Wednesday morning Anne, Steve and I got up before sunrise (about 6:00) and got ready very quickly. Mr Lubega drove us to the taxi park in Kampala, and helped us find the right one to take us to Jinja. The traffic was incredibly congested (“a jam” they say here) and even at that early hour it was wall to wall people. The taxis here are actually long minivans, rated to sit 14 people. There are no American vehicles here—just Asian and European ones. The taxis are all Toyota Hiaces, and have these cute little fold up seats inside to make an isle where people can go to the back seats.
We were not crowded at all, but the journey was quite long. We passed the huge football (soccer) stadium that Steve figures seats 70 000+ people. We also crossed the River Nile (too fast to enjoy it, really). We also saw beautiful green countryside. We didn’t get to Jinja until just after 10:00, where Sam was waiting at the taxi stop. The first thing we did was visit the school where Joyce’s husband (Patrick) worked until his death. Although we didn’t stay long enough to meet the headmaster, we were able to take a few pictures. It was not far from the place the health clinic used to be, where Joyce worked before they came to Canada.
We stopped at the market to buy pineapple and mango and then we got on another taxi (bus) to Sam’s family home. This was more crowded than the first: 21 people all squished in. Thankfully the windows were open.
Sam gave us a wonderful tour. First we saw the house, which is quite lovely: several bedrooms, kitchen and living room, and even two bathrooms. It has a very large garden outside (puts mine to shame) with banana, mango, jackfruit and
avocado trees. We met the cows which graze on 12 acres of pasture, as well as the cattle stalls and milking parlour.
We were so glad to finally see the home where Joyce and her young family had started out. Having heard all about it when we were in Canada, it was also great to see Sam’s working farm. In that area of Jinja, it is so calm and picturesque. Steve said it reminded him of a summer cottage at home…
…which was quite a contrast to the hot, dusty trip home. First a bus into Jinja and then another into Kampala. By then the day was extremely hot and the taxis overcrowded (I was hoping to sit beside some chickens, Tanya, but no luck). By the time we got into Kampala it was rush hour and the traffic was unbelievable chaos. Thankfully, Amazing Anne saw Mr. Lubega on the sidewalk (if you had seen how crowded the sidewalk was, you could better appreciate what a feat that was) and he led us to where he had parked the car.
All the dust that had soiled our clothes, filled our noses and covered our feet made me think of the biblical practice of foot washing. That beautiful act of hospitality makes much more sense to us now.
We were not crowded at all, but the journey was quite long. We passed the huge football (soccer) stadium that Steve figures seats 70 000+ people. We also crossed the River Nile (too fast to enjoy it, really). We also saw beautiful green countryside. We didn’t get to Jinja until just after 10:00, where Sam was waiting at the taxi stop. The first thing we did was visit the school where Joyce’s husband (Patrick) worked until his death. Although we didn’t stay long enough to meet the headmaster, we were able to take a few pictures. It was not far from the place the health clinic used to be, where Joyce worked before they came to Canada.We stopped at the market to buy pineapple and mango and then we got on another taxi (bus) to Sam’s family home. This was more crowded than the first: 21 people all squished in. Thankfully the windows were open.
Sam gave us a wonderful tour. First we saw the house, which is quite lovely: several bedrooms, kitchen and living room, and even two bathrooms. It has a very large garden outside (puts mine to shame) with banana, mango, jackfruit and
avocado trees. We met the cows which graze on 12 acres of pasture, as well as the cattle stalls and milking parlour.We were so glad to finally see the home where Joyce and her young family had started out. Having heard all about it when we were in Canada, it was also great to see Sam’s working farm. In that area of Jinja, it is so calm and picturesque. Steve said it reminded him of a summer cottage at home…
…which was quite a contrast to the hot, dusty trip home. First a bus into Jinja and then another into Kampala. By then the day was extremely hot and the taxis overcrowded (I was hoping to sit beside some chickens, Tanya, but no luck). By the time we got into Kampala it was rush hour and the traffic was unbelievable chaos. Thankfully, Amazing Anne saw Mr. Lubega on the sidewalk (if you had seen how crowded the sidewalk was, you could better appreciate what a feat that was) and he led us to where he had parked the car.
All the dust that had soiled our clothes, filled our noses and covered our feet made me think of the biblical practice of foot washing. That beautiful act of hospitality makes much more sense to us now.
2 comments:
That's really refreshing... this also reminds me the Nooma video "Dust", when they remark on the significance of being covered with the dust of your rabbi after following him.
Careful, strong, kinetic, amazing - Do they know that these are the words we think of when we think of you, too!
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