Over the past few weeks, I have been consistantly reminded of how fortunate we are to be doing such incredible acts of service in such breath-taking locations. Lake Bunyonyi is no exception. Honestly, I wish I could accurately describe how beautiful this place is but my words would/cannot do it justice.
Tucked away in the scaling hills of the isles are quaint villages, full of character and liveliness. The primary schools are full to capacity with hundreds of children running around in their vibrant, but matching, uniforms. We were given the opportunity to help organize and assist in 2 nursery school field activity days. What a sight. Just imagine a hundred tiny children, all in uniform, trying to hop together in a flour sack bigger than themselves in a relay race. Or two three year olds desperately holding each other up as they waddle, clumsily, across a finish line in a three legged race. Better yet, imagine the looks on their faces as we explain to them, through interpreters, that they have to find a partner and hold them up by their ankles as they guide them across the finish a hundred some feet away. So much laughter, a few tears, but all in all—worth it.
Another day we spent manipulating banana fibers into various braids and knots, taught to us by a local women’s group. The group weaves intricate designs from the bark of a banana tree to create stunning bracelets, belts, bags, necklaces and other pieces of jewelry. They also do tailoring work and sew together garments. After a few hours in the hot sun, many failed attempts with the jewelry making, and a frightening scale down the top of the hill, I will look at the local craft work with a whole new perspective. I commend the efforts and achievements of these women greatly as each piece of work is genuinely worth so much more than its shilling price.
-E