4th of July Celebration in Uganda

Dear Friends
July 4th- America’s Independence Day----in Uganda! What a fun time it was for all. Not just myself and the American Medical students, but two Dutch girls, two German women as well as several young women from the UK. Let’s not forget the Ugandans who lent us their beautiful country in which to celebrate.
I had it in mind that since last Independence Day had come and gone with only a red-white and blue hair ribbon to mark it (except, I did meet Dr. Kevin Dieckhaus who has made it possible for all the medical students to be here, as well as supplying 2,000 Rapid HIV tests for our Outreach Program!), I would have a celebration above and beyond anything Uganda has known for July 4th. And I did!!
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-------First I needed to make a homemade barbeque grill from available items, hence the photo of me grilling chicken over two Ugandan Segeries, with the oven rack held up with empty formula cans (that was Michael’s donation). Then the seating was comparatively easy as they are cutting down so many trees here, that I had both seating and firewood to boot. Add a few balloons, a music mix from my computer , a remaining bag of marshmallows to roast and voila’---a gathering of which any American could boost
--Marshmellows around an open fire was both yummy and educational for many.

-------Then comes dear Sheba with his drums to get us up off our logs and dancing.
------Immaculate, Bernadette, Joseph and Sheba provided the drumming and music

------I know I’ve said this before but ---I so wish the mini videos I took of the party could be part of this Blog, because they are hysterical! Waltraud, Dr. Damian’s wife decided we should sing our National Anthem , so Lisa and I gave it a shot: We were awful!((Rosanne Barr sounded good next to us)-ha. Come on, admit it our National Anthem is not an easy song for anybody (except my Heather) to sing, but to make it worse, we forgot the words! How embarrassing!

Dutch Girls Duet-------------------------UK Quartet

Waltraud and Merike -duet - of the German National Anthem

----Then each represented country, sang their National Anthem and, of course, the Ugandan were best.:partially because there were more of them but partially because it is much easier to sing. Waltraud sang both with the Ugandans AND joined Marike in the German Anthem as well.. Eveline and Liecha from Holland did a credible job, while the girls from the UK pretty much giggled thru “God save the Queen”.

------O, yes the Fireworks! They are not allowed without a permit so the several little flares pictured here lit up the Ugandan sky for only a minute or so, but even so, you could hear a few

“Ah’s and Oh’s”

------All in all it was a delightful evening and one I am unlikely to forget.

------Enjoy the photo’s and be glad you couldn’t “hear” me and Lisa sing_ha.
------------------ GOD BLESS AMERICA!!!!!
-----and UGANDA and ENGLAND and HOLLAND and GERMANY
------------------------------------God Bless The World

---------------------Let their be PEACE on Earth and Let it begin with Me

--------------------me and Sheba cut a rug ( or in this case the grass)

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