Masaka

This weekend I got to go to one of my favorite places on this earth: the equator. Yeah, I know it’s just an invisible line that encircles the planet—well, not completely invisible…in Uganda there is a line, painted across the road!—but for some reason, I love the knowledge that I’m crossing from one hemisphere to another. And, it’s especially cool that I can stand in both hemispheres at the same time!





I crossed over the equator on my way to Masaka, traveling with Catharine and Sarah. It was my first time going there since I’ve been back in Uganda, and I’ve been longing to go. Masaka is about 2 ½ hours southwest of Kampala. It is a small town, and the journey down there is beautiful. The way is marked by rolling hills, a variety of trees, papyrus, and lots and lots of green. I love having a chance to get away from the city. The climate is a bit cooler there too, which I definitely enjoy. (I even wore a fleece and socks one night!!!)

After we arrived, we visited the primary school where most of our students attend. I am forever fascinated by how school is conducted here…but that is material for a future blog☺. We then had lunch with the mentors, and I had some very sweet reunions with them.







Saturday was a special day. Besides attending Saturday club and seeing how things are run there, we also were able to meet and take photos of twenty boys and girls who were being enrolled! How exciting it was to see these fresh, new faces; some little and some big, all somewhat unsure and nervous, but hopeful, daring to believe that they would no longer have to worry about school fees and that they’d have a place to belong. It was also neat, too, to watch some of the older Hope Alive! students take time to greet these new ones and make them feel welcome.







Catharine talked with the new ones for a bit, telling them about Hope Alive! and letting them know how glad we are to have them be apart of the project. God definitely has heard the prayers of these children and their families, and He has enabled us to be the help they need. What a privilege and a blessing! Thank you to all who are involved in sponsoring children, whether through World Vision, Compassion, Hope Alive!, or somewhere else. You have no idea how much change it brings to one child, forever impacting their families, their communities, their future.

Hello to 30!

My birthday was a wonderfully fantastic day. The weather was beautiful and sunny. I took the day off of work, so I had a nice, easy morning. My parents and grandparents both called to wish me a happy birthday, and it was nice to hear from them. I spent some time in the Word and talking with Jesus, I read, I opened up the gifts my mom had sent with me (totally breaking tradition!), and got ready for my party ☺. I’m not one to usually throw myself a party, but I thought that this year could be an exception.

The party was at 3pm. Nearly everyone I invited was able to come: the Hope Alive! staff, my neighbors on the compound, and a few friends from church. We hung out for awhile, had cake, brownies, and ice cream, and then played a game (the animal game is the best game ever!). It was so nice to spend time celebrating with my friends. In the evening I was able to check my email and received many, many, many birthday greetings from all my wonderful friends and family back home. I went to bed exhausted but happy. I really didn’t want the day to end. Being 30 isn’t all that bad ☺.


Lonnah, Me, and Dorothy


Richard, Alfred, and Patrick




Chris and Abby


Birthday Brownies!


Plus Cake--chocolate cake with chocolate/peanut butter frosting...can't get any better than that!




Yes, I do light my own birthday candles!!!










Look at that smoke! I am so old!!!


The three Kates: Kate Amony, Kate Segrin, Cate Coon


Roommates


THE ANIMAL GAME!!!





Shammah and I

Dorothy, Alfred, and Miriam



So, Ugandans can't do anything without dancing...so, here is Richard making me dance.






Patrick and Andrew


Shammah & Kate


Chris, Stephen, Richard, and I

Farewell to 29

So, I love my birthday. I would have to say that it is the best day of the year. In fact, on any given day I can probably tell you exactly how old I am and how long it is until my next birthday. This year was a big one…hitting the big 3-0. I’ve been preparing myself for this for the past few years, so I was just about ready to leave my twenties behind…well, kind of.

Before I could officially say goodbye to my twenties, my roommate, Sarah, and two other friends, Lonnah and Dorothy, thought that I needed to experience a few more things. They planned a “last hurrah” kind of evening. The theme? Kate’s Amazing Race.

I had several tasks to accomplish in a certain amount of time, maneuvering my way through different parts of the city. Luckily, I was free to ask my Ugandan friends for help and use them as translators when necessary.

We began with a taxi ride downtown to the Old Taxi Park. This was only my second time riding in a Ugandan taxi, definitely an experience in and of itself. Taxis are large minivans. Each taxi has a driver and a conductor. They have certain places where they stop to pick up passengers, and in order to make their trips worthwhile, the taxis wait until their vans are mostly full before proceeding (this can take some time if you are one of the first to board). The conductor uses hand gestures to indicate where the taxi is heading (those are the most confusing things to decipher, I think.) With Lonnah and Dorothy’s help, we found a taxi headed in our direction and got on board. To my surprise and chagrin, my seat was wet—I don’t want to even know why, so I scooted as close as possible to the absolute stranger beside me ☺. We got on about 4:30pm, which meant we were heading through crazy traffic into crazier traffic downtown (yay!).




Me, Lonnah, and Dorothy in the taxi.

After arriving in the taxi park, in which taxis were packed in like sardines (along with many people and vendors somehow squeezing in the open spaces), we headed to an outdoor market. My next task? Spend 5,000/= (about $2.50) as quickly as possible. I walked into a jewelry shop and bought a ring for 500/= and a bracelet for1,000/=. In the middle of this shopping spree, my roommate and I took a few minutes and to get pedicures ($.75 each). The guy did an amazing job. Afterwards I bought a small purse for 2,000/=. But even with all my purchases I had 1,500/= leftover!



Buying my ring








Getting my nails done :)








The finished product!

Next thing? I ate some sugarcane. I don’t know why I hadn’t eaten it before, especially since it is so delicious!







Task #4? Find my way to Owino Market and go inside. This time my friends wouldn’t help me with directions, so I had to ask a random person on the street.

Owino is the largest outdoor market in Uganda. It is insanely huge and crowded—narrow walkways in the midst of hundreds of stalls piled one on top of another, filled with anything you could possible ever want or need (shoes, clothes, belts, purses, etc.). It is easy to get lost inside. The people selling things are constantly calling out to you to get you to stop and look at their merchandise. Many even will grab your arm and pull you aside. Since this was my expedition, I was leading the way, which meant that I was able to take the people by surprise and get through quicker. My roommate Sarah wasn’t as lucky. She was grabbed and pulled this way and that ☺. We both got a few marriage proposals in the midst of this—some guy called me his wife and Sarah had someone say she was his size—but we emerged unscathed.



In front of Owino...getting ready to go inside




Task #5? Find my way from Owino to Café Pap, the restaurant we were eating dinner at. Once again I got no help from my Ugandan friends, who totally knew the way. Well, I can’t say no help. Every once in awhile, they’d remind me to ask someone for directions, which really meant I was nearing a place I needed to turn or something. One guy I asked for directions wanted to tell my friends, but I had to say with chagrin, “They know where they’re going. They want me to find it on my own.” And I did!






Dorothy, Me, Sarah, Lonnah





We had an awesome dinner at Café Pap, talking and laughing with one another.
My final task? Take a boda boda ride (motorcycle taxi) back to the church. Lonnah and Dorothy found us a couple of bodas and off we went. The ride was fun, even though it was dark outside. The way bodas weave their way through traffic is amazing. Along the way, our boda drivers asked Dorothy to get them some mzungu (white) friends. My driver said that he wanted me—lovely.



Anyway, it was a great evening—tons of fun. A great way to finish off my twenties.

From Home....to Home

Change is not something that comes easily to me. In fact, I usually resist it with great fervor. For example, in June my grandparents announced that they were replacing their back screen door. Pretty inconsequential, right? Not to me. This screen door has been there for as long as I can remember. The handle and lock are extremely hard to maneuver, and I have many memories of fighting with it in order to either lock or unlock it ☺. But, even though it has caused me problems throughout my childhood and adult years, the house wouldn’t be the same without it. So, I protested its removal. My grandparents listened to my cries, but decided to go ahead with their plans anyway. I didn’t know exactly when it was being done, but one day I came home and found, to my surprise, their door in my bedroom! My dad had helped replace it, and they all took pity on me and decided to give it to me ☺. There it has stood next to my bed for the past several weeks. My dad has told me that he’s going to get rid of it now that I’m in Uganda…we’ll see
My lovely door:



Anyway, one of God’s great ironies in my life is the fact that He has directed me to countries and peoples far from home. Each transition has brought with it much change. The past weeks have been both difficult and wonderful. I have been able to spend time with many friends and do some fun things (go to movies, pick blueberries, go out to coffee, etc.) I’ve also gotten quality time with my family—my parents, siblings, grandparents, niece & nephews, aunts & uncles, and cousins. Some of the time I wasn’t able to enjoy myself because I was consumed with thoughts of my departure, but mostly I was able to relax and make some cherished memories.

Meeting high school friends for dinner at Mcmenamins :)



















Sister Time

My Grandparents










Family Beach Trip--Lincoln City






My wonderful niece and nephews!



On Monday morning, the day I left, I woke up early and was unable to get back to sleep, overwhelmed by the thought of leaving. I went into the living room where my dad was and he asked if he could pray for me. I sat next to him as he prayed, touched and grateful for his words, and I felt a deep peace come over me, settling my nerves, calming my thoughts. This was what I had been preparing for, and it was time to go.

At the airport, I checked my bags and then met my sister Karen and her kids in the food court. Kim & Ty and their crew showed up a bit later, and we all moved down to the waiting area near security. The kids quickly took over the play structure and looked like they were having a blast. We took many pictures and held on to those last few precious moments. As I was going through security, Anne and Kelly arrived. I was sad that I wasn’t able to hug them goodbye, but glad to see them one last time. I put my carry-on through the X-ray machine, choking back tears and hearing many small voices crying out, “Goodbye Kate!” After I was through, I walked up close for one final look and wave, and then I cried my way to my departure gate. They were already boarding, so that provided me with a good distraction.

The plane soon took off, and we were on our way! When I left for Uganda the first time in November 2007, I remember being incredibly nervous and thinking to myself, “What am I doing?” This time, however, my thoughts were, “Here we go again, God!” My flights were long, but uneventful, and 23 hours after leaving Portland, I landed in Uganda. All of my luggage arrived (yay!), and as I walked out of the airport, my friends rushed forward in a loud, embarrassing greeting ☺.

Wednesday was a day of reunions. It was so fun to reunite with so many friends! My co-workers had decorated the reception room at the office with many signs of welcome. They even designated me a new office to work in ☺.






My new office :)






I have been surprised by how normal it feels to be here. In some ways I feel like I have never left, and it has been easy (thus far) to slip back into this life. The welcome I have received has been even warmer than the first time I came. People are so glad to see me and grateful God has brought me back. I am looking forward to getting back involved in ministry.