Part duex

September 12-13th

The last day and a half or so has been a whirl wind, I'm on sensory
overload here! Isaac has taken me to a orphanage downtown Kampala that
we are trying to work with, we would like at some point to build a
house for the children as currently they have no place to sleep but
the cement floor in a small room in the school. I think there were
about 80 kids there, some had gone away during the day to work, the
total number of children residing there is unknown, dozens come and go
everyday. I was fortunate to meet the lady whom has been taking care
of them. She has organized with local farmers so that she receives
food at low cost or for free, with that she feeds these children once
a day. I brought with me a few bags of sweats for the children, they
went ballistic, I felt like I was drowning in a sea of children,
crowding around me they all yelled, white man, white man! Although
then enjoyed the candy they all wanted to touch me, children so small
they could fit in my shoe sauntered up to pinch my leg. Isaac took me
around to look over the land and meet with others who have been
helping out at this orphanage. I met with a local student who had just
graduated from university with a child psychology degree and applauded
her for investing her time into a much needed profession. Before I
left Isaac pulled me aside and introduced me to two very young brave
individuals. The first a girl, age approximately 16 and a boy who was
around 18-20 years old. Both had been captured by Joseph Koni, a
notorious rebel leader that makes Hitler and Stalin appear like mere
school girls. The atrocities this man has committed are horrendous and
I speak with much fervor when I wish for his demise. Koni and is army
is known as the LRA the lord's resistance army, I have known about him
for a few years now but have finally come across his path of
destruction. Knoi is most famous for his night attacks on villages,
his hoards of children whom her manipulates and drugs are set to seek
out and kidnap more children. Oprah, and I believe George Clooney as
well as several young American college grads have been the most famous
to bring this to the world's attention. In order to avoid being
kidnapped the children walk miles before dusk to safe houses – churchs
schools to sleep in order to avoid the rebel groups, because of this
the Gulu walk was created, a charity walk now done around the world to
raise support for this cause. There is an exceptional movie called War
Dance, it's a documentary about children captured and forced to fight
in his army whom have escaped and turned to the arts (dancing) as a
way of rejuvenating their lives. Watch it, it's good, I have seen a
number of times before. Back to the Two brave ones I had just met (
they were brother and sister); they had managed to escape Koni somehow
and seek refuge in a local school where they soon were taken to
kampala to stay in the orphanage. The young girl told me her story.

Koni had come into their town and had killed their parents right in
front of them as well as their other older siblings. They were taken,
the young girl to be one of Koni's many mistresses and the young boy
to be a soldier in Koni's army. As she told me this she did not look
up, her face grim and her eyes like glass it appeared she was very
close to crying when she spoke of her parents. I can't even imagine
what they have both witnessed, my throat choking as I spoke to them
applauding them for their bravery and consoled them over their losses.

Walking away from that orphanage was hard, literally several children
still clinging to my arms. I had felt like I got kicked in the face,
my stomach felt winded and my eyes want to fill with tears. I tried to
stay strong for them though, they looked to me for strength and help.
When we were back on the street Isaac put his arm on my shoulder and
said how was that? I told him exactly how I felt, he's said he's been
there and seen that many times and always leaves feeling horrible.

It was Saturday and I desperately wanted to see my friends who had
recently graduated and moved to kampala to do the same kind of work I
am doing. I left the orphanage and took a bota, a motorcycle taxi to
meet with them. These Bota drivers are insane, driving 80km on the
yellow line, cars passing by at either side, I have never felt so
alive...Luke called numerous times while I was on the bike, I felt bad
having to keep telling him to call back as I did not want to talk
while riding on this taxi. Although fun these boa's are very
dangerous, there are few traffic laws and cars often drive carelessly.
I will not ride them often, only when necessary. It is great to be
able to talk to my family from over here, the phones are really really
cheap and great to use. It was really great to finally see a friendly
face, Kevin and I exchanged a big hug and a laugh when we met and ran
off to the local but for a frosty brew! He took me back to his place I
was eager to see where he was living. Compared to me he lives in club
med, he lives inside a compound, and has a made who comes around to do
his laundry and cleans his place for about 10,000 shillings which is
less or around 6 dollars, good deal! Most of all he has two of the
most prized possession I can think of right now, a shower (only with
cold water, and a beautiful porcelain toilet. I have never been so
happy to see that beautiful porcelain goddess before, I did not have
to go to the bathroom but felt like I just wanted to sit on it for a
while for good times.

On the way to another friends place Kevin and I went out for dinner,
he asked me what I wanted I just told him anything but potatoes! We
ended up going to a beautiful restaurant owned by a Canadian and had a
huge steak dinner – for only 9,900 shillings which is around 6-7
dollars, good deal! Kevin said it seemed like I was a little hungry
and glad to see meat as I wolfed down the entire plate not leaving a
crumb behind!

I was planning on staying at another friend tylers place that evening,
he had more room and an extra bed, on the way over Kevin broke me the
news, he told me that I could shower there and that tyler had hot
water coming from his taps, kev says, you think my place is nice, wait
till you see Tyler's. Tyler lives in a place that is mainly foreign
aid workers, they have huge mansions, front lawns, full plumbing and
wireless internet!!! It felt sooooooooooooo good to have a warm shower
I also ended up using his porcelain goddess a few times as well, it
was wonderful! He had a bunch of friends over that night all foreign
aid workers, some from England but most were from Canada, it was great
to talk to them all and network. After a good long meet and great we
went out to a bar for some drinks and to do a little dancing. I had
such a great time laughing and conversing with other Canadians, tyler
and Kevin both said to me that I am more than welcome to come stay
with them for days or weeks if I ever desire to. For now I think I
will visit – every chance I get. I was a little jealous of Tyler and
Kevin at first but came to realize that the situation I am in in
Mukono with my family is unique and a much better experience for me, I
am enjoying every moment and wake up every day with much anticipation
to go explore!

Although what I have seen the past day and a half had been devastating
my mind tells me to stay focused, I am here to complete several
objectives and I will take them on one at a time with baby steps if I
have to. Do not worry about me.

This next week school starts again, the children here have three terms
with a month off at the end of each term. Monday we will be at the
school and greeting the children as they arrive. I also be starting me
research on the community, I have a lot of work ahead of me. I need to
make visits to homes and talk to many people, record information and
collect accurate data for my proposals. I will fill you all in with
what I am doing as I go along.

More things to mention…
- I went on a four hour walk to see a 3 acre plot of land that we plan
to develop into a student resource center/health clinic and home for
orphanes around the area. On the way there I noticed a hole in the
ground approximately a foot in diameter. Isaac says, "Matthew do you
fear snakes," I replied, ones that big, yes." Isaac told me that often
they stretch across the road and young Jacob who is only six much jump
over them on his way to school – yikes! They saw that the snakes are
afraid of humans and go away when they see you, but then again, they
say a lot of things.
- I will be trying new foods this next week, they consist of White
ants!!! Cow brains! And a few other disgusting sounding things that I
am dreading to find in my bowl. I plan to try them all to the point
where I cannot stomach them, I would like to make a honest effort in
this as they seem pleased that I have been eating all the local food
so far.
- They don't take the skin off the cows, the beef they eat still has
the old black and white shag on them, they say its healthy for you, I
haven't had a piece of beef yet with it on it and again am dreading to
see it.
- I am about to escort young susan back to boarding school where she
stays for an entire term. The other girls, Deborah, ruth and Rebecca
will be looking after me while she is gone.
- Since I am living with a family I am starting to pick up the local
language more than my friends whom all live with Canadians in the
city. They think its hysterical when I say things in lugandan. I
learned how to saw thank you for being so good – which I use
frequently for the kids at the orphanage.