Well. Now I get it. We sit in traffic FOREVER, breathing in fumes from every side. There are no emission controls in Uganda, and no driving rules, apparently. There are trucks, buses, taxis, bodas (taxi-type motorcycles), chickens, children, cows... If there's one lane turning right 3 lanes of cars try to make the turn. Suzanne is amazed I don't flinch more often.
We do a number of errands in the morning, and get to really see Kampala. Aside from the traffic horror, the main impression is "third world". Many of the roads (and this is the capitol city) are dirt. Shacks and shanties abound on all sides. Meat hangs in open booths on the street. Goats and chickens walk on and feed on food in the market that is for sale to humans. Trash is EVERYWHERE - there are entire embankments, with markets and buildings on top, that are actually MADE of trash.
While waiting in the car while Suzanne exchanged money, Zeke saw a baby sitting alone on the sidewalk of the busy city street. The baby looked about 10 mos old, but also looked malnourished, and was very still, so I'm guessing it was more like 2. We watched for at least 10 minutes, watched people look and then walk on. Finally two young women came, and one just lay on the sidewalk next to the baby. Within minutes a man came and chased them away - so where was the man when the baby was there alone? Another heartrending moment...
We met with Emily at Ray of Hope, and shared with her some of our vision for the women. We made arrangements to visit several women in their homes tomorrow. I have her the money from Our Lady of Lourdes and from the necklaces, and toured the 4 rooms of the building. It is nice and dry, secure, and a great set-up for what they are doing. They are actually already outgrowing it! We spoke briefly of a building down the road a little bit that they are looking to buy, which will house the school (the school is currently in... for lack of a better description, horse-type stalls. Dirt floors under a rickety roof, separated by partial wood partitions. There is one indoor room that is rotated. When it rains, water sweeps through the entire area, bringing filth and trash with it and causing school to cancel.
Zeke went with Bosco and Vincent to the Youth Sharing Hall and did break dancing for 2 1/2 hours. The local kids got quite the kick out of the "muzungo" (white) boy and his dancing, and Zeke had a ball!
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