Saturday, July 12: An Eventful Day

I slept very, very little Friday night. I was starving for water but I couldn’t keep it down. I tried to go because this was the big Saturday School presentation, but I got sick again before we made it to the van.

A first: I had been a bit sick before in Uganda, but never so sick that I had to stay back. And it was on the very day of the Saturday School Program, the trip to the zoo, and the Turkish Restaurant!!

So my eventful day was filled with events you don’t want to hear about. But the team had a very eventful day, and Lisa is going to tell you about it! So welcome our guest blogger!!

This entry must start with a Friday night update, Jim began getting sick as soon as we arrived back on Friday night. It was a long night and we both hoped that it would all be over by morning. When it was time to get up on Saturday morning, Jim followed through on all routines that we had established in the first week. He was dressed and ready to give it a try as we headed down to the lobby to meet the others. But unfortunately it soon became all too apparent that Jim was not going out with us this day.

We left the team and Vincent and Joseph in the lobby and I followed Jim back to our room. I needed to be sure that he was able to get all the way back to the room, he was that sick and help him get set up for the day. What I had realized on the walk back was that I needed to get the money for the day from him, as well as the camera that we are using for all the photos of the sponsored children! He pulled out a stack of shillings and handed them to me. My heart sank! Jim has always handled everything on all the trips. I didn’t even really understand the exchange rate without having to stop and count on my fingers. If not for the courage of the fearless team the day would surely be lost!

So, I walked quickly back to the lobby and explained that Jim wasn’t going to make it and we headed off.

This was the first Saturday School for the Texas team to experience and the first official Saturday School for Jeff to be a apart off! These are always a big treat because the children have been working on songs for the visitors. The choir sang several songs back to back. They do it in a style that is very compelling. Each songs melts into the next as the soloist changes. The stage was packed with young singers. This is new. In the past there have been several singers but now it is shoulder to shoulder with singers. I grab the video camera and head to the front. I am doing just fine then it hits me as I start to recognize faces! Our children are growing up! In the front line of the choir stand Mugisha Moses ( Linda and Jack) . He had been in baby class on David and Jim’s first trip over! He had won Jim’s heart when he slowly made his way down the aile, up onto the stage, and into Jim’s lap everytime Jim came to church for a service. The other children were turned back but for some reason Moses always made it through the adults watchers. Now, a P4 student he stood proudly with his friends and sang and danced! I knew how proud Jim would be of him but for now Jim will have to wait until we get home to see the video of Moses.

Next up in the program, Bbale Jonathan (Wayne) called up Dorren (Leila), Patrica (Brady-Friendship Class), and a third young girl up on the stage for a song. If you have ever seen our video of the melt-your-heart little girl lead her class in “Color Yellow, color Green………” you have met Dorren. She is now in P4 and quite a young lady. She is a total orphan but her original headmistress has taken her in as her own daughter. Then there was Patrica. Patrica won Jim’s heart over on the first trip too. She has been taken in by one of the first administrators of our program. Her parents were heading back to the village and planning to take Patrica back with them. But it was arranged for her to stay in the home with this family and she still stays with them. She is still in school and singing in the choir. I tried to tell her where Jim was today but I could see disappointment in her eyes.

There was a new and significant person helping with Saturday School. His name is Ben and the children call him Uncle Ben. He is a young, enthusiastic man who seems to have a real love for Christ and the children. He has started helping when the folks who had been helping with the children had responsibilities at their universities on Saturdays. He talked to the children about how other people had believed in them by sponsoring them and sending their school fees. He challenged the children to do their very best because others believed in them. This was just the message that Jim would have delivered if he had made it. I was glad that Uncle Ben understood the purpose of the program and shared it so well with the children!

Then things got really crazy! The children had finished their singing. Jeff had brought baseball caps that his sons had donated to the children in the project. Grace had a list of top students and called them to the stage. Jeff explained that the hats were his sons’ favorite and that they wanted the children in the program to have them. The list of children was called and Jeff presented the hats. The children beamed as they wore their new hats.

Next, there were gifts for the children that we had missed during the week and photos to be taken. I knew from past experiences how crazy this could be! Kim took over 100 pictures at the Saturday school she attended. Jim had arranged it with Vincent and Grace to see most of the children in the schools, so I knew that it would be that bad. Only problem was that I didn’t know how many children had actually come today. With David as my trusted photographer we headed to the back of the office. The space is about five feet wide and twelve feet long, now that the land lord has added another office building. Today it was a perfect place for photos because it was not rainy and the sun was cooperating. Grace was handing out blankets and basins in a precision style. We had arrived to this space after it had begun so I begged her to finish and then we could start at the beginning with photos. She helped me out and agreed to my request! David was my saving grace. As Grace called one child after the other, David would kindly check with me before taking the photo to be sure I had recorded he number as well as the visual clue to help identify the child easily once we get back home with all the photos! …With David the photographer…

With this complete we gathered up the zoo crew and headed out to the food court at Garden City mall. Today’s group included: Kirundi Mathis (Jim and Lisa), Bbale Jonathan (Wayne), Kigali Elijah (Leila), Nakawuma Allen (Judy and Al), and Kisadye Grace (Will and Patty). All these students had been selected because they were top students. Our first stop was for diesel for the van. I had almost tearfully asked Jeff to serve as my banker as we stepped off the porch of Kipling House, as we began the day. I knew that I would get terribly lost alone trying to keep up with the costs for the day’s events. Jeff had quickly agreed to be my banker for the day….With Jeff the Banker….

Next was the food court. Now, the food court would look to you like any U.S. food court. Only difference is the level of customer service or shall be say customer manhandling. As we sat down the group is rushed by representatives of each restaurant with menus that they push in front of you. Then they stand over you whispering in your ear which items that you should choose. It is all very overwhelming! The team really helped out. David and Jeff served as the point men and tried to ward off some of the most aggressive representatives in an effort to give the children a chance to decide. Soon every one had placed an order, except Jeff and David who had been busy. They placed their orders and joined us at the table. We all tried our best, adults and children, to have conversations as we waited for our food. Angela is very good at getting the children to open up and Danielle just has a natural ability to reach them. …..and Angela and Danielle.. The day would not be lost.

Vincent let me know as our food came that he had heard from Jim and that he was feeling better. This made me feel much better and I was able to enjoy my lunch. Most the children chose chicken and fries and soda to drink. With so many new experiences, a familiar food must have been helpful.

Once we finished eating we had to pay! This was where Jeff, the banker, came to bat! The restaurant representatives are equally as eager to get their bill paid for as they are to sell their food. So, as soon as they saw that Jeff was paying for the meals, he was covered up! He skillfully managed to pay each receipt and get change back and pay the next. I am afraid that I failed to give him the money fast enough and he put in some of his shillings too! I will always be in debt to Jeff for coming to my help for this! I know that left alone I would have been under the table crying! Thanks Jeff! This also really made me realize what Jim keeps up with on a daily basis for every trip over!!

Next stop the zoo! We all napped, except Vincent, on the way to the zoo. The zoo is near the airport about a forty-five minute ride. As we pasted the tip of Lake Victoria the students gasped and began to trade trivia that they had all learned about the lake in school.