squatters

Today was an amazing day.  We first went to Sanyu Babies Home where we got to play with the kids, and I am very excited because I am finally beginning to be able to recognize each of the babies by name.  When we got back home we planned out the week as to which groups were going where and who would be speaking, etc.

The plans for the afternoon were set to go to Kyambogo to play basketball, and I was going to go so I could see Lydia and another boy named Matovu (who I have nicknamed Matoke, a traditional Ugandan meal).  However, me and a friend Vanessa have been wanting to return to a place near Kyambogo for a while now and we decided to see if we could go there this afternoon.  This place is right next to the Bugandan King's palace in Kyambogo.  

Let me just explain this a little bit, Uganda has a president and a Parliament and Kings.  The President (Museveni, currently) has the most authority over the country and finalizes all decisions.  The Kings are the descendants of the chiefs of all the different tribes in Uganda.  So there is a Bugandan King for the Bugandan tribe, an Acholi King for the Acholi tribe, etc.  The Parliament is made up of people elected from all of these tribes as well as the Kings and has a say in certain issues.  

Let's go back, so we wanted to go back to a place right next to the King's palace.  These people are actually Acholis (traditionally found in the North) who are called "squatters" because they are technically living on the King's land even though many have lived there all of their lives.  It was so much fun today because there was no "program," we didn't have a specific game plan, we just hung out with the kids.  We let them play with bubbles and I swear that could have kept them occupied for ages.  We then brought some yarn and bead and let them make necklaces and bracelets.  It was so precious to watch them make something so simple and see how much joy it brought them.  There was one girl, the same one I got attached to last time, who ran up to me and gave me a huge hug.  She refused to let go of my hand and whenever I would let go she would throw her whole body onto my lap, clasping my waist and smiling, begging to be kissed and tickled.  It was so precious and I can't wait to go back and see her again.  I also got to see little Josephine who I met at church two weekends ago.  I found out she lived there with her 11 brothers and sisters who we had met the first time we went.  It was so precious to hang out with them, sing with them, dance with them, play with them, and pray with them.  The mother and father were so happy to see us and were sad to see us leave, we promised we would come back.  

That's all I have for today.  Not too many insightful things, just overwhelming joy despite all circumstances.