On our visit to Uganda we heard
some school children reciting: “There are two seasons; the wet season and the
dry season.” As I type this it is
pouring rain, and we’ve begun another wet season. Readers may tire of my weather reports,
sorry, but I feel I must tell of the passing seasons…
We are finishing a week’s break
between vocational school terms. We are
trying to follow established school patterns, but since we’re pioneering this
school we are able to take liberties with curriculum, format, and schedules. Okay, really it’s mostly me doing this thing,
and ‘I’m wingin’ it’.
During the break Beth and I were
able to take a few days of needed R&R.
We went one night to an institution founded for training young people in
many areas including a primary school, vocational school, hotel management, and
others. It’s German run, and done very
well, making it very nice for guests. We
then went the other direction to a place called Sipi Falls where we spent two
days relaxing at a guest lodge.
Transportation was a combination of buses, taxis, bodas (motorcycle),
and special hire private vehicle. It’s
not always convenient, but we’re getting more adept at moving around.
The construction project of the
vocational school is progressing. The
walls were nearly completed as we reached the term break, and as we resume this
week we will begin with the roof. Rainy
season may not be the best time to start, but we have no choice. The things which are in the kitchen now will
be exposed as we remove the old roof, so hopefully we can add the new one
quickly. If I’ve learned anything here,
though, it’s that things don’t happen quickly.
Especially while training. Once
the roof is in place, the remaining tasks should be more enjoyable. Did I mention I’m afraid of heights?
Beth has obtained her uniform and
special cap, and will start volunteering in the children’s section of the
government hospital this week. They are
excited to have her, and she is excited to begin. I’m sure there will be many interesting
stories coming from her experiences there…
Some of our students have been
working very diligently in a garden to grow some vegetables which they hope to
sell ‘to raise money for graduation’.
They have put in many hours in their ‘spare time’, and the work is really
paying off. Their garden has become the
envy of many, including the staff and students of the agriculture school which
is underway, and whose own gardens don’t look near as nice. And we’re hoping that since our students have
a head start on the growing season they will be able to reap some early
rewards.
While many things can become frustrating here, seeing and reflecting on what our students are accomplishing is one of our rewards...
