I left off last time with the pending 10 year celebration at Wakisa Ministries. Saturday had finally arrived! Last minute arrangements were hurriedly put into place as guests started to arrive. It was truly an amazing day. Overcast and no rain which meant it wasn’t too hot as the girls and I sat on chairs under the trees while guests were under the shade of the marquee. Some of the special guests included the prior prime minister’s wife and a leading gynaecologist who is also a recent board member. The service included the Anglican arch bishop opened the ceremony with a message of hope, Christmas carols, a skit from the girls portraying some of their experiences, and Vivian who spoke about the Wakisa Ministries journey and how it has changed the lives of the girls and their babies. She also thanked all those who have contributed through World Share and asked Kate to thank them on behalf of Wakisa Ministries. A love offering was taken up as the girls sang then a closing prayer and food was served. Many mingled around greeting friends and prior girls who had come with their babies to celebrate.
Calendars were sold and babies bottles given out to be taken home and filled with a donation. As things were closing a testimony was given by Winnie, a prior Wakisa girl, who has returned after her university studies to help out at Wakisa while looking for work. After the service Winnie said she was going to pick up Patricia and her baby so together we took a taxi to the hospital. We looking for her in the ward where Winnie had asked her to wait but we couldn’t find her anywhere. Winnie asked the door attendant who said she had been helped out by a taxi driver after booking herself out just prior to our arriving. It wasn’t till we had been back at Wakisa for about 20 mins before she arrived with babe in arms. I couldn’t believe how alert and bright eyed the baby was, staring at all around her with bright little eyes. Praise God they were both safe! Patricia said she h
ad gotten very hungry (they are not fed at the hospital) so had come home on her own. We had also been told that she had been in tears all morning saying she thought she had been forgotten. I think also she wanted to have been part of the celebrations.
I slept in on Sunday rising at 7am before attending the Anglican Church on the Hill which is just behind Vivian’s home. I accompanied Emmanuel (Emma), Florence and Ezra (5yrs) who attended Sunday School. There was an amazing choir which sung Christmas song throughout the service with ended with congregation singing ‘We wish you a Merry Christmas’.
That afternoon I joined Vivian at an Indian function which is held once a year. It was held in a building at a Muslim school. They had set up trellises table full of trays of food. One area was for vegetarian the other with all sorts of salads, curries and three types of biryani, roti paratha and idli which we followed up with a sweet desert drink. Outside were more marquees for guests. I was surprised at how many Indians lived in Kampala or maybe they came in from all around Kampala especially for the feast. There was nothing else on the program, no speeches or dances just feasting. I certainly were full after eating! What a treat, Indian food in the heart of Kampala!
That evening Dorcas and I went for a long walk. She showed me a local Ugandan speaking church just at the bottom on our road where I have often hear loud singing and music. It was in full swing and sounding very lively. We then walked on down the road towards the local markets but turned off just before we got there to visit a residential area which she pointed out were local Ugandans lived and further on, b
etter housing which were rented out to non-Ugandans. We met some of her friends who showed us their home. From here we walked back past a local supermarket where I took a look around as I needed to pick up a few things and thought the local shops would have a better price than the western style supermarkets uptown. I was right I could buy a chopping board with a set of 4 knives and a pair of scissors for just under $7.00 Yes, they were cheaply made (in China) but I pray the plastic handles will last the three months, I’m sure the scissors won’t! The quality of the knives are definitely not what I’m use to but at least I’ll have four of them and all were sharp! I didn’t have any money on me at the time but decided I would definitely return which I did on Tuesday.
On route home there was a man sleeping in the stormw
ater drain. I asked if he might be drunk or unwell but Dorcas said before she came to Wakisa she had fled the Congo after her parent’s death and had had to sleep anywhere she could find. Vivian had adopted Dorcas and her baby, Ezra, after she had had a difficult time accepting her child who was a result of her being rape when she was living on the streets.
Monday we were still all exhausted. I was asleep when I heard a knock on the door. Vivian had asked a builder to check out the mould that had been growing on the fresh cement which had been laid when maintenance had been done to a few walls before I arrived. They took a look at the job to be done before we left for Wakisa. Here I helped out with the exercise for the girls which is always fun. I then accompanied Henry on his errands so that I could also buy a new SIM. I wanted to try a different carrier to see if this would help my large data consumption. I then had to use up the data I had on the old SIM. I changed some
of the chat or Airtime, as it is called here, into data. There was a good deal for 24hous but then once I had changed it I couldn’t get on line. I kept getting a message saying LIMITED! So frustrating and I had a blog to post!
In the end I rebooted the computer and things started operating smoother. Hmmmm maybe it was just my tablet playing up! I quickly worked on the blog, uploaded the pics and arranged them before posting it then email everyone. Then there was only Airtime to use up so I ran a new friend, Mally who came out from the UK after marrying a Ugandan who had been studying there. I met Mally at Wakisa helping in the shop. It was a very short chat before my credits ran out. Then I realised I could still send SMS text messages which I did informing friends of my change of number.
Then next morning I slept in again and was only just up when the builder arrived with the guy who was to smash holes in the wall to redo the cement. It took him most of the morning but it still was not fixed as the mould returned four days later! After making a mess on the walls and floor and sweeping up most of it I then finished off the job washing the walls and on my hands and knees mopping the floor, which I had wanted to do for a few days but decided I should wait till this job had been done. I do love the feel of clean tiles under my feet. I enjoying cleaning my little home, I’m still washing my cloths daily but it is nice to have Florence, Vivian’s live-in-help wash my sheets and towel as we don’t have a washing machine here.
That afternoon Dorcas came with me to do my shopping at the little local supermarket. I bought the knives, stocked up with rolled oats and purchased coco and powered milk to make Ezra some ice blocks. There was an ice block container at the house when I arrived which Ezra was asking what it was for so I promised I’d make some chocolate ice-block for him. We put them in Vivian’s freezer to be ready for the next day. I thought it was so sweet when Ezra promised he would share them with me.
Ezra was up early waiting till I woke up, then he was at my door reminding me of the ice-blocks. I suggested we have them after breakfast. Dorcas later made another batch this time a combination of apple and orange juice, passionfruit and banana all whizzed together in a liquidizer. We put the thick mixture in the ice-block holders and the rest watered down for drinks to be taken to Dorcas’ volleyball practice. It was delisious! That morning just before I gave up on the plumber he arrived and after looking around decided that there was a larger pipe needed to improve the pressure in my little house. The shower is just a stream of water and the toilet takes about 15mins to fill. Not that it really worries me I’m use to funny water systems I’m just happy there is running water! I’m actually very blessed to have a hot water heater!
That afternoon was my first ride on a Boda Boda motorbike taxi. I had been told how reckless they were so was a little cautious but soon found out they were no worse than the drivers in Cambodia or Thailand! I watched Dorcas practice volleyball but after moving out of the sun missed her match.
On Thursday, I was back at Wakisa helping out where I could. Vivian suggested I help Ester their counsellor arrange follow up with some of the girls who had left. We first arranged the girls in order of location so that we could see two or a maximum of three a day depending on where they lived. We also made a list of questions to ask the girls related to their stay at Wakisa and if they had any suggestions to help us improve the service provided. The follow up program would start after the Christmas break with visiting around sixteen girls and their babies who had moved back home to be with their parents or guardians.
Friday, Vivian invited me to join her not only at the church but at the reception of the wedding of a family member who had returned from Canada to be married. The ceremony was held at the Cathedral on the hill and the reception later that afternoon was at the Hotel Africana in town. Many of the family members had moved to Canada but wanted to have the wedding amongst family and friends back home. It was a lovely service and reception which was supposed to start at 4pm but didn’t really get underway till 5pm. I’m told that’s African time. I reassured them, starting late was the same all over the world!
This week was truly a week of celebrations and partying! I can’t believe it’s already Christmas!
Merry Christmas to all my blog readers!
Wakisa Ministries: http://www.wakisaministries.com/
Photos: 1. Dusk over Kampala as we walked back from volleyball 2. Some of my baby wraps under the Christmas tree 3. Me exercising with girls 4. Vivian speaking at the Wakisa’s 10 anniversary 5. Me with the girls 6. Cathedral on the Hill 7. Local homes 8. Ezra and I in my little kitchen 9. Florence and Dorcas cooking cassava 10. Indian celebration 11. Vivian, Barbara and Christine at wedding ceremony 12. Relatives at the wedding reception
Prayer & Praise Points:
Thank you Lord for open doors for me at Wakisa Ministries. Thank you for giving me opportunities to help and things to be part of that I might be a blessing to others.
I praise Him for His continual provision, protection and health.
Praise the Lord for 10 years of ministry to young girls in need through the Wakisa Ministries
Pray that Wakisa Ministries have many more wonderful years to come.
Pray also that finance for the birthing unit will come so that it may be completed early 2016.
Praise Him for all the hard working staff at Wakisa and the work they are doing in assisting these girls with their babies.
Please also pray for Uganda as the people prepare for elections in February 2016. May they be peaceful and may God provide an upright man who will bring positive change to Uganda.
Please continue to keep Vivian in your prayers as she and the Wakisa Ministries have been falsely accused by officers from the Ministry for Gender for selling babies for adoption. Pray also that all the official papers that are needed for officially registering the organization will be completed without complications or penalty.
Please continue to pray for my safety and health.
Thank you for continuing to pray for my mother’s health and wellbeing. Her boarder is moving out with friends and so Mum will need our support as she will be living on her own till my return.