Trip Agenda

I promised a trip agenda so you'd know what we did each day.
Tuesday: Depart Bloomington around 11:30 for a 2:30 flight out of Indy to Detroit. We got delayed a bit with final packing and a misplaced passport. From Detroit we flew to Amsterdam. The part of the airport we were in was extremely busy and, of course, was very international. It's a major hub for Northwest and KLM Airlines. I learned my carry on should have been on wheels.
Wednesday: This day felt basically lost with the time change. We flew from Amsterdam to Entebbe. When we arrived at the airport, it was about 9p. Stephen, our driver and weeklong escort, met us. We loaded the van (and boy, was it loaded down with 5 people's luggage and all the toys, trinkets and supplies). We got a glimpse of rural life and city culture in the dark; even noticed some businesses, including several barbers open at night. We stayed at Hotel Equatoria in Kampala.
Thursday: We got up, I was the only one with a hot shower (sweet!), and had a wonderful buffet breakfast. We then loaded up for the long van ride to Nyaka. We first exchanged our American dollars for Ugandan shillings ($1=1700 shillings). We crossed the equator, went thru Mbarara, had a little van trouble due to the rough roads, and got to drink in a daytime glimpse of rural life and city culture. There are few traffic lights. They drive on the
wrong" side of the road. Traffic was crazy! That's one reason why we appreciated Stephen so much. We knew none of us could have driven a mile in those conditions without wrecking. We arrived at the school after dark and were greeted by the guest house residents.
Friday: We took it easy, trying to adjust to the time change. We took a walk through Nyakagyezi (the village closest to Nyaka School) and to Kambuga--the larger village at the end of the road. The guys took lots of pix, and we enjoyed a coke at one of the stores.
Saturday: We went to the Seventh Day Adventist Church--the church closest to Nyaka School. Because the new school term started on Monday, they were hosting Nyaka students who sang several songs for them. They prayed for the students and the school. Several of the teachers attend there also.
Sunday: We got up early to drive the 2 1/2 hours to Kutamba School's new property for the groundbreaking. We then visited the temporary facilities (One of my favorite Uganda stories happened here). We ate lunch at a local hospital which was known as a safe local restaurant. This is the day we really saw how green and lush this part of Uganda was--absolutely breathtaking.
Monday-Thursday: I spent time in the classrooms teaching the 5 purposes and VBS music. The guys took pix, interviewed people for their videos, did road work, hauled supplies and worked on mudding a room in the new kitchen/dining/office building. On Wednesday, the grandparents and guardians worked also, then offered us baskets and native crafts, and sang and danced for us. Thursday morning, I finished teaching and we passed out all our gifts and officially donated the 120 pounds of books we brought. In the afternoon, the Anti-AIDS club performed their musical drama for us. It was very powerful.
Friday: Travel to Lake Bunyonyi. Took a boat ride around the lake and got off on a nearby island before returning to our lakeside cabins. Enjoyed dinner out on the deck and a great campfire discussion before bed.
Saturday: Traveled to Lake Mburo National Park for the animal adventures, then back to Kampala to Hotel Equatoria.
Sunday: Shopping in the local markets, then a trip to Ginja where the Nile begins out of Lake Victoria. To the airport by 8 for our 11:00 flight out. Final snacks and shopping at the airport along with passport questions and security procedures.
Monday: We all appreciated having an American meal at Chili's in the Detroit airport after customs. Back to Indy to a special SOCC welcome just on the other side of security. My wonderful children met me at the church when we got back and took me home. (it only took 3 stop lights for them to get into a heated discussion--sure made me miss them. . .)