brimmy over seas

Street Kids, Sipi Falls and Kampala Capers

2011-08-12T10:05:00.000-07:00

The last few weeks have been very interesting. I went to Kampala with Jack a few weeks back to fix up the final few things on the motorbike he had purchased. What should have been a simple day trip turned into a three day adventure.

The guy he bought the bike off aka ‘Thieving Bike Man’ delayed us so it was too late to return to Iganga that night, so we opted to stay the night at a backpackers/guesthouse in Kampala. On a budget, we decided to go for two of three mattresses in a share tent. The third mattress was occupied from ‘Woody’ from Shanghai. It was very random and amusing. We went to get dinner in town when the battery died on the motorbike at a major intersection. After several attempts to jumpstart the bike Jack pushed it (praise God safely) through the intersection to a nearby garage. The bike stayed the night there and we got a boda boda back to the accommodation. The next day I had the best coffee I’ve had in a long time for brekkie (I made a portrait of Jack in his coffee as you can see in the pic), arranged for the bike to be worked on then headed off on another rather expensive boda trip to visit Aidat and preach at the deaf church which met at her school. All the students, Christian and non-christian were in attendance. Jack and I preached in sign language with some help from Aidat. I think it went really well. We pretty much just tried to give a gospel presentation and help people understand true Christianity through questioning etc. There was a lot of interaction and it helped to try and get a picture of their understanding. We had lunch there then headed back to Kampala. The bike still wasn’t ready. Long story short, we stayed another night, this time I met up with Jaimi-Lee’s team and stayed the night with them in Entebbe.

The following day I went with the team to the zoo before taking them to the airport. At the zoo I touched a hyena through the wire. I thought that was pretty special and got real close to rhino.

Since then I’ve had another motorbike related day trip to Kampala with Jack where I enjoyed a very civilised day of Ethiopian lunch and tiramisu for afternoon tea. Such things are a wonderful treat for me and almost a bit of a culture shock having spent so much time in the village. It was a great day though. I also got a phone call from a bunch of my family members which was a joy. I miss them and am looking forward to a family reunion. It was that day that I started to be more challenged in my heart by street kids. There were two kids who just followed and followed and followed us. I didn’t know what to do. I know some street kids aren’t on the street cos have to be. Some have run away from village life in favour of city life, others have been sent by their parents to try beg for money but there are those that genuinely have been orphaned or abandoned. Of course at a glance you can’t tell who’s who. I didn’t want to give them money if it was only going to end up in someone else’s pockets but knew they may be hungry so bought them a mango each from a street vendor. They nodded in appreciation then went their way. But there’s been a bit of a ripple effect from that day. Jack said he was moved by the incident and now has had opportunity to help out and get in the lives of some street kids in Kenya. (He left for Kenya last week with his dad as his visa ran out and his dad had some speaking appointments in churches.) He has got 5 different churches together to help these abandoned children. Also yesterday, I encountered another 4 street kids in Jinja. I had planned for a final relaxing day by the pool side in the sunshine but it turned out to be rainy and overcast. But had it not been raining, I would not have noticed this little 11 year old, Allen, shirtless, butt hanging out of his very ripped shorts standing shivering in the rain with a piece of cardboard drapped across his shoulders to keep the rain off. He asked us for money. I was with Bob and Wasswa who had recently come back from boarding school. I told him to tell the boy that we just had something to do but we would return with a shirt for him and would buy him lunch. When we returned he was with two other friends of his, Marvin, 11 and Daniel, 12. We took them to lunch at a local restaurant and I found out more of their stories. It turned out the older street girls had stolen Allen’s shirt that morning. The girls coming from northern Uganda and Sudan are apparently very tough and beat the smaller children to get clothes off them that they like. I asked the boys where they slept and they pointed in the direction of a hair salon and night club. They slept out the front on the sidewalk. They said there were a few of them that slept there. Some of them had plastic sacks to cover themselves with but these boys didn’t. They had been on the streets for 6months-1 year. They had been educated up to about year 2 or 3 and had surprisingly good English. I think all of them had similar stories of their parents separating, remarrying and then not wanting anything to do with them. One of the boys said he had walked from Iganga up to Jinja to be on the streets. I asked them how they usually ate. They said they usually got paid by some little money by businesses to take rubbish away but because of the rain that day there was no work for them to do. I was glad to spend time with them and talk to them. They looked as if they were thoroughly enjoying their chicken stew. I was annoyed though when a man rocked up, smelling of cigarettes, who thanked me for helping ‘his friends’ then proceeded to take a sip of soup from each of their bowls and a piece of meat from one of them. He said he was often trying to help the kids and would sometimes give them money for food. I asked if he work. He pointed to a craft shop not far away and said he worked there. I was so annoyed. I felt like saying something. I kinda wish I did. I couldn’t believe this employed man was taking food away from kids, impoverished street kids, food that I was buying. It annoyed me. Once he had left I asked the kids if he was a good man. They said yes at first but then the truth came out that he drank a lot and would often beat them. These poor little boys! There are those street kids that are like little thugs, who are thieves and stubborn and who want to be on the streets but I didn’t get that vibe with these boys. And they were so gentle and polite. They were just kids. It’s easy to just pass by someone like that on the street, or just give them a couple of coins and be done with them, but to sit and talk with them is something completely different. They are real people too. Sorry, probably stating the obvious but I easily forget. I think the church forgets. Do we make sacrifices for others, real sacrifices? Not saying I did for these boys but it got me thinking. I hope it does with you too. Helping such cases seems overwhelming to an individual but if the church rose up and helped out together, what a difference it would make! I asked them why they thought I was buying them lunch and they said they didn’t know. I then tried to explain to them the gospel, saying that I know I can only help them for today but if they have Christ, they will have him forever. I tried to explain that though hunger and sickness and poverty are all big problems, they have a greater problem and that is sin. I’m not sure how much of it they understood but true conversion is a work of the Spirit so I’m leaving it up to Him. Even a 55 year old university professor cannot understand the gospel unless the Spirit moves. The boys seemed to have a reasonable understanding of the Bible. Daniel could quote Psalm 23 and later was asking me questions about the temptation of Eve and why Cain killed Abel. But their understanding of Christianity seemed much like that which I seem to hear all over, that you just have to try be a good person and confess and ask for forgiveness after you do wrong and God will forgive you. Where is the need for Christ in that? Where is belief and trust in Him, if we can work to save ourselves? Though I was angry at the man who took their food, I also realised that he too needed Christ. We all do. Anyway, we left the boys and went on our way. Please pray for them that God open’s their eyes to their need for a saviour, that they might turn and follow Him who is infinitely worthy of their and our full devotion.

Yesterday I was also tested for malaria and it was positive. I had contracted it when mum was around, but was treated and healed. Then last week, I think like 10 days ago I got it again and was treated but it seemed some had remained. I am now on different treatment, quininine. It’s pretty strong. It made mum real sick when she was on it. I am not feeling too bad though, just some nausea, fatigue, dizziness, hearing loss and ringing in the ears. The tablets also are very dehydrating and have a horrible bitter taste that lingers in my mouth all the time. Anyway, by God’s grace I will improve shortly. I do, however, think that it’d be pushing it to be involved in this teacher training in Kampala next week so I have informed them I won’t be attending. However, I can’t get out of this vital project board meeting tomorrow in Kampala, but being unfit to drive I’ll have to take public transport very early in the morning. I pray I can get through it without too much trouble.

Last week I also had a day trip to Sipi Falls with Jack before he left for Kenya. It was as beautiful as ever but the rainy weather whilst we were there made for a slippery slope on the way back, hence the photo of my muddy backside and arms. Check out the change in colour of the falls too because of the rain. That afternoon we also caught up with Geofrey and his wife. I am pleased to announce that Susan has finished her treatment and is now clear of cancer, though I’m told she must continue taking a tablet (valued at approximately 3 days wages for an average Ugandan) every day for the next five years. On top of that their son needs an operation, I think a tonsillectomy, and they can’t yet find the money for that. This family has been though so many trials but still thank God and trust in him and I praise him for that too.

Now, I’m just trying to tie up loose ends with the project, shift my furniture and pack my things. I am very ready to be coming home I think. I look forward to catching up with everyone. Only 9 days till I fly and I’ll be back in Oz early Tuesday morning, 23 August. Can’t wait!

Street kids, Sipi Falls and Kampala capers

2011-08-12T08:39:00.000-07:00

Eggs in my bed

2011-07-20T02:01:00.000-07:00

Its been toooo long since I've posted. Sorry if I've disappointed anyone. Not much has happened really. A few weeks ago I picked up my good mate Jaimi-Lee and her team from Oz from the airport. (I've been borrowing their car).I stayed the night with them in Entebbe and had the best time catching up with Jaimi-Lee. JL had been in Uganda for around 8 months last year and left to go back with Jess for Christmas. They are only around for 3 weeks this time but Jaimi-Lee loves this place and will hopefully be returning in the not too distant future. YAY! I caught up with her and the team again on Monday. They were having a rest day but the poolside in Jinja. It was good to have another catch up. I will be then dropping them back at the airport on Monday. Time flies! I wish I had more time to catch up wit them. I'm hoping to pay them a visit when I'm back in Oz though. Four weeks and 6 days to go now, by the way. I'm pretty excited. I think I'm quite ready to be going home. If it didn't cost money to change the ticket, and if I wasnt committed to helping out with some training on Christian Education the week before I fly, I'd seriously consider coming home early.

Oh, I'd better explain the blog post title. It seems a chicken has been jumping through my window and laying eggs on my bed. About 4 eggs out of 6 days, that's not bad. I'm not complaining! its quite amusing.

What else? Jack's been teaching me more on his 500cc motorbike. I can now ride from home up to town, getting up to 4th gear...I'm a bit stoked. I'll try get off my L's when I'm in Oz. Motorbikes are fun! But Ugandan driving is crazy!!! I rode through town for the first time coming back from Jinja...it was nuts! You certainly have to keep on your toes.

Also, the other weekend mum left to go back to Oz. It was so nice having her around. I'm really looking forward to a family reunion when I get back.

I'll keep it a bit brief, cos I've got a few other things to do in town today, but hopefully there'll be another post or two, or three before I'm back on home turf.

Over and out.

OH!! I forgot! Not only is my laptop broken, but when I was in Kampala with the team a few weeks back, a little punk kid stole my ipod out of my very hands as I was trying to show Jack something. I was mostly annoyed by all the sermons I had on it that I enjoy listening to...then, the week after when I had gone with Jack to Seeta to do some christian ed teaching at ps David's other school, I left my phone in the taxi and it was taken...so, good news is I don't have much left of value that I can lose. Better news is that hopefully travel insurance will replace them for me, and BEST news is that Jack gave me his ipod with a bunch of freshly downloaded sermons. YAY!!! Thanks Mgunzu!!

Nothing much to report but you should read this anyway.

2011-06-24T06:38:00.001-07:00

I thought it was time for another blog post, but there's really not too much to write. Or, my memory is extremely poor which is also possible.

I've been trying to spend more time at school now that mum is kinda on the mends. I've had a few opportunities to lead the kids in their daily morning devotions, and also lead the staff in their weekly staff devotions. I also preached on Sunday and a few weeks before that as well. I get a bit nervous sharing but I do also enjoy it. I'm getting a growing passion for preaching and sharing the gospel. Actually, I'm hoping to get a few speaking opportunities in churches when I get back to Oz (which is on 23rd August). If anyone has any sweet hook-ups with churches that might be interested, let me know. God's been teaching me things here and I don't want to slip back into my complacent mold.

Mum has still been feeling a bit rough. Please keep her in your prayers. She's lost a lot of weight and is generally weak. She's in Uganda for another 16 days I think and then heads back to Oz...leaving me all alone...*sniffle*

Actually, my UK neighbours have been and will be good company. We're still sharing meals. Its the best I've eaten since being here.

Mum heads off to Western Uganda on Monday I think to do some ministering in churches. You can probably read about her program in her blog: www.janne-inadifferentland.blogspot.com

Mum and I went in to Jinja today to extend our visas. Praise God it was so easy...and free! We had a good little chat with an Australian woman who runs a cafe there.

Well, that's all for now.

Peace!

Hospital and malaria and all things nice

2011-06-10T00:31:00.000-07:00

The last few days/weeks have been pretty crazy. Mum came down with malaria but seemed to have treated it too late. She thought she had recovered but relapsed Sunday evening. We went to the local clinic to have her tested. They told her it wasn't malaria. On Tuesday morning she was still unwell so we got a lift to Kampala with Jack who was going to pick his Dad, Niall up from the airport. I took mum to hospital where they straight away saw she was dehydrated and got her on a drip. She was retested and they confirmed that she did infact have malaria. So she was admitted and treated with a heavy IV drug called Quinine. She was alright the first day but the second it hit her pretty hard. The side effects of quinine were far worse than the malaria - terrible nausea etc. But after two restless nights sharing a hospital bed with me, by 4ish pm yesterday we were out of there and on our way back home. Mum's been feeling a lot better but the new drugs she's on for the next 3 days are knocking her round a bit too. I have also been feeling pretty rundown so was again tested for malaria but seems I got onto mine early enough and am right, other than some other infection I have now but its nothing I pray the anitbiotics they've prescribed won't fix. (That was a clumsy sentence).

As we left the hospital late we decided to stay the night in Jinja. Niall recommended a hotel which has been nice. They have a pool so I went for a swim this morning. Of course I wasn't prepared to stay any nights in Kampala so I swam in the same clothes I've been living in the last 3 days. Good times!

Breakfast was good. Internet at the hotel is free so that's why I'm blogging. I'd better keep going as I'm being a bit antisocial. Hopefully we'll be back in the village by early afternoon. Thanks everyone for your prayers.

Safari Pickies

2011-05-30T02:18:00.000-07:00

I just want to explain one of the photos. I made Jack a super straw so he could drink and drive safely but it failed miserably so I instead turned it into a more practical gift...driving glasses.

Road Trip

2011-05-28T08:26:00.000-07:00

It’s been way too long since I’ve blogged. Here’s what I can remember of the past 2 weeks:

On Saturday 14 May Mum, Jack (our mzungu neighbour from the UK) and I left for an epic road trip around western Uganda, to visit Queen Elizabeth National Park before the close of the school holidays. We stopped in Kampala for a kinda lengthy board meeting but continued after lunch up to small town near Fort Portal in Western Uganda. We arrived there at dark and stayed the night there. The next day we continued into the park, stopping at the equator markers along the way and also for lunch at a little dust bowl of a place called Katwe. I could tell mum and Jack were not impressed by the look of the little local restaurant I led them to for lunch. I don’t know what clued me in, it could have been their comments “You’re joking!” and “I’d rather stab out my eyes and eat them instead”. The food was cheap and nasty but I think it was better than starving. We then re-entered the park for a two hour afternoon boat ride down the Kazinga channel. About 3 mins into the park we drove through a herd of elephants munching on some trees. It was lovely to stop and watch them but we had to continue on for the boat ride. On the boat ride we saw more elephants at close range, countless buffalo and hippos, a crocodile, eagles, monkeys…I think that’s most of it. We passed a little fishing village in the park where people bathed in the water, mere meters from buffalo and hippos. That night we stayed in some cheaper student accommodation inside the park. We had the place to ourselves and slept to the sound of hippos munching on grass outside our window.

The next morning we left at 6am for a game drive through Kasenyi plains. It was still dark as we headed out but we soon were blessed with a beautiful sunrise. On that drive we saw again, elephants, buffalo, warthogs, crested cranes (Uganda’s national bird), bush buck, Kob (a type of antelope), monitor lizard, a lone hippo and…FOUR LIONS!!! It was amazing! Literally, about 3 minutes out of another fishing village, they were just hanging out in the grass, with antelope around them, not bothered. It was only when we got out of the car for a closer look that they got spooked and started walking away. Yep, I terrify lions! We then headed back for a late breakfast then left the park and continued on to our next destination. This time, with better directions than last year, we didn’t end up at Congo. We drove through some magnificent mountain scenery (the photos just don’t do it justice) and ended our journey that evening at a place called Rukungiri. Water was off throughout the whole town, so we got a discount at a rather expensive (comparatively) guest house.

The next day we were excited by a breakfast with real expresso coffee at Ban Café, Ugandas equivalent to Starbucks, but would you believe the machine was broken. But our spirits weren’t damped as we continued on in pursuit of a squiz at Kisizi Waterfall. We again drove through some incredible views along the way, picking up two girls that needed a lift, who then acted as tour guides, leading us to the waterfall. It was a beautiful spot, but we couldn’t stay long as we had other plans to reach some hot springs that we had read of in our travel book. The springs were so disappointing but it was also such a hilarious time. It was nothing more than a few hot stagnant pools. The locals were there, half naked, bathing themselves on the rocks. A man was there in his ‘official’ hot springs management jacket who said it would cost us 20,000shillings to see the springs (about $10). That was such a joke! He was certainly clutching at straws as he lead us around the many attractions at the site. He pointed out a ‘male spring’ which was a trickle of water streaming out between two rocks. We asked what made it a male spring to which he replied ‘Males urinate like that.’ We then saw a ‘female spring’ which was equally impressive. Lastly, we were shown a ‘miracle’ where there was a hole in a rock vaguely in the shape of a human foot and when he filled it with water, the shape changed to a heart shape….woo hoo! We were there for about 5 minutes total so bargained a cheaper price for such a disappointing visit. Oh, it was so funny though. I’ve captured it all on film. I hope to string it all together and maybe someday put this roadtrip on youtube for anyone who’s interested. Anyway, we drove on till we reached Masaka and stayed the night there, at a guest house that, which once again did not have running water available.

On Wednesday we then drove all the way back to Iganga, arriving mid afternoon. On the way we stopped at more equator markers where a tourist guide demonstrated how water drains anti-clockwise in the southern hemisphere, clockwise in the northern and straight down on the equator. Apparently you are 3% lighter on the equator and there are two times of the year where you can stand and have no shadow at midday….I was impressed.

I had such a wonderful time. I then had a couple of days off, then school started on Monday. We had the board from Kampala come to talk with the teachers. I was in about 5 hours of meetings that day all up. Exhausting! I’ve been at school on and off since, off mostly because I’ve been caring for mum who has come down with malaria by the way. She was not seeing improvement so we changed the drugs and I think she’s been feeling a lot better since. The problem is, now I’ve begun to feel a little crook…

On Wednesday we had a pastor friend come visit our school in the afternoon and he lead devotions with the teachers. It was such a great time of learning for them that they’ve invited him back to talk with them weekly. This has been a real answer to prayer as I’m so keen to see the staff grow in their understanding of the Bible, particularly their understanding of the Gospel, Christ, the cross, grace etc.

Today I’ve just been trying to catch up on some computer work. I’ve had an opportunity to speak with a Muslim man who runs the internet café in town. I left him with some Christian reading material and yesterday he told me he had some questions so I said I’d return today for a chat. I’d better keep going. Might get myself tested for malaria first.

Thanks for reading everyone! God bless.

...............................

Update: Yes, it is malaria.

Evangelism in Mayuge

2011-05-09T02:25:00.000-07:00

I’d just like to say a big thank you to everyone who has been praying for my face. It has cleared up nicely. There’s just a bit of a red patch now but Mum reckons in 6 weeks, once the skin cells have been totally renewed, it will be completely healed.

On Friday we went with our friend and pastor of the church at our school in Nasuti, Fred, to visit his family in a village in Mayuge district (about1.5 hours drive away). I got to practice my off-road skills further, plus recent rain added to the challenge, but we got there and back safely. Fred had been trying to preach to his parents for the past 8 years but to no avail. His father has two wives. We first talked with Fred’s step-mum at her house. She listened intently to the gospel message, seemed to understand and said she wanted to accept Jesus. Praise the Lord. Two of her children also said they wanted to follow Christ. We then went to talk to his parents. They listened and said they understood but obviously not completely because at the end the father insisted that he was a Christian already because he was born in a Christian home and baptized as a baby. However, Fred told us he is a witch doctor and pointed out the shrine at the back of his house where he acts as a medium and gets possessed by evil spirits. I imagine his mind is particularly darkened by all that stuff. Also, the wife politely said she’d think about it but didn’t want to make a decision now. Anyway, we’ll keep praying for them. We have a miracle-working God.

Other than that not much has happened. Aidat came to visit for the past 2 nights but is now on her way back to Kampala. Our mzungu neighbour Jack is back from the UK for a few weeks. We had him round for dinner and he invited us to his church on Sunday. It was good.

Not much else to report.

Pillow Parasites

2011-05-02T03:19:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday mum and I travelled to Kampala. We stayed that night with an Aussie girl, Lisa who is helping with some Christian schools in Kampala. I had met her last year in November when some of our teachers went for training in LEM phonics at one of their HOPE schools. It was good to talk through some of our frustrations with the Ugandan education system etc. For lunch we had ham, salad and cheese (yes, real cheese) sandwiches and that night we ate a delicious spaghetti bolognaise with garlic bread and salad, and real muesli for breakfast… I felt very spoilt. It made me long a little more for home.

On Wednesday we had a school board meeting at Ps David’s church in Mukono. It was 4 hours long and we still didn't get through all that we needed to, but some good came from it, namely, an acknowledgment that my role/authority is not clearly defined. So that’s something we’ll be working on, amongst other things. Actually, we have a few more meetings planned over the next few weeks. Please pray they go well. I think I have to be a bit bold and call things as I see them. I’ve been a little more quiet and in the background till now. After the meeting we went into Kampala city as I wanted to find out from the Ministry of Education what their expectations of a private school were and in what areas we had freedom. We walked up to 3rd floor where the person directed us back to 1st floor but then we were informed the lady had gone home, and they sent us back up to the third floor, where they sent us home, saying to come back the next day. We didn’t bother this time round. We spent that night at Lisa’s again. She had a church cell group that night which was good to be a part of. That night, something awful happened…
I awoke to a red rash on my left cheek where it had been in contact with the pillow. It wasn’t so noticeable so I just left it and continued my day. We headed off to meet another Aussie, a friend of Lisa’s, Marita, who was in Kampala that week. Marita is also pioneering a Christian school up in the north west of Uganda. It was good to talk through some issues with her too and get some advice. We then got public transport back to Iganga. We arrived home when it was dark and the power was off. I didn’t see the full effects of the ‘rash’ on my face till the next morning. It was horrid! It had come up in many pustules and around it was red and sore. It reminded me very much of the parasites mum had had in her leg, only many tiny wounds. We headed off to the Iganga hospital to have it checked out. They said it was an allergic rash, gave me medicine and said to clean out the pus. I would have thought if it was an allergic reaction it would have spread to other parts of my face, but I specifically remember sleeping with that cheek on the pillow and there was only a problem where the pillow had been in contact with my skin, so I think it may have been some tiny worms seeking a nice, warm incubator through the pores in my skin. It has since dried up and is healing…slowly.

Anyway, needless to say, I’ve been feeling really great about myself and my appearance. I feel like some nemesis in a superhero tale who had half their face burned with acid during some epic battle. I guess pillow parasites are almost as exciting…
So I’ve been laying low anyway, more or less house bound. Right now I am at an internet café in town which is a big step. I trust that it will heal, and am praying that it doesn’t leave a noticeable scar.

Not much else has been happening. Yesterday I finished my ‘Read the Bible in 3 months, cover to cover’ Program…18 month later. Better late than never. I’ve also started reading the epic poem/novel ‘Paradise Lost’ written by John Milton in the 1600s. Its about the fall and restoration of man. So far so good. Its school holidays so there’s not much to do there. I still need to plod away at this chicken project but its hard not having a working computer at home.
We are trying to plan a quick trip to Western Uganda to see some sites before mum heads off on another adventure for the rest of her time in Africa, but its going to be hard arranging a time between school/board meetings. Anyway, that’s all.

PS. I can’t upload pictures anymore cos I was relying on the card reader in my laptop, which is broken :(

Village Evangelism

2011-04-17T02:38:00.000-07:00

Time seems to be flying! This is the past week in a rather spacious nutshell…

On Sunday we visted our friend Ps Richard’s church in Iganga town. I thought I knew how to drive there but just got us lost and a parking fee. Mum preached and it was good.

On Monday we went in to town to get new insurance for the car. It was so much easier than I thought. It was so funny to see the office, bare but for a desk and the oldest looking type-writer I’ve ever seen. I guess that way they can still work during the frequent power shortages. After that we drove to Kamapala to visit Ps David for a few days. One of the highlights for me was getting chicken on a stick (Jess, Jaimi-Lee, Stewie, Drew…you guys know what I’m talking about!) from the roadside. David’s wife Anne had just arrived back in Uganda from studying nursing in America. She’s back for a month before again returning to the US to continue her studies. I feel sorry for her three little girls who no doubt dearly miss their mother whilst she’s gone. It was good talking with David about the project, visions for the future etc. I spent a lot of time working on the chicken budget (redoing much of the work that was saved on my brocken laptop). It has been sent for approval and hopefully we’ll be able to get 300 chicks early May. Its been a big wait getting everything ready but its good to first do the sums thoroughly. We stayed up till Wednesday. In the morning we had our friend Jane and her friend Anne stop by on the way to do textile shopping in Kampala for their Kenyan businesses. Unfortunately, due to time, we were unable to see them again this time but they promise to come again. I hope they weren’t disturbed by the petrol strike. Petrol prices are increasing (along with prices on everything pretty much), but I heard people from Somali come, buy fuel from Uganda and sell it for less in Rwanda, so somethings not adding up. There was outrage and I think politicians told everyone to walk to work till fuel prices came down. But the government wasn’t happy about that and sent in the red-caps (the toughest army guy people who shoot first and ask questions latter), to arrest people etc. There was riotrs etc apparently. The whole thing is ridiculous. It got to the point apparently where you could not walk on the streets. Where you needed a walking permit perhaps, rather than a driving permit. Not allowed to walk to work….crazy! I think its settled down now though.

On Wednesday we returned home.

On Thursday we had a program with Ps Richard in a village about 1 hours drive away. Previously he and people in his church had been in the village, visting homes and mostly helping relieve people from jiggers. Jiggers are a kind on insect that burrow into your feet and lay eggs. They can be painful and can even stop people from walking. Cases of jiggers are apparently so bad in this area, that they are reaching peoples arms and faces. The jiggers can be dug out with safety pins or treated with chemicals. It was great to hear today a testimony of an old man whom they had helped. He said he was in such a bad state his wife would not even come near him but would throw the food to him. He was suffering terribly. He thanks Jesus for his healing. The Pastors had called together those who they had been helping in the community and on the hired a hall and mum was able to given them a gospel presentation and pray for the sick. There were 7 adults and 18 children who came to the front professing some kind of response to the gospel message. Many came forward for healings and most appreared to receive healing then and there, mostly headaches and backpain etc. We then went to a neighbouring village where we did the same thing. There 11 adults and 35 children professed some kind of response to the gospel. Again, more sick were prayed for. There was a testimony a few days later that a baby that had been prayed for immediately gained strength and started feeding when it hadn’t been previously. Also an old lady who had been quite sick says for the first time in ages she slept without pain. She was a Muslim before but having seen the power of God, descided to turn to Christ. The people sent us on our way with a car boot full of avocados and other fruits. We then ate lunch at 6pm at a home where the church is keeping 17 orphans. After that we returned home. A storm stopped us on the way for a while then exhausted, we reached home at 9pm.
On Friday we went into school to have a meeting with the teachers about some issues that have come up. I think it was productive but in a way also disheartening to see their idea (or lack of idea) of a Christian School. There is still a long way to go. After that we went into Kaliro which is only 10minutes away and closer to use the internet but power was off. We also got treatment for mum. She’s a parasite farm! Tumbo worms I think they call them. She’s got these wounds on her legs where they’re growing…gross! Anyway, we pray the medicine kicks in soon. Friday evening Bob and Wasswa came back from school as well for the holiday. I think the overcrowding at home and lack of personal space hit mum a bit hard at first but I’m sure she’ll get used to it soon. This is Africa!

On Saturday we again left at around 10am to go back to the first viallage that we had been at on Thursday. This time I brought the gospel message. People seemed to be listening intently, but no one made any kind of public reponse to the message. I’m still pleased though because I think people really lack an understanding of the full gospel. People know Jesus dies for their sins but they don’t seem to know what that means or why he had to die. It was encouraging but also surprising to hear that it seemed to ‘click’ for the first time with the translator, who is also a pastor I think. The longer I’m here, the more I see that Christianity is miles wide but inches deep. After that we split into twos and did door to door evangelism in the community. Mum had some great responses (read on her blog www.janne-inadifferentland.blogspot.com ). We wrote down the names of 8 people who prayed a prayer but I’m reluctant to say they were truly saved or regenerated. I don’t know, God knows. Am I becoming cynical? I don’t see the sinners prayer anywhere in the new testament. I believe you can’t stop a truly repentant heart crying out to God. There were people who claimed to have been born again but backsliders who had no idea of why Jesus had to die and what that meant. People just seem to want religion, that want to repeat a prayer and be guaranteed of salvation, whether the fruit of repentance and faith is there or not. It becomes superstious. I don’t know. I have much to think about. I tried to shake it up by having someone who said they want to come back to Christ pray their own prayer to him, but it didn’t seem enough to the person I had been partnered with who then got them to repeat a pray after him. I don’t know if I’m expressing my thoughts clearly. Its like people want a guarantee of a better life, rather than Christ himself. It saddens me so much. Anyway, I’m running out of time so I’ll leave it there. But please read mum’s take on it.
We again returned home late. I was utterly exhausted and now am a bit run-down and sick but it was a valuable experience.

Today we head off to Mbale for an Easter convention at a friend’s church.We will be reunited with our friend Pete. I look forward to hearing how he’s gone in Western Kenya. We’ll be away for the week, hopefully returning home before the easter weekend.

While we are gone Sunrise will break for holidays. They are also having land at the school plowed and sown to help us get food for the kids and teachers to help cover the rise in food prices.

That’s all for now. Please keep praying for us, the school and Uganda. If you are interested in teaching pastors please let me know. There is a huge need for bible teaching here.

Wereba! (Bye)

Back in Nambale

2011-04-10T07:14:00.000-07:00

Due to a broken laptop, and a busy schedule I have had limited access to the net and not much opportunity to blog, so I'm going to cheat this time and cut and paste from mum's blog.

I think mum was pretty unimpressed by my cockroach farm. Tio, our kitten ate some sprayed/squashed roaches and has been weak and hardly eating since. I think mum was equally unimpressed by half a dead mouse found on our doorstep the other day (maybe that's why Tio's not hungry), and by the frogs which come out at night after the rain and block her route to the latrine. Such wildlife! I find it quite amusing.

We will be evangelising next week in some village, traveling to Kampala tomorrow to visit Ps David, and then on Saturday, I think I'm the guest evangelist at a crusade type thing...very stretching for me. Please pray for God's grace. I feel rather inadequate for such a task and don't want to misrepresent Christ or the gospel.

I'm going to stop here so that I don't repeat anything that Mum's already said.

(taken from www.janne-inadifferentland.blogspot.com)
"Well, I'm fairly settled here with Briony for the time being. The day after we arrived our first priority was to eradicate the infestation of cockroaches that had taken over in the two weeks she had been with me in Kenya. There were so many, but since spraying and doing a massive clean out we have only seen the odd one so think it is under control.

It takes a lot of time in Africa just to live. We wash dishes in a bowl with cold water and bar soap and scourer. Of course clothes are all washed by hand which can take ages to wash, rinse and wring. Food seems to take ages to prepare and because we have no refrigeration, we need to shop daily.

Briony's laptop died so that has been difficult as she has a lot of information regarding the school project on it. At the moment she is finalising the chicken project so that the school can begin to generate income to help pay the teacher's salaries.

Last Friday was the district sports carnival and our school came first which was exciting. It was so colourful with all the different bright school uniforms. The long jump posts were two banana stems and the sand pit for landing was mud. We watched several marathons in which the kids ran 4 laps of the 'oval'. At the end of the race they were collapsing on the ground, but there was no sympathy or congratulations. Those supervising the races would haul the children to their feet and speak sternly to them. They then had to stay in line in the order they had completed their race and walk over the the officials so that they could be scored for their school. It was terrible to watch as the kids were so exhausted.

Sympathy doesn't appear to be big in Africa. The first day we attended the school, the nursery class were running and one of the children fell over and slowly walked back to the rest of the class crying. The rest of the class in unison kept calling out "Sorry. Keep quiet!" as directed by their teacher.

Two of our school's P7 students were chased from home last week. They are orphans and had been staying with their maternal grandmother. Apparently in Uganda, the children belong to the father's family so their uncles are concerned about their land and so chased them away. Their grandmother had stopped feeding them and so they were very hungry after a few days as they had only had their lunch which is supplied at school. They are lovely boys called Aggrey and Michael Jackson and say they are both fourteen, though Aggrey looks much older. He doesn't know when his birthday is so it's possible that he is a few years older. It's quite common here for people not to know even the year they were born, so they just guess. It is rumoured that the relatives of these boys had killed their parents so we were concerned for their safety. The school had given permission for them to build a mud hut on the school grounds but as it would take them a couple of weeks to complete, we asked if they could sleep in a spare room in the meantime. It was agreed that they could sleep in the chicken house as we don't have the chicken stock yet. It is also thought that the boys could be trained up to care for the chickens as they are really good kids. Today Briony and I have shopped for them as they needed basic items for bedding, cooking, washing. Although these boys are educated for free by our school, it will cost about $24 for them to sit their government exams. If anyone would like to sponsor these boys in basic necessities, til the end of the year, they would probably live on as little as $10 a month for the both of them. Once the chicken project is up and running they would earn $25 a month between them so would no longer require sponsorship. Pls contact me or Angi (www.sunriseuganda.org).

Unfortunately I have no pics due to losing my camera but Briony posted some on her blog - www.brimmyos.blogspot.com (Masai pics).

The last two Sundays, I have spoken at churches. The first Sunday was Ps Fred's church that meets in a class room at our school and today I spoke at Ps Richard's church in Iganga. Both Sundays several people were healed. Last Sunday a dear old man who was deaf in one ear instantly was able to hear. He was also instantly healed of back pain. He was beaming! It was so exciting! Since then he has greeted us each day with a big smile as we walk past his home on the way to the village. He doesn't speak any English but Briony understands and speaks a little Lusoga. Others also were healed instantly. God's love and mercy is extravagant towards the poor and needy.

Well, that's it from me for now. I apologise for the rare updates but we don't have internet access very often. "

Masai Pics

2011-04-04T02:53:00.000-07:00

These are just a selection of photos from my marvelous time in Masai land.

Masai Land

2011-03-30T02:54:00.000-07:00

(Written on Saturday 26/03/11)
I have had the most extraordinary past few days. I am so blessed that God has granted me the opportunity to spend time in Masai Land here in Kenya. We arrived on Monday evening. On Tuesday we travelled in the morning to a church deep in the bush. It is so remote. I'll try attach a panorama shot so you can see there is nothing around. Many of the people walk for an hour to get to church and I was told kids can walk up to 2 hours to reach school. This place is unbelievably remote. Its just bush. There are ostriches roaming round, antelope and all those I've asked have seen lions, some have eaten their cows. The people don't know English and most don't even know Swahili. They speak their own language and have their own very unique culture. The women wrap themselves in red, orange, blue and yellow. They make their own beautiful beaded jewellery. They even gave me some. I was so touched. The men wear red and blue checks, or shades of red and maroon. They walk around with knives on their belts, sticks it their hands. They herd masses of cows or goats and sheep. The sound of goat bells fills the air as they pass. They stretch their earlobes and carry heavy earrings from the tops of their ears. The Masai dance in an amazing way, bouncing the beads off their chests as they kinda rhythmically bob up and down. I've practised with them and feel I'm getting it down pat. The youngsters greet the elders by offering the top of their head towards them. The elders then place their hands upon their head as the greet them. I had an older man spit into my hand and place it upon my chest. Apparently it was a form of blessing. Its out of this world, and I love it! The women are married young but they are so strong. The women build the houses for their families from mud and cow dung. The windows are scarce and fist-sized making for very dark, hot and smokey homes. They sleep on cow hide over logs as their mattress. It gets cold at night and in the mornings but is hot during the day. The landscape is dotted with those typical african-looking trees, acacia and the like. The land is dry so all are herders not crop growers. They typically live off milk, meat and fat, though there are those deeper in the bush, un-christianised, that continue to drink blood.
At first I found them a bit stoned-faced and stand-offish. Maybe it was an inability to communicate. But showing them pictures of themselves on the digital camera and practising dancing with them broke the ice. We were at that church for two long days. There was a session of preaching before lunch, after lunch and then after dinner. We would reach back to our guest house at almost 11pm in the evening.
The last few days we've been at another church doing the same thing, only yesterday (Friday) mum and I stayed home, preparing sermons for Sunday. They want us to preach. I'm going to be talking about conformity to the image of Christ.
Its been so fascinating learning their culture. The young warrior men, after circumcision must go kill a lion. In a way, there is resistance to the gospel for a similar reason to that in the west. People have their things, their cows, their wives and children. They feel they have everything they need, and so they don't see a need for Jesus. I was talking with a young but very tall Masai man who I could see had a heart for evangelism and was trying to share that if the people could understand what sin is, then the need for a saviour would make more sense to them. I was asking questions to see if they had the same concept of right and wrong eg steal is wrong, murder is wrong, lying is wrong, but interestingly enough, adultery is not considered wrong if it is done with people of your age group, those who your were circumcised with. I think this has caused the spread of HIV in the communities. Also, they circumcise the women also, though the government has made it illegal.
There is so much that I find fascinating. So much I have learnt. The Masai strongly resist change and any kind of development. As towns encroach they just push deeper and deeper into the bush.
They also see Christianity as a white man's religion and are very reluctant to give up anything of their traditions. I think there's an unnecessary emphasis on civilising them. Their primary need is not education or employment or better housing, but a relationship with Jesus as Saviour, knowing Him and forming godly character. Fortunately there are Kenyans and fellow Masai trying to convert them to the truth but it is a big task and is difficult due to the remoteness of many of the people. Please pray for them.

(Written on Wednesday 30/03/11)
Over the past week with the Masai we have seen many healings. There have been a lot of back and joint pain disappearing. There was a 7 month old baby that had no muscle strength in his neck due to being born 2 months premature, that was also healed. That was the child of a pastor from a church that we were ministering at. Praise God!
On Sunday mum and I preached at the one church, Ps James', our host's church. Our Aussie friend Pete and John from Ghana who had the original connections with the Masai pastor, preached at another church. We were very well received. They seemed to really appreciate the message we brought. Mum and I prepared together, both talking about the attributes of Christ, being born of God, all things working for our good to conform us to the image of Christ etc. I also did a gospel message at the end. We prayed for people at the end and a girl came forward wanting to repent and turn to Christ. It was also mum's birthday and they bought us some biscuits and cake to share with the church. Mum and I were given some clothes made by the pastor's wife, which were modern but with hand stitched masai bead-work. It must have taken her ages! She has her own business doing such work. We were very blessed.
On Monday, before heading to the airport we went for a drive in the bush to see a church that a friend was pastoring. There were so many wild animals though it was not in a reserve. We saw ostriches, many antelope, wildebeests up close and zebras from a distance. We were also told there were many hyenas that came out at night. We also passed many flower farms. Its sad that the Masai have been exploited. Some end up selling 100 hectares of their land instead of 100 acres due to illiteracy. The Indians have bought a lot of land and have made flower farms, exporting the flowers to Europe, so children of the land become workers for a foreigner. It is sad.
I have been so blown away by the generosity and hospitality of our hosts. I felt so welcome and already long to be back there. We arrived in Uganda on Monday night, staying the night in Entebbe and travelled to Iganga yesterday. Today we have been at the school and are now in town doing some shopping. I'd better keep going. Thanks for reading. In case I've missed anything, you can read mum's take on things – www.janne-inadifferentland.blogspot.com

(I forgot to come with the pics on my USB. I'll try again next time...)

KENYA!

2011-03-16T02:15:00.000-07:00

I'm currently in a town called Kamwangi, about 1.5 hours north of Nairobi. I had some hassels crossing the border from Kenya. Because me Ugandan visa expired on the same day I wanted to cross, and because it had been extended so many times, the Kenyans were concerned that Uganda wouldn't take me back, so they refused me entry. I was quite surprised and upset and a kind man tried to console me and advised me to go back and try reason with them. They said I had to confirm with the Ugandan side that they would allow me back in the country after I'd finished in Kenya. They confirmed this and all was ok.

It's quite a mountainous place so there's a cool breeze and its very green with beautiful trees. I arrived on Sunday evening after about a 10 hour trip from Mbale, western Kenya where I had been staying with Kay and her family. Kay is an Aussie who has moved to Kenya permanently to help with a church and Christian school. It was good to talk to her about Christian education in Africa and other issues. I was surprised at how easy it has been to travel round Kenya by myself. But I'm not by myself any longer...yesterday afternoon I was happily reunited with my mother and her friend Peter. Last night and this morning we've been yacking almost non stop, sharing experiences etc. Mum has just returned from a week in eastern Kenya which sounded amazing. You can read about it on her blog:
www.janne-inadifferentland.blogspot.com. This week we are being hosted by friends of mum's, Joseph and Lillian, and Pete is going to be preaching in the evenings at Ps Peter's church here in town from Wednesday, then they will be holding crusades Friday, Saturday and Sunday. I'm enjoying the time away but am missing Uganda and can't wait to take mum there in about 2 weeks time. Kenya is quite similar to Uganda. It seems a little more developed but the problems and challenges seem to be the same.

Two weeks! That seems so far away! I've been enjoying listening to more Paul Washer sermons recently, plus have almost finished Pilgrim's Progress which mum sent me for Christmas (which arrived in February).

I was asking Ps Peter yesterday, as we went to collect Mum, how long he had been pastoring and how he'd seen God at work over the years. He told us he'd seen several miracles and healing. He recounted how he raised a person from the dead after they were dead for eight days! He asked me if I had ever witnessed anything like that and I said no...but that God had worked a miracle in my life by saving me and changing me. I do believe it is still a miracle and not to be forgotten among other miracles. Then as I was reflecting on this I also recalled another area where I had seen God work. I guess its fitting for me to share the story now that I am currently back in Kenya. I don't know, it may or may not be difficult for people to read, but I so just want to lift up the name of Christ and proclaim the work He has done. It may also help explain how I came to be involved in the school in Uganda. Allow me to testify of the goodness of God.

In December 2007 I came to Africa for the first time. I had planned a two month trip in Kenya and Uganda but 10 days into the trip whilst I was volunteering at a children's home in the Kenyan country side, four thieves broke into the house at about 2am whilst we slept. It was only me and the project director, an older Kenyan woman, in the house. They took their time robbing the place. They stole my money, phone, camera, passport. The director was locked in her bathroom and with a machete to my throat and threat of death I was assaulted (let me leave it at that in case there are kiddies reading, but I'm sure you can read between the lines). As you can imagine, my family, when they heard, wanted me to come back home to Australia. I prayed about it and felt that surely that wasn't the reason for God to bring me to Africa, to have that happen, so I decided to stay on and continued on to Uganda. During that time I visited a few churches but mostly stayed at Ps David's house, just living life. I thought it was all a bit pointless in my mind and I found myself asking God 'Why am I here? I might as well go back to Australia.' Then it was at that time that the land was donated for the school by a Christian doctor and then I realised, perhaps that's why God had me there.

Anyway, the point is, I should have been pretty traumatised by the ordeal, but God seriously worked a miracle in my life, so that it's as if the whole thing never happened. I can't explain. At the time, I thought that God wouldn't let anyone touch me, that an angel would stand between me and the assailant...but that didn't happen. God in his providence allowed it to happen, but also totally dealt with any issues and completely healed me emotionally etc, Its amazing! So that is an awesome miracle I've seen in my life.

I wasn't sure how I would feel coming back to Kenya after all this time, again travelling alone for those few days, but God has been so gracious and I am seeing so much beauty in this place. I truly love it and the people here.

Many of you know that life has not been smooth sailing since, that again there was a home robbery, this time in Uganda in 2009, in some respects more violent, resulting in some injury to myself and my friend, but again, I can see God's healing and strength and can rest in the fact that he is in ultimately in control. Anything I go through will be for my good to conform me to the image of Christ, and that's all I want.

I don't really know why I felt the need to share that, but I feel its timely. I've been wanting to testify but I guess I haven't really felt I've had the opportunity. Now don't go thinking 'Wow, Briony is so strong to go through that and still remain in Africa.' I cannot stress enough it is not me, but Christ. Anything good in me is from God. I lay no claim to anything. God is good. And yet, I believe the biggest miracle is still the salvation of my soul, Christ taking the punishment for my sins, whilst I was an enemy of God. THAT is amazing. I pray all who read this have also experienced the saving power of Christ, or that He will use my testimony to reach you. That's all I have to say right now. I hope to blog again soon.

Peace!

2011-03-09T23:01:00.000-08:00

This is the post I wrote the other day:
Grrrr...I have a virus! I went to open it and this is what it came up as:
" Sorry I am really sorry. I don't want to do it again. This is my first and may be the last if you agree to help me.

Do you want to get your files back? That is so easy just do this. I want you to write a mail to
Zlovel_4evr@yahoo.com
stating how much I loved her.

You know… I gave her everything I had, my heart my phase…. all what I can and had but she gave me nothing
except pain. Now she leaves me alone and I am felling now empty inside. I can't to live without her. That is why I
burnt your files. I know may be this file is vital for you as your mail is for me. Be sure I will give your files back with
out any damage. Be sure and trust me.

Take a minute from your busy time and write a nice message to her. Then you will get all your files as befor.

Thank you for your cooperation. And I hope you will give me a pardon for my miss use of knowledge. I did it
because I left with no other option."

How annoying!!!

2011-03-07T05:53:00.000-08:00

I wrote a real long blog post the other day but it doesn't seem to have posted which is annoying as it was on my USB which i have left at home...anyway, my visa expires shortly so I'm going to Kenya on Thursday for like 10 days or so. Please pray for no dramas. I'll post again when I can but its difficult as I don't have the net at home anymore. Ok, ciao!

Salem

2011-02-19T02:10:00.000-08:00

I wrote this blog post on the 17th but because of ridiculous internet problems have been unable till post till now. The elections have finished and so far there doesn't seem to be any trouble, though I am without the news here. I've been lying low in a community known as Salem (more detail below). yesterday I met up with an Aussie volunteer here who works in the agro forestry projects and found the whole thing fascinating. She lent me some books to read about how planting trees in farm land can increase yields etc, and how it can be used at schools and the like, plus info on other eco, energy saving things. We also visited the babies home here where I spent most of my time cuddling two adorable month old twins. i'll try post pics if it allows me.

But here is the old post...

As Ugandan has her general elections tomorrow (Friday), and after the recent disturbance (gun shots etc in the village due to child sacrifice) I've decided to lie low at a friend's place in Mbale. I'm staying with a Aussie Christian friend John, his Ugandan wife Tina and their son Moses. I first met the couple in December 2007 when Ps David took me to attend their wedding, I think the day after my first arrival in Uganda. John and Tina are staying in this amazing little community called 'Salem' which if I remember correctly means peace in Bible talk. It was started in the 80's I believe by some German Christians. It now has a babies and childrens home, school, medical facilities, agro forestry projects, guest house for volunteers etc. It seems huge, but I have only driven through part of it. There seem to be many mzungu volunteers here. The whole community is enclosed in a fence with guards which patrol at night. There are so many trees here. I'm listening to the morning birds right now. They also have some cute little accommodation for staff built as permanent grass-roofted huts as a traditional village would be. Tina, as a doctor, previously worked with the Salem medical facility and that is why, they made an exception and allowed John and the family to stay there, even though they are not related to the project. Salem is about 11km out of town.

I drove from Nambale up to Mbale yesterday afternoon, picking up Tina on the way from her medical post. We popped in to visit a friend of hers who was about to pop. She was just getting her first labour pains. We prayed for her and went on our way, picking Moses up from school at about 5.30pm. As we drove through town there were so many campaigns going on. Masses of people danced and shouted as they moved down the main street, music blaring, waving branches from trees. It was quite colourful. Then I saw what must have been the police riot squad, equipped with tear gas and was glad I'd be avioding town in Salem for the next few days.

I feel a little bad because I didn't realise there's not much space for guests in the house here. Actually I've kicked Moses out of his bed and room, and he's sleeping on a mat on the floor in the living room whilst I'm here. I'm really impressed by John commitment to Moses' spiritual and educational growth. He has all the relevant text books here (I'm currently learning some interesting histroy of Ugandan from the P5 Social Studies book). Also he reads Moses a chapter from a short novel each evening and does a Bible reading and devotion with him from a kids devotional. It's so nice to see and inspiring. So many kids here miss out on growing up in such a committed Christian home.

(Tiny interruption - I just heard the lady gave birth to a baby girl at like 6am this morning)

John and I have had a few brief conversations about the Ugandan education system and I think there really is a long way to go. I really want Sunrise to be a school with a difference. Please pray that God equips me to do what I can and that the rest (teachers, community, board) grab His vision for the school to do their bits.

As a side note, I had my first apple for breakfast in a long time, oats, and some beautiful fresh bread baked here at Salem, with honey and peanut butter...YUM!

I'm planning to hide out here till the election results have been announced and will be in touch with the school to see if the village is free from riots. Hopefully I'll be back home early next week. But I feel very blessed to have this little time of rest, though I've brought school work with me to do here. Oh, and I've cracked open the copy of Pilgrim's Progress that I received from Mum for Christmas like 2 weeks ago. I'm very much looking forward to reading it.

That's all for now. I'm gonna keep going.

Please pray for the elections tomorrow, that Uganda will get a godly leader and for peace after results have been announced.

Mummy!!

2011-02-15T23:28:00.000-08:00

My mum is currently in Ghana, then will make her way to Kenya next month. I plan to meet with her there for about 2 weeks as my visa expires then re-enter Uganda and hopefully get my visa renewed. Mum plans to be with me here in Uganda in April.
I'm surprised that many of the things she experiences in Ghana are similar to those I've experienced in Uganda, even though we are on opposite sides of the continent.
Have a read of her blog: www.janne-inadifferentland.blogspot.com

The meaning of Nasuti

2011-02-13T21:46:00.000-08:00

Well, today is Monday. I've had a good week. Not too much has been happening. I'm just trying to get back into a routine now that school has started up again. I think I mentioned earlier, I've tried to introduce staff devotions in the mornings. Class is supposed to begin at 8am so I thought we'd make devotions 7.30-7.50 am. It has never begun on time. I think the earliest it has started is 7.45am. So most mornings I'm awake at 6am and prepare to start the day. I leave home at about 7.10 and walk to school. Last week I observed a few classes. The teachers are trying, but I think we have a long way to go. I'm also trying to train the younger teachers in Spalding/LEM phonics, a very effective way of teaching reading, writing and spelling. We had our first training session on Friday afternoon, but i don't know that I was very clear or very understood. My concern is that perhaps the methods will be implemented when I'm around, but forgotten when I go. And the training is going to be a bit messed up, as I may be travelling to a more secure location on Wednesday during the presidential elections, till the results are announced and peace is re-established. This kinda messes up a few of my plans, and i imagine staff devotions will come to a holt while I'm not around to supervise, but there's not much i can do.
oh, one encouraging thing...last week our new teacher who has moved in from another district asked if i could begin a Bible study with her. Another teacher overheard and also wanted to come, so we held it on Saturday arvo. A third teacher attended as well which was great. They wanted to work their way through the Bible, beginning with Genesis, so we looked at Genesis chapter 1. I'm not used to leading Bible studies, and the ones I've been in have had must discussion and group participation. I'm learning that there's not a lot of group discussion here. it's more that one person will talk and the role of the others is to sit and listen, and not even really ask questions unless invited to. Anyway, I was encouraged when the new teacher encouraged prayer for the school and community at the end of our session. She's been trying to figure out means to names of this place to try and figure out if there's any demonic attachment to pray against. She was surprised to discover that we have a large number of muslim students at the school, and many of the families neighbouring the school are muslim. Please pray that god changes the heart of the muslim children, and their families whilst they study at Sunrise, so that they may see the truth and turn to Jesus as Lord and Saviour. please pray that the teachers will be diligent in their work, and preach Christ in word and deed.
Interestingly enough, another teacher attending the Bible study explained that Nasuti (that's the name of the village where the school is located) is named after a spirit that supposedly lived, or lives on a small rock/hill nearby, on the way to the next village, Nambale, where i stay. Apparently the spirit captured a woman and married her, and she built a shrine there on the rock and would live there. People would come and pray from there and make sacrifices there. The woman died about 10 years ago and since then, the activities there have stopped. But we are still to pray against such demonic activity. The teacher explained that where she was from, there was a village with a demonic name, that, when the people united, they were able to rename the village, and it was approved at the district level. It would be amazing if this place was so changed for Christ that the people wanted to change the name of the village. I'm praying that this happens. I think Christians from western countries are so asleep to demonic activity and spiritual warfare so i'm praying that God helps me to understand better, so that I know how I can better stand against the enemy's schemes.

There's not much more to report. Aidat left yesterday for Kampala, and i'll no doubt miss her presence. i'm currently at school but I think I'll head home and work on some teaching aides for the Spalding.LEM phonics program.

Oh, and a shout out to Jess Clements who held a Uganda night at her church in ACT last night, raising awareness for the project here. I heard it was a raging success. Thanks Jess for your efforts and thanks to all who attended.

Tragedy

2011-02-10T22:43:00.000-08:00

There was a 12 year old boy kidnapped and sacrificed for witchcraft here in the village last Friday. Three men were captured and charged but on Wednesday the villagers sought their own justice, storming the police station, over powering the police, and murdered the 3 then and there. One bystander was shot and died. This took place about 200m from my home. Please pray for Uganda.

New classrooms

2011-02-07T02:56:00.000-08:00

Here is a photo showing many of the new constructions at school.
The new classrooms are a real blessing. Now that we have more space for the church (we use the largest permanent classroom) attendence appears to have increased.

The team has gone

2011-02-06T22:01:00.001-08:00

I'm currently at school, sitting in the morning sun, quickly turning into a fierce heat. School went back last week and we are beginning our second week. I'm trying to begin morning devotions with the staff. We were about 30 mins late this morning and only had half of the turn out I was hoping for, but i think it was a good time and hopefully things will be even better tomorrow. I'm leading this week and wanted to show them some ways in which the scriptures testify of Christ. He is of central importance, and when we get that right, I believe it will help us to interpret all scripture correctly. Today we looked at how the call of Abraham to sacrifice Isaac was foreshaddowing Christ and what God the father was to do with his only begotten son whom He loved. We saw how the wood Isaac was to be sacrificed upon was laid on his back as he carried it up the hill, just like Christ. We will continue looking at other Old Testament types and prophecies in the coming days.

Last Tuesday I drove the team to their next destination. I was sad to see them go but I know God has good things in store for them, and us. During their time here, they held a three day seminar at church, and then preached at the crusades we held Friday, Saturday, Sunday. I think there was a good turn out and I pray that God touched hearts and that more have been won to His Kingsom as a result. I was also able to share with the team some ideas for evangelism from The Way of The Master television series, and also introduced them to some of my favourite preachers: Paul Washer, John Piper and Charles Spurgeon. Many of them wanted copies of sermons off my laptop and one even deleted the entire contents of his ipod and replaced them with sermons. It was very encouraging. I pray God uses these messages to change lives.

So they have now gone. The house is a lot quieter and a bit more spacious (previously we were squeezing 11 people into 2 bedrooms and a sitting room). Aidat is still with us until Thursday I think, and Bob and Wasswa are with us till school goes back next week.

On Saturday we had a celebration as we gave out the Primary Leaving Certificates to last year's P7's. We achieved very well, with one of our students getting a first grade (I think its equivalent to a high distinction) and many receiving second grades. The District Education Officer came as well and had many positive things to say about the school. He said that there are many schools with much better facilities than us which have not done as well as we have.

Then yesterday was church. I was called up, without any fore-warning to preach in the first service. I spoke from Philipians 4:4-9. Next week I think I'll try be a little more prepared, just in case. Aidat also sang a song in sign language and I translated, which I think blessed the congregation and was a real eye-opener to them.

I've been really busy but as I haven't blogged regularly, I have forgotten much of it, so I hope my next post might be a bit more interesting. I'd better keep going. These school policies won't write them selves...

Oh, I forgot. I got a kitten as well. I think its a girl. She's black and tiny and a lot of fun. I have named her Tio, from the Luganda word 'kityo' (pronounced chi-tee-oh)meaning spade - black as the ace of spades. And i dyed my hair for the first time in like 8 months. I missed out on a holiday with the team here, but they say a change is as good as a holiday.

Unamaginative yet hopefully witty title

2011-01-24T08:08:00.000-08:00

Well, I've had an interesting few days. It's been great hanging out with the YWAM team. They are a great bunch of people. All so young! It's encouraging to see such mission minded young people. They have made some nice contributions to the project. On Thursday they made a bunch of cool posters, and that volley ball net. On Friday they went to the school and played soccer and volley ball with the kids. I reckon there were about 40 that showed up all together. Then after lunch they helped render an inside wall of one of the new classrooms so we can put a permanent blackboard there. I helped too. It was very education, learning how to mix cement from scratch, by hand, then using a trowel to splat it onto the walls, smooth it off etc. I got pretty splattered as well but I really loved it. I love using my hands and making things. I'm my Daddy's daughter! :)

On Saturday I was at school all day helping conduct teacher job interviews, finishing up with lunch there at 6pm! I think that's a new record. It was a good eye opener but highlighted that we do need better teachers if possible, so we will be advertising again and plan to have more interviews soon. Please pray for that, that we will get committed Christian teachers. During this time the team went into town with Bob and Wasswa and did some street evangelism, then some of them came back to the school in the arvo to plaster another wall.

On Sunday we drove to Kampala in the morning and visited Ps David's church. Holly, from the team preached. It was really good. Then we went into Kampala town and exchanged some Aussie dollars the team had. Then we drove all the way back to Iganga again. It was a long day. Today, the team have had the day off. After lunch they went with Bob and Wasswa into Jinja to see the source of the Nile river and do some shopping. I have been meaning to work on policy writing etc but have more just been trying to catch up on emails, as the internet has been off the last few days.

As a result of a number of unforeseen circumstances, I have less money now than I intended and may have to return to Australia early. Please pray with me as I deal with the tricky issues of whether or not I should apply for another visa or just leave when it runs out mid March. The situation is further complicated as my mum had planned to visit me and has bought tickets, but now I may not be able stick around till then. Please pray that I have peace and trust in God, for wisdom and also that I can leave the school and project in the best possible condition before returning to Oz in the next 1-5months.

YWAMers

2011-01-19T10:51:00.000-08:00

I am currently sitting on a cushion on the floor typing this as both beds are taken up by exhausted YWAM chickies and the chairs are being used by the others, sitting round the coffee table playing cards. Yes, I have visitors. There are three Canadian guys, two Canadian girls, and American girl all headed by an Aussie guy. Plus Aidat is visiting, so it makes for a pretty crowded house. The boys six boys are staying in bunk beds in a room we rented out the front, and the three girls are currently sleeping on the lounge room floor as Aidat and I have the beds. We hope to rotate.

I picked them from the airport with Ps David yesterday then we drove pretty much straight home from there, reaching the village just after 6pm. We did some talking, ate dinner, then everyone had an early night as they were pretty tired.

Today started with a group worship/prayer/devotion time which was cool. Jeremy talked about fasting. Then we walked to the school. Madada, the clan leader stopped us on the way and we greeted them. His parents also came to greet us. He made his daughter sing for us. It was so cute. Apparently she told him she was changing from being Muslim to being a Christian. Praise God.

At school we walked around the property and I showed them all that we have achieved so far – the bore, the 3 temporal class blocks, the new four permanent classrooms, the chicken house, the office and store, the pit toilets and the new pit toilet block. There was also the place where the bricks had been made. It was good to see. We broke into group ands prayed for the project.

After that we planned the activities for the evening and the next few days and then went to town. I praise God for the car Jaimi-Lee has lent me...it has the perfect number of seats. In town they used the internet, bought a soccer ball and some rope to make a volley ball net, got some cardboard and markers to make some posters for the new classrooms, and got some food from the market.

This arvo has been pretty chilled.

Tomorrow we again go to the school where the team will work on posters as they look at text books and the curriculum to see what's relevant. Also they'll make a volley ball net, and then later go and visit a clinic and maybe pray with patients etc.

Now the card game has finished, and the devotion Aidat just lead us in, and I'm ready for bed. Good night!

2011-01-12T01:28:00.000-08:00

Over the last few days I've been travelling to town and back to get money, buy building supplies etc and can now happily say that all the purchasing is complete (except I need to get more roofing nails) to finish the second stage of the building (that is complete but without windows, doors etc). YAY!!! I think it will be finished by the end of the week (?) Thank you to everyone who contributed to the building fund or other fundraisers. It is because of your support that we have been able to construct these amazing classrooms. This is a big step for the school. I would love to see these buildings completed with plaster and doors and paint, so if you would like to contribute to this, please let me know.

What else...? Well, I've also been trying to prepare for the YWAM Newcastle team coming on 18th January headed by Jeremy Barry Randall. I've been getting bunks made and buying mattresses, more cups, plates, basins etc. I'm really looking forward to having them there. We are organising a open-air crusade and some other things. Should be great.

On Monday we went to Jinja to look at a school that Bob and Wasswa hope to enrol in this year. It seemed to be a good school. They will be boarding there. We also did a few things in town then treated ourselves by a trip to the pool. We met Aidat in Jinja and she came with us. It was a nice time but I really missed Jess and Jaimi-Lee's company. I had been worrying as we had planned to buy the timber needed for the school but the money hadn't come through etc and I was stressed but God worked everything out. The money for the timber came through yesterday. They hadn't had a confirmation from us so hadn't prepared the timber so we had to wait for hours and hours, just sitting in the car, then the power went off and they couldn't cut the remaining pieces but as it was getting late we thought we should just take what was ready, so they started to load the truck and I was stressing because I didn't want to again pay to get another truck tomorrow but thankfully power came back on while they were loading the truck and we were able to get everything. We left the school at like 8pm after offloading...what a long day!

Aidat came back with us and is staying with us at the moment. It's been good having her around. We had a good devotion together last night and again this morning. Last night we were reading in John 14 about how if we love Jesus we'll obey his commandments and that he will reveal himself to us and we will be in Him and Him in us as He is in the Father, and the promise of the Holy Spirit etc. And Aidat asked me to explain the meaning and I realised I don't really know myself, what it means to be in Christ and the Father in us. So if anyone can shed some light, please feel free. Again, I was reading this morning in 2 Thessalonians 1 that when Christ returns that he will be glorified in his people. Interesting...

Today I don't really have plans. I'm waiting to hear if the bunks are ready to be picked up. I may go to the school in the afternoon and try catch up on some emails, but other than that, just some small work washing clothes, maybe bake a cake and do some reading.

Oh, the other time I was in Kampala my Aussie friend Julie (who has since returned to Oz) gave me a rice cooker and electric frying pan. Best thing ever! I have already successfully baked a banana cake in the frying pan and cooked a roast. Rice cookers are awesome! And we have been blessed to have had power to use them. Praise God.

Classroom Construction

2011-01-08T07:38:00.000-08:00

So here are some pickies of the classroom construction. It is 4 rooms and a small store. It's coming along well as you can see. I have also posted a picture of the site plan (very exciting and inspiring) with the building that we are currently working on circled

Happy New Year!

2011-01-03T07:58:00.002-08:00

Yay! I have the net back at home again, and for half the price it would appear...but its is so frustratingly SLOW.
So last time I said I had to wait 24 hours before I could withdraw money, well that was true. The other thing I didn't know though was that I actually didn't have enough money in my account...whoops. So as I was waiting for the money for the building materials to come through I was very poor with like $15 to my name in all the earth. So how did we celebrate when the money came through...CHICKEN!! Yes, we bought and slaughtered a chicken and I crumbed and fried it and it was delicious. We so rarely eat meat here. It's such a treat. It's not that its so expensive by Australian standards (about $4-5 for a whole chook or about $2.50/kg of beef, including copious amounts of fat and bone) but a lot more expensive than the alternatives here in Uganda. I've included some picks of me helping Wasswa to cut it into bits and the partially formed eggs we found inside. It's been so educational! There's nothing like practical, hands on learning.

I went to church for overnight prayer on New Years eve. It seems the thing to do for Christians here in Uganda. I think its really nice to dedicate the new year to the Lord and spend it in fellowship with other believers. Actually, there was not that much time for corporate or individual prayer which was disappointing. I've grown very fond of Ugandan-style prayer – everyone pouring their heart out to God out loud at the same time. I have now learnt that they use the terms 'going for prayers' to be synonymous to 'going to church'. So where I expected an all night prayer meeting, what I found was infact a kind of 6 hour church service. Anyway, I had come down with some kind of illness so at about 2am decided to take a nap in the car. At about 4am we all went home. The preaching was not actually preaching but a guy giving his out-of-body, death testimony. It was interesting but also kinda weird and I couldn't get all the translation. One thing which stuck with me though is his vision of like a crossroads and how one way had streams of people pushing and shoving as they poured down the road, whilst the other way was virtually empty with maybe one person walking by every hour. The man said that the Lord had told him the busy road was leading to hell and the other to heaven. That image just really stuck with me. It is quite frightening.

It all kinda ties in with something I read in the book, or rather a collecting of essays/articles by CS Lewis that I've been reading - 'Christian Reflections'. Anyway, there's a quote that also struck me. The context is that the guy who compiled all these reflections, a dear friend to Lewis, commented that Lewis had an orthodox belief in a real heaven and a real hell that in our contemporary Christianity may seem fanatical. He also seemed preoccupied with the truth that humans are immortal beings. The following passage jumped out at me. I've added my own emphasis:
“...It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and godesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship, or else a horror and a corruption such as you now meet, if at all, only in a nightmare. All day long we are, in some degree, helping each other to one or other of these destinations. It is in the light of these overwhelming possibilities, it is with the awe and the circumspection proper to them, that we should conduct all our dealings with one another, all friendships, all loves, all play, all politics. There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nationas, cultures, arts, civilizations- these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a gnat. But it is immortals whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit- immortal horrors or everlasting splendours...” (C.S Lewis, Christian Reflections, 1967, p. x)

Anyway, that's a little bit of what I've been thinking about.

On New Years day Bob, Wasswa and I went to Wasswa's home for lunch. It was really nice. We celebrated with rice, chapati, chicken and goats meat. Then on Sunday, yesterday we were late getting ready for church so we decided to have out own. We drove to Iganga (because we were going to go there anyway). We prayed and sang songs in the car on the way, and then when we reached, we each shared something out of the Bible over a soda at Mwana Hotel. It was a nice time. I shared those thought I had about everyone being immortal, and how, with every encounter we are in some way helping people to either heaven or hell. I also shared a mini revelation I had about Genesis 15:13-14 about the OT Israelites and the whole strangers/persecuted in the land of Egypt and the deliverance and judgement and the promise land thing being a picture of the church, and being strangers in a world where we don't belong for a certain time known by God after which we will be delivered and there will be judgement and we shall enter the promised land. And also shared other symbols of Christ in the OT etc. It was a good time. We prayed afterward then I met up with the engineer that's working on the building at school and he took me to a place where we got our much needed supplies for construction. I have since felt bad for doing business on the Sabbath and feel convicted not to do that again.

Today I again went into town to get more money out to pay for bricks and other things we need tomorrow at the site. And also did some other errands. Now I'm at home, with the net here..YAY!!! and I'm about to watch a Way of the Master evangelism DVD, then have some dinner of rice with spicy eggplant and tiny dry cat-food like fish.

Happy New Year everyone!
I pray Ephesians 1: 17-20 for you all this year.

PS. I have included a photo of the work being done at school, including the master plan which got me pumped, with the current building we are working on circled in red.

Actually, apparently not, as my internet can't hack uploading even pint-sized pickies...grrrr

Looking Up.

2010-12-29T05:13:00.000-08:00

I'm back in Iganga. I'm currently at an internet cafe, waiting for it to tick over to 5pm so I can go back to the ATM and withdraw more money. I planned to get like $1,500 worth of materials (mostly bags of cement) for the new classroom block we are building but forgot the whole can't-withdraw-more-than-$1000-in-24-hours thing. Hopefully the tipper driver isn't too upset with me for having to wait around for like an hour and a half...whoops!

Today has been nice. I had the best pineapple, mango and banana fruit salad for brekkie. After that I've been at school, trying to sort out materials, finances etc. I saw the site plan for the first time. I'm SOOOO excited! It looks great and its truly inspiring to see where the school could be in like 5 years time. I took a photo and will try put it up if I get the chance. Then, we found a tipper that will transport twice as many materials as the ute we'd been using for the same price, which is also a huge blessing and made me heaps happy.

My current problems are however that I need to still get a discipline policy written up and approved by the board before school goes back, plus write up a teacher's contract/staff service statement, plus I need to be preparing for the team, plus be getting all the building materials and maybe also supplies for the chicken-rearing project...Busy, busy

The past few days have been restful though. It has been so nice staying with Julie and family in Kampala. I got real Christmas cake, and got to play wii with her son. Plus I was blessed to receive a rice-cooker, electric fry-pan, other kitchen odds and ends, and some paints/artist's paper. THEN, I got home yesterday and opened the pressie Jess and Jaimi-Lee had left me. I feel so blessed. This all totally makes up for a crummy Christmas day! Thank you Lord.

The other major problem we have is getting support for teachers salaries. We are frantically trying to come up with a solution this end, but until we can be generating income from chickens etc, we are going to need support from abroad. Please let me know if you can assist us. There's been an idea here, that if we can purchase a motorbike, we can put it to work and it will earn equivalent to almost 2 teachers salaries a month. So, if a few people wanna chip in to buy a new bike its about $1,300 here, and that will keep paying teachers salaries till only God knows when.

Let me know if you think of any other solutions.

I'd better keep going. I have a few other things to do before I go back for these 90, 50kg bags of cement...

Some pickies

2010-12-28T01:14:00.000-08:00

I'm at at internet cafe with relatively fast internet so I thought I'd make the most of it and try upload some pickies. Here are some pictures from our Christmas party a few weeks backs and others showing our house/compound.

Christmas

2010-12-27T01:07:00.000-08:00

I wrote this the other day, maybe whilst a little depressed. I have more to wrtie but don't have the time right now. So, to be continued...

So yesterday was probably my worst Christmas ever. Not because anything bad happened. I got calls from Jess, Stew/Nadine, Steph/Merinda/Beth, Mum, Kim/Rob, Dad...which was nice, but its not the same as being with them. And I know its going to be another 3 years before I get Christmas with the Wisemans...*sigh*
I was to spend Christmas with David and the girls at their home, but security in Seeta has been bad, with murders happening every day. I think the count is up to like 40 for this month, so David advised I spend Christmas Eve and night in a hotel room. I awoke to a nice solitary Christmas breakfast. Then David came and we went to church which was nice. We left there at about 1pm and went to his mother in law's for lunch. It was nice to see the girls and I gave them a little African doll each. The food was nice. We were eating by about 3.30pm but there was no conversation. I missed my sister's yummy deserts, our annual ice-cream pudding and the world's best Christmas slice. I missed the cricket game in the backyard...
After eating we left to have a second lunch at another friend of David's. It was also nice, but much of the same. We were delayed waiting for a key but then left, reaching the hotel after dark, where I again went to my room. I started watching a movie on my laptop then just went to sleep. The one present Jess had left me with, I forgot to bring from Iganga. So all in all, pretty uneventful, lots of driving. I wish skype was working, then at least I may have been able to see my family...
Anyway, I know I sound depressed and am complaining. Since when has Christmas been about me? It's about Jesus, our precious Saviour. And about thanking and adoring God for his precious gift.
Today should be a little more exciting and 'mzungu' as I'm going to visit my Aussie friend Julie in Kampala and she's taking me to a function at a German/Ugandan friends' place, then I'm spending the night at her place. After that, that's Monday, I plan to return back to the village and hopefully get stuck into the mountain of work I have to do before school goes back and before the team comes.
I hope you all had a nice Christmas and remembered the reason for the season.
Bless you.

Christmas Party, Parasites and Car Problems

2010-12-20T20:45:00.000-08:00

WOW! It's so hard to believe that a week has passed.I can't really remember that much of what's happened actually.

On Friday we had our Christmas party. Our friends Jaimi-Lee, Aidat and Dorcus also joined us. We had a really nice time and gave out some gifts and ate some awesome no bake cookies which were a hit with all. It was such a crowded house though. The boys got the beds in the second room and all four girls were on the living room floor..nice! Oh, except I started getting some crazy tummy pain that night and Saturday morning, which is one of the reasons I'm actually in Kampala right now, getting out checked out at a hospital.

Saturday was a pretty lazy day at home with our guests. We watched a few movies etc. On Sunday we went to church. Jess was given a bunch of cute vilage farewell gifts like eggs, milk, a pumpkin and peanuts. And the school cook had written and sang a farewell song to her. After that we gathered Jess' stuff and met up with Jaimi-Lee and Rich and headed off to Entebbe. We stayed the night at a hotel there. It was pretty funny actually. We went to a nearby Philipino restaurant for dinner and the had karaoke! It was so much fun. Jess was punching out her rocking version of 'Down Under'...a very surreal situation but hilarious!

We took the girls to the airport the folowing day and they are probably on the last leg of their journey as I type this now. After dropping them off, I proceeded to Kampala where I met up with our Aussie nurse friend Julie and had myself checked out at hospital for the tummy cramps. They did one test and it seems I have parasites, which is actually not what they were looking for so I'm going back this morning to have another test.

The car has been playing up so Julie suggested I say the night and have her mechanic look at it. It seemed to be that it only needed water in the battery but he tried to start it just now and it didn't work so he's gone to get a new battery....
Anyway, that's the story. I'd better keep going as I think I'm being quite an anti-social guest...

p.s. I love you Jess and will miss you

Kids' Christmas

2010-12-14T11:12:00.000-08:00

Today was a truly amazing day. Ps David had said to expect visitors from a church he had connections with in Kampala who wanted to bless the kids with some Christmas gifts, but the day far exceeded my expectations. There were about 12 of them that came. They came with food and gifts. The women cooked a marvellous meal for the kids with rice and meat. The kids plates were piled high. They all got two sodas each, and then gifts of shoes, toys and clothes. It was truly beautiful. I was so happy for them, I wanted to cry. This will be a Christmas that they will never forget. Most of the kids are orphaned or poor and would have otherwise never have experience such a Christmas. Just thinking about it now, I want to cry. It was the BEST day ever! And it was so encouraging to see fellow Ugandans helping Ugandans, the Christians reaching out to help the vulnerable. The kids were so stoked. (I've been trying and trying to get some pics up but its not working for me :(

After the event, it seemed as though the whole village was joyful. Madada, our Ugandan father invited us to have some food at his place on the way home, and his kids were beaming from their day. I am so thankful. Praise the Lord for this wonderful blessing.

All Aussie - All African Adventures

2010-12-12T21:55:00.000-08:00

Last week we decided we'd go on a All Aussie, All African Adventure with Jaimi-Lee and Jess, before they returned to Australia. We decided on a budget safari to Queen Elizabeth National Park in western Uganda. Money to cover the cost of this trip was generously donated by some friends in Oz as a birthday gift for Jess and myself. Thanks guys!

On Monday afternoon we left the village here, with all our luggage (including guitar) plus the four of us – me, Jess, Bob and Wasswa – headed for Jaimi-Lee's in Iganga. We stayed there for the night and then left in her car at about 6am. We travelled all day, stopping along the way for some brekkie and lunch and arrived as Kasese mid afternoon. We found a nice hotel/guest house and had an awesome nights sleep. We left the following day after breakfast and continued on to the national park. On the way we stopped at the equator markers which was pretty special.

As we entered the park we saw a few crater lakes formed by past volcanic activity. We tried to take a game drive around the apparently best part of the park to spot lions but ended up at some random fishing village. We saw a few antelopes etc but nothing much else so we continued on, fairly disappointed to the trading centre called Katwe where we had planned to spend the evening. Accommodation here was cheaper than any inside the park...but there was a reason for that too. The place was not very nice at all. I think Jaimi-Lee also started crying at the thought of staying the night there, so we thought we'd check out some of the accommodation in the park. On the way out of Katwe, as the road passed near the lake shore we spotted hippos in the water, plus one crossed the road in front of us, and THEN we saw elephants! We were so stoked. There were quite a few of them. One crossed the road right in front of us. It was amazing. We had to leave as we had booked a river tour at 3pm but on the way into the park one of the guides said there was a lion in a tree not so far away. We asked him if he could show us so we all squeezed in to the car and he took us to the spot. It was a big male, just sitting there. It was awesome! I had been so disappointed by our first game drive, but now, by mid afternoon, we had pretty much seen everything. We then joined the river boat cruise which was also wonderful. It took about 2 hours and we saw a lioness carrying a bush buck off into the scrub. There were plenty of hippos, elephants, buffalo and birds to see. The tour was so informative. I learnt a lot from the guide.

After that we tried to look for accommodation in the park. The options were just too expensive. There was one place that we thought we could possibly splurge on, but they wouldn't allow the three of us girls to share the one room (I had plans to sleep on the floor) and then after much haggling, they said they'd allow us but that none of us would get breakfast. That was really the only reason why we had considered staying there so we refused and instead stayed the night at a student hostel a little further down the road. The place was very basic – all five of us slept in bunks in the same room. I think we were the only ones there that night. The hostel manager advised us not to use one particular set of outdoor toilets/showers as, and I quote: “The warthogs shelter in there, to hide from the lions.” *gulp*It wasn't the most secure place, but enough to keep the animals on the other side of the door. Plus we had the boys with us, and Wasswa assured us he could take on a lion. It was a fun night. There was power so we could charge our phones, laptops etc, then we ate jam and vegemite sandwiches for dinner and when it got dark, piled into the room, played some guitar, sang some songs, coated ourselves in insect repelant and blanketed ourselves in whatever we could find. We heard lions roaring, elephants trumpeting and hippos munching on the grass outside our window.

The next morning we left at 6am, ready for our morning game drive. This was the best time to spot lions apparently, coming back from the hunt. We planned to tag along behind the cars which had guides. We again saw elephants first up, plus a few Ugandan kob, but little else, so we decided to go get some breakfast in Katwe, then continued on to take ourselves along a channel track called 'Leopard Loop'. We didn't see any leopards but we saw so many elephants at such a close range, like 10 metres away. There was a time when we were fully surrounded, as the road ran through a herd of them. There were babies and massive ones and it was just so spectacular!

We then left the northern circuits of the park for the several hour drive to the southern circuits. Here there were supposed to see the infamous tree-climbing lions of Ishasha. The county as we drove had much more of an untouched feel to it. It was beautiful – gorgeous savannahs etc. Eagle-eyes-Wasswa as we now call him spotted another lion in a tree as we were just driving along the public road. It was amazing! I got some video footage of it but my camera zoom was not good enough to get a clear photo. We also saw baboons in huge numbers. Anyway, as we travelled, Jaimi-Lee was a little concerned how close to the Congo border the park was. I assured her it was fine...however, we took a few wrong turns whilst trying to find accommodation for that night and lo and behold, ended up at a road block, only to realise we had reached the Congo border! We quickly backed up and continued on to the town of Kihihi where we thankfully filled the tank up with fuel...only to have the car break down on us immediately afterward. Again, Jaimi-Lee was quite distressed. We couldn't speak or understand the language here, and JL's friend had advised her not to let anyone under the bonnet as they'd steal parts. There were drunk men around. It was horrid. But Wasswa chased them off and a real mechanic came. The problem had happened before so JL was able to direct them and it was fixed in hardly any time. I don't think it even cost $30 to be fixed, praise God. Kihihi was quite a nice town. We found a nice place to stay that night and ventured to the market where we stocked up on mangoes and pineapple and then grabbed some food for dinner before heading back to the guesthouse to watch a movie and get a good night's rest.

We left the following morning, I think that was Friday, after breakfast for the long drive to Masaka where we had booked accommodation for that evening. We had planned to detour and stop at a waterfall and hotsprings on the way but the roads were windy and poor and travelling was tacking longer than expected so we didn't bother. Man, I thought Uganda was beautiful before I headed west. Now, I feel I have no words to describe the place. Western Uganda is so amazing! It has such a gorgeous, untouched feel. It is so green with massive rolling hills, lush vegetation, my photos don't do it justice. In comparison, Iganga is a dust bowl. Anyway, we enjoyed the beautiful scenery, only I accidently drove the front wheel of the car off the road, into a gully. There were people there to help lift it out, but what frustrated me most was that there's no just helping people here just out of general kindness, oh no, everyone is very keen to help out because they expect to get payment from it. It's so frustrating and disheartening to me. There's a difference between giving someone money out of appreciation, which we had planned to do, and then them demanding money from you with a hand on their grass-slashers...we gave them money and sped away. The rest of the journey to Masaka was relatively uneventful but remarkably scenic. We stayed that night at a cute little back-packers where we did cart-wheels and handstands on the beautiful lawn and taught the boys how to play Rummyking in the evening. The next day we left at around 10am and finished the journey back to Iganga, arriving at about 3pm. We again loaded ourselves up with all our stuff onto two bodas and rode safely home. What a great time!

Yesterday we had our own church at home, listening to a John Piper sermon I had downloaded, and spent time relaxing, watching movies etc. Today we are doing some washing first up then will head into Jinja with Jaimi-Lee as the boys look at some schools for next year and as the girls buy some Chrissy gifts for their families. We are also stocking up on authentic African jewellery which we will sell as a fundraiser for the project in Australia. Don't miss out!

I'll edit this post when I get the chance and try add some photos of our safari adventure.

2010-12-03T03:38:00.002-08:00

This is how you typically have lunch in the village - outside on a mat with the kids.

2010-12-03T03:38:00.001-08:00

2010-12-03T03:31:00.003-08:00

This is some of Wasswa's family. I don'y know why, but his sister in law would pull some random poses in the photos (holding radio here. There are three siblings not pictured here.

2010-12-03T03:26:00.000-08:00

Here are some of the many types of beans you can find being grown in Uganda. Note the blisters on my hands and fingers - evidence of a hard days work.

2010-12-03T03:19:00.001-08:00

Apparently enfudu (turtles) like sweet potatoes too.

2010-12-03T03:09:00.001-08:00

Here we are digging for sweet potatoes.

2010-12-03T03:03:00.000-08:00

Jess and I, doing the village-head-scarf-to-stop-dirt-getting-in-your-hair-and-absorb-your-sweat-trick.

2010-12-03T02:56:00.001-08:00

This the patch at Wasswa's place where we planted our vegies, amongst the banana trees.

2010-12-03T02:43:00.001-08:00

Jess and I have been getting some good practise carry things on our heads through the village. It feels so much better than carrying it on one side of your body.Here Jess has mastered carry a loaf of bread on her head, and I mastered carry a bag of sweet potatoes.

Jess and I helping to shift some of the 47 50kg bags of cement we bought to finish off the chicken house.

2010-12-03T02:34:00.001-08:00

Here are some of our teachers (front row) at the LEM phonics training session in Kampala last week.

Village Freebies

2010-12-02T23:25:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how quickly time has gone. I've nearly been in Uganda for 4 months. Jess leaves me in 17 days! Please pray that God brings someone else to share this time with so I'm not alone.

Last thing I blogged, we were heading to Kampala for the teacher training. We had six of our teachers attend. I think the material was a bit advanced for our staff as many of the other teachers attending from other schools had received the introduction the previous year. But I think it went well and sparked the interest of our teachers and at least gave them a little understanding. I plan to train all of our teachers in it before school goes back next year. Some of my teachers embarrassed me with late coming on the Thursday morning (even though the hotel I had them in was only 10 mins walk away!). But this is Uganda. There was also a little issue with money accountability, as I left them money for food...but its all okay now (though things were a little tense for a time) and it has been a big learning curve for me... “O Uganda!” - To quote the first line of the national anthem.

We stuck around Kampala Friday and Saturday. On Friday we went out to see a school run by a guy, Collins, I had met last year at the NHI Christian teachers training. It's a secondary school and a vocational training school. It's quite unique in its set up. It aims to encourage, particularly the local kids prone to drop-out, to continue their studies by offering low fees, plus they must learn a practical skill such as building, carpentry, tailoring, cooking etc at the same time. It's still in it's early stages but has a lot of potential. I would like to have something similar at our school one day.

On Saturday we had a project board meeting. It went well, only, true to Ugandan form, it started 2 hours late, and only half the expected people turned up. It was good to talk through some issue, though I have many tasks to complete before the next meeting. Though we closed the school for holidays on Monday, I know I'm going to have a pretty busy time before school goes back. We have a parents meeting this coming Monday, plus other visitors coming on 14th December, Ps David also plans to have a crusade and show the Jesus film sometime before Christmas, but I don't think I'll be needed to prepare anything there which is good. Then I think there's going to be a board prayer session here in the village, maybe New Years, dunno. Then I need to come up with a mission/vision statement for the project, drafting a discipline policy to be submitted to the board before our next meeting in January, preparing for training our teachers from 17th-21st January. I'm also going to be on the panel interviewing teachers on 10th January. Plus there's the team coming for the first 2 weeks of January that I need to prepare for. I need to get this chicken project up and running and get onto building supplies etc so that we can begin building in January...SO BUSY!!! Plus jess and I want to squeeze in some touristy time and see some animals in a National Park before Jess heads back. We were thinking about going next week...too much to organise!

Anyway, back to the recount, we travelled back to Iganga after the board meeting on Saturday. On Sunday we went to church in the village. There was a visiting minister. Her sermon was good. And our friend Bob was able to translate for us into English, so that was awesome! After that the church pastor, who is also the school bursar, invited us back to his house. We enjoyed some delicious jack fruit and lunch. They sent us home with a big jackfruit of our own and a bag of paw paws. Man, I love village life! Monday we closed the school. We bought Bibles in Kampala and gave them out to the P6 & 7 students. It was great. However, there was one P7 boy that came late, so I went and wrote his name in it to give it to him but he wouldn't accept because he's a muslim. I was trying to figure out if it was that he just feared taking it back to his house (he's an orphan and stays with his uncle who is a muslim), or if he actually just wanted nothing to do with Christianity. It seemed to be both. I feel so sad that this 15 yr old boy is so hardened against the one that gave him life, sustains him and made a way for him to be forgiven of his sins. Please pray for him. We told him that his Bible is in the office, with his name in it, anytime he ever wants to read it.

On Tuesday Ps David, the project director, visited us and we had an admin meeting, and a teachers meeting also. On Wednesday we went into Iganga town to buy building supplies such as cement etc to finish off the chicken house, and also started getting some other things that will be needed when we start building classrooms in January. We hung out with Jaimi-Lee in the morning which was nice. Yesterday we went to Wasswa's mother's place, just out of Iganga town, and we planted a veggie garden. Our muscles are sore and our hands are covered in blisters but it was a really good time. First we had to plow quite a decent patch with hoes and then heap up piles for planting. We planted carrots, onion and eggplant. Then we had tea and jackfruit. After that we went back to a different garden where I learnt how to dig up sweet potatoes and cassava. You need to look for the mounds where the ground is cracking, and dig there. We found a turtle which was really cute. I also learnt what peanuts look like growing under ground. Fresh peanuts are actual quite different in taste to the dry ones we get. I also saw like five different types of beans growing, and how they grow, how sesame seeds grow, and what banana flowers look like and how you can prepare, cook and eat it. To plant cassava they simply bury a few cassava stem sticks in the ground...fascinating. After that we came back to the house and had fresh sugar cane while the boys went into town on some errands. We then had a long walk through the village with Wasswa's brother which gave us some good practice greeting people in the local language. We went home, had lunch and then went home in the evening, laden with potatoes, cassava, paw paw and jack fruit...I really love the village. We have been so blessed with people's generosity here. Though health and educational services are poor in the village, at least people are by no means starving.

Today we are at home, just cleaning, doing washing etc and tomorrow we plan to have a rest day in Jinja with the boys and Jaimi-lee. The girls will be shopping for Chrissy pressies and then we'll chill by the pool. That's the plan anyway. I'm looking forward to a bit of a rest.

Thanks for reading and for your prayers. Please pray for me especially during the next few extremely busy months. I'm feeling pretty under qualified for much of this work, so pray for God's equipping. And also pray for me, that I won't feel too lonely during the holiday season, being away from family, and without any mzungu friends around. Thanks :)

Mbarvelous Mbale

2010-11-23T00:36:00.000-08:00

Jess and I had a wonderful time in Mbale over the weekend. We left on Friday arvo and stayed Friday and Saturday nights with Barry and Anne James, who we know from Canberra. They've been coming on and off to Uganda over the last 7 or so years I believe, helping at a theological college in Mbale. We were so spoilt that weekend – great homey mzungu style meals (with desert!), a visit to the gorgeous Sipi Falls, a good old pirate movie, and good solid biblical teaching at church on Sunday. The house they were staying in is usually inhabited by a family from America but they have gone back to the states for health reasons. It is decked out so nicely, not extravagantly, but just beautifully. I enjoyed having a fan in our room and a comfy bed and pillow. The grounds were gorgeous with beautiful gardens...it was just so nice. We were also able to catch up on Saturday arvo with our friend Dorcas who had been staying with us for several months last year, and then on Sunday arvo, to catch up with our friend Geofrey, his wife Susan and kids. I really feel for this family. Please pray for them. Susan was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had the breast removed and is now having chemo therapy, only they have to find $350 every three weeks for the next 6 times to travel to Kampala for the treatment. Geofrey was working with a group from the UK on a children's home but was let go, as far as I understand, because he needed time to help his wife and also very sick mother in law and could not meet the requirements of his job, anyway, so he is without work, but is able to rent out his van which is bringing in a little income I guess, but I doubt it would be what they need for treatment. I was just so amazed to see them in such positive spirits and it was so encouraging to see them so reliant on God for their provision. Anyway, as you can probably tell, I was a little reluctant to leave Mbale, but I am back at home, and things are going ok. We went into Iganga yesterday to do a shop and get the internet fixed. The school year is winding up. The kids have finished their exams. We might go into school today before lunch, but apparently there are only about 30 students there. We'll probably just do art and craft with the kids. Tomorrow we'll leave very early and travel to Kampala for this Christian Teachers and LEM phonics training then I plan to stay in Kampala till our planned board meeting on Saturday, after which Jess and I will travel back to Iganga. So, things are good, but still busy. Thanks for your prayers.

Sunrise Children's Project Update, November 2010

2010-11-22T03:47:00.000-08:00

Hello dear friends of Sunrise Children's Project Uganda!

I enjoyed the first half of 2010 back in Australia, spending time with family, friends, working and trying raise support for the project. Our fundraising efforts culminated in a trivia night the weekend before I flew back to Uganda in August. It was a raging success. About 200 people attended and over $7,000 was raised for the project! This far exceeded our expectations. A big thanks to all who were involved. We plan to use the money raised on income-generating agricultural projects (keep reading to hear news on the Chicken Project) and to begin constructing permanent classrooms.I returned to Uganda in August and plan to be here until August 2011. My friend from Canberra, Jess Clements is with me until December. We were initially renting in the town of Jinja. It was tiresome using public transport to travel to the school and back each day, sometime taking up 5-6 hours of our day. It was a blessing in disguise therefore when we started to have issues with our landlord who then refunded our money and released us to move closer to the project. We are now renting in a small trading centre called Nambale, about 30mins drive out of Iganga town, and about 15mins walk from the school in Nasuti. It has been so good to be near the project, and on the ground every day. As we are currently understaffed, Jess and I have been doing a little bit of teaching P6 (Year 5) English, and Art & Craft P4-7 (Years 3 -6). We are teaching the students how to make school bags for their books out of wool and plastic sacks. We hope that these craft skills might be useful for them in the future as well, as a possible means for them to generate income after leaving school. The students have just completed their exams and by the end of next week, they should be ready for school holidays.As you are probably aware there are many orphaned children at Sunrise Christian School. Jess and I brought more dresses and shorts this year from Australia, especially for them. These were again, hand made and generously donated by an elderly woman from Canberra. The children were very appreciative.When I returned to the school I found that they had begun the second pit toilet block needed for school registration and they have been working solidly on it since. It is now just about complete.We are also constructing a chicken house, consisting of two rooms and a store. Here we hope to rear layers and sell their eggs to generate income for the school to pay for things like teachers salaries etc. The house is almost complete and we hope to take in our first batch of chickens early next year.hings are going ahead it terms of registration for the school. We are now on the educational map, literally, and we are receiving much positive feedback from visitors from the District Education Office, neighbouring schools and the community at large. Sunrise is becoming known in the area for its hard work and high educational standard. We hope to improve this further as we plan to take seven of our teachers for two days of teacher training in Kampala next week. The focus is on Christian Education and literacy through the LEM phonics program.

There was a problem with the water bore about a month back as some of the pipes had corroded. We were able to have it repaired temporarily, but a complete change from the metal to plastic pipes has been advised in order to keep the bore operational for some years to come.

As Jess plans to leave in December, I will be very grateful to receive a team of seven from YWAM Newcastle for the month of January. The team plan to stay with me near the project and will be involved in a variety of activities including teaching, construction, preaching and setting up small-scale income generating projects, Lord willing. The church that meets in a classroom at school, which a number of staff and students attend are planning to build their own structure with assistance from the team, and provided that there is money available, we would love to begin constructing permanent classrooms for the school.

Perhaps our greatest need at the moment is support for teacher's salaries until money can be generated from our agricultural projects. This has been an ongoing concern and the problem is worsening every month. Please consider sponsoring a teacher's salary at approx $50 a month.

Donations can be made to Westpac:

SUNRISE CHILDRENS FUND – UGANDA
BSB: 032713
Acc no.: 300085

(Note: Administration costs are covered by friends of Sunrise, so 100% of money goes to the children and project.)

Finally, Sunrise has been entered into the American Express/Oprah coming to Australia Charity competition with the prize of $100,000 up for grabs. Please support us by voting for the project online at

We appreciate your support. Thank you for your prayers. Please use the following as a guide for further prayer:
Wisdom in decision making for the Ugandan project board, which is meeting on Saturday 27 November
Pray for the YWAM team planning to visit next year, that they would be able to raise money for airfares etc, and that their time here will be a blessing to the project and community
Pray for success in the income generating projects (initially the Chicken Project) so the school can begin to become more self sufficient
Pray for much needed sponsors for teacher's salaries
Pray that the upcoming teacher training will positively impact teachers of Sunrise and will be used to bring change to the school and community.
Pray that students will continue to make commitments to Christ and will impact their families and village communities.
Pray for more volunteers to come and support Briony in Uganda and that she will not feel isolated next year after the team goes. Pray for her physical and spiritual well-being.

Well that brings us to the end of the project update. Please feel free to contact me (briony.kaczmarek@gmail.com), +256 772 062 342) for further information. Also check out the new project website (still under construction) at www.sunriseuganda.org. For those interested, I also have a blog where I try to keep weekly updates of my adventures here in Uganda. Visit www.brimmyos.blogspot.com.

Briony

Competition

2010-11-22T03:39:00.000-08:00

Also, my sister entered me/Sunrise into an Orah coming to Australia/American Express comp to win $100,000 for the project. Check it out, search fb for American Espress Australia, like it, then click on the promotions tab, then gallery and then search Kim Wiseman.
Thanks for your support!

Kampala Capers

2010-11-22T03:31:00.000-08:00

We arrived safely back home on Wednesday after 5 days in Kampala. What an interesting time it has been! I had mentioned that my malaria had improved...well it actually got worse (officially becoming 'complicated malaria' once I started vomiting) and I was admitted to hospital on Saturday evening. I had to change treatments to get injections in the backside which was very unpleasant one a day for 4 days. By Sunday arvo I could go home and rested at the hotel where Bob was also resting after his surgery. It went well and he is on the mends. During our time at the hospital we met up with another Aussie, Julie, a nurse who is involved in a sexual health/education organisation called Straight Talk. Anyway, Jess' mum had got in contact with her from Australia and put her in touch with Jess as Jess was interested in taking some materials to our school, especially as one of our P7 girls has fallen pregnant (mind you she is 18 years of age). Anyway, Julie came to the hospital which was great. She's been such a help during our stay in Kampala, such a blessing. She also has a great knowledge of Uganda as she's been here almost 12 years and is married to a Ugandan. Julie would call every day to see how we were going and would come and check on me.

On Monday she came to visit with a Ugandan doctor friend, David, as they were in the area. He invited us to his place for lunch. He made some kind of strange comment and Julie said something about how he needs to be careful about what he says, as Jess and I are good Christian girls. Then he asked us what type of Christians we were, and I smiled and asked How many types of Christians are there? He then rattled of the list I have come to be familiar with here, Catholics, Protestants, Jehovah's Witness, Born Again... I find it so interesting that some one can in Uganda, call themselves a Christian, but not be 'Saved' or 'Born Again'. By definition it doesn't make sense. I explained that I was a follower of Jesus, but if I had to pick one of those titles, then I guess I was Saved/Born Again (usually associated with charismatic/pentacostal churches here I believe). I was reluctant to choose one because of the stigmas attached to a label. I know that my definition of what it meant to be 'born again' perhaps did not match up with what he thought I was saying. So we had a bit of a conversation as I tried to clarify what his understanding was, but it quickly turned into him firing questions at me, and as I tried to clarify definitions it became Answer the question. Yes or no? It turned out he also called himself a Christian. That he had been 'Born Again' but is now Catholic. I couldn't quite figure out the reason behind the change. The conversation was quite brief but extremely interesting. He asked me if one was not born again, what were they? I said they are not born of God to which he asked what the alternative was. I said, born of Satan? (Thinking of the verse where Jesus tells the Pharisees they don't understand the things of God because they are not born of God but are of their Father the devil). But what I meant was children of wrath (and wish I knew the Bible verse off the top of my head that said that). I probably should have said if one is not born of God they are dead in their sins. I wasn't thinking particularly quickly. After all, I had malaria. I tried to show him Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus in John 3 where he says unless you are born again, you can't enter heaven, and then he starting saying, You can't isolate verses like that, you have to read them in context. Jesus was speaking specifically to a Pharisee, a teacher of the law. I don't really know where he was heading with that. The conversation jumped around a bit as he continued to fire questions. He then said that God is the creator of all man, angels, demons, Satan, mankind that created Islam, witchcraft, Hinduism, Buddhism...so that God must have a plan for all. That God is love. I don't know enough about worldviews but I got the impression he was universalist (?) I guess that God will save everyone a loving God wouldn't send anyone to hell. I tried to challenge this, that only those who are born again will be saved from hell, but I don't know if we was hearing Only those that belong to the denomination 'Born Agains' will be saved. Things were getting a little heated. Anyway, then he asked if we knew about the story of Elisha and the youth that mocked him for being bald and I said yes, that he called bears upon them. And he asked by who's power and I said by God's and then he said, so your God eats up children with bears. (Which, now that I recall was itself taken extremely out of context). He then asked me how old I was. I replied that I was 25. He said he was 42, that I ought to read the Bible for 20 more years and then talk to him again about such things. He said if I really read the Bible, then I'd see. He went on about how he had been a Bible teacher etc etc. I find it extremely ironic, that this is the context into which Jesus was speaking when he talked with Nicodemus. It's like Jesus saying, You, preacher. You, Bible-teacher, it doesn't matter how much you know, unless you're born again, born of God, you won't enter heaven. The whole situation and conversation was quite bizarre. If he was a Christian, why did he seem to want to attack my beliefs? I guess he thought I was misrepresenting his god. He seemed a bit antagonistic and seemed to want to catch me out at something but I think I gave a fairly good defense overall. Though I didn't know any amazingly relevant Bible verses off by heart, I did show I had (what I think) is a good understanding of the Bible. I wish I had more of an opportunity to look at sin, judgement, repentance and faith. We were rather quickly shooed out after lunch. Later I felt a little bad, because in Ugandan culture, women are seen and not heard, plus me being a lot younger, plus a guest in his house, would all give him reason to see me as very badly behaved. But I feel I went about it politely, only my questions for clarification may have seemed like I was putting him on the stand which is not what I wanted. I guess he brought the whole thing up. Anyway, it may not have fitted with Ugandan culture but Kingdom culture tells me the gospel must be preached in season and out. Later Julie told me the guy is just a big stirrer anyway. But please pray for him. I'm still not sure where he's at. It was also interesting to see a bit of Julie's position on it all. I take it she was born into a Catholic family. She was kinda like, Don't worry about me. I own a Bible, I was baptized and go to church at Christmas. She probably just doesn't see herself as a 'fanatic' like me. I hope I get the opportunity to share the gospel with her. I wish I had more time with the two of them really. Julie may be coming to visit us in Iganga in the next few weeks which will be nice.

Hmmm, what else? Other than that I mostly stayed at the hotel, either trying to sleep but mostly watched movies on the laptop or chatted with our friend Aidat who also visited. Then every evening I'd catch a boda back to hospital with Jess and get the next painful installment of my treatment. Things really added up monetarily in terms of treatment, accommodation, food and transport for the five of us, so we are glad to be home and I'm happy to be eating real food and not hospital food or street vendor food.

Also on Wednesday, we checked the post in Iganga and I had received a package. I was stoked. Inside were some goodies for me, some educational books for the school, Flight of the Conchords and the Way of the Master evangelism DVDs I had also left behind. We started watching them that very night and Jess and Bob seem quite into it, so that's good. All morning Bob's been looking up Bible verses to use when witnessing and said he'll get out there and evangelize as soon as he's well again.

I had a little mini revelation whilst watching the first episode. The co-host of the program, Ray Comfort, was talking about how we, like the early disciples, are fishers of men, and how a fishermen has to go to the fish, that it is very unlikely that fish will jump out of the water into the boat. It got me thinking about how fish generally want to stay in the water. They are happy there, like a sinner in the world. Like a fish doesn't know its wet, we do not know we are sinners but by the law (Rom 3:20b). And its a struggle to pull a fish from the water but that's what a fisherman does. They gotta get their hands dirty. I need to find it but there's a verse in the Bible saying the same thing, that we ought to save them with fear, pulling sinners from the fire. I thought that was cool to realise. I did a Brimmy sketch about it. Maybe I'll put it up on my brimmyart blog one day. It's in desperate need of an update.

Tomorrow (Friday) Jess and I will be travelling to Mbale in the afternoon. We plan to visit a few friends and stay with our Australian friends Barry and Anne James who have been there for a few months. They plan to take us to see Sipi Falls on Saturday which I am very much looking forward to. Then we'll return on Sunday, spend Monday and Tuesday at Nambale, and hopefully distribute some Bibles to the students which we have received a pledge. Then again I'll be going off to Kampala very early Wednesday morning for the teacher training. I'll stay in Kampala up till Saturday for the board meeting, then come back home, by which time, I think the school will be closed for school holidays...then maybe on to this chicken project and preparations for a possible YWAM team visit...YAYA!

Prayer points:
continued recovery for Bob and myself
more evangelism opportunities and an increased passion in all of us to see the lost come to Christ
Christian teacher training that I and 7 of our teachers will be attending in Kampala on Wednesday/Thursday next week, that it will be a profitable time and that the concept of Christian Education will begin to be better understood in Uganda and our school.
For finances for the project, particularly for teachers' salaries, and permanent solutions to this ongoing problem.
Preparations for a possible visit by seven Newcastle YWAMers in January.
Good outcomes for the Sunrise Ugandan Board meeting to be held Saturday 27 November
More visitors to stay with me and help after Jess goes back to Australia in December and for next year.

Ok, that'll do for me. Thanks for reading and praying.

PS Had an awesome time in Mbale over the weekend. Will blog about it soon. Am also about to send out a project email update so let me know if you don't get one and I'll sign you up. I might post the text here too.

Hospital

2010-11-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

This is just a really quick update. I hope to do a longer one another day. Yesterday when walking home from school we got caught in a freak hail storm which was extremely painful! We cowered under a tree for some of it but I am still bearing the bumps and bruises - literally. It was all part of the adventure though. Then our mate Jaimi-Lee came to stay for the night and we all went to Jinja in the morning from where we caught a bus to Kampala because our friend Bob needed a medical check up. I started to feel a bit crook. Turns out I have malaria, and Bob had to go in for an emergency operation. We are still waiting for him to come out. He's been under for 3 hours. I hope everything is okay.
I have treatment for malaria and am already starting to feel better. The hospital bill we be over $1,000 so that will hurt too. Anyway, God will meet our needs. I'll update again when I have time. Please keep praying.

Rats go splat

2010-11-09T01:23:00.000-08:00

I've had a really nice day (Monday 8/11/10). It's in the afternoon. Jess and I have just got back from watching the boys play soccer and playing a few other games with the village kids. It was so nice, except one of the kids slapped me on the arm. It wasn't very nice but it was hilarious how there was dead silence and everyone stared to see how I would react, even the soccer game stopped. And then the other kids were apologising for the boy who had run away. Jess rode one of their bicycles and they all thought it was hilarious. We had arrived at school pretty early this morning, like 8:10am and we took the laptop which was genius, so I was able to get a little bit of work done before the battery died. There was a rat (actually two) in the office and it attempted to climb Jess' leg. They were chased out of the office and beaten to death with a stick. That was a bit of excitement. I taught P6 English again and Jess took out five girls who had been struggling (actually, we found out recently that three of them could not read at all). The R.E teacher never showed up so I took the kids for that subject. I pretty much just shared the gospel with them. It's as if no one had ever told them before. I was surprised. I could really see some of them paying close attention, especially the older boys. There are two boys about 18 years old I think in that class. I asked how many of them had a Bible and none of them did. It makes me so sad to think that these kids have no access to God's word really, even if they did want to read it. I asked if any of them wanted a Bible and they all raised their hands, so I would really really love if we could get some people willing to buy some Bibles for this class. Jess and I had also wanted to buy Bibles for the graduating P7 students. I think you can buy a pretty decent small but hard-cover Bible, OT and NT for about $7.50. All up we need about 24 for the P6 class and then 15 I think for the P7 class, so that's about $293 worth of Bibles. Please let me know if you can make a contribution. It could mean a changed eternity for these precious children.

I was just so happy to be sharing the gospel. It gets me feeling so alive. These kids need to know the truth. They need to know Jesus as Lord. We decided we'd hold a Bible study tomorrow at lunch for any kids that were interested in knowing more.

Then as we walked home we came across a certain 'Jaja' (grandmother) who is so gorgeous and hilarious, who literally dances when she sees us and does other funny stuff. She walked us most of the way home from school with her gorgeous grandson (?). Oh, how I wish I could speak the language. She was really trying to communicate. I picked up one word every now and then, like 'school'. Though the boy was speaking Lusoga I picked up that he was telling us he went to Sunrise School and was in Nursery Top class. He then said that he was saved/born again and in Lusoga I said 'Praise the Lord' and he said 'Amen'. It was so cute. He was full cuddling up to Jess as we walked, not just holding her hand but trying to hug her legs and waist – beautiful.

Let me try and work backwards...yesterday we went to church. It was good, only the whole thing was in Lusoga. I understood enough to look up the Bible verses that were being preached on and they were good. We then listened to a John Piper sermon when we got home and had a nap. Our neighbour Jack came over for a chat in the evening which was nice, and we had a good Bible/Jesus talk. Its so edifying to talk of the things of God with other believers. I forget what I've already said about them, but Jack and Niall are doing some good work here helping schools become self sufficient, helping them generate income through agriculture to show them that they don't need to be dependent on overseas aid. They are going back to England though which is sad because we've only just started hanging out and I've really been enjoying their company. They have been challenging my thinking on a few things. Anyway, last night Jess led a family devotion after dinner and then we had a nice jam and worship session. It was just really good.

On Saturday it was Wasswa's birthday and our Bzungu friends gave us a lift to Jinja and we spent most of the day at a hotel pool with them which was a fun time. We made Wasswa a banana cake.

It was Jess' birthday on Monday and last week she received a package from home which was really nice. I was feeling a little ill so I stayed home from teaching for a few days and rested while Jess took over at school.

We cooked Ethiopian chicken for our bzungu friends on Wednesday night which was nice, and Jess spoilt us with a yummy banana custard. Wasswa came back from Mukono and is now staying with us while he is on holidays.

On Sunday last week we stopped and greeted a family as we were walking home from church through the village and they asked us to name their baby – to give her a Christian name, so we named her Rebekah Mutesi. That afternoon a students from P6 came to visit us with her brothers and sisters. She often comes to fetch water for us from the bore which is lovely. They brought these little olive-like fruits for us and so we gave them paw paw and a lolly each and we watched a film called 'War Dance' about ex-child soldiers etc from northern Uganda. It was so nice to have them visit. One of the young sisiters is terribly covered in scars, maybe burns all over the head and face, though she is still probably one of the cutest children I have ever seen.

I forget which day, I think on Saturday the father of a baby that had died (not sure if I blogged that story) whom we had given some money to to get treatment before the baby died, visited us. It was a little awkward but okay. He then later sent a bunch of food gifts to us with his eldest daughter, things like maize and paw paw and green pepper. It's pretty cool getting all this free stuff from the village.

On Friday we went to Iganga to take Bob for a check up. Fortunately he has shown some improvement in terms of pain though swelling has not reduced so we plan to take him to Kampala next weekend to get a second opinion.

I think I have more to blog about the school and thoughts but I'll do it another time. I just know that I was over due for a blog entry.

Intense Night!

2010-10-29T07:08:00.000-07:00

What a day! I am utterly exhausted but Bob must be a thousand times more tired and here's why...
Bob called out to me at about 1am this morning. I went to his assistance only to find him doubled up in excruciating abdominal pain. We only had panadol but I woke up Jess to find where it was. We prayed for him and I texted a few people back in Australia to pray, meanwhile we woke up our neighbour who is the head mistress of Sunrise and she then woke up others. No one had seen anything like it. They thought he was going to died...Bob thought he was going to die. I have never seen anyone in the much pain, rolling around, crying, groaning in agony. It went on for hours. We managed to contact our boda man and took Bob to a clinic in the nearby trading centre of Nasuti. There he got painkillers, rehydrating stuff (because he had also been throwing up because of the pain) and eventually the pain eased up and he could get about an hour or so of restless sleep. We also queezed in a little sleep – three people on a bed that smelt of urine...When I arrived at the clinic Bob had been calling out for me. It was so nice to be the name on someone's lips when they're delirious. And I tried to comfort him somewhat and the people there were like “So YOUR Briony.” It was kinda nice too to be put down as someone's next of kin. Anyway, with many people praying back home, and here, praise God, Bob is feeling a lot better though there is still dull constant pain. We went into Iganga to the hospital there to see a doctor. He prescribed some meds and refered us to go have an ultra sound. The whole process took a lot shorter than I expected (praise God!) This is a plus side to being a Mzungu...you kinda get accelerated in queues etc. While Bob was in getting his ultra sound Jess went to go check the post again (no packages yesterday but I did have one birthday card from Dad). Meanwhile, I whipped out my Bible to do some reading and couldn't help but tune into what seemed like an interesting religious debate outside. At last I worked up the courage to step outside and see if I could join in. It was as I expected, Christianity versus Islam. I told them I couldn't help but overhear their conversation and asked if they wouldn't mind if I listened in. They were happy to let me. I could see that there was a lot of intellectual debate going on, as to whether Jesus was God, and/or the Son of God and if he was there from the beginning...but I tried to employ my 'Way of the Master' (great DVD series on evangelism, you should get into it) tactic of shifting from the interlect and mind which is at war with God and speaking to the guys' conscience, which is God's ally (as His law is written on man's heart). There were two guys arguing but I was mainly talking with one. I tried to walk them through the law to show them that sin was a problem that needed dealing with, and that a saviour is the only way to escape the wrath of God which will fall upon them if they died in their sin. At first he was being difficult and wouldn't admit to anything, lying, stealing, hatred (murder of the heart)...but he did admit to lusting (lusting Jess and I!) which is adultery of the heart. I tried to explain the goodness and justice of God and they he can't just let someone walk away scott free after violating his law. He is God. His standard id perfection, holiness. I tried to explain that hell is God's place of punishment where he pours out his eternal wrath...he started to quieten down at this point. There were a could of others chatting and it was a bit hard to keep on topic but I think he got the picture. He kept going back to the whole Jesus being God thing, not wanting, it seemed, to confront the big issues but to just debate. One thing I started to say (but I think it would be good to gather my thoughts better on the subject in the future) is the fact that due to the nature of sin and the nature of God, the price could only be paid by God himself. Only God could live a sinless life and pay the price that we could never pay. Anyway, we had to go, so I told him in order to be saved and acceptable in God's sight he needed to repent and trust in the work of Jesus on the cross, as his saviour and follow Him as Lord. I told him to please give it some serious consideration as I didn't know him, but didn't want him to go to hell. He asked if I'd be around next Friday to continue the conversation. I assume he intends only to continue an argument, but I got his number and said that if I was around I'm meet up with him and continue the chat. After, Bob advised me not to call him. There's some barrier there as I'm a mzungu woman. He just wants to chat with a foreigner and doesn't seem to care less about the message, but hoopefully that will change. If I do go, I'll go with Bob. I do want to try again. I feel that is more the mission work I wish I was doing. I had been dreading evangelising to a Muslim but it was no where near as scary as I thought it would be. I'd like to continue to talk to him about the goodness and justice of God and find out his explanation of how Islam deals with sin, as have him see that it actually doesn't. Also, from the Perspectives course I did I remember learning that in Islam there is no assurance of salvation, and I'd like to give him the Christian view on that. I'd like to talk more about how we can't get to heaven by works...but I feel I need more ammo on the whole Christ being God and the Son of God thing. Anyway, I praise God that I had that opportunity. Please pray for him – Ibrahim is his name.

When I was at the hospital I got a random call from a pastor friend of Ps David's who I had seen on several occasions but never really talked to. It was just general chit chat. I thought it was weird but ok...THEN I received the most surprising text I've ever had. I thought I'd share it with you all for a laugh. He will remain nameless and I won't change his English:
“J greet in jesus name,sory this is the first time to say j lover u so much in my heart please u be simple to me we shall enjoy life in mariage u look beauiful to me in this nation by pr _______”
I laughed! I had to tell him straight: “Hi _____. This has come as a surprise. I dont mean 2 hurt u but its best I am honest. I dont love u & am not interested. I am sure God has someone else 4 u.”
Then he responded: “Pls think about it u will tel me next time remember am with pr david but nt by force is creating relationship with u but forgive me by pr ________ pls”. So this is maybe the fourth proposal I've had in Uganda, but the first one by text :)

Anyway, as you can see its been a very interesting day. Bob is sleeping. He'll go back for a check up next week. I might start getting dinner ready, or can maybe squeeze in a cat nat...which reminds me, at the clinic was the cutest little kitten and I had been saying how I had wanted one to keep mice away and to eat cockroaches..ok, another tangent, I am getting SO sick of cockroaches in the pit latrine at night, especially as we had one inside the other day and we had just finished watching an action movie I had borrowed from Jaimi-Lee and I was feeling all macho, so I thought I'd thow a shoe at a roach that was climbing our wall...anyway, I missed and it fly at my head! Roaches here can fly! Argh, I hate it. Little bugs boring into my bed and leaving saw dust on the floor, I can handle. Frogs outside the door and weevils in my shower loofer I can also handle...but I am tiring quickly of these flaming cockroaches! Anyway, long story short, we might be getting a sibling of the kitten we saw. I'm stoked! Ok, that's all. Ciao people!

Oh, and don't forget its Jess' birthday on Monday. Please call her: +256 787 011 311 and you can send her a card at:
PO BOX 386
Iganga
UGANDA

Ok, really bye.

Some Ethiopian Pickies

2010-10-28T02:11:00.000-07:00

Above are some pics from Ethiopia. I have others but net is so slow that they'll have to wait. In the photos you can see Jess' sponsor child and family.

We have the internet at home again. We got it in Jinja on Saturday. We had to change service providers as our previous one didn’t have reliable network in the village. Our new one is slightly more expensive with only 1GB of downloads etc instead of the 3GB we had before…plus it is ridiculously slow. Seriously! Like it can take 15 mins just to get into your emails. Anyway, I guess its better than nothing. Don’t know how skype will fair.

On Friday last week we stayed at school till late chatting with some of the P.7 boys. They were telling us their stories. It was absolutely heart breaking to hear. Some of them are orphans, or are really doing it tough. On Monday we took the video camera to school and recorded some of their stories. There’s too much to go into now, but these kids really need your prayer. The boys have been asking if I could start a secondary school at Sunrise. They truly love the place and don’t want to leave. I so wish we could, just starting with S.1 and adding a class each year as they graduate to the next level…but alas, money is not there, and we need to get the primary school more stable first. I really feel that its something I would love to do. I want to give my live for these kids. I feel like I could do it, I could sit under a mango tree and teach them all the subjects, but I know such a school could not get registered. Now these kids will struggle to get school fees to attend secondary school. I guess a lot of them will stop after P.7. It’s so sad. We are trying to think of ways that we could continue to support these kids, like maybe giving them a couple of chickens or something for them to rear, then they could sell eggs or chickens and help pay for their own fees and buy their own books. I know one of the little darlings was saying that’s what he was hoping to do, start some project so that he could pay for his school fees. Anyway, please pray for them. They’ve been through a lot. I hope to write more about some of their stories another time.

As I mentioned, on Saturday we went to Jinja. Oh, but first we spent all morning washing…I get so tired so quickly of hand washing. We had to do our sheets as well so it just took forever. Our Bzungu neighbours were also heading to Jinja so we were able to get a ride with them which was nice. We weren’t there for that long, just fixed up the net, ate some lunch and caught some taxis home.

On Sunday we went to church at the school. It was a really nice time, my first time there this time round. One thing I love is how involved the kids are in the church. They sing songs and are there for the preaching too. There was a visiting pastor and his message was good. He said that he was going to bring a hard message, not like other preachers who only talk about prosperity and getting your blessing, but he spoke on holiness and being ready for Christ’s return.

The days are all starting to blur. I think we just had a cruisy arvo, and this week at school has been good. Not too much to report. It’s been raining like every arvo/night so I guess the wet season is well and truly here. Jess and I got bogged again walking through the swamp to school this morning. It was hilarious, but also extremely difficult with all the slipping and sliding, plus the mud is sticky so the bottoms of your shoes get caked…I ended up just carrying my shoes and walked through the mud – extremely unprofessional for a teacher to be doing but I think it was the only way. We headed straight for the water bore once we got to school to wash ourselves so it all worked out.

Right now we are in Iganga town. I’m trying to upload some pics as there is no way our net could handle it at home. We also have some shopping to do…and we are going to check the post box. I’m so expectant. It would just make my day if someone has sent a letter or package.

Tomorrow our P.7’s go to the place where they’ll be sitting exams from to get used to where they’ll be sitting etc. We might go with them if we are able. Then they sit there exams on Tuesday and Wednesday, then they are done at Sunrise! Please pray for them, that they do well.

Ok, well, I’d better keep going. Hopefully I’ll be able to figure out how to compress images and maybe, maybe can manage to upload a picture every now and then.

Oh, the chicken house and pit toilet building have been going along well. I also have pictures to show, but it will have to wait.

Talk again soon.
xx

Birthday!!

2010-10-21T03:33:00.000-07:00

It was my birthday yesterday! Thanks to everyone for the birthday calls or messages. I feel very loved. I had a great day. Our mzungi neighbours came round in the morning with pancakes, maple syrup, a candle and card. It was so awesome. I got some pressies from my friends Jess and Jaimi-lee with was ver special and then we went to school. At school I got some more well wishes and a card and gift. After teaching, the school closed at 2.30pm as there was a burial to attend. We went to that briefly then continued home. Jess gave me a foot massage and then we had more pancakes and custard and banana and pawpaw for dinner, then i got a back massage and went to sleep. It was really nice...except I didn't sleep so well. i imagined I heard someone walking on the roof and on other nights I've had similar things. I have felt tormented, demonic I think. Anyway, please remember to pray for us. Satan is strong but God is stronger.

We are in Iganga using the internet today. We've been without internet at home for some time. Hopefully we'll get it sorted soon. I'll have to post some picks another time.

Written on Monday 18/10/10

2010-10-21T03:10:00.000-07:00

I haven't blogged in SO long. Things have just been very busy and as I haven't had the net at home its been hard to keep you all updated. So much to say...

Well Jess and I went to Ethiopia from Monday 4th till Monday 11th to visit her sponsor child. We stayed with a family that was a friend of a friend in Australia. The husband's name is Abdu and his wife is Alim. They have two teenage boys Benjamin and Caleb and a four year old Phinehas (not quite sure how to spell it.) They live in Addis Ababa. We praise God for their amazing hospitality. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay there. The food was amazing! (They sent us home with some yummy Ethiopian spices). Abdu converted from Islam and now spends much of his time evangelising Muslims. He had some resource materials on evangelising Muslims which I found extremely interesting to read throughout my time there. We were also blessed to have hot showers there...at least until the water went off :).

The first few days were just resting really, and walking a little bit around, then we went into Addis and went to a museum. Addis is more developed it seems than Kampala. The roads are good, transport seems not too congested, and people seem generally more well off (if you can judge by appearances). They seem more modernised for example you'd see many, if not most women wearing trousers, skinny jeans, western fashions etc which you wouldn't see so much in Uganda. However, there seemed to be a lot more beggars, mostly from disabilities as far as I could see. It's perplexing. On the Thursday we drove in a hire car (previously we had just been using public transport) for about 5 hours to a place called Awassa. From there we had lunch then went to the project, then went to visit Jess' sponsor kid at her home.

We stayed the night at a guesthouse and then on Friday visited lake Awassa on the way back to Addis. We went for a ride in a boat and saw hippos which was pretty cool. On Saturday we went to a big market in Addis and bought a few souvenirs and then on Sunday went to church with Abdu and his family. There was no English translation so the guy next to me tried to translate. It was nice. Church was more like in Australia, definitely not as long as church in Uganda! Then on Monday morning we got a taxi to the airport. In summary, Ethiopia – many stray but attractive pedigree-looking dogs, many horse/donkeys and carts, blue and white taxis (though not as crowded as Ugandan ones) and Bajaja (like a Thai tuk-tuk), many disabled and beggars, driving on the other side of the road, good food (we learnt how to cook njela -spelling?), crazy alphabet and more tricky language, many goats, sheep ands cows in the middle of roads, bigger huts in the village, grey dirt/dust, many 'African' acacia trees, fairer-skinned people, longer hair, softer hair, narrower faces, Ethiopian coffee ceremony, much bread (nice bread), more modern, better planned (Addis), white scarves.

At the airport we met a girl from America who was also going to Uganda. She was around our age and Christian. It was really cool. She was going for ten days to visit her boyfriend who was helping with a children's home in Jinja. I've been trying to make the most of opportunities I have with people I sit next to, so I tried to talk to the guy next to me on the plane, who was Ugandan, about God. I'm still needing practice. The conversation didn't really get that far but I hope I planted a seed, and I think the more I practice, hopefully, the more second nature it will become. Anyway, we arrived at the airport but didn't have any transport to the town of Entebbe where we were meeting a friend. We thought of catching a taxi or boda, but fortunately our new friends were able to give us a lift! We visited a pastor friend, his wife and two kids which was nice, and then travelled to Kampala, then on to Ps David's where we stayed the night. Man, Kampala peak hour traffic is crazy! We were on a boda, going up against two lanes of on-coming traffic. After this, I decided to whip out my camera and I did some filming, so maybe you'll get a look sometime.

On Tuesday morning we used the net briefly where I read and saved some emails but didn't get the chance to respond...up to now. Argh, its hard not having the net for like 3 weeks, not because I miss it but rather, I get daunted by all the catching up I need to do. Anyway, we bought Jaimi-Lee a little Ugandan stool because she has minimal furniture in her house and she can only sit on the floor, and we stayed the night at her house. I was on the floor again but without a net and the mozzies were bad, but I survived. On Wednesday we went on to the village, home sweet home, and from then on we've been mostly just at the school teaching.

The days kinda blur but overall I've been having a great time in the village. We live about 15 mins walk from the school. The other day we were walking to school and our friend Madada, our 'Blad' (black dad) was excited to hear we had shifted and so cut down a bunch of matooke for us to take home. Bob and Wasswa (who came to visit for a few days) went to visit Wasswa's mum who was about 30 mins drive away, and brought back a sack of sweet potatoes and cassava (another edible root veggie), and a chicken. It was delicious! Oh, and we have lino for our floor which is so much nicer to walk on than concrete, and easier to clean too. I feel like I've been able to have more fun in my classes. Man, I love the kids so much. I wish it were appropriate to hug them all all the time. We saw a debate at school which was hilarious and very well done I thought – full parliament style. I am just loving this place more and more. Oh, and on Wednesday, we came across a termite mound and the flying ants were coming out and Wasswa and Bob showed me how to catch them and eat them, live! Jess declined. It was quite an experience.

There's been some sad things too. The other day our neighbour's sister came to her with a sick, anaemic baby who need treatment. We helped her with money to go to Iganga hospital and we prayed for the baby but sadly the baby died that night. I also had a tormented night sleep one night. I can't describe it in any other way but I'm thinking it was a spiritual attack. It didn't feel nice at all. I woke Jess up and we prayed and I was able to sleep soundly after that.

That was Friday. On Saturday we celebrated my early birthday and Bob's late birthday but taking a picnic lunch to a hotel with a pool. Jaimi-lee was there, Wasswa came too and our friend Aidat came with another friend of hers from Germany. It was a nice time but unfortunately I had come down with something that day and felt pretty terrible. I still swam though and it was a good time, though brief. The next day I stayed home from church because of sickness. I'm slowly improving. Its really not so bad, I just feel exhausted. Please remember to pray for Jess and I. That brings us to the present.

One thing I've been trying to remember to do is to pray at the beginning and end of each lesson with the students. This afternoon I taught them music (first time). I was so pleasantly surprised, when I had said my good byes at the end and was about to go when the students piped up 'Madam, prayers'. They are so gorgeous. There's another beautiful boy in P7, Jonathan, who the other day was asking if we could start a secondary school because he didn't want to leave Sunrise. He's been there since the first day. He is simply gorgeous. And now, as the P7s approach there primary leaving exams, he has requested we pray for them. He has so many questions from past revision papers. He is so diligent and wants to do his best. Today he asked me why I wasn't at church and asked if I was born again and I said I was and he beamed and said all his family was too. Oh, I wish I could keep him. He has an infection on his foot which is making him sick so hopefully we can take him to a clinic tomorrow. Anyway, I think this blog entry has gone on long enough.

Oh, one other thing. We borrowed our Mzungu neighbours oven the other day to make a birthday cake for me and it was the son's 21st too so we also made him a cake. On the Saturday morning we took it to them and we had a brief chat over some cake and real coffee and it was real a nice time. It turns out they are Christians and are involved in helping schools become self sufficient. They would like to come visit out school sometime which is awesome!

Prayer points:
protection (physical and spiritual)
health
for our P7s who sit their exams 2nd and 3rd November
that we can form relationships and be a good witness in the community (we're working on our possibly Muslim boda driver,Yosamu, in particular)
for the possible help of our mzungu friends in getting our project more self-sufficient.

Pictures of that Memorable Friday

2010-10-03T07:37:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of me homeless and Jess squished up against mattresses.
Oh, I don't know when I last laughed this hard!

Loco Landlord

2010-10-03T07:24:00.000-07:00

Sat 25/09/10 – 2/09/10

I think I left off last time writing to say that we were going to Kampala for Rev Bulime's burial. We arrived in Kampala on Saturday after lunch and went pretty much straight to DMI. There they were holding a service for the late Bulime. The church was packed. There were speeches from many people and it went on for some time. That man will be dearly missed. There was also the opportunity to view the body. It is such a surreal experience to see a body without life. Afterward they cooked food for everyone and then Jess and I left and stayed the night in a nearby hotel. Most people spent the night in the church. In the morning we returned to DMI at around 8am where they were arranging buses and taxis to transport the crowd of people to Bulime's village where another service and then burial would take place. It was out past the town of Mukono. I believe Rev Bulime is a part of the Church of Uganda, which is Anglican. Its been interesting to see the different perception of the Anglican church. They seem to group 'Christians' into two groups: Protestants (Catholics and Anglicans) and Born Agains (most others but it seems mostly Charismatics and Pentecostals). I don't know that I like the way they have named the groups as it implies that those that aren't Born Agains, aren't saved and are therefore going to hell. Sure, there are those that are nominal in all churches and those that believe themselves to be saved that aren't but when I meet men like Bulime in the Anglican church who's heart beats God, to think that the Born Agains would think less of him because he's not of their denomination just annoys me. I feel the name Born Again has been hijacked. Anyway, that's just my little rant on that...

Anyway, the service was quite traditional – very unlike all the other services I've been in. After the service we witnessed a burial, Ugandan style. Firstly, it was another function, similar to a wedding where people pile in under marquis and are all fed. There must have been about a thousand people there. I can't imagine catering for all those people! Funerals are quite an expense for the family. During the whole function they read out condolence messages and apologies and those that had pledged to give money towards the cost of the funeral. They also named the heir and gave him Bulime's Bible and then afterwards took the body down to the family grave yard for burial. The man will be dearly missed. He was the first deaf pastor in Uganda it seems, perhaps even in all of east Africa. The first to reach out to the deaf in Uganda also. He left behind a wife, three teenage sons and an 8 month old daughter. Please pray for them.

After the burial we returned to Ps David's where we spent the night. On the Monday we returned to Jinja, going to the market, getting organised for the week. Tuesday till Thursday we were at the school. We were again mostly just teaching P6 English, a double period each day, with some art and crafts but Jess mostly had a go at teaching the P2's as there teacher has left on maternity leave. We have also put some time into getting the chicken house started which is now well on its way, and if all goes well, should be finished in about a week. There was nothing too out of the ordinary at school...oh, last time I wrote about a girl who was allegedly kidnapped, well it turns out she is ok.

The last few days have been crazy though! We had decided that we wanted to shift from Jinja to a house closer to the school. After negotiating a price with the new landlord we were left to then approach the landlord in Jinja and try get a refund for the two extra months we had not used. When we had had the discussions about power the fortnight before he had said, in the presence of many witnesses, that if anyone had a problem, he would happily refund the money and have them leave, that he would rather have peace. So, we thought we'd take him up on that offer. I was quite scared to ask but we did, that Thursday evening when we got home. We told him we planned to shift on Saturday, and he said that it was okay and that he'd refund the money. We went back up stairs beaming thinking it was too good to be true...it was. About 10 minutes later he again called us down for another discussion. His nephew was there to defend him. I was trying not to laugh the whole time. The situation was absurd! It was like 'good cop, bad cop'. The nephew was the bad cop and was trying to have 'all the repairs' (really it was buying two padlocks and replacing a few small panels of broken glass) taken out of the rent, which conveniently was 300,000/= exactly one months worth (about $150). The landlord was like the good cop saying things like 'no, please, we are friends, I'm sure we can come to some kind of compromise...though my nephew has a point...' It was hilarious. They were then saying that they'd have to get the LC1 (Local Chairperson) in etc and we were like, 'Why? It has nothing to do with him.' I even questioned why the nephew was there as it also did not involve him. He was there as the witness to the lease being signed but the agreement was between us and the landlord and we were holding him to his own offer to refund the money. Anyway, he got a call so we said we'd finish the conversation the following evening. We prayed and prayed that we might be able to get the money back but we somewhat doubtful.

At 5am the following morning (that is Friday) he came knocking at our door saying that robbers had come to the house that night. I think he was pretty shaken up. They didn't enter the house as they couldn't get in through the bars on the window but they had attempted and had apparently beat up the watchman. He then was accusing the other tenants (whom he had previously had disputes with – who are his relatives actually) of arranging the robbery. So he said he didn't want enemies in his home, that he would refund us our money and we go, that very day. So we were happy that he said he'd refund us the money. He filled out a withdrawal slip and called the manager of the bank telling him to expect us. He was so nice, tears in his eyes asking why we had to leaving, saying that we were like daughters to him and that he was hurt, asking if we would reconsider. But he said that peace was more important than money, it was not about the money and he'd refund us what we were owed. We had planned to borrow Jaimi-Lee's car and take more building supplies out to the school and perhaps leave Bob to pack up the things to shift later that afternoon, however, the landlord again came storming up the stairs, this time with other back up and demanded that we get our things out of the house that instant. I then began to think he had some mental disorder. It was such a shock to be yelled at like that, he was a changed person. He drinks and smokes and it wouldn't surprise me if he was smoking something other than tobacco. So, a little flustered, I sent Jess off on a taxi straight to Jaimi-Lee to get the car and we'd shift straight away that morning. Bob and I stayed and continued to pack up our things. The landlord continued to march around muttering allowed to himself, demanding we move, repeating that he didn't want enemies in the house, saying that from 8am there would be armed guards, that he would carry a pistol etc. Then he demanded the key from us and I said I first wanted the 600,000/= for the two months. I asked if he had spoken to the bank manager and he said he had. He said to go with the 'LC1' who was also there now and that there wouldn't be a problem, so I went then and there and was able to get the money (praise God) which was exactly the amount we needed to pay this new landlord for a 6 months lease near the school. How amazing is that! I returned back to the house, returned the keys and continued to pack up. Jaimi-Lee and Jess eventually returned with the car and we able to pack the first load. They then took the things to Nasuti while Bob and I waited for their return (about 2.5 hours later). It was at about that time that the real LC1 turned up. Apparently the landlord had lied and had introduced a fake to us. This was the guy who was trying to get money from us earlier for registration in Jinja or something. We suspected something was a little sus and with advice from Jaimi's Rich, never paid. Anyway, the real LC1 showed up and I over heard him talking about the landlord, saying that he should not be allowed to have tenants, that he is always chasing them away, that he is no good etc. There were more tenants that moved in downstairs that morning. I feel sorry for them. I hope they know what they are getting themselves into.

(Deep breath) Anyway, Bob and I brought the rest of the things down and stayed with them on the grass, awaiting the return of the girls. We sat listening to a Paul Washer sermon (which I totally recommend entitled 'Basic Christianity'. You can download it for free from sermonaudio.com). We saw the armed guards arrive and Bob said he over heard the landlord saying that he would have six by the end of the day – he must be nutty). Anyway, after a while I noticed the landlord was making a racquet so I stopped the sermon. He was yelling at us saying 'You people, get out of my compound' saying that we were supposed to have been out by 9am and he was calling for the guards to take us out. Man, he was being so unreasonable. The guards refused to obey, but he was abusing us and so we decided we would move the things out onto the road side and be done with him. So I was like 'Okay, we're going' and he was like 'No, no excuses, I want you out.' He just doesn't listen. He's done it before. He gets in a rage and just doesn't listen. Its not nice being yelled at. Anyway, we shifted to the road side, I'll try upload a photo that we took. I thought it was kinda funny but then Bob explained how it was somewhat shameful, that everyone would think we were bad tenants that had been evicted and then I started to notice all the weird looks we were getting by passers-by. After a while I started to feel quite small. Anyway, the whole thing was just so absurd it was hilarious. I was homeless and on the roadside with our mattresses and half our belongings. I feel at least we are having some authentic Ugandan experiences. I am a real Ugandan now..some how :)

Anyway, eventually the girls returned, we packed the car, and then all squeezed in too. Bob and I were in the passengers seat while Jess was crammed up against the mattresses in the back. We got lunch and went to the bank and then sent Bob and Jess to Iganga on the Taxi while we drove with the things to avoid getting stopped by the traffic police for overcrowding. We then regrouped in Iganga and drove out to the new house. Apparently the old tenants still had some things locked in the rooms that we wanted so we left our things at the head mistresses house which is just across the corridor and stayed the night at Jaimi-Lee's in Iganga. We had the best fun! We cooked teriyaki steak with coleslaw and chips. It was awesome! And we had banana custard for desert. Then were three to a pretty small bed. We laughed so hard and went to bed late. It was too crowded so at about 2am I got up and slept on the floor.

This morning I was up at about 6.30am and had a good chat with Bob who slept in the kitchen. I've been updating this blog entry on the computer while Jess made banana pancakes. Jaimi had maple syrup which was wonderful! Today we plan to shift some supplies to the school and hopefully our rooms will be ready this arvo to move into and sleep in tonight. Then on Sunday we plan to maybe go to church with Jaimi-Lee and then travel to Kampala, stay the night with Ps David and then we fly to Ethiopia on Monday for one week. We are going to visit Jess' sponsor child there. Please pray for a safe journey.

Anyway, that's the plan. Things have been so hectic but God has been so good. Jess got on to friends back home who spread the word and we were well covered in prayer. I think it has made a huge difference. Though the day itself could have been quite distressing, I had the most fun I have had in ages. Thank you all for your prayers!

When this all started happening God reminded me of some truths and has been teaching me that one plus God is a majority. If god is with you who can be against you? And also, if we do what God requires of us, though injustice befalls us, we are His and he will fight for us. He has really demonstrated this over the last few days. Things happened so quickly but I believe it is for the best. God is faithful!

Okay, that's all I have to say right now. I feel people back home have been a bit quiet. I would love to hear from you. Hope all is well back there.

Sunday - Last night we moved into our new place...woo hoo! It is quiet homey. I love it. And we have beds! I'm so stoked, no more mattresses on the floor. Its amazing what we now consider a luxury. The people who were staying there before us left them. There are also two Brits next door, a father and son. We met the father this morning. Their door was open. They had a table AND an oven! we are so excited. We hope to borrow it to make cookies and cake. Hooray!

This morning we were at Jaimi-Lee and Rich's church in Iganga. Man, it was full on. The sermon was delivered by a visiting pastor and wasn't of much substance but there were demonic manifestations and deliverance and it was quite a shaock as it was the first time for me to see such things. I'm not sure what to thing or how to react. Apparently all churches in Iganga deal with such things. Witchcraft is rampant. If anyone has any experience or theological positions on such things, please get in touch. I'd like to know your thoughts.

We just paid too much for a taxi to Kampala but we didn't really have a choice this time. Oh well, things will work out. Tomorrow...ETHIOPIA!

Ciao

Blog entry written on Friday last week

2010-09-28T22:50:00.000-07:00

This week has been full. We travelled back from Kampala on Monday and then on Tuesday went to the school. We are starting to make a chicken house for rearing chickens to sell the eggs to generate income for the project and are building a second pit toilet so we can pass the health inspection for school registration. So on Wednesday we borrowed our friend Jaimi-Lee's car and bought a bunch of supplies for the construction – 250kg of cement, many kilos of nails, iron sheets for roofing etc. I'm so surprised we got through the village roads back to the school without bottoming out. On Thursday on the way to Iganga we received a call telling us the Reverend Bulumi from Deaf Ministries International Uganda had died. Our friend Aidat who had been with us wanted to go back to Kampala to be with the church members during this time but didn't have money for transport but Bob managed to get enough to meet us in Iganga so we could then pass on money to him to take to Aidat. It was amazing that we 'happened' to meet him outside the hardware store as we hadn't arranged a place or time to meet and he didn't have credit to call us when he reached. God is good. Jess and I then bought a few other building supplies we needed that we could carry and headed out to school on a boda boda. We have found a quicker way to Iganga by boarding taxi's a the end of the main street which cuts almost an hour of our morning trip which is great. On Friday we were told to get to the school early as possible to be there for when the district school inspector came, whom we need approval from before the school can be registered with the ministry of education. He came during my P6 English lesson and observed my class. I was freaking out as I wasn't very prepared that lesson, at least not with formal teacher's notes. He asked to see my lesson plans and schemes of work which of course I didn't have. Anyway, when he left he called me out and and asked if I had taught before and I said that I had in Australia. He asked for a name and signature on a form and said that I was a good teacher, which was such a relief. We were asked by the headmistress to bring money for petrol for him and also some more for his efforts, or as a gift, I don't know. The whole thing cost $100! Its so corrupt. If you want anything done here you have to pay for people to do the job they should be doing anyway. The petrol would have been about $5 I reckon...grrr. It's frustrating. Anyway, please pray that the rest of the school registration goes well. Our new head mistress has been really great in pushing the school registration along and the other construction too. The health inspector will be coming to the school on Saturday I think.

We has actually planned to be in Tororo on Friday for the deaf awareness week march but as we were told Rev Bulime had died, we changed our plans. So instead we were at the school on the Friday, which ended up being a very interesting day, as I have already begun narrating. We had also been invited to attend a meeting for a local community group that was meeting to assist the orphans in the community. That had a collection of exercise books, pens and pencils that they donated to over thirty orphaned kids from our school. It was such a touching meeting. It was so encouraging to see the community band together to help. They were not sponsored from abroad or anything but wanted to do something to help others. The group is headed by the local clan leader Madada. I found out that the clan was annoyed when the doctor had bought land in the village as they thought he would be building a house and wanted to take him to court for using clan land for personal use (I think that's what the issue was) but when they heard the land would be used for a school, they were happy with that. Madada got Jess and I up and said that we were now part of that clan and as his daughters we needed clan names so I have the name Nankangi and Jess is Mudondo. When you add the way they pronounce our first names they become Nankangi Brian and Mudono Jesca. I was so touched. There was quite a group there and they were so friendly and cheered that we were part of the clan...it was awesome. I want to find out what the names mean though as I don't want to be named after some small god of theirs (I have since found out that 'Mudondo' means umbilical cord and is the name given to one with a massive outy belly button - teehee).

Anyway, it was such a happy occasion then a boy from our school had an epileptic fit. The bursar who is also the school pastor laid hands on him and prayed and the boy was still. It was so bizarre. Then things got happy again and I took some group photos (which I plan to put up when we get the internet and when I can figure out how to resize images for the web – by the way we used up our month's worth of internet in 2 weeks – like over $40 worth...I'm a bit annoyed...I'll have to ration skype I think...) Anyway, then just was we were leaving we got news that one of the parents had left her kids at home when she came to the meeting but apparently one of them had been kidnapped while she was gone, she is a girl in P3 from our school. There were no witnesses but the sister who was at home with her said that a boda boda man had come past and said he was lost and so she went to show him the way back to the main road or something, and then she was not seen again. We pray that she is okay. Witchcraft is big in Uganda and people kidnap kids for child sacrifice. We hope this is not the case here.

Then, on the way home, our boda boda man, Yosamu (he takes us from Nasuti to Iganga every day now) was teaching us some words in Lusoga as we rode to town, which was a bit random: ente (cow), embusi (goat), emdada? (sheep), enkoko (chicken), sekoko (turkey). And then the taxi was pretty crammed on the way back to Jinja and the lady next to me threw up and I got vomit on my skirt...quite a packed day.

Also, this week we went to look at a house close to the school that we could possibly rent. It seemed perfect (in my mind). Ps David has also agreed to consider allowing us to shift, if the place is secure (which is an answer to prayer in itself). So far our landlord has not been difficult though we have word from the neighbours that he plans to take away our outside light globe. If the other house ges ahead, I hope he will refund us for the months we have paid though it is doubtful.

Tomorrow we plan to travel to Kampala. We were told the body of Bulime is at DMI so we will go and vist and on Sunday will go to the burial in Mukono. We were also told today that Bob's grandmother has dies so he will be going to the village tomorrow for the burial. We also received word today that Ps David is sick and has been admitted to hospital.

So in conclusion, we would appreciate pray in the following areas:
 pray for DMI after Rev Bulime's death
 pray for Bob and his family after their loss
 pray for safety for the girl allegedly kidnapped in the village
 pray for Ps David's health
 pray for the registration of the school
 pray for the construction projects
 pray for the landlord/new house situation...and anything else I may have forgotten...

Thanks everyone for reading and for your prayers.

- Nankangi

pics

2010-09-25T01:05:00.000-07:00

I typed up a really long blog entry last night but its saved as an open office document not as a word document so I can't cut and paste it right now...maybe on Monday. Here are some pictures to tide you over till then...

Nasuti Village

2010-09-17T11:45:00.000-07:00

For the rest of this week Jess and I have been setting off for school from between 7:45-8:45am arriving at the school between 10:30 and 11am. This involves walking about 30mins to the taxi park, waiting up to an hour sometimes for the taxi to fill, travelling about 40mins to Iganga, taking a boda boda for about 25 mins down the road towards the village and then walking the remaining 5-10 mins into the village and to the school. We arrive during recess. We leave the school at around 4pm and get back to Jinja around 7pm usually. Bob normally has a meal prepared which is so wonderful, though I feel bad that he stays home most days. We are encouraging him to look for work.

On Tuesday we were simply observing lessons. (I was quite impressed by the ones I saw). On Wednesday we came with Aidat (all three of us on the one Boda...) as she wanted to see the place. There was a staff meeting which raised some interesting issues, particularly about staff who had left us due to bad behaviour in the community etc, including trying to bewitch other teachers! It's such a shock to hear of such things...very different to what I'm used to in Australia. Anyway, as a result, we have some new teachers at the school. Also in the meeting it became apparent that there were not enough teachers to cover all the English classes, so I agreed to help teach the P5 and P6 classes (equivalent to Years 4 and 5) until other arrangements can be made. I started that very day with very little preparation. Though I'm an English teacher, I don't think they equipped me at uni very well, and I wish I knew more about grammar, but I just made up a lesson and it seemed to go okay. I taught them about homonyms - specifically 'there, their, and they're' and 'hear and here'. Yesterday we added 'where, wear and we're'. Some of them are really bright and grasp things quickly, others are struggling quite a bit. We also talked about syllables yesterday as I think understanding syllables helps with reading and writing. I'd like to introduce Spalding when I can. Today I again have P6 and then am doing art and craft with P6 and P7. Then Jess and I plan to go to Kampala to see Ps David for the weekend.

We have been recently frustrated with our landlord. On Wednesday the power went off in the morning and was still off when we got home. I thought the power was off in our side of Jinja but it turned out it was only our side of the building, our bedrooms and kitchen. It was quite bizarre. Anyway, the landlord called us down for a meeting yesterday in the morning at about 7:20am. There were quite a few people present, including the landlord's brother. I feel he was trying to intimidate us but I'm not sure. He said we must have overloaded the electricity line as we use an electric hotplate for cooking, an electric kettle for boiling water etc, which is absurd. He said he'd never had a problem before so it must be us and our fault. I'm very suspicious. I know he was unhappy to know we were using an electric hotplate and claimed it consumes a lot of power. He said we had agreed to use a gas cooker at our own expense (we had never agreed to that), but as a compromise we DID agree to cover the costs by paying an additional 100,000/= for power for the 3 months that we'd be there. Apparently that was not good enough. I don't know if I'm just super paranoid but I think that maybe he interfered with our fuse or whatever because that very morning that the power went off I remember hearing a radio blaring and saw the lights on down stairs, which never happens at that hour. I feel it was like he was trying to prove 'there's no problem down here'. Then when we got home that evening he met us as we were coming in and asked 'how are things? Any problem?' We said no and continued on our merry way. Then he came up a bit later and was like 'I was downstairs and noticed that your lights weren't on. Do you not have power up here?' And then the next day at the meeting he kept repeating that everyday he does a standard check of the place and that's when he noticed the power was off. In the week we've been here we've never notice him doing a check of the place. It just seems sus to me. Then when we said 'oh, its probably just an old fuse that's blown, let's go and have a look.' he was like 'no, no, no, I'd rather get an electrician in to look at it properly'. He was very reluctant but we insisted. The fuses look different to ours in Australia so I couldn't see what the problem was. Then in the meeting he insisted that if there were any problems, that he'd get an electrician in, that we were not to look at anything ourselves etc He then made a little speech about how he would have it fixed at his own expense (and so he should, he's the landlord). Anyway, the end of the matter was that he wanted us to be power conscious. When we were out Bob said he came up to speak with him and he spoke to him very rudely and said we were not to use the hotplate to cook anymore. Bob spoke with our neighbours and they have also found the man difficult. They said they are trying to hide the fact that there's a bulb in the bathroom because sometimes the landlord comes and takes them away. He seems like a mega scrooge and is very difficult. Apparently the current tenants are looking at shifting, the last tenants didn't stay for the duration of their lease before leaving and another group only stayed one day before leaving! We've been here for one week only and I am already fed up. So we are considering, if we can find a different place, we might shift too. He said he'd give us back our money if we were unhappy. Or, perhaps we'll just tough it out, and if we must stop using the hotplate, we'll ask for our 100,000/= back. He's probably already spent it on cigarettes anyway. Grrrrr

Another thing that bugged me was yesterday we had agreed on a price of 1,500/= each to get the taxi from Iganga to Jinja but the guy charged us 2,000/= each. It was a difference of about 50c but it really got me fuming. i stood in the way of the taxi and the man and demanded the balance and he was just like, 'no, if you wan to sit, you sit' and walked away. Grrrr, people can be so corrupt. I hate it!

One thing that is now floating around in my brain is the simple yet profound truth that our friend Aidat has reminded me of, which is only God is good. When I consider the corruption etc I am reminded that with the state of unregenerate man, how can I expect any different. It is only by the grace of God that people are restrained in their wickedness. This world needs Jesus, all over.

It was interesting actually, that the day things kinda blew up with the landlord was the day the headmistress of the school and bursar again suggested that we try move closer to the school, this was before hearing anything from us. Ps David will need convincing first which is pretty well impossible. I REALLY want to move near the school. I'm starting to feel more involved in the community, more accepted. Today a mummy gave us a jackfruit to tack home, and some other mummies and grandmummies greet us in Lusoga as we pass through the village but I don't know what they're saying or how to respond. I want to be in their and learning the language. Anyway, please pray for that and the accommodation situation. God knows what's best. I don't want my ideas or Ps David's ideas to get in the way.

I'd better keep going. Maybe I'll send photos of the house...next time (?)

Bujagali Falls

2010-09-16T20:59:00.000-07:00

On Monday I got a call from Jaimi-Lee saying she'd be visiting Jinja and she asked if we wanted to go with her and Rich to Bujagali falls. So we did; we were seven in total. We had a great time. The water was intense and you could get so close. We took a trip in a boat out on to the calm water. At first they were trying to charge us 40,000/= for everyone but we said we would only pay 10,000/= (about $5) and they agreed. It was Rich's first time in a boat and he was freaking out. It was quite entertaining but must have been horrible for him. It was an awesome time all round.

Nasuti

2010-09-12T14:03:00.000-07:00

Ok, sorry, I don't have photos of the house yet, but I'm getting to it.

On Thursday we went with our friend Aidat's father's house to meet some of her family. We had lunch at a restaurant on the Nile River. There were these crazy bats in the palm trees and Jess saw a crocodile. Then on Friday we left for Iganga at 8.45am. We caught a taxi in to Iganga then got a boda boda out to the school. It turns out it was actually a public holiday as the Muslims were breaking their fast. There were so many Muslims out and about. I guess it was more obvious as they were in their Muslim clothes. Anyway, so as a result there weren't any students at the school except for 14 P7 students who are now apparently boarding at the school for the next 2 months to get some serious study in before their primary leaving exams later this year. We were greeted by the bursar and the new head mistress who impressed me greatly. I feel blessed to have her there with us. It was good to see the office building almost finished. One room just remains with the floor to be finished which would require about 2 bags of cement and a trip of sand apparently (about $40 all up). There are also some other requirements needed to get the school registered with the ministry of education. We need a second toilet block built. They have already dug a pit 20 feet deep but it requires another 20 feet which is now getting too difficult for the 2 guys that had been contracted so they want to employ others to help. Anyway, to have the pit alone finished will cost another $160 (then there's the building of the stands etc). We apparently also need 3x 20L tanks to have near the toilets for washing hands totalling $48), and a second sign post for the road costing $75. I have mentitioned this in case anyone has it on their heart to help in any of those ways. At least we have an idea of what we need to pray for. Once those requirements have been met then I think a health inspector comes and a few other things...and then we'll be registered!
Here's a picture of the pit so far:

It was also good to see the two new temporal nursary classrooms, and the 20,000 bricks which have been fired and are ready to go.

We walked Jess around the boundaries of the land but there wasn't much more to do so we caught a taxi back into Iganga.

We met up with Jaimi-Lee for the afternoon. It was REALLY good. We shared about our struggles and dreams and it was a great, encouraging time. While we were in town getting stuff for lunch there was a parade type thing for the guy that won the local election. It was funny. He was standing on top of a truck as it drove through twon, music pumping, people waying branches etc. He's apparently a doctor, so he has been nick named Panadol, and the people love him.

After that, we caught a taxi back home. On Saturday we walked to the market. I saw zucchini there this time, and beetroot! We got caught in the rain and had to wait for about 1/2 hour as it died down. I think a tree nearby got struck by lightning. It was so loud and you could feel the force kinda on your face. It was crazy. By the time we got home and prepared lunch it was 4.20pm so lunch became an early dinner.

Today we went to a deaf church in Jinja with Aidat. There weren't many people there but I still had a good time. They were without a pastor so our friend Bob preached wit the help of an interpreter. Then after church we spent some time looking for pork for lunch, as we wanted Wasswa's favourite as he is going back to school tomorrow. We are going to miss him dearly. We then watched 'Cool Runnings' and 'Sherlock Holmes'this arvo (but I fell asleep). And now I am up late. It's about midnight. I'm listening to One Way FM on the net as I wanted to hear my friend Korske who's normally on the Monday breakfast program back home, but alas, it seems he is not around the studio today. Never mind.

Jess and I have had our first skype conversations with our families this week which have been great. If you have skype, feel free to add me 'missbrimmy'. I'd love to hear from you.

That's all for now. Tomorrow we plan to visit some more of Aidat's family, then Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday be at the school and return to Kampala for the weekend on Friday. That's the plan anyway.

Right now, I want to go to the bathroom before bed but am reluctant as I saw a rat run that direction about an hour ago. I'd better go make sure he hasn't run into the kitchen...

Jinja

2010-09-09T00:07:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to do a blog update for a few days but we've been pretty busy and I have been waiting till we had the internet at home. Well, on Sunday we had a pretty normal Sunday. Ps David preached and it was good. Jess and I did a song on guitar and then we went home and listened to a Paul Washer sermon. I also helped my friend Ps Charles with a little screen printing which was good. He would call himself an artist. I had kinda thought that artistic skill was not very highly valued in these kind of cultures, or developing countries when other skills seem so much more necessary, however, I have seen how they are used here and it's been interesting. 'Artists' are often the sign-writers who make stencils for lettering for signposts or advertising. All ours is done on computers now but here, everything is done by hand, so that's been interesting to see. I kinda wouldn't mind picking up some work in stencilling and sign-writing here every now and then, just to help cover the cost of living. Charles said its quite a competitive business but he's had to turn away work. Its something I could do in the evenings after dark when I am supposed to be indoors...anyway, just a thought.

We've spent so much money in the last few days, but hopefully most of our major expenses have now been paid and we'll just have to pay for food, internet and transport from now on.

On Monday we left Ps David's place at 7am and boarded a taxi for a 2 hour-ish trip to Iganga (we had a good run). There we picked up Jaimi-Lee's car which we were borrowing to transport furniture into our new place in Jinja. Jaimi-Lee showed us the church where she had been ministering with her friend Ps Richman. A lady from the church had allowed them to use her land to build a church and while we were there she told Rich that God had been speaking to her about giving up some of the rooms of her house to take in orphans for the church. It was so cool to see it all unfold before our very eyes. This is something Jaimi-Lee had been praying about and is where her heart is at. This lady had no idea. It was so encouraging to see. I have included photos of Jaimi-Lee, Rich and the church. They have been able to construct quite a good building but are still waiting on the Lord to provide finances to roof the second half of it. They are kept quite busy with the church. On Sundays they run two services, Mondays is ministers day off but they have sports in the afternoon as a church (soccer for the fellas and netball for the girls), Tuesdays is counselling (9am-12pm), lunch hour meeting (12.30-2pm), and evening service (5-6pm). Wednesday is counselling (9am-12pm), lunch hour meeting (12.30-2pm), Bible study (3-4pm) and evening service (5-6pm). Thursday is counselling (9am-12pm), lunch hour meeting (12.30-2pm), women's meeting (3-4pm) and evening service (5-6pm). Friday is lunch hour (12.30-2pm) and music practice (4.30-6pm). Saturday is Leader's meeting (10am-1pm), department meetings/practice (2-4.30pm) and youth service (5-6.30pm)....then the week starts all over again. But Jaimi-Lee has said it is bearing much fruit, that each week there are new people coming, that the church is growing and they are seeing many Muslims in particular being saved. Praise God! Please uphold their work in your prayers also. Jaimi-Lee is affliated with the organisation Heartfelt Hope which is a recent venture that has come out of Australia after a visit to Uganda by her pastors last year.

Where was I?... That's right, so we borrowed her car and picked up some of the furniture etc that I had left last year at my friend Ps Richard's place in Iganga. We then drove the 40 mins back to Jinja to unload the car, fixed up the landlord for the 3rd months rent and signed the tenancy agreement before then driving on to Seeta where we picked up the last of our luggage from Ps David and continued on to where our friends Bob and Wasswa were staying in Kampala to collect what we could of the rest of our things which were at their house. We packed the car, sent the boys on to Jinja on a taxi while we drove with the furniture (matresses etc). We arrived in Jinja just after dark at about 7.30pm. We then started setting up camp and waited and waited for a call from the boys. By 10pm we were pretty concerned when we still hadn't heard from them, but then they called and we gave them the address for them to get a boda boda (motorbike ride). We went down stairs to tell the watchman to let them in only to realise that we were locked in without a key so we had to disturb the landlord who stays downstairs which proved to be quite embarrassing, but it all worked out in the end. I think I ate a record 8 bananas throughout that day...breakfast lunch and dinner. I have also included a photo taken in Iganga of a typical Ugandan scene of chickens tied to the roof of a taxi as it transports then several hours to Kampala...poor chickies.

The following day, Tuesday, we thought we'd make best use of Jaimi-Lees car before we returned it and did a big shop at the market. We bought 5kg of rice, 2kg of split beans, beans, posho, bags of potatoes and sweet potatoes etc...many things which would keep. We also saw lettuce! Real iceburg lettuce! We decided to buy one for Jaimi-Lee as she's been missing mzungu food. I also saw small cauliflower, though such foods are not cheap compared to Ugandan food. Anyway, its good to know that its there. Jinja is quite a touristy town so its good to know you can get things that you might not find elsewhere. The supermarkets seem a little more pricey as a result, but we've only looked in to two and there's a few more. Then we had lunch at a little place that does good, cheap African food (about $2 a head), dropped the stuff at home then drove to Iganga to return Jaimi-Lee's car. We also bought a couple of mats from the market to put under our matresses on the floor. Rich and Jaimi-Lee bought us all sodas which was really nice and then, they offered to drive us back to Jinja, which was really nice. I think they really enjoyed just having more mzungu around. It was so nice to spend time with them. Jaimi-Lee lent us an external hard drive her brother had sent her with a stack of movies on it, which she couldn't use because her lap top died, so we'll no doubt get stuck into those in the our free evenings. Last night we enjoyed cooking a meal full of veggies. Bob and Wasswa are also enjoying the 'Australian tea' which I brought with me – rosehip, ginger and lemongrass herbal tea.

Yesterday Ps David visited us for a few hours, Jess and I went in to town to do some errands and fix the internet and then our deaf friend Aidat arrived in the afternoon. I think she will be with us for about 1 week. She's going to take us to visit her family today and then tomorrow we'll probably go to the school in Nasuti.

So it's been good getting settled here. Next post I'll put up pics of the house.

2010-09-03T06:47:00.000-07:00

"Kampala, Kampala, Kampala!"

2010-09-03T06:31:00.000-07:00

These are Jess' new favourite words. You often hear them being bellowed from a taxi as they try to fill them with passengers. It's quite funny.

Hmm, what's been going on...well, we are not moving in to our place till Monday it now seems as we will be needing the help of our Mzungu friend Jaimi-Lee's car to help us move.

Yesterday we went to visit our friends as Immanuel Church of the Deaf and the Deaf Ministries International (DMI) Bible College. It was good to see some familiar faces. I'm sad to report that Rev Bulimi, the director has been very unwell for the past 2 months. He seems so skinny and frail, but I am told he is slowly improving.

We met some workers from Wycliffe Bible translators who were translating the Bible into visual sign language for the deaf, which was exciting and interesting to see. We also caught up with our deaf friend Aidat who took us to visit her daughter. I have included pictures of her relatives who help to care for her daughter, also 'Fene' or Jack fruit which Jess tried for the first time. There is also a photo of the garden that the Alliance team planted last year, which is doing very well, though it seems the orange trees have hardly grown.

This morning Jess and I took to our washing Ugandan style with gusto. The girls, Jemi and Sandra offered to help. It still takes some getting used to. As part of Ugandan culture, it is unacceptable to wash and dry your underwear in public so we have got around such things by hiding them under other clothes on the line. Its all very interesting....not sure why I felt the need to share that. I guess I was wanting to explain some of the differences in Ugandan culture.

Not too much more has happened. I'm looking forward to having my own place but will dearly miss Ps David's gorgeous daughters. Anyway, I'd better keep going.

Weeraba!

House

2010-09-01T07:06:00.000-07:00

I'm getting a little tired of the taxi rides from Jinja to Kampala and back but it seems to have all been worth it. We found a place to rent yesterday. It is not what I would have originally thought of but it will do the job. It is essentially two joined rooms on a second floor of a kind of guesthouse thing. We will be sharing a bathroom with another couple on the same level but it should be ok. There's also a couple of small store rooms and a balcony. Water, electricity and a security guard are all included in the price of around $200AUD per month. Its a secure area and the landlord who stays there is apparently part of the royal family for the Basoga kingdom, so we should be quite safe. We paid for the first two months today and will hopefully be moving in on Friday. I'm also getting a bit tired of being ripped off just because I'm white. I can't wait till I've learned a fair price for things in Jinja so that I can bargain and stand my ground.

I believe the wet season here has just begun. It rains quite heavily almost every day now. I like it. The temperature is a lot more comfortable.

I left in Australia some DVDs that I had been meaning to take - Flight of the Conchords for those days when I feel homesick and Way of the Master which are some evangelism DVDs which inspire me to share the gospel. Anyway, hopefully my friend will send them. Meanwhile, we bought a few books to keep us occupied. I'm reading Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyderight now which is quite interesting.

Anyway, I'd better go as my time at the cafe has almost run out.

Keep praying for us! Bye

2010-08-28T07:10:00.000-07:00

Hello again. Not a whole lot to report just yet. I thought I'd try get some pics up. I have included some from the plane ride over as I thought the clouds were beautiful and was absolutely gob-smacked by the man-made islands of Dubai and the intense development in what appears to be such a dry desolate place. Then there's the contrast with the rich soils as we passed over Ethiopia and Uganda.

On Thursday Jess and I travelled with our friend Ps Charles to Jinja to look for a place to rent. We didn't really find anything suitable (but did find a hilarious photo opportunity at one of the toilets). David wouldn't take no for an answer, convinced that Jinja is the most secure and suitable place and so went himself to look for places yesterday...also with minimal success. Please keep praying. We trust in God to provide us with the right place in His timing.

Yesterday Jess and I went to Kampala to visit our friends Bob and Wasswa. It was SO good to see them. I was very sorry to hear Bob had been seriously sick and chased from school for lack of school fees since I've been away, but it was nice to be reunited and I look forward to the time when they will be with us in Jinja, God willing. They cooked us a delicious lunch and Jess was introduced to Rocky, the film that got Stew and I through some tough times last year...hehe.

We also bought a Luganda phrase book in town, as I hope to improve my language skills, and a book on a visitors guide to Ugandan culture which I am finding fascinating. Many of the cultural aspects I had learnt or guessed but its still good to have them clearly spelled out. I was about to give you some examples but it seems as if we have left the book at Bob and Wasswa's. Oh well, next time.

Today has been pretty cruisy. Actually I have been feeling a little ill. I think I ran myself down a bit as I prepared to come to Uganda and its all catching up on me. Anyway, its been nice to take it easy. We have been enjoying some good conversation with Lesley, another Aussie who is staying with Ps David for the next few weeks. I also tried to teach Jess how to hand wash Ugandan style. I'm glad we didn't have much to do as the novelty quickly wore off. After that I've just been on my laptop preparing emails that I'll shoot off as soon as I get to the internet after lunch. Jess has been listening to a Paul Washer sermon on my ipod. I seriously recommend it. Just google 'shocking youth sermon'.

Lesley made pancakes for lunch but I'm trying the gluten-free thing to see if it makes a difference, so I didn't get a taste, but everyone else seemed to enjoy them. Jess and I helped shell beans for supper with the helper Jan...or Jen...I'm not sure of here exact name because of the accent. I forgot to say, we are staying in a two bedroom house. The three Mzungus are in one room, David is in the other with 4 the four little girls (they have a relative staying there too). David's sister and the helper Jan sleep in the lounge room at night. There are also two other make friends of Davids that live in the boys quarters to the side of the house who often join us for meals too. Full house!

Back to the sermon thing...I've set myself the challenge of trying to memorize scripture. I'm hoping to do a verse a day though it may be a bit ambitious. Today's verse is Proverbs 28:26 “ Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.”

Tomorrow is church. Lesley is preaching apparently. It should be good. I don't know that I'll ever get used to the 4 hour services though...

Ok, I'd better get on with something else. Toodles!

2010-08-28T07:03:00.000-07:00

BEANS!

2010-08-28T06:57:00.000-07:00

I typed out quite a comprehensive blog post on my laptop and saved it to my thumbdrive so that I could save time...however it doesn't seem to be reading the word file *sigh*
So I'm hoping the pics will do for now...

In Uganda!

2010-08-25T02:20:00.000-07:00

Jess and I arrived in Uganda safe and sound. We were so tired by the end of yesterday and enjoyed a good night's rest. Today, we are starting our adventures small...a taxi ride to the next town Mukono to use the net and buy a simcard for Jess. Tomorrow we start house hunting. Please pray that all goes well. I'll write more lengthy blogs once things kick off and when I have the internet on my laptop at home. Bye everyone!

Back to the Future

2010-08-21T16:36:00.000-07:00

I'm not really sure how the title of this blog post relates directly to my situation, but for some reason, I thought it was appropriate...Wow, so much has been happening since I blogged last. I have spent the last 6 months teaching Geography, History and English in my most favourite of all schools, Covenant College. May God continue to bless His work there. I finished up a few weeks ago and since then have mainly been trying to organise our fundraiser trivia night which was last night. It was amazing! Our expectations were far exceeded. We had about 180 people attending and raised over $6,000! Thanks so much to all you generous people.

Today I'm going to start getting organised for my trip away. I still have so much to do...and I leave on Monday! ... back to the future...I think that kinda works with the time difference. Anyway, I'll let you know how things go when we get there. If I haven't mentioned earlier, I'm going back with my friend Jess who'll be with me for 4 months. I'm getting more and more excited! Ok, I'll blog again soon when I'm over there. Keep in touch everyone

Oh, and check out our new website: www.sunriseuganda.org
(big thanks to Korske for helping with this)

Back in the Great South Land

2010-01-17T21:27:00.000-08:00

I think I can still be blogging, even though I'm not in Uganda. The idea was to blog when I'm 'over seas' but I guess I'm overseas from Uganda. I've been back in Australia for almost a month now. My, how the time has flown! I enjoyed 2 Christmases with the family and a great New Years with friends old and new. I then spent some time in Melbourne and Albury visiting friends and then went to Sydney for a week to complete phase 2 of the NHI effective teaching series. It's been awesome, everything. I think God is opening my eyes to a few things.

One of the main things I've been thinking about is the importance of community development as we work in Uganda. Unfortunately I don't have any formal training in this so it will be a bit of a challenge. I'm interested in linking up with anyone who has any experience in the following areas, or any thoughts, or is available to come to Uganda and volunteer for a bit. But I'd better not get ahead of myself. In relation to education, at the recent training course I was challenged about the way we do things in the west and wondering if there is a better way. I learnt that the way we teach is birthed from the industrial revolution, when both parents would work and they needed to do something with the kids. I believe previously the parents had been the ones to educate their children. This began the instruction schools that we have today - the cheapest and easiest way of educating the most amount of children. We have continued on, more or less in this sort of education, where we aim to educate the individual so that they can pass exams and be successful in life. I think a lot of other countries that were colonised by the western world have adopted the same methods, and I guess other countries see the influence of such countries and have followed suit. Now, education is great, don't get me wrong, but I've been challenged to consider if there might be a better way. And of course there is - God's way.

God has designed people to be in community. Notice how together believers are called the 'body' of Christ, not bodies. We are designed to be in community together, working together. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit, together. This idea of community has come up in a few different ways. Firstly, as I was preparing to leave Uganda I felt more and more strongly about the importance of getting into the local community and initiating programs to help the people, rather than being a stand-alone primary school. I had thoughts about helping orphans within their communities where possible where previously I had been thinking about taking them out to start their own community or 'children's village'. But I have also been reminded of the importance of the multi-age dimension of communities and so I think now am leaning away from the 'children's village' approach. We have many orphaned and fatherless children in our school, about two thirds, so I have been seeing more and more how much more effective change will be if we work with the homes and the widows, encouraging them to work together. So what was a 'children's project', to be effective I believe involves doing a lot of work with the adults. See, God's way is to have parents as the main educators of their children. How great would it be to equip them with the skills where they could be doing this once again. I'm trying hard to think of ways in which the community can be involved in our school and something one of the lecturers last week said has stuck with me. "Perhaps if we stopped calling them schools, and started calling them 'community centres' we'd get more adults involved". This has sparked some radical (radical for me anyway) ideas about a place that is so communal, where adults are equipped, where children are nutured and instructed, a multi-age group of people who are living and learning and working together the way God intended it to be. A place where people are not competeing against each other but a place where the individual is valued as part of a larger body. A place where 'the body of Christ' grows as each part supports each other in love and does what it was designed to do, with everyone growing into Christ, the head, who is Lord of all. I think we don't think enough about the way God intended life to be, at least I know I haven't. I think we make excuses by thinking that the world has changed, society has changed and can't allow for such a model. But if I've learnt anything over the past week it is this - that we can be confident in God's word and that His ways are always best. And his word and his ways are so practical. Truth is livable. I simply can't go into everything here. I apologise if my thoughts have been a bit jumbled but I guess I'm just trying to get it all out.

One other thing, I think agriculture is something that should be worked upon in the community also, so we wanted to have a model farm at the school. I asked what we would need to set it up and was told, seed, fertilizers and pesticides. At first I was like 'okay, lets see if we can raise the money', but now I've been researching a lot about organic farmning and can see the enormous advantages of, (surprise surprise), growing food the way God intended, el natural.

So.... here's where I am calling upon the body of Christ to work with us in community. At the moment this is a small idea in my head, so I'm gonna need people to pray with me for clarity of vision, for myself and also the Ugandan brothers and sisters. Please pray for creative ideas and insights as to how we can live out the life God created us to live, in true community. Also, I have no experience with community development, organic horticulture and very small experience in education, so I'd like you to pray with me that God will send people who have these skills that can help out in these areas.

I'm thinking now that I might remain in Australia till the middle of this year as I believe there is still a lot I need to learn here, more connections that need to be made etc.

I don't know how many people read this blog but I just want to say thanks to everyone showing an interest. Let's continue to share ideas, to pray for one another, to walk the journey with one another. God has created us for community. I love you all in Jesus' name. God bless you.

PS. I also want to thank Roz and other home educators I have met recently who have helped challenge my views of education, the entire New Hope International team for their tireless efforts to promote true Christian education throughout the nations. God bless you all.

Last post from outside Australia for 2009

2009-12-19T00:41:00.000-08:00

I'm currently at Bangkok airport. Stew tapped into the QANTAS lounge wireless net which has been nice. Its still a few hours till we board so I thought I'd take this opportunity to post a blog I wrote the other day.

By the way, let me just say thaks to those who are interested in supporting these orphans. God bless you. The needs of the children I last wrote about have been met thanks to a generous donation from Australia. If there are others still keen to help there are many more orphans and needy at our school. Please get back to me if you'd like to be of assistance.

Here it is:

Wednesday 16th December

Today I made my final trip to the school in Nasuti for 2009. I was up early to try catch a 7am taxi to Iganga. I was fortunate to get one quickly. Though it stopped several times along the way and though I had to change vehicles twice along the way I got to Iganga quite quickly. I had to pick up three more iron sheets for the new toilet we plan to build. I love how you can take virtually anything on a boda boda, they just strap it on the back an away you go. I was worried we'd knock down pedestrians and the like with the rolled up iron sheets protruding at least a metre on either side, but we arrived at the school with no problems. I had expected more to be done on the building actually. I think rain may have slowed them down. They are now remaining with cementing the floor and plastering the walls, apparently about 4 days work. The curtain wall for the toilet was almost finished which was good to see. They had to stop when they ran out of bricks, but we should be able to burn some of the ones which have been made soon.

I forgot the most exciting news...there was a lady in Australia who donated some money to help those orphans I wrote about earlier. It was so exciting and such a blessing for these kids. I went back to visit them today to see what their needs were and to try buy the things they needed before I returned to Australia. I found out more about their circumstance. I had said they had grandparents a few houses down in the village but that's not really accurate. Here, they would call them the grandparents but really they are just the oldies of the clan. The biological grandparents had both died earlier this year, then the mother followed in November. More confusion arises as a niece is referred to as a daughter... and what makes things even more confusing is polygamous homes. This is one such home. So it turns out there are about 7 kids in this family (that I know of) but they either have different mums or different fathers. Two of them have grown up and are married. One is Sarah who herself is a widow now with two kids and twins on the way. She is the one who lives in a different village but will be coming to check on the kids, the second is a young man (I didn't catch the name) who has a small house right near the main house. He has recently married a 17 year old girl who I found out today is helping to care for the kids. She cooks for them, makes sure they wash etc. I feel a lot better knowing that there are these responsible people around. There was another older brother that we met today. He is 18 years old and hopes to start the equivalent to Year 11 next year. True to traditional Ugandan village style the boys build their own huts near the family home when they reach that age so Dennis (that's his name) lives in his own hut right next to the house. The next oldest, Dan (16 years) lives in the house and hopes to start high school next year. Now, the two girls we thought were part of the family are related but not from the same parents I think. One of them is an orphan but stays with a step mum and the other stays with another family in the village. Then the youngest Regan is apparently not of this family either, nor does he live with them but is still from a very disadvantaged family. Anyway, because we can't do everything, we wanted to focus our efforts on this family initially, so that's the five boys that stay in the home/compound. Three are students at our school. I think the youngest is 11 or 12 years. I feel better knowing that they are a bit older and have these other adults who can help. We talked to them and looked through the house, planned a budget and then went into town to buy them some things. There are enough mattresses (though three kids share a double bed) but the kids needed more blankets so we bought 3, we bought three mosquito nets, a basin for washing, a toothbrush and toothpaste each, a box of soap, a kerosene lamp (they don't have power and it will help them when reading books in the evening), 10L of kerosene, some school books, some basic moulded plastic sandals for the 3 younger boys and 2 pairs of black school shoes for the two older boys who will need them for high school. We also bought a 'new' (secondhand but still good) set of clothes for each of them. These will be their gifts for Christmas. We anticipate them to get very excited over these gifts. We have also set aside some money for the requirements needed for schooling. Our kids get free education as they are orphans, the second eldest is going for a government scholarship for fees but will still need to buy uniform and other things, and the oldest boy will need to pay school fees and have a uniform also, so we put money aside for that too plus the money left over will go towards covering any medical expenses they may have in the future. I left the items with the bursar to take to the kids as I had to return that afternoon to Kampala but I wish I was their to see their faces. I am so appreciative of this generous gift and the difference being made in these kid's lives, these poor kids who have seen so many deaths of so many loved ones. Thank you for the generous donation.

I found out about 200 of our 300 students are fatherless, and of the remaining 100, many of these are also disadvantaged, even if they have both parents. We are trying to think of the best ways to help them. I am thinking of trying to have some widow support programs that teach them skills to help them earn money for their families and of course we offer free education for the orphans. I think some in home support such as buying mosquito nets, soap etc when the money is there will also be good. I'd like to start up a child sponsorship program to help the most needy too, but we'll just have to wait and see what support comes in.

Okay, that's all for now. God bless you all.

Have a great Christmas!

PS I have included a panorama of the school for those interested in seeing more of what it looks like.

Not much longer...

2009-12-14T01:23:00.000-08:00

This may be the last blog entry before I come back to Australia. We travelled from Mbale on Saturday for the board meeting in Kampala. We were 2.5 hours late after a lot of stuffing around with cars and mechanics and other things. We started at 12.30 and it didn't finish until 4.30pm but it was good. Stew returned to Mbale and is spending this week there and in Tororo. I am staying with Ps David in Kampala, trying to do a few last minute things before we fly on Friday. I hope to be back to visit the school one last time tomorrow or Wednesday and I think will try post a pic of the hopefully finished office/store. Otherwise, thanks for reading. I'll keep blogging things while I'm back in Australia particularly relevant to the project.

The art exhibition planned for 22nd December has been postponed until early next year. I will keep you posted though. There is a Christmas party at Alliance Church Calwell on 18th December from 7pm. Nadine will be selling some Ugandan jewellery she brought back earlier this year. Proceeds will go to our project. Please feel free to go along and check it out. All are welcome, otherwise we will have another fundraiser next year.

Thanks everyone for following me here, for your interest and support. God bless you and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

2009-12-11T01:26:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we went out to the school again to see the building project. They will be putting the roof up today. We also visited those orphans I had mentioned earlier. I have attached a photo, there are 7 kids at home, 6 of them are at our school and the eldest has finished primary school. Their father died in 2003 and their mother died on the 30th November this year. They have no relatives except their elderly grandparents who live in the village, and a older sister who lives a bit far away and who herself is a widow with her own kids to care for.

One of the kids will be taken in by one of the teachers and cared for but that still leaves 6 remaining. The sister will come and check on them occasionally but they will be left more or less to themselves. We are trying to consider the best way to help these kids. I'm thinking, if we can get sponsors to pay for things like school supplies, clothing, medical care and soap etc, they should be able to live off the crops they can grow. I am also thinking, if we could get a widow to help care for them, then we could look after her as well. Anyway, just some ideas. Let me know if anyone has any suggestions. I feel so bad for these kids. I wish I could take them all in myself. Please pray for them, that they will get the love and care they need.

Making mats and building update

2009-12-08T22:27:00.000-08:00

Here are some photos of e learning to make mats in the village and an update of the building as of yesterday.

2009-12-08T06:35:00.000-08:00

Monday 7th December
Today was good! Again, we were up early catching the bus to Iganga as our car is still with the mechanic. We arrived at the school. The building is coming along well. I again tried to post that pic on Sunday but the internet was frustratingly slow. I took another photo today as work has progressed and the previous photo is now old. But I think I will have to take a new photo before I again try to post this blog entry Tuesday afternoon. We went back to visit our friend who was so kind to us on Friday. I learnt his name is Madada. I learnt how to make a mat and we stayed for lunch. I am so very impressed with Madada and the initiative he is taking to develop the community. He is the clan chief and also started an elderly association to help the old people in the community. He is also the chairman of some other community development association. It was great to hear about the things he's done or tried. For example, he showed us the passbooks of different community members who he had encouraged to bank each week. It had been going well until the district officials told them to stop. He said that people don't want them to develop in the village, but he sees that a lot of people are struggling and he wants to help. Anyway, I was so encouraged to meet someone who took responsibility for the well being of the community and who took the initiative to help. It wasn't just an idea that he had and was waiting for funding, be it was something he was actually doing. Actions speak loud... He sent us off with lots of fresh milk and his elderly mother and neighbour brought us peanuts. They are so lovely. I loved also how the women helped me learn to make the mats, even when some couldn't speak English, they still tried and I guess I understood. I had a really lovely time and look forward to meeting more members of the community in the future.
We got home well enough by taxi to Mbale. I have been preparing something for the up coming board meeting but should probably sleep now as we have another early start. We picked up the car this arvo, it was all fixed, except now the battery has gone, so we will again be catching the bus.
P.S. I think its only 10 days now till I leave...

Tuesday 8th December

Today was good. The building is coming along well. Today they are splitting a felled tree we have to use in the roof trusses. The picture I have posted is a little dated now. I have a more recent one to post but haven't got it on my USB yet. The man you see in the photo is Madada and his vanilla plant.

Not too much more to report. Stew has gone to Tororo and I caught a taxi back to Mbale. A policeman sat next to me for part of the way and tried to pick me up which was a bit awkward but other than that nothing too eventful has happened.

Building Update

2009-12-05T08:17:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I just thought I'd post a pic of the work being done at the school. Apparently this small storage room will be finished in about a weeks time. I was impressed to see it yesterday. Yesterday was good. We went to the school to see the progress. We also went to see some rooms that were available for rent but they weren't good. On the way we saw a neighbour who sends his kids to our school. I think he is a local council member but I'm not sure. Anyway, he was showing us his rather impressive garden. He grows vanilla beans and gave us some. YUM! They smell great. I think his is a model or demo garden for some organisation. He has cows and is cross bredding goats and has modern vegetable farming I think. Anyway, he sent us away laden with goodies like mangoes and pawpaws and invited us back on Monday to enjoy a vanilla tea and see the rest of his garden. That was the highlight, its all been a bit down hill since then.

On the way home we had to wait some time for a taxi. Eventaully one turned up and we were squeezed in. I bought a water on the way but it was only once I'd finished it that I realised it was not an original. Though it was sealed I could see the bottle had been reused and refilled with local water. Almost immediately I started getting stomach pains that got worse throughout the night but I'm feeling a lot better today, though still not quite 100%. Then there was the problem with the taxi conductor. I had negotiated a price before we entered but I guess he wasn't really listening or simply didn't care. He wouldn't give us back enough change. I got so frustrated and kept pestering him. He said no but eventually, when we reached Mbale I sat there, blocking other passengers from exiting until he gave me back all the change. We then went to buy some stuff from the supermarket and I mustn't have closed the zip on my bag because after going through a crowd I realised my wallet and purse were gone. There wasn't really much ion there, probably $15-20 and just a few cards like licence etc. It was more the shock of it all, the fact of my own stupidity and the depravity of humans to stoop to the level of theft that left me crying for a short moment. It really could have been worse. Stew had my ipod and ATM card that I usually keep in the same bag pocket. I was thinking this morning that I was glad my ipod didn't go missing, only to hear about 20 mins ago that Stew had left it in his pocket and it had gone through the wash. So that's a big bummer too. I hate to be so attached to possessions, but I am sometimes. Anyway, things could have been worse.

Today we are just resting and doing a few errands. Jackie, Dorcas' aunt wants me to try cook a european meal for dinner. She keeps refering to me and Europe and I correct her, that I am from Australia, not Europe but perhaps she doesn't know where australi is or is confusing it with Austria. Anyway, I'm going to cook a chicken and mushroom pasta. Muzungu food is so expensive! We could eat Ugandan style for about a week for the same price! Anyway, I hope it will be a nice change. I see she has an oven so I might try bake a cake or maybe do a roast in a few days.

We leave here in 13 days. Time has gone so quick. I'm looking forward to being home. Let me know if you would like me to come to your church/homegroup, school or other function/event to talk about Sunrise Children's project when I'm back. Next year is shaping up to be a busy and hopefully very productive year for the project. We would love for you to be a part of it.

Cheerio all.

Ps. I've waited and waited for the pics to upload but internet is slow. I'll try again tomorrow.

Busy, busy, busy, busy

2009-12-03T01:47:00.000-08:00

The last few days have been hectic! We have just moved from our house as the lease was up. It's been a challenge as our things have been divided amongst three different places. Our friend Dorcas will be renting a small room and wanted to keep s few bits of furniture for herself, so we had to deliver them to another friend's house to keep them in storage for her until she returns from Kenya. She has gone there to stay with an aunt over the holidays. We then needed to shift half of the remaining furniture to our friend's place in Kampala as they were just moving in without any furniture, and the last half we had to move to our friend's place in Iganga who would keep it until I moved back next year. We thought if I could have my things not so far from where I am likely to be moving to, then that would be much easier next year. The plan was to send Bob, Dan and Wasswa to Kampala with the furniture into the place they would be staying in whilst I'm away. We had wanted to move in on the Saturday but the landlord who had the key we needed said they still had furniture in the place that needed to be moved out and they couldn't do it on Saturday as they were seventh day adventists. They said Sunday would be okay but that didn't suit us with our services on Sunday. That threw the plans out a little but it was okay. We went to Dorcas' village instead. I think I wrote about that last time but I've forgotten. On Sunday I went to Geof's church in Mbale and Stew had a baptism service in Malaba with the church in Tororo. We continued packing that evening, ready for the pick-up truck that was supposed to arrive between 7 and 8am the next morning to take my things to Iganga. We had thought if we could move early we would have the rest of the afternoon to purchase and shift some building materials to the school where we are just starting building on a small office and storage room. So I was up at 6am getting prepared. Dan also went into town early to try track down a small truck that we could hire to take the other half of the things to Kampala. Monday was the last day of the lease so we wanted to be all moved out. However, nothing really went to plan on Monday at all. We waited and waited for the pickup and for Dan to get a truck. At 3pm the man arrived with the pickup. He had helped us shift furniture from Iganga to Mbale before for free and we had assumed/had been informed that it would be the same case. When he quoted a price that was beyond ridiculous we had to decline. I was quite annoyed. We had nothing else we could do. I was also supposed to be bringing December's salaries to the school and the teachers had been waiting there from morning. Our friend Geofrey helped us track down another pickup. The cost of this one was much more reasonable. We paid a deposit but the owner wouldn't let us take then and there as he thought he might be able to get another job from it over the next few hours. I called up the school and tried to explain the situation. We agreed that nothing could be done and we'd try again the next day. We were told by 5pm that the pickup would be ready so Stew went to pick it up but waited and waited and waited for it to come back from its other job. Finally at about 8.30pm it came back. Stew took it, rounded the first corner and it ran out of petrol. He put a bit more in it, went to start it again but the battery was flat. So he decided to leave that pickup. He went to get our deposit back but the man had spent some of it! It was so frustrating. Geofrey came up with a solution of lending us his van for the next day so eventually, Stew returned with the van late in the evening. The other major change of plans was that we had arranged to stay with Bishop for the last few weeks, a pastor/head of a project/many churches. His son was the one who got married a few months back for those of you playing at home. Anyway, he had said on the Friday that we could move in on the Monday. Stew called him on Monday to tell him we'd move in in the evening and he then kinda hung up on us and said he's get back to us. A bit later a different pastor informed us on Bishop's behalf that we couldn't stay with him any more as he had guests arriving from Nigeria. We were pretty annoyed. He would have known for sometime but left it until the very last minute to tell us. Since then we have heard that the Nigerians will actually be renting our old house for 2 weeks so Bishops house is indeed free! Its so frustrating. I wish people would just be open. Anyway, so we were without a place to stay once we moved out. Fortunately Dorcas had an aunt here in Mbale who agreed to put us up for a week or two so we have been staying there. Dan finally tracked down a truck on Monday but when he was about to come pick up the things he found another customer that would pay him more and so went with them instead. By the time we arrived at Dorcas' aunt's place and had supper it was after midnight before we went to sleep, and we were to get up at 6am to try it all again. In summary, Monday was horrible and very frustrating.

The boys (Bob, Dan and Wasswa) stayed at the house with our stuff while Dorcas, Stew and I stayed at her aunts place. At 6am we were back at the house to pick up Dorcas' things to put them into storage. We packed them into the van with no trouble and dropped them off. We then came back to to the house to pack as much as we could take of the things planning to go to Iganga. Together we discovered we had some sweet packing skills and we were able to squeeze a small table, four chairs, around three small shelves, some small coffee tables, two suitcases, a guitar and other small things all into the back of this van. It was amazing!! We dropped them off at my friend's place and then continued on to town where we met two staff member from school who had come to help us buy materials for the construction. We loaded the van up with 15 bags of cement and 13 iron sheets for roofing and took it back to the school. When we arrived they had almost finished digging the foundations. It was so encouraging to see. I stayed at the school and helped pay the teachers as they trickled in for their salaries. Stew and three others returned to Iganga to get the final 15 bags of cement and all the other things we needed. We had planned to be back in Mbale by 4pm so Stew could be in Tororo for a church meeting he had by 5pm, but time got away from us so we went directly to Tororo from the school, arriving maybe 30mins late and had a fellowship session outside a church member's house. It was such a wonderful time of mutual encouragement as we sang songs, prayed together, heard testimonies and discussed the message from church on Sunday. We then headed back to Mbale. It was such a successful day! It was getting late as we headed back. We dropped Ps Peter home and he informed us his wife had prepared tea for us. We said we couldn't stay long as Dorcas' aunt was waiting for us and also Geof was waiting for us to return the van. Anyway, they gave us tea. (literally a cup of tea and bread). We stood to go but they again detained us until they had fed us supper as well. It was a really nice guesture but I was getting impatient as we still had other things to do that evening and it was getting late. It really got to me actually. If we had warning and could have planned for it perhaps it would have been okay but we were just so tight for time and waiting for food took so long! It challenged me actually. They were trying to do something nice and the way I was thinking was more or less saying 'stuff you, my time is more important than your time.' It was challenging. Its just hard to find a balance when there are things that need doing. Anyway, we eventually left but still had to go back and pick up the dog and drop it off to Bishop, whom we had borrowed it from. We then also had to drive 10km out of town and drop the van off to Geof who then had to drive us 10km back to Dorcas' aunts place. So, again we didn't get to bed until after midnight. Tuesday's summary: God doesn't desert his people and makes a way to accomplish his will. His timing is more important than our timing.

On Wednesday we again got up at 6am as he had to walk to town to catch a bus to Iganga as our car is busted and needs an engine overhaul (fun!). We opted for the 'Posta bus' which leaves at 7am on the dot and takes the Mbale mail to Kampala, stopping to pick up mail from any other post offices along the way. We had caught one from Kabale to Kampala before and were impressed by its punctuality etc. We thought it was a good idea but we were very very wrong. What should have been a 1.5 hour trip to Iganga became 3 hours as they went via Tororo. I was so annoyed, plus, instead of only stopping at psot offices as they should, they kept stopping along the way to pick up passengers and drop them off like any ordinary taxi which was also frustrating and took time. But we learnt our lesson. We arrived in town and grabbed something for breakfast from the supermarket then went back to pick up some extra iron bars that were needed on site for the foundations. We carried them back to the school on a boda boda. When we arrived there was a truck dropping of 'hardcore' (foundation stones). It was also good to see this progress. For much of the rest of the day we waited as the truck came back with other loads but when it came to about 3pm and they still hadn't finished, we had to continue on our way. We got back to Iganga and waited quite some time for a taxi to Mbale. We got about half way when they stopped and moved us into an over crowded bus for the remained of the journey we had to stand but with time were able to get a seat. We had arranged to meet up with a friend for dinner and were late for that but everything worked out okay. It was a lovely evening. We met with a couple who's wedding I had attended in December 2007. An Australian man and his Ugandan wife and adopted son Moses. We discussed many things including the Ugandan education system and our various projects. They stay out at a community based project called Salem. It sounds like a wonderful place, its own little village. I am hoping to pay them a visit next week and I'll give more information about it then.

Well, I think I should end my rant. I'm sorry to have bored anyone but the last few days have been very long and hectic. Today we are resting in Mbale though we still have lots of running around town to do. Our internet expired yesterday so I'm typing this up at home but will go to an internet cafe hopefully today to post it. It will take more time but its not worth paying for a months internet when we are only here for two more weeks...TWO MORE WEEKS EVERYONE!!! Once I've finished with my errands today I'm going to try do some more work on these art and craft things before our exhibition on 22nd December. So today will also be busy but I will at least avoid 6 hours of travelling. Tomorrow we will try get our hands on a motorbike to be a little bit more independent and will again travel to the school to oversee the building and help draw up a budget for next year. I will also check out another potential house to rent next year.

Oh, one more thing, yesterday as we were discussing the budget I heard of four of our kids who have just become orphans. Previously their mother was paying some small school fees but she died last Thursday I think. Their father had died the year before. They have no known relatives except an uncle who left the country years ago and has never been heard of since I believe. We are trying to figure out how we can help them. There are some options of someone taking one or two of them in, but that leaves some remaining and separates them. We are considering, if we can support them to remain in their house, that that would be best. I believe there are two older brothers in high school that can head the home. I am hoping to visit them before I go so I can get their stories and photos and perhaps we can find sponsors for them when I return to Australia. Please pray for these kids. I'll give you more info when I know more.

Okay, I'd better keep going...things to do...

Busy, busy

2009-11-27T10:54:00.000-08:00

Sorry I've been slack in my updates. Things have been quite busy here. Let me start where I left off, as much as I can remember...

Last Wednesday I think it was, I took Bob and Dorcas to the school. Because I had had trouble with the taxis the day before I thought it would be much more comfortable to take a bus to Iganga. Though more comfortable it was stressful in its own way. There are several competing coach companies so as soon as you step foot in the place they mob you and can physically drag you to the bus. We were trying to push them away, you should have seen Dorcas, she was flaying her arms around and swinging her bag. It was the worst bus-mobbing I've ever had. Eventually we decided on a bus. Then we had to wait for it to fill. On the journey I taught Dorcas and Bob how to make the wristbands I had taught the kids at the school to make. Most of the surrounding passengers became interested too and a few were asking how much we were selling them for. I told them we were taking them back to Australia to sell, but gave one lady a sample of a practice one as she wasnted to make one herself. It was encouraging to see their response, to think that the kids are learning a skill that people are keen to have here.

We continued doing art and craft on Wednesday. Thursday I was at home preparing for the teaching session on Friday. I believe it rained quite heavily at some point on Friday. I have included a photo I took of some kids staring out at the rain. On Friday I discovered I am the principal of the school. It came as a bit of a shock but I feel up to the challenge. Communication is not a strong point here, or perhaps it's just the individuals I am working with. Anyway, they neglected to tell me this minor detail until it was inferred on Friday and then confirmed when I asked right out. I think its kinda funny.

I forget how the weekend went. It was no doubt fine but busy.

On Monday I was back at school, infact I've been there everyday again this week up until yesterday when the school closed. I've been doing some more painting with the kids and we finished our teacher training sessions. As I said, yesterday was the last day of school. We had an end of year staff meeting and a parents meeting (I have attached a pic of some parents). As principal I had to make a speech. It seemed very well received. I explained our plans for the future to the parents and showed them samples of the art and craft we had been doing. They seemed very pleased and appreciative which was a huge encouragement to me. I tried to make it really clear that we're in this together and that we needed to cooperate, that we can't do it alone. We had two of the board members attend also and they made a speech which I think all contributed to a boost in morale all round. Needless to say, I am exhausted! travelling at 8am in the morning and returning at 8pm everyday really takes it out of you. I am relieved the teaching part is over for this year.

However, I plan to continue to travel to the school next week as we aim to start building a storage facility to store documents and resources. I would love for it to be finished before we go.

Tomorrow will hopefully be a bit of a rest day, then church on Sunday. On Monday we will be moving out of our place and taking a ute-load of things to our friend's place in Kampala. On Tuesday we hope to start buying materials to build the storage room. It's going to be another busy week no doubt.

I forgot to mention, today we went to visit Dorcas' aunt and left her with one of our dogs. One we have already taken to a friends place in Iganga and Rambo is staying at the school with the cook/watchman. Mwala is going back to her old owner. After this we visited her grandmother in the village. I have also attached a photo of her and the other relatives there. They fed us well and Stew gave the Gran some medicine for a problem she had been suffering. Then we returned home late in the afternoon. We've been listening to some online sermons from our church this evening which have been interesting.

Hmm, what else? I'm considering returning to Uganda at the beginning of their school year next year, instead of later in April like I first thought but I am still praying about it all. I am also looking for a suitable place to stay in closer to the school as Mbale is simply too far! There is one place that is good that I saw yesterday but I will keep praying and looking for other places.

Please pray that I find a suitable place, also that I get clarity as to when I should be returning next year, and that we have a productive but not too exhausting next few weeks.

That brings we to my latest news. According to the block of chocolate a friend sent me for my birthday which is acting as a count down, almost like an advent calendar, I will be returning to Australia soon. I have 10 pieces of chocolate left which means 20 days (as I eat one piece every second day) before I leave for home, arriving on 20th of December. Hooray! Please feel free to get in contact with me when I'm back. I would love to hear from you.

I think that's more or less most of the updates. Stew is going well. He is keeping busy with the church in Tororo. They will be having baptisms on Sunday. We ate our last chicken this evening in preparation for our move.

...and I think I've rambled on enough and am ready for bed.

God bless you all for reading and for your support.

What a day

2009-11-17T12:10:00.000-08:00

I was late heading off to the school this morning as Stew is away in Kampala with the car so I had to go by public means. It takes soooo long. First you have to negotiate a price. (I think I am getting good at this if I do say so myself.) Then you have to sit and wait for the taxi to fill, it could take between 10minutes to an hour or more depending where you are. It took us about 30 minutes. I realised I was running late for the school so I didn't have time to take lunch. Fortunately there was a place to buy snacks on the way so I had gonja for lunch (roasted bananas). I then had to locate a boda boda that would take me to Nasuti village for my price. One agreed but in the end I ended up caving in and giving him a bit extra. Maybe I'm not as good at negotiating as I thought... I arrived at the school at around 2.30pm and I started training the teachers at around 3.45pm. We went up to almost 5.45pm which was very late. I had to wait around to get a lift back into Iganga. You can flag down private vehicles sometimes and pay them what you would pay if using public means. I entered an already overcrowded car. There were 4 adults in the back, two sharing the driver's passenger seat and I shared the seat with the driver. It was quite entertaining really. Then, upon reaching Iganga I also had to wait for sometime for a taxi heading to Mbale, and had to wait for it to fill. Long staory short...I got home around 9.15pm and am pretty exhausted. I hope to be at the bus park at around 8am tomorrow to do it all again. I'll be taking Bob and Dorcus to go and see the school tomorrow and they will help with art and craft in Stewie's absence, though he plans to pick us up from the school on his way from Kampala to Mbale.

I was at the school yesterday too and will be going on Friday as well as tomorrow. The travelling really takes it out of you, physically and financially too. I'm drained. I look forward to living closer to the school next year. I just want to get as much in at the school as possible. They break for holidays next Friday. After that I might be able to relax a bit, though I doubt it as we'll be moving house, plus organising for a storage room to be built at the school, plus also preparing for the up coming board meeting and trying to get all the art and craft organised and ready to bring back for the art exhibition in Australia. Busy, busy, busy...

I'd better get some sleep now.

P.S. Church on Sunday was great. I'm really appreciating Geof's pastor and his church. It encourages me a lot. God is good!

2009-11-16T21:43:00.000-08:00

The long awaited newsletter has been sent out. If you have not received a copy we may have copied your email address incorrectly or the attachment was too large for your inbox (hotmailers) and we will resend a reduced quality over the weekend. If you have still not received something by next week, or would like to be added to the email list, please let me know and I'll do all I can.

Friday

2009-11-13T09:30:00.000-08:00

Today we went out to the school, arriving while the nursery students were still around. They swamped us! It was hilarious. They were so funny and cute. They knelt down and greeted us and were stoked when I greeted them in their language. They loved getting their photos taken. I tried to get them to smile but it doesn't quite come natural to a lot of them. I have included photos of the kids and then also one of them crowding around the water bore.

I think the teacher training went well today, though we always run short of time and I have to skip some of the journal exercises. I set it for homework but most don't touch there books until the following week. Today we looked at the importance of the Bible in a Christian school. I took an anonymous survey. All our teachers have Bibles but reading it often appears a challenge for some and few have read the Bible or even the New Testament through. I suggested a Bible reading plan and some of them were interested so I'll get that to them next week. There are only two weeks left of school so we will be doing two sessions a week to get it all done before the holidays.

We got back late. I'm tired and hungry but see a bowl of delicious katogo before me so I shouldn't complain.

My dilemma...or distraction

2009-11-12T00:36:00.000-08:00

I've just had a thought and am seeking some response from the great world out there (that means you valued reader). It's not a hugely pressing issue, rather, I think I am just procrastinating from the preparation I need to do for tomorrow's lesson. But I am just catching up on some emails and was thinking about how I and others sign off their emails or letters. I wouldn't mind coming up with something more God-centred, a reminder that we only have life because of Him anyway. The closest I come at the moment to anything remotely godly is 'bless you' or 'blessings' but I'd like something more. Some others that I've received sign off 'in His (or our Lord's) service', or 'in His love'. Anyone else have any other good ones? And my next question is do people only sign off this way if they are writing to other Christians? Is there some kind of way of ending an email to a non-Christian that still acknowledges God but is not inappropriate. What is and isn't appropriate there? Is it being too preachy or offensive to acknowledge that you take orders from a higher power? Why is it inappropriate to acknowledge the God that created and sustains us to a non-Christian? I know I would feel uncomfortable signing off in such a manner to such a person. Is that bad? And just because something is socially acceptable, does that make it right?Is there a solution? I am an English teacher, I should know all about letter etiquette, but I don't. I think knowing how to sign off letters and emails properly is something that my generation, and those below have missed somewhat, or maybe its just me. Maybe its just that most my emails are addressed to friends and something like a proper ending is too formal. What about a casual ending that acknowledges God? I think I would usually just go for 'blessings' there. Anyone have any thoughts or solutions to my dilemma?

What's your Worldview?

2009-11-10T22:15:00.000-08:00

Wow! I can't believe another week has gone. Time is just flying by. I was about to write that not much has happened but when I think about it, something is always happening. On Friday I finished the 5th session on effective teaching with our teachers. The topic was 'Developing a Christian Worldview' which is one of my favourite topics as it is something that has really challenged me over the last 24 months. Though I'm not sure that they really got it, or perhaps its not such a big deal here as they haven't really been hit with secular humanism. The Christians here know to give up ancestor worship, witch doctors etc (though it can also be a challenge for 'infant' Christians) and know that a Christian is called to live differently. I think in the west we know as well that Christians should live differently to the western culture and not get drunk, or sleep around etc but I can see that often we embrace things that seem okay, like they seem they are not in direct oppostion to God's word, as if God's word actually doesn't have anything to say on a certain topic, though I find people (seem to) rarely question the underlying ideologies of something. Often we get caught up in things that seem okay, but are actually founded in new age or secular humanistic ideas. It hasn't really hit Africa, so it was hard for me to get this kind of thing across but there are things creeping in as, for example, they start to base their education systems more heavily on the western model. Then there are things like 'child-centred education' which sounds good at first, until you really look into the biblical view of teaching, and for teaching to be truly effective and lasting, it can't be centred on man, but needs to be Christ-centred. Anyway, something to think about. That's one of the main points of the course that we are doing. I don't know if that made sense to anyone, but please be challenged to question everything. The Bible has something to say about everything and we need to know and follow God only.

I guess that brings me to Saturday. We went to the conference at 9am but ended up leaving around 11am. We were waiting for the team to show up but they didn't (until after we left). There was a pastor that preached a message. People seemed to be getting all worked up in agreement but both Stewart and I seriously questioned what he had to say. We believed he was taking things out of context and placing undue emphasis on other things. We didn't want to stick around. I may have said it before. Christianity is miles wide in Uganda, but inches deep. There is a need to bring Christian leaders to a level of spiritual maturity so they can properly lead Christ's flock and not lead them astray. Dear friends, again, please check whatever you are hearing preached; check it against God's word. Please make sure things are in context, not just in the passage, but in line with the whole of God's word. Lack of spiritual maturity is causing many problems in Uganda. I feel overwhelmed when I consider the problem. Please pray for the Christians here, that they will know the truth.

On Sunday we went to Tororo. Stew preached on being the salt and light of the earth. It was good, though I am often reluctant to go to Tororo as I know it means a whole day is taken up. I had planned to be back in time for the evening service at Geofrey's church at 5pm to catch some of their teaching which has blessed me so much. However, (I half expected it) we did not arrive home until at least 7.30pm. I was a bit annoyed that I had missed out but there were other things I would have missed out on had I not gone to Tororo. For example. There was a young man who often attends the church, only he is deaf, so I was able to try interpret for him. His name is Ronald. He is in his last year of secondary school. I believe they are doing their final year exams this week. He told me he had become deaf 2 years ago, and that now his 18 year old brother is also becoming deaf. I asked him if he knew the cause and he said it was spiritual, an attack of Satan. I'm not sure what to do with that. I do by no means deny the existence and work of the forces of evil in this world, but wonder if somethings are simply a result of living in a fallen world that is doomed for decay. I wonder if somethings are attributed to the work of demons which are not actually a result of demonic activity. I think Ugandans are very much aware of the spirit realm, where in the west it is the opposite. I just don't know. I have too many thoughts on the matter to put down now. But anyway, it was good to be able to help translate for this guy. Afterward we went and visited a few church members and had a late lunch and then headed back to Mbale but first took tea at Ps Peter's house before returning home. I am very grateful for people's hospitality here in Uganda, its only that my mind set on programs and time some how stole some of the joy I should have experienced at the hands of these people. It's another challenge for me. I should try to never be too busy for people.

On Monday I caught the 7am bus to Kampala. I arrived before noon and pottered around the city, buying a few beads, wool, paint brushes etc that we will use for craft with the children. I then caught a taxi to Seeta where I visited Ps David's wife Anne and daughters Jemimah, Sandra and Melissa. They are all so adorable. I stayed the night there and then visited another friend the next day before heading back to Kampala to catch a bus back to Mbale. I arrived back at around 7pm last night. I sat next to a guy from Germany who had arrived a few days earlier and had come to visit his friend at a certain project in Mbale and travel a bit with her. The drive was long and hot but we made it safely.

Today we are going out to the school to again do art and craft with the kids. Tomorrow will be preparation for Friday's teaching session at the school and then hopefully a rest day on Saturday.

Sowing and reaping and other things

2009-11-04T10:17:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, I know I was supposed to post animal picks but internet is so slow here that its going to be a mega chore, so I'll try get round to it this weekend.

Just a quick update... On Sunday I went to Geofrey's church. I really appreciate the preaching there. On thing that's been coming up a bit is the reaping what you sow principle. I've heard it repeated recently in sermons, talks, songs...its interesting. A few of the contexts have been similar also, such as, it doesn't matter how much you fast and pray, you will not grow maize where you haven't planted it, or another way I heard it put, the very next day in a different church was that no matter how much you pray and fast and have faith that a dying pot-plant will get better, unless you attend to its needs (give it water, sunlight, pick off bugs etc) it will die. And then again, in a song from an album I received for my birthday "...We all well know we're gonna reap what we sow. We all well know what kind of crops are gonna grow..." I'm not sure why I'm sharing this. I think its just interesting that the reap/sow relationship has come up recently. It's a biblical principle I am aware of but I must say, I've gone a long time without giving it thought. Let's all think more about it.

So Sunday was dandy. Monday was also equally satisfactory. We went to a church conference that was held at Impact Church. They have 5 Aussies visiting (from Canberra!) and they are running a conference this week during the day and then crusades in the evenings. We introduced ourselves to the team. They are from Parkway church. Turns out the senior pastor, John Macnamara used to pastor me when I was little. He knows my mum. Then a lady called Sally mid-service turned around and asked if I was Kim's sister. We really must look alike. Its crazy that we met in Uganda of all places. What a small world, or rather, what a great God!

On Tuesday I left Stew in Mbale to work on a sermon he'll be preaching on Saturday, and travelled at 6am to Iganga. I wanted to be there for their weekly assembly. I also sat in on some classes. It was insightful. The Ugandan way is very different to that of Australia but it seems to work for them. When I tried to probe for some deeper understanding with some of the students I only got blank faces. I don't know if its the language barrier or if there are certain areas that need work. I'm sure its a combination. Then I met my friend Rich for lunch in town and he took me to his sister's church where he had been ministering over the past 3 weeks after finishing bible college. I greeted the church and ate lunch and then I took him to see our school quickly then we returned back to Mbale. This moring Rich, Stew and I all headed back to Iganga. We left him there and then continued on to Jinja where we met Ps David before he heads off to America tomorrow! Please pray for safe travels and a successful time there for him. We then drove back to Nasuti and arrived just in time to begin the art program with the kids. It is a lot more difficult without the girls helping but Stew has been doing a good job. I am counting on students being interested in a holiday program where we do a few intensive workshops to get the bulk of the art and craft done for me to bring back to Australia. They only have two more weeks left of school. So today has been a long day. I also read through half of Job. I'm pretty tired but will do some more reading then go to bed.

Tomorrow I plan to have millet porridge for breakfast and perhaps a banana. I don't know the name but its a special kind that you steam in the skins and it goes a bit reddish. It's really nice and reminds me a bit of a rhubard flavour. They are rare to come by in the market so when I see them I buy them. YUMMY! I then hope to attend the conference at Impact church until lunch and then come home and prepare for the teacher training that I'll be doing at the school on Friday. We will be looking at worldviews, a topic of great interest to me.

On Saturday I also plan to attend the conference in the morning and then I am meeting with a certain Ugandan pastor who has been recommended to me by a friend.

That's all, nothing terribly exciting.

I also took this photo of these kids as I sat in the car at a petrol station. You can't see it very well but one of the kids shorts were ripped right the way up the backside. It's common to see something like this here.

Other adventures

2009-10-29T05:27:00.000-07:00

We arrived in Kampala on Thursday morning and then continued on to Mityana where we had planned to go visit St Mary's School for the Deaf. That is where our friend Aidat works. They had been waiting for us. They showed us there work and performed a drama piece for us. We then served the students lunch and they took us away to our own little feast that they had prepared. It was really lovely. They are such nice people there. We had to rush back though as I had a meeting planned that afternoon in Kampala which actually fell through. I forget what we did that evening but it was no doubt a hoot!

On Friday Stew and I met with Ps David while the girls went shopping and then on Saturday we held another board meeting. I was a bit disappointed by the turn out and the punctuality of some, but TIA (this is Africa)... All in all things went well though and some good decisions were made. Keep watching for the e-newsletter which will be out soon. Let me know if you are not on the email list and would like to be and I'll try make sure you are kept up to date. On Saturday arvo we visited a craft market for the girls to buy some souvenirs to take back to their friends and family. We also bought some DVDs as we were looking forward to having some veg time but the power was off at the hotel for at least 2 days straight much to our annoyance.

So on Sunday we packed up and shifted to a different guest house (this one included a mammoth breakfast for almost the same price). And in the evening we visited a nearby hotel to view a live Ugandan cultural song and dance presentation. I never ceased to be amazed with the way they dance. The women can simply isolate their abdomen and bottom and shake them like crazy! I want to learn. I've been practising. We then left and went back to our place to watch a movie. We watched 'Rat Race' but I fell asleep.

On Monday we drove to Entebbe and dropped Brooke and Karen off at the airport. I was so sad to see them go and will miss them heaps but I know I'll see them again sometime. Stewart and I then undertook the long drive back to Mbale, arriving at around 8.30pm.

What a week!

Tuesday we rested and did a few errands and I tried to catch up some work.

Yesterday Stew and I went out to the school. I observed a class under a mango tree and then took the kids for art. It was a lot more challenging with out the girls to help. We combined the P5 and 6s to do drawing and painting and the P4s made woolen bracelets. I started by giving the P5 instructions, then P6's and then ran to the back of the classroom where the P4's were sitting, facing the opposite direction also awaiting instructions. I ran back and forth a bit between the two groups and Stewart was a good help handing out wool and supervising the P4s. It was a good but tiresome day. We had also bought a bunch of Rocky and Rambo films and last night I began educating myself. I actually really enjoyed Rocky. I think I've seen Rocky II some where along the line. I'm looking forward to checking out Rambo sometime. Fun, fun.

Today I have been catching up on emails and blog entries, in fact it has pretty much taken up my entire day. I will also need to do some preparation before I head to the school again tomorrow to train the teachers in the afternoon. Busy, busy, busy. Stew and Dan have been cleaning the car. It was filthy after our road trip, inside and out. I'll stop now and put on the beans for supper. Wait, Stew's already done it. Thanks buddy! We are eating a Ugandan dish tonight called Katogo. It's yummy. Then I think Stew had suggested we treat ourselves to a massage at the Resort Hotel. Sounds like a plan to me :)

And now I am finally up to date with my blog entries....HOORAY!!

WAIT!! I forgot to put up animal photos! That will take a while...maybe I'll get to it on Saturday...sigh, I thought I was finally on top of things....

Safari, day 3 ... part 3...b?

2009-10-29T05:11:00.000-07:00

More photos from the top of the waterfall...

Safari, day 3 ... part 3

2009-10-29T04:51:00.000-07:00

The drive to the top was peaceful and lovely. We arrived to find some amazing magical land. Well, not really, but the place looked like it was covered in glitter. It must be the type of rock that has made the soil look like that. It was gorgeous. I've tried to take a photo of the ground but it doesn't really do it justice. We found a walking track and made our way to the top. It was an incredible view. There were about three different viewing points which each gave us a different perspective of the powerful waterfall. I can't explain how strong and how much water was gushing between the two sides of rock. It was truly powerful. We got covered in the spray of the water and saw a beautiful rainbow. Karen and I also tried some interesting looking berries. I was so glad we went out of the way to go see it from the top.

We then continued on our way to Kampala but the road works were shocking. It was getting dark and we were still far off so we decided to stay the night in a town. Driving at night in Uganda is not only a pain, but it is also dangerous. I think I have mentioned it in previous blogs, that the cars and trucks will drive with hi-beam on all the time. It is difficult to see and somewhat stressful. So we stayed at a guest house in Luwero. It was pleasant enough though the only food they served was beef and chips (it was tasty though).

Safari, day 3 ... part 2

2009-10-29T03:57:00.000-07:00

I didn't want to leave Murchison Falls National Park without first seeing the falls. Stew had arranged a boat cruise on Wednesday morning before lunch. It was a bit pricey as it was only the four of us on the boat. We tried roping in some others but most of them had gone to do a morning fishing session (which was ever more out of our price range). So we packed the car, checked out and enjoyed the beauty of the river all to ourselves. We saw plenty of hippos, even some baby ones and were happy also to see some Nile crocodiles. The boat took us past grasslands, jungles, cliffs and finally to a small island in front of the waterfall where we could get out and view it from some rocks. The falls were still a fair distance away but you could see from the strong flow it would be difficult to get any closer. It was an amazing view. We then enjoyed the trip back down the river where we spotted more wildlife that had come down to the water to drink as the day got hotter. We saw antelope, buffaloes, warthogs and of course, plenty of hippos. We then enjoyed lunch and afterward headed off to the top of the falls.

Safari, day 3 ... part 1

2009-10-29T03:10:00.000-07:00

Karen and I had been trying to decide whether or not we should wake up for the sunrise on Wednesday morning but when we were awakened at 6.30 by the noisy Indian family in the cabin next to us we decided we'd get up and head down to the river. It was a good choice. The scenery was beautiful and we had a nice chat for an hour or so. It was really a lovely time. We then headed back to the camp to get ready for our next adventure. We were to head back to Kampala that day but not beofore we did a river cruise to the bottom of the falls and then a drive by ourselves to the top.

Safari, day 2 ... part 2

2009-10-29T02:39:00.000-07:00

We had planned to duck into Pakwach to withdraw money and be back by 2pm to catch the afternoon river cruise to the base of Murchison falls; however, in Africa, things rarely go to plan. We were unable to withdraw money from Pakwach and had to drive another hour to the town of Nebbi. I was pretty stressed about time and then sour when I realsied we wouldn't make it back in time. I had really wanted to go see the falls. But then I snapped out of it and continued to enjoy the adventure. God had shown us the previous day that when our plans don't go to plan it isn't necessarily a bad thing. New opportunities open up. We bought some food including some birthday mangoes and 'sim sim' (seaseme seed cake things). We even spotted some more elephants on our way back to the park. We arrived back at the jetty and waited for the 5pm (I think) ferry. We ate our sim sim as we waited which is apparently one of the favourite foods of baboons. We were swamped. They must have smelt it. They surrounded the car and one of them rushed at Karen. She shrunk back into the seat but couldn't close the door fast enough. The bag of mangoes on the dashboard saved her life! Well, probably not that extreme. But it stopped a serious fight. Karen loves her sim sim as much as a baboon. In one swift motion the baboon stole a bag of mangoes from inside the car and ran back to the shelter of the tree. I was annoyed but it was very entertaining. After watching them for some time we moved the car to the otherside of the car park but some followed. One of them climbed onto the car and terrorised Karen who was trapped inside. It then preceeded to sit on then pee on the driver side mirror. The ferry came and we were released from the brutal creatures. It was pretty funny, but I have decided baboons are way more annoying than cool.

I forget what we did next. I think we went back to the guest house and grabbed a soda to take down to the river to play cards and watch the sun set over the water. We set ourselves up at a little spot on a jetty between two boats. It was then that my friends surprised me with cards and gifts. it was very special. I got a giant mug like the one I am missing in Australia. its so cool...and BIG. The girls also made some beautiful things. They are so lovely. Our leisurely car game was interrupted not only by the low light, but by the sound of two hippos surfacing from the river for their evening grazing session. It was amazing to see them so close. We climbed onto one of the boats and watched them just a few metres away. The only problem was that they stood between us and our car. We finally spotted a Ugandan man on him boat a little further down the bank. We called out to him and explained the situation. He clapped and made noise and told us to walk wide, right down near the water. I was reluctant to spook the animals and get between them and their escape route but it worked out fine. We got back and had another delicious supper. The hippos made there way up to the campsite. Stew and Brooke got a good look at them near their cabin but Karen and I missed out. Oh well. There was still plenty of adventure for all of us that day. What a great and memorable birthday!