Boda-boda drivers are known for overcharging but the trip to Olivia’s school was really…and I mean really…far off the main road. I actually ended up giving the guy more than he asked. Silly me. I first went to the place where I had last seen Olivia in school and learned that the students in P6 are now situated in a different building. Because I didn’t know where this new building was, I had to...
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Romas
Some people just love having fun and Ronald is no exception. He started a small business called Romas and that business focuses on providing fun experiences for children’s parties. He and his friends load themselves and all their gear into a lorry and head to wherever the client wishes. Giant bouncy castles, portable swimming pools, face painting, balloons (and now balloon animals, thanks to the...
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Update on Praise and her Dolly
I spied this adorable hydra-headed girly next door to Augustine’s place. She grinned at me as though I was her long lost friend. When summoned, she quickly came into my arms. I asked if she still had her dolly and the affirmative response resulted in the somewhat tattered, but still intact gift from Jean. Most of the time, the dollies are lost or destroyed so when I found this one still resembling...
Kamuli Tailoring Program
Aside from the blessing of Augustine’s presence and our time of prayer together, my main purpose for visiting Kamuli was to move the tailoring program there (sponsored by the women’s group at Beaverdam Baptist Church) into their final weeks. The group has met four times weekly for the past five months and this next month will be their last. It’s time for them to become independent tailors.
The...
Kamuli Pastors
The trip to Kamuli is just an hour beyond Buwenge on roads similarly difficult. Although hope is in the air, along with more dust, construction-based road humps slow travel. I hate to tell you just how much dust washes out of even my underwear…so I won’t.
Long time friends, Pastors Augustine and Joel started a home-church in Kamuli. During this visit I had the opportunity to attended Augustine’s...
Shared Hope for Orphans' Boys
Roads between Bugembe and Buwenge are notoriously rutty. Not only are they rutty but it seems they are strategically designed to force each and every vehicle to have at least one tire in some pothole of varying depths at all times. Taxis are no exception. None the less, Alex and I arrived safely in Buwenge and boda’ed to Shared Hope for Orphans without a hitch.
The leadership team was ready and...
Sunday Morning in Jinja Town
This normally bustling tourist town sits quietly on Sunday morning, not ready to wake until past 8:30. Criss-cross iron gates cover the storefronts of most businesses. I’d hoped for a bite of breakfast before finding the taxi to Buwenge, but even Flavours was just barely peeking out through closed doors. The staff recognized me and put chairs out, they even turned on the internet for me. Approaching...
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Prison Program Sustainability
The sweet juice tasted delicious after eating dust and exhaust fumes for three hours. The ride to Jinja was speedy, for sure, but passion juice was just what I needed while waiting to meet with Carpenter John, chaplain of Bugembe Prison. When he arrived, we exchanged packages. I delivered the last box of Bibles from Beaverdam Baptist Church folks and he presented the first batch of products made...
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
The Sanctuary Singers
Six children have turned into twelve.
The children walked hand-in-hand with Michael and Silvia until they reached the gate. Upon spying me, they ran with lots of welcome hugs. These kids have always been affectionate toward me but they’ve never done the run-to-me thing. Yep, a little bit of heaven. Some films depict heaven as a place based on your own desires. While I am not sure I agree that...
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
Bugembe Prison Worship Service
Wool blankets covered the ground drying in the hot sun after a good washing. Just finishing their morning routine, the prisoners were summoned to prepare for their Sunday service. Before entering the stifling room where church is held, Carpenter John called the three old men to receive eyeglasses supplied by Beaverdam Baptist Church friends. These men approached with their Bibles, another gift orchestrated by Paul from Beaverdam, and almost jumped up and down when they found the eyeglasses that...
Monday, October 1, 2012
Bugembe Prison Vocational Training Projects
As the yellow-clad prisoners prepared for the Sunday service, I met with Geoffrey (the tailoring prisoner-teacher) to introduce a few new product ideas. I emphasized to Carpenter John, the prison chaplain, the need to help the group become self sustaining by making salable products. Certainly some of those students who have participated for some time are capable of making a few of the simple sample items presented. After all, Geoffrey made the girly dresses without a hitch.
I brought six different...
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