rothwellsmission: December 2015

There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3 : 28

The end of the third term is both happy and sad. Happy that we will be going back to England in a couple of days to see our family and friends, sad that we will be leaving behind our Ugandan family and friends, as they have surely become. As one of the students said recently, even though you are a strange colour and use strange English (that is, not Ugandan English!) you are still part of our family as we are all His children.

It is a reality that many of Senior 4, having completed O Levels, we are unlikely to see again. Many won't be back for 6^th form as many parents cannot afford to continue to pay for schooling, even though the fees here are kept to a minimum, some do not yet see the value of continued education and want, and some often need, the student to get a job to the help the family finances.

However, some will be back, and the numbers who return for 6^th form increase every year, so changes are afoot mpola, mpola (slowly, slowly).

We have also said goodbye to a visiting team from the UK. They called themselves the 'White Rose' team as many of them were from that there Yorkshire, so as you can imagine Stan was delighted.

They spent part of their time providing a great range of of activities at the school including newspaper reporting, song writing, lots of hands on science stuff, lots of craft stuff including bow tie making, knitting and sewing to name but a few, board games and even dressing up as a lawyer! In addition they managed to fit in rounders and English country dancing.

Ian concentrated on a 3 day (which became 4 day due to it's popularity!) teacher training course for the local primary school teachers on different fun ways of teaching their students. It involved lots of silly (but very relevant and useful) games.

He is probably the liveliest teacher we have ever seen – and this was after a false and very early couple of starts in getting here later than the rest of the team. He arrived at midnight on Tuesday and started teaching on Wednesday – what a star!

In the afternoons the school had arranged inter-house events, competing for the trophies and medals donated by New Life church last year. As well as supporting some of these events the team were busy at The Bridge, helping with reading and just having fun and helping to paint the new Sunday School buildings at Marantha church, recently completed with funding courtesy of ServeDirect and New Life Church.

The culmination of the team and school events was an awards ceremony where the winning house, Mandela, were awarded their trophy and medals were given not only for the best sports men and women but also for best academic performances, most disciplined students, best dressed student, best performing prefect and most active in church.

We also had the honour of naming the 'most helpful and christian student in the school' who was awarded a special medal. We chose Aber Prossy because she has not only been helpful and kind to us, she is looked up to by many of the students (male and female), she is active in the church, active in assemblies and is Head Prefect. She has also now learnt how to knit, courtesy of Val and Fliss. She cried!

The day culminated with a bull roast and possibly not the highlight for us, although we appreciated the honour, we had to meet the bull before it was taken to the bottom of the school (and therefore next to our house) for slaughter. Stan joined hundreds of students to watch the slaughter, Sue chickened out.

Within the hour the deed was done, the fire was lit, the bull was dissected and the meat was on sticks cooking. As guests of honour we and the team had the choicest cuts, then everyone else came with their sticks. The 'other bits' (no details) of the bull were put aside for cooking for the evening meal and we were presented with the liver -another great honour!

Just as we were about to eat, the head, still complete with horns, was carried past – all that was left. It needed a strong stomach to eat poor old bully who we had met only an hour before – but we managed it.

We have also said goodbye (not personally you understand) to the Pope! He visited Uganda for three days on the 27^th and the streets of Kampala were thronged with thousands of people and most of the roads were closed. Bit unfortunate for the team as they had to get to Entebbe (via Kampala) and back to the UK on the 28^th!

We now have a couple of days to have a final meeting with Charles about maintenance during the holidays, finish the clear up and get the washing done before leaving the sunshine and heading back to England following a very convoluted route. Sadly British Airways have pulled out of Entebbe, so no longer the luxury of a direct flight to Heathrow. This time, with Brussels Airlines, we return via Kigali (Rwanda) for a stopover, then Brussels for another one – ah well, hope there will be some good films!

Before we all headed back – us to to the UK and our friends Jennie and Melissa to the US - we decided to have a Christmas /Thanksgiving meal together. It was a bit of a UK/USA fusion food-wise (these colonials have a very strange idea of what constitutes a proper Christmas dinner) and chicken and beef instead of turkey.

It also involved blueberry pie, Yorkshire puddings (the first time Melissa had ever tasted them – shame on her) and mango margaritas, and was a great success and has set us up for another (without blueberry pie but this time with proper turkey) on December 25^th.

Prayer requests – even though we won't be here please keep in your prayers Charles and his family as they still strive for justice for their nephew, safety at the school through the holidays and for the students back in their villages that they will remain safe until they return to school.

Finally, we have been keeping a note of shop signs, both locally and on our travels, that amused us this year, so thought we would share them with you -

Mutesa's Stationary Shop - (for non-moving items only?)

Shema Grain Millers – maize chicken and animal foods & posho for human consumption (no thanks)

Sheila Hair Salon – for cutting, braiding and eyebrow threatening (be afraid be very afraid) – think this should be threading.

Jamilla Proffessionnal Hair Salon (not until you can spell it properly)

God's Hardware Store (stone tablets anyone?)

Ham Muslim Nursery School (?)

Bright Future Secondary School - Top for Educcation (not until they can spell it)

Cyclops Driving School (wasn't he the fella with one eye?)

Manchester United Restaurant – for genuine African meals and DSTV Sport (we hate this for two reasons – still remembering sleepless nights following the DSTV protests at school, and the other reason is all Stan's – something to do with the name?.....)

Jesus is the Word – stationary shop (another one for non-moving items, but probably our favourite shop name)

Kanika Moses – hair cutting while you wait (and the alternative is to come back for it?)

Jetina Petrol – cash deals, receipts available (hmmm)

Kitende tents and bridal wear (for large ladies?)

TP bridle cars (for horses or for newly weds?)

Dale Digital photo studio – studio portraits, events and flaming (you set fire to them? Or do you mean framing?)

Icarus driving school – (didn't he have a nasty crash?)

SD printing – colour, black and white and other (and the other would be what?)

And – very finally – there are many language differences we have faced since being here and we have been thinking of our favourites....

you first come (if you wouldn't mind please could you come over here)

somewhat – or somehow (in answer to – how was the exam, are you feeling better now)

can you give me a push to collect exam papers (we would say a lift, which really is equally silly!)

But our firm favourite – I have ever been there (in answer to, have you ever been to Gulu). It can mean either, yes I have been to Gulu, or, no I have never been to Gulu, up to you to decide!

And now – photos – and some video – if it works......

See some of you very soon

Love and blessings

Sue and Stan