Compassion - Its all about the kids

At the Compassion offices in Kompala

11123km's, 26 tanks of fuel each, consisting of 850 litres for both bikes, 66 days of travel, 5 border crossings, 3 ferries and countless bribes and we finally get to see our sponsor kids in Uganda. We have arranged to visit both kids on the 5th November as both live in Kasese......it surely will be something to remember.

Where to start, well the roads to Kasese from Kampala could have been a bit better, but then this is Africa. All the roadworks and bad roads did manage to slow us down a bit, this combined with not being able to actually find the Compassion office for an hour while in Kampala meant we would have to overnight on route, at the Town view Lodge, a brilliant place in (the name of the town escapes me at the moment). As the name mentions, you get a view of the town which means driving up muddy roads, it was raining, to the top of the hill, really exciting. This meant an early start the next morning.

school kids at the project

the project workers and sponsor kids

Well as things go, being tired and all you can imagine that we left a bit later than expected, meaning that we were at least 1 hour late to meet the kids, luckily they were late too and meant we were able to check in and settle before heading off to the projects themselves.

Once again the drive to there projects was almost completely offroad, on a really muddy surface, something to experience for yourself. This did make the trip to see the kids feel a lot more real though, and what a good day it was.

Brian, his grandmother and grandfather

We started off by visiting my kid, Brian, first at the project and then at his home and was presented with food on both occasions, and what a banquet it was.......remember, by now our stomachs have shrunk so much because of the trip........ Brians family really great and very thankful for what they received through the projects and our donations.

Delilah, Harrison (in green) and his whole family including father.

Next we headed further into the mountains to Harrison's place, Delilah's sponsor kid. Boy did it start to to pour, making the already difficult road surface worse....so much so that the vehicle with the kids and project workers were not able to make it up the hill and had to walk the rest of the way. As getting to the project would have been impossible by foot, we decided to skip and just head for Harrison's house where we were eagerley greeted by his whole family of 9 brothers and sisters and all the friends.....and also to a huge meal. We were really overwhelmed by the hospitality shown to us. Then finally Harrison's father said something that has humbled and will never leave us, 'I am so honoured, I never in my life dreamt that I would get such a calibre of people visit in my home'. Wow.