A day of Rest and Relaxation

Picture of Comfort (Blessed's niece and Zach, the boy who we needed a care order for)

Today is R&R day. I finally am just bummn' around backpackers today :)

I was going to go to the pool, but I can just lay outside and start working on tanning my legs that way for FREE!!! I have met quite a few people over the past two weeks. They come and go and I am still here. One man is biking Uganda as a test run from Amsterdam to Capetown! His bike is lost right now, but hopefully will be on the next plane into Entebbe.

While in Kabale I bought 36 yards of fabric. I am going to make some wraps and hope that it won't make my luggage too heavy on the journey back. Also there were tons of bats! The Pictureto the left are bats, bats, and more bats!

The people who run backpackers are very nice and are trying to teach me new Luchiga words. Luchiga is the language that is spoken in parts of Western Uganda and in Kabale. This morning I learned, "Wali ota", which means "good morning". However the spelling might be off. I am also trying to learn Luganda, which is spoken mostly in Central Uganda and Entebbe. I only know "Webale", "Thank you" , "Oli Otya", "How are you" and "Gyendi" "I am fine." I am sure that the staff here will help me with my Luchiga, teaching me new words each day. I need to make flash cards to remind myself.

On another note, Acacia Tree did not ge the twins from Kampala. Robin felt that although they live in a room about 10ft x10ft, the mother is breastfeeding and finding alternate resources and has a small business. The twins are a little underweight but not malnourished, and twins are generally underweight when born. The only trouble would be if they needed injections or antibiotics everyday. There could be funding available for those. Injections at a small little clinic cost around 1,500 USh (exchange rate last time I checked was 2294= 1USD) That doesn't seem very much to Westerners, but to a mom who needs to buy food, water, pay for rent etc. That is a significant amount of money, especially when she only makes 2,ooo USH a day or sometimes for a week. It is hard to draw the line between when helping is hindering the ability to provide for their family and when they truly need the help. (Picture to right- this is part of Blessed's family's land in the village).

A woman came through backpackers travelling from South Africa to Ethipoa, she was in her 70's. She mentioned a book about charity helping or hindering in Africa. She couldn't remember the exact title so if someone knows of it let me know. Walking down the streets here some people as well as kids expect a hand out from Westerners. I feel that since there has been so much involvement of Westerners just providing, not teaching, then leaving then that has become the expecation of all Westerners. I am glad that our ATECOP program is about giving the tools to the community to help themselves and not depend on Western volunteers. What will happen when Westerners decide Africa no longer needs help or is unable to help? Does this mean that the White infrastructure that has been built will fall? Or have Africans been given the tools to continue?