jinja, uganda
when i was sixteen years old, my sister and i (along with about 12 others), went to jinja, uganda to help out with an orphanage for one month.
the children were amazing and so loving.
working with the malnourished and aids infected infants was probably one of my favorite parts of the trip.
we helped them start a garden, build a storage shed, and sanded/painted the nursery.
we were fortunate enough to travel to the nile river (jinja, uganda is the source of the nile river, stemming from lake victoria, which has the only above sea-level fault lines)
we went across the nile river in the sketchiest boat i have ever seen.
lake victoria and the nile river.
we were able to go to the market place... the strangest place i have ever been. it continued for miles in each direction. it was fun exploring the city, though.
two weeks, out of the month we were there, we stayed with local families to experience real life in africa. this was my family. they were so wonderful and made the most delicious vegetarian food i have ever had.
we also went to a refugee camp. the most difficult and heart-breaking place i have ever been. it really gave me a better perspective on life.
these children and their families were forced out of their homes by rebels. they all lived in mud huts. to many of them, we were the first white people they have ever seen. it was quite the experience.
we were fortunate enough to have a two-day layover in ethiopia. addis abbaba, ethiopia (the capitol) was a bustling city. everything was very dirty and poverty stricken.
although, if you looked close enough, there was a lot of beauty in addis abbaba. their mosques and churches were gorgeous. the culture seemed very rich.
i would give anything to be able to go back to africa, anywhere in africa, to help out. there is so much need. one day i will... one day...
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