Praise the Lord - we have found a new nurse, a lovely lady called Gloria. She is also a trained midwife so there are plans for her to provide some family planning and antenatal clinics in the future. during the last few months 2 of the mothers of ROJ children have died apparently due to to antenatal and postnatal care which they can not afford. There is great excitment at the arrival of Nurse Gloria and Gordon is working with her to prepare the Health House - buying equipment, furniture etc and making plans for how she will work.
this afternoon we are holding a health seminar for the parents to introduce her and explain what she will do. Wonderful.......
when we first met Pastor Steven 4 years ago this week he was talkiing about the desparate need for health care here and his vision for a nurse based at ROJ to serve the needs of the chidlren adn their families - so here we are four years later - setting it up, he is thrilled at the answer to his prayers and way that Gloria has not only the nursing but also midwifery skills which are so needed. Praise the Lord .... again!!!
Monday 24 March 2008
The Last Week
Gordon, our daughter Bex & her uni friend Lucy, Ann & Keith (Trentham friends) and Jayne a teacher from Abbey Hill one of our link schools arrived safely on late on Sunday night. The ensuing week has been busy catching up at Nansana and working with Rock of Joy. Jayne spent 2 days observing and then organised us all to run a teacher training day on Thursday. We spent a wonderful afternoon with the lovely teachers and our new nurse Gloria enjoying an Elmer Story Sack and a set of activities to provide some new ideas for them. it was a brilliant time with the teachers obviously feeling quite inspired and wanting to do another one this week. In June bex and Lucy are bringing a group of uni friends several of whom are teacher trainees so Jayne is working with the teachers here looking at what help they would like and will then do some training with the students in preparation for thier visit - all very exciting for everybody.
The Easter weekend has been a rest - this afternoon we are running a health seminar for parents at ROJ but all the others have gone to see the Equator !
Easter Sunday was the wettest day we have ever experianced here - storms all day. We celebrated wtih over 2000 in the cathedral at 8:00am and then at Kingdom Gospel Church in Lungujja a joyful celebration wtih over 200 peeps and Pastor Steve preaching for an hour and a quarter - at the end it was still pouring with rain and no body wanted to go home! PS & Gladys perpared lucnch for 45 peeps so it was quite a speical meal! We enjoyed soem of the fruits of their labours from the poultry project - very tasty :)
The Easter weekend has been a rest - this afternoon we are running a health seminar for parents at ROJ but all the others have gone to see the Equator !
Easter Sunday was the wettest day we have ever experianced here - storms all day. We celebrated wtih over 2000 in the cathedral at 8:00am and then at Kingdom Gospel Church in Lungujja a joyful celebration wtih over 200 peeps and Pastor Steve preaching for an hour and a quarter - at the end it was still pouring with rain and no body wanted to go home! PS & Gladys perpared lucnch for 45 peeps so it was quite a speical meal! We enjoyed soem of the fruits of their labours from the poultry project - very tasty :)
Wednesday 19 March 2008
Small children and toys
From my journal:
Up at 6:30 to the sound of children arriving to school and then oh, the joy of a cold shower! Everyday this week I have complained to myself about the cold water - but am reminded that at least it is water and for this I should thank God.
Then went out to see children arriving for school - the Baby class (3-4year olds ) were absolutely delighted to see me excitedly jumping up and down and shouting "Bye muzungo" - I dont think they understand hello - then trying to touch me and hold my hand :) We have been blessed with 2 new nursery teachers who are montesorri trained who are brilliant and have changed many things. The children now sit at small tables on small chairs with their names written next to them and enjoy "activities" - a big development from before where they sat in rows and chanted letters, spelling and numbers. Justine, one of the new teachrs is with baby class this am and the children doing PE which consists of singing and moving to a variety of songs about ducks swimming, frogs jumpeing etc. Eventually i decided to leave them to it as i was too much of a distraction for her to keep 40 small children in order!
In the afternoon PSteve & I took Justine shopping for Educational Toys. Some of the children from Walton Hall Special School in Eccleshall, Staffs had donated their unwanted toys, held a toy sale and raised 150 pounds. This was the money we used..... it was a great thrill to be able to fill a whole trolley with a range of things from toy skittles to counting cards and then a number of cardboard books and stacking toys for the small children. THANK YOU WALTON HALL :)
Up at 6:30 to the sound of children arriving to school and then oh, the joy of a cold shower! Everyday this week I have complained to myself about the cold water - but am reminded that at least it is water and for this I should thank God.
Then went out to see children arriving for school - the Baby class (3-4year olds ) were absolutely delighted to see me excitedly jumping up and down and shouting "Bye muzungo" - I dont think they understand hello - then trying to touch me and hold my hand :) We have been blessed with 2 new nursery teachers who are montesorri trained who are brilliant and have changed many things. The children now sit at small tables on small chairs with their names written next to them and enjoy "activities" - a big development from before where they sat in rows and chanted letters, spelling and numbers. Justine, one of the new teachrs is with baby class this am and the children doing PE which consists of singing and moving to a variety of songs about ducks swimming, frogs jumpeing etc. Eventually i decided to leave them to it as i was too much of a distraction for her to keep 40 small children in order!
In the afternoon PSteve & I took Justine shopping for Educational Toys. Some of the children from Walton Hall Special School in Eccleshall, Staffs had donated their unwanted toys, held a toy sale and raised 150 pounds. This was the money we used..... it was a great thrill to be able to fill a whole trolley with a range of things from toy skittles to counting cards and then a number of cardboard books and stacking toys for the small children. THANK YOU WALTON HALL :)
This is why
From my jounal: After supper Pastor Steve took me around the village to see how some of the children who come to the school live. It was pitch darkness, there is no electric in this area here and even if there was they couldnt afford it - i think I was quite relievied in a way as it meant i couldnt see the full horror of the way some of them live!
The first family lived in a small lean-to shack at the back of a larger wooden building where apparently they show blue movies (when they can afford electricity from a generator). The smell of alcohol on the men standing around and the stench of other things was overwhelming BUT so was the delight of the family of children from Rock of Joy and their mother that the Muzungu (white person) had come to visit their home - I feel so embarrassed when they kneel to me, all I wanted to do was cry at the situation I see and they are honouring me.... so difficult... we stayed for a while and chatted to the children then headed through the thronging candlelit village past stalls and shops with everywhere the smell of burning firewood from small "stoves" over which the women cook outside. Next we came to Denis's house. Denis is one of the boys who lives in our Boarding House - last year his mentally ill father had tried to burn their house down and had died leaving mum with a large number of children who she struggles to look after. Dennis was taken in to the BH because he was being abused and PS wanted to show me his home. In the darkness we almost tripped over a sleeping pig (interesting experiance) and walked into a goat before literally stumbling over Denis's 4 year old brother. Late at night in the complete darkness this ragged forlorn little one was sat outside on his own. I was hard not to pick him up and bring him to a place of safety. No sign of mum, no food, no light, no warmth , no affection - such a picture of sadness and despair. So, here was a such a poignant reminder for me that is for him and children like him that we do what we do and why The Kabanda Trust is so important to the future of the children at Rock of Joy school.
The first family lived in a small lean-to shack at the back of a larger wooden building where apparently they show blue movies (when they can afford electricity from a generator). The smell of alcohol on the men standing around and the stench of other things was overwhelming BUT so was the delight of the family of children from Rock of Joy and their mother that the Muzungu (white person) had come to visit their home - I feel so embarrassed when they kneel to me, all I wanted to do was cry at the situation I see and they are honouring me.... so difficult... we stayed for a while and chatted to the children then headed through the thronging candlelit village past stalls and shops with everywhere the smell of burning firewood from small "stoves" over which the women cook outside. Next we came to Denis's house. Denis is one of the boys who lives in our Boarding House - last year his mentally ill father had tried to burn their house down and had died leaving mum with a large number of children who she struggles to look after. Dennis was taken in to the BH because he was being abused and PS wanted to show me his home. In the darkness we almost tripped over a sleeping pig (interesting experiance) and walked into a goat before literally stumbling over Denis's 4 year old brother. Late at night in the complete darkness this ragged forlorn little one was sat outside on his own. I was hard not to pick him up and bring him to a place of safety. No sign of mum, no food, no light, no warmth , no affection - such a picture of sadness and despair. So, here was a such a poignant reminder for me that is for him and children like him that we do what we do and why The Kabanda Trust is so important to the future of the children at Rock of Joy school.
Baby Clothes
We had a extra luggage allowance this time so asked the church members in Blurton to donate baby clothese for us to bring to give to Wakisa, a refuge for homeless pregnant teenagers. They take in girls who ahve been abused, raped and then thrown out by their families and who have nothing and they care for them and love them! When the babies are about 8 weeks old they try and rehome them or reunite them with the families - its an amazing place, Bex our younger daughter "discovered" it last year adn spent a month working with them. It has totally inspired the future direction for her. Well, the response from the church was an overwhelming outpouring of generosity in the shape of at least 5 suitcases full of baby clothes. Being the forward party for the group I brought the bigger clothes - for 1-2year olds and gave them to Gladys, Pastor Stevens wife. The joy and excitment as these were distributed to the needy families around the church was humbling - there was a constant stream of mums and dads to receive a selection of the clothes and they often insisted on kneeling to me (even more humbling). First they thanked Gladys, but she said no thank Sue and I said no thank God and his people in Blurton! So, A VERY BIG THANKYOU to EVERYBODY who gave baby clothes - it is hard to convey to you how very very special this has been for the people here and how much it shows them God's love..... tomorrow we will take the small baby clothes to Wakisa.... watch this space..
Saturday 15 March 2008
Safely arrived but no electric
Staying in Lungujja with Pastor Steve, Gladys and family where sadly there is no electric until they turn the generator on at 7:30pm and it goes out at 10pm s0 only really today had access to computer.
The journey was uneventful expect for meeting some amazing irish guys at the back of the plane and excercising together! Over Ethiopia the view from the window was incredible - I was absolutely thrilled looking out inot the most beautiful sunset, i felt so blessed and priviliged to be making this journey again and be to able to see such a visible sign of Gods amazing power and glory in creation - all topped out by listening to Ludovico Einaudis music - fantastic!
The week has been great will add some highlights from my journal next time i can get here....but if you have followed me before you will have read about Edward, if not, do find it to read from a couple of years ago.... He is AMAzINg - it is hard to believe he is the same boy. His English is very good, he is fit and well (apart from a bent spine from his TB) and I love him!! Yesterday he told me "Mama Lizzie, you saved my life, you are my mother and Gordon is my father" such a change. He lieves in the boarding house with 39 other children from such desparate situations, last night i sat outside with them chatting and they ask me about my parents, when I said my mother had died I was greeted with a heart rending series of sympathetic responses as they told me about their dead, dying or ill parents, as well as those who just said "mine have gone away". It reminds me why we do all this ......
The journey was uneventful expect for meeting some amazing irish guys at the back of the plane and excercising together! Over Ethiopia the view from the window was incredible - I was absolutely thrilled looking out inot the most beautiful sunset, i felt so blessed and priviliged to be making this journey again and be to able to see such a visible sign of Gods amazing power and glory in creation - all topped out by listening to Ludovico Einaudis music - fantastic!
The week has been great will add some highlights from my journal next time i can get here....but if you have followed me before you will have read about Edward, if not, do find it to read from a couple of years ago.... He is AMAzINg - it is hard to believe he is the same boy. His English is very good, he is fit and well (apart from a bent spine from his TB) and I love him!! Yesterday he told me "Mama Lizzie, you saved my life, you are my mother and Gordon is my father" such a change. He lieves in the boarding house with 39 other children from such desparate situations, last night i sat outside with them chatting and they ask me about my parents, when I said my mother had died I was greeted with a heart rending series of sympathetic responses as they told me about their dead, dying or ill parents, as well as those who just said "mine have gone away". It reminds me why we do all this ......
Thursday 6 March 2008
Uganda Again
Well, tomorrow I am off again. Getting very excited - I am going on my own for the first week then Gordon, Bex & her uni friend Lucy, Ann & Keith Ramsey and Jayne Waller from Abbey Hill School here in Stoke will join me in a weeks time.
Thanks to KLM we have the most enormous baggage allowance & are travelling with more baby clothes than we could have imagined, these are for Wakisa, a refuge for homeless pregnant teenagers and were donated by the members of St Albans & St Barts Church in Blurton - it has been a privilige to be part of such an amazing outpouring of love - thanks to everyone there. More about this anon.
We are hoping to appoint a new School Nurse for Rock of Joy in Lungujja and get the Health House set up so i am going to spend the week there helping them to get ready for the arrival of "The Doctor" (Gordon of course) who will then sort everything out :)
Great stuff.... i will try and keep this updated but the computers do often get very frustrating - let's see how it goes.
Time for bed here... need to finish my packing.
Thanks to KLM we have the most enormous baggage allowance & are travelling with more baby clothes than we could have imagined, these are for Wakisa, a refuge for homeless pregnant teenagers and were donated by the members of St Albans & St Barts Church in Blurton - it has been a privilige to be part of such an amazing outpouring of love - thanks to everyone there. More about this anon.
We are hoping to appoint a new School Nurse for Rock of Joy in Lungujja and get the Health House set up so i am going to spend the week there helping them to get ready for the arrival of "The Doctor" (Gordon of course) who will then sort everything out :)
Great stuff.... i will try and keep this updated but the computers do often get very frustrating - let's see how it goes.
Time for bed here... need to finish my packing.
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