Holding Hands in Two Hemispheres
Patrick & Juliet Byashishaki - Kampala, Uganda
I joined ITHF in Bangkok in 2011, and this year I really enjoyed the fruits of my membership. In May, GRACE MAANO of Sydney, Australia, wrote to say she would be visiting Uganda and wanted to connect with members of the ITHF. With eagerness, I immediately offered to host her at my residence, but due to her heavy schedule, we
agreed the hotel would be more comfortable.
Grace arrived on Thursday, our Rotary Club Fellowship Day. She attended our fellowship, and members were very happy and excited to receive her. She talked about her mission to Uganda, which included touring as part of the ITHF program and a follow-up of the Fistula and Medical equipment projects funded by the DAK Foundation in Australia. Our club agreed to be part of the team to implement the projects.
On Saturday one of our club members had a traditional ceremony to give away his daughter, and Grace accompanied us, smartly dressed in our traditional wear. It was really exciting.
The following Tuesday we had dinner with my family at one of the restaurants which commands an entire view of Kampala City. The next day we drove to Masaka, a district town 140 km from Kampala to the west to visit one of the fistula projects at Kitovu Hospital. On the way, we had some time at the equator, one of the national tourist attraction sites. Grace stood in the southern hemisphere, and I was in the north, yet we were together.
From Masaka we drove directly to my residence where the family was preparing dinner. My two daughters and my wife JULIET were overjoyed with her presence. Grace freely interacted and participated in the preparation of matooke, our traditional meal. Thanks to ITHF that brought us together.