shoes and chapati, the 5 girls and Vicky & I were guests of Musa & Waswa's family. We were offered Cokes and Musa's mother made us roasted maize (corn on the cob). It was good and very nutty, like a cross between corn and corn nuts.

We have been very blessed to be made to feel so welcome, and to be able to glimpse daily life - outside of what the tourist would usually see.

Shoe Day in Kikondo

Today we went with the girls (Rachel, Arielle, Renee, Daniella and Shana) to Kikondo (sounds like Chi-condo), across the bay of Lake Victoria from Jinja. We visited to pass out some of the shoes Rachel and Arielle collected last summer. With that we also passed out oranges and a tortilla-like bread that is a local treat.

It was a MOB SCENE! My duty was to try and keep order, and to document the event with photos.

Vicky with Waswa, a boy that Rachel and Arielle have sponsored through high school.







(L-R: Rachel, Renee, Daniella, Arielle and Shana with some of the children)

Vicky here....my first appearance as an author to this blog! I just had to add a bit about our day at the village. When Rachel and Arielle launched their campaign to bring shoes to the children of Uganda, I never dreamed we would actually be there to witness and participate in the distribution. It was amazing!! The children went absolutely nuts and the Moms of the smallest babies were even more persistant...pushing the smallest children to the front of the lines. It was completely crazy!!!

We were so blessed to be a part of this huge event! Both Dave and I want to express our sincere gratitude and thanks to all of you who have supported this program and have generously helped to make it possible! So many kids who have almost nothing now are the very proud and happy owners of their very own shoes! We are so thankful to all of you and so proud of the work our girls are doing here. Their passion for these people shines through in everything they do. We can truly see why Africa has captured their hearts...It has captured ours, too!

On Safari!

"On Safari!" Never thought I would say that! It was incredible. We left at 6 am Monday morning and drove ALL day to Murchison Falls National Park (about the size of a small state in the US). Traveling with us is our daughter, Rachel, her friends: Arielle, Katie, Daniella & Shana, and Andrew Simpson - a New Zealander who lives in London,

On the way we stopped by and went Rhino tracking. There are only 6 Rhinos in all of Uganda. They are in a special preserve currently and they will be introduced to Murchison Falls Park over the next year or so, and we saw all of them.

We went Chimpanze tracking in the Budongo ForestTuesday morning. Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning we went on a 'game drive'. Wednesday afternoon we went on a boat trip to Murchison Falls (Hippos, Crocodiles and Elephants - oh my!) Thursday we went to the top of the Falls and then back to Jinja. Lots of adventures!

We stayed at Paraa Safari Lodge (very posh by Uganda standards...hot running showers). The Ugandan people have such great hospitality. I will post more of the safari pictures when I return (the file sizes are too large and the internet is a VERY slow 230.4 kbps).

We are all healthy, and have met many wonderful new friends. Rachel and Arielle are thriving here and, for those who haven't visited their blog - try it: www.olegirlsmission.blogspot.com
Half way now! We will go to market today with some of the kids. We love these little kids and can see why Rachel & Arielle, and so many others, are passionate about them too.

More later...

We made it!

At the Source of the Nile River in Jinja, Uganda.

We (Rachel, Arielle, Vicky & I) took 9 toddlers from the Amani Baby Cottage (ABC) for a 90 minute boat ride on Lake Victoria - then to the Source of The Nile, and then upriver to see some monkeys in the trees along the Nile. It was GREAT FUN!

Our boat



more later...