Nearly done (for now!)

We only have a couple of mins, so here goes:

Yesterday (Wed), the team visited a street kids project, comprising an accommodation block and primary school. It arose as a result of the compassion of a remarkable woman called Flavia (Mama Flavia to the kids). This gracious woman would walk the streets of the towns at night and establish a realtionship with the kids. The most needy she took home. Fields of Life took this work to heart and bought 50 acres of land on which the aforementioned buildings were constructed. There are now 78 kids, 49 of whom have sponsorsip. 39 of them are orphans. The team really valued meeting the teachers, but especially the kids. Considering their upbringing (eating from the rubbish dumps and sleeping in the sewage drainage pipes in town) there has been a tremendous work done in their lives. It was humbling experience.

Today, the team are planning to rest a perhaps visit town to see the shops (retail therapy??). It's possible this will be the last update before leaving, but we may get a moment later tonight...

God bless,

"McBlogger"

What a day!!!!

Tuesday has come and all but gone, but not without incident.

During team devotions on Monday evening, the team had been impressed by the need to share their faith with the child headed family at Lowero. Cutting a long story short, every member of this family (5 kids, the eldest aged 16) , expressed their desire to know Jesus in a personal way and committed their lives to Christ, led by the team. Following this joyous event, they took the team a short distance into the forest to show where their parents were buried (both died of AIDS). As this little family is all HIV +ve, their future in this life is not at all rosy. However, we can rejoice in the gift of eternal life made freely available to all in Jesus!

The team returned from Lowero fatigued, but grateful for the chance to share practical and spiritual help in a difficult situation.

In the evening, the staff from Kiti joined the team at the guesthouse for dinner and a bit of Norn Iron 'craic'. It was really good to meet with the staff again - they shared with the team the blesing that both the work (painting th staff accommodation) and the love shown to the kids had affected them. The team would hope to provide some form of ongoing support to Kiti and propose to try and fund the installation of an electricity supply to the school (costs are being investigated). The evening concluded with some singing and dancing - an excellent end to an excellent day. Moreover, after the staff had left, the team learned that one of the staff who had previously expressed an interest in Christianity had committed her life to Christ, led by one of our team during the evening.

So, all in all, quite a day!

Tomorrow (Wednesday) the team hopes to visit a project designed to reach street kids. I will try and update you on the happenings of the day on our return.

"McBlogger"

Week 2 commences...

It's been a strange day today (Monday).

The team knew they were to be working with an 'HIV/aids project', but weren't entirely sure what this would involve. So, following a substantial breakfast at Emmaus guesthouse and the usual hour commute across Kampala, we headed north towrds Lowero (the killing fields). We learned that a Ugandan couple and their daughter Ruth had constructed a number of houses on their land to provide shelter to victims of HIV. Typically, they will be rejected by their families and find it very difficult to survive, particularly as the disease progresses. Often, the children are left without parents andthe eldest child is left to fend for themselves and their siblings.

Our task was to paint the inside of two of these houses. We split into 2 teams:

Team 1 worked with a family of 6 children, headed by a mother with HIV. At least 3 of the children are also HIV +ve and it is considered likely that the eldest daughter Justine (15 ?) will shortly have to take charge of the family. However, in this tragic situation, there is hope. The mother shared with us her joy at having a home of a quality beyond anything she could have imagined, and it was now being painted by Muzungu (white men). 'Jesus is so good' was her final comment on the matter - truly humbling, considering her plight. On a lighter note, a mid-day thunder storm forced the team of 4 inside, along with the mother, the 6 children, the family dog and 2 goats! The following hour was, to say the least, congested! This was certainly the most challenging day from a physical perspective, largely due to the higher temperature and humidity.

Team 2 worked at a different location with a family of 5 children. Headed by a 15 year old girl, the team found it a real challenge to see the way they coped in their situation. Please remember this family in your prayers - the team found it a real emotional challenge as they spoke with them. Incidentally, this team was not without wlidlife in their decoration efforts - 10 rats had to be encouraged to vacate the living room before painting commenced!

Tuesday will be the last day for the team at these sites. The target is to complete 4 coats of emulsion to the walls and 2 gloss coats to the woodwork without expiring from heat exhaustion!

Looking back to Sunday evening, the team enjoyed a meal in Kampala centre with Louise and her husband Jason - Loiuse works for Fields of Life and we all learned a great deal more about the scale of the challenges and strategies being developed to cope with them. Please pray for both Louise and Jason (a sports coach with a Christian University in Kampala) as they work in what is a difficult environment.

Until next time,

"McBlogger"

Days of rest?

Sooooo......

Back again - and this time feeling considerably refreshed! The weekend provided a much needed opportunity for the team to disengage from the physical and emotional pressure of the work at Kiti.

The more adventurous took to the source of the River Nile and travelled 30km by raft. This was described variously as "a near death experience"; "the chance to get away from it all"; and "the second best day so far (after our emotional parting from the staff & kids at Kiti)". Those with greater wisdom (largely a function of age!) had a leisurely Saturday, choosing to eat Italian style at lunchtime.

Sunday was fantastic, with a visit to KPC (Kampala Pentecostal Church) at 10:00 (they have services at 8, 10, 12 and 2!). It would be fair to say that the praise was outstanding. The Canadian pastor addressed the issue of prayer which has since led to the team looking out for Crested Cranes at all times (don't ask!). In the afternoon, we all spend a leisurely time at the Speke Resort - swimming, eating & talking.

Now leaving to go to the aids project at Lowero - chat agin soon.

McBlogger

Part two - the Ugandan journey continues....

OK, OK, OK - so it's been a few days.....

As we don't have web access at our accommodation, it's tricky getting on to provide updates.

Anyway, here goes:

The staff block we were painting required a coat of white water based emulsion to acres (well, possibly not quite acres) of fairly coarse block walls. This used copious amounts of water, time, paint, patience and sweat (definately lots of sweat!). Satisfied with our day's work, we returned to the old homestead for good food and fellowship (we're studying Christian integrity in our devotions and these have been a profitable and lively part of the day).

However, imagine our dismay to find on day 2 (Wed) that we have to apply another coat of emulsion to the the aforementioned acres. However, exercising patience and consuming several other fruit, we completed this exercise in good spirit.

HOWEVER, imagine our dismay to find on day 3 (Thur) that we have to apply yet another coat of emulsion to the the aforementioned acres plus a top coat of gloss!!. Add to previously highlighted patience, joy as we find that we're alomost there....

Our joy is complete as Friday sees the addition of finishing touches (like green gloss to bottom block course, white gloss to windows etc). The finished product is a joy to behold and a true labour of love.

Actually, the highlight of the first week has to be the 330 children at Kiti. Although most of them have virtually nothing in the material line (including what we would consider to be most basic of clothing and food), they are a shining example of happiness, finding delight in the simplest of pleasures. The (limited) time spent interacting with the team has given rise to much laughter and some tears (always on the part of the team). What a challenge to us as we reflect on the time and effort devoted to the pursuit of our material obsessions. Also, the 13 staff give 100% to the children, as they seek to educate them without the benefit of text books, electricity, running water, kitchen etc etc.

On the last day, the team presented the school with football kits, pencil sets, hair bobbles etc which were gratefully (no, really really gratefully) received. In return, the children sang and presented the team with gifts of fruit which they had picked in the surrounding countryside. Also, they presented a wonderful papier machier chicken, decorated with real feathers which is now the team mascot!

On the lighter side, Steve has restrained himself from knocking several motorcyclists off as the pass within millimetres of his window in the minibus. Garvin has enjoyed some of the best naps in his life as we travelled to and from Kiti each day. Incidentally, this journey took approx 1 1/2 hours through incredible scenes of wealth and poverty as we criss-crossed Kampala each day. We were able to experience (I almost said enjoy!) the sights, sounds and smells of a developing city (approx 1.5 million population). Bryan and Leigh have already identified several sites worthy of procurement in the development of their new Ugandan Joint Venture property development business. Andrew has continued to minister to the various aches and ailments of the team (and after 1.5 hours in a Ugandan van, there are many aches!!). Neil has endeavoured to ensure that a minute by minute photgraphic record of the team's exploits will be available on their return. Jayne has demonstrated a touching blend of compassion for the children and Kiti and contempt for some of the banter on the bus. Finally, Chris would love to borrow a whistle and join the Ugandan traffic police force (even for an hour) - it looks like one of the most exciting of boring jobs in the world!

Until the next time (by which time the team should have enjoyed some well desrved R&R), this is blogger signing off...

God bless.

Welcome to Team Muzungu

Hi everyone! This is the first of a short series of updates from the Bangor team working in Kampala with 'Fields of Life'.

This adventure started with SMunday, the longest day of this year to date. It started with some amateurish (although successful!) smuggling through Heathrow airport. It was good to meet with a like minded bunch of FoL'ers in Heathrow (with possibly even cooler T-shirts than ours), resulting in one of the most Christian flights in a while! It was during the flight that we discovered Batman & Robin were members of our team - it's good to have a couple of super heroes on the team (photo to follow!).

Later on SMunday, we arrived in Kampala airport where we were whisked (also shaken and stirred) at speed across Kampala - a city of enormous variety of sights and smells! Jonny excelled himself by getting 3 mosquito bites before even leaving the airport!

Our accommodation is great with a beautiful view across green and rolling hills (much like home really!). We got some money changed, ate food and slept....at last.

Tuesday saw us painting Kiti (pronunced Chitty!) primary school - we are redecorating the staff accommodation block, home to 6 of the staff. Thus far no-one has succumbed to malaria, although the team are having difficulty remembering to take their medication.

We'll try and upload a few pics soon.

Best wishes,

Team Muzungu