Sembabule is a rural town several hours west of Kampala, and the site of Minnesota International Health Volunteers decades long education program. So the staffers here are the local people that Paige knows the best, and I was treated to an overnight stay in their new compound. Kakeeto cooked savory local food aplenty, and Elijah gave me a guided walk around town. I told him I was interested in folk tales, so he went across the street and came back with a boda driver who sat down and told two trickster rabbit tales, while Elijah animatedly translated and I took notes. Then I drew a portrait sketch of the storyteller on his motorcycle as a thank you. I think he liked it. The translator got a portrait also, as did the raggedy kid who sat and told one about the tortoise. I drew him with the shirt of his favorite soccer team.

Drawing pictures turned out to be catchy, so I started sketching items and asking the elders and kids to say or write the word in Luganda. So I have a start on an illustrated dictionary. When I read the words back to them they laughed. I thought of my warmhearted friend Barbara Knutson who engaged kids likewise on her travels. She was an inspiration. This time in the village was precious to me. Now I have met the dear people who gave Odin such sincere gifts to welcome him on his first visit in December. See Paige's blog about it.