YAY! We're here...

Still building our beds upon our arrival.

Monday, June 14 and finally here. I did amazingly well on the 12 hour flight from London to Johannesburg. I've learned that sleeping through the time changes if you're arriving the next morning makes a big difference. Don't get me wrong. I am so tired. We had planned on an outing in London but customs took a forever and we didn't want to take a chance on not making it back in time, so I spent about nine hours in Terminal 5. Fortunately all the construction has finally been completed and it's a pretty pleasant place to hang out for an airpoft. I especially liked the water art outdoors with a grid of 55 water spouts that shoot spurts of water from the ground in synchronized patterns.

Luke, Araceli and Father Levinus met us at the airport and it is so great to see them. Father Levi works at Kalembe, a community about 55 km from here but drove out to see us he was so excited for us to be here.

The temperature is very dry and pleasant but that also means very dusty. It took about an hour to get to the compound at Kasese and there was a lot of activity in the towns we passed because it is market day. We walked around the compound to check things out, and although the areas being used for the clinic and laboring women are cleaned up nicely, there is still a good deal of damage to be repaired from the storm. There is also a lot of work to be done because of neglect since Lifeline, the non-profit that was the previous owner, left. The big guest house is not yet finished so they have decided to put us in one of the duplexes which will eventually be used as living quarters by the staff here. It is 3 bedrooms with a living area and a small kitchen. There is a flushing toilet and a shower. Woohoo. When we arrived at about 3 pm, we found the carpenters outside building our beds. There was no way to yet close or latch windows or doors, no curtains (not a big problem except there are mzungu women inside and a great deal of curiosity outside), no cushions on the wood frame chairs and no power. There was also no beer.

Attending to the most important business first, we drove into town to buy beer, the price of which went up by 20% once they saw our white skin. By the time we returned, Luke had gotten the pass code for the electricity, and Araceli had whipped up a dinner of veggie stir-fry and fried rice that was delicious (especially after chicken curry for two out of three airplane meals). Then Ray swarmed in with James, the cook, and Temeyo, one of Orant Charity's in country workers, carrying in mattresses, linens, chair cushions, a router, and door and window handles which they have managed to already hang and install. So we went from barren concrete floors and walls to a place that is rather homey in a girl scout camp kind of way. No mosquito nets yet, but it's pretty cool so I'm sure we'll be fine. I am on my malaria prevention as well.

No faucet knob for shower :(

We were all exhausted, but stayed up anxiously awaiting a shower once the men finished their work. Once they were gone, Casey called out asking if we knew how to turn the water on. Grace and I, being the veterans that we are, went in to assist, only to find no knobs had been placed to enable turning of the stem. Oh well. I am pretending I am a little kid who doesn't like to bathe anyway.

My temporary home.

And I get to sleep in a horizontal rather than sitting position without a stranger cramped up against me.

Life is good...