Just before Christmas, we made our first trip to the equator. We flew into Entebbe, Uganda, right smack on the equator and at the edge of Lake Victoria. Some may remember the movie, Raid on Entebbe, about the dramatic rescue by the Israeli military of the airline hostages being held by the infamous despot Idi Amin. It took place at this airport and it still looks about the same as it did in 1976. The plane is still there. Surely you remember Idi Amin Dada, who when asked to describe himself said, "I am His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Dr. Idi Amin,VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular." Hmmmm.
Well, we went to Kampala, Uganda to train the new missionary couple who will facilitate the PEF and Church Education System in Uganda. We did plenty of work, but they were nice enough to show us a bit of the country while we were there as well. The following is but a glimpse into life in Uganda...a beautiful, green, lush tropical garden that is reaching toward 2nd world status- and that will be accomplished with gospel principles in their lives and more education for the masses.
The view out of the flat where we stayed, and a normal view of Kampala's rising middle class residential housing area.
This picture is particularly for a son-in-law, Brock, who is an expert builder in Idaho. Do you even see a 2x4? Can you imagine? All sticks. Unlike your bidding process in Idaho, Brock, labor factors 20% and materials factors 60% and 'payoffs to local govt' factors 20%. All raw material for construction must be imported.
Lots and lots of local produce growing everywhere
More fruit - mangos
more fruit - avocados
Ladies selling their paper beads. A major item in Uganda. They are detailed, colorful, take a lot of time to make and sell for $1-2
Market day for the locals. Fascinating to observe
Here the merchants are fixing their lunch to eat while at market. They are heating maze, which looks like our corn, but is much much tougher and far more starchy than our corn.
Egg man headed to his stall
Beef being brought to market. These make the Texas Longhorns look like 'weenies'
These are the one's we hope will benefit most from the programs we are here delivering to their parents.
This is not rush hour, just mid morning in Kampala. All of the locals get around by taxis...either the mini van type or the mini bike type
The local scavenger, garbage forager, not very pretty, Maribou Stork. He stands 5 feet tall and has a huge wing span
Our accommodations while we stayed in Uganda. Mosquito netting is standard with the territory since they have a serious malaria problem here.
This is one of the many Latter-day Saint chapels that dot the landscape here. They are the finest buildings present wherever they are built and are well attended. The religious faith of these people is remarkable. They are not encumbered with so much of the material trappings that western cultures seem to demand, so they are much more open to spiritual things as opposed to material things. they are humble and unassuming...and the meek shall inherit the earth.
This tree marks the source of the Nile River and is quite magnificent. It is growing out of solid rock.
This is the Source of the Nile River. It begins at Lake Victoria and runs NORTH for another 4,000 miles through Uganda, Sudan and Egypt, eventually emptying into the Mediterranean Sea .
The White Nile beginning its drop to the sea
An 8 foot long Monitor Lizard searching the banks of the Nile for bird eggs
A young boy in a dugout boat navigating the rapids of the Nile while fishing for the delicious Talapia fish
Country road market...and I mean 'country road' as in unpaved, pot-hole laden, very bumpy, dirt road
Stepping away from subsistence farming, means going to market to buy your food. This means getting the food to market to be able to sell it. So, to market, to market...
Then home again, home again. These ladies are carrying jack fruit. It looks like a watermelon, but it is definitely not! Smells strong and we are told it tastes bad. The seeds are the size of walnuts, but in season it is a staple item.
Life for the majority of Ugandans remains this, but it is changing slowly.
We say goodbye to Uganda for now, and to their hardworking and colorful people.(notice the paved road...things are improving!)
"The secret of contentment is the realization that life is a gift, not a right"
Stay well...
9 comments:
You have the most interesting posts of all. Besides all your other magnificent pictures, I am really taken with the tree at the source of the Nile. It is astoundingly beautiful. What stories you will have to tell when you come home and what amazing memories you will have. You are doing a great work - one that will make such a difference in the lives of so many people, for generations to come. Love you both.
I always think your last post was my favorite until you post your next post. Wow...that was a lot of "post"! I love your quotes that you attach with your pictures and thoughts. And, I love seeing the pictures of the people of the area. It truly reminds me of what is important and makes me long to be where you are just for a time to experience it all. To become unassuming and unmaterialistic...what a better world this would be.
Love the post. You both are so luck to be able to experience all of this. I love the kids in all your pictures. They have nothing but are always happy. So many more of us need to be like that. Beautiful country. Thanks for the update, I was starting to wonder what happened. But I guess I am not much better with my blog. :) Love you.
Jim, I was wondering if you could get me a one of those wooden boats that guy was taking down the whitewater of the nile. Looked like that would be a pretty fun fishing trip. Also interesting is the building tactics. Looks like a lot of work for what was completed.. Brock
Thank you for capturing pieces of Africa as they really are, not as they are through the eyes of a Westerner. There is much that is beautiful and far more spiritually progressive and evolved there, isn't there? It's so magical.
I love your posts and your pictures are fantastic.
What is there left to say? These lovely young people have said it all. Brittney is here in the kiosk showing me once again how to operate the computer in order to get the blogsite. I don't know when they took the block off but am delighted and will keep trying from time to time to get your "posts" once again. Yes, your pictures are just fantastic and Dad and I are sure you will be on the Speakers' Lecture tour for quite a long time after you return. We have missed being in contact with all of you including the children. Thanks for all the writeups and pictures-that makes it a lot more understandable and a pleasure to see of course.Love, MOM
ok, so i've seen your post and am now getting around to commenting. I loved it. The view from your flat was breathtaking. I am jealous that you saw the nile. Beautiful tree. I have ALWAYS been fascinated with egypt and the nile... wish I could have been there too. The paper beads are really neat, you didn't by chance think to pick me up some???? If now, maybe next time :o)
The picture of the cute naked little boy is so cute! Can I have him? I just wanted to take him and squeeze those chubby thighs. Why are my kids just skin and bones? I really think he is adorable and I love his smile and happy face. I think that I could love another child as my own one day...
I miss you guys and am counting down till we meet again.
How I love to read your blog and look at the amazing pictures. It is the closest I'll ever come to seeing Africa. I love to read your comments. How wonderful it must feel to make such a difference in people's lives. Thank you for sharing. It won't be long till you come home and I look forward to chatting with you and hearing your magnificent stories. Love from Reading, Becky
I think going to Uganda is awsome and the way they use what they have to make stuff like paper beads is creative. When I grow up I would like to be apart of this mission to help people in Africa.
Hope for Africa from AJ
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