Day 14 - Sweet sorrow

I waken early and check my flight details. It is showing on time and Alicia completes the online application for residence at Georgian College in September. Arnold scoots up to the table for a snuggle.

A farmer in southwest Uganda, near the Rwanda border went to his field one morning a couple of years ago and noticed some blood on the soil by his gate. Thinking perhaps one of his livestock had squeezed through and injured itself, he followed the blood trail and was shocked to find a newborn infant on the ground, long umbilical cord still attached. That is the story of Arnold. As Victoria says, he is a fighter.

The Arnold: fighter and stealer of hearts

I drop by to chat with Rose a few times during the day and we check over baby Don who's struggling with a cough but we only find evidence of an upper respiratory infection. I have been trying to gently temper Rose's enthusiasm for starting antibiotics early. I reassure her she has a rare opportunity to recheck the kids twice a day or more and watch how an illness progresses, rather than feeling pressured to treat the worst case scenario off the hop.

I speak with Alicia several times again about safety and caution once I have left. I am very reassured she will be responsible and careful, and I know that everyone at BKU will watch out for her.

Auntie Esther, the matron for the little ones, leaves today. She's been with BKU three months and says she has learned a lot and will miss the kids, but her parents want her to accept a preschool teaching position more in line with her training. She is close in age to my daughter Sarah, and says she very much enjoyed their chat on Skype. Unfortunately, Skype seems to drain data like crazy from our prepaid Internet stick, so we have been curtailing its use.

Auntie has purchased little banana-flavoured pancakes from a vendor up the road which she gave to her little ones as treats.  She offers a snack to Alicia & I.  We marvel at the beauty of Vicky, who is daughter of the older ones' matron.

Vicky

Alicia enjoys a hot pancake

Janat shows us the fearsome cow can be really quite docile

Auntie Esther with breakfast gifts

Salima will act as Auntie's temporary replacement

The little ones have been brought to the front of the big house to allow Auntie to pack up in piece, so I grab the opportunity for a few last day snuggles and hugs while Alicia snaps a few pictures. There is a road race scheduled today on the busier road a couple of blocks away, and some of the toddlers startle when some loud engines pass by the gate.

Robert & Alicia - good buddies

Gloria & Robert enjoy a pancake

too beautiful for words

Pauline will help mind the little ones

Salima overcomes her shyness and shows off her baby bump

Faith

Sue was agreeable to us sponsoring a child when I raised the issue a couple of days ago. I have spent the most time with the little ones, and I would love to take them all home, but when I reviewed the stories of the kids for my portrait work, Victoria mentioned that Justine was the longest standing  unsponsored BKU child and tended to be overlooked because she's shy. I am sure that the darling babies will all secure supporters eventually, so Justine is my choice.

Lydia

Faith

Jovan, Sanyu & Robert

Jovan models my cap

Rona

Don

I recruit Alicia and Kato to accompany me to the older kids' compound to grab some more portraits. We take Justine aside to announce our intention to sponsor her, but she misunderstands and keeps nervously saying "no". She comes around and jumps for joy when Victoria explains the situation to her in Lugandan after choir practice at the big house. Being sponsored means Victoria can afford more choices for this child's schooling, including boarding school for her upper grades.

smoke from burning dead brush at the big ones' compound

I recall how downcast this girl was, fighting back tears a few days ago, when I tried to explain that her vision is low and she will need to be tested for glasses. I make a mental note to research the timing of the next Rotary Club vision clinic near Entebbe.

Justine

After dinner and a shower, I have a few minutes for chatting with the adults and one last long Arnold snuggle before the car arrives. Alicia and Victoria ride with me and I remark on how quiet Entebbe is compared to the villages which are a hubbub of activity at 10 o'clock this Saturday night.

Obama and little Esther (hair unleashed)

Jovan & Sanyu

Isaac, Gloria & Dan

Lydia & Sandra

Big hugs and fond farewells to the ladies and I'm off through security at the small terminal building.

I will continue posting photos as I edit them, but no longer daily.  I also plan to add to the portraits page, so check back from time to time.  Thanks for all the good wishes and kind comments!