Angel

Meet my new pal, Angel.  She is 14 years old.  We met onsite at another borehole repair.  She quickly decided that we were buddies!  Very well spoken and curious girl! We played with my phone, watched people work, then I did some work, and then we walked to the market for salt.  Angel told me that she goes to school during the week and to church on Sunday.  She told me that she "asks God for things and he answers."  When asked what things, she replied, "knowledge."   She is 14 people!!!

 We asked Angel to walk us to the place where the village people used to get their water.  It was a 1mile walk.  Along the way, we saw coffee trees, cassava, papaya, mangoes, very large termite mounds and more!!

Below- this is where we ended up after a 1 mile walk.  This blue-gray liquid is the former watering hole for these people!  They are now able to pump water from a working well!  Can you imagine this?  I barely could.  The idea that I would have to walk 1 mile, fill my jerrycan with this stuff, and then carry it home was astounding to my brain.  This tree, oh this tree.  They believe this tree is very spiritual as is the water.  If you cut the tree down-it will grow back.  If you step in the water, the water will slap you!  watch out

It blessed me to work for 4 hours along with the team and UWP in the hot sun, get rained on for a bit, have muddy hands from the ropes and pipes, in order to bring these people water!  Give water, give life.

Culture

WOW!!  What a culture!

       Culture-- an umbrella term which encompasses the social behavior and norms found in human societies, as well as the knowledge, beliefs, arts, laws, customs, capabilities and habits of the individuals in these groups.  We experienced authentic Uganda, no doubt. 

Uganda food consists overall of starchy staples like potatoes, beans, and cornmeal mixtures, greens, plantains, bananas, sweet potatoes, cassava, and peanuts. Posho, it is usually made from maize. Matoke, locally also known as matooke, is a starchy variety of banana. The fruit is harvested green, peeled and then cooked and often mashed or pounded into a meal.

This man transports a large bag of coal, on his bicycle, for the kitchen.  This was used to burn in the stove to prepare our meal.  Also, as we were walking into this restaurant, we passed a corner hut that had some raw chickens hanging.  Little did we know, that was our lunch! Fresh means fresh.  

 Muslim community school, we visited while on site to repair a bore hole (well).  The students were almost at the end of their school year, ready for summer break!!!

 Not an unusual site to see---buckets or jerrycans being carried home.  We quickly realized that the head and arms are the way to transport everything, well, almost everything!

 Jackfruit! Large fruit that grows on the trees everywhere you look.  Sweet but not a favorite of mine.

 Local market - -  so many choice items.  Each vendor beckoned us to enter their place and buy something from them.  "Sister, come to my store," was something I heard all afternoon!  (I had to leave some of my essentials behind just to fit the market items into my luggage)

Spiced African tea--- yes!  What a delight, for sure. So much so that I bought each component to bring home and share with my girls during tea time.  The tea is brewed in steamed milk and a special spice blend is added.  Think chai tea--but better!!

We had the opportunity to visit a Ndiri Troupe Cultural Center in the evening for a spectacular experience.  We watched the troupe perform Ugandan tribal dances as we ate a feast!

 These ladies could stack up to 8 vases on their heads and still dance around and walk!!

Very common to see woman carrying items on their heads

 Children everywhere! Those eyes...

                                                           ...draw you in!

Everybody was willing to help do the work, from the biggest to the smallest!

                                                               
                                                                ...those smiles just melt me!  

These people, though poor, are very rich.  Rich in what really matters!  What a blessing to experience this culture. To be immersed into the lives of an underdeveloped country. To eat their food. To walk their walk. To buy their artwork and crafts. To hear their music. To see them dance.  It was such an honor to be with them!