life is brautiful

As you all know we’ve been hard at work building. The girls have done such a great job carrying mortar on their heads African style as well as being a part of a team building exercise in trust. We form a line then throw and catch bricks in order to relocate them. It’s been great fun but also hard work. However, many of us have been using the opportunity to learn the language. We’ve learned many words and terms needed when we build, such as ‘more’, ‘enough’, ‘go quickly’, ‘I don’t want to go quickly’ and ‘I made a mistake’. I think we need to learn the latter term better… well for me (Gill) anyway.

When we finish building we come home to a cold but nice shower. The dirt just seems to run off you, turning the bath water into what looks like mud. Dinner is often cooked by our wonderful hostess Maggie who serves us with an authentic African meal which we all enjoy. There are always fresh fruit readily available. We have bananas and pineapple every day. I can’t remember the last time I had a banana in Australia but the ones in Uganda are great (just to rub it in!).

As we arrive home from building there are always children on the side of the road waiting to greet us. One boy, in particular likes dance for us. We call him the ‘Wobbly boy’. Yesterday, even though we worked hard at the building site we still had enough energy to take ‘Wobbly boy’ and about 100 of his friends (truly, I think it was 100) to a near by soccer field. The Aussie girls were taught African games by the girls including one were we had to wiggle our hips African style, while the boys played soccer until the ball popped. The kids were so disappointed when we finally had to go home that Pastor Francis had to scare them away.

For those Mums out there, we are all safe and well and if that’s still not a comfort, we’ll be home soon. However, for many of us we are enjoying ourselves so much that the time to leave will be too soon. Hugs and kisses too you all! XXOO