Posted on July 28, 2009 - by Larry

July 27, 2009 – Mbale, Uganda

July 27, 2009 – Mbale, Uganda

More bricks, cement and sand but today we worked on finishing the rows of bricks that are above the upper foundation thing. There are three rows on the long sides of the rectangle and maybe like 20 rows on the short side built built into a triangle so that the roof can fit on.

The work has slowed a bit because at this point there are a lot of us and not so many of them. There have been fewer brick lines and smaller loads of cement. We all have kind of rotated in and out of work, like 20 or so minutes at a time, handing bricks and cement up to the second story of scaffolding. The building looks like it is very close to being ready for the roof.

Some of our girls were measured in the tailoring part of the vocational school for shirts, skirts and dresses. The students are going to use some of their skills to make our girls clothing. Emma ordered one of the traditional formal dresses that we see so often. I can’t wait to see what she looks like in it…might be really funny.

We worked today until mid afternoon before heading back to the hotel. Some headed into the internet cafe and most of us showered and got ready to go to Sam’s house for a kind of traditional thank you dinner.

Later in the evening we headed to Sam’s and were treated to a large dinner. The food was really good and we ate in the front yard under the stars. They also presented a basket of flowers to Sheri and Brian and all of us got little things of 2 or 3 flowers. Janet and Irene (Sam’s wife) said that this is a traditional way of saying thank you. It was nice. We presented Sam and FDNC with a digital camera. He was funny because he didn’t really know how to work it but he was so grateful to now be able to take pictures of his projects.

Back at the hotel we met for out evening talk and to also have some time appreciating Becca, Scott and Doug. They sang a song they wrote that was sung to the “Friends” theme song…it was pretty funny. They leave tomorrow Kampala on their way back home (they had a wedding that they had to be back early for.) It will be a little different without them and I am very happy to have gotten to know them better. Wishing them a safe journey!

Off to bed. Goodnight.