I was incredibly excited for this trip but at the same time terrified as I was not sure what to expect. We travelled the agonising 10 hour flight from Amsterdam to Kampala where we landed in a gorgeous thunder storm which resulted in a power outage at the airport when we had arrived. We then travelled for 2 hours on a mini bus in the pitch black late at night to get to the guest house where we would be staying for the night. Now let me tell you, I thought the roads in Uganda at night were crazy but boy was I in for a surprise for what was to come during the days.
We then arrived at the guest house and went to our rooms where we were also provided with mosquito nets to cover our beds to avoid us being bitten. During the flight and journey to the guest house I had become very ill which I think was due to the anxiety of being in a completely different cultural setting.
Once we awoke the next morning we then proceeded to travel to Mukono which what was supposed to be a 2 hour bus journey ended up being a 6 hour journey due to the traffic which wasn't just only vehicles but also people walking through trying to get to where they were going. Uganda also has 'taxi's' which they call Budda Budda's which are like motorcycles that you hop on and they will weave in and out of crowds, on paths... anywhere to get somewhere to where they need to be! After the long bus journey we arrived at the other guest house we would be staying at for our first week in Uganda.During our first week we went to Seeta Nazigo School where we joined Pastor David and his family along with the children that went there. We provided them with eye testing and myself and Sarah provided them with some music and singing. This was such a wonderful week for me and was a real eye opener to what it is like to live in such a rural country. There were a few tears when we saw how malnourished some of the children were and we wanted to be able to help them in what ever way we could. I also provided face painting for the children and just used the week we had with them to give them love and cherish the moments we had with them.
Once the week had ended we had to say goodbye to Pastor David and his family and all the children. This was a very emotional moment for all of us as it was difficult to say goodbye when you had become so attached to the children and I really didn't want to leave. Even though they do not have the privileges that we do, the children never stopped smiling and showing love and compassion which really warmed my heart and made me thankful to have met them. We were all given a Ugandan name before we left and mine was 'Namusoke' which means rainbow due to the fact I wore bright clothing and had pink hair! The name is something I will always cherish and the friends that I have made in Pastor David and his family.
In the second week we travelled back to Kampala where we went to another school called Guiding Star which was ran by our friend Gertrude. Gertrude has such a wonderful nature and she has the most caring and loving heart I have ever known. All she wants is for the children to be able to have an education so they can become what they aspire to be. Whilst we were there we were given a little performance by the school dancers and they even created a song about us too! During our stay in Kampala we also travelled to the Men and Women's Prisons just on the outskirts where during the journey there we were stopped by police which was quite a terrifying moment for us! However; we prayed to God and we were thankfully let through to continue on our journey.
When we went to the prison's we took along with us fish, soap and blankets, things that we could provide the inmates with. We first went into the men's prison which held around 1,000 inmates. This was one of the most terrifying moments of the trip for me as we were lead out into the courtyard with only one guard with us while all of these men were stood outside staring at you. However; once we had taken a seat we felt more relaxed and the men were very lovely. It's amazing how God can change someone's life and thoughts. The men performed some songs for us and provided us with their testimonies which was a pleasure to hear. After this, we then made our way to the women's prison, this one only held around 50 inmates, much less than the men's. We provided the women with the same things as the men and they were just as grateful for what we had provided them. We provided them also with a DVD telling the story of Jesus and they in return performed some songs for us! It was such a wonderful moment and quite overwhelming!
On one of the days during our trip we travelled to a Gorilla Sanctuary which was situated on an Island that we had to travel to via boat. The boat trip was amazing on the way there and back and the weather was absolutely beautiful (well, for the whole 2 weeks there was nothing but sunshine!) and we even passed over the equator. The Gorilla Sanctuary was wonderful and the animals were hilarious and mesmerising. It was a great day off had by all.
To sum up the whole of the trip I would say...well, I can't even begin to put into words how much it has impacted me, but it was just surreal. I cannot wait to go again next year and Uganda has definitely stolen a huge chunk of my heart. I would not have been able to survive this trip at the beginning however; if it wasn't for the wonderful people I went with. We had such a wonderful time together and formed a real bond. We laughed together, cried together, and we became a family and I love them so freakin' much. If you have the chance/opportunity to ever do anything like this then DO IT!!! I was supposed to go a few years ago but I backed out and i'm so glad I did it this time because I sure know I would have missed out if I didn't. Be thankful for what you have and who you have around you because some of the children and adults we met are really struggling and I wish I could have provided them with so much more...
God Bless,
Michelle x
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