With the opening ceremony date of 08 August, we have been in a time crunch to put the roof on and fill the rooms with concrete. The builders here are amazing. They make whatever materials they need with supplies available. The trusses are made on site out of boards. Even the 2x4s are cut from 2x8s. I've been amazed many times with the ingenuity of these builders. And the really cool thing is that in most construction jobs I've had, I get yelled at for doing things wrong. Here, they only praise me for working hard like them and for being strong. These guys deserve all the praise.
Notice the stack of trusses. They build them one by one while standing up on the roof.
Raising a board to use on another truss.
I really wish my camera did a better job capturing colors. The background greens (especially far in the distance) are amazing. This picture makes them look like fog is in the distance. I love the custom made ladders.
Me posing with two of pastor Josiah's kids. Debra and Jeremiah (for the longest time I thought Jeremiah was a girl because he was always in dresses.
Lexi posing with Debra and Jeremiah.
Putting a truss in to place and raising it.
From inside the classroom. Pastor Josiah and Annete standing in the classroom.
Workin hard. (they asked me if I wanted to help from up above, they teased me a bit for being scared to go up there but I don't even mind. I really don't like walking around up that high. I'd rather something fall on me than for me to be the one doing the falling)
Making progress
Almost there
Most days, after finishing work, I go up to the road that runs through Seya and wait for a motorcycle taxi (anywhere from 1.5 minutes to 1.5 hours) These kids came by with their cow and wanted a picture.
More kids with devil-eyed cow peering into my soul.
More kids gathering for picture time
This guy was a bit drunk on banana beer and also came by wanting a picture.
The Next Day
After working at Seya the following day, I decided not to wait around for a motorcycle taxi but to just walk home. (It is about 5-6 miles or so. Some of the kids walk that distance twice a day to and from school so I figured I would start doing it to see what it's like.) I have since had some fun experiences walking from Seya. Here are some pictures from my walk home that first time.
This little guy was carrying a bundle of sticks to use for cooking. Some kids walk 5 miles or more just to get fuel for cooking. It was a pretty heavy bundle of sticks. Hopefully pictures like this will help me to not complain later in life if I ever get upset that my stove/utilities are not working. I wish this blog could even scratch the surface of what most people here have to go through just to survive.
Further on the path, we met up with a few other kids. I thought this little kitchen-in-the-works was cool. After putting rocks in the walls, they will put mud all over which will dry to form closed walls.
My friend with the sticks posing in front of his house.
Once again, kids are all smiles and laughs until you push the button on the camera.
Note to self, next time you go to Africa, bring an awesome camera. This picture does absolutely no justice to the landscape between Lugazi and Seya village.
Another narrow path in a distant place. Turn right at the intersection ahead then about 3.5 more miles to Lugazi.
This little guy was just sitting by the irrigation drainage along the road. It was kind of out in the middle of nowhere. He looked like he needed a bag of peanuts a lot more than I did.
This is "the source" for a village on the way. This is how most people get water. Bring all the jerry cans you can carry and carry them home every day.
Here is another juncture. You can either go left or right. Both roads lead through different sugar cane fields back to Lugazi.
On the way, I came across this woman who flagged down a boy on a bicycle to get a ride in to town.
If only I fit on the handlebars:-(
Another stretch of road. Sugarcane field on the right, tree farm on the right.
A heavy traffic day on the road from Seya to Lugazi. More friendly riders on the family SUV.
It's early evening time on the outskirts of Lugazi. People are going to the nearest source to take water home. It still blows me away how people can carry heavy items on their heads without spilling.
Pausing in their trek to the source to take a picture with Lane the Muzungu.
I really like this picture. This little guy also stopped with his cans of water to have his picture taken.
The slums on the outskirts of Nakazadde Village. Lugazi Uganda. It's funny to see people's reactions when I walk in to town. Confused, they wave and ask each other why the white guy is walking.
Neighborhood girls. Right after I took this picture and showed it to them, the all fell down together on the grass laughing. They get a kick out of seeing their picture.
Walking into Lugazi. Wednesday is market day where lots of people are selling clothes and other items on this street that leads out of town to the sugarcane fields and on to Seya.
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