Letters from Uganda: 2 DAYS IN KAMPALA

We spent 2 days in Kampala (Thursday and Friday) with our trainers, Elder and Sister Frost from Hurricane, Utah who we will be replacing in Gulu. Gulu is a city of 150,000 , about 330 kilometers north of Kampala, an area referred to as the north country. We're staying in the apartment where the Frost's will be assigned. There are 5 other missionary couples living there, with various assignments, such as humanitarian, office, church education system, physical facilities management, and perpetual education.

Robert spent time learning how to drive in Ugandan traffic which is a whole new learning experience. Not only do we drive on the left side of the road, but we have been issued a 4 wheel drive pickup with the steering wheel on the right and a stick shift that you shift with your left hand. There seem to be no driving rules. It's every man for himself, pedestrian and driver. The roads are full of people, bicycles, motorcycles called boda boda's, trucks, buses and cars and potholes which require much maneuvering to avoid.

Thursday night, we went out to eat at a Chinese restaurant which was excellent. Friday, we visited a bakery which was in George's home. He makes cookies, packages them in 5 or 10 per package, seals them with a candle and takes them to stores in a taxi, where he sells them.

The neighborhood near George's home and business

Friday night we went out to eat with the Sutterfield's and the Frost's. The Sutterfields will be leaving in a couple of weeks to go home. They took us to the Kabira Country Club which was very nice. Our food was good. They had African, American, Mexican and Indian food.

We take medicine every day to prevent malaria should we be bitten by a mosquito, and sleep under a mosquito net every night. Incidentally, the only time we have seen a mosquito so far was the first day in the mission office. In case you're wondering, the toilets are pretty much the same as ours. In the Kabira Country Club, we did see a toilet that was in the floor, however.

This bird was outside our window in Kampala and he stayed long enough for a picture.

The next morning, we left for Gulu. That drive took us 6 hours and was very intense driving. Don't think we want to do that again. Maybe we'll be here for good now. Following are some of the things we saw on our drive. At one place, we could see the Nile River and saw some baboons with some babies but the battery on my camera died.

Here is a map showing where Gulu is.

Notice the gecko on the windshield. He stayed with us for quite awhile.

It's amazing how the women balance on the back of the bicycles and boda boda's. They usually have a baby tied to their back also and they don't hang on to anything.