Scam??

It was a Thursday afternoon, around 2:30pm. The sun had his eyes glaring down on us; faces glistened with sweat and wet shirts clang tightly to men’s backs. I was in the cool of my office, enjoying the brilliant invention of air conditioning when a boy walked in. He was a little over 4 feet, he had big round eyes - the kind that grip your heart. His faded grey shorts and what used to be a white shirt hang off his tiny frame, saved from sliping right off by a belt that was tightly locked around his waist.

I promptly discontinued my duties to embrace the reason this little soul was in my office; he should have been in school. Our eyes met in a brief locking gaze before he quickly looked down and fell to his knees. I had never seen such pleading marble sized eyes before - eyes drained of all childhood eagerness and play. In the most desperate and dejected of ways, he kept his eyes fixated on the carpet and in a monotone he whispered “Sibyo tyano nyabo” I responded and asked him to speak in English.
Like a tape recorder had been switched on he began again

“Goodafternoonmadam mynameis…Iamgoingtoschoolbutwaschaseawayforschoolfees. IamcomeheretoaskforyoukindassistancetogivemeanymoneysoIpayandgobacktoschool. IwaswalkingontheroadandseethisbuildingthenIdecidetocomeandaskassistance".

Wow! He had spoken dozens of words in seconds - stop, rewind, and start again.

A colleague, curious to know who the little boy was came by,the boy introduced himself again and explained the purpose of his visit. Because my colleague is Dutch, I asked the boy to take it slow, one sentence at a time.
This sincerely desperate child knelt down again, opened his tattered bag and presented his term report. He had been promoted to p6, had impressive marks in every subject - a clear demonstration that he studied hard.
Money or the lack of it stood in the way of him and first term as a semi candidate.
My Dutch colleague was most intrigued.

“Where do you live?”

“Kawempe”

“Who do you live with?”

“My grandmother and 2 younger brothers”

“What happened to your parents?”

“TheydieofAids”

Was he telling the truth or just tagging at our hearts for all the wrong reasons?

“How much are your school fees?”

“50,000 shillings sir”

“Have you collected any money so far?”

“Yes, sir”

He kneels down again and carefully withdraws an old dented tin Oxford math set from his bag. The Oxford set no longer had its utensils but there were broken pencils and used up pens. He lifted the paper on which the pencils rolled around and beneath was a starsh of Uganda shilling notes and coins.

“Do you promise me that you will not go and spend this money?”

“No sir, I gostraight to schoolandpayfees. I comeback and give you receipt. When termend I bringmy reportyousee”

He was given 50,000 shillings. I never saw a boy more grateful.

He was back on his knees;
“Thankyousir, thankyoumadam, Godblessyou, Godwatchoveryou, Godblessyou, thankyouverymuch. I’m goingbringschoolreceipt.

It’s been two weeks now and we haven’t seen him again.

It's a Baby!!

Halfway there, woohoo!!!

I am feeling fantastic, energized and alive. Loving the weather! It’s been raining and the breeze is the best – anything in exchange for the crazy Jan heat. My nose has reduced in size – see what the cool breeze can do?

20 weeks doctor’s appointment; - the major ultra sound to determine baby’s gender, its anatomy and general health, insuring that all the organs are in place and the rest of it. I had my U/S two days ago and we are having A BABY Yeeee!!!; got two hands - five fingers each, got two legs - five toes each, a throbbing heart, a good spine and lots of energy. Little person couldn’t lie still, tossing and turning and folding and ….
Couldn’t gather the guts to ask for the gender … I know, my bad … but I just love mystery and surprises. When the radiologist pointed at the pelvis, I hoped that by looking intently I would figure it out on my own but I was wrong, the picture just got more cryptic. But it’s ok. If it’s a boy - that’s familiar territory, Mich gets a little brother to rough around. If it’s a girl – unfamiliar territory but Dad gets “his little angel”. Other than that babies/kids/children/teens all come with inimitable traits. Beyond the baby’s sex is its individual personality, made in God’s precious heaven. Nothing prepares you for that.

I haven't done any shopping yet, does that sound crazy? and now the added imperative to pray and search for both boys and girls names.

Had a better midwife appointment this morning, with my original hospital but in a separate location. I was early as usual and this time I had the midwife all to myself - I was the only patient in the clinic. I got the tetanus injection which I should have received at my first visit. Then I discovered that I’m 166cm ~ 5.5 ft - now that is not funny at all, I had no idea I was that short. I always thought I was 5.6 or 5.7, I must have shrunk somewhere along the way.


All in all, I’m good. Have a blessed weekend.

Antenatal care in Uganda - a pregnancy rat-race

I finally got a chance to vent in Uganda's leading daily.
My article on antenatal care.

My little gentle man

turned 6 today.

My oh my! His growing moments are forever engraved in my memory.
The aches of carrying him, the ecstasy of seeing his mystic but handsome frame on the ultra sound scan. The labor pains, the awe of seeing precious life emerge from my own, the sleepless nights, his laughter and tears and now his ever so firm ideas about everything.

Since his last birthday Mich has been going on and on about strange creatures, aliens, Bakugans, Ben 10, Iron man, somebody fire, flying bicycles ... the list is endless. Even though I have introduced him to the person of Jesus, whom he knows and loves, the pleasures of this world bear down on even the best of us.Some days he is amazed by David and Goliath but don't push it, his little mind craves variety and not only about this amazing God.

I started a ritual that I hope I can pull off for a long time to come. I blow up balloons and decorate his room and the house while he is sleeping. He is absolutely thrilled to wake up to a colorful world and his little chest expands in glee of his special day. But as the years go by, the decorations get more complicated - Spider man, Batman ... but I'm not going down the alien route.

After waking him up this morning, he quickly threw off the covers to see if his legs had grown longer, then he smiled and said “yes! They have grown”. I chose to keep quiet and let him enjoy his moments.

Mich, your papa and I love you dearly, Happy Birthday!!
Every day you confirm your name “Mich” which means blessing or gift, for that you truly are.

DO YOU KNOW?

This song plays nonstop in my head today, kind of makes me sad, kind of soothes. It's got to do with where I am at in life... I think.



Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you
Where are you going to?
Do you know...?

Do you get
What you're hoping for
When you look behind you
There's no open doors
What are you hoping for?
Do you know...?