Olivia's School Visitation Day

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 trust that this boda-boda driver would take me there. Eventually all the people disappeared from the roadside, the path became narrow and bumpy, and overgrowth crowded the way. Right about the then I thought I’d better get off that boda because he might be taking me someplace other than All Saints school, which is known to happen. Thankfully, the school sign appeared in the distance just then. Whew!

Given how far off the main road this school is, you’d think these children were lepers. I felt badly for those students whose families could not afford the trip. Yet, the tidy school was overflowing with voices worshipping God this early Sunday morning. Olivia is the sponsored child of a friend and I try hard to stay in touch with her while I’m in country. When not in school she stays near where I live so it’s easy to find her at home. During school terms, though, the children board at the school so they can focus on their studies and Olivia is no exception.

I quickly found her classroom and met her head teacher. A very surprised Olivia was all smiles when she saw me.

Olivia is certainly a beautiful young lady and I’m always surprised to see how she’s grown. She continues to be a quiet girl and seldom speaks up in class, says her teacher. She also continues to struggle with her assignments, but it’s difficult to pinpoint the problem when I’m not there to see how she behaves, how she studies, or how the teachers deliver the lessons. There aren’t programs I place to help children who struggle and there’s no such thing as “No Child Left Behind.” I was happy to hear, though, that the school would not pass her if her grades were not at a certain level, as so many schools do. Please pray for Olivia, as she continues to work hard and become the young lady God has designed her to be.

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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 Hassett family), juggling clowns, and more. The business targets a population of Ugandans who have higher discretionary income than those I typically work with.

In all fairness, Ronald has some
not so lovely pictures of me too.

Ronald invited me to offer some business development advice and to do that, I suggested that perhaps I attend his next event so that I could experience his work first hand. Alongside this experience, we need to talk more about his organization but I had a great opportunity to get started.

Among many practical suggestions related to operations, human resources, and marketing, one of the biggest challenges was limiting participation to client invitees. The venue offered several party gathering spots and most assuredly each area was filled with children celebrating some special occasion. Inflating that bright yellow bouncy oasis, though, was a magnet for each and every child in the entire recreation area. We talked about a wrist band or hand stamp to identify client invited children, which is easy enough to manage. However, Ronald misses so many opportunities for business and service sampling when required to limit guests. What do you think? How can he take advantage of the potential income from non-client children while protecting the client relationship?

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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 the color she was originally, I was pleased. All the children near this house recognize me now, if only I could remember all of their precious names.

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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 ladies were encouraged to think about how Jesus had a purpose on earth and how that purpose directed his every action and decision. We prayed that they too would find their God-given purpose and that they would use that knowledge to help them make decisions about how to apply their new skills. We talked about how and where to find work, how to develop skills after the program is complete, and how they can help the next group of students.

I delivered some notions supplied by my lovely friend Anna. I also delivered a few patterns for items the new tailor ladies could make and sell – such as boy shorts, baby bibs, and tote bags – supplied by Donna’s maama. I left behind a tissue cozy package as well. I told the ladies if they were well made I would pay them for their work so they’ll have money to get started on their first tailoring projects.

My prayer now is that we have the funds needed to start another round of teaching with all new students. Are you part of a women’s group? Who would like to join with a new group of ladies in Kamuli who already have two sewing machines and a place to work but need the salary for a good teacher (which we have found) and the teaching materials?

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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 wedding introduction meeting, which was very interesting. Introductions are a formal part of the engagement process here. A group of close friends comes together to help plan the introduction and the wedding as well as support the couple financially through the process. I met lots of Augustine’s pastor friends and am looking forward to the December wedding.

Pastor Joel and his wife, Rose, recently had their first baby – Kisakye Ruth – and this adorable, content baby was precious in my arms. Once we pulled out the camera, though, all the neighbor children came running. Okay, well, they came running when the muzungu showed up but getting a good picture was a challenge. I don’t think I heard that baby make a peep the whole time I was there.

One of their pastoral duties included visiting the local chairman’s daughter in the hospital. She’d just delivered a baby too – lots of new babies around. I’ve been to hospitals in various parts of Uganda before and am always in awe of the waiting rooms (outside under a mango tree) and the extensive families that come to care for the sick loved one.

Pastor David – affectionately called King David – is a School of Ministry graduate like Augustine and Joel, but he graduated just this past May. David’s home is Kamuli and he’s walking alongside Augustine and Joel in their home church. As always, it was good to see his smiling face.

A few months ago, Augustine told one of his new friends about Surprised by Hope. Pastor Fred then invited me to do some biblically based business teaching in a couple vocational schools he has connections to. He and his wife just had their first baby as well and a visit to his lovely home was so pleasant. His beautiful wife shone with joy. We’re hoping that soon we’ll travel to Kuyunga to teach at two different schools in that area.

While waiting for Augustine’s introduction meeting to begin (Africa time, you know), I had the opportunity to talk with Pastor Moses. He was excited about the idea of bringing business teaching to the church and shared his idea of a cooperative transportation business for the various agriculture products grown in Kamuli.

Pastors pastors pastors. I am so blessed to have once again had the opportunity to walk alongside so many godly people.

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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 waiting for us, always so kind and warm when we arrive. Our teaching today would be on the topic of customer service with emphasis on biblical service and communication. I pondered the value of customer service teaching for an organization whose focus was not retail related and decided that the principles were valuable in all relationships, not just retail service.

I always love coming to visit this organization in particular because each time I do I find some way that they’ve applied what they learned the last time we were together. They make forward progress toward their mission constantly, however hard they struggle to do so. This time was no different.

This time I found a small rented home near the school where several orphaned boys from the streets of Jinja were finding shelter, food, and love as well as receiving the education they so desperately need at no charge to them. Shared Hope for Orphans truly loves these boys and to do so sacrifice a great deal. Love is a sacrifice, isn’t it?

Three requests were on the lips of these leaders, and based on my observations…each is necessary. Would you like to help? I personally endorse their use of funds and money management and will very likely be directly involved in seeing these needs get met. If you’d like more information, please let me know.

1.      The organization received a grant for a poultry project but needs money to purchase the vaccinations and other supplies needed to keep the chickens.

2.      The wood-sided school is quickly being outgrown. Parents are moving their students from fancier schools to this one for many very positive reasons. Bricks are available as one of the projects Shared Hope uses to provide an income for their children but the other building supplies are needed.

3.      The orphan boys are receiving a free education but Shared Hope for Orphans could use your help in providing for their basic needs. Renting the home, providing food, school requirements and the like are needed to ensure these children thrive.

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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 the 8:30 wake-up time, I was granted access to a…get this…peanut butter Snickers muffin. Yep, all my favorites wrapped into one teeny tiny little bite of a muffin hardly noticeable on its plate. The knife and fork were entirely unnecessary given the single mouthful of food, yet using the utensils helped extend the pleasure just a bit. This unsuspecting (and way WAY overpriced) muffin was fantastic! Hmm, there must be a way I can replicate this muffin on the gas burner…

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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 from the samples provided just last week. As expected, a bit of feedback was needed, but overall the prison tailors did a great job. Take a look at the products Carpenter John and I will work to sell so that the funding for the various vocational programs in the prison can become self sustaining.



Eyeglass/Sunglass cases



Jewelry pouchs

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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 heaven is made in this way, I sure wouldn’t mind if it were filled with hugging children. Poor little Raymon is sick with malaria and wasn’t much for hugs and snuggles like he usually is. Lohire didn’t scream bloody murder this time. We’re making progress.

Today the children were so excited about singing for me. Amazing Grace in their sweet kiddie voices…beautiful. I recorded their singing but the film won’t properly upload to Blogger. Just imagine it. The little one in white belting out the words while the others follow along and do a rather lovely job of it. I love the music and dance that is so integral to the African culture.

Each time I come to the Sanctuary, there are more and more children. With only one bedroom and a makeshift room in the garage, they will soon outgrow their digs if they haven’t already. I’m so thankful for the ongoing welcome at this lovely home.

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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 most suited their needs. Wish I could have taken a picture of the three of them with the tags dangling off their noses and the little sticker in the upper right corner of their new specs. They were absolutely thrilled.

Later in the church service, two of the old men who received glasses gave the testimony that they had once known Jesus but fell away from him. Being back in prison renewed that relationship and they thanked God for that experience. Little did they know that the message I would deliver would come from Philippians where Paul testified that he would use his prison experience to glorify God. Another man testified to the brotherly love he found in prison rather than the fighting and animosity he expected. I can attest to that sense of a peaceful spirit there.

After delivering the message from Philippians 1 that had ministered to my heart (a gift from Marti), three men made decisions to accept Christ as their personal Savior. Praise God for his perfect timing in the way this message came together and was received. Please continue to uplift Andrew, Dramon, and Martin as two of the men prepare for their court trials and seem to associate accepting Jesus with acquittal. Also, pray for Carpenter John as he continues to disciple these men in the truth of what accepting Christ really means.

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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 fabric prints along with the other necessities required for making the sample items. Thank you to Anna for the thread, bias tape and ribbon, and various other goodies that will be used to make these items. Thank you to Heidi for the beautiful African fabrics (and for the fabrics being delivered to Kakira prison too).

The three sample items included a simple eyeglass case, a jewelry pouch with a draw string, and a hair tie – all using the beautiful African prints. I tried to choose items that were easier for those beginner tailors and one that might be a little more challenging. The folks learning to sew these products will be able to take these patterns with them when they leave prison and continue making the products for themselves. Geoffrey also has the liberty to develop his own product ideas that will help generate revenue for the group.

The guys were super excited to sew something more than their own uniforms. I can’t wait to see the results.

On another note, I passed by Mohamed – the man who was in prison and started his own shoeshine business after learning the trade at Bugembe. While business is slow, I was glad to find him there trying his best to make the business succeed.

(Sorry, still no photos allowed.)

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