At the beginning of a new year at Wakisa there are programs and lessons to prepare. A schedule for the year planned out. I am helping Harriet, Wakisa’s live in midwife, with topics on Infant Care. I went through my mothercraft notes and selected topics I thought would be helpful to expectant mothers and made a rough guide for twelve lessons to cover the two days a week for the six weeks I have left in Uganda. I wanted not only to cover the practical side of parenting but also to touch on the physical and emotional needs of a growing child. These lessons would cover how we communicate to babies and how they in turn try to communicate with us. How to help with their physical growth and brain development through play suggestions as well as other aspects of development such as setting boundaries, discipline, mutual respect and emotional needs of a child.
There are two morning classes of Infant Care per week one on Monday the other on Wednesday. After our first Monday lesson we were also asked to fill in for an afternoon class which had been cancelled. This worked out very well as our morning class had taken longer than expected, I also wanted to show the girls how to make shakers/rattles out of empty water bottles. I hadn’t collected quite enough bottles for everyone but it was enough for them to get the idea. It was also a fun way to finish a class which had originally been for handicrafts. Some girls were quite inventive, sticking pictures inside the bottles to prevent baby from chewing or tearing them off the outside.
On Wednesday we had a lesson on emotional intelligence. This is having the capacity to be aware of, control, and express ones’ emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships 
judiciously and empathetically. Recent studies have shown that emotional intelligence, not a high IQ, is the key to both personal and professional success.
One of my motivational gifts is teaching and I must admit I really do enjoy teaching whether it is teaching client, the girls or just helping friends know how to use the computer or their phone apps. As long as I have more experience than who I’m helping and they are open to be taught I love helping where ever I can. I get a thrill when someone says “oh wow! I didn’t know I could do that!” I remember someone once suggested I write a motto for myself. I did, it’s “Helping others find a better way”. This can be applied in all sorts of areas in life but basically involves teaching the teachable.
Do you remember me talking about the problems I had been having with how fast I was chewing up my internet data? Last month I bought a whopping 5GB of data. I was very careful about how much I was using through the month and had also learnt how to transfer my photos off my phone straight onto the computer. See, I’m learning too J I think we never stop learning it keeps our minds young.
On the 14th January I took a Boda Boda into Acacia Mall to buy another month’s worth of data. The previous date was about to expire on the 15th. While I was at the Mall I looked around the supermarket to do a bit of shopping but when I saw the difference in price I decided it was better to buy from the local shops. Anyway it’s good to support the small local businesses. I also treated myself to a cappuccino. Then because it was an overcast, cool day I decided to see how long it would take me to walk back to Wakisa. It’s amazing the things you see along the way. I found the British Embassy but not the Australian, I recognised land marks from previous trips into town and kept walking. Boda Boda and taxis passed, tooted to see if I wanted a ride, I smiled and shook my head, I was enjoying my walk. I remembered which roads to cross and where to turn left past the shopping centre I had walked to when returning from the Nigerian Consulate. I didn’t have much further to go from there. First up a very steep hill on top of which the biggest mosque in Kampala was build, then down through Bakuli, past Java Café, cross a set of lights and I was back at Wakisa. It had taken me just over one hour. I was hot and exhausted but it felt great as I love walking and had achieved my goal.
That night with another 5 GB of data I tried to use up the 1.6GB I had left from the previous month. I went on line and bought two e-books I wanted and downloaded them to my tablet, I scrolled through watching clips on facebook, I updated my computer, started this blog and uploaded pictures for it, I updated over five apps on my phone, checked all my emails, watched more facebook clips then ran out of what else I could do and I still had over 1GB to use. On the 15th when I thought the excess would expire I still had over 60MB from the last plan. So what had gone wrong with all the data I had been using up so quickly when I first arrived? It still confuses me how I could use 1GB so quickly and last night I was struggling to use it up with all the down and uploads I was doing! This time I’m going to try to pace myself with 1GB per week. To my great surprise and delight the last months unused GB remained until I slowly used them all up.
During the week a contact from Couchsurfers had finally replied to an email I had sent her before leaving South Africa. She hadn’t received it as she had been without data on her phone. We then connected through What’sApp and arranged to meet for a long awaited coffee. Mary and I had become friends through CS since earlier this year and I had promised if and when I came to Uganda I would look her up.
We arranged to meet on the Saturday at one place I knew how to get to, Acacia Mall. I also suggested we see if there were any other Couchsurfers from Kampala or visiting Kampala who would like to catch up for a chat the following weekend. As some of you who have been reading my blog know I have been with CS since before leaving Sydney and have stayed with several during my travels both in Australia, Bangalore, India and Cape Town, South Africa. It has been a great way to meet and visit locals while traveling around.
It was lovely meeting Mary and her family and to hear the things she is involved with. She is helping women support themselves in a village south of Kampala. These ladies have lost their husbands through AIDS or illness and had no means to support themselves. She helped finance two sewing machines which are used to make school uniforms for a local school. I suggested Mary inquiring about interest free loans which could help the women buy more machines. I have heard of agencies who provide such loans but unsure if there are any here in Uganda. If anyone can help with some suggestions I would greatly appreciate it.
Another person I had tried to catch up with was the lawyer I had met at the airport in Ethiopia, Christine. On Monday, having previously sending her an email that had bounced, I decided to try this time to call the number on her card. It was the number of the law firm where she works. The receptionist informed me Christine was attending a meeting all week but she would pass the message on that I had called and forward my number. That afternoon I received her call. She said she had actually spoken to Vivian at a function they had both attended so knew I was still in town and suggested she call me the following week to arrange a day to catch up.
In one of my recent blogs you may remember I spoke about trying to catch up with an organisation called Operation Uganda. I was delighted this week to receive an email from them too, inviting me to visit. I’m so looking forward to meeting the boy who I have been sponsoring through primary school.
Sunday, I had arranged for a Boda Boda to take me to Mally’s place at 8:15am but when I reached the station where he waits he was not there. I waited till 8:25 then went with his co-worker. He quoted the same price so I knew I was getting the right price. I really don’t like being taken advantage of because of the colour of my skin. The driver told me he knew where to go but along the way it was obvious that he didn’t. We ended up going up and down many unsealed back streets stopping to ask people along the way. The last person we asked gave some very long instructions. I felt the apartments were somewhere near so kept my eyes peeled. Sure enough just after we left this last person, there on the left was a familiar wall and above the wall the name Bukoto apartments. Praise the Lord we had found them.
When I arrived everyone was still getting ready. There had been a problem with the car battery. The fellow who had cleaned the car the day before had left the radio on and the battery was flat. David had had to drive the car around to recharge it. We finally got on our way with five children and three adults in their people mover. Christ’s Heart Church was quite a way out of town and then down a very dusty road. The first service was still underway when we arrived, which meant not enough parking. We left the car to be parked and waited. As we waited I noticed the distant sky was very dark with sheets of rain streaking from the heavens. The church was a large tin shed. I’m told this is because a prophetic word was given that they would have a large sports stadium built so in the meantime a temporary structure was all they needed. Which, by the way, had been enlarged twice since it was erected and was again too small for the two services they help each Sunday. Just recently they had been offered a neighbouring property to purchase and so they were expanding once again.
I was surprised at how many people streamed out of the first service and it seemed, people were constantly coming in during the second trying to find somewhere to sit. I also noticed there were crutches hanging from one of the beams. Mally had previously told me there had been many miraculous healings including the lame walking so they had hung the crutches as a reminder of God’s Hand at work amongst them.
And then the rain came down! I mean it just poured and didn’t seem to stop till then end of the service! It was quite amazing just as the service was coming to a close the rain suddenly ceased. Praise God! Now there was only the mud to manoeuvre as there was not paving and the road was not sealed. I was wearing my Sunday best sandals which are leather and had needed to be glued together when I was in Thailand as the water had dissolved the glue! Help! Oh well what can a girl do? I trod gingerly over the mud stepping on the firmer raised areas and stones where ever possible. We all needed to take off our muddy shoes before entering the van to try to keep it a little clean. With everyone in we waited for one of the pastors who was coming back for lunch. Oh dear! He was held up at a meeting. Now to entertain four boisterous children and a baby!
We were finally on our way with one shopping stop before reaching home. I had promised to make macaroni cheese for lunch and had brought all bar the milk and flour which Mally said they had. So, as soon as we were in the house, which was after 4:30pm, I got to work with the help of Mally’s daughter who stirred the white sauce. Unfortunately as soon as it was made I needed to rush off as I like to be home before dark, so left them to enjoy in my absence.
Monday it was back to Wakisa and another class with the girls. Harriot was busy so some of the girls took it in turns to help translate for me. We continued on the topic of development and things they can do to help their babies learn. Then in the afternoon I wanted to see if I could find the shop that Gloria and I had been to before Christmas as there were certain things I had bought there that I had hunted for in other supermarkets and couldn’t find.
I knew this supermarket was somewhere behind the mosque so walked and walked and walked till I came to the end of the road. Hmmm it wasn’t there, where could it be? I asked a Boda Boda as they usually know where things are and he pointed further down the hill and to a road on the left which was parallel to the road I had just walked. He even drove ahead of me to the corner so I knew exactly which road to take. I thought that was very kind of him. Not far along this road another Boda Boda asked where I was going, I said the supermarket. He said oh that’s further down the hill and stated up his bike. I said no it was ok I wanted to walk. I was sure it wasn’t further down the hill and I was right for just a little further along the road was the supermarket I was looking for.
I was pleasantly surprised. Not only did they this supermarket have the little marshmallows I had previously bought but they also had couscous which I had been trying to buy so I could make a quick meal for those days I missed out on lunch! Then another amazing surprise they actually stocked real muesli not just granola! What’s more I could pay with my bank card. I truly felt blessed as I left with my special purchases.
On route home I stopped in at Wakisa to pick up my computer then heading up the hill passed the cathedral and home. A hot shower, a bit of washing and for dinner a hot mug of chocolate with mini marshmallows. Yum!
It had been a very productive week.
Photos: 1. View from Boda Boda station looking down to Wakisa on the left and mosque on the hill in the distance. 2. Class making bottle shakers 3. An earlier photo of girls after World Share team painted their nails 4. Preparations 5. Streets of Kampala 6. Little cutie 7. Outside Christ’s Heart Church 8. Muddy road after the rains
Prayer & Praise Points:
Thank You Lord for making it possible for me to catch up with acquaintances make before reaching Kampala.
Thank You for laying the vision for Wakisa Ministries on Vivian’s heart. Thank You for the work the team is doing and for the new birthing centre which is about to commence. I praise You for the dedicated staff, volunteers and supporters.
Please continue to praise Him for my provision, protection and health especially as we approach the national elections.
Please pray for peace to prevail in Uganda as they approach their elections on 17th of February. 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. She sounds well although a little forgetful. No, she hasn’t forgotten who I am! She is just needing to be reminded of the date I’m arriving and that I, not a student, will be moving back into the spare room on 29th February.