Today started off, slow as people were recovering from all different kinds of upset stomachs. Unfortunately not everyone was well enough to join us at Mizigo in the morning to visit the baby classes. We left Joanne at the hotel with Emma, Matthew, Morgan, and Sofia as they slept away their illnesses. The absence of these group members was felt as the rest of us sat on the ground playing with trucks, working on puzzles, and giving out friendship bracelets to the littlest kids at the school. We weren’t the only ones missing the people we left behind, Moses, one of the adorable four-year olds, repeatedly asked Caitlin for Mateo (Matthew). Our morning at Mizigo didn’t last too long as we found ourselves heading back to the hotel to swap out some more group members before making an hour and half drive to Mubende.
The remaining eight healthy group members traveled away from Mityana to visit St. Mary’s School, that is not a part of the Maranatha Integrated Schools Project but is supported by Opportunity Education Foundation. We became connected to this school through Matthew and his Dad, and the idea of seeing how another school in Uganda ran was very appealing. I can’t honestly say that everyone was excited to visit this school because nothing is as much fun when you know that your friends are sick in bed at the hotel. However, by the time we were heading home everyone was saying how grateful they were that we decided to make the trip. The school had a huge afternoon planned for us. We arrived to a driveway lined with kids singing and clapping as they welcomed their visitors. After meeting the headmaster and learning a little bit about where we were, we got a quick tour of the school. The tour ended under a mango tree where the over 1,000 students were gathered waiting to see the “mzungus.” Speeches were given, by them and by us, songs were sang, and native Ugandan dances were danced. The whole school roared with laughter as Reid lead us all in an attempt to shake our hips like the Ugandans.
After the presentations, it was time for lunch. We were served hefty servings and lead to a classroom where we ate with the teachers. This meal was different from all the rest and not just because we weren’t at Patrick and Eva’s house. The tables in the room were set up similar to tables at a wedding reception. We were the wedding party sitting in the front of the room as the teachers sat silently in rows of chairs watching us eat. It was a unique and humorous experience that I am sure none of us, especially Reid, will forget. It was getting late and we had a long drive home so we stayed to watch a few minutes of a soccer match and then headed home.
When we arrived at the Enro our group was joyfully reunited with Joanne cheering as the bus pulled in. About an hour and a half later we did some more swapping of group members and headed to Patrick and Eva’s house for a light dinner. The time was relaxing, but none of us enjoyed being separated so were happy to head back to the Enro and call it a night. People were tired and Caitlin couldn’t even keep her eyes open for the two minuets it takes to pull of out Patrick and Eva’s driveway. Overall, it was a very informative day that reminded us just how special the Marantha Schools are. As we fall asleep tonight we know that everyone is quickly recovering and look forward to tomorrow when we will all be back together and at 100%.
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