Fase 2

“We are having problems balancing the fuel,” the pilot said as we sat on the tarmac in Amsterdam.  Two hours later, he rambled on about wings and fuselages and fuel movement.  The important words were “new plane” and “new gate.”  So when we finally landed in Kampala at around 2:00 a.m. (3.5 hours late), I was a bit on the tired end.

I had sent Susan Vincent (Pepperdine Nootbaar Fellow in Uganda) an email during the delay so she wouldn’t ruin her entire night by waiting for me.  Anthony, one of the many private drivers I have used over the years was there to greet me.  “You are most welcome, Mr. Jim.  How is America?”

They always want to know how America is doing.  I decided not to go into the specifics of the first-world challenges America is currently facing.  Uganda would love to have the challenge of deciding whether government-mandated health insurance was a good thing or not.  Any sort of reliable health care would be a huge step forward.

After checking for urgent e-mail, the ambien hit the back of my throat at 3:30 a.m., and I collided with Mr. Sandman at 4:00.

I was jarred from my coma by two separate intrusions within thirty seconds of each other.  I got both a wake-up call from the restaurant and a knock on the door from the maid.  Did I want breakfast before it closed at 10:00 a.m.?  Did I want my room cleaned?

Before I could address their questions, I had a few of my own: “Where am I?  What day is it?  Where is Joline?”  The first morning in Uganda always starts with these re-orienting questions.

After brushing off both the restaurant and the maid, I got started making calls and scheduling meetings.  Susan and I ran some logistical errands before having lunch with Andrew, our main logistical coordinator for the prison project we came to do.  When someone does something nice for you in Uganda, you vow to “get revenge” later.  Last week, Andrew was with us at Pepperdine and made many threats of “getting revenge” this week.  He started off this by taking Susan and me to a nice lunch, and then walking us through the arrangements he was trying to make to ensure the project goes off without too many hitches.  There are still numerous boxes to check and permissions to secure before Monday’s kickoff, but things are as on track as they have ever been in this developing country.

Dinner with the Pepperdine Students at Fase 2

Following an afternoon of meetings with judges, I had the privilege of having dinner at a restaurant called Fase 2 with the twelve Pepperdine students here for the summer.  It was so great to see them and to hear their stories about their work with the courts and prosecution and about the adventures they are having.  They are posting regularly at www.wavesofjustice.com.

Today will be another day of meetings and planning before the rest of the team starts trickling in on Thursday.  Many more pictures and stories to come over the next two weeks.  Should be an adventure.