Length of life

On Saturday night one of the boys we work with has passed away. He was picking scrap, and fell on a piece of metal. Picking scrap is what the kids do to make money by selling the metal or plastic to the recycling place. Patrick had many friends on the streets and he was loved. his age was unknown but somewhere around 16.

loading the bus with the coffin. 

We loaded up two 30 passenger buses with about 90+ people and the coffin. We drove 3 hours to his village which 2 of those hours where on bumpy dirt roads. We rode in the bus with all the small kids and fed them cookie sized deep fried banana bread called pancakes and juice. 

The back half of the bus not full yet.

When we arrived we had to dig the grave because the family did not want anything to do with him.

The family cemetery in the banana plantation. There was 12 graves there already and 7 of them where very small. This was very sobering, I have never dug a grave. I have never seen such a high percent of kids graves.

      

The uncles of the program spoke some words and and we sang songs of praise in Lugandan. Then his teacher spoke about him and then we prayed. This was touching to see some of the big kids that act like they have hard hearts to cry and show compassion.

Good bye Patrick we will love you and miss you.