The Sweet Sounds of Uganda

Hello friends and family!

If there’s one thing we’ve learned so far in Uganda, it’s that Internet is far more difficult to find that anticipated. :/ We’re sorry we can’t post more often than we have, but we’ll continue to trek into the city to find usable Internet cafés!

A view of downtown Kampala

The weekend has been full of adventures with children, adults, Ugandans, and Americans alike...and we're learning how musical a place Uganda really is! Choirs, rappers, even country music at our guest house...we've heard it all. :)

On Friday we visited the Chapmans, an American couple with Campus Crusade for Christ who have been living in Uganda since the 1980s—it’s amazing to hear an American speak Lugandan (the native language here) so fluently! Ken and Lynne were very welcoming, and took us to a service at a Ugandan Ministry service. I’d love it if American churches picked up a few tips from a Ugandan church service—it proved to be such a warm and sincere environment. Whenever the congregation was especially happy about something a member was sharing, the whole church burst into song. Many members of the congregation shared stories and there was a lot of laughter. Each of us got the chance to share our testimonies, and the service was in both Lugandan and English.

Yes, that is a real African sunset behind us. Stunning!

Afterward we walked to the nearby Mengo Hospital (one of the oldest in that part of Africa!) to visit patients and pray with them. I personally got to meet some one, two and three-year-olds with malaria—the most common disease among children in Uganda. The families of the sick children were so happy to have visitors, and some even wanted photographs with us and exchanged email addresses. It was incredibly humbling to see families so willing to speak with us as they were going through a rough time.

Kate with baby Josiah at Mengo Hospital

Yesterday our team traveled to Bavabuka Youth Arts Center for an art gala that promoted peace and human rights in Uganda. The younger children there were immediately hugging us and asking to take photos with our cameras—one of the eleven-year-old boys got some awesome video footage with mine. :) It was great to be surrounded by Ugandans who were as passionate about the arts as we are. Drawings and poetry hung all over the walls and the artists were playing pool and break dancing to hip-hop music (Karla learned some new moves!). Outside, artists were silk screening t-shirts and selling homemade paintings and jewelry. Everyone was thrilled to have so many muzungas at their party. Many of the artists were MCs (improv rappers), and they were so talented, especially the cute little ten and eleven-year-old boys! We engaged in conversation with some artists and land developers who are interested in how economics, religion, and media are affecting Uganda. We’re very interested in finding long-term opportunities with the organization because of its dedication to human rights and art philosophy.

Apparently the peace sign is big around here. :)

One of the young MCs at the Bavabuka Youth Center gets down with it

What can I say? Joe is a popular guy.

Well, it’s my birthday so I think I’m going to go eat some pineapples and hang out with the team (we’re taking it easy today)…there’s nowhere else in the world where I’d rather turn twenty-one! Also, Jennifer Tharp joins our team tonight as she flies in form South Africa! Pray that her travel will be safe…bye for now!

Betsy