Saturday, 2 March 2013

Uganda Thus Far (CV)


“Do not take the night bus,” is pretty standard white-girl-traveling-in-Africa advice.  But how were we to know that when we booked tickets on the noon o’clock bus leaving Eldoret it wouldn’t leave until after dinner?  We spent a total of 8 hours loitering near the Kampala Coach booking office expecting our bus to arrive “any minute”. Luckily two of the girls who have graduated from Mercy Home and are now attending college in Eldoret, Lucy and Jennifer (hi and thank you Katalina!), came and kept us company for a while.  

Our bus finally came, and we lurched off into the sunset around 6:30pm.  After a fairly uneventful journey, we arrived at the deserted office in Jinja, Uganda at 12:30 in the morning.  Luckily we had the number for a taxi driver who came and brought us to the Mto Moyoni retreat centre.  Thanks for the suggestion AnnaBettyBurns!  We finally got to our room at 2am, showered off all the travel nasty and collapsed into bed. 

We spent a total of three nights in Jinja.  To sum up our stay:riverside hammocks, motorbike rides, frustrating banking, frustrating phones, good food, geckos, rude men, hot sun and KAYAKING AND SWIMMING IN THE NILE RIVER.

We left Jinja around noon on Wednesday and arrived in Kampala about two hours later.  We are staying at a friend of a friend of a friend of our parents’ house until any unrest from the Kenyan election on March 4th has blown over. So far we've spent our time relaxing on the shores of Lake Victoria, playing cards with the girls at the house, studying Swahili and reading.  It's been a pretty chill last couple of days.  This morning we went to a children's feeding program in the ghetto... hot, hectic and awesome!

I’m enjoying Uganda, but missing Kenya more than I’d expected.  I miss Mercy Home, I miss Swahili and I miss ugali.  I’m looking forward to getting back to my comfortable Kitale stomping grounds for a few weeks before coming back home to Canada.  

God bless you richly,
Candice

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” 
Hebrews13:8                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
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2 comments:

  1. Anonymous4 March 2013 at 07:47

    Our God is so faithful, I praise Him for giving His angels charge over you always, but especially in Africa. So today is the big day for the elections, I am anxious to hear on the news how they are going. I pray they are peaceful. I'm sure MCCH is anxious to have you both back and safe as well. Enjoy your last 3 weeks, it has been such a wonderful experience for you both. We are so exicited about seeing you on the the 29th. You are such a blessing to us, we love you dearly...♥ ♥

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  2. Karen9 March 2013 at 21:22

    I don't know girls - swimming in the Nile River. It has Bilharzia - a really nice parasite you can take home with you, so be careful. When I was in Jinja, there were no ATMs, but there's a really great restaurant there run by an Aussie woman I think and it had great food. There's also the Christian cafe on the main street.
    If you get to Kangalamira district, I have a wonderful friend there. He lives beside the YWAM medical clinic.
    Take care girls, and enjoy Uganda.
    Love,
    Karen Van Riesen

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