Pool Hall Ministry

The hot sun pressured the men from their pool hall games so that Rachel, Chrystina, Vickie and I could minister to the ladies on Bubembe Island. These men were quite unhappy that mere women would make such a demand, but they finally acquiesced to the ever forceful Vickie.

Fresh talapia from Lake Victoria

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Bubembe Island Primary School

VKids Trust Uganda is a children’s education charity established by Vickie several years ago. Our work together has in part brought about changed mindset of the parents on this island who once believed that the children need only learn about fishing. Following their demand, the government built the only school on the island which is filled with students today. Our usual visit to the only school on the island was, as always, filled with joy. The families know Vickie and I very well and the teachers, though always changing, appreciate all that we do to support and encourage them with materials, teachings, and supplies.

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Ugandans Helping Ugandans

Sponsorship-enrolled mothers receive books and pens to
help offset the cost of school requirements.

About a year ago I happened across two young Ugandan men in the airport in Turkey. We became “friends” on Facebook and one day not long ago, one of those young men spied me in Kampala. He proceeded to thank me for the work God is doing in Uganda and hand me 100,000 UGX to help the ministry having to do with teaching children. Shock scarcely describes my response to this generous young man. He met me once, followed my blogs, and picked the place he wanted to make a difference. Then…he gave. So many people here – particularly young people – have scarcely enough to feed themselves and here this man was giving me what could have easily been a month’s wages. I am so blessed. Here’s the story of all that his gift, along with the gift of a few other generous Ugandan leaders, accomplished.

Two big boxes of supplies for the school, the teacher, and the children.

Before heading up to the newly built school on Bubembe Island (a structure accomplished due at least in part to Vickie’s dedication to changing the mindset of these families in helping them understand the value of education), Vickie distributed some basic school supplies to the parents. These supplies are part of the items required by the school that each child provide lest they be sent home.

Amidst the piles of school and teaching supplies – erasers, chalk, paper, binders, lesson books, flash cards, and so many other things I can’t even remember them all…we presented this teacher with toilet paper. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such a big smile or heard such a loud cheer from the parents. Seriously…when was the last time you were excited about receiving toilet paper as a gift? As a matter of fact, don’t you get a little peeved if someone before you leaves the roll empty?

Thank you Alex and all the other people who made these supplies possible for the people of Bubembe Island School.

When was the last time you were THIS happy
to receive toilet paper?

The view from the school room.

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Mother's Face Disturbing Issues

Before coming to the island, Vickie and I met to talk about all that she hoped to accomplish here. I’m so glad we did because one of the items of importance to Vickie turned out to be far more critical than we’d dreamed. Before heading up to the school on Bubembe Island, we met with the mothers to talk about the things that concern them most. After asking some questions about sanitation, we learned something very disturbing. We learned that the only pit latrines on the island belong to the newly built school. The ladies were told they were not allowed to dig holes on the island because the land didn’t belong to them. So…use your imagination about how exactly sanitation might function here. Now, combine that with the non-functional bore hole (fresh drinking water) and see what images your mind conjures up.

Vickie has been faithfully serving the people on this island for a few years now and I believe God has opened the doors for her to make a real difference in the lives of these people including those who preposterously suggest that no pit latrines can be dug. Please agree with us in prayer.

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A Child's Welcome

Another hour-long small boat ride to Bubembe Island (with Vickie and our friend Betty) and Aunt Grace was surprised to see us – though they’re always surprised given the lack of phone network availability here. The children, though, have come to love our visits and seldom hesitate to pile in my lap when I arrive. They rub their dirty little hands all over my skin and then look carefully to see if any of my whiteness rubbed off on them. Someday they’ll realize their darkness rubs off on me (on accounta the dirt). I don’t even care, my precious ones. As soon as Kisakye spied me, the child residing on my lap was quickly displaced, but not without a fuss. Such beautiful smiles all around. I am so blessed.

Leslie Kisakye and Patience Kisakye

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Traveling to Kalangala Island

Traveling pretty much anywhere in Uganda is an adventure worth writing about. The ferry – or lack thereof – from Entebbe to Kalangala was out for service sometimes leaving islanders stranded for weeks on end. It was our luck that another wooden vessel was functional on that windy day of departure. Leaving Entebbe behind, the 88 islands offer some break from the strong wind where even the birds found some shelter. None-the-less, we often found ourselves holding on for dear life. As a Michigander, such waves are not unfamiliar to me. Yet our coxswain seemed not to know the value of steering into the wave rather than running parallel with it. Though drenched only a few times, we managed to arrive safely with no vomiting accidents by any of the horrified passengers.

Leaving Entebbe Behind

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Sponsored Child Updates

I had the privilege of visiting the children on Bubembe Island. Vickie and I were surprised and happy to find an addition being made to the school structure. When Vickie and I first began ministry here, there was a school building but no teacher. A year later there was a teacher two days each week…now there is a full time teacher and they need to expand their space. We thank God for his work through VKids Trust Uganda and Surprised by Hope in helping the parents realize the value of education for their children.

We sang songs and danced for Jesus. We also delivered lots of clothing and shoes for all the children as well as books, and other games and supplies to the headmaster (principal teacher). These gifts will not only enrich the lives of the sponsored children, but they’ll bless all the children coming to school.

Here’s a brief update about the children who have sponsors.

Name: Dorothy Nanjemba

I found Dorothy in wonderful condition. She seems happy and healthy, full of smiles. She has been attending school in baby class (like pre-school) and scores among the first five children in her class. She really seems to like being in school. Her closest friend is called Matama.

Name: Patience Kisakye

She is among the first 10 in her class. She loves school. She loves different games. She interacts with people. She is always healthy, other than general cough. She eats well, she has a good appetite. She is closest friend with Dorothy.

Name: Justance Byetima

He comes to school in P1 (first grade), and is among the first seven in his class. He is healthy, loves friends, smiles a lot. His friend is called Martin, they come to school together. He is very social. Justance is constructive and very practical.

Name: Safina Nalwanga

Fina has joined baby class. She is healthy, she eats well. She stays with her jajja who cares for four children. She is among the first four in class. She has a friend called Maria who is also in baby class. She is seven years old.

Parents are doing their best to provide school requirements for their children – paper, pens, and such. This cooperative aspect of ministry is so important to us as we come alongside parents rather than take their responsibilities upon ourselves. Praise God for their faithfulness and ask that he continue to make provision for these parents.

Sponsoring an education through VKids Trust Uganda, costs $100 annually. Check out the children who are in need of sponsorship and send me a note if you’d like to learn more.

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Two Lonely Sweaters

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there lived a lovely woman with the talent of knitting. She lovingly made two beautiful sweaters with her own two hands and she generously offered these sweaters for two children in Uganda. Now every fairy tale must have a bad guy and I fear I may be the one. The number of gifts to bring grew with each trip and these lovely sweaters were often left behind…until one day when all those left behind gifts and toys finally made their way across that big, big pond.

Two children from Bubembe Island received your beautiful and lovingly made sweaters. The nights are cold there and I know these kids will enjoy them. The children at this island school have no uniforms as the children of all the other schools do. If I may be so bold, given my former behavior, would like to knit a vest for these small ones, all in the same color and style? They could have the start of some kind of uniform for school and be just like the other children in Uganda schools.

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Education Ministry on Bubembe Island

Making education available for the children of Bubembe Island has been Vickie’s dream for several years. Just two years ago we found the shell of a school room void of both teachers and students. We began bringing teaching and ministry to this island where no other NGO exists and soon the parents trusted us enough to ask for an education for their children. Formerly, these same parents desired only that their children learn to fish. While we’ll never know the extent of our role in changing their mindset, we like to think that we were small instruments in the hands of God.

About a year ago, a teacher came to that school just two days per week and parents organized themselves to establish fees. Today, we were shocked to find an additional building and staff quarters being added to that one lonely room. We praise God for moving the people and the government to value education for the children of the island.

The children in the school numbered about 25 until the community saw us pass by at which time that building filled with every child and parent near the Bubembe Island landing site. The children quickly warmed to Heidi and her giraffe puppet, and her storybooks with songs and motions. She was a fantastic teacher and knew just how to engage the children as well as to motivate them to stay in school and learn to read so that they could read the Word of God and have a personal relationship with him.

After the teaching she delivered the many, many gifts she and her sponsors provided about which the children were no less enthusiastic. Flip flops, toys, clothing and lots of gifts and supplies for the teacher. What a blessing Heidi was to the community and to the minds and hearts of these families.

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Triplet Clothing All Over the Island

Oh I love the opportunity to share these adorable clothes with children around East Africa. Coming to Bubembe Island was even more fun because I got to see children dressed in the clothing delivered during the last visit, clothing form my grandchildren. I spied one 4’ish year old boy wearing bib overalls designed for a baby. I could see the snaps between his legs. Oh sigh.

These kids got some top notch duds during this visit. I was able to distribute the clothing in a more orderly fashion so I knew the clothing would fit each child and that each child got something close to a complete set. All the children were so happy to slip off their current outfits and sport their new clothes. They were also quite happy to parade in front of me to receive the adoring praise of “you look so beautiful/handsome.”

Thank you all the way up the chain from the people who handed me 55 pounds of clothing to distribute in East Africa to the people responsible for making these clothes available to a family surprised by triplets.

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A Dress for Wasswa from Donna

Nakato (youngest girl twin) and Waswa (oldes boy twin)

I spied a little tyke in her mother’s arms and sporting a tiny sundress. To prove how little Ugandan’s concern themselves with gender-based clothing, check this out. The baby dress Donna sponsored was the perfect size for little…who? I asked. The reply…Wasswa. Wasswa is the term used to refer to the eldest boy twin. Yep, I just gave a dress to a boy. Well…at least the dress was blue. Wasswa has a twin sister, Nakato. All twin boys somehow use the name Wasswa (eldest boy) and Kato (youngest boy) or Babirye (eldest girl) or Nakato (youngest girl). Perhaps Nakato will get the dress instead.

Wasswa and Nakato were really too young to care much about the activity swirling about them. They just stared and blinked and stared some more. Cute little things.

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A Dress for Kisakye from Ashley

I had my eye on this particular dress because I used African fabric to make it and Ashley saw its beauty too. This is the only dress where I used the African fabric just like the dresses the Konoweka ladies will make. The dress was earmarked for Kisakye…well…because she and I share a Luganda name and because she and Kisakye’s education sponsors come from the same church. It’s fun to see what happens when a whole community comes together to help a family.

Kisakye was the perfect fit for this dress and she proudly wore that dress all day. Her mother was excited about the cute little style and all the mothers oooed and ahhhed as she emerged from her changing place. I’m not sure Kisakye cared a whole lot but she didn’t refuse, which was a start.

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