who needs kampala?

Melissa and I went to the Kajjansi market this afternoon to buy 180 plastic wash basins. This is what we're giving each of the children for Christmas. (Inside each basin will be a variety of small gifts.) In years past, the team has stayed in Kampala, which is a good 45 to 60 minute drive from the orphanage. This is the first time we'll be staying in Kajjansi; it will be much more convenient and will give us more time to spend with the children each day. And everything we need seems to be right here!

Mel has really figured out how to get around in her new environs. She introduced me to the Kajjansi produce market, where she buys most all her food. She carefully selected and purchased all the ingredients necessary for the guacamole (each from different vendors she has come to know) she's going to whip up in honor of my arrival! She's been a perfectly lovely hostess, giving up her bed for me and basically sharing all she has here with me. Melissa has gone out of her way to make me feel welcome; I am so grateful for that, as well as for all the work she has done preparing for Team 4's visit. I can't imagine a better Change the Truth/St. Mary Kevin Orphanage liaison than Melissa.

Back to the 180 basins... We had to go to several different shops in the marketplace to find so many. It was quite a sight: two Muzungu women negotiating at shop after shop, carrying stacks of the brightly colored plastic bins to the car and then cramming them in so there was barely enough room for us. I imagine we are still a hot topic of conversation among the vendors.

Last night Mel's kitchen swelled with the enthusiastic presence of teenage cooks. Joseph, Rosette, Jackie and others worked for several hours over the hot stove. They prepared matooke, fried potatoes, gnut sauce, meat stew and spaghetti, and was it ever good! These kids are so multi-talented and are incredibly willing to share their gifts. After serving dinner to all 28 secondary school students and a few assorted adults, they cleaned up the kitchen and the rest of the house before listening to music. (I may or may not have beaten Nelson in Banagrams, a re-match we have been looking forward to since last December, while the others did some dancing.)


I managed to do a little shooting after the yoga class this morning. The rest of the day was filled with a meeting with Rosemary, a boda-boda ride into town to get some flip-flops (slippers) for some girls who have decimated their since last year and then moving into the hotel where I will stay with other members of Team 4 when they arrive on Saturday. More on the hotel later.

Here is a photograph I made of a young girl shaking out her bedding after she had washed her sheet and blanket.

Until tomorrow!