No Movember

Some of you will be sad to hear that there is no “Mo-vember” in Uganda, where the majority of heads are shaved. Most of you will be relieved. Australia is getting warmer, America and England are getting colder, and Uganda has heated uncomfortably, but generally remains the same.
 

Bye-bye Rozmus Family

At the beginning of the month, Steve and Kelly hosted the most beautiful Thanksgiving Celebration for Amuleni’s adoption. They invited all of the people who have been significant in his livelihood since the days he was put on the street 7 years ago. We were able to hear stories from shop owners who would feed and bathe him; long-term workers of Children’s Restoration Outreach (organisation that helps street kids); Deidrah, who runs Answering for the Children, who he stayed with before the adoption process began; school teachers; and non-biological relatives like Fausta, Ashley and ourselves. It was a great way to appreciate these caring people and have us all witness the variety of people that God used in Amu’s wellbeing. Surely that boy has a future to hope for!

We spent our final, bitter-sweet, day with them on Friday 17th. By 6pm the house and all their belongings were cleaned, packed, locked up and ready to move on. It was very sad to say good-bye, of course because we love them and we have offered mutual friendship and support over these past few adventurous years. However, we are joyful because they can now live in the US, and share themselves with beloved family and friends that make up the home community they’d left behind. There is a time for everything.
As Steve and Kelly said, it was hard to pull themselves away from what they thought was a long-term plan on working in Africa, but they realised they got a deeper satisfaction from relationships and community in the US. Dreams are certainly dynamic.

For those of us who trust in the Lord we hold onto the hope that:

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed... In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:3,9 

Sorry Fausta

Then on Sunday I got a call during church that Fausta had broken her leg and was in hospital. We went straight from church to the clinic. Poor thing broke both bones in her lower right leg when the boda (motorbike) she was on ran into a car. The doctors at Main Hospital don’t work on Sundays, so she would’ve had to wait overnight to be seen. Fortunately, Bryan had taken care of a girl from ATK who broke her arm so he knew where to go. We called Richard, a taxi driver I’ve been using since 2008, and got her transferred. Her leg is now in a full cast. I was touched by the Karamojong community: Fausta had 17 family and neighbours visit and wait with her; plus Ashley, Bryan and I. I pray Fausta will have quick healing and patience over the coming weeks with her limited mobility. Bryan has continued to take her to the hospital for a follow-up x-ray, wound examination and extra plastering on Saturday, and to examine the wounds under the cast today. What a guy!

To Kenya

Last week I stayed in Nairobi with David (our wedding minister), his wife Lucy, his uncle Michael, Amos and Ruth.  Due to the full house, I slept at the Healing Hearts and Nations guest house two doors down. I followed David around to the school and college he preaches at regularly, and got to see him fired up in ministry mode. Actually, to be fair, I think David’s always in ministry mode. He has energy to talk to anybody and everybody, and it ends up being surprisingly Spirit-led. When we were coming back from Bookshine High School, a lady with her boys that he spoke to turned out to be refugees from Garissa. They fled after her husband got killed and had come to start afresh in Nairobi. Crazy! So David and the Principal were able to get her connected with schooling options for the boys, pastors, as well as help them with transport to where they were going (same direction as us).  Other than that, we just hung out and had fellowship amongst ourselves. David and Lucy took Michael and I to Kazuri for a tour of the hand-made clay bead and pottery factory. They produce quality and stunning clay items, especially the beaded jewellery (of course I would think that), which provide employment for 340 widows and single mothers.

Bryan Preaches in Nakivumbi

Though I was tired from travelling all Saturday by bus, I did manage to get up in time to escort Bryan up to Nakivumbi. Cliff had invited Bryan to preach at the new ATK church plant, which Bryan accepted. Previously, the Nakivumbi residents were transported to Nawansega to pray from the main church every Sunday. It was lovely to see some of the Project Lydia ladies, ATK ministers and children again. We received a very warm welcome, especially Bryan who spent some years there.

Bryan has preaching engagements for the upcoming two weeks also. The first with Kibet in Kenya, the second at Fred Muwanguzi’s church. Then Duncan returns and we plan to spend some time at Kasozi Village (where we took Rebecca) over Christmas.

Jinja Pregnancy Care Centre Update

This week is our last week of the Jinja Pregnancy Care Centre (yes, the name has changed) full program. The next two weeks the ladies will just come for the food bags and checking the babies’ health. Then we will have a break over Christmas. The mums who need formula for their babies will be supplied enough for the weeks we don’t meet – thank you formula donors! The health lessons we give are so vital – nutrition, anemia, safe water, disease, and numerous other topics that educated people take for granted – and the ladies are getting better and better at preventing and responding to health problems in their babies.

Another challenge the ladies face is separation from their families and employment opportunities. I couple those issues together because some of the ladies don’t know where to stay or how to have rent money to live alone. Mary whose 8 months pregnant and was staying with the “husband’s” family, and Lydia who has twins and was staying with the “husband’s” aunt, are the two this week who have been told to move out. Last week Shamim asked us to pray with her for rent money because they need to move too.  Then there’s Harriet who stays with the rather difficult (understatement) non-biological aunt. They didn’t finish school, don’t have business experience, and don’t have business families who they can work for. As they say here: ebizibu! Problems!

This photo on the left is Lydia with Kennedy Waiswa and Kenneth Tenywa. I feel tired just watching her with the twins. They’re lovely, but as 10 month olds have a combined weight of over 18kg. If one is breast feeding, the other demands the other breast. She carries one on her back, tied there with a sarong or shawl fastened above her breasts (that’s how they do it in Uganda, in Kenya they tie it over one shoulder) and again at the waste; the other she carries in her arms.  I look forward to their growing independence on her behalf.

But there are also the positive stories. Magdalene, who has a rent supporter, was always in quarrels where she stayed but Sarah (the social worker) helped find her a place just outside of town. Sharon has moved to stay with her older sister and is able to help sell clothes. Annet was staying with her elderly grandmother, but can stay with her mother again. All of the babies bar one, Eseza, are gaining weight.

This is Magdalene and John Jacobsen, or J.J. (affectionately named after Bob’s father, Carolyn’s father in-law). Magdalene’s legs are disabled, making childcare and work difficult. Just two weeks ago, Magdalene took J.J. for a chest x-ray after a persistent cough. It turns out he had an early stage of pneumonia and tuberculosis. He is now on the standard six months’ treatment. Magdalene has been rejected by her family and J.J.’s father does not offer any support, nor is he around.

The Rest of This Week

Sarah and I will complete the JPCC program in Nyenga tomorrow, but continue to provide food and health checks as with the Jinja groups. Bryan leaves for Kenya with Kibet on Thursday. I will go and get the apartment ready for Clarice’s mum and sister to stay in from that afternoon. It’s Clarice’s mum’s third time in Uganda, but the first for her sister. Clarice is very excited. I will also enjoy time with them. On Friday we’ll take the first of the four groups of CARE4Kids children to the swimming pool (we split the kids into 4 groups based on families), where they shall receive Christmas presents from Nat’s raffle. I’ll send photos – Nat put together the best box of gifts! Thank you ladies! Thank you too to the donors who enable me to take the children swimming to make an event of it.


That’s what’s going on in our world. We still haven’t come to a conclusion of what we’re going to do next year. We count ourselves blessed because we have so many options. Furthermore, we rejoice now for the vision that is to come. As David preached when I was in Kenya, God bought us at a great price and He wants to get value out of His purchase, so we can trust God that if we prepare ourselves for productive lives He will deliver. David used a scripture that is close to my heart when thinking about life; It even inspired me for this week’s Bible study with the JPCC women:

"Sing, O barren woman, you who never bore a child; burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor; because more are the children of the desolate woman then of her who has a husband," says the Lord. "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes. For you will spread out to the right and to the left; your descendants will dispossess nations and settle in desolate cities. DO not be afraid; you will not suffer shame..." Isaiah 54:1-4a

Take care this Christmas season. Best regards to all, from Emily

The current flow of life

Zaina with her baby Musa

Bryan 
Bryan’s Mexican cooking has gone well. It requires above average levels of washing up, but on the other hand we make enough for plenty of leftovers, so it balances out. Except for collecting loan repayments on call, Bryan has been spending hours a day reading the Bible, listening to sermons, and researching sticky and bizarre Bible topics. If you need a good debate, he’s your man. I love that my husband has ample time for such activities. As what we do influences what we talk about, our conversation is full of meaningful, interesting and inspirational points.

A cultural stress point
I was feeling so uplifted by being with the young mothers yesterday. Then on the way home, I ended up walking alongside men leading a man they’d chained. One can assume he was a thief. (Thieves here do not go lightly punished and it’s a communal affair.) They stopped with him at a certain point. I kept going, following my instinct not to look back. Although I have my points of disagreement, I understand: that punishment prevents further theft; that neighbours need to help out or else they won’t be helped when they have problems of theft; that shaming them by laughing is off-putting; and that the Ugandan justice system is unreliable. However, I do not get why people who aren’t involved and who won’t be affected need to get involved. Mob justice – what should I do about you? When I reached home I chose to pray and worship rather than dwell on negative thoughts and images. I felt better almost immediately. Then, as a God-timing bonus to the restoration of my inner peace, Bryan passed me the phone to talk to my in-laws.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God." ~ Matthew 5:9

The Jinja Crisis Pregnancy Centre

Florence with her twin girls

I remain committed to my 3 days helping out at the Jinja Crisis Pregnancy Centre (JCPC).  We’ve added 2 ladies over the past few weeks. These additional ladies actually have 1 year olds, however they’re very underweight so we felt it was the right thing to do. The JCPC ladies are opening up to me more every week. (On average that is, there’s always some who come when they’re too tired or distracted by home issues to properly engage.) Yesterday afternoon I spoke to the group on Luke 4. This chapter recounts the time when Jesus has just been baptised and filled with the Holy Spirit, is led into the wilderness for a 40 day fast, and resists temptations from the devil. It opened up some great discussion on the reality of temptations; that victorious living means that there is a struggle but that in Christ we have the power to overcome. The ladies brought up their own examples of daily triumph, such as refusing to fight because they’re children of God, or rebuking demons that come at night. We can’t choose how the ladies receive or live out such messages, but we sure can pray that it’s all part of the puzzle of transforming their lives into hope and purpose.

I strongly believe that praying for people is the best thing we can do for someone. That’s why I have made prayer cards for each of the 24 ladies. I’m going to send them to some of you. I figured that if each lady has someone specifically praying them every week for a year, say from Christmas 2012 to Christmas 2013, there’s definitely going to be change seen in their lives.

"Therefore confess you sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." ~ James 5:16

Night and Mary

One of the new ladies, Night, is the younger sister to our friend Fausta. Her daughter, Mary, is 1 year and 4 months old (we think) but only weighed as much as the 5 month old babies. Darling Mary was so fearful of people. She liked me for some reason, which was nice because a few of the children took weeks to be comfortable with me (or even up to now). However, yesterday, after starting off the session with the normal tears when Sarah weighed her, she became very playful. Unfortunately, I thought she would enjoy being lifted up. You know how normally when you lift little kids above your head they giggle? Well, not Mary. Back to mum’s lap she went! My bad – I won’t be pulling out that fun trick again!




Join me in prayer
Praise reports:
- Bryan’s time to seek God and Bible knowledge.
- That Night and Rose could join the program, with their babies Mary and Mukisa.
- For the lady who no longer gets images of her late husband disturbing her.
- For improved weight almost weekly for most of the babies.
- For the ladies’ regular attendance and improved participation.
- Despite the massive gaps in our fence where the poles were stolen, no thief has come (note that the gaps have now been wired shut).

Prayer requests:
- That Bryan and I would hear and be faithful to do what God guides us to in 2013.
- For the women to take away the JCPC lessons and encouragements, and so be uplifted in their daily lives. That those suffering emotional trauma will understand, be counselled and healed.
- For Bob and Carolyn on furlough, to be rested, strengthened in their relationships with friends and family, and to have successful awareness raising and fundraising where they speak.
- That the Jinja police will be faithful in keeping justice and that in turn citizens would entrust that responsibility to them.
- That the prayer cards will reach their destinations.

"But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favour as with a shield." ~ Psalm 5:11-12

Lives Lost and Saved

There he lay, right arm stretched out above his head and the other tucked unnaturally by his side. Fresh branches blocked off the section of the road where he had been knocked, a few people gathered around as they waited for the police to come. He must have been only 9 years old. I only saw him for a moment as my friend Melissa and I rode past on the boda. Up ahead life continued as normal, people going about their evening activities oblivious to the tragedy that had happened mere metres from them.

Such situations are too common. There are three in particular that stick in my mind. In the first week of this month I was actually having a fantastic time, as my sister-in-law Rebecca treated Bryan and I with a visit. In that same week unfortunately, were the death of baby Gladys from the Jinja Pregnancy Crisis Centre (JCPC), who was new to the program; the loss of 22 year old Joel to AIDS, who we were acquainted with through Jude and her adopted daughter Barbara; and Dassan, the biological father to Ashley’s adopted daughter Diana, who died in an accident taking his niece to the clinic. The loss of Dassan was the saddest for me, because I love Ashley and Diana and I knew Dassan for about 4 years. However, it also made me think on what a blessing his last few years have been. At the time Ashley started fostering Diana, both baby and father were on death’s door. Dassan has since been active in TASO (The AIDS Support Organisation), been a loving father as Ashley kept him very much involved in their lives, and he had fallen in love to a fellow TASO member and was due to be married.

JCPC founder Carolyn and worker Sarah

Death comes so easily. This is a big reason why groups like the JCPC are an invaluable social support. The mothers are given increased health for their pregnancy and early breast feeding months with a weekly bag of food. This small material contribution keeps women out of the dust bins, enables them to produce breast milk, and keeps them connected to their families who otherwise see them as a burden. Overall, I’m against handouts, but there is a place for it in cases like these where a baby’s life will be saved and a mother-child relationship nurtured. Most significantly, the mothers are also set up better for long-term health with weekly trainings on health, lifestyle and parenthood; as well as an applicable Bible message. Remember that Uganda doesn’t have social welfare – NGOs are the social welfare. I’ve been visiting since ending with Water Missions a month ago. Carolyn and Bob left for furlough last week, so now Sarah and I have been running the groups. It’s mostly Sarah; I’m just helping and hopefully will be a good encouragement to her over these couple of months. 

Sarah teaches on TB

There are 4 groups of ladies. Monday mornings are for planning the week, Monday afternoon is the most interactive group, Tuesday morning and afternoon have groups, and Wednesday morning there is a group out in Nyenga which I’m yet to attend. Sarah and I had a great session last Tuesday afternoon, where the topic of husbands came up. I was trying to show how the God of the Bible is the same as the God who wants to be active in every aspect of their lives, and so had asked for testimonies. One girl, 16 year old Shamim, had shared how her baby healed when she prayed. The others kept quiet, so I asked what they would like to see or learn over the coming week. One lady, Sarah with baby Nalite – the cutest Karamajong baby I’ve ever seen – said she wants her husband (which just means he’s the father of the baby; the terms husband, wife and married are used loosely in Uganda) to come back to her. The others laughed, except Aisha who rebuked them, stating that “isn’t that what all of us want”. This opened the door to be able to talk about what to look for in a man, taking ones time, and who to be in order to attract a man in the right way for a long-term relationship. It was such a blessing to have this deeper conversation with them. They’ve shared with Sarah and Carolyn, but I am new to them so I’ve not earned their trust yet. Looks like we’re heading down that path though...

Faith with baby Catherine, pregnant Naiki, Florence

Harriet (Maama Mercy) and Harriet with her twins and baby  Kiiza

Please pray for:
- Ashley, Diana and Agnes (Ashley my Canadian friend and her 2 to-be-adopted girls) as they deal with the loss of Dassan, who was like family to all of them
- The family of the anonymous boy who was hit by a car on Friday night
- Direction for Bryan and I
- The long-term impact of the teachings for the ladies and their children

Thank God for:
- Rebecca’s visit and the great time of relaxation and chats we had
- The healthy mothers and babies at JCPC and the opportunity I have to serve there 
- That Bryan and I have lots of good social opportunities at the moment, with the short-term return of Melissa (Tukula founder and director) and Yvonne
- The life we have

Blessings, Emily

Magdalene's baby JJ and Lydia's twins Kennedy and Kenneth

                                                         
P.S. And a quick update, as I didn’t get online to send this yet. Tuesday afternoon I asked the ladies if anyone had testimonies from our discussion last week. They did! Aisha has not been getting along with baby Comfort’s father, however he did bring soap, sugar and 3,000/=. Then Shamim, who had said she didn’t want to see the man again, did try getting in contact with him. At first she couldn’t get through, but on Monday he picked the call. During group she got a call from her grandma that he had come to visit, but he’ll return another day when she’s around. She was delighted, it was a precious moment to witness.

Handing Over

Dearest friends and family,

"Seek the Lord and His strength: seek His face evermore."

Psalm 105:4

Our last weeks at WMU have gone so well. Thank you immensely for your prayers. It sure makes a difference.  The time has been broken up with some enjoyable moments too. Last Monday we celebrated our one year anniversary. The Saturday before, I joined the CARE4Kids children, staff, Clarice and her father at the swimming pool. Clarice didn’t tell them I was coming, so it was a lovely surprise with a warming welcome for me. Bryan and I are enjoying the church, Victory Family Centre, which we started attending a few months back. The pastor and his wife are lovely, and most importantly it meets are priorities of Biblical teaching and good worship. I still attend our Saturday Bible study and love it (though we miss Rob and Sandy so much!), and am glad to have a complimentary place of corporate worship for my enjoyment and spiritual health.

My Trainee

For my last week and a half in the office, my time and focus is on my trainee, Felix Masasa. He is already familiar with WMU work, as he was an employee a couple of years ago. He remembers a fair amount of his computer skills, so it is quite easy to refresh his memory, renew his habits, and hopefully he’ll remember the new things added to his knowledge and skills.

A New CPD and a Handover Party

On Monday, Will announced that the current Community Development Coordinator, Michael Bazira (photo above, far right), is the upcoming Country Program Director. Bryan will hold the position until next Tuesday, Michael will take over from Wednesday 22nd August. We and the staff are delighted with the choice; it will maintain some positive stability for the staff and Michael has really stepped up in his leadership over the past year. He has integrity and skill. In the evening we had our handover/farewell party. We went to a nearby hotel, Hotel Paradise, which is the same place Bryan and I held our wedding reception. After fun playing volleyball and soccer, we gathered in the banda (as you can see in the photos above). We sang a couple of hymns, the staff shared words and gave us gifts. The most amusing gift, delivered to us with much laughter by Henrik, was a figurine of Ugandan Bryan riding a bicycle with Ugandan Emily on the back – heavily pregnant. They wish!  We were given a chance to speak in return. Instead of a speech I gave each staff a Certificate of Achievement, to commend or tease them for noteworthy habits or moments. That went down well. Bryan is a great public speaker, so giving a speech on the spot comes easily for him. Then they laid hands on us to pray, and we shared in a buffet meal.

Coming Up

From October we will have three (3) months helping out with our friends’, Bob and Carolyn’s, ministries while they are on furlough. They are our dear friends and we are happy to be able to help them, as well as get a better taste of the good work they do. Bob provides career guidance and counselling for youths who have graduated from the children’s home he and Carolyn managed for 5-6 years, Good Shepherd’s Fold (GSF). He’s the same one I have been meeting with for my parents’ sponsor child, Opio. Carolyn has a pregnancy crisis centre, where she and two (2) Ugandan ladies aid the neediest of women with prayer and counselling, Bible studies, health training, career advice, food provision, and child minding while they are at the centre.
But before that worthy assistance, my sister-in-law Rebecca is visiting us! Just two (2) weeks and a day and we’ll be on the way to the airport to pick her.  We are very much looking forward to sharing this quality time with her. We’re going to have fun!

Praise Reports and Prayer Requests

•  Thank God for helping us host so many visitors over the past months. Danish volunteer Dan went back on August 9th and seemed to have had a good time. Josue and Andrew said they arrived safely and I’ve had a little contact with them for work.
•  Thank God for the WMI Engineer, Tyler, who is here for six (6) months. He’s half way through. Bryan and I get along very well with him; it’s a blessing to have a smart, positive, godly young man working alongside the staff and for us to befriend. Pray the rest of his time goes well.
•  Will leaves Uganda again next week. Thank God for a productive stay, in Uganda and the many other countries he visited this trip, and pray for a safe journey back on Tuesday. 
•  Thank God for providing good replacements for Bryan and myself. Especially for the time we’ve had to smoothly and positively phase ourselves out – this is no small achievement so we are grateful.  Please pray for Michael and Felix as they take up our roles and make them their own.
•  Thank God for the time we’ve had at WMU and that we are now moving onto new things. Stand with us in prayer as God guides our steps. 
•  Thank God for our friends from other ministries around and for the work they are doing to uplift peoples’ lives. 
•  Please keep Steve, Kelly and Amulet in prayer. Their court case is on Tuesday next week, at which point they should get approval for the adoption from the judge. After that they can apply for Amulet’s passport and visa, and plan their trip back to life in the US. They plan to leave by mid-November (sad for us!). 

It is a blessing to be able to share with you. Thanks for staying connected to our lives, and I hope we can return the favour for whenever you want share, be prayed for, or just keep in touch. 

I wish you a wonderful remainder of the week.

Love your friend, Emily

To the Islands

Bryan and I have been back for three and a half weeks now. We had a bit of excitement coming into Uganda, as our bags hadn’t arrived with us that fine Sunday afternoon. Fortunately, we kept on calling Entebbe Handling services, and we got our bags back on Thursday. A bit of a tea coating on the toy cars my brother bought for the kids, but otherwise everything was fine. Thank you God!
I must admit it took a little while to settle back in after the joyous time we spent in Australia. But I rediscovered my groove, and I do appreciate being here. My groove became that much better when I was allowed back out in the field at the end of last week. Three days straight!

To the Koome Islands

A large group of us left Jinja on Wednesday afternoon. Myself, micro-enterprise officer Fred Muwanguzi, WaSH trainer Ritah, WMI work Andrew, WM Haiti worker Josue, new visitor Danish Dan, and fellow Aussie working with Allan (Living Water Development) Adam.  We stopped in Mabira Forest for a community meeting in Najjembe for a few hours, but the main reason we were all there was the island endeavour. This involved a night in Entebbe so we could catch the boat at 7:30am on Thursday.

We are working on two projects in the Koome Islands, which are a two hour boat ride from Entebbe, using both project models. We are doing a Safe Water Project (community owned model) at Myende landing site, which is where I spent Thursday and Friday; and a TradeWater project (WMI owned) on Kimmi Island. Myende is a peaceful place, with a good number of people showing smiles and greeting. Kimmi is not. The greetings I got were from the prostitutes who were getting high. I say no more.

At Myende, I joined in the Safe Water Committee (SWC) training. My main purpose was to get lots of photos and interviews to give feedback to WMI and the donor. There were a couple of hindrances, as some people didn’t know the difference between safe and unsafe water. As my acquaintance Veronica said when I asked her what was bad about the lake water, “it’s not bad; water is good”. Then on Friday we spent the morning waiting for the rains to pass. They did, and then I had enough time to interview most of the SWC members.

Veronica is an 18 year old who had only been in Myende for a week. She had come looking for her sister, all the way from Soroti (north-eastern Uganda). Veronica is a single mother of a seven month old boy. The father of the boy ran away when Veronica became pregnant to avoid having charges pressed, as Veronica was underage and still in primary school. Veronica finished school in year 4. Unfortunately, her sister was nowhere to be found. A kind fellow tribes-lady, Mama Asia, has taken her in.

It’s good for me to be out in the field. One, because I just like it; I like the people interaction, and I like the hands on work. Additionally, I was grateful to have field time with the community development staff again. A couple of us argue pretty regularly in meetings, because of our differing views on development mechanisms and implementation. Differences can be constructive but also wearing in their challenge. Being in the field makes us interact in a broader way. It also puts us on the same team, because field time is about helping and training and differences are left behind in the meeting room. I really appreciate God for that time we had. May I continue to grow in kindness as I interact with my colleagues!

 An excellent bonus of our time in the islands was that WMU’s contact into that area is the Chimpanzee Sanctuary and Wildlife Conservation Trust. So I slept on an island with chimpanzees! 

                    

Our Resignation

Just before Bryan and I went to Australia, we resigned from Water Missions. Our last day will be August 21st. Five weeks to go. We’ve known for a while that WMU is not the right fit for us, or at least not how our roles have turned out, although we agree with water development whole-heartedly. The truth is, we were waiting for the next thing to do before resigning, but then reversed the order so that we are open for whatever is to come next. I still love development work, but we are both craving the relational side of working in Uganda. Life’s too short to do something half-heartedly. WMU was right for its time, and we’ve learned a lot and contributed to the work. We appreciate WMI for their professionalism and the heart behind the work. Furthermore, the aim is to have a local director for each country program. This was announced to the staff last year, so it made Bryan’s position unofficially temporary anyway (from our perspective). Apparently WMI has received a lot of good applications, so we look forward to transitioning in the next CPD. Maybe an existing staff member will decide to take it up?! I know Bryan would quite like to see my manager given that opportunity, if he applies. Please keep the change in your prayers.


On the social front, we’ve caught up with most of our friends here since returning. We’ve seen Clarice, including sharing in her 21st birthday lunch, and I went to CARE4Kids on our first Sunday back. Steve, Kelly and Amulet invited us to Salt and Light Academy (Amulet’s primary school) sports day, where Amulet competed in the brick passing game. The teachers were impressively enthusiastic, and every triumph was celebrated with cheers, hugs and dance. I want my kids to go to a school that dances whether you win or lose! So cool! We brought our visitor Dan, and Ashley came with her girls Diana and Agnes too. Jude had pneumonia when we returned, but is recovered and back to work – back to work and then recovered to be precise. She’s one strong lady. Adrien, who runs his own Omuana organisation, and whom I have known since my first trip to Uganda in 2004, is back for a couple of months before starting his Masters in Development in Geneva this September. Then he’ll leave, and Steve and Kelly will leave with Amulet as soon as the court cases are over (the next and potentially final one being next month)... but we won’t think about that just yet.

Thank God for:

- A fantastic time in Australia, though short and many friends were missed
- The return of our luggage
- My booster field trip last week
- A good court outcome from Steve and Kelly’s first court case, although there were some major frustrations (like a translator who didn’t know the language)
- Jude’s healing
- Esther is doing really well, although I don’t have the full update it seems she’s okay

Please pray for:

- That Bryan and I will be a blessing to WMU and the staff over the next few weeks
- WMU to find the right CPD, and that Bryan will be able to pass over the roles efficiently
- Steve and Kelly’s court case next month
- Bill as he gets used to functioning without his foot. He’s been doing the physiotherapy exercises with his dad/uncle, but gets pretty demoralised. We had a nice chat on the phone the other day

Good to be back in contact with you!

Emily 

Sponsorship, Plans and Visitors

Over the weekend I had the chance to see my parents’ sponsor child (now 21 years old) Opio. I have known Opio and his twin brother Odong since my first Uganda trip, in 2004. They are bright and good mannered young men; I like them a lot. Opio and Odong want to start a business to help support their family. Bryan and my friends Bob and Carolyn guide young adults in starting or joining businesses, so we arranged for them to meet. It was a good time of discussion about why he chose that business, what skills and personnel would be required to run it, the reality of expenses involved. Three of Opio’s neighbours had died in an accident along the main road that very morning, so I hope he was able to take in what Bob was saying. Opio’s mother has started selling charcoal and wants to add other non-perishables to her business, so another option would be for Opio and Odong to build on what their family already has. Of course that’s not as exciting as having and implementing your own ideas, but it’s also good to build up and learn along the way, giving your own idea better chance of success. My dad communicates with the boys quite frequently, and being a business man himself has been able to offer good encouragement and advice. Odong has started university, doing Business Administration.

Handing the drying rack and cash to the magole   

(the magole is the one being celebrated, male or female)

Kikondo women are making their business endeavours too. There are about 60 women in a group called ‘Agali Awamu’, and within that a sub-group called ‘Sweety’. Sweety is a savings group. The women contribute a set amount to the woman of the party (dressed as a bride) and put in for the gift, which after Ritah and I talking about the importance of home hygiene is a drying rack. Those who want can put in more money, but then the receiver will also have to pay them back more. Every contribution is recorded. The cash contributed from the set amount must be put towards business; the extra can be spent on something like school fees or home needs. I think the women’s cooperation is a good thing as it is empowering for the women to be independent and coordinate activities, especially as communities are not working together so much now that the cash economy is prevalent is most places. Plus they have a lot of fun. WMU is going to train these women in WaSH, and then some of them can pass on the trainings to the schools and households. We also want to coordinate with the schools to have WaSH teams and trainings during school hours.

At the tank with Rogers, Bryan and Vibeke

Our visitor from Grundfos, Vibeke, was able to get some cultural experience and attend the Sweety celebration. Vibeke is the Corporate Social Responsibility Project Consultant for Grundfos, the company that makes the pumps and Water Units that WMU uses. She was here to learn how we use the Water Units, and from that determine if Grundfos might partner with the Indonesia Country Program. Vibeke’s stay was short, only two nights between her trip to Kenya and travel back to Denmark, but we managed to fit a lot in. On the first day we were in Kikondo, where we have a project with the Water Unit running. On Thursday we took her to Najjembe, where we are about to start construction for the next TradeWater Project. Then on Friday we took her to Musoli to see how the traditional Safe Water Projects operate.  Vibeke has worked in International Development her whole adulthood, so she was able to understand the reasons behind and impact of our approaches easily. She appreciated how we design the system layout differently for each community, to make it appropriate to the context. Vibeke is the first in a long list of visitors this month. Tomorrow Dedy from Indonesia is coming for 3 weeks, on Sunday the WMI accountant Cindy is coming and a friend from Kampala will escort her for the week before they go up to Gulu for a missions trip with Cindy’s church, and next Thursday WMI workers Andrew, Josue and Tyler are coming for a 2 month stay.

 Welcoming song by Lwanika Primary School (left); The children performed local dance (right)

At the beginning of the month we commissioned another Safe Water Project along Lake Victoria, in a fishing village called Lwanika.  Commissioning celebrations involved speeches by local leaders, the Safe Water Committee (SWC) and WMU; tour of the system, including explanation; intermingled between the speeches and tour of the system are performances in the form of songs, dances and drama; and we end with a late lunch. The community, headed up by the SWC, organises the celebration. WMU contributes some of the lunch food, tents, chairs and sound system, and helps coordinate. We want the community to feel like the project is really theirs.  All of the performances in Lwanika were by the local primary school. They did a fantastic job: they were confident, skilled, and had even made up their own songs about Water Missions, safe water and home hygiene. The guest of honour, the District Speaker, was a humble man who gave good advice to the community regarding safe water and many other areas. Speeches are a chance for leaders to self-promote and address general issues, so we’re used to the variety of topics that come out. The Lwanika SWP has actually been running for a couple of months already, and it is so far a great success. On average, projects use less than half of system capacity, whereas Lwanika uses more than 90%. They have good savings to match. It really helps when we work in a community that has already had WaSH training or worked with a NGO; Lwanika has had both.   

Speech by vice-chairperson from neighbouring community

The District Speaker challenged the community members on their personal financial management and encouraged parents to teach their children to dig so that they will always be able to feed themselves (with a lot more words and description than that). I appreciated his stance that people need to be productive and wise with what they do have. Work and having good work ethics provides for the family, requires cooperation with and respect for a variety of people, and builds up a community. I’m not pro-capitalism, but I am pro-productivity. Who doesn’t want to be efficient and productive? In some way we all want to produce something, to have impact and see that we are capable of achieving.

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

– 2 Peter 1:5-8

I don’t have much to update about Bill, the boy whose leg was amputated. I had not heard from the family for about a month. I had attempted contact, but didn’t want to push it because I know it must be such a hard time. Ally contacted me on the weekend to say Bill is still very sick. Bill will see a physio-therapist this week. Good! Additionally, Esther from CARE4Kids is very sick and the doctors don’t yet know the cause. Esther had three blood transfusions in Kampala on Friday night and has returned today to see the results, and possibly have some more tests done. CARE4Kids volunteer Clarice was one of Esther’s blood donors and is the main person taking care of her.

Please pray for:

-          Opio and Odong to hear from God about what to do regarding business and/or studies

-          Bill to have quick recovery from the amputation and to be psychologically strong

-          That Esther does not have a permanent illness and no longer suffers from today

-          Clarice taking care of Esther, as it is potentially very draining

-          WMU to find a Ugandan CPD. We are also looking to hire an additional technician

-          The 6 Water Missions visitors coming to have safe journeys and productive stays

-          WMU staff to balance their work and hosting, and that it will be a mutual learning experience

-          Bryan and my departure next Thursday, and our proceeding 3 weeks in Australia

Lwanika mother gives child safe water to drink

Thank you and much love

Your friend Emily

A Promotion

Dear family and friends,

Just over 2 weeks ago Bryan was asked to be Country Program Director (CPD). Bryan has now been CPD for 10 days. Congratulations to Bryan!  It was in the end a quick but big decision, as surely the position will demand even more of his time. We take it in faith that it is what God wants us to do, surely He is the one to open and close doors as He knows is best. He sees and knows infinitely more than we possibly can! I pray we will be able to serve the organisation well, that the staff will work well with us and that we will love them in our work practices. Glory to God.

WMU Staff, December 2011

Bill has his post-amputation check-up this Friday. Pray with me that all the gangrene was cut off so that he doesn’t need a second amputation. Bill has been staying in a district outside Kampala; I have not been to see Bill yet but have been in contact. On Friday we will know if he can return to Jinja. Either way, I will make sure to visit him the following week. I’ve been getting my friend Natalie – ‘Nurse Natalie’ to the CARE4Kids children – to help me with tips for Bill. Bill has not yet been seen by a physiotherapist. At least between Nattie and my internet research we’ve been able to give some advice. If any of you knows about recovering from a transtibial (below the knee) amputation, I’d love the extra tips.

Bryan and I shared Easter at the Rozmus residence. We shared a delicious lunch and hid eggs for the children. As I was reading the crucifixion story over the Easter weekend, it struck me that Jesus was/is really brave. He faced a mob of people who came to arrest him (a mob! at night!), went with them and got interrogated by religious and political leaders, AND got wipped to shreds and crucified. Now that is a strong man. After all that, what does He say to God about them all? "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34) That is incredible. HE is incredible.

I hope you all had a marvellous Easter celebrating the death and resurrection of Christ!

Love Emily

Ups and Downs

I love living in Uganda. I love the people, sights and sounds, and the type of work I am able to do in such an environment. Just walking down the road I see the strength of a woman as she endures simultaneously carrying her child on her back, walking the goats, and balancing a hoe on her head as she trudges her way to the garden. As I wait for the boat to take me to Kikondo, a man washes his motorbike. No doubt it will be filthy again after one ride, but he diligently scrubs every little bit of it, taking longer than the hour I am there. There is such intelligence, perseverance and social awareness in Uganda. I think that’s why foreigners love it and see the potential for Uganda to be such a great nation. Who wouldn’t want to be part of that?!

But then you see the other side too. A beggar lady holds out her hand to you for money and cries her child is sick. It’s very touching, but she’s definitely not the first hand held out for aid. You then see her week after week, having used the funds for alcohol not medicine. A bit further down the road, a man with a wife and kids harasses you to marry him and take him to your country. He’s not even drunk. The police officer pulls over your kamonye (public bus) and demands a bribe. Instead of fighting the system of corruption, the driver decides it isn’t worth his while and pays.  Not just one driver – all of them. Every day. If I were to write a book – it would have to be a book because there are so many facets to the issue – I’d call handout dependency and corruption the disease of society.  Riots continue across the country because of dissatisfaction with the government and the economic situation.

Ecclesiastes 7:7

Extortion turns a wise person into a fool, and a bribe corrupts the heart.

People need hope and they need character. They need to believe that things can be different; that they can be the difference. It’s so hard, but it’s true. There are so many situations to kill hope. Like our friend’s widow friend who saved her money for months to buy a cow, just to have it stolen by the local leader’s son. There was nothing she could do. Months of saving and planning gone like that. How do you tell someone like that to try saving again? I always took the Proverb that a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again (Proverbs 24:16) to mean that the righteous man messed up but then kept pursuing God and goodness. It is that in part, which is also right and commendable; but it’s also about keeping going when others are the cause of your fall. Will we use it as an excuse to give up on hope and character, or be strong and get on up again? And again? And again?

That’s why it’s vital we focus on the one. One person at a time can be given hope, can have character change (and will likely inspire us to character change too!), and can see a difference in their life. Every person we love, admire and appreciate had some unknown person put into their life. We can be the vital unknown person too. When we get the chance to impact the bigger setting too, go for it. Like ISA with this battle of justice against the police corruption of hiding files, taking bribes from the accused, and re-locating those police who wouldn’t take bribes. That’s all before the court case. Surely it is a time of much needed prayer for our nations. Pray for Uganda to reach its potential – I can see it right before me. Prayer doesn’t always come naturally; we must choose to make it a priority.

Joel 2:15-17

 Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast. Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the portico and the altar. Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord. Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations.
Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

Let me share an update about Bill. Bill was one of the sickle cell anaemia victims we cared for at CARE4Kids. I and the other staff spent many nights massaging his cramped muscles and taking him to the hospital for blood transfusions. He is no longer in CARE4Kids because it turned out he had a lot more family than we were told – his extreme illness needed constant care that should be by family. I was already told his dad was working up in South Sudan and there was an uncle who sometimes visited. Then we found out there were actually a lot of relatives around. I found out just last month, when I visited Bill in hospital, that his mum is alive and working in Kampala. Frustrating for me – what rejection for Bill! Bill is now in Mulago hospital, the big government hospital in Kampala. His foot turned black and never recovered since his last convulsions. It had to be amputated. A 13 year old boy with an amputated foot. It’s devastating. My wonderful mother encouraged me, and in turn I can encourage Bill, with a story about a Sir Arthur Pearson who loved reading, then lost his sight. He learned what little understanding and acceptance blind people received from society and so, in 1915, established a charity to help World War I victims who had lost their sight to learn how to be functional and self-sufficient. I have a bag full of books, puzzles and colouring activities that I bought cheaply and was given by Sandy and Rob (from their clearing out ready to leave at the end of next month) to cheer Bill up and keep him mentally active. Even some classics like Winnie the Pooh and Snoopy.

The Kikondo bathing rooms opened this week. It was so much fun doing promotion day on Monday. We offered free showers all day, 59 people came. It would have been the first shower (as opposed to basin bath) for most if not all of them. I was doing the ladies side. It was like a high school changing room, full of giggling and happy chatter. Everyone came out beaming and high-fiving us. We’re only charging 300/= (13 cents) including a piece of soap, so hopefully it gains popularity. Yesterday 12 people came, which I thought was pretty good for the first paying day. There’s still some resistance to paying for water. The residents thought other communities we work in get the water for free, which is not true. We’re not the only ones facing the challenge of people wanting free water. Mulago hospital owes the National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) billions of shillings. At least at someone’s home they can just turn the water off, but to do that for a government hospital would be an ethical challenge. Yet now NWSC doesn’t have funds to further their pipelines, and much of the country is waiting for a water service. Dax was on the microphone Monday, for the promotion. Dax is a technician and a serious worker. He talked for hours! It was hilarious. Between the ladies chatting and Dax promoting I was entertained very well.

 He had this story about the Water Keys that users buy to access the water through the Water Unit: “as I was coming to Kikondo the other day, I was waiting for the boat to leave. A man was there, ever so sick. He was so sick he couldn’t tell us who he was, where he was from, or where he was going. We didn’t know what to do! Then we saw it. Around his neck as a necklace was... a Water Key. Then we realised – he’s from Kikondo. No other community has such a system! No other community uses Water Keys! The Water Key identified and saved this man. You, Kikondo, have a unique water system. Come and buy a Key at promotional price today!” He’d also put together a CD of gospel music to do the promotion to (clearly he’d planned to control the microphone, lol). He’d sing along for a bit, then a line would come along about being cleansed by the blood of Jesus, and Dax would throw in: “be cleansed by the blood of Jesus – be cleansed in our bathing rooms”. It reminded me of my brother, Jeremy, who can take a joke I got no response to and he’ll have people rolling on the floor. It’s alright, Bryan and I think each other are funny.

Well, I’d better leave you all to your days. Have a think about social strengths and weaknesses in your community, and see what can be done to bring out individual and collective potential.

Love Emily

Exodus 33:15-18

Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” And the LORD said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.”