Kate in Uganda: LIFE IN GULU: Week 1

Last week, my roommate Kacie and I drove off on an adventure! Our goal: to spend the entire month of March in Gulu, working with our staff and students at the Hope Alive! site up there. Gulu is a great town, a lot more manageable than Kampala. The people are friendly, and there's much more foot traffic than cars on the road. It's the end of the dry season, however, so the weather is extremely hot and dusty.

We're staying at the Gulu Churchill Hotel, and I have to say, it has the best staff of any place I've every stayed at in Uganda. Each staff member is warm and personable. They go out of their way to make you feel welcome. They do their jobs well and seem to enjoy working here.

Here are some photos commemorating the past week:

Kacie and I settled in our room.

Last Saturday, we had a parents' meeting at Gulu site. Before the meeting began, however, Kacie and I enjoyed playing with Akena Daniel, our mentor Concy's 3 month old baby boy.

Parents are gathered together periodically throughout the year. Announcements are given and Hope Alive! policies are shared. Questions are answered, and parents are encouraged to take responsibility for their children and establish good relationships with them.

Making dinner in our hotel room!

Tuesday, 9 March 2011, I got to take part in the dedication of two wells. Kacie's church in the U.S. had raised funds to restore some broken wells here in Uganda. Partnering with Living Water, Kacie was able to pinpoint wells that were in need of repair in the areas where our students live. Both of these wells serve about 600 people each. While they were broken the people had to walk a long distance to another well, or use swampy water (as seen below). A group of people gathered together for the dedications. They were so kind and grateful for the well. I felt honored to be there and glad to be part of something that had such a practical, but profound impact on people.