Rumbles in the Earth

On Wednesday night, the very same evening of the Egyptian revolution, Uganda had not one but two earthquakes (the first at 5.7 and the second at 5.4)! There was one on Tuesday too, but we didn’t feel it on our side of the country; the epicentre is in a western district called Hoima. 

Kids on the steps of the “Low Club Boys” dormitory

Visitors from the Ministry of Education

We’ve had four visits from the district assistant inspector of schools, who is a personable man who laughs joyously every time I speak Lusoga. He checks up on whether we have qualified teachers, if there are hand washing facilities outside the latrines, how big the gaps under the doors are (for snakes to fit under; considering the doors are open all day I don’t entirely see the point, but whatever), and so on. On one visit he came with representatives from the Ministry of Education in Kampala, in order to continue the process of getting Kasozi Nursery and Primary School fully licensed. The school is registered, but needs to be licensed to hold national exams onsite. Businesses and organisations are licensed differently in Uganda than in Australia. In Australia you do all the paperwork first; in Uganda you need to prove you’re doing the work, and then you get the go ahead to start the registration process.

Alamo Grace pumping water

Visitors in June

Our director, Duncan, has come and gone again. This time he came along with a guy called Danny, Danny’s 10 year old Taylor, and Duncan’s friend Scott. They spent two and three weeks here, respectively; Duncan extended his stay by a week so that Bryan and I could have a break. The presence of Duncan and Kateh in Kasozi Village transforms the kids – relieving us from the moods and games.

Too cool for school

Oyet is one of our older boys. Like many of the kids, he does not care about participating in home life or obeying rules. I managed to get him and his friend Okema to sit through church by confiscating Okema’s radio, leaving their other friends in hysterics as they slipped away from the discipline.  When God revealed that not only were kids stealing food from the garden, some had private plots on the UOF land (which is obviously for the Home!), Oyet’s moods were particularly sour. After quickly communicating to Duncan, we met with the two employed gardeners and re-explained the purpose of the garden, then stated the same at the Village Fellowship on Friday. (One of the gardeners quit shortly after.)

Having administered a lot of discipline lately, Bryan and I have had opportunity to explain the difference between unforgiveness and discipline; and to emphasise to the kids that they largely determine whether the Home is a positive place to live in or not.  So we might not be the most popular people right now, but we are going to leave when we’ve put in every effort to instil a sense of: responsibility, thinking of the future, contributing to community, and discipline in character development. Many days we are too busy or overwhelmed to have that personal impact, but it remains our desire.  By God’s grace we will fulfil our little piece in the puzzle.

Back to Oyet: his desire is to be a driver. UOF is all about equipping the kids to take the direction for the future that they want. When Oyet finished primary school at the end of the year, we will send him to driving school, and then he will be free to find work and move on with adult life.  Pray for us as we prepare him mentally and practically for the transition. (You may be wondering why we have such old kids, such as Oyet who is 20, still in primary school. It is common among poor families because they can’t afford to send the kids to school, thus they start late, and the child will likely stop and start school along the way, depending on finances. In Oyet’s case, he is also from the previously war-torn region.)

The next Home manager is about to arrive!

This month a lady called Beckie is going to start her six month stay. We’ll have about four months (depending on when my US visa is approved) to guide her in Ugandan culture and the running of the Home.  Duncan will be back for part of that time, in September.  

Bryan continues to put his practical skills to use by cutting down a tree, sorting out electrics, and the unending task of vehicle maintenance.  I’m not sure Beckie will know how to do those things, so hopefully nothing goes wrong until a mechanic comes to UOF or someone who knows how to negotiate the maize of local labour. (Anyone want to come and look after maintenance over Christmas?!)

  We have lots you can be praying for with us:

-      -    The children and staff to contribute to a homey environment

-       -   Our wisdom in transitioning the young adults like Oyet

-        -  Finding the right times for ‘duties’ so that we can enjoy the kids or rest, uninterrupted

-        -  Continued health of the 120 kids

-        -  Opportunity for one-on-one conversations, particularly with the teenagers

Thank God, there has been a bunch of answered prayers too:

-        -  We got more teachers, who seem good. The morale of head teacher Mr Odida has hugely picked up and he is working well with the new teachers

-         -  Duncan came with intentional and likeable visitors (one became a board member and the other was key in finding out key players in the ‘games’)

-          - There have been few medical emergencies, though malaria has been reasonably prevalent

-         - Bryan and I are on a break

-          - And a personal bonus – I got to play with the twin girls of one of the Jinja Pregnancy Care Centre ladies, Harriet, on Sunday evening while she was in hospital with the baby brother, Kiiza Joshua if you remember the bubs, who sadly has sickle cell anemia (horrible!).

Finally, let me leave you with a foundational verse; a truth that puts life in perspective and reminds me of God’s nature, regardless of how well I see His work in my present circumstances. It’s found in 1 Corinthians 1:20-25

“Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know Him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness for Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”

And in His wisdom, God gave us choice. The kids have choice, and we have choice. When we all follow the commandments to love God and love one another, life is sweet; in the meantime, let us use our choice to be obedient and love people (because we know God works through people) enough that, at minimum, they have the chance to live life to the full. 

Peace.