I wanted to go to Emmaus before heading home to America. Emmaus Center/Community is the first place I ever went in Uganda, two years ago this July! I call the people who live there my first family.
Going to Emmaus this time was not just to see friends, though that is a major encouragment and bonus. I was going shopping... for land! Land prices in Uganda are still fairly low, and you make money right away when you buy. I am trying to think long term about sustainability projects for any work that I begin.
My plan is to use the money I make from any odd jobs I get in America this summer, together with some small savings, to buy an acre of land out in the villiage near Emmaus. I want to buy there because the prices are good, the location from Kampala is not too bad, and I really trust everyone there. I know that they would be helpful if there was ever any issue.
So I finally motivated myself to leave on Friday around 12:30, after making eggs which I forgot to put butter in the pan, so they all stuck to the pan. Sigh.
I packed very basically, knowing I would just bunk in with a friend. I jumped on a boda, because the cost/benifit analysis determained it was worth it. Getting into the city, the traffic jam was insane. It took us forever to get to the park, weaving in and out of frustrated taxis, avoiding massive potholes, and bicycles hauling huge loads. Thankfully I use New Taxi park to go out to Lewero, which is about 10 times more sane than Old Taxi park. (Just imagine hundreds of taxis, potholes, people... in a very small space)
I got in the taxi and read my book (the end of poverty) while young men with water, soda, food, and other goods banged on my window trying to get my attention to buy their wares. A large mother with two children squeezed in text to me. It didn't take long for the 16 seat taxi to fill, and we were on our way. It wasn't too long of a ride. I looked out the window and thought how strange it was that two years ago I came here for the first time, never imagining I'd be here two years later. The sun shown brightly on the beautiful variety of green vegitation. It was good to be out of the city.
Trundling along, most of us in the warm taxis were dozing off when all of the sudden there was a HUGE CRUNCH. Then a very loud scrapping sound as all of us jumped and were wide awake. The driver skill fully pulled the car over. I looked behind us to figure out what happened. There was a tire in the road! At first I thought that a tire had actually fallen off the car, but it hadn't pitched in the way you would think it would. We sat, waiting in the heat, hoping that the repair wouldn't take all day. The conductor ran and got the tire. It was the spare, and they secured it and we were on our way. We arrived faster than I expected, suddenly seeing the Emmaus Primary and yelling "Stage" as fast as I could!
It was wonderful to be at Emmaus, it's a very peaceful place with many people I love. There was a prayer meeting Friday evening, which was nice. Some of my friends from Masaka were there, which was strange, as it always is to see people in the "wrong" place. I also got to see one of the youth I worked with in Sudan! That was wonderful. He was a part of Fr. Herald Brock's youth group in Torit, and was sent to Emmaus for their 6 month DTS formation, similar to what I staffed at Yesu Ahuriire in Mbarara. It was great to see him and reconnect with him.
I had tea with my favoriet 4 year old, John Paul. He loves white people and always knows who I am, Aunty Noelle. We sat together and drank tea and ate bread, after playing with a bouncy ball for a while. He then informed me that he would escort me to the next place I was going. I love that kid so much!
Love is a hot shower. My friend Francis heard me say that the only reason I would pay for a room was for a hot shower. He talked to me later and said that he would turn on the water heater for me in one of the houses and that I could use it! So after the prayer meeting, I was able to go and get warm water flowing over me. It was so beautiful! I realized that Francis's love language was acts of service... and I did feel loved!
This morning, after a good long sleep in, I got up and said hello/good bye to friends. I got to have a wonderful chat with my dear friend Clemintina, who agreed to be the signitory for land that I buy! She and I hope to be able to partner on some income generating projects in the future.
Then I packed up and walked down the road with Francis, who is my land assistant, to see a plot which is for sale. I wanted to get an idea of size. I think I am going to go for an acre... which hopefully will cost a bit less than 1,000 USD.
I jumped in a taxi home, which was not as exciting as it had been on the way out. However, once we reached town the taxi decided to take a back route. It ended up that we got stuck in a huge traffic jam. I wanted to go home. It would have taken 2 more hours if I'd stayed in the taxi... and I couldn't take it. So I jumped out, got a boda to Wandegye, a taxi to Nakawa, and a boda home. It cost about a dollar more, but was totally worth is... I got home and had a pineapple and mango fruit salad for lunch.
Now... back to work.
Going to Emmaus this time was not just to see friends, though that is a major encouragment and bonus. I was going shopping... for land! Land prices in Uganda are still fairly low, and you make money right away when you buy. I am trying to think long term about sustainability projects for any work that I begin.
My plan is to use the money I make from any odd jobs I get in America this summer, together with some small savings, to buy an acre of land out in the villiage near Emmaus. I want to buy there because the prices are good, the location from Kampala is not too bad, and I really trust everyone there. I know that they would be helpful if there was ever any issue.
So I finally motivated myself to leave on Friday around 12:30, after making eggs which I forgot to put butter in the pan, so they all stuck to the pan. Sigh.
I packed very basically, knowing I would just bunk in with a friend. I jumped on a boda, because the cost/benifit analysis determained it was worth it. Getting into the city, the traffic jam was insane. It took us forever to get to the park, weaving in and out of frustrated taxis, avoiding massive potholes, and bicycles hauling huge loads. Thankfully I use New Taxi park to go out to Lewero, which is about 10 times more sane than Old Taxi park. (Just imagine hundreds of taxis, potholes, people... in a very small space)
I got in the taxi and read my book (the end of poverty) while young men with water, soda, food, and other goods banged on my window trying to get my attention to buy their wares. A large mother with two children squeezed in text to me. It didn't take long for the 16 seat taxi to fill, and we were on our way. It wasn't too long of a ride. I looked out the window and thought how strange it was that two years ago I came here for the first time, never imagining I'd be here two years later. The sun shown brightly on the beautiful variety of green vegitation. It was good to be out of the city.
Trundling along, most of us in the warm taxis were dozing off when all of the sudden there was a HUGE CRUNCH. Then a very loud scrapping sound as all of us jumped and were wide awake. The driver skill fully pulled the car over. I looked behind us to figure out what happened. There was a tire in the road! At first I thought that a tire had actually fallen off the car, but it hadn't pitched in the way you would think it would. We sat, waiting in the heat, hoping that the repair wouldn't take all day. The conductor ran and got the tire. It was the spare, and they secured it and we were on our way. We arrived faster than I expected, suddenly seeing the Emmaus Primary and yelling "Stage" as fast as I could!
It was wonderful to be at Emmaus, it's a very peaceful place with many people I love. There was a prayer meeting Friday evening, which was nice. Some of my friends from Masaka were there, which was strange, as it always is to see people in the "wrong" place. I also got to see one of the youth I worked with in Sudan! That was wonderful. He was a part of Fr. Herald Brock's youth group in Torit, and was sent to Emmaus for their 6 month DTS formation, similar to what I staffed at Yesu Ahuriire in Mbarara. It was great to see him and reconnect with him.
I had tea with my favoriet 4 year old, John Paul. He loves white people and always knows who I am, Aunty Noelle. We sat together and drank tea and ate bread, after playing with a bouncy ball for a while. He then informed me that he would escort me to the next place I was going. I love that kid so much!
Love is a hot shower. My friend Francis heard me say that the only reason I would pay for a room was for a hot shower. He talked to me later and said that he would turn on the water heater for me in one of the houses and that I could use it! So after the prayer meeting, I was able to go and get warm water flowing over me. It was so beautiful! I realized that Francis's love language was acts of service... and I did feel loved!
This morning, after a good long sleep in, I got up and said hello/good bye to friends. I got to have a wonderful chat with my dear friend Clemintina, who agreed to be the signitory for land that I buy! She and I hope to be able to partner on some income generating projects in the future.
Then I packed up and walked down the road with Francis, who is my land assistant, to see a plot which is for sale. I wanted to get an idea of size. I think I am going to go for an acre... which hopefully will cost a bit less than 1,000 USD.
I jumped in a taxi home, which was not as exciting as it had been on the way out. However, once we reached town the taxi decided to take a back route. It ended up that we got stuck in a huge traffic jam. I wanted to go home. It would have taken 2 more hours if I'd stayed in the taxi... and I couldn't take it. So I jumped out, got a boda to Wandegye, a taxi to Nakawa, and a boda home. It cost about a dollar more, but was totally worth is... I got home and had a pineapple and mango fruit salad for lunch.
Now... back to work.
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