Dear friends and family,
Whilst the rest of Team 4 are off this morning to help harvest a crop of small chillies on a subsistence farm, in order that they can be sold by the very poor family to raise some much needed cash to pay for the necessary help for their disabled child, I have taken this opportunity to compile a brief update for you.
We are so excited by the bore hole which has been constructed near to the Modern Primary School and which is now supplying clear water with such easy. The hole was eventually some 50 feet deep, and a real encouragement to the young men who had travelled to the neighbouring district to train with Water4, a American charity which happened, by God’s design we are sure, to be in the nearby location at just the right time.
The next problem is getting the water from the bore hole up hill to the school. It is not so difficult to collect in it the yellow Jerry cans which are used all over Uganda to fetch water. And this would be so much easier than using the lorry which was the previous method. However, we would like to run some piping up the hill and erect a holding tank at the school, so that water could be always available in the taps, showers and toilets. The problems therefore we know have to recover are how to get the water up the hill, how to cross a strip of and which currently belongs to someone else, and the erection of the storage tank. We need to raise funds to purchase the land and the water tank ideally. Please pray about this.
The team of young men who dug the first bore hole are now progressing well with the next bore hole which is located near to the Gables Vocational Training Centre. This centre serves some 200 young men and women, many of whom board at the school. Initially they came across a thick layer of rocks which they had to remove by hand with a pick axe, but they persisted and yesterday afternoon they were through to easy soil and had reached 30 feet where they were finding signs of water. This is such an encouragement to them and their hard work.
Simon and I are now in the process of identifying key members of the community in order to form a small committee which will manage the bore hole project in the future. There will be many requests for a bore hole we are sure, and it is important that these are properly prioritised in order that the greatest benefit is felt by the largest number of people in the community. Please pray for us and we seek God’s guidance in finding the right people to take this forward.
We are blessed with a Geologist/Scientist in Team 4 who has been able to give some wonderful expert advise after recalling his university training days and we thank God for this added bonus.
Everything else is going really well here and we see God and work in the lives of people, both locals and the volunteers, every day. As it is school holidays, this team of volunteers have been running a Holiday Club for the orphans and those who live locally. They had 110 at the first session on Wednesday and they expect even more to come this afternoon, when the word gets out! They have taken a different parable each day and then incorporated it into crafts, song, drama, puppets and games for the children. These kids don’t normally have access to all this glitter, paint, glue, card, coloured paper etc and are so excited. We have heard from one builder on our building site that his child came to the club and was able to tell him all about the parable of the prodigal son when they got home!
We, the staff team, are just so very grateful to the volunteers who have taken so much time to plan and prepare for this Hveoliday Club, and taken over the whole thing, which we would have struggled to do here because of the lack of time and scarce recourses here.
The building work is going along really well. Although I have to say that trying to organise 20 people, including 8 children under the age of 16 has been quite a challenge! We are now painting the ceilings, internal and external walls. We are planning a grand opening party and we shall invite all the partners we ha worked with whilst we have been here in Rukungiri. We hope that the Bishop and his wife, Vasta (the Head of the Mothers Union who recently visited the UK and met my Mum on a number of occasions) will be available to come and bless the building and the future work at the vocational centre. Please pray for us as we complete the work and plan for the party!
We are very grateful for good health and God’s protection during our time in Uganda. We thank you all for your support and love.
God bless and thank you all.
Sue (and Simon)
We had a good meeting the other day with variuos key people from the local community in Rukungiri and the Diocese of North Kigezi, and today we are celebrating since today we have found water in the bore hole that has been drilled adjacent to the Nursery School. The water at the moment is not running clear and it needs to be pumped for a while before it is purified, but tomorrow the local lads are sure that the water wil be good and they can install the pipework and the pump. This is so simple to use that even small children will be able to come and pump clean water. The next challenge will be for us to erect a water tank at the Nursery School and instal some pipework to carry the water from the borehole to the tank. Then we can provide water directly to the school for the children to drink, for cooking, for toilets and eventually showers for the borders. This is just the beginning, as there are many other urgent cases requring water in Rukungiri. This equipment can now be used by those locals who have been trained by Water4 (under the direction of Mission Direct) to provide many more boreholes for communitiy projects such as the hospital, clinics, other schools etc. It is so exciting to be pary of this project. Please continue to pray for us as we next try to organise a committee to deside where the next holes should be made and how the communities should be involved so that they “own” the project and so repect it and look after it in the future.
Thank for for your continued prayers and support.
Love from Sue and Simon
Dear friends,
Some of the building works at Modern Nursery School have been put on hold until such a time as the massive problem of water can be resolved. Currently water is collected by lorry everyday for cooking and washing of hands. There is no point in completing the proposed bathrooms and kitchen in the matron’s rooms until a suitable water supply can be made available to the school.
Last Monday in Kampala we met with a group of Americans who had just arrived in Uganda from a US Charity called Water4. They have devised a relatively cheap devise for drilling bore holes which can be constructed from locally sourced materials. Two staff from the Gables vocational training centre in Rukungiri have spent 4 days with the US team in the neighbouring district and have been very excited with the project which was constructed there. A village now has regular access to fresh running water from a pumped well.
Today Water4 are sending their team leader Calib across to Rukungiri to work with Simon and Sue to seek a solution to the water problem at the school. The prospect of
Please pray that together they may be able to find a cheap solution to this crucial problem. This is VERY exciting for all concerned. Without the water the matron’s room will no be completed and the orphans will not be able to board ar the nursery, but remain at the Primary School. This is far from ideal was they stay with much older children and there is no more space for new arrivals.
Many thanks for your prayerful support.
Love
Sue and Simon
Hi there,
We decided to avoid Kampala after the bombings, and so, between teams 2 and 3, have had a super couple of days in Jinja. Penny, Simon, Columbus(our driver) and I all booked into a smashing Retreat, run in assocaition with the African Inland Mission (A.I.M.) immediately on teh shores of the Nile River in Jinja. It was made up of a number of little thatched round houses each with balconies overlooking the river, located down windy little footpaths, through colourful gardens. The decor inside was terracotta in colour, lovely warm and cozy. (reminded us of our caravan a bit) A real little haven which allowed us some much needed rest.
Yesterday Columbus drove Simon and I some 1.75 hours to the east, towards the Kenyan border to a small town of Bugiri where our sponsor child Scovia lives. We were met at the Stanbic Bank by Norman the head of the Compassion Project, together with Scovia, her little sister Rose (aged about 7) and their Mum. They were all dressed up in the very best clothes (including a skirt which we had sent to Scovia 2 years ago when we were last in Uganda). They were really rather nervous and quiet.
We were taken first to the “Executive Hotel” (sounds grander than it was) to order lunch for later, then we went to visit the village school. Here some 325 poor children (all with bare feet and no uniforms) were in their classes. The nursery children sang Christian choruses for us as we toured the site.
Next Columbus drove us all down the bumpy lane to Scovia’s house. There was a plastic sheet suspended from the tree and a pole in the front of the house (in case the earlier rain should return) which protected a group of wooden seats with brightly coloured cushions, surrounding a polished table draped with a lace cloth. We certainly felt like V.I.P.s We were bought bottles of Coke, and then exchanged gifts. We gave the family 25kg sacks of rice and of Maize flour, used to make Posha. We also gave a bag full of toiletries, towels and blankets, and clothes for Scovia. In return they gave me a beautifully woven mat in bright pink and purple, and Simon a fruit basket with the letters “S.I.M.O.N.” woven inside. They also presented fruits and vegetables including Avocados, Pineapple, Pawpaw, and Sweetcorn. Then came the prize gift of a live chicken!
Previous photos we had received from Scovia showed the family gathered outside the family home, a mud hut, but now on the plot stood a small brick-built house, no bigger than a double garage. They had not yet been able to afford the windows, and so the holes were bricked up for now. The wooden front door led into a small dark lounge area with a mud floor. Two curtains divided off the father’s and mother’s bedrooms. The daughters (4 in total) we were informed slept in the lounge on matrices, whilst the 4 brothers slept in separate huts in the yard. Two further huts housed the kitchen and “bathroom” areas. We never met Scovia’s father who we were told was labouring in the field. We enquired and were told that the family income was probably even less than 3,000 Ugandan Shillings or £10 a month( unless they were able to bred and sell a goat or chicken), for 10 people!
The two girls, Scovia and her sister shyly performed a song and dance (shuffle) routine for us which they had obviously been practicing for some time. The mother also shuffled in time to the singing, with a smile of pride on her face.
In all it was quite a challenging day which was also quite tiring. We were very grateful that Columbus was with us as he was able to help explain some things to us which we failed to understand.
We went out for a really nice Western-style meal in a place full of white people, back in Jinja last night, even though it had thundered and lightened and the heavy rain had made the lane to our accommodation difficult to navigate in the slippery mud.
This morning Columbus had taken Penny back to White Crest, our base outside Kampala, but Simon and I have been dropped off at the Rainforest Lodges” in the Mamira Forest for a day to ourselves, the first time in 8 weeks we have really been alone together. This is an amazing place (check out the website) Built in 2007 it has a Gaudi appearance, and consists of 12 wooden lodges, dotted around the forest. I am sitting at a desk in our lodge now, the large window wide open into the forest, with numerous beautiful butterflies flying past, nothing but the sound of birds and insects, and the possibility of visiting monkeys we have been told. Simon is sat on the balcony, reading his book. This is just the rest we so needed. We are treating this as our late celebrations of our 15th Wedding Anniversary, since things didn’t go to plan back in June.
Team 3 arrive on Sunday morning. There are some last minute problems with overbooked accommodation to be sorted and a newsletter to send off to the volunteers, but a couple more days rest sounds good to us.
Thank you again for your love and support.
Sue (and Simon) XX
Hello to all our dear friends back home,
We are now enjoying the sunset over the river Nile the otherside of the river to Jinja, the 2nd largest toen in Uganda. We have worked hard and are actually really tired and so have come away for a couple of days rest, and what a wonderful find this is. It was recommended to us by a girl who is out here working with Oasis that we met at the weekend in Kampala, since she is a friend of one of our Team 2 members. We have escaped the suburbs of kampala and are enjoying this retreat which is run for Christian missionaries by African Inland Mission. Simon says that this is the first time in 8 weeks (yes we have been here for 8 weeks now) that we have been able to really relax.
We are off to meet Scovia tomorrow, my sponsor child to whom I have been writing for some 5 years. We are really quite excited about meeting her and her family and the staff at the Compassion project where she goes to school. She lives about 1 hour from here. Our Mission Direct driver Collumbus is taking us, which gives us some reassurance as we know we will be in good hands.
Team 2 was quite hard work as they were very quiet and didn’t really engage very much. Other leaders tell us that the 2nd team is often the tough one after leaving on such a high with team 1. Still, we did all we could and I am sure that something would have spoken to them, if not now, then later sometime.
The building project is coming along really well at both the nursery school where we have now completed 2 rooms and at the vocational training centre, where teh windows and door are now in place.
Tearfund gap year students have been working on a rain collection project at the same location and we have become good friends with them.
It is really good to know that we can make such a direct difference in these peoples lives. .
Yesterday we met with a team of Americans who had just landed and were on there way through Kampala. They are called Water4 (see their website)They have invented a device for drilling a bore hole and obtaining water using only locally sourced materials. It should really exciting. We have arranged for 2 people from Rukungiri to go to visit them for a few days and see the project developing. If possible, Mission Direct are considering partnering with them and using this technique to obtain water for many projects were we know water is a major problem. We are hoping that this may be the answer to many prayers.
This weekend we have been without water for two periods, one for 27 hours and the second period a day later for a further 10 hours. The electric has been off for most of the time too. It does make life a bit difficult, but we appreciate how hard things are for these people here.
After the recent bombings, security is very high in Kampala with police checking vehicles even at the entrance to the supermarket some 15 miles out of the centre of town. They have recruited many new poice and drafted in help from UK and US we have read in the paper today. There was a long queue of traffic entering the airport when we went to take Team 2 volunteers back at 2am Sunday morning. They only just made it onto the plane on time.
We continue to say a big thankyou for all the support and prayers from home. It makes such a difference to know that you are all praying for us.
Love Sue and Simon
XX
Dear friends,
We are half way through Team 2 now. It has been hard starting with a new team after leaving on a high with Team 1. We are praying that God will touch the hearts of the volunteers in a special way as they meet the people here in Rukungiri and appreciate all the problems that they face day to day and yet still have smiles on their faces and God in their hearts.
The staff team are keeping well, but Penny has lost a crown and a filling from her teeth and we pray that she will not experience any pain.
There was a slight earth quake tremor this week and the electicity has been out for 2 days for more than 18 hours each time. This presents new challenges for the team.
Please pray for us as we go to school tomorrow might to show the Jesus film in their local lanuage. We pray that new souls will be saved for jesus and lives can be changed. Pray especially for us with the setting up of the equipment and all the technicalities go to plan. Pray also that some of the volunteers may be moved to give their testmonies.
Thank you all for your continued support and love and prayers.
Sue and Simon
XX
Dear all,
We would appreciate your prayers as we have had quite a tough afternoon. After Church this morning we were guests at a local homestead , the home of Henry and his e81 year old Mother. The hired in dancers were about to start their last African dance. There was a “gatecrasher” who had come onto the grass and climbed up the large avocado tree. He climbed like a monkey and was some 35 feet up when he fell to the ground. He just laid there and we were almost sure that he would be dead or else have major injuries. Simon and I attended along with Helen a GP on our team. The Ugandans just gathered round to watch and were happy to leave us to it. Except one who grasped hold of him and tried to wake him, pushing him to his feet. We yelled at him to stop and leave him.
Nobody knew his name, but there appeared to be a young boy wearing rags, who they said was his son. The man started to come round. We established that he could move his fingers and toes, and there was no obvious sign of bleeding, although he was lying on broken branches. We were told that he was a mental case and had probably been drinking, and the Ugandans really wanted nothing to do with him. We persuaded them to call for an ambulance and they also called for the Police. We were asked to move away and leave him. This was really hard for us, especially Helen. but we had to respect the wished of our hosts.
We left and have spent time with the volunteers talking about this incident in order to help theirs and our anxieties. We have since discovered that the mans wife has been contacted and is now with him in hospital. Appart from the young son, they also have two daughters. Please pray for them, the team and we staff as we deal with this incident.
Many thanks
Sue
It is great to have Jacky Jarvis from St Mary’s here with us now with Team 2. And thank you to everyone who has sent out greetings. A special thank you to Graham Paisley who has sent computer discs and cables which we are hoping will greatly assist with relieving the many stresses associated with a computer that doesn’t work properly!
We were working at the Mothers Union building this morning, and there is another group of 10 “Muzungos” (Whites) who have arrived on the scene there. We got talking and discovered that they are gap year students out here with Tearfund, working on the Water Project that was publicised last year at St Mary’s and we elected to send the Harvest collects for this project! How exciting is that! They are building a hugh underground tank and installing gutters and pipes in order to harvest the rain water at the Mothers Union, and other Diocesan buildings. How amazing, as St Mary’s showed this promotion video at Harvest which we knew was filmed near here. Now we can photos and report back 1st hand exactly where our donations have gone.
And then, as if that was not enough, the young girl, the same age as my neice Katie, that sat next to me is the daughter of the Vicar at St Mary’s Longfleet! A lovely girl. We have invited them all here to Rondavels on Friday evening to join Mission Direct team for an African Dance evening. Should be fun.
It is quite hot again today, and it hasn’t rained here for 3 weeks now. The water is starting to run down in the water tanks, so we have to be careful.
Team 2 consist of a 2 girls and 2 boys in their late teens/early twenties, two sisters in their late 40s who were born in Uganda but left when they were small, and Jacky of course from St Mary’s. Quite a quiet group so far, but then I guess Team 1 were quite quiet at first, but no doubt God will do his stuff and things will change.
We continue to appreciate all your prayers and support and are missing you!
We will keep in touch, as time, electicity and internet connection allows
Love from
Sue and Simon
XX
We worked for a few days after saying farewell to Team1, but yesterday afternoon we took the daily ferry from the mainland to the biggest of the Ssese Islands, in Lake Victoria, which is huge. The crossing took 3 hours and reminded us of Michael Palin’s adventures! We have arrived at the Ssese Island Beach Hotel, which looked quite nice on the internet, but is in fact very basic. There is a hot water tap, but no water comes out of it. There is no mains electicity, only solar. The room is comfortable and opens up directly onto the sand/beach. It’s a shame that we can’t swim because of the parasites in the water. But the view is nice, and there are some loungers. We share the beach only with th fishermen and a handful of locals. We took some wonderful photos of teh sunset last night over the water.
This morning, after breakfast to the terrace, we took advantage of a tour guide who guided us on foot first along the beach, and then up through a very primative fishing village of mud huts, and virtually naked babies running around with the chickens. He explained that the fishermen earned good money as fish are sort after on gthe mainland. But they spend their money on sex girls, alcohol and playing cards. The women sometimes stay but have nothing to do but rear children. The fathers don’t care about feeding them of educating them. We have taken some amazing photos.
After that we went ito the forest, which he called “the jungle”. We saw monkies, lots of exotic birds and butterflies. He told us that there were snakes, cobra, pythons (but no mamba – what a relief!) at which point I shuddered, but he explained that they could sense us coming and would scurry away. I stepped very carefully. We then climbed up to a view point, and back through the main ”town”.I use the word losely, but it did have a small kiosk which said “post office” over the door, with some little numbered boxes outside. We walked through a small market place where we bought fresh pineapple and tomatoes for our lunch. We enjoyed a cool “soda” (a term used to describe any Coca Cola fizzy drink, made on the mainland) and are now relaxing after our 4 hour trek.
As there is no electicity, the computer will only last until the battery gives in, so must go. Will try to keep in touch. Love to everyone.
Sue (and Simon) XX
Dear friends,
Well our two week “dry-run” trip with Clare Truter (Mission Direct Manager in Uganda 2009) has gone well. We have had alot to take in and prepare, but have enjoyed making contact with the various Ugandan Partners we shall be visiting with the teams. The staff team consists of:-
Simon – Incountry Manager, Finance Manager, Health & Safety and co-ordinator of various visits for the volunteers
Sue - Construction Manager for building works at Mothers’ Union and the Nursery School, First Aid, visit co-ordinator and liasion with local churches/Diocese.
Penny – Hospitality and Housekkeping, Pastoral and Spiritual Leader, visit co-ordinator
Clare Peace (Ugandan) – Travel Manager, Aid distribution and Communications
Columbus (Ugandan) – Bus Driver
Sorry that we have not been in contact sooner. On our second day here something went horribly wrong with the computer whicst connected to the internet. We can only assume it was a virus which destroyed our operating system. We have been able to instal another system which we have never heard of (Softonic???) and restore our files which we had backed up onto a separate hard drive. At least it is now operational again. Thank God.
We left Rukungiri on Thursday and travelled on un-made roads to Queen Elizabeth National Park. It rained heaviliy on the journey, and we even experienced hail! The rain softeneed the terraine which caused the mini-bus to get stuck in a muddy rut. We were forced to get out and push
Needless to say we got wet and muddy! A number of locals appeared to came to our rescue and after jacking up the vehicle, and bumping it out of the rut. They asked for 3,000 Ugandan shillings (one pound)We prayed hard throughout and then couldn’t stop laughing. Unfortunatley there is no photographic eveidence.
We have enjoyed our time at the Game Park, including a Game Drive, River Cruise and fabulous banquet at the Lodge Hotel. It is wonderful to think that we shall be abe to do all this 5 more times with the teams of volunteers.
We arrived back in Kampala after a long journey on Saturday. We are now celebrating since the owners of the guest house where we are staying have just this afternoon given birth to their second son. This Sunday we were able to worship with Watoto (means Children in Swahili} Church in Kampala. We have seen the Watoto Childrens Choir at Spring Harvest on a number of occasions. This was a very charasmatic service, rather western-ised but with a definate African flavour which we loved!
We spent Sunday afternoon at Speke Hotel on the shore of Lake Victoria, swimming in the biggest outdoor pool I have ever seen. Also at the hotel was the I.C.C. (International Crime Council) conference, but we didn’t recognise anyone famous.
We now have the final preparation to do this week, producing powerpoint presentations, photocopying, ordering building materials, preparing budgets etc. Simon and I are planning a couple of days in a hotel nearby to celebrate our 15th wedding anniversary. It will be good to take some time for eachother.
Please pray about the flights of our teams. Our first team is due to arrive next Sunday morning by British Airways. We won’ t know until Wednesday if it will be cancelled. The Mission Direct staff will then have to find alternative routes, within budget. A VERY difficult job.
We shall endeavour to update you soon with news of our first team when intenet and electicity allow.
Thank you all for your continued support and prayers. Missing you!
Love,
Sue and Simon
