AFRICAN ADVENTURES!
Wow, a lot happens in a month. I’ve been part of activities that range from recruiting children, to building wells, preaching, and getting stuck in random villages in a down pour. How exciting!
Others have come and gone: Allan Toole, who was in charge of the water development; Voula (head of ISA), Ben and Geoff (film men), who filmed and pushed forward the work happening here; and Bec went off to Kenya for two weeks, but is now back in great form. As for me, I’m pretty settled into life here; even if it is consistently unpredictable (yeah, I love it).
See the cutie above? This is Waiswa Peter. He is the twin of one of the girls here, Babirye Elizabeth. Pastor Kawoya and I went and took him into the home a few Saturdays ago. I was so touched to see how the other children embraced his arrival – the girls shared dolls, the boys showed him how the place functions, and he was surrounded by a crowd of smiles. This is a particularly sad case because Waiswa has sickle cells. God willing he will be healed, but for now we are grateful for the temporary release from pain God has granted thus far (truly).
The white man in the front of the stage is Allan. We’re in church, where he got everyone up doing silly tricks. I love it! A professional water development worker, who is completely God and people focused, and able to make fun in any situation. Allan was such a blessing to Bec and I; personally and work-wise.
Allan taught an effective evangelism technique, which only requires a piece of paper. I say effective because three new Christians were in church the next week from it!
To the development work. We built a well! Allan made Bec and I his side-kicks, and so crammed our heads full of water information so we could help teach it. Pastor Kawoya selected the team, and we started training. We only had two weeks to learn about sanitation, water, and building a well, and then we got into the physical work. The method we used is called the percussion drilling method. It was a great time getting to know some people – who I now see regularly – and seeing peoples skills, ideas and commitment. One of the most devoted and skilled men, Kisambira Patrick, got a job with ISA.
Geoff and Ben filming the team.
Dropping the bailer to dig the mud out of our hole.
And now we have a water pump! (Please note: no curious children were harmed during the making of this well – we worked in teams, so it was easy to child mind and construct simultaneously.) Allan will hopefully be back at the end of the year for further training… if World Vision, who came to see the project and was very impressed, doesn’t steal all his time first.
Another adventure was the flood. We came back from church to find a river, in place of our driveway and land. Fortunately we work well together, and half the adults were inside feeding and caring for the kids, and the rest of us were wading up the drive to divert the water (yes, still in church clothes).
But as you can see I am still well and happy, and you’ll have to trust me that the others are too.
That’s just some of the major things that have happened. In between that is normal work and daily living.
Thank you for reading and for caring,
Emily (Nabirye)
God expects so much of us rightly because He knows how able and willing He is.
Praise Points!
- We are becoming increasingly organized and stable in our work on this side of ISA
- Allan, Geoff, Ben and Voula came and went safely, and were all loved on this side, and able to do a really good work (not bad for a 2 week and 1 week stay!)
- Bec came back refreshed from Kenya, and praise God there was a family there to spend time with, and she is looking prettier than ever
- All of the children are alive and well
- The new matron and cook are lovely, even better than the last ones in work standards, and adore the children (staff change a lot, don’t worry about that)
- Social connections are going well, especially since joining the church choir, and I’ve made friends with families all up the road (unfortunately, I also got stuck to their chair)
- Favour with those who have monitored us, and the necessary work put in by the staff behind it. Bless them
Prayer Points.
- That restrictions of travel, weather (I’ve redefined my understanding of downpour), blackouts, and how those things may be effecting people you need to work with will be minimal and easily compensated for later
- Natalie, gorgeous girl, is arriving this weekend. Please pray for her safe arrival and that she settles in well
- Sleep for Bec and I
- There is a team coming in July, please pray that the program set for them will be what God wants for them, for us on the receiving side, and that preparation would be good
- For the continued organization of ISA, which relies on many signatures and papers. But hey, we’re getting known by a lot of different people J
Prayer is “powerful and effective”
So thank you for your prayers.
