Thursday, June 4: David's Birthday and Uganda

We (Tim, Gail, Sarah, David, Kayla, Lisa, Evey, and David from MTTF) had breakfast early so we could get on the road to Uganda. Herb and John planned to leave for the United States a little later in the day. The matatu driver arrived a little before 8, and we loaded up and headed out, stopping for some cell phone minutes.

The road to the border was very good. I learned that matatu drivers are regularly stopped at police checkpoints and have to give 100 shillings to the police to proceed. If they are carrying too many passengers, or have some other problem, it will cost more. The price seems reasonable if you consider it a toll road, but it is bribery, plain and simple.

We arrived at the border town, Busia, at about 10:30. Our driver, Peter, helped us avoid the brokers (people that offer to help you cross the border for a fee) and directed us to the Kenya Immigration office to get our passports stamped for the return. David, a 17 year old from MTTF, had permission to travel with us to Uganda, but he had no ID or passport. It took only ten minutes to fill in the information forms and get our passports stamped. We had to wait for permission for David.

About an hour later, Emily Dwyer, ACTS for Messiah, arrived on the Uganda side and she and Russel (one of her boys who is now married) walked over to meet us. We waited a while longer until finally the immigration officer asked to speak with David. I went along. He asked how we expected to take a boy across the border with no identification. He asked David which tribe he was from. David was a bit intimidated and did not respond very confidently. The officer asked if he was Luo, and if he understod Luo. More mumbling. The officer said he could not be sure David was even Kenyan.

Gail got out the letter from Charles, director of MTTF, that explained David had permission, that he was Kenyan, and had no ID as he was under 18. The officer called to verify, but there was no answer. He called another number, and verified that David di live at MTTF. He told us we needed pictures so he could issue a temporary passport.

We went outside and found a man that could do it in five minutes :) He led us away from the border, off to the side of the road, under a fence (through a hole in the fence) and into a little stand. He took David's picture and 500 shillings and gave us the pictures. We filled out the paperwork while the Polaroid was drying. Back under the fence we went. We returned to the immigration window, slipped the paperwork in with 300 more shillings, and a few minutes later had the required papers.

We thanked our matatu driver (we hired him specially for the trip), collected our luggage, and then crossed to the Uganda side where we again had to fill in a form to obtain visas. Three hundred and fifty dollars later, our group of eight, plus Emily and Russel, loaded everything in the ACTS For Messiah van and headed for Tororo.

The roads were again great, and the forty minute trip went quickly. Once in Tororo, we stopped at Emily's home. We met some of the children and had tea. Then we went to the Crystal Hotel to settle in and wash up. The Crystal is an old hotel, but our rooms were neewly remodeled. Some of the light switches worked, others did not do anything. The shower had an electric shower head. A switch on the wall just outside the shower turned it on. It heats the water as it flows through the shower head.

We were picked up and returned to Emily's for supper. Everything took place in a large pavilion that she had built to look like a hut. It accomodates a large group of people. We played some music while supper was being prepared, then had a nice meal together. Afterwards we told stories and got to know each other.

Back at the hotel, I took my first hot shower since leaving the United States. Actually, it was the first real shower, hot or cold. I switched the heater on, turned on the tap, diverted it to the shower, and wow... hot water. Oops... low pressure, not enough volume, too HOT! Ouch. So, to get a comfortably hot shower, you have to switch the unit off and on while showering. Something about standing under running water, in a puddle of water, and reaching around the corner to operate a switch that is carrying 240 volts made me a little nervous, but I managed to do it. The shower was great.

After taking the shower, I think I solved the mystery of the pair of red flip flops that were next to the closet in the room when we first checked in. At first I had thought they were left from a previous guest. They had initials written on the tops; it looked like OH, but it was somewhat worn. When I came out from the shower, Gail said the flip flops belonged to the hotel; the CH is for Crystal Hotel. Of course. These were provided for guests to wear in the shower. The rubber would provide the needed insulation to prevent any shocks that might occur when switching the heater on and off while in the shower. Maybe I will try them tomorrow?

Kayla was not so fortunate with her shower. The circuit blew before she could get any hot water. The circuit breakers were located in David's room, two doors down (we had four rooms next to each other). We were able to restore power by flipping the breaker back on, but then the electricity went out. Eventually we all got to bed, more or less satisfied with our sleeping facility.