Saturday 29th – Monday 31st December 2007

Saturday we left the girls at home and headed to Rwanda for two nights, to see the country and visit some genocide memorials.  The first thing we noticed was the road to the border, which we used to think was awesome was nothing in comparison to the road on the other side of the border.  This is the first thing that one notices when entering Rwanda from Uganda, that the infrastructure is so much better.  Where there are meant to be straight lines there actually are straight lines, they even have road barriers and stone work on the side of the road where cliff faces are, to prevent rock falling onto the road.  The road from the border to the capital, Kigali, has some potholes, but it turned out to be the worst national road that we drove on, it is almost as a warning for when you are driving to Uganda again, for what to expect when you get there.

Although some things are better in Rwanda, making it look like they are more advanced that Uganda, it quickly becomes apparent that in many ways Uganda is actually more advanced then Rwanda.  Uganda is dirtier and rougher, but in Uganda there is actually a middle class.  In Rwanda, however, there is the well to do and then there is the poor.  This leads to differences like, in Rwanda not many people have mobiles, where as in Uganda, even those without jobs manage to have phones somehow.  In Kabale, which at times seems to be the end of the line in Uganda we can get money out of an ATM with cards from Australia, but in Rwanda you cannot.  The only way of getting money is if you bought US or Euros with you or you can go to one bank in the capital and use your card over the counter, they do charge a high percentage commission though.

Here is a photo of a Kigali suburb:

We had arranged for Pastor Frank to come on Sunday to tour around with us, but on Saturday we were on our own to try and find a guest house that Frank had told us about.  We made it to Kigali without any problems, and the scenery on the way was so so nice; terraced, green mountains that never seem to end.  Now that we were in Kigali we had the task of trying to find the guest house.  What takes 10 or 15 minutes took us around 2 hours.  This was not only because we did not have a map, or that there were not road signs, or that we did not have a clue where we were and where we were meant to go, but mainly that we could not find anyone who could actually speak English, to ask for directions to get us on the right track.  We managed somehow to get ourselves close to where we had to go and picked up a guide to show us where to go, but he could not speak English and had to keep stopping to ask for directions himself.  We ended up ringing the guest house and they sent someone to pick us up.

We were so glad to arrive, not only because we were sick of driving, but the people running the house were so nice and extremely helpful.  The guest house is actually set up as a place where missionaries can go for a break or whatever.  It was cheap, which we liked, but also it was the nicest guest house I have visited in Africa.  In the afternoon we headed back into town to visit the National Genocide Memorial.  I was very surprised at how well set up it was, and even though I knew most of what was displayed and taught through the memorial, it was a very moving experience; not only for us, but also for locals.  The events of 1994 are still fresh in many people’s memories, as evidenced by emotions showed while we were there.

I have decided not to talk too much at this time about the genocide as it is very emotional and much that I would say many may not want to read.  I may write a post a little bit later on as I did take many notes and could write a bit.  But I will leave all the details of the genocide memorials out for now.

On Sunday we made our way back to the town centre and waited for Frank to meet us, it was great having him come.  Although he cannot speak much French, he can speak the local language and did a lot of interpreting at two remote memorials we went to today.  If he was not there then we would not have been able to know what guides were saying, and that was the most important part.  We would have possibly gotten lost a few times without him.

Here is a happy shot of Quinton at Hotel Des Mille Collines, aka Hotel Rwanda:

Then on Monday we headed to a local lake as a sight seeing venture.  While we were there we also visited the church that was the birth place of the 1929 East African Revival.  Then we drove home again, returning to the potholes and dust of Kabale.

 Here is Frank at the Lake:

Thursday 27th – Friday 28th December 2007

Thursday I went to the drop-in and played ball with the boys.  I am very bad with a soccer ball, that’s for sure.  What was really good to see, was all the boys in their new clothes that they got for Christmas, they look like completely different boys.

Friday was preparation day, the boys of the house are heading to Rwanda for a trip around, planning to visit many genocide memorials and to see the country in general.  The girls did a big shop, I put the car in for a service; I went to the drop-in while that was happening.  I also checked up on the progress of the works happening at the Roberts house and in the afternoon we all headed to Akanyijuka and took the children to the park.

Wednesday 26th December 2007

I walked down town to visit the drop-in centre and bumped into Pam on the way down, so we walked and talked about all things Ugandan.  The show up was pretty small to start with, so I got roped into attempting to play a soccer based game, where I spent most of the time in the middle.  As time went on and we had started eating, most others had arrived and many had their new clothes on, it was great to see them dressed up.  I thought that they even looked like different boys altogether.  It is amazing how a few little things can make a big difference.

In the afternoon I took time out to catch up with some blog posts and to prepare dinner.

Tuesday 25th December 2007

Merry Christmas Uganda!!!!  Today we had our first Christmas in Uganda, which started with a cooked breakfast.  Then we headed to Pastor Edward’s church as Phil was sharing this morning.  Then we lazed about for the day, with the Wards coming over for a Christmas dinner.  It was great to host them and to really bless them, I think they really enjoyed it, as did we.  The photo above is some of Akanyijuka’s girls doing an item at church.

Monday 24th December 2007

In the morning Kathryn made a cake as today is Max’s birthday and we are heading down to Akanyijuka in the afternoon to celebrate. For lunch though we headed down to the drop-in centre to join in on the Christmas celebrations there.  We cruised down at 11 am and had a little running around to help set up, but mostly enjoyed the morning playing with the children and giving out sweets before lunch.  Lunch was a little late, but it was amazing that the boys, being street children, managed to sit around for at least 3 hours without any complaining or such.  Can’t imagine about 30 teenagers back home being so well behaved, it is a testimony of what a great job the Wards and Pastor Edward have done.  To add to my views, a lady came in off the street just to say what a difference she had noticed in the behaviour of the street children in Kabale, she said that they have changed over the last few months.

Lunch was surprisingly nice, Kathryn does not get to come to the drop-in much because I usually go when she is at school, but it was good to see her getting in and helping out with serving.  After lunch there was cake, and then they lined up and one by one gave them clothes and a mars bar to send them off with Christmas greetings.  To see their reactions after getting a pair of pants and a shirt (from the second hand markets, costing a couple of dollars each) was a good experience for me, I had to fight to keep the emotions inside.  I miss being at home with friends and family at this time, but being here and being involved with Saturday’s and today’s parties for children that had or have nothing is the best experience I have ever had at Christmas time.  Here are some general photos from the day (click on photos to see a larger picture):

   

  

  

 

Here are some photos of the volunteers and workers for the day:

  

  

 

Here are three photos of a boy named Giligie??, one before his present, and two after receiving them:

  

After the drop-in party we went home and headed out to Akanyijuka for Max’s birthday.  I think because they are not used to celebrating birthdays they are always nervous when it is their birthday, but they all enjoy singing and eating cake though.  Here is the birthday boy:

Sunday 23rd December 2007

Today I was lazing in bed for a while, when I suddenly remembered that Michael, Prudence and Junior were going to spend the day with their grandmother, so I quickly got ready, skipping breakfast, and headed out to collect all the people required.  I thought I was running late, but when I arrived to pick up Judith to go with them, she was not ready.  Then when we arrived to collect the children, they were not ready.  Which was ok by me as I got to play with the children a little, and the excitement about yesterday’s gifts was very high.   Children were running around everywhere trying to show us this or that.  When we finally set off, and nearing the children’s grandmother’s home, Michael started saying this and that (not that I had a clue what he was saying) in an excited tone.  When we got there he almost ran off leaving the others behind.  I take it that they were happy to be seeing their grandmother and friends.

 In the afternoon when I went to pick them up again the grandmother had come out to the road to meet us, and she would not stop saying how grateful she was for us bringing the children to visit and for having them in Akanyijuka.  I don’t know how she managed to get her old bones moving so much, but she was dancing and singing in appreciation.  The three children said that they had a good time, but did not want to stay, they definitely wanted to come back to Akanyijuka.  Over the next few days I noticed that Junior especially had changed after the visit, he was the happiest I had ever seen him.  I know all children are different, but it really reinforced our plans to take children back to where they came from to visit their families.  On arriving back at Akanyijuka all the children were still raving about their presents, that a few simple toys can mean so much is awesome when you think of how fussy we can be in the west.

Saturday 22nd December 2007

Today there was an air of excitement in the house, everyone was running around preparing for the party today, and before we knew it we were ready and had hours to wait.  Phil and I went to town to waste a bit of time, and ended up walking around the clothes markets, where I picked up some second hand Dockers shoes for around 12 AUD.  Not sure how much they would cost back home, but I am told they would be expensive.  Afterwards we had a lunch at Edirisa and then made our way back home, still with a couple of hours to wait.

Finally 3pm came and Phil arrived with the first car load of guests, mostly children.  As soon as they walked in and saw the balloons we had over the floor they went crazy and played for ages with them, until the second car load came and the inside got too crowded, so we let them go outside.  After a while we had the party food, and if no one else liked it the matrons certainly did.  Then the children went outside to run around the yard for a while so we could clean up and prepare for pass the parcel game and a time for giving out presents.  Here are some photos of the day, you can click on each photo to see a bigger view:

  

  

  

  

It was such an awesome experience giving the children this day and especially giving every one their christmas presents.  I think that it was the best Christmas for most people there, including myself.  To see such joy and excitement over the small gifts we gave them is a very moving and rewarding thing.  Here is a photo of those at the party, all the children, most staff members and volunteers:

Friday 21st December 2007

Today we took the car into the garage to try and get some new shock absorbers, as the roads here are very unfriendly to our car, wearing them out in record time.  We managed to get some replacements for the front, though they are very cheap and will possibly not last long (they were the only ones that would fit the Delica), but there was no one in Kabale that had the ones we needed for the back.  We will have to try and get some next time we go to Mbarara or Kampala.  While I was waiting for this to happen, and because there are no waiting rooms in the garages here, I went to the drop-in for a while, then met up with Phil for lunch, all within the ‘half hour’ I was told it would take to replace them.  When I returned one and a half hours later they were actually finished and you can actually notice a difference in the front.  In the front now you sort of lightly bounce over pot holes, where as the back just thuds through.

In the afternoon the girls took the matrons to buy some clothes for the children with money that people had donated for buying clothes for Christmas for the children.  While they did that Phil, Aurelia and I baby sat the children, and because it was sleep time most of the children were in bed when the matrons were leaving.  As soon as the last matron had closed the gate to go, however, the elder children popped their heads out the doors to their houses to check and then came out.  It was a good time today as the small children were sleeping and we got some time to spend with the older children.  Most of the time the younger ones seem to get most of the attention, so it was good to play with the older ones also.

Here’s a couple of photos that Aurelia took of me with the children:

In the afternoon and evening we were preparing for tomorrow’s party, I am not sure what time Erica went to bed, but I went to bed around 10:30 and she still had things in the oven, and a lot of cleaning up to do.

Thursday 20th November 2007

Kathryn and I had to go to Akanyijuka to see Prossy for a bit, I had not been there since Saturday, and it was great to see the children.  Phil took Elisabeth back to the dentist, he said that she is becoming very accustomed to the idea.  She was making motions to teeth being pulled from her mouth to the other children as she left and when she returned they were all excited to see into her mouth, which she was more than happy to open for them.

Wednesday 19th December 2007

Today there is not too much to say, except we went to Arcadia Cottages, overlooking the lake.  Aurelia had not been out there yet so we decided that we should take her for a look, we will take her out to one of the islands after Christmas also.  Sorry, I have no photos as it was a very hazy day.  One thing I did see that was odd was a street busker.  This guy had a very classy act indeed, with his scruffy street wear, a plastic bag and a little bit of water he managed to scare most people walking by, by rubbing the blown up bag and making rhythms.