Kids invade Banana Village

Alan is thrilled at breakfast when Jemima announces that his suitcase has been delivered to the porch of his room.  Alan and Susan walked up to the clinic to meet baby George.  This child was abandoned at a hospital and brought to BKU by the police.  Rose says she took him to the local medical clinic and was told he is two years old and possibly has a spinal disorder.  He is not walking but is visibly severely malnourished with stunted growth.

George is lying on his back on a blanket and wailing or crying almost continuously, shaking his head back and forth in a self-soothing manner.  He quietens down to consume the two bottles of formula that Rose feeds him.  The doctor at the Medi-links clinic has given Rose packets of nutritional supplement which will help in this situation.  Dr. Alan examines the boy and concludes the main issue appears to be extreme undernourishment and possible neglect.  He is not convinced about a spinal condition.

baby George

Olivia, Sylvia Faith, Janet & Mary Roy ham it up

Meanwhile, Susan has made great strides warming up to Angel on the clinic cot, so by the time Carly and Scott arrive, Sue and Angel are happily playing with animal figures and Angel's doll.  Carly takes the opportunity to snuggle with George for a time.

Wasswa Hussein helping the contractor build an addition to the clinic building

Junior in profile

Scott peeks thru the clinic window

Angel warming up to Susan

The four of us enjoy the walk through Kabona and purchase supplies at the Coinworth supermarket.  We are disappointed that they have not replenished the supply of green Zappa.   We hire three bodas to transport us and the supplies back to BV.

Scott worried about being smacked in the face by wood carried by a village lady

Kabona vegetable stand

Davis delivers our Kulikayo kids along with Jackie and Majid shortly after noontime, an hour early (a complete rarity in this land of "African time").  We are impressed with the dorm rooms at BV which house eight bunks each.  The kids settle in and change into swimwear.

There is no hesitation for the kids jumping into the pools and playing with the pool toys.  Charlotte and Solomon prefer to cling to Alan for much of the time, but Solomon ends up being the last child in the water at the end of the afternoon.   Hasifah is thrilled to hear that her school fees have now been paid by her new sponsor.  Doris, Robert & Natalie Keeler from Port Perry are friends of Carly and her boss, and have generously stepped up to provide this support.

kids in their swimsuits waiting to get to the pool

swimming & splashing

Shatrah floating

Saleh enjoys the floating chair

The BV staff provide nice fruit platters which are consumed to the last bite.  Brenda is thrilled with the digital camera we have brought, a gift from her sponsors, Debbie & Richard and family.  The older girls are taken back to the dorm room by the ladies and try on and distribute a large bag of donated brassieres.   The ladies report that young Shatura played the part of entertaining comedienne.

Brenda tries out her new camera

sitting for dinner

Solomon & Jonathan enjoying sodas

Charlotte

kids hate the water

Moses posing on the BV lion

Susan & Shakira

Sandra, Brenda & the camera

Letters and photos from the sponsors are distributed to the delight of the children.  They enjoy playing on the BV playground equipment while the staff set up for our outdoor dinner and campfire.  Dinner consists of roasted chicken, french fries, cabbage & carrots, and Ugandan sauce.  Cookies bought at the dry goods shop serve as dessert.  Brenda & Jackson show off some of their dance moves.

dinner is a big hit

Moses fooling with the GoPro

kids in the playground

Alan sets up for a movie night in the BV dining hall while the kids enjoy a campfire.  Ugandans are not familiar with marshmallows, so they are amazed when the Canadians show them how to roast these treats on the campfire.  The Ugandans comment that the taste reminds them of ice cream.

Brenda & Jackson doing their moves

Brenda's sponsors had recorded a short video introducing themselves, and the group is thrilled to watch this projected on the dining hall wall.  This is followed by the first Harry Potter movie.  The audience thoroughly enjoys the  feature, although Charlotte, Solomon and Jonathan retire early to their dorm with Jackie.  Carly and Alan deliver a brief speech to the children, then Brenda makes a heartfelt message of gratitude on behalf of all the kids.

We had messaged Dan and Nadine in the hopes they could skype with the group of kids briefly, but they are out running errands at Costco.  The adults gather to debrief after the last of the children have retired to the dorms, and finally have the chance to do a skype session.  Dan & Nadine have stopped by the Lindsay airport, and send us brief video footage of the snow-covered landscape.