 Ugandan MiracleGrant Clark — Mississauga, ON When I look back, I wonder where the time has gone. Six years pass quickly. Leslie and I first visited Uganda for Sleeping Children Around the World [SCAW] in 2002. For us, a love affair began with this beautiful country. The Inner Wheel of Kampala, our Overseas Volunteer Organization [OVO] here in Uganda, invited us into their homes and their hearts. The smiles of the children, their excited waves, and their shouts of “muzungu” (white faces) captivated our souls. The amazing pineapples and mangoes made us hunger for more. Mountains rose before us and spectacular landscapes were forever etched in our minds. This country held us close to its heart. In six years it has been our privilege to represent our donors in the distribution of 35,000 bedkits. We have heard children cry in fear as they saw a white person for the very first time. Other children joined with their caregivers in robust clapping and singing. The one common experience was the unrestrained joy when the bedkit was placed in their hands. Caregivers held our hands and through their eyes and joyful music expressed their gratitude. We have been spellbound. The other reality for Leslie and me is that the poverty that we witnessed six years ago has not abated. Roads are still terrible and the country’s economic and political infrastructure is unstable. Corruption in government dominates the news. 
Leslie and I share a concern for the future of this beautiful country. We worry
that our dear friends in our “second home” could be victimized by political
events that may become dangerous. We hold onto our positive and optimistic
view of Uganda’s future. For each of these children, this has been something that they have experienced for the very first time. |
