A few weekends ago, I went with some of the interns to visit Ali at his house. Ali is a one of the guards for the intern boy’s house. Now, when I say “guard” it probably sounds way more intense than it is here, or at least how it is most of the time. There are problems with theft so all the houses have these really tall and thick walls around them and gates to get into the house area (or compound). The gates are opened and closed by guards. Since the same guards are usually around a few times a week it’s easy to get to know them and have conversations with them. Ali has been working for an EMI lady who lives in the same compound as the boys for a while and over the last months has gotten to know the interns really well. It was an honor to be invited to visit him and see his family. I had only met him once or twice but was invited as well and I am so thankful for the experience. 
The morning we left it was pouring out! We took a taxi (like the one in the above picture) to where Ali stays and some of the roads were crazy. The roads here are FULL of potholes and mostly unpaved so driving when it’s dry is an adventure but this was on a whole new level. The drivers know so many ways around so we just took another way to be able to navigate our way there.
Ali and his family stay in Kampala but pretty far from the boy’s house. He actually has a small place he stay when he has to work a few shifts in a row because it would be too expensive to pay for transportation each day to work and already he walks 45 minutes so to walk from where his family stays would be way too long. Here I am with Sam and Belinda.
Ali has two sons and two daughters. Here’s a picture of the two boys and some neighbor kids. When we got there the kids were inside the small place with us and just giggling with each other at us being there. I like this picture of Ali because he always has this expression when I see him. He is a super gentle guy and loves to chat. Whenever I see him at the house, we talk about all sorts of stuff like how things are in America, what work I’m doing, how things are in Uganda, etc. He has the best laugh and is always interested in explaining things to me.
This is outside of where Ali stays and some of his family and friends. His wife is on the far left and his older daughter is standing in front of him. When we were at his place, we had an amazing lunch that his wife and her friend (next to her) prepared for us. I am always humbled by hospitality shown to me here. I feel like I never give as much as I receive from people. I think Ali was really happy that we came to visit him and meet his family because he kept thanking us, but I kept wanting to thank THEM for their generosity and graciousness.
More of the neighborhood kids. There facial expressions are priceless!
Part of Ali’s neighborhood.
After the lunch we went for a long walk. Ali wanted to show us King’s Lake so off we went. I think we ended up walking like 2-3 hours (I can’t remember) but it was great. Ali and his family always walked in front of us and behind us, later explaining that they were making sure no one messed with us. Meggie (pictured above) made friends quickly with their family friend (holding hands is common here if you are the same-sex but it would be uncommon to see it as a sign of affection with a couple, even a married couple).
Here is King’s Lake. I think one of the kings of the main tribe in Uganda had it made? I’m not really sure since I couldn’t understand all that Ali was telling us about it and haven’t looked it up. But regardless it’s pretty and it was a great walk to chat with not only Ali and his family but also the interns that I had only recently started to get to know.
The girls. Belinda (Civil Engineering, Australian), Sam (Civil Engineering, USA), me, Meggie (Architecture, USA) and Anne (Landscape Architecture, USA). It has been so amazing to get to know these girls over the last month. I met Meggie at orientation in August so I was really happy to see a familiar face when I got here to Uganda since she and two other guys I met there, stayed on for another term.
This is the youngest son of Ali’s. I loved his gum boots and his smile. It was so sweet to see Ali walk with him, holding his hand and carrying him when he would get tired. I think Ali has a big heart, especially when it comes to his kids.
It’s days like this that I thank Jesus for bringing me here. How often I’ve driven by areas of town like where Ali stays but I haven’t walked where they have walked or stayed where they stay. It’s incredible to get a glance at their day-to-day life. I don’t want to paint the “poor them” picture because they are good. The fact that Ali has a good job that he has had for years is a great thing. He can pay for his kids to be in school and he has some land with the hopes of all staying in one place closer to where he works. He is never negative and never acts like he doesn’t know what to say around me. One thing that bothers me here is when I hear people get into this “us” and “them” mentality when it comes to Ugandans. Yes, there are obvious differences. The fact that everyday I hear kids shout “Mzungu” (Lugandan word for white person) reminds me that I’m different. BUT, in Christ we are brothers and sisters and beyond that we are all made in the image of God whether or not you believe. I want to see people as people and talk with them, get to know them, and joke with them like I would anyone else.
I think sometimes it’s easy to think that I am sent somewhere by God because I have been given so much and need to pay it forward to others (which I do) but I have learnt SO much from the Ugandans that I have met, especially the Christian ones. I am blessed by them. I am grateful for them and their graciousness with me. I see Christ in so many different aspects of their culture and I am humbled once again.
nebraskatraveler 