Today’s blog is brought to you by the combined efforts of Lucy and Graham
African time
In true African style, the day started half an hour late with a drive down to Airport. There we split into two teams, with the larger going to Shewa, and the smaller cramming into a small, blue pickup and heading for Nyibuko.
How do you fit 17 people into a pickup?
No it’s not a joke. Three go in the front of the cabin, four in the back, and a further ten in the flat bed; four cross-wise behind the cabin and three down each side.
After a rather bumpy journey, we arrived at our destinations only to discover that both teams had managed to leave all their kit at the centre! Fortunately the people who had already arrived for interviews waited very patiently whilst we organised ourselves and then finally the interviewing began.
example of sunburn (see below for details)
Don’t forget the factor 30.
The church at Nyiubuko didn’t have a roof, so we started interviewing under an open sky.
Despite being in the shade behind of one of the walls for half the morning, and completely inside for the rest of the day, some of us still managed to catch a little sun.
After a slow start the day went without a hitch and we were able to interview over a hundred children.
Pens and post-its please people!/ I predict a riot!
Once the interviewing was complete there were not so many children still around the church, as such I (Lucy) decided to take the opportunity to hand out the stationery items given by my work. After a frenzy of little hands, when each child had something I noticed the adults behind holding out their hands as well. It was only at this moment that I realised that such seemingly insignificant things would be so important to the adults here too. It’s hard to imagine having so little that a simple disposable pen could mean so much. Thankfully there were plenty to go around.
A quiet evening stroll
Following a meal of saffron rice, peas and pumpkin leaves at Airport, most of us decided to walk back to the Karibuni Centre. The sun was sinking below the horizon as we made it down the rough, dirt roads, filled with milling people and lined with stalls in front of the shops, selling everything from fish to charcoal, fruit to shoes, cloth to vegetables.
Our route took us across the main road, where some kind motorists actually stopped to let us cross, then up past the university where a band on the back of lorry were playing loud music, promoting a certain carbonated drink (that isn’t quite as nice as Coke in some peoples’ opinions). Apart from the volume (again turned up to eleven) this was quite listenable to, until the local mosque joined in with the evening call to prayer.
We arrived at Karibuni with just enough light to see by and headed off for much needed showers.
Glow in the dark missionaries
Refreshed, the team met up for late night snacks and debrief of the day. Mark and Kathy took pity on those who had caught too much sun by turning up wearing tee-shirts in highlighter yellow (Mark) and pink (Kathy). Unfortunately there was an element of colours clashing whenever they stood close to those with slightly reddened skin, but the thought was there.
Tomorrow we’re over the hump; half-way through the planned work this week. Early start again so bed beckons.