Kisses from Jinja

Day Two in Jinja was every bit as exciting as Day One.  It began as the day before had ended – with Katie Davis and her family.  For those of you who don’t know who she is, you should read her book – “Kisses from Katie.”  It is engrossing, inspiring, and available on Amazon here.

Briefly, about four years ago, Katie moved to Uganda from Tennessee after graduating from high school.  Her profound faith and love for the people of Uganda (especially the children) led her to start an organization called Amazima Ministries (which means truth in the local language) and to become the mother of thirteen Ugandan girls.  The book chronicles the journey of this “modern day Mother Teresa,” introducing the reader to each of the girls that God led to Katie.  This brief summary does not do the book (or Katie) justice.

I met Katie last November in Kampala at a lunch put together by our mutual friend, Bob Goff.  I had already read her book and blog, and had a chance to chat with her then.  At that time, she invited our family to come and visit her family in Jinja after we arrived.  The Gregstons had also read her book and blog, and so we decided to come see her family together.  On Friday afternoon, Katie brought her girls over to our hotel to swim with our kids at the pool.  Our kids instantly bonded and played together until they were exhausted.  After swimming, we had dinner at the hotel.  With Katie on Friday was a young boy she was nursing back to health (from severe malnutrition complicated by a medical condition).  He is seven years old and weighs just 10 kilos (about 22 pounds).  He is so thin and fragile, but Katie is utilizing all of the best techniques to rehabilitate him in way that restores his long-term health.

Then this morning, Katie and the girls stopped by our hotel on the way to their Saturday gathering at the property Amazima owns outside of Jinja.  At this gathering, there are over four hundred kids who come for a time of worship, a Bible lesson, play time, lunch, and who then receive several kilograms of food (and soap) to take home for the week.  It really is quite an impressive production.  We were allowed to join Katie’s girls and Amazima staff members in the food serving.

Praise and Worship Time

Feeding the (nearly) 500

I also got to meet a sweet young girl named Jane.  For those of you who have read the book, you will remember that Jane is a girl Katie was foster parenting, but then had to give up after a painful turn of events.  If you want to learn how and why I was able to meet Jane, you will want to read the updated version of “Kisses from Katie.”  (As all good stories, this one continues to unfold long after the original publication date).

Jim and Jane

After lunch and some playing with the kids, we said our goodbyes to Katie and had our picture taken with her.

The Gashes with Katie Davis

From there, the Gashes headed back to the Nile River for Round Two of bungee jumping.  I still wasn’t convinced that I had conquered my fears, Jessica wanted to do a solo jump, and Jennifer wanted to join in the fun.  When we registered to jump yesterday, we had been told that Jennifer was too young.  Later, we learned that the limit was more weight-specific than age-specific.  Accordingly, if Jennifer were to jump with someone, then her age was immaterial.  She wanted to jump with her daddy, and I had more than enough weight to meet the minimum standard.  (Joshua decided that yesterday’s jump was enough excitement for the weekend).

I didn’t think it was possible for me to be more scared than yesterday, but I was.  As we stood on the platform waiting to strap in before the jump, “You don’t have anything to prove – you did that yesterday” kept running through my mind.  Jennifer was growing increasingly nervous, even as Jessica was growing increasingly excited.  Ultimately, Jennifer and I sucked it up and took the leap.

Take Off

Reaching for the Nile

Kissing away the fear

Jessica really enjoyed her solo plunge, but learned a quick lesson in pendulum physics on the way down.  Since the jumper is tied to the bungee cord by the ankles, the goal is go head first.  If one jumps feet first, there is a rather jolting correction at the bottom.  Jessica experienced this correction, but squealed with a mixture of panic and delight the entire time.

Jessica going solo

Right side up, when supposed to be upside down

After the correction

All in all, it was another adventurous and memorable day in Uganda.  (We will be posting the videos of our jumps in the next day or two).  Tomorrow is the one and only Open House Day at Henry’s school for the term, so we are all going to visit him on the way back from Jinja.