Finished my first full day of shooting yesterday at the oprhanage. Stephen Lamony, a Ugandan NGO official who is auditing our workshop, came along to do the sound. What a fantastic experience. Doreen was studying for the exam she is taking today and tomorrow. As in the British system, her score on these exams will determine which secondary school she will attend. It's all about this test. None of her previous class grades matter. So say a prayer that Doreen will do really well and get into the secondary school of her choice, Green Hills Academy.

So it was a high pressure day for Doreen, but she spent hours with us as we interviewed her and recreated a typical day in her life at the school -- studying, attending chapel, and doing her chores. Next week, she has to feed the pigs in the "piggery" -- two sows, one huge boar and ten hungry piglets. She wasn't too thrilled about it but she gamely slopped the pigs just for us. I'm going to try to upload that to the blog. It will be worth it just so you can hear the squealing.

Speaking of which, I have been trying for days to upload pics and sound files for you but the connection here is so slow that it chokes on a single small photo. I will keep trying -- there's no way my pictures could do this place or this time justice.

Although I am probably the furthest along in terms of developing my story, I am probably the least experienced shooter in the workshop. So it was with some trepidation that I sat down with the rest of the group and our faculty this afternoon to critique my footage from yesterday. I got some great advice on how to use various shots from the other students and, as usual, very helpful criticism (and praise) from the instructor. I now feel like I have at least enough skill not to get in the way of some of the amazing stories unfolding all around me here.

There is so much more I want to tell you, but it will have to wait for a later post. Thanks as always for your continued prayers. I am counting the days 'til I return.