David in Uganda
Author: admin | Date: November 28, 2006 | Please Comment!This is a place of real contradictions, with wealthy estates from the British colonial times next to abject poverty with street children everywhere and some 4 million orphans from one estimate. Still, there is a strong sense of community here, with families and extended community supporting each other in basic survival and comfort.We traveled quickly over land to Jinja, which is also on Lake Victoria. It is a city with a much smaller population and beautiful flowering trees and great vistas of rolling hills bending down to the Lake outlet, the source of the Nile River.
People are gracious and hospitable, mostly speaking some English (fortunately, since neither my daughter nor I speak Lugandan!) Large families reveal a serious lack of family planning, education is marginal and not available to those without cash. Jobs are scarce and pay poorly ($1-2 per day) epitomizing the African struggle. Still, there is much hope here ince the Museveni government brought some stability. Unfortunately, the evidence of corruption is predictable and visible everywhere. Safety and security is present in this smaller community but Kampala has an alarming growth in crime. We’re on to Mbale next week after getting the adoption papers from the Jinja Health Department. Wish us luck!
Stay Safe on the roads and take care of each other – like they do here.
David”
11:50 am on November 28th, 2006
David,
I wish you and your daughter a very successful trip. She is very fortunate to have you join her and help her out with this adoption. I will keep all of you in my thoughts and prayers and look forward to the safe return of all of you, your daughter and grandson.
Sincerely,
Lyn
12:16 pm on November 28th, 2006
David,
Good to hear that everything is going well. Today in Calgary it was minus 29. Interesting how community bonds manage to prevail even in abject poverty. Best of luck with the adoption!
Evan
3:05 pm on November 28th, 2006
Top of the Season to you and yours David!
Stay safe! We need you back here! I do hope we get to jam soon. Kevin Hataley Calgary, Canada http://www.KHatSuperNal.com
6:35 pm on November 28th, 2006
Hi David, Tandy, Mark, wow, you’re in the blogosphere! Looks great. Here’s sending you heaps of best wishes and prayers for your safety in Uganda and your journey home. Be patient.
Lisa and Keith Archer
7:21 pm on November 28th, 2006
Hey, David, great to get an update. Lots of corruption here too. We’re now struggling with the federal government and the lies and distruths they told us and over 2,000 delegates at the World Microcredit Summit in Halifax.
Have a great, productive and safe trip. Thinking of you a lot and of all the impactful things you are doing in our world- you remain one of my modern day heroes.
Keep well
drbob
5:27 pm on November 29th, 2006
Hi David,
The atlas is open at our house; and prayers are following you
through Africa, like they did on your first trip there 30 years
ago. Hope this trip brings a renewed awareness that God’s
love and care for you are the same now as they were then,
as is ours. We will see you when you get back. Blessings to
you – all three!
As always,
Laurie, Richard, and Arlen Jesse