Bridget

Last Wednesday Ashley and I stopped by the Watoto Sponsorship office before going to work and I made arrangements to go out and have a visit with Bridget on Friday on her last day of break before returning to school.

The taxi arrived for me shortly after 9am and another volunteer, Debbie, and I rode out to Suubi village together. Debbie got dropped off by the babies home, then I got out and walked down the path to where Bridget lives. It was strange to me to be making a solo visit since the first time I had come to her home, my entire team had been with me. The view was still breath-taking and I enjoyed having a few minutes to myself before arriving on her doorstep. I wondered what we would talk about, if she had changed much in the two years since I had seen her, if she was as excited to see me as I was to see her...

Her two sisters, Tina and Harriet were outside cleaning off the front walkway when I arrived and they went to tell Mama Mary and Bridget that I had arrived. I was welcomed inside where I said hello to her sisters Christina and Rosemary and then sat down on the sofa and looked at some pictures for a couple of minutes until Bridget came out to say hi. She got a big smile on her face, did a little happy dance and came over and gave me a big hug. I couldn't have asked for a better welcome! While she went to have a quick shower (in true teenage fashion, Bridget had been up late and slept in....she gets that from me!) I sat with Christina, Tina, Harriet and Hadiya and looked at more pictures. Then we all spent the next hour and a half talking about school, boys, home, boys, church, boys, village news, boys, food and, yes, boys! Mama Mary called Bridget to the kitchen and she brought out a tray with a plate of food and a second plate keeping it warm. She set it in front of me and then told me to go ahead. Mama had made me a huge omelet with veggies in it and served it with cassava that she had cooked and some bottled water...however, since I was the guest, I was the only one she had cooked eggs for. I offered to share with the girls but they all insisted that I eat first. I ate some (and it was quite yummy!) and then the girls brought out a bowl of cassava to share. Eventually the girls shared some of the eggs with me and we all had our fill.

Close to 1pm I decided that I should head out for the babies home at Suubi so that I would have some time there to visit with some of the kids, staff and volunteers I knew before heading to the Bulrushes for my shift at 5pm. Bridget had also mentioned that she had some school work she needed to finish up so it seemed a good time to move on. I started to say goodbye and asked where Mama Mary had gone. She was just down at another house visiting and came running to say that she had been preparing lunch for us. LUNCH???? We had just eaten....and so Bridget explained that that had just been some breakfast to hold us over. I thought that since Mama was going to so much trouble we should wait for lunch, but Bridget said it was okay to go. I said Weebale Nnyo and Weeraba (thank you and goodbye) and started to go but I had company. Bridget, Christina, Harriet and Tina all walked down to the babies home with me and we hung out there until my taxi arrived at 3:45 to take me back into the city. We chatted some more while the babies napped and Bridget shared some information and stories with me about her life growing up. She also shared some information about her life here in Uganda and at Suubi and although I won't be posting it all here, let me assure you that teenagers are teenagers are teenagers...nuff said.

My wonderful visit ended hanging out with Bridget and Leila by the kiddie pool at the Suubi Babies Home and I felt very blessed to have lots of time with "my girls". I'm praying it's only the first of many happy days spent together while I am here.