Heart on the line

Once we finally reached Entebbe we met up with Joe and Pablo, which was a super-exciting reunion. People bought cell phones that would work in Africa and then we headed out to Babavuka. As always, the place was amazing. It takes kids and teenagers off the streets of Kampala and helps them discover/develop their skills and interests. The boys sang, did dancing, ballin, and guitar-playing for us. Then they gave us lunch. It was called a rolex which is chapatti and egg….finally I got to eat chapatti again!!! When everyone was shopping and talking I met up with the boy who played guitar and sang for us. When he was playing for the whole group he explained that he had not felt well and went to the doctor, where he discovered that he had heart issues. He has to pay 10,000 American dollars or he will die. He does not have that much money or any means of getting it, so he is trying to sell cds to raise the money…literally so he can live. So I met up with this boy called Moses and we played the guitar and shared different songs that we knew. He learned some Justin Beiber and Jason Derulo. He wanted to give me one of his cds for nothing…I gave him as much money that he would accept (10,000 shillings which is equivalent to about 5 American dollars). As we were leaving, he handed me a bracelet that he wanted me to have so that I could remember him. The group climbed back into the coaster and we started to drive home (a house we had not seen yet). The ride was great! Even though people were jetlagged and some would fall asleep once and a while, everyone got along…there were many sing-alongs. There are two girls on this trip who have never been out of the country, but they are so strong and have such good-spirits, that I am not worried at all. The group dynamic between these 15 people is incredible. I am so happy at the relationships that have already formed between everybody….which was a relief because I was worried about how the group would get along. We arrived at the house (there are literally TWO houses and three bathrooms/showers…what?!) There is much more space which was exciting, because I was hoping for last year’s house…not anymore! So the girls called dibs on their rooms…Lauren, Christina, Sharoni , and I grabbed a room. Apparently, we are the loud ones? That night we all sat in the common room eating and discussing our experience at Babavuka. Many people mentioned that it was hard to decide who to buy from because all of the boys needed money for something…but how do you say no to one who needs a heart surgery and cannot get it? It is such a wake-up call. Where we live, it is not a question of life or death. But here, stuff like that happens all the time. People die from something that can be so easily fixed. Now this issue had a name and a face…and that is Moses. Catherine said that she is going to start up a fundraising link so that we can raise money for our new friend’s heart. That is a mission that I think anyone can be a part of.