Diary update...

We've been here over a week now. As funds from Justgiving have not been received in time we'll not be building all that our fundraising has provided for - they cannot buy raw materials with a promise...so we finished our build last Friday. The remainder of the balance will go towards other pathways and go towards a shipping container that they fill full of food supplies like rice for the families - a rudimentary food distribution centre - Suubi village needs one. Thank you so much to all who have given so generously - know that your gifts are really making a difference in the lives of the people we meet. And it isn't because it's us here - anyone would make a difference coming...you up for it next year?

The weekend saw a trip to Watoto's Bbira children's village where again Samuel became the centre of attention due to his blond hair and age. Many of the children here come straight from the Bulrushes and therefore have not seen mzungu babies so the children appear, pointing at Samuel declaring "mzungu!" Then proceeds much running of their hands through his hair - he is really great with it but after a time he shrinks away into my arms. Later he said "they likin' me" so he's not traumatised!

We're going back this Saturday to facepaint and play which will be lovely. We have been blessed that everyone has been appreciative of us coming. There is with short-term mission the dilemma - is it better to go or to give the money it would cost to go - however we are sure that our trip has made an impact just by being with them. They're blessed because they understand that we have given a summer vacation, brought our children and made sacrifices to be with them. Moses our host, a 22yr old Makerere University IT student has been really appreciative of me explaining Evernote, Dropbox and Twitter for example - exposure to modernity and tools that most Africans do not experience.

Nikki has also returned to the kindergarten to facepaint there too.

We have also as mentioned being able to "love on" Mama Miriam and her family - something she has seen other families experience. And a note of interest - our house number is 11, hers is 111 and Nikki's room number is also 11....!

Mama Miriam has just lost her father this week too. When I say father I should say she ran away from her Muslim family when she was 13 to avoid a forced marriage. So this was a father figure who helped her and cared for her. We have been able to visit and comfort her - she is now travelling to Nairobi to bury him having been granted a small amount from Watoto.

We've been quite sheltered whilst we've been here - guesthouse, bus, Watoto and back - so we asked Moses to take us to a typical market which we experienced on Monday. Such smells and sights - Nikki haggled for a pair of sneakers and we bought some peanut/seaseme puree (peanut butter tasting stuff) and some pure unfiltered honey - seriously sweet!

It was very dirty and we loved it. We saw meat counters (sorry, what is refridgeration?) with piles of intestines next to slabs of meat (and not an insignificant number of flies).

We have also visited Living Hope - a small production facility in Kampala - that cares for vulnerable women with HIV - they sew placemats, table runners, dolls and make all kinds of jewellery. The women were lovely, helping our girls get involved. There are over 2100 women in Kampala and Gulu who are being restored. Some in Gulu, who fled the LRA were re-captured and facially mutilated - their lips were cut off so they could not speak of the LRA location, or their ears or noses. Gradually, each of these mutilated women are undergoing cosmetic surgery so they are able to return to society.

We attended church at Watoto West this Sunday - not far from Suubi Village. We had a great time and during the service - I was able to pray with a lady behind me fro healing. After the service she approached me - whilst she was studying medicine at Oxford she attended St Aldates! So I mentioned the Friends of St Aldates and have her details - small small world...

We then proceeded to Suubi to Mama's house for our traditional lunch...where Nikki, having been prompted 3 times during devotions washed Miriam's feet - something our host agreed would be very good. Miriam was blessed - but more of that directly from Nikki when we return....

That eve we attended the Ndere Centre and enjoyed an evening of Traditional Ugandan dance - the children were very well behaved even though it lasted for 3 hours! The owner of the centre played a part in the film the Last King of Scotland.

Today we spent time at Viva's Africa HQ, met Isobelle and spent the day with Mim (who came to Kampala for 6 months and has now stayed for 4 years!) and her team and visited 3 local projects - Saanyu Babies home (a pic of the laundry is below), The Open Door a project that looks after 30 street kids and an independent project at Mengo Hospital, an OT and special needs facility. This was great to do - for future missions opportunities but also to see how the majority of projects here exist - Watoto is very different from these. Let's hope I can help Watoto network with Viva more closely...