Well, I am going to use this free time, really the only free time I’ve had to try and update you on the past two weeks. It has been pretty crazy! I have seen elephants, monkeys, chimpanzees (our closest relative) and gorillas. Some travel was just what I have needed after spending way to much time in Kampala. Kampala is a nice city. It is smaller than Portland in terms of size and development, but there are around 6 million people living there. The traffic is horrendous and the conditions are croweded. A good friend told me that when in kampala, you are always stepping on other peoples tomatoes. I left kampala for fort portal to go see the introduction of a fellow who I went to bushyeni with. An introduction is the formal beginning of the wedding process. It in fact used to be the main ritual of the wedding, but with Christianity introducting the contractual marriage, if someone can afford it. The introduction is the time here when the two families meet officially or formally for the first time. A marriage in africa is a dynamic or progressive marriage. Meaning the marriage typically isn’t finalized until after a child is born. It is also at this point that the dowry is settled. It is a big cultural event. Unfortunatley, I was forgotten and not called until after the even itself was over. Quite frustrating to be honest.
On Sunday I made my way out to the Kibale forest to go chimp trekking. My day was just filled with blessings. First I was able to get change for a 50,000 note from a gas attendent. That may seem like nothing, but a person could starve here in Uganda with a 50,000 shilling note (25$ about) in their pocket. I swear the country does not make enough 1000 notes! Ahh it can be frustrating. Well, I then took the taxi to the forest. I even had a chance to see some baboons on the way out there. Well, I arrived and was informed that the chimp trekking was booked for the day. I decided to wait around to see if I might have any luck. Well, to my great fortune, one person didn’t show up from Kampala. All the praying I did at church because I didn’t understand the mass being said in encholi must have worked. Well, with harriet my guide we began to make our way through the forest. After about an hour of walking we saw one chimp way high in the trees. I thought to myself, is this it? Did I pay to see a small hand way high up. I decided to keep praying and asked harriet how she felt. “lucky” she replied and we kept trekking. Then she and I came upon 2 chimps sitting on the ground! As we moved forward to get closer, they became aware of us and started screaming and running. We followed them as they climbed a tree. Soon they were shouting to tell the rest of the chimps about the food they found. All the sudden, we were surrounded by some 30 chimpanzees. Ahh, I tell you it was amazing!

On Monday, a candian named jonelle and I decided to go down to Queen Elizabeth national park. While there I even met a missionary couple from Oregon! It was really cool connecting with someone else who has a great love for my state.

We saw some 20 elephants, a whole bunch of buffalos.


more to come later. I am burning money

I just went gorilla trekking, now on my way to rwanda for a few days.
peace,
mike