Andy and Claire

see this

2011-12-01T08:14:00.000Z

Click here to see the attached photos

3 about these roles

2010-06-10T13:38:00.001+01:00
P how are you ?
Just received my iphone 3gs 32gb from this website : tradeonline888.com
much cheaper than others and genuine . if you would like to get one,you can check it out,
all the best for 2010
Regards,

We are back!

2010-05-18T15:00:00.002+01:00
Goodbyes are never easy...and this was certainly the case in Uganda a week ago! We have returned from our 3 months leading the gap year team, Living Links. It has been fabulous, so much to be thankful for. Much has been accomplished and many new lessons learned (not least, that dioralyte is a very useful thing!?)

Currently we are preparing for a Quiz and Hog Roast evening in aid of ROC (Reaching Orphans for Care, which is the orphan sponorship programme we have helped to set up in Ibanda.) Otherwise we are looking forward to welcoming the headmaster of NMS to the UK in a few days time...what a brilliant experience it will be for him.

Many thanks for sticking with this very intermittent blog!

Painting!

2010-03-12T06:50:00.009Z
This week's highlight has been starting to painting NMS Primary School - although at times we have felt like zoo animals as children crowd around the windows peering in to watch the mzungus at work; it has been highly rewarding see how much can be done - 'many hands make light work'! We hope to attach a picture soon - but internet connection is currently not strong enough!

2010-03-03T16:24:00.001Z
It has been beautifully hot today..the Living Links team have been engaged at NMS Primary School. A combination of 'Old Macdonald has a farm', teaching animals and acting out scenes to teach prepositions has kept us busy today!
We are all adapting to life in Ibanda, and despite a few wobbles regarding the local food, everyone is enjoying themselves. There have been a few incidents of sunburn and irritation from mosquito bites-but all are healthy. Tomorrow we are assisting Calvin on the school farm, with some weeding!

2010-02-03T16:12:00.002Z
A symbol for abstinence...
This is the national bird of Uganda - the crested crane! It appears on the Ugandan flag and is often quoted as a 'symbol of abstinence' - because the male and female always stay together and are faithful to each other.

2010-02-03T15:32:00.003Z
From SUN to SNOW to SUN!
We have loved being with our family over the holidays and catching up with our friends, but 9th Feb sees us boarding a flight back to Uganda! We are excited about returning to Ibanda and getting stuck in again at NMS school. However, we are embarking on a slightly new venture....for the next 3 months we will be leading a team of 4 gap year volunteers, who will be helping out at NMS and 2 other Primary schools and living with us in Ibanda. We have called this gap year project LIVING LINKS. Last week we came together as a team and spent some time preparing for all that lies ahead... This involved understanding issues of culture/worldview, as well as appreciating the history of Uganda and discussing practically how we might help at the schools - it was great fun! We hope to keep you updated via this blog and our regular emails!

2009-11-20T12:15:00.002Z
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!

2009-10-24T15:22:00.002+01:00
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.

2009-10-18T07:58:00.001+01:00

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.

2009-10-12T10:36:00.003+01:00

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!

2009-09-28T17:01:00.002+01:00
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.

2009-09-28T16:51:00.003+01:00
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!

2009-09-05T19:31:00.002+01:00

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!?

2009-09-03T10:32:00.002+01:00
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!

2009-08-18T10:48:00.003+01:00
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!

2009-08-03T16:45:00.002+01:00
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!

2009-07-18T17:54:00.002+01:00
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.

2009-07-18T17:48:00.002+01:00
A rather cheezy picture of Andy and I at Murchison National Park... in the background you can see Murchison Falls - geography in action!

2009-06-30T19:23:00.003+01:00
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!

2009-06-30T19:17:00.003+01:00
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!!)

2009-06-30T18:05:00.002+01:00
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.

2009-05-11T08:55:00.002+01:00
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

2009-04-13T08:21:00.002+01:00

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.

2009-03-26T08:24:00.002Z

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!!

2009-03-26T07:56:00.002Z

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...

2009-03-21T08:39:00.006Z

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

2009-03-02T18:05:00.002Z

‘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!

2009-02-26T09:57:00.001Z

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

2009-02-26T05:26:00.002Z

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

2009-02-21T07:20:00.004Z

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!

2009-02-20T05:05:00.000Z

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

2009-02-17T17:25:00.002Z

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.

2009-01-30T09:13:00.001Z
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...

2009-01-11T18:12:00.003Z

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!

We are at capacity!

2008-12-01T20:38:00.001Z

This course has been absolutely excellent…but we are now at capacity! We have taken on board and inwardly digested a huge amount of material over our 10 weeks here and it has been great! Two weeks back I was nearly converted to being a development project manager! We spent 2 full days in small groups pouring over large sheets of flip chart paper,’ post-it’ notes and log frames working out how to plan and execute a ‘children at risk’ development project in Burundi. (It has inspired me to maybe try and develop a more coherent structure for the education project we will be involved with in Ibanda, Uganda…) Aside from his studying… Andy has also enjoyed a taste of victory on the All Nations footie team and was even awarded the prestige award of ‘man of the match’!

Overall, it is difficult to summarise our experience here – suffice to say that we both feel more equipped practically, more affirmed in our call to go and now ready to face the challenge of settling into Ugandan culture, with the Lord as our guide.

Thank you for your prayers during this period. Please pray that we’d be able to adjust to the transition of leaving college and going between family and friends during the holidays. Please also pray for Sunday 7th December – we are speaking at St Mary’s Church, Radcliffe on Trent and also at ‘Nightbridge’ (Holy Trinity’s youthgroup).

Now that's trust...

2008-11-17T15:54:00.002Z
Last Friday I cut Andy’s hair and the Friday before that he cut my hair! There have been lots of comments around the college about Andy’s smart new hairstyle – but to be honest they haven’t got close enough to see the rather large ledges left in the back of his hair! It turns out that hairdressing scissors are actually pretty sharp as well – my fingers testify to this! Well, this is an example of the practical side of our course. Andy has also been learning the basics of car maintenance and loving the opportunity to sit and play with ‘toys’ in the workshop.

A flavour of week 6...

2008-11-04T15:54:00.002Z

So we are just over half way through our course and it definitely feels like the end is rushing towards us. Recently we have been challenged quite a bit as well… for example we have been discussing and attending lectures in areas such as ‘Culture Shock’, ‘Expectations and Boundaries of working abroad’ and ‘Stress vs. Burnout - overseas'. On the one hand we feel privileged to be in a safe environment at All Nations to prepare for what lies ahead, but on the other hand we feel like there is a lot to process and to take in at the moment. Please do keep us in your prayers (if that is your thing) and in particular we’d like prayer as we think through what our specific roles might be in Ibanda and at NMS (the school). We hope to email the school with our ideas, but we are aware that there may well be a difference in the levels of expectation from them or us. Away from the classroom Andy is busying cleaning his footie boots for a match on Saturday and I am getting surprisingly excited about the hairdressing course on Friday… we’ll let you know how they go!

No Power for 24hrs but Snow!

2008-10-30T18:58:00.003Z

A heavy dump of snow caused a small amount of chaos yesterday…Not only was it ‘Quiet Day’ at college (where everyone had the day to read, prayer, relax on their own) but with the electricity went the hot water and the whole heat system... If it wasn’t for the beauty of a couple of inches of snow, I am sure things would have seemed a little different?! But the snow was such a blessing! We awoke to glorious sunshine slowly eating up the magical blanket of snow…I became like a little child gobbling down my breakfast as fast as I could to maximise the time I could have in the snow. It was wonderful…the crunch underfoot, the branches laden with snow, the red berries sitting stark against the pure white and the warm sun rays making the chilly air, warm – it was a superb scene! Thankfully to everyone’s great relief, at 6pm, just as more and more layers of clothing were being added to keep warm and candles lit, the electricity came back on and the sense of adventure began to diminish…

We've got a neighbour...

2008-10-30T18:51:00.003Z

Zillah (what a brilliant name!), who is on our course here at college, is going to be just up the road – well, actually about an hour up the road from where we are planning to be in Uganda, (but that’s not bad given our very rural remote location out there…) This has also motivated us to start learning the local language ‘Runyunkole’, since she has found a handy little workbook with basic phrases in. So far I think we’ve just about mastered good morning and thank you - progress is slow! The great news is though that we won’t actually have to rely on this foreign tongue the whole time, as all the lessons at the Ugandan school (NMS) are taken in English – but it will be good to communicate with the locals and get by at the market etc. So, hurrah a fellow Brit in close proximity...to share our experiences with.

'Who am I?' & 'The Bible and Mission'

2008-10-11T17:12:00.003+01:00
We now know who we are! (Or at least that was the aim of week 1's lectures!) We've completed the first module 'Who am I?' This included doing the Myers Briggs personality test. It was quite revealing and scarily accurate at working out our strengths and weaknesses, but I suppose it's important to be aware of these, so that we can be as effective as possible in our future ventures. We were also hugely encouraged looking at our identity in Christ from a variety of Bible studies. Now we're coming to the end of our second module, which is all about what the Bible says about mission and how the four Gospels portray Jesus' model of mission. Aside from the studies Claire and I have been dusting off our instruments and playing in the worship, which has been enjoyable. We've just been out enjoying the sunshine and playing football with a few of the other students... Claire obviously played brilliantly, but unfortunately I came away with a bruised big toe (...nothing to do with her though)!

Arriving at ANCC

2008-09-27T17:11:00.005+01:00

All Nations Christian College drew into view as we winded our way up the long drive...a beautiful grand old house to live in...brilliant for 10 weeks. However, on arrival we were quickly told that we were in 'Oakhouse', which although perfectly comfortable is a trendy sixties purpose built block covered by huge trees!
Well... we've been eased in gently with lots of social time interspersed with admin bits. We can already tell that the people here are going to be a real inspiration. As an example our neighbour is a lady of real courage and faith having just returned from 5 years in Tajikistan!
The college itself is surrounded by incredible countryside - so i think a routine of lectures and ambles through the forest may well be the order of some of the days ahead?! (It's a hard student life!)



Visiting Nyakatukura Memorial School (NMS)

2008-08-31T22:11:00.002+01:00

Upon our arrival at NMS we were given a tremendous welcome. We met a significant proportion of the school governors, the archdeacon of Ibanda, along with the headmaster (Revd Agasha Muhwezi) and some of the teaching staff.

While we were at NMS we were honoured to live in Revd Agasha’s house on the site of Nyakatukura Memorial Primary School, which neighbours the Senior School. The house was lovely, but basic. No running tap water, bucket wash, long drop and only enough electricity from the solar panel to light half a dozen 12-volt light bulbs. Needless to say, we found it challenging.

Most of our time was spent meeting people and chatting with staff and students. On the Sunday, I was asked to preach at St Paul’s Church in Ibanda. Claire and I were both moved by the free worship that the community have in church. They are not afraid of showing that they love Jesus and want him to have all the praise he deserves. We were pleased to find a copy of the Bible in Runyankole in a local stationer’s shop; this has become our primary way of learning the local language. Although English is the primary language in Uganda, and we could get by comfortably without Runyankole, we feel that we could integrate far quicker and more smoothly into the community with some confidence in the language.

Southwest Uganda is a very lush and fertile place; there was no lack of food. We ate loads of unbelievably delicious fruit. We ate lots of rice, matoki (mashed and steamed plantain), beans and g-nuts. Occasionally I was able to enjoy poshu (ugali), beans and dodo (spinach), a childhood favourite.

We were encouraged by just how much we learnt about the area, community and the school during that week spent in Ibanda.

The evening before we left, we met with some key people to discuss how Claire and I might fit into everyday life at NMS and in Ibanda. It was concluded that we could do some teaching, whilst at the same time running workshops for teachers in the community. We would also take on some chaplaincy duties at NMS, such as initiating Bible Studies and offering training for staff and students in how to plan and run Bible Studies.

Upon our return to England, we had a meeting with CMS (Church Mission Society) and DCS (Dean Close School). At this meeting we agreed that we would go to NMS, initially for 12 months with a view to continue beyond, in the capacity as described above.

The next step is All Nations Christian College (Easneye, near Ware, Heartfordshire …30 mins from Stevenage) to attend their ‘En Route’ course in cross cultural mission work.

Visiting Uganda

2008-08-31T21:59:00.006+01:00

Claire and I conducted our exploratory trip of Uganda from 13^th-31^st July.  It wasn’t long before God started introducing us to helpful contacts.  On the same flight fro
m Dubai we met a young Canadian couple, who were heading back to Uganda to visit a school that they had spent a year teaching in …very interesting to hear of their experiences and reflections.  Upon our arrival, we spent a few days acclimatising in Kampala at
Namirembe Guest House; coincidentally a few doors down the corridor from our new Canadian friends!  We all went out for a meal at ‘Garden City’ (the western mall in Kampala) one evening, a
nd while we were there we happened to bump into the headmaster of the school that they had taught in; even they were not expecting that!  The headmaster (Revd Canon Paul Jeffries, also Ca
nadian) is a top man doing a great job.  His experience of the country’s education system and involvement as a westerner will be very useful to us especially as his school is in Bush
enyi, only 1½ hours away (by car) from where we’ll be in Ibanda.  It also turns out that his deputy is the husband of one of the governors at Nyakatukura Memorial School (NMS).
It was not all that difficult adapting to the climate in Kampala …it rained.  We even had a thunderstorm on the Tuesday evening!
Anyway, a particularly fantastic person that we met was Garry Ion.  A man who has lived and worked in Uganda for 14 years; he works with CMS (Church Mission
Society) in south Sudan, though is based in Kampala.  We had a lot of fun hanging out with Garry both before our visit to NMS and after.  In fact, Garry drove us to NMS on Wednesday 16^th, a 5½ hour trip.
So, on to Ibanda, and NMS…