VISIT TO UGANDA AND THE NILE RIVER

We went to Uganda the 21st of July through the 25th to do training for a new couple who just arrived there a couple of weeks ago.  They are Ralph and Madilyn Howard from South Ogden. 

Ralph and Madilyn

 We also went with Bruce and Melinda Kinghorn, who are the other couple we work with here in the Area Office.  Normally, just one couple would travel to do training, but because this is the first training Susan and I have done, Phillip asked us all to go.  Besides, the Kinghorns will be finishing their mission in September, so Susan and I  will be doing all of the training in the next several months to come. The Howards had a couple of weeks of “crossover” with the previous couple.  We like that to happen because if gives the new couple a chance to explore their new country and visit some of the projects that have been done. 

We arrived there in the evening and were picked up by Godfrey, who works in the mission office, and the Howards.  We were surprised to see large crowds of people out on the streets still shopping in the dark.  Godfrey said that most of the shops are open every night until midnight and then re-open at 6 a.m. the next morning.




These are some fancy couches and chairs

Some beds for sale

There are about 100 bananas in each of those bundles

 He said that everything is cleaned up and stored for the night. Many of the shops had huge amounts of different things (shoes, furniture, clothes, etc.) for sale sitting out on the ground. It would be an enormous job each night to clean it all up.   I was amazed to see the throngs of people, adults and children.  We commented that it almost looked like a parade.

The neighborhood lumber store

Does anyone have a toothache?

InstaCare?

 The driving, traffic congestion etc. is crazy there.  We thought Addis Ababa, Ethiopia was bad, but the driving in Kampala makes that look like a Sunday ride in the park.  Cars, trucks, motor scooters (boda bodas) and pedestrians everywhere, and the only rule of traffic is that whoever gets his nose in first owns that spot in traffic.  Driving, even for passengers is not for the faint of heart.

 

 

One of the many taxi stands

Notice the 'no parking' sign

 

She must have a strong neck

 

The Howards live in a nice apartment building.  There are apartments for the young Elders and Sisters also.  Each morning at 6 a.m. we could here the Elders having a great time playing soccer in the courtyard  below our window. As it was in Uganda, there is a high wall surrounding their building with electrical wires and a 24 hour guard at the gate.

 

Each apartment has it's own water tank.  When Elder and Sister Howard first arrived, their water was brown and they thought that was normal. One of the sister missionaries visited them and told them there was something wrong.  They were able to get their water tank cleaned and it looks much better now.

 

The missionary apartments

 

A tree full of avocados waiting to be picked

 

 

 

View out the window.  It was very lush and green.

 

 

We went to the Mission Home and visited with President Chatfield for a few minutes and then went to a nice mall for lunch and did some grocery shopping.  Even though the traffic was crazy, Elder Howard did a great job and we saw lots of interesting things on the way.

 

A cart full of chickens going for a ride on the back of the bike

 

A typical shopping area

 

We worked really hard, training E/S Howard from 9am till 8pm Wednesday and Thursday and then Friday evening from 7 to 10 to finish up some financial stuff.  They were great students, anxious to learn and eager to get busy trying to help people there in Kampala.
Stay tuned for Part Two, our trip to the Nile.