Saturday!

Hello everyone! Its Mel here.

Well today we broke out of our routine that we have carried on these last couple days and got to experience Uganda on a whole new level. Being that today is Saturday and that we were not able to sleep in unfortunately caused some of us spoiled Americans to be a little grumpy when the day first started but after a good rain shower we all went to our family groups to just do what they do on Saturday mornings: Plant and plow. My goodness...what different concepts of planting and plowing do they have! When I got to the field of my family, I saw 2 of the boys plowing with a pair of oxen, little kids walking behind them throwing the seeds in the ground and then covering them with their bare feet. The other older kids were digging holes in ground with hos. Ruth and I stepped in and helped with the laying and covering the seeds. It was just mind-blowing though to think that we were actually in the same century and world as the home that we left and that we didn't just travel back in time. I mean they were talking about the excitement of this fertilizer that they were just learning about and I just was blown away by how far behind the modern world they are. But it was amazing to be a part of, just to experience their world and think of the things they don't know. Most of us had similar experiences and thoughts. Brian actually got to do some of the steering of the oxen so we all got to work right there with them.

After that new experience we got together and worked on the music we are going to be leading tomorrow night and man not to brag but we sound pretty stinking good :). It was a great time. Following lunch, we made a little adventure into the closest town, Kiwoko, to go to the big outdoor market they had today. On the way there, we took a round about through some "villages." These villages were really just random homes here and there along this muddy path in dense wilderness. Children came out of these huts and houses to say hello and point and wave at these crazy white people walking by. But once again we were all shocked by the condition of the homes these people were leaving in. I mean it looked like something off of National Geographic. The reality is simply unbelievable and I can't picture knowing nothing more than their small sad world. We saw probably around 25 huts on our short walk and each home had people spilling out of it. And this was just on one small dirt path, in one part of this small country the size of Michigan, in this huge world of ours.

On the way to the market most of us got to experience the thrill of riding on a bota bota (a pathetic excuse for a motorcycle used as the taxi service). The market was funny simply because we were such the entertainment and we were all constantly hearing the people say "Mzungu! Mzungu!" (White person.) We were the center of attention.

The night was just dinner and then we went to our family groups and all had a great time as usual. I'm sure I could say more but I am tired and its time for bed so good night all!

God bless!

Mel