I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48 : 17
Hello
everyone
First
chance to update you all due to power/internet down and just lots
going on!
We
realise that to tell you everything would mean that this blog would
go on and on for pages so will try and give you a brief (as possible)
flavour of our first 9 days and a few photos. Also don't miss the
short video from today's church service at the school which is
arranged by and carried out by the students – amazing, joyous and
very humbling.
We
spent our first week in Kampala being shown around by Elspeth and
Jerry Dugdale and Michele and Phil Ball from ServeDirect. We had
guided tours of the shops, markets, hospitals and (important from
Stan's point of view) where to get the best cappuccino!
Sitting
in the garden at the Dugdale's, high above the hills of Kampala, we
saw Maribou storks, black kites and plantain birds, whose call is
exactly that of a monkey. Growing in the garden are banana palms and
a tree laden with pomegranates, we needed no reminder that we were no
longer in Churchdown!
Saturday
was our first visit to Wobulenzi Town Academy, cross country on some
very bumpy roads heading north through tiny townships where people
were milking goats, tending their crops and walking up and down with
water containers from a standpipe often a long way away with babies
tied on their backs.
The
school was very quiet, term was due to start on Monday. Although we
had seen photos and video we were still not prepared for this amazing
build in the middle of the bush. Even though the conditions are what
we in the
UK would regard as basic
we understand that the resources and conditions far surpass many of
the other schools in the area and what has been achieved here in such
a short time can only be the hand of God – dormitories, classrooms,
examination hall, teachers houses, toilets and shower blocks,
chemistry lab, library plus 'The Bridge' primary resource centre and
'The Rock' health centre – and now of course our new home, the
volunteers house.
On
returning on Monday we found a very different atmosphere. The
students had started to return, the day pupils first and then
gradually during the day the boarders. Many had to travel long
distances from the north and had to wait at the side of the road
until a bus with space stopped, often some hours later or in some
cases overnight. Over the week more and more have come and it is
humbling to see what they bring – a small box of personal
possessions, their school fee (a minimal amount but often the reason
for further delay until it can be found), and their 'requirements',
two brooms to help with the cleaning, a mattress, a set of uniform,
a contribution of two rolls of 'TP', bowl for washing clothes and self and a medical form which they
then take to 'The Rock' for checking over and registration (some
turn up already suffering with malaria and TB).
By
the end of this week pupils were still arriving and the classrooms
and dormitories are slowly filling with smiling faces. We are
starting to get to know some of the teachers and Charles the
Director, an amazing man who is guided by God in all he does, and
have been able to talk to some of the students and are trying
desperately to remember
names.
We have also had the opportunity of dropping in to 'The Bridge' where
we met a delightful group of local children.
This
morning we were formally introduced at the church service they hold
every week, planned and carried out by the students. The joy in their
worship was awesome to see, and the sermon, also by a student, was
riveting. It is clear, even though we have only been here for a few
days, that this is a very special place and we are blessed to be
able to be a part of it.
Thank
you to those of you who have sent us encouraging messages and are
praying for
us,
we feel so at peace here knowing that.
Can
we ask for your prayers this week for the students still to return.
We understand some are in the care of relatives who are trying (with
the girls) to marry them off and get a cash dowry rather than let
them return to school, and the boys can be of more use in the fields
and looking after the cattle, so often these students have to take on
small jobs to put together their 'requirements' and will not return
until they have it. There is a 'hardship' fund for those who find it
impossible, but most of the students are so determined to come back
they find a way. Please pray for their safety on the journey back,
often a difficult and perilous journey, and that the students God
wants here will be able to return.
Also
– the first immunisation clinic is to be held at 'The Rock' on
Tuesday. It has been well advertised locally via the children who
attend 'The Bridge' so we are praying that mothers will come, so
please pray for that also.
And
now – a few photos.
PS - video wouldn't download - will try again next time!
With
love
Sue
and Stan xx
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| First meal and night in the volunteers house |
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| Meeting Precious - daughter of one of the teachers |
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| our room |
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| volunteers house |
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| The road to Wobulenzi |
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| students arriving |
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| Kampala from the hills |
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| unwelcome guest with the rice |
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| posho and beans |
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| church |
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| football talk |
,+Warren+(Chemistry)+and+Juliet+(Biology+and+PE).jpg) |
| teachers preparing work |
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| preparing the school programme |
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