Helen and I had a leisurely breakfast at Hippoz (a little restaurant that I frequent whenever I visit Uganda) and afterwards we sat on the patio waiting for Phoebe and watching the birds. Helen is beginning to find their names and I find myself looking skyward as well. 

The traffic is busy on Saturdays in Kampala. Phoebe is an amazing driver squeezing in between dozens of cars and “boda bodas” (motorcycles). I cringe and cover my eyes, but she always knows exactly what she is doing.  Here it seems that no one worries about things like only one car to a lane or waiting for the lane to empty before turning into it. Yet it all works out. Everyone seems to understand a different set of rules from the ones I know.

This morning started with our first task - to exchange money.  At the door of the exchange, we met a guard wearing a purple shirt and carrying a very large gun. I took a picture of him with Phoebe before we left. I couldn’t imagine a guard or police officer in the US wearing purple. I loved that. 

The crafts market was next on our list. We found some nice treasures that hopefully will sell well at home. Phoebe bargained with everyone, making sure to get The MoonCatcher Project the best price possible. It was HOT and the shopkeepers were all anxious to get us into their tiny stifling booths until finally we just had to find cool drinks and a place to sit. Mango, papaya and watermelon chilled juices under a covered veranda hit the spot. Enough shopping!

We had to get a new hotspot as the battery on our old one wasn’t holding a charge.  I was required to show my passport, have my photo taken, sign documents and have my fingerprints checked to buy this little thing. I passed muster and now we have a new “Smile” which I need to send photos and blog entries.

Once out of the big city we headed for Phoebe’s house and our beloved tailors in Wakiso. What a treat to find these beautiful women waiting for us. There were hugs all around and “you are welcome” said by each of them. Helen took pictures of the group and got to see the little metal container where the MoonCatcher sewing guild has been operating for 5 years now. We saw the foundation of the new space being built next door to Phoebe’s house. Soon the tailors will have a building to work from with plenty of storage space, an office and a sewing room. That metal container gets pretty hot and is very crowded so getting the women into a bigger, airier space is a dream come true.

We unpacked the four fifty-pound bags of supplies, divided them into categories, and gave out gifts of personalized MoonCatcher buttons, new scissors and maple sugar candy. Tomorrow we head for Jinja and will take some things to drop off there as well.

We ended the day having dinner at our friend Juliet’s house. Maureen and I met Juliet 5 years ago at our hotel here in Wakiso district. We spent a pleasant evening talking about our lives and found out that Juliet is a writer of short stories. We liked her immediately, have kept in touch all these years and try to see each other whenever I am in town.

Off to bed. It’s been a full, productive day, Just the kind I enjoy!