Mark 'Goggo' Sowerby, Tony 'TV' Vroulis, Sarah 'Mini' Chia and Patrick 'Moose' Walsh
(with John 'Jonty' Kain and Ben Sullivan in the background)
cuddling some of the orphans.

Day seven - 3 August 2009

Johnny 'Born in Africa' Rhigas, Ben 'Sick of Greeks' Sullivan and I met up with the rest of the team on Sunday 2 August.

It was the first time I had ever slept in a bed covered with a mosquito net. It wasn't a bad night's sleep in the Adonai guest house. You can sleep better when you are in a house that has its own guard and is surrounded by 10 metre high barbed wire fences. I have not been concerned for my safety so far - but nevertheless have been made well aware by the team of the Chain Snore that may attack me at any time during the night.

After breakfast in the guest house we drove through the streets of Kampala. Scooters and vans overtaking each other left, right and centre! I commented that I wouldn't mind the challenge of taking hold of the wheel - I was quickly reminded that I had a young wife waiting for me back home in Australia.

It hit me quite hard and fast that the world I know is different to the world I am currently in. Children playing in the dirt on the side of the street, basic stores lining the streets. What's a Long Machiatto?

We arrived at the Watoto Church for a run down of the building project we are to commence in the next few days. The organisation seemed very organised and structured. Whilst we were watching a DVD on the Watoto Story, we could hear the angelic voices of the Watoto Children's Choir practising in the room next to us.

After our run down was complete we watched the choir practice first hand. The children sang for us with smiles from ear to ear; you could see and feel from their music that they were happy and content with their life. Something many of us struggle to do day to day.

After meeting these memorable personalities, it was time for us to leave and go for lunch at Kampala's main shopping centre.

As soon as we sat down we were swarmed by people holding menus trying to sell us their fare. The people who sell the raffle tickets at the front of AAMI stadium could certainly learn a thing or two from these experienced marketers. It was difficult to decide what to eat when there were fingers pointing in all directions on Lebanese, Cuban, Indian and Fried Chicken Menus.

The next part of the day was the highlight of my short travels so far - to meet and play with the babies at Watoto's Bulrushes Orphanage. Situated in one of the most affluent areas of Kampala, the thought process behind the location was for the children to grow up in an environment around the nation's leaders. This will hopefully help the children become the leaders of Uganda tomorrow.

It was just like any child care centre in Australia; with one major disheartening difference - the children we were playing with had no family. I helped feed and play with a young child called Nicole. Soon after, Nicole would not let go of me. The whole time with her I could not stop thinking that my newborn nephew of three weeks would have received more gifts and affection to date than she will receive in her lifetime.

The children's experience left me with mixed emotions. First that it was great that an organisation like Watoto exists to look after orphans in need. On the other hand, that some people get dealt really bad cards in life - and how unfair that can be...

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