First Impressions

The Smile House

Today is our sixth day in Uganda, though to me it feels like longer. We are settling in well and our friends living here keep reminding us that this is our home now as well as theirs which makes us feel very welcome and comfortable. We have all been getting on well and no arguments so far apart from how long certain people spend in the bathroom... This week we have been taking it slow to get used to our surroundings and adjust to the culture, and although I want to start getting involved in the projects, I can see that this is sensible as it is a huge change.

The Living Room

We have been getting used to the Smile House which is very nice - it even has internet and hot showers which is brilliant! However, next Saturday we will be going out into the sticks to work in a village school for about ten days so no home comforts there! I am very much looking forward to that and I will write more about it soon.

The Kitchen

As well as being a home, the Smile House is also where many local volunteers come to work in the week. We have daily devotions with them at 8:30 every morning which is really nice and encouraging. Us Gappers were talking about how wise many of the local people are, and how much they trust in and rely on God. Even the things they pray about helps me to get an idea of how different this culture is from the west. Firstly, they pray a LOT more! They thank God for everything - for example, getting from place to place safely, everything we eat, everything we have, every new day and for keeping us safe every night. I hope this is something I can take home with me and use in the future.

The view from our road

This week we have had a few meetings with the volunteers and project leaders to do with children's work. We have been discussing the children's clubs, holiday camps and school teaching. I have learnt so much from their experience and wisdom and although it sounds a bit crazy at times, with up to 130 kids at one club, I can't wait to get started.

Yesterday we took a walk through the local area with Jacob - one of the volunteers. It was such an experience to walk through the community and I see why people say that being there in person is so different to just seeing the pictures. It isn't a slum area but it is still shocking the level of poverty that, you know exists, but it hits you when you walk through it and see how many people live in it. It was funny and lovely to see the little children waving at us shouting "muzungu!". The children are so beautiful but some of them break your heart.