Loafing in Lira

Elder Wallace had some auditing to do up in Lira last week so we rode up there with the Chatfields.  

Their friends, Dr and Sister Lind were there doing a neonatal resuscitation course for the local people there.  It is a much needed course because right now the mortality rate is about 40 %.  Many babies die out in the villages in the north because the midwives do not know how to help the babies breathe.  

It was very interesting to watch the training and meet some of the midwives and talk with them about their work.  They are very skilled and were grateful for the training they received.   

It is a 6 hour drive to Lira in the North and on the way we took some pictures of interesting things on the side of the road.  President Chatfield was driving and Sister Chatfield would say, "Dear, Stop.  There is a good picture"  but he just smiled and didn't even blink so we got some quick ones from the cars.  The villages with huts were so cool. 

Everyone is selling things along the side of the road. 

The Tree Boutique 

The Uganda Drive In - Notice the long sticks so they can get the sodas up to the high windows on the big buses.  The bar-B-Q meat on a stick looks good but is very scary.  

There are people everywhere

Babies grow up on the back and mom is selling bananas from a basket on her head.

Agnes - resuscitating  a practice doll.  

Sister Squire working with a student.  

 A cute little girl that came with her mom to the course.  She was very good the whole time.  

She sat on the table in front of Mom.

Dr. Lind, from Utah, worked with two local doctors and Sister Squire to teach.  They certified each one to be teachers and to go out into their communities and teach other midwives. 

Ken said, "A slogan for the graduation should be, YOU HAVE BEEN TAUGHT - NOW GO AND DELIVER."

The Elders 

Elder Hannan, Squire, Pres. Chatfield, Elder Wallace 

The medical and humanitarian team that worked on this project.  

Excellent Work All. 

A local woman on the street 

Kids were curious about the white people 

Sister Squire had a skirt and top made by a seamstress down town.  The whole thing, including the fabric was 35,000 shillings or about 13 US dollars 

We drove from Lira to Chobe Lodge, one of our favorite places in the world, with the other couples. 

We enjoyed the sunset on the Nile 

We watched the hippos perform for us  and they watched us and probably were entertained by the funny looking white things on the shore.  

Many Giraffe in Chobe Park 

We met this big guy close to the Lodge.  Yes we were in the truck.  We were very close and the guide was with the Chatfields off in the distance.  They were waving their arms and yelling at us.  We just waved back and determined that we should moved forward so we wouldn't block their view for pictures.  Later we found out that they were not waving at us so they could take pictures but the guide was having a panic attack about us being so close to the Elephant.  I guess he kept saying,  "He is going to flip them.  He is going to flip them."  

We tried some fishing with the Squires and the Hannans but just caught a little one.  At the end of the day we headed back to Kampala.  The Hannans hit a cow with their truck and wound up riding back to Kampala with us in Squires' truck.  It was a tight squeeze with 6 seniors in a small truck but we made it safe and sound.  

We enjoyed our time with the other couples.