Kikaaya

One of the many reasons we chose to visit Uganda was to visit my dear friends Sally, Vesall and their 3 precious boys. Sally and Vesall lived in my NC Baha’i community from a very young age and Sally especially was a huge part of my middle and high school years. She served as a mentor and tutor to myself and I group of friends as we progressed through a program for intellectual and spiritual development! She moved from the Triangle about a decade ago and I literally cried when she left. It was amazing to finally be reunited and get a week of quality time together.

After a week of Lisa and I traveling on our own, the plan was to spend a week traveling with Sally and the boys. The first night we came to stay with them before heading out the next morning on our first leg of the trip to Jinga where they lived before they moved to Kampala. Unfortunately, they had come down with something and our week together was in question! Sadly, they stayed back the first night so missed Jinga but recovered in time to join us for the rest of the week!

On Sunday morning, we woke up to their oldest son Faizi, (who is 9 years old) cooking us breakfast!! We also got time to catch up with Vesall since he was (funnily enough) going to be traveling to the US while we were on our adventures. Sally and the 2 youngest boys were still a bit under the weather so Vesall and Faizi took us to the Baha’i House of Worship for their Sunday morning devotional program!

Beautiful prayers by children and adults were recited and sung in 5+ languages. They had a beautiful choir as well as a large group of youth progressing through the Institute who also sang in moving harmonies directed by a conductor. We were warmly welcomed community and institution members alike- by members of the National and Local Spiritual Assemblies, the Auxiliary Board Member and even one of their Counselors, Nancy Oloro Robarts. It was a special morning and wonderful start to our 2nd week!

We returned home to a delicious Ugandan meal made by their friend Ruth of homemade beef stew, posho (corn grits) and greens fresh from their garden!Les mer