Boxing Day I slept in. Too lazy to get out of bed when I woke up, I just lay there enjoying the notion that there was nothing on the agenda for the day. Mind you when I finally rose at 8:30am I was still able to find things to occupy me. I finished the last blog before joining Dorcas, Emma and Ezra playing board games. I’ve never been one for board game I don’t like the idea the one person wins and the others are disappointed. I don’t enjoy that kind of competitiveness so Ezra and I played a memory game while Emma and Dorcas played scrabble. We then moved to dominos before lunch was served, yesterday’s leftovers. I enjoy leftovers, there’s not much to prepare and I think things often taste better the second day. It was lovely to be invited once again to join the family for a meal, I do feel very blessed.
That afternoon I walked down to see the girls and to use the office internet to send some photos to the World Share team as well as set up my blog for the next posting. The girls all thanked me for the Christmas gift. I also had a lovely chat to Winny who has been asked to work with Wakisa. I asked her how she felt about her new job. She said she loves being with the girls and having lived at Wakisa after being through a similar experience she was able to empathise and encourage them. She also mentioned that she felt the Lord has previously put it on her heart that she would work here this year. Wow! He certainly had come through for her, right at the last hour!
While I was at Wakisa one of the girls asked if she could speak to me in private. She came with baby in arms and on the brink of tears. Her uncle had been contacted twice to pick her up and had not come. She explained that her uncle would not pick her up if she kept her baby and if she was to go home, that her family would take the baby to a baby home. Her mother didn’t want anything to do with her or the baby. She was also concerned that Wakisa would kick her and her baby onto the street. I reassured her that she would not be kicked out and that we cared for her and her baby and that God had a special plan for them and He would work things out for her and her baby. I prayed with her and again reassured her things would work out. Such a sad situation, many of these young girls, some as young as 10yrs old have been abandoned by their parents when they are in such need of paternal support and understanding. Fortunately many of the girls once they have had their babies their parents or a relative will take them in and continue to care for them.
I would love to see a support home opened for those who are unable to return home. I’d love to help these girls get back on their feet to learn to financially support themselves through the vocational skills they have learnt at Wakisa and to further their education while keeping their babies with them. If the Lord were to provide I’d love to return to do something like this. Let’s see where He leads.
On Sunday I was wondering where I should attend church when Dorcas and Barbara asked if I wanted to join them at the Mavuno Church where Gloria and I had taken the Wakisa girls last Sunday. Emma and Ezra were coming too which make four adults and a five year old. We walked towards Wakisa to catch a local taxi (mini bus) which took us into Kampala then we walked to the main taxi rank and sat in one heading out towards the church. We waited for it to fill, praying it wouldn’t take too long as the service started at 10am and we still needed to take Boda Boda’s the last leg of our journey. We arrived a little late but not too late to enjoy some of the worship. Being the end of the year service they had dedicated it to testimonies of what God had done in people’s lives in 2015. There were some amazing stories of God’s provision, protection, promotions as well as employment, healings and deliverance. Ezra was a little board towards the end as we had not known where the children’s church was so I took him out of the service. We wandered around and found a playground and later where the children’s church was. Coming back home we decided to take the Boda Boda motorbikes all the way as it was threatening to rain. We reached home just as the heavens opened and down if came in torrents.
On Monday, Vivian asked if I would like to take the girls to a movie sponsored by Paul and Amy who had provided the workshop for the Wakisa staff. I thought it better that Winny went with the girls and I stayed at Wakisa to look after the place as all the staff were still on holidays. Ezra came to keep me company and also just to get him out of the house as Vivian had a funeral to go to and Dorcas was to stay with one of the girls who had been taken to the hospital with contractions.
Before getting ready there was time to play a few board games. So I sat the down at three tables with ‘Snakes & Ladders’ which they happily played till early lunch was ready. Then a quick tidy up and chores done before two taxi buses arrived to take them off to the cinema. One girl had complained of pain, that is contractions but they soon passed and off they went with me praying that no babies would be delivered at the cinema. Waiting for them to return, I entertained Ezra with board games and searched online so that I could print out some of the board games rules that had been lost overtime.
Around 5pm the girls came back happy and exhausted, full of popcorn, soda and memories. Some of the village girls had never been to a movie before let alone a cinema.
The following day I was back to the centre to help out. I taught Winny and the girls on tea duty how to make piklets which they all enjoyed. We also made a beautiful thank you card for Paul and Amy in the shape of a butterfly with all the girl’s names inside.
For a few weeks now I have trying to get their TV screen to show the movies I have on a memory stick but I haven’t been able to get it working and their DVD player no longer works. It’s very frustrating. I’m going to try to buy a USB connection to try to link up my computer. I do pray it works.
That afternoon Henry and I were asked to pick up a seven week old baby for blood tests at the local hospital. Pool little thing he didn’t know what he was in for and nor did I for that matter. We picked the baby and a bottle of hot formula. Fortunately the baby wasn’t hungry as the milk really needed cooling down. At the hospital Henry rang the Doctor who had requested the baby to be brought in. We were given the forms then paid for the service we were about to be given. I’m sure people thought I was the mother and Henry the father. We did look a strange couple the only white person in a public hospital. Little Jethro soon started demanding his bottle and fortunately it had cooled enough for him to take. The pathology laboratory called us up to take blood but decided they didn’t want to try on a seven week old so asked us to take Jethro to the nurses in the treatment room. After tying a finger of a rubber glove around his little arm, the nurse attempted to put a cannula in two places but then gave up. She then took us to the children’s ward where a young nurse with his three supporters took us to another room where I was asked to take the baby’s cloths off. Fortunately I realised they only wanted his nappy off. Poor little thing was then stabbed with a large needle, the blood reluctantly sucked from his groin. Jethro was so traumatised he vomited everywhere! I was desperately praying the vein woul
d be found so the blood flowed freely. Then they fumbled around with the cylinders and the caps before asked me to turn poor little Jethro around so they could do it all again on the other side. Praise God my prayers were answered and the blood flowed freely filling the syringe. I then tried to dress the pool little boy mopping the vomit off his jumpsuit and trying not to wrap the wet part of the wrap around him before comforting him in my arms. He fell asleep immediately. There was then a long wait while the blood was tested. Henry had left me at the children’s ward, disappearing on another chore. Eventually, after sitting on a bench without back support, my back gave out on me and I had to stand. Shortly after I collected the blood results at least part of them and was told to come back the following day for the others. But before leaving I should see the doctor. Who was your doctor? I said I had no idea I was just the baby carrier so I was directed back to the treatment room where fortunately the nurse who had been dealing with us said she would ring the doctor as he was no longer on shift. That took a little while too but this time I had a proper chair to sit on. Jethro wasn’t heavy, it was just that I was not use to carrying a baby for hours, praise God, he continued to sleep, poor little thing he had been so traumatised as was I with the whole ordeal. At this time Henry found us and the doctor finally picked up the call and suggested we bring all the results to him the next day. I was so relieved to leave, I just wanted to get poor little Jethro back and cleaned up. By this time I was also smelling of vomit! The first thing I wanted when I reached home, was a shower!
I walked past the hospital the following day to do some local shopping. Before leaving I asked Dorcas what a hand of bananas cost so that I wouldn’t be ripped off with what I call a Westerners tax. I realised then it was the first time I had gone out shopping alone. I wandered through four small supermarkets to find plain yogurt and finally found some at the service station shop. I then retraced my steps to where a young man was selling bananas and asked how much a bunch was. I was pleasantly surprised to hear it was less than what Dorcas had told me. Vivian often receives bananas of which she offers me some. I have been very blessed with a constant supply from her provision but the latest bunch was not yet ripe and as I enjoy bananas with my muesli for breakfast I was needing to buy some ripe ones. Last stop was to buy a large box of rolled oats. Just over $8.00 for a kilo which I mix with sultans, bought here, and goji berries which I brought with me from South Africa with the mixed nuts. These I mix together with the remains of the muesli I brought with me. I have 
only found granola in the shops here and it isn’t quite the same as muesli as it’s usually roasted with honey or something similar, making it overly sweet. Also, I prefer to soak my muesli overnight making it Bircher Muesli. One of the doctors from the World Share team left me a packet of granola with nuts and seeds which is lovely sprinkled over the top. It’s always interesting how to adapt ones diet to what can be found in the places we go. I just love fresh fruits so cutting this up makes my muesli more like a fruit salad with a crunch granola topping. Yum! A great way to start the day.
On route back I decided to stop in at the Guest House on the hill to check out their gym. I had a long chat here with the gym instructor and inquired about classes. They only offered aerobics which I’m not that interested in and weights which unless it’s a workout class I find very boring!
Resting after my lunch with Vivian, I avoided the heat of the day then wandered back to the hospital to collect Jethro’s blood results. Henry was also there so after collecting what was ready, the final results wouldn’t be ready till Friday, we headed back to Wakisa. Winny was taking some days off and Harriet our resident Midwife was back. Doing some work for Vivian, Harriet commented on my typing skills saying she would love to learn to touch type. I suggested she learn online as there where may free lessons. We had a bit of fun as she practiced her first keys ‘f’ and ‘j’.
That evening I had a long chat to my friend Yvonne from ASM, South Africa, who is back in Australia on furlough till late March. I shouldn’t have been surprised to find her up after 1am, but I was, as she had similar habits in South Africa when I visited her! Mind you she was studying then!
Wakisa Ministries: http://www.wakisaministries.com/
Photos: 1. Mural on school wall 2. Ezra and Dorcas 3. Ezra and me sitting outside my little house 4. Vivian and me 5. Our beautiful card 6. Me, Ezra and Florence
Prayer & Praise Points:
Thank you Lord for the work at Wakisa Ministries. For those who have taken on the burden of raising support and finance for the new birthing centre venture.
Thank you for the staff and volunteers who have supported the girl’s during the Christmas break and for providing an outing for the girls. Thank you also for the opportunities for me to help and to be a blessing to others.
Praise Him for His continual provision, protection and health.
Please continue to pray that Wakisa Ministries may fulfil their goal to build and staff a birthing unit.
Please continue to pray for Uganda as the people prepare for elections in February 2016. May there be peace and may God provide an upright man who will bring positive change to Uganda.
Please continue to keep Vivian in your prayers that the Lord will grant them favour and wisdom as they fulfil the official requirements to officially registering the organization.
Please continue to pray for my safety and health.
Thank you for continuing to pray for my mum’s health and wellbeing. My sister, Kathy, has recently visited her on route back to work. Please continue to pray for her adjustment to living alone again. If you know anyone who might need short term accommodation, in Perth, till end of March, please let me know.