Well, I arrived safely back at home near midnight on Thursday, January 8th. It's been a long couple weeks but they have been very rewarding. I have many stories to tell and many photos to share. Still recovering from jet lag and a little illness from the trip, but I'll share a letter that I sent to the members of our club shortly after I returned to Kampala, Uganda on January 6th.
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As many of you know, I have been in Tanzania (Africa) for about a week and a half. I arrived in Kampala, Uganda last night and will be flying home later this evening. I thought it was noteworthy to share an e-mail that I sent to the members of the Rhinelander Rotary Club, that of which I am a member. Our club is sponsoring a service project in Itoju Village, a small village on the shores of Lake Victoria, about 40 km from the nearest town. The message follows...
It has been a long couple weeks, but I am back in Kampala, Uganda and will be flying home this evening. It was my first hot shower and good sleep in a while! For those who have been following the project, I thank you. I can honestly say that everything I have been told about the project by Father Kiguta through our personal meetings, pictures and e-mails does not do the project justice. We have a lot to do - not only at the school but also in the village.
Because of this trip, I have become a changed person. We as Americans do not know how good we have it. Next time your hot water runs out in your shower, be thankful that you have water. Next time you can't find anything that you want to eat at home, be thankful that you at least have something to eat. Next time you are upset that you don't have enough to buy that item in the store, be thankful that you at least have money.
Living with a traditional Tanzanian family was a wonderful experience. Unlike America, everyone is welcome, in every home. Many times throughout the stay in Itoju Village, we had visitors at the Kiguta home. Sometimes there were more than 30 or 40 people there. Everyone got along, everyone was happy, and everyone was thankful.
Sure, I didn't have a warm shower for a week and a half (I had not much more than a trickle of water (ice cold) for a shower, sure I ate the same meal every day (traditional Tanzanian food... matoke - mashed and baked bananas, rice - you can only eat so much, overcooked meat - a little goat and a little beef, fish that at times had dried to the point of shoe leather) and I ate the same thing every day, but at least we had a meal - there were many in the village that went with far less.
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This visit has changed my life. That is all that I can say...
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