Muslim Children Read Bible Stories

This is not a pose for the camera, the kids were bunched up perfectly!

The neighbor children, most of whom are Muslim, continue to come over every day (when I’m home) for Bible stories. Using their very best English, they repeat each phrase after I read them. Sometimes when I stop to explain or ask questions, they repeat my explanations and questions too.

(Later.) Today I came home mid-afternoon and three neighbor boys were sitting in my compound waiting for me to read the Bible story. My girls were complaining to their mother that she should hurry and bathe them so they would not miss out on the story. Goodness, I am so blessed.

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Konoweka Girly Dresses

The Konoweka ladies began their sewing practice by making girly dresses. The first batch, although in need of some refinement, was donated to girlies in the Banda slums where our group meets weekly. Don’t the girlies look cute?

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Paper Craft Africa

Paper Craft Africa is an organization dedicated to making paper products by hand using natural fibers such as banana leaf, pineapple tops, and elephant grass. Thaddeus was on hand to show me around and to introduce me to the slime that becomes this beautiful product. Harriet is the executive director, a Ugandan putting herself through college because of her work with this organization. While not a religious organization, the employees are very interested in the biblically-based business teaching related to customer service, ethics, and communication. While waiting for my order, they were quite interested in some of the ways Christianity could be interwoven into their business lives.

Harriet and Thaddeus were of the mind that, as leaders, they could benefit from biblically-based financial management, leadership, and organizational development coaching. While the organization is well established, meaning that the value I may be able to add could differ from that of a brand new startup, I’m sure we’ll find a way to mutually encourage one another. They could be a great model for us to apply in other areas as well. We’ll meet sometime in the next few weeks to talk about what our relationship might look like in the future and if there’s any room for expanding the Christ-centered basis of the organization.

In the mean time, check out the beautiful goodies I’ll be bringing back for you.

Pineapple tops, elephant grass, and banana leaf

Two hand made soaps and a loofa, great for a Christmas gift!

Tiny cards, pack of five different cards.

Writing set/stationary

Note cards

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A Dolly for Nina from Reagen

The back alleys of Kabalagala netted a good place to stop for some quick service to the brakes on the boda boda. I admired a nearby Honda, although in very poor condition, and a debate about the quality of the Boxer brand versus the Honda brand of motorcycles ensued. I am firmly on the side of the Honda even given the somewhat ratty appearance of this particular bike, but I let the guys have their argument while I perched on the veranda while waiting.

Two giggly little girls – perhaps twins – greeted me in their kneeling fashion and I couldn’t help but pull out the little dolly gift. They were exquisitely happy with their new prize…until the big girl walked by and teasingly lifted the dolly from their hands and pretended she was the new dolly-maama. Nina blinked, took one breath and then in the highest pitch possible – perhaps even the dogs couldn’t here this one – began wailing.

Everyone in the vicinity looked at me as though I’d poked her eye out but soon saw the trouble maker and had a good laugh at my new little girly friends’ expense. Humph, boys!

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A Dolly for Trisha from Nancy

Wiggle, wiggle. In the distance a girl of maybe four years was trying her fancy dance moves on the music. Her body twitched in various directions, never one body part in sync with another. She kept insisting that her father join her, to no avail. Three girls at the nearby table saw my delight and decided to dance for me too. Their moves, though, were a bit less convulsive. Still cute though.

After their dance, they were rewarded with a dolly. The middle girl (Trisha), upon receiving the gift, knelt as a show of respect and thanked me with a hug. The older girl followed suit and the younger one just looked at me trying to figure out when it would be her turn to hold the dolly. I’ll take it! They proceeded to dance with the Nancy dolly as they inspected her eyes…both sets. Ya, I realize it’s a little creepy to give them a baby with two sets of eyes but they don’t seem traumatized by the idea.

Each took their turn with the doll until Trina, the baby, insisted the dolly was hers. She eventually gave up and resorted to sticking her finger in the 220v socket covered by an unlocked box. Luckily maama caught her in time. As I prepared to return home from the restaurant, the girls danced once more. Goodbye girlies. Enjoy your dolly.

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New Clothes for Tasha

Saturday is market day in Kawuku and today was no exception. Vendors pack the market space with everything from plastics, to electronics, to airtime, to meat sitting in the sun all day. I’ll rethink my chicken stew idea. Sadly, increasingly fewer shoppers sprinkle the isles…prices rise for no apparent reason and customers can no longer afford the luxury of a basin that isn’t cracked in two places.

Carrying two big bags of little girly clothes from Liz attracts more spite than honey. If I give clothing away, that means the vendors aren’t making money. By Ugandan standards, I probably had a year’s wages of clothing in these bags. So…I dodged the boda-bodas and slimy pits in the walkway as I headed to the back of that alley way where children were playing.

Along the way I came across some hopeful prospects for this abundant blessing, each of which wore something pink or purple. Upon request, however, I was told that these were boy children. In Uganda, color does not signal gender but even so I wanted to be sure these pretty clothes went to a girl.

Tasha was sitting on the steps leading to a vendor stall with three other boys. Hmm…just the right size. I asked the nearby lady whose child she was and was led behind the building to the maama. Everyone watches out for everyone. I showed the clothing to Tasha’s maama and she asked, “how much are you selling these for?” My reply, these are a gift for you from a lady in America. We want to show you that God loves you and that he is a God of abundance not of poverty.” She blinked. Paused. Grinned. Shook her head…and said thank you.

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Buy the Change

Buy the Change is an organization whose mission is to change the lives of women and girls in the developing world by inspiring you to change where you shop for gifts and accessories. We’ve recently partnered to bring these beautiful gifts to more people in the U.S. They’ve done a terrific job in capturing the beauty of the products these women make so don’t hold my simple photos against them…but take a look at some of the items they’re using to achieve their mission. Whenever possible, the items they receive will come from the various ministries Surprised by Hope is helping grown and develop. I love the way God uses relationships for mutually beneficial results!

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Village Hope for Orphans

Mark and Stacy’s hearts beat in time with the heart of God, particularly for orphans. They believe God has a special place in his heart for widows and orphans simply by virtue of how much he speaks of them, how he commands Israel to take care of them, and how we as Christians have been brought in as orphans to his family.

I met the couple through friends of friends and we quickly saw how we could encourage one another in this far-away land. We began working to develop their strategic framework so that these next few months of exploration and fact finding would guide their final decisions before launching into ministry. The result of our work together is a name for their ministry and a guiding vision and mission statement.

Our vision is to raise up East African villages so that they recognize and defend orphans as wholly accepted members of God’s family. We will achieve this vision by equipping school teachers to create an environment where all children benefit from living life together.

We know that their wading pool experience will inform their strategic framework but love that there’s a bit of focus guiding them as they begin. I look forward to watching God unfold his plans for their ministry in Uganda.

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Shared Hope for Orphans Grows

We spent the morning with Shared Hope for Orphans teaching about communication skills and persuasive communication. The group has a fantastic business plan and needed to learn how to talk about that plan spontaneously, consistently, and persuasively. Speaking about their project with one voice will add credibility to their request for support. Alex, as usual, was a master translator given his business education (in progress) and command of the English language. Although many of the Shared Hope members do understand me, their learning is enriched by the value Alex brings to our various workshops.

Because of the collaborative efforts of Surprised by Hope and Shared Hope for Orphans by way of learning and applying business skills, the Ugandan government entrusted the organization with more than 300 chicks. They’ll raise and sell these chicks thus creating an income for the school and home they hope to build.

On our way back from seeing the hundreds of chicks in the first stage of development, Alone pointed out that my suggestion was working. I suggested that parents who cannot pay for their child’s education but whose children are allowed to attend school anyhow could possibly work in the garden as a means of payment. A few parents began contributing in this way and have now learned a skill that was new to them and applied it in their own little plot of land.

I am so incredibly proud of this group and the many ways they are applying what they learn along with the many successful ways they are helping lift up the whole community by being a model for them and teaching them. Gosh, we need lots more people to have the determination and work ethic this group has.

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A Dolly for Andrew from Zachary

Andrew opened his mouth wide to scream every time he saw me…even from a distance. Older sisters teased him by bringing him close only to have him turn his head and discover my presence and then bellow out again. Augustine, though, easily picked up the child who was quite content in his arms. Andrew’s maama is a steady church member who recently had a boda boda accident. She showed me the place where her knee was ripped open and she had just pulled out the stitches. I was wondering if she didn’t need those stitches still. Oh my.

Andrew’s trauma at seeing the ghostly mzungu was soothed by the gift of a dolly from Zachary. He was quite interested in the tag around the dolly’s neck and short of eating that tag for supper was content to poke at the dolly’s eyes. He wasn’t nearly as interested in the sleepy eyes as he was the awake eyes. Poke, poke, poke.

“Baby,” Andrew called out loudly to all of our surprise.

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Kamuli Kids

There’s never a shortage of children in Uganda and Kamuli is no different. They gathered in the doorway of the Calvary Chapel Kamuli church to watch my every move. Eventually we moved to the blue chairs on the veranda where the children patiently allowed me to take their picture. The singing began with blank stares and suggestions that they sing songs they knew were met with silence. For some reason the “If Your Happy and You Know It” song seems to resonate almost everywhere and Kamuli was no different. The children gathered to sing and act out the song while the adults looked on at the funny woman motioning alongside the children.

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Bibles in Kamuli

The sitting room of their house is also the workspace for the tailoring program which is also the sanctuary for the church. The story of the moneychangers crossed my mind as I entered this truly multi-purpose room. Familiar blue chairs stacked in the corner resemble those of almost every other church in the country. What better place to provide a set of Bibles than for those attending church here. Thanks to friends and family at a church in South Carolina, we left a box of Bibles for the church and a box for new believers. Augustine was so thankful for the plethora of gifts so many of you provided to help establish and grow the little Kamuli church.

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Triplet Clothing in Kamuli

The babies attending the tailoring program at Calvary Chapel Kamuli helped their maamas in a variety of ways, not the least of which included rearranging their work materials on a whim. I began relieving these small ones of their various duties by delivering a few sets of clothing for each to model for the camera. I told the children and their maamas about the maama in America who had three babies all at one time and about how she wanted to share this gift from her children to theirs. The ladies were so thankful as will be the babies who attend this new church as they’ll receive the rest of the clothing lovingly donated by Brooklyn, Austin, and Blake.

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Kamuli Tailoring Program

What started out as a group of five women quickly grew to a group of twelve once word spread that a free tailoring training program was established in that new little church in Kamuli. The teacher had to put a stop to the size of the group – more people wanted to join – simply for manageability purposes. Yet they are already talking of when the “next” group begins.

Ms. Shelby and the women’s group of Beaverdam Baptist Church wanted to be part of lifting a group of women out of spiritual and economic poverty and establishing them in Christ. Tailoring skills training was an excellent way to do that. The numerous opportunities to draw parallels between the kind of ordered creativity that goes into tailoring and the ordered creativity of the Creation story helps evangelism make sense to pre-Christians.

The provision of sewing machines and the essentials needed for teaching and practice, as well as the salary for the teacher, enables the ladies to gather four afternoons each week. They come to Calvary Chapel Kamuli – a church planted by friends Augustine and Joel – to spend time with their teacher. They begin with a bit of theory and end with a lot of hands-on practice. I had the opportunity to sit in on parts of the training and saw that this teacher was doing a lovely job and the ladies are progressing well.

We seem to have found just the right combination of teacher, church, and community to successfully achieve the goal of helping these ladies become productive members of their community, their country, and the body of Christ. I pray we can continue to support and encourage any number of groups wanting to learn work skills through the church here.

Rose measures and cuts her sample shirtpocket.

Sewing paper is the first step to learning the craft.

She models the paper sewn shirt.

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Grace's New Shoes

The phone kept on ringing. As a practice I don’t answer when I don’t recognize the number…if I did, I’d be married a hundred times over…or at least invited to be. This day, though, after a very persistent effort on the part of the caller, I took a chance and picked up the phone. Grace’s sweet voice greeted me (meet Grace) and asked for a bit of help. Grace needed a new pair of shoes and some pocket money for school. Shoes…

I realize that the need for shoes is really nothing new, but I choose to see the request as a reminder of the beautiful life that walks in those shoes and all the lives I’ve come to appreciate along the way. These few blog posts tell a bit of the story.

http://lesliemosher.blogspot.com/2010/03/life-of-these-shoes.html

http://blog.surprisedbyhope.org/2012/03/sensible-shoes-walk-in-way-of-love.html

A trip to Owino Market is not for the faint of heart but this was the best place to find shoes…if I can find them. Just a few days earlier I essentially got lost in the bowels of that place with people grabbing at me from all sides. Even so, I felt privileged to have the opportunity to select and deliver the shoes to meet Grace’s need.

Grace assigned the 1:00 hour as the time I should arrive with the shoes and I was pretty close. Rain disturbed my travel plans a bit. Once I arrived at Uganda Martyrs High School the search for Grace began. Do you ever do that? Search for Grace? Next time we’ll plan a meeting place at this big school. She easily found me, though, and she hugged me like a long lost friend. On her way into exams, she had just a few minutes while she patiently waited for me to snap a photo before running off again. She promised a longer visit once school let out in August.

See you soon, Grace!

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Chiquilla Makes Our Dresses

The gorgeous purple dress is for Phyllis. Her pretty white
hairs will be adorable with the white flowers in the dress.

The beautiful African-style’ish dress I wore when speaking at church and at school was made by lovely Chaquilla of Zwadde Tailoring. In preparation for my next visit, I hiked up the muddy Kampala street whose name I don’t know to the small avenue across from M-50. That’s my landmark to know when to turn. Another dress is in order and this time I need two. Phyllis loved the dress so much she ordered one too. I’m not sure if Chaquilla remembered me or not but she was certainly sweet enough when I returned to place the order.

Later that week I had a simple sewing project where I needed the help of a sewing machine – yes, I buy machines for everyone else but then hire someone to sew samples to use in teaching. I thought of Chaquilla and sure enough, she was THE best. I told her I work with a group of women, mostly widows, who were learning to sew and that I needed her help. After spending some great time hunting down someone who could work on my project immediately, she confided that she was also a widow. Of course, I blurted out “me too.”

We began exchanging stories and I learned that Chaquilla was not a widow when I saw her six months ago. Her husband wasn’t feeling well – fever, chills – and was assigned bed rest by doctors. He died that night and she still doesn’t know what from (such are the medical advances here). Chaquilla was three months pregnant at the time.

After she went to great lengths to find someone to work on my samples, she returned with a bag full of cooked rice and said “eat.” Together we shared her meal (and her fork) along with stories, pictures, and lots of love. Her extra effort on my sample project, the fact that she is an amazing tailor, and her gentle spirit will make me a customer for life!

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Clothing Donations for Boys and Girls

I’ll begin by admitting that I’ve made a bit of a mess of keeping track of who donated which clothing for the children here. Please accept my apologies – Kristin, Liz, Sharon and Danielle, Lauren, and Sue. You are so kind to give what you can to help so I thought you’d like to see a few pictures. I started by separating the clothing into size groupings to see which of the groups I could manage to physically carry in my bags without the car. The smallest grouping was the older children’s clothing. I’m thinking this might be clothing from Kristin and Sue mostly.

I stuffed myself and your clothes into a single seat on the taxi and made a trip into Kampala exiting at Katwe near the round-about. The stage boasted five or six boda men just waiting for some work. Of course I chose the one who speaks only enough English to tell me a price but not enough to understand the details of what I want to accomplish. I had asked to go into the slums and give children clothing at their homes and ended up at children’s homes. Well…close enough.

Retrack is a boys’ home where I was eagerly welcomed by a pile of junior high aged boys each of whom was quite happy to try on his new shirt and pose for a photo. Do you see your shirt in this photo? Kassim was one of the head caretakers and was quite helpful in identifying a place to give the girls clothing just down the street. At Missionaries of the Poor Good Shepherds Home the headmaster brought in a few girls for a photo but wasn’t interested in having them try clothing, they were planning to put the clothing into a dispensary. He was quite thankful for the gift though. I always feel funny asking for pictures so I didn’t press the issue. Still have lots more to give away.

Later that night and every night since then Kassim sends me a text. This night was no different. You might like how this exchange reads:

Kassim: Hey babe, I’m lonely.

Leslie: Have a good evening.

Kassim: I need god to give u everything u want in ur life. Have a goodnt babe.

I bet you never thought your donations would lead to this (grin).

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A Dress for Shelia from Molly

Colors and textures abound in this Gaba Road market. Friday is market day and this is by far the best market for making and selling handcrafts. I had my eye out for a little one who might receive a handcraft from you rather than me from her. Once spotted, I hunkered down and peeked around a corner to see her. Little Sheila was in her own world until the ladies around her drew her attention to me. Rather than scream and run, she raised her arms and ran to me. I swooped up this tiny girl and she was quite happy to put her fingers in all my face holes. Not sure how much I liked that part though. Her new little Valentine dress fit perfectly and her maama was so pleased. I would bet the folks who come to make purchases at this market seldom leave more than money behind. This little girl received a dress, a story, and a prayer.

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A Dolly for Margaret from Kelsey

As I waited in the car amidst the slums to the west of Kampala, little Margaret and her bright orange dress caught my eye. Beads woven into her small braids made an intricate design of that hair-cap that was destined only to catch the dust. This little girl, maybe three years old, managed to down an entire glass bottle of Coca-Cola in the short time I watched her from the car. I wonder how many of those glass bottles are leftover from our days with glass bottles in the States (not that I remember, I’ve only heard about it).

Margaret was entirely unfazed by her mother’s pleadings to be left alone while she rested on the floor of her small vegetable stand. How did she think, I wonder, that a Coca-Cola would help the situation? I chuckled to myself. Soon, little Margaret’s eyes peeked up over the edge of the door as she walked the length of the car over and over again dragging her fingers in the dust creating a mess of what’s left of the already unattractive paint job. Once she hit her head on the side mirror and looked at me as though I’d personally done this to her. Her braid-cap cushioned the blow.

I had just the dolly in mind. Kelsey picked out the dolly whose dress was vibrant and retro, which perfectly matched the bright orange of Margaret’s dress. A simple presentation of that dolly and the Bible story of Eve and maama certainly knew what she was looking at, but Margaret seemed a bit uninterested given the presence of the mzungu, whom she was intent on watching more closely. I always wonder what happens after I leave.

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