Weddings!

Hallo!

So I am finally back in Kampala. It has been such a fun and busy week. I went to the Ranch last Tuesday morning. Josephats is the guy who works for Cornerstone who helps with the visitors. He just graduated from the University and is so much fun. He takes me everywhere to make sure I am safe. The whole organazation is amazing. It was a two hour drive up there in the Mutatu, which is a taxi van. The drive was rough because there were so many potholes in the road, but I survived.

When we arrived we put my stuff in the "cottages". Which is a hut in a circle shape. It is cement with a grass roof, no electricity, and no running water. It was so beautiful and clean. I felt like I was in paradise. It was kind of fun only having a lantern at night. I had the whole hut to myself.

Josephats then gave me a tour of the ranch. I met the headmasters of the primary, secondary, and boys academy. After that I went with the other American voluteers there to help a primary teacher build a hut for a local widow. We went through the bush with meshedis, cut down branches, carried them 30 minutes farther into the bush and nailed them to the frame that was already started from the previous day. We worked on that for a few hours. Then we headed back to the cottages for dinner.

At eight we went to the boys academy to teach computers. They were just recently donated so a lot of the boys have never used them. We taught pretty basic skills, like how to use a mouse. The Academy is "A" level school here which is the equivelence of grades 12 and 13 in the states. It is a two year prep before they go to the University. Then they recieve their degree in three years, so they graduated the same time as students in the US. These guys at the Ranch are ages 18-22 and live there in dorms.

The second day I was there I went to the primary school and read to third graders. There were 101 students in one classroom! So I had a group of about 20. It was challenging but fun. We read with them everyday at 10:30 and 3:30. In between we go have lunch with the academy guys and find other work to do in the afternoon. We returned on Thursday evening for the wedding.

Two people who work for Cornerstone are getting married, Sarah and Phillip. Sarah invited me and three other americans to the traditional wedding which was yesterday, Saturday. We had to get traditional clothes made last week. We went up to Fort Portal where she is from on Friday and staying the night in a hotel in order to be at her house in time for the wedding since it was a four hour drive. We arrived at 12 and waited for the Phillip and his family and members of his tribe to arrive. It was beautifu. THey had two large white tents set up with flowers everwhere and chairs for everyone to sit in. Then there were two couches and facing eathother with a coffee table in between. So each tent is behind each couch so that when everyone is sitting, the two tribes are facing eachothers. They put us in the very front row because we were "special visitors" so we got to see everything. It was an all day event where Phillip and the men in his family sit on the couch and negociate the bride price with Sarah's father, grandfather, and brother. It wasn't in English but we followed alnog. About every 30 min Phillip's family and friends would go bring soda, sugar, salt, money, goats, and ultimately a cow. When the gifts were accepted and the negociating was over, there was a feast. THere were about 200 people there. At the closing ceremony they signed a certificate giving Sarah away to marry Phillip this coming Saturday in a church. I was an amazing experiece and a great way to understand the culture better. I was so honored to be there. I will post pictures when I get back.

So that was my weekend. I am doing laundry today and then heading back to the Ranch on Tuesday. Will return saturday for the wedding, then off to Mukono on Sunday to start my teaching placement!

I have been healthy since I got here so please continue to pray for that and safety when traveling. I am having a wonderful time and loving every minute here! Thanks for everthing!

Grace and Peace