Back in Australia, my mum spent a good part of the weekend cleaning. So did this Advancing the Kingdom (ATK) neighbour, Aisha. I somehow doubt my mum was using a mud and cow dung mixture to clean her floors.
Some things in life are just very different here. Dung is actually a great way to take care of a village home. It hardens surfaces; making them more durable, reducing chances of bug infestations, and prevents dust coming up from the soil floors and walls.
On Monday there was much news in Project Lydia, the women’s’ craft business I wrote about last fortnight; some good and some bad. On the good news, one of the ladies just gave birth. The ladies had been praying over her for some time now, because her last child died during birth, and she was now a couple of weeks overdue. Praise the Lord, she now has a healthy baby boy! Sadly, one of the ladies lost her father (or uncle? As here in Uganda the father’s brothers are also called ‘father’, likewise all the aunties on the mum’s side are also ‘mum’). Death is so common; a continual reminder of the frailty of life.
Another person we are praying for from the group, Josephine, has cancer of the blood. Please join us in praying for her.
More necklaces should be ready to send off to the US, where project founder Julie, is awaiting their arrival so she can continue with the sales.
(Above) 2 Project Lydia women learning tailoring;
(Below) village children coming to see the project.
My visit to CARE4Kids the other Saturday went well. Not everyone was around, but for those who were it was very exciting. As I was walking down that familiar hill to the Home, all of the neighbours – children and adults alike – came out to greet me. Some even came with me into the Home. As I walked down to the dormitory building, one of the boys, Jonathan, came out… and went back in. Oh. Then out came a group of children and matrons. Apparently, Jonathan had gone inside and told them there was a white (mzungu) visitor who resembled me, but they were sure it couldn’t be me. I will be seeing the kids, and going to church with them, this Sunday. I also spent time with the Muslim family (the main one I’m friends with became a Christian 2008 and we have been close ever since) that lives directly next to the Home; they will be around Sunday afternoon for my visit too.
SO I’m doing well. I’m happy to be back, and working in different places, and setting aside time for myself for time out and planning. It’s good to have periods in life where we can see what is happening in our world, reflect on it, and get planted in the right place. Wherever God puts us (requires listening) is where we should be planted: i.e. put ourselves into, grow and reap.
I’ve gone to Luooka district, Buwungola village, with Water Source Ministries to see how they do the home improvement checks. What needs to be done is not that complicated; as always, changing habits and lifestyles is. As westerners, with our already clean and well structured communities, it is hard to imagine that many homes lack a toilet, room to bathe, drying rack (despite the fact that the ground is just dirt), or water drainage pit that doesn’t just make a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Let alone wash hands and drink clean water!
I’ll go again next week, and then my input to them is that I will train key people from each village in a seminar in one month’s time. I won’t necessarily work in the same way as Water Source, but can learn from what they look out for. I will combine this with what I know to make a difference in the ATK villages, most likely through the churches. This is a point you can pray for me on: that I would hear from God how I should be implementing what I know and how I can best improve peoples’ lives.
This widow had a latrine, but needed some change. The left is the bag that used to give privacy and keep things (animals, young children) out; the one on the right is the new and improved door.
There is much we have to learn from and contribute to the world: for this life and the next.
I’m encouraged by the amount of feedback I’ve gotten from you; that so many are reading my emails, staying in touch with my life, and hearing about those they may never even meet. Thank you for caring!
No comments:
Post a Comment