We Moved!

We left Seattle one month ago today.

We came with 4 - 50 lb. bags. We brought clothes, bedding and a few household items. Oh, and Scott brought his golf clubs. No comment.

After 25 days in a hotel, on Sunday we finally moved into our “furnished” apartment. “Furnished” in Uganda means kitchen appliances, beds with used mattresses and various tables and chairs that the apartment complex has lying around. At the moment we have a dining table, mismatched chairs, a coffee table (that we are actually going to keep – it is pretty cool) and a king size bed frame with a new queen size mattress.

Oh, and a couple of lamps. With fluorescent bulbs. Like “1974 Bulgarian DMV” fluorescent.

So, we have been driving all over Kampala visiting craftsmen and ordering furniture. We will update this post with photos soon but it is amazing what carpenters and artisans do here with limited supplies, limited space, intermittent power and makeshift tools.

Last night we made our first dinner. We were nearly thwarted by an “empty” stove gas container (which wasn’t). We eked out just enough fuel to boil water for the pasta and we made the sauce in the skillet left by the previous tenant. A new gas cannister should arrive today by boda (motorcycle) delivery.

We have a lovely view of Kampala and Lake Victoria in the distance. We can’t see much right now as the air quality is pretty hazy. Sand, dust and smoke from traffic and industry have diminished visibility, which is actually pretty typical this time of year. Evidently, when the short rains arrive and the winds change in a few weeks, the view will be great.

We have a pool right below our apartment patio. Yesterday a local swim instructor gave lessons to some of the kids in the complex. Other than the kids, we haven’t met many of our neighbors. Every family in our complex has a nanny so when we see children out playing or swimming they are minded by caregivers and not their parents. I’ve met more “helpers” than I have fellow residents. But as we’ve told our girls again and again, we can’t wait for others to introduce themselves, we need to be the ones to reach out. Yesterday our neighbor came and helped with our stove. Maybe we can come up with enough requests for help to engage all of our neighbors.

Scott is really busy with work. He’ll write a blog post soon.

The million-dollar question is, “What is Sally going to do?” We are trusting God to reveal something awesome. In the meantime, I’m re-learning how to drive on the opposite side of the car and the road and am finding my way around. I’m cleaning an apartment the way my Young Life boss, Gail Grimston, taught me at camp. I’m also meeting a few new friends through church and a womens’ Bible study.

Most important, I’m anxious to get in the pool with all those eager little swimmers. If I get to know them, maybe they can introduce me to their parents.