The
plane landed on time and we disembarked, shedding clothes as we made the
hurried trek to the immigration hall. Although it was 10Pm, the temperature
was 75F
and it was humid. As we entered the hall, masked and gloved greeters squirted sanitizer
from giant bottles into our hands and herded us into a long labyrinth to await
our health check. Six stations were set up ( a special station for families
with children) and one by one nurses
scanned the questionnaires we had filled out on the plane and took our temperatures with digital
thermometers aimed at our foreheads. A clean bill of health and we were on to
the normal immigration process.
All
though the hysteria has passed in the US, Uganda is still concerned that the
Ebola virus might slip into the country, even though the epi-center is
thousands of miles to the north and the
threat there is waning
daily. A stark reminder, that although
greatly diminished, the threat for global contamination is not over. Unlike the
US, Uganda has not had a single case
from that outbreak.
After
collecting our bags we headed outside (no one
other than workers and passengers are allowed inside the Entebbe
terminal) to be warmly greeted by Betty, Abdu and 3 of their children, Moses,
Hannah and Abby, who like children
everywhere had grown so tall in the last year!
Lots of hugs, smiles, and laughter! Moses, with all the determination a nine year can old
muster, helped push one of luggage carts to the parking lot. Such polite, sweet kids. Betty and Abdu are
doing a great job.
Another
2-3 hours ride eastward thu Kampala and beyond and we were in Mbiko.
For
me, the night was short. Dawn is breaking, ushered in by those incessant
roosters. Everyone else is sleeping but
my internal clock says it is 10PM. A long, but exciting day awaits. I am blessed and happy to be here.
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