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.