The End of the Academic Year!

The year has flown by so quickly and the familiar site of children collecting their belongings and leaving on the back of 'boda bodas' is upon us! Every child has a small blue metal box containing their personal items and each boarder must bring their own roll up mattress. All of this, plus the child squeezes onto the motorbike and takes them into town to taxis or onwards to their homes...
It has been a fantastic year and we are so grateful to God, who has sustained us and guided us through everything - Thanks for your support!

WET, WET, WET!

The rains have come to Ibanda...although we do still have hot days, they are punctuated with cool winds and heavy rains! Some of the thunderstorms have been seriously dramatic and the locals look at us very strangely as we stare out the window and take pictures! The roads quickly turn into small rivers and walking in sandals is problematic! However, at least it means that the crops are growing and a harvest will come for the people.

Lauben Kashemeza

I am called Lauben Kashemeza, I am a 17 year old student at Nyakatukura Memorial Secondary School. In my family there are 3 boys and our father, who is a soldier while our mother is a farmer. My father serves in the Rwandan Army and we children and our mother live in Uganda.

When I joined secondary school, I started to really like music. During my free time I found that songs were always entering my head and I love to compose my own music. I like singing and I want to be a musician in the future. I like singing country music at our house. I have composed 1 ½ albums of songs and I would really like to publish my music. To make an album of 6 songs it costs 1.2 million shillings (approx. £400).

I therefore humbly request that you kindly consider sponsoring me in my music. I will be happy to hear from you.

May the Almighty God bless you.

Thank you.

Bishop visits NMS!

The Bishop of Ankole Diocese came to NMS last Thursday to see the recent developments, namely the completion of the girls dormitory and the school farm. He was suitably impressed and praised God, thanking Him for the friendship NMS has formed with DCS. It is true to say that without the support and help from DCS many of the activities at NMS would not have taken place - so thank you DCS!

These students are part of the Orphan Care Programme and they received some school materials kindly donated from the UK. This programme has grown from 30 students and now is financially supporting 55 students at NMS (out of 350 students). However, as you might imagine there is a continual struggle to meet the required school fees and often students are asked to go home and 'search' for the funds (disrupting lessons). Most students that attend NMS are from poor backgrounds and if you feel able to contribute to school fees for these young ones please do get in touch with us.

A family reunion in Uganda...we have recently enjoyed a small break with Andy's family, here pictured at Bujagali Falls - spectacular rapids on the river Nile. Incidentally Andy and I have also rafted down the rapids behind us in the photo - a thrilling experience!

We are now back at school for the final term and enjoying ourselves!

Baldrick! All good things must come to an end!

Recently we decided that since our beloved Baldrick was not producing the goods (eggs!), she should become the first victim to a Sunday roast...

Andy, it has to be said, did a very 'complete' job of killing, plucking, carving and cooking the bird. In the end, it seems Baldrick had not had much time to 'fatten up' and there really was not much meat to go round - however a valiant effort!

Word on the street got round shortly after this event and as a result we have gained 2 more chickens...perhaps we should do this more often!?

This has been the project of these holidays... it's the new girls dormitory at NMS! This is a much needed structure since currently the girls are sleeping in the examination hall, which will be required at the end of this month for the O level students.

Andy has enjoyed co-ordinating the builders and generally organising payments and arranging lorry loads of bricks and sand to be delivered! This has all been possible thanks to a generous donation from DCS - thank you!

An impromptu gathering of our next door neighbours (Herbert and his family) with another mzungu from Latvia, who had come to preach at a church in Ibanda for a week.

We love Herbert's family, they have been so friendly and even let us borrow their fridge from time to time! The children are very sweet (Vicky age 4, Joshua age 2 and Jeremiah age 2 months) and are trying to learn English - the constant 'How are you?' 'I am fine' is about as far as we have got! However, I have been reading them Roald Dahl's, Dirty Beasts poems...we've been having a lot of fun!

Recently we had our third teacher training workshop at NMS and we had the privilege of inviting our friend Dickson (from Lira, north Uganda). He spoke brilliantly on Resolving Conflict at school and I am certain that many of the teachers went away changed people! We were also able to invite other strategic teachers from schools in Ibanda, so it was fantastic for NMS to host this event.

Dickson also spoke with each of the classes at NMS and the pupils really engaged with him. Conflict Resolution is definitely a vital topic for these pupils to hear and in fact we are already seeing some of the fruits of his work, with pupils being much more ready to forgive each other etc. We maximised the chance of having such an amazing man of God with us and even got Dickson to preach at both of the Sunday services at St.Paul's church, Ibanda - all round a great weekend!

If you walked out of our house towards town you'd be overwhelmed by this incredible lady! She is called Christine always smiling and waving at us. Also pictured is her 'last born' - a 'cunning animal' is how she describes him!

We have spent many hot afternoons sitting on upturned crates chatting (mainly about the differences between Uganda and UK!) and also playing Uno.

A rather cheezy picture of Andy and I at Murchison National Park... in the background you can see Murchison Falls - geography in action!

Somewhere in the back of Senior 2 (2 years before GCSEs) is Dad and I... following a rather more raucous discipleship session! The pupils were slightly nervous having more 'whites' in the classroom, but they soon lightened up and asked Mum and Dad some interesting questions! (Of course one of them asked which football team Dad supported!!) Mum also taught them a song with actions, which went down a treat!

We changed identity from local 'mzungu' to fully fledged Western tourists, with Emilie and Joel (pictured here at the equator!). We had a fantastic time together not only seeing many elephants, lions and glimpsing a leopard but also rafting the Nile! An awesome time had by all and hilarious moments confusing Ugandans with Emilie (the twin thing lives on!!)

We are sorry that this has not been updated for a month and a half... no excuse, other than the frustration of uploading photos!

We have had visits from Claire's parents and her sister Emilie with Joel.

Betty was a real blessing and something of a ‘God-sent’ as we settled into life in Ibanda. As many of you are aware, she sadly died 27th May at her aunty's home (Olive).  Although she had been ill for a couple of weeks, it certainly had not looked fatal and it was with great sadness that we have had to come to terms with her absence.

Betty was a resilient and lively 24 years old, having had to deal with becoming an orphan at the age of 14. Moving between different relative's homes during her teen years did not aid her educational chances, but she did complete P7 (top primary school). She was the eldest of 4 siblings, and we have got to know her sister Adrine well, since she was closest to Betty in age and character.

Betty was hard-working, gregarious and fun-loving. We had a lot of laughs together - her laugh was infectious! She giggled at our strange English habits and the way we lavishly spread marmite on chapattis! 

Although Betty never expressed a personal faith, the way that she died has brought great encouragement to us and many. She asked for prayers, scriptures to be read and songs by her bedside. Just before she died with her characteristic smile across her face, she said ‘ I know where I am going and there are people coming to collect me’. 

 

Colours of Life 2 – Kamayangye Rose

I am Rose aged sixteen years, a Ugandan by nationality and I love God.

I have only a father because my mother passed away before I could even know how fruitful she was in my life. My father is a peasant with an occupation of subsistence farming so he couldn’t care for me effectively but God worked through a man, called Wycliff Bargirana. This man worked very hard through difficulties to help me pass through primary school and indeed I didn’t embarrass him or God because I did all I could to pass primary leaving examinations.

Then after that he couldn’t single-handedly provide for me for secondary school so he searched alternative sponsorship for me. So I am studying at NMSS now through a sponsorship scheme, which I am very grateful. And I hope through the Heavenly Father that I shall finish A-Levels and study Law at university.

Two highlights for Claire recently were seeing her netball team, firstly appear in some new bibs (made by a tailor in town!) and secondly compete in the 'Bishops tournament', unfortunately they met some strong opposition... and of course the highlight of receiving our first parcel- marmite, earl grey tea bags and chocolate - yippee!!

These are two of Andy's highlights recently...his birthday party and delivering his first teaching workshop for the staff at NMS. Both were lots of fun! (although both events included doughnuts..one included a special chocolate cake, baked by the more experienced culinary white person, pictured (she is a volunteer from Peace Corps, USA, also living in Ibanda)

The lay of the land...

So, I thought some people may have an interest to get a picture (of sorts) of our home and an idea of the location of some of the places we've mentioned in previous blogs.

Whilst writing a letter to my granny, I thought I'd include a little plan of our garden... this developed into a plan of the house and garden ...and then into a map of Ibanda...!  Ok, some may be thinking, "he has too much time on his hands" ...fair comment, but I enjoyed the task of marking out our new homeland.

If you click on the picture it should expand... hover the mouse over the picture and click the right hand mouse button and select 'Save picture as...".  Save the picture to wherever you want to store it.  Then open the saved picture from the stored location... you should then be able to zoom in and out and read the pencilled writing more clearly.

...Computer Geek: over and out!

Colours of Life 1 – Gorden Twesigye

‘Colours of Life’ – a series that we hope will give you a flavour of the lives of some of the students at Nyakatukura – written by the students for you!

I am Gorden aged 18, a Ugandan by nationality and a S.4 student (in 4th and final year of O'Levels) at Nyakatukura Memorial Secondary School, Ibanda.

First of all I thank God for where I am because without him I would be nowhere and nobody.

I was born and raised from a very poor family where my grandmum is struggling to the heights for me, but finding strength through God.  She struggled for my fees to complete primary level and I did not shame her because regardless of the backwardness of the primary school, through the Almighty, I managed to get a first grade, which became my turning point in life.

From there God worked and got me an opportunity to join the secondary system where I am being paid for by the school.

In the holidays I remain at the school, slashing (cutting grass with a long machete that is bent at an angle at the end þ ) and cleaning the compound, not to forget cooking for myself and studying.

As they say that ‘hard work, discipline and fear of God’ leads to success.  I have always emerged the best in class and I am hopeful that even at the end of O’Levels I shall make it.  After A’Levels I would wish to join a University and take the course of being a medical doctor – and evangelise people with the word of God more than I am doing now as Psalm 105:1 says.  Finally standing of the promise in Numbers 23:19 I will succeed.

Psalm 105:1 says, ‘Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.’

Numbers 23:19 says, ‘God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.  Does he speak and then not act?  Does he promise and not fulfil?’

Welcome to Ibanda’s new guesthouse!

The last 24 hours have been incredible - prayers answered in surprising ways!

Kosam and I had planned to go to visit his tailor in Ibanda to have a suit and smart trousers made for me following the BoG Meeting.  We were both tired, and all but decided to call off the trip.  For some reason we ended up driving past our house and directly into Ibanda.

As we turned onto the main street, a young and rather bedraggled German couple charged towards the car.  In exhausted bursts they unravelled their story…

They were on their way from Mbarara to Fort Portal by taxi (small minibus) when they discovered that the taxi would not actually take them all the way there.  It was late (about 5.15 by now) and they had no idea what to do as there was nothing heading that way by now and no one was able to help them.  They had planned to get to Fort Portal and the next day travel to Kampala.  It was clear that they were both near breaking point as we suggested they come and stay with us overnight and we arrange for their safe travel to Kampala from here the next day.

We put their bags in the car and Claire took them (Kris and Melanie) to sit down and enjoy a cool soda while I got sized up for my suit and choose the material.

Within the hour we had them sat on our new sofa with beds being made up in the spare room and sugar cane providing a comforting energy boost.

Thank you all for joining us in prayer that this house be used to shelter and welcome all who need rest.  We feel that we have been blessed beyond our needs with this house but can now see a glimpse of why our Lord has given us so much …so we can give it away!

Please continue to pray for Kris and Melanie as they travel Uganda for another few weeks.  They left for Mbarara at 7.30am in a special hire taxi (a car) driven by one of our neighbours and a trusted man named Mugeni; he will see that they safely board a Swift coach to Kampala.

Musiime Ruhanga, ahakuba embabazi ne’zebiro byona!  (Give thanks to God, because his love endures forever!) – Psalm 136:26

BoG Meeting

Quite the contrary to what some may be thinking of by 'BoG Meeting' ...BoG stands for 'Board of Governors'...a new abbreviation for me!

Claire and I were invited to attend NMS’ Board of Governors’ Meeting at 10am yesterday morning.  The meeting, as I’m sure you can imagine, started at 11:30 after the governors drizzled in to school from their respective homes and offices.

The meeting started with prayer and then a tour of the school (presenting the progress made on certain construction projects etc).  Following our tour we all took tea, bread and g-nuts.  Eventually, after loooonnnnng introductions, welcomes and thank yous we got started on the agenda.  We were supposed to be finished by 1pm for lunch… was this really going to happen?!

We continued through until 2.45 when we stopped for lunch before concluding the final few points on the agenda and ending our meeting at 4.45.

Items such as sourcing funding for a new girls’ dormitory, planning the laying of a foundation stone and the further development of the school were key focal points during the meeting.  It turns out that a short report I wrote last August on potential school development projects for NMS has been welcomed with great enthusiasm and included as ‘the detail’ for the Finance and Planning Committee to review and work from.

Despite its length and occasional ‘eyelid propping’ moments, it was very interesting to be a part of.  We were welcomed and involved in all the discussions being made free to express our thoughts and opinions despite not being members of the board.  The board members were pleased with some of our input, especially our short-winded and to the point answers to debate (even more so as the day wore on!).

Anyway, the meeting ended with creaking bodies being stretched and all attendants dreaming of home.

Being invited into this meeting is an important step, and we thank God for it.  We have also, by the sounds of things, been called into many of the subcommittees that draw up the policies and proposals etc for the board to review and pass.  Praise the Lord for his opening of doors and the loving and enthusiastic acceptance of us by these important figures.  Please pray that our Lord continues to guide us and go before us in preparing the way; and that we live and serve worthy of the calling on our lives through Christ our Saviour.

Surprise(d) Guests

On Saturday, Claire and I were enjoying a stroll through Ibanda hoping to find a place for a cool drink. The bar we had reckoned on had rather a lot of cars outside… it wasn’t long before we realised some fairly sizeable event was going on. Within a few seconds of peering in we were gregariously invited in to partake in the festivities! Looking around we could see we had stumbled in on a wedding party, complete with the best food, marquee tents and smartly dressed Ugandans! We were led straight to the food.  We received our rice and matoke and were next offered boiled intestines… not our favourite it has to be said! We managed to skirt away from the person offering them without causing offense thanks to the arrival of an understanding friend named Charles who teaches at Kibabura Girls Secondary School and helps out part-time at Nyakatukura.

Despite feeling completely underdressed we were announced over the PA system “welcome to the mzungus” …an amusing and extremely interesting hour was spent!

School has slowly been getting going… we now have nearly all the pupils. Andy commanded much interest as he demonstrated a Physics lesson and was asked “is it magic?!” by one of the observing students! Language is still a bit of a challenge as our accents continue to confuse some of the students. This is particularly evident with some of the biblical language in our discipleship sessions and during the Saturday fellowship time with the boarders. However, I have formed a good friendship with Rhoida, who is the Religious Prefect in the top year group. She is an excited and mature Christian wanting to understand more…

An added excursion was built into this past week, as we travelled to Mbarara to attend the Ankole Dioceses’ conference on education in Church of Uganda secondary schools. Kosam (the Director of Education for the diocese and district) was giving a paper and we had a chance to meet the Bishop; a great ‘down to earth’ and humble man, who kept us entertained with his speech on time management (which was not upheld during the day!).

Home Sweet Home

Claire and I are slowly, slowly (mpora, mpora) settling into our new life in our own (rented) house. We arrived here on Monday (9th Feb.) for our first night. We slowly received our furnishings… all our furniture has been hand-made from local eucalyptus wood (except our plastic dining chairs – much cheaper and more comfy). The house is just beautiful… beyond what we need, but undoubtedly a gift from God. It is situated only 15 mins walk from NMS (Nyakatukura Memorial School) and within a small compound shared by three other houses.

We've made friends with many of the locals – most especially with a Muslim called Rafiki (who has a bakery business that also makes unbelievably good doughnuts!).  I have been in my element DIYing around the house – fixing up our solar showers (which have been a real luxury), mending doors that are too stiff to open and attending to a simple washing line. ...it's amazing just how much work can be done using a simple Leatherman multitool pen-knife!!! The outside of the house has yet to be fully completed and we are still awaiting some good quality 'top soil' to begin our vegetable patch.

It has been SO useful to have Betty to help around the house. She lives with us in one of the spare rooms and has been attending to our needs wonderfully and although she thinks our food combinations are a little strange (chapatti with honey and sugar – just like a pancake really!). She also happens to make the best matoke in Uganda! ...I think she's enjoying being here with us.

We got past a man smoking pot and holding a rifle....
...don't worry that's just the gate man!
We are currently in the beautiful back garden of the Sealy's house, where we stayed last night in Entebbe. Our flight was 6hrs delayed, but it was great to be met and welcomed by Chris and Sue. They have been a real blessing already - having bought us mobile phone SIM cards and been to the international surgery to pick up some malaria testing kits. (We hope we will not have to use the latter!)
We have already expereinced the full force of the Ugandan weather - with a crashing thunderstorm to awake us this morning and now warm sunshine.
This afternoon we head for Kampala to stay with some other friends, before making our journey over to Ibanda.
Praise God that we arrived safely and have been so well provided for.

The immune system...

Our ability to fight against the cold/flu bugs this Christmas has been poor! However, that aside we were grateful for good family times over the holidays and we are now more or less recovered! (Nothing that a bit of hot weather can’t sort out in a few weeks…!!)
So the big off… is 28th Jan and we would both say that things are starting to feel more ‘real’ now. Our last bit of formal training starts tomorrow – this time with CMS, our mission agency. They have called it ‘core training’ so we are hoping to learn the last few gems! Other than that it is final injections, malaria tablets and insurance that are top of the ‘to do’ list!