#2 Our First Few Days

Welcome to our second blog post!

We have been so busy here in Uganda meeting our partners and building strong relationships within the team. Let's begin with a few quotes:

"I've been promising Vicky for a long time that I would make 1 trip with her to Africa and I can't believe I'm finally here!" - Gill Royle 

"I've never seen such joy in the children's faces as I have out here in Uganda" - Anne Donaldson

"The children melt my heart and they are phenomenal" - James Wallwork

The first few days have seen us visiting different projects in the area, starting on Thursday with our first visit to FACT (Future After Child Trauma) where we opened the water tap and toilets funded by KMC and Zac's House. We were overwhelmed by the loving welcome of over 200 children and the FACT brass band, all of whom paraded for nearly a mile with smiles and joy on their faces. We particularly enjoyed dancing with them on the way while Neal played the trumpet.

After a Welcome Ceremony, Gill and Vicky (supported by Sarah and Anna) led some teacher training with the teachers from FACT and other linked schools whilst a team of 4 (Neal, Anne, Aidan and Rob) went to visit three homes of children from the FACT Children's home. The elderly grandmother who cared for 3 grandchildren (2 now living in the home) welcomed us with open arms. It was a gracious welcome to her humble home, where her 3 hens and chickens who slept next to them were their pride and joy.

The following two visits both involved prayer ministry, the first to a young mother of six, Betty with breast cancer. This was a real privilege with all the villagers around waiting to see if she was healed. Betty was so appreciative that she then gave us two large bunches of bananas!  Whilst then meeting and praying for Harriet who had AIDS, her daughter Faith was introduced to us who was unable to speak, but her smile melted hearts. Rob and Faith made a particularly strong bond; he peeled her a banana which she loved and then the team all shared a banana with the children and adults. It was a lovely sacramental moment together. There are just so many moments that words seem inadequate.

Friday saw us heading off to Kamuli, about 1 and a half hours from Jinja. It was a fascinating drive into one of the poorest rural areas, past roadside shops -rather like wayside market stalls, and on to a rough track for the final 2-3 miles - and you think we have potholes...! Our two  drivers, Andrew and Jude, drove skillfully around them all, sometimes at crazy angles. A wonderful welcome of chanting and smiles awaited us, then in the shade of a canopy (more use that day to protect from the thunderstorm, than the sun!) Vicky with a little help from Mama Vicky (Gill), presented the teacher training whilst the others led a talk with the upper years to encourage and empower them. The local cooks were very busy that day feeding over 80 teachers who attended the training and 11 of our team...we had a mixed reception to local cuisine!

After lunch, whilst the final part of training was completed and James and Aidan played games with the children, the rest of the team visited a local women's empowerment project ('One Girl' ) which trains young women in menstrual health and hygiene. It works to support the whole village and also runs an entrepreneur program; we walked to one lady's house and visited her tomato stall which she had established as part of the program. Back at the project, one highlight was the enthusiastic dad dancing of Rob and Neal to the African drumming much to the delight of the local community. Then, whilst the children all delighted in the big wand bubbles and how they floated around them, one little boy was sat by himself on a step looking out into the distance. Aidan went up to the little boy and sat a few feet away and reached out his hand. He said "hello" in a chirpy voice and the little boy turned to look. The boy proceeded to let out the biggest smile and reach to hold his hand in return. The two sat for about ten minutes just holding hands until the painful moment when they had to be pulled apart.

After seeing the project and spending time with the children, we walked to Jude's house (our driver who also manages the empowerment project) where we enjoyed a chapatti and a boiled egg with a cup of African tea. (Lightly spiced loose leaf tea, drunk without milk). It was then time to hit the road, travelling back to Jinja as the sun began to set.

Look out for our next post tomorrow when Anna will share her personal experience from over the weekend.

Please do continue to pray for the health of the team and for God's guidance in all we do.

Aidan makes a new friend

Sarah shares bubbles 

Vicky trains 85 teachers

Neal officially opens the FACT toilets