January the first! New year resolutions? Not for me. I prefer to leave disappointments, regrets and old dreams behind me and take a leap of faith into an optimistic future, with a fresh new canvas stretching out before me on which to paint my hopes, aspirations and desires for a brighter future. 2 Cor 2:9 “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him”. I must admit, it will be interesting to see how this new year will beat an amazing 2015, a year of travels and adventures, let’s see how it will be accomplished! Still I have faith in ….“all things are possible for those who believe.”
Having seen in the new year at both Sydney and Perth time I went to bed plugging my ears to help me sleep through the celebrations which seemed to have started at 6pm. Maybe those around me were also celebrating the new year as it crossed from east to west. I’m not sure when the church singing, praying and celebrations around me ceased but I’m sure it was closer to 6am new year’s day!
With the new day dawning around me I lay there thanking the Lord for another year and thanking Him for all that had happened in 2015. I reflected on what I had learnt over the past year of traveling and the areas that I still need working on in 2016. One of the Seven Powers of Conscious that resonated in my heart from the Wakisa workshop was The Power of Perception “No one can make you angry without your permission.” Hmmm good point now to put it to practice.
I didn’t go to Wakisa centre on Friday 1st January, as Vivian asked me to do some typing for
her which I could accomplish on my computer at home. There were reports to write up and a table to construct for Wakisa Ministries 2016 work plan. I enjoy pottering around on the computer organising things. I’m glad I’m able to assist Vivian in these tasks.
Late that afternoon I returned to the hospital for Jethro’s blood results. Fortunately it wasn’t the only thing I had to go out for as they would not be ready before late Tuesday afternoon. I picked up some milk while I was near the shops and returned home.
That evening Emma and Dorcas who had gone to the farm for a few nights returned. Ezra had gone with another aunt with his bike and would be back on Monday. It had been a quiet few days with family gone. Although we did have a bit of a catastrophe when one of the water pipes burst. Fortunately the building next door was having maintenance done and Vivian was able to ask a worker to help her fix the leak.
I have also been enjoying a book by John Eldredge ‘Desire’. It’s been
such an inspiration and blessing. He says ‘life is not a problem to be solved it’s an adventure to be lived’. I say amen to that!
Saturday, I decided to take The Power of Perception “No one can make you angry without your permission” write it out and then draw around it and God willing if I can find some colouring pencils colour it in. Under it I wrote James 1:19 “Everyone should be QUICK to listen, SLOW to speak and SLOW to become angry.” A good reminder for all of us.
This took me most of the morning then at 3pm I visited Wakisa Ministries to see if I could attach my tablet to their TV to show the girls some movies. Regrettably it didn’t work, I think the cable we bought must have been faulty as it didn’t even connect my tablet to the staff computer! Fortunately the girls where watching the Passion of Christ on a projector brought in by ladies from The Way Ministries, who had come in nearly every day over the break to help out.
Since arriving in Uganda I had been meaning to contact Operation Uganda which is run by an Aussie couple who, after their home in QLD was burnt down decided to use the insurance money to start a children’s home in Uganda. I had heard of their ministry through an a current affair program over five years ago and had sponsored a child. Now in Uganda I sent off an email requesting a visit. I had no idea where in Uganda but let them know I was in Kampala.
Sunday I lay before the Lord where to fellowship. While I was having breakfast my phone rang. My phone ringing is a rare occurrence as not many people have my Ugandan number plus … who was calling on a Sunday? I thought it might have been a wrong number as a woman’s voice asked for Gloria. Then it was revealed that it was a member of the Mavuno Church where Gloria and I had taken the Wakisa girls. She introduced herself as Evelin and explained that she had some donations from the congregation and was wondering if someone was coming to the service today who might be able to pick them up. I promised to pass the message on to Ruth who not only fellowshipped at Mavuno Church but worked at Wakisa, she and her husband also owned a car. I thought, at the time, it would be nice to fellowship there myself this morning. I talked with Vivian then with Dorcas to enquire about the Boda Boda fare then set off on my morning adventure. Dressed in my new Ugandan skirt, a gift from Dorcas and Vivian, I headed for the Boda Boda station near Wakisa. A driver saw me coming and drove up to me. I told him where I wanted to go and he asked 8,000 shillings. I told him I didn’t want a Mosungo (white person’s) price and suggested 3,000. He asked for 5,000 and eventually we settled for 4,000 as, he explained, the church was on the other side of town. I am use to bargaining. Hag
gling over the price is a common practice in Asia where, having lived there many years, I had had plenty of previously experience. The trick is getting to know the local price and in this case also the distances.
I arrived just before the service started and met Evelin at the back of the hall. She suggested I meet her there after the service with Ruth and Timothy her husband. The service was just as lively as last week’s meeting, with a powerful message on facing the giants we were sure to encounter in 2016. The verse was taken from 1 Samuel 19; David facing Goliath.
I met with Ruth and Timothy after the service to load the car with the bags that had been donated. What a blessings this congregation has been to the girls at Wakisa. I then accepted a ride back with them to Vivian’s (Timothy is Vivian’s son). It had been a blessed morning and thank you Lord for showing me where to fellowship. Next week I hope to visit the infamous Watoto Church which is actually a little closer in central Kampala. Some of you may have heard of the Watoto Children’s Choir.
On Monday, Vivian asked me to go with Esther their counsellor for a follow up visit of a girl who had been at Wakisa in 2014. We took a taxi to the Kampala taxi station where we found another going directly to the town which is just beside the source of the Nile River. We left late due to the first of the year staff meeting. This was the first day all the staff were back after the Christmas break so there was lots to discuss. While the meeting was on I sat in on the Agriculture class and learn a few things about planning crops here in Uganda. Their teacher, Faith, who is also their cookery teacher mentioned that once the girls left Wakisa the skills they had learnt here could help support them at home.
Esther and I left Wakisa around 11:30am, reaching the town where we met Goratte at 2pm. We then took Boda Bodas to her village and then into the village about a kilometre on a dirt road full of potholes and ruts where vehicles have been bogged during heavy rains. We asked our Boda Boda to wait for us as there seemed to be no one else who could take us to the main road and back to the town. There were two mud brick constructions, one was obviously the kitchen the other living quarters for the family. After being introduced to the family Goratte told us that her babies, twins, were one year old and lived with the paternal grandparents who had thrown their son out after finding out he had made a girl pregnant. On occasions Goratte visited her babies but the paternal grandparents constantly asked her for money for milk and cloths which she did not have. Goratte since leaving Wakisa had returned to school where she hopes to finish her education and then continue to study either nursing or accounting so that she will be able to support herself and her grandmother with whom she lives. Since her own birth she had not lived with her mother who had possibly also become pregnant before marriage and although Goratte had begged her grandmother to tell her who the father was she would not tell her and told her not to ask. Esther thought it may have been in case of incest.
There were several questions we asked to help us understand better how Wakisa Ministries where helping the girls during their stay at Wakisa and what she thought could be done in the future to assist girls who had returned home. It was very interesting to hear her thoughts.
Before leaving Goratte proudly showed us her garden and the crops she grew, a skill she learnt in the agriculture classes at Wakisa, Faith would be proud. She explained she had been able to sell some of the produce in the village as well as samosas which she had also learnt how to cook at Wakisa. She said while the school was on holiday she had been able to find work at the local plastics factory which gave her a little money to support herself. She said she saw her future as being much better since her stay at Wakisa and was very thankful for her time there.
Esther and I, after a bit of haggling for the return taxi arrived back at Wakisa at 7pm exhausted. The town where we had visited was only 50 km away and the road was quite well maintained but getting both out and back into Kampala had taken quite a bit of our time as the roads had been jammed packed with traffic.
On our return journey we passed a procession of young girls singing and celebrating. One of the girls had what looked like ash all over her head. Esther said this was a female genital mutilation ceremony which is still held amongst many Muslim groups here in Uganda and other parts of Africa. Although she also mentioned that in Uganda they were hoping it would soon be outlawed.
Weather in Kampala has been heating up too. Although not nearly as hot as I have experience in Asia and Australia for that matter I still need to stay out of the sun during the middle of the day and use a fan at night.
Photos: 1. Me with Goratte in her garden 2. Wakisa girls 3. Taxi rank Kampala 4. Goratte home in village 5. Goratte with her grandmother 6. Seeds drying in the sun 7. The outhouse
Prayer & Praise Points:
Thank you Lord for the work Wakisa Ministries is doing. Praise God for the staff, volunteers and supporters.
I thank God for the opportunity to join Esther on the first follow up visit this year and to hear how Wakisa has helped one of their girls since her return home.
Praise Him for my continual provision, protection and health.
Please continue to pray for Wakisa Ministries as they begin the first phase of constructing the birthing centre.
Please pray for Uganda as the people prepare for elections on 17th of February this year. May there be peace and may God provide an upright man who will bring positive change to Uganda.
Thank you for continuing to pray for my mum’s health and wellbeing. Having ring her a few times she sounds like she is settling into her new routine. I’m looking forward to being home on 29th February.