Week 39 (15 – 21 Apr 2007)
Matt, Laura and Lisa took part in the Sunday morning service. The preacher was David Akello, who we met last Sunday. Afterwards we had our second breakfast with him and his wife and he told us more amazing stories of his job in reconciling people affected by the war in Sudan and terrorism in northern Uganda. Later, Andrea went with Grace, the girls houseparent, to check that all the girls had mosquito nets – which they did. But many of them were not using them. In the cooler part of the afternoon Laura and I went for one of our short walks, and returned over an hour later! For me, our chat was one of the highlights of their visit. We went straight up to devotions where Matt did the talk based around a story which kept our attention!
Later in the evening we were playing Laura’s silly card games when we got a knock at the door (about 9.30pm). A student was unconscious and had to go to the hospital. I returned at around 10.45pm after she was admitted. It’s not the first time the girl has been taken ill so they need to do some tests, but it doesn’t look to be life-threatening. By the time I returned all the others had gone to bed. Matt was sleeping in the lounge and the outside door creaks considerably. He had said that he can sleep through anything. Now I believe him! He didn’t miss a single snore (and I even heard from outside that he was asleep but was too polite to tell him!).
On Monday Laura, Lisa & Matt started preparing the hall for painting under the supervision of Ronald and the help of the site staff. The site staff did the really high parts. There was a lot of dust but they also managed to get one coat of paint done. Even with the watered down emulsion it has made a significant difference already. They finished by lunchtime and rested in the afternoon before spending some time with the students. Andrea did her knitting session and was joined by Jeremy who wants to knit himself a Man Utd scarf, much to Lisa’s pleasure as she supports them. Lisa spoke at the devotions but some of the students were more than a little noisy. I had a “firm talk” to them afterwards. A significant number of them aren’t Christians and daily devotions are compulsory – at least in theory but it’s rare that anyone checks. Laura was pleased to find that they are just normal secondary school students!
On Tuesday the British trio again ventured into the hall to spread a second coat of paint on the wall of the hall. The staff and students find it very interesting that they actually know how to paint! White people doing manual jobs seems to be a novelty! We left in time to go to town and the Asiki’s for lunch – we were treated to sausages! In the evening we watched the first half of the France v Ireland rugby match from the Six Nations Championship. Matt had very kindly recorded some of the matches on DVD so that we didn’t miss them completely. I’m looking forward to seeing the Ireland v England match!! We also heard that one of the part time teachers had given birth to her second child late on Monday evening. She was taken to the hospital over the very rough road on the back of a motorcycle while in labour! Things are definitely different here.
The saddest part of our day, and indeed of our time here, was when we received a message to say that Emma Golding had slipped away during the night. We have been to America and Bulgaria with the Goldings and have many happy memories of them as well as many other occasions nearer home. We will greatly miss Emma and it hurts us that we are so far away from our dear friends in this sad and difficult time.
The painting continued on Wednesday with the first coat of gloss up to window height. In the afternoon we went to Kuluva Hospital to meet Molly and Isobel. Molly is the acting Principal of the Nursing School and took us on a guided tour of every ward in the hospital – our first time too. Some of the older wards were difficult to see. The hospital was set up by two AIM missionaries in the 1950’s so has a strong Christian emphasis. It is held in high regard in the area, as is the nursing school where the trainees receive a better education than in government run institutions. The evidence for this is the ease with which they get jobs. Back at school, Laura did the devotions in the evening. There was only one problem, how do we follow the three Youth Workers? We’re old and boring in comparison. It was a delight to hear Laura speak so confidently and fluently without any notes.
Painting continued again on Thursday morning although the work will not be finished. A good start has been made and teacher Ronald has said that he will ensure that it is completed. After lessons the three visitors spent some time outside the classrooms chatting to the students and taking photos. We returned to the devotions for the last time – but not intending to participate. However, Matt & Lisa were asked to sing again and received a loud round of applause. They really appreciated their different and lively style. At the end, Simon, the Chairman of the Scripture Union, got all of the committee up to the front to sing for the visitors. He then turned and led them in saying “Thank you” – all together and drawn out for emphasis. We were then ushered into the staff room where they had cleared the tables, covered them with table cloths and set out sodas and biscuits. The staff who were around joined us and each one gave a short speech of thanks for what Laura, Matt and Lisa had contributed in their short stay. Laura replied on behalf of her friends and gave a very eloquent speech. We think she takes after her mother in this regard! The time together was very touching and greatly appreciated.
We took Laura, Matt and Lisa to the airport on Friday morning and managed to get fuel on the way. There has been a shortage of diesel in Uganda so was becoming something of a concern. It was sad to see them go. Saying goodbye and watching them get on the plane was one of the hardest things we have had to do. They were very easy to look after and left behind many things that will make our lives just that little bit easier. Except that every we see something they left it reminds us of their visit which is good, but that they are now so far away and we miss them, our family, especially Laura and Richard, and our friends.
Shopping was something of a let down without the company we have got used to during the last week and the house was too quiet when we returned.
I don’t remember much about Saturday but expect that we were resting from entertaining and starting to rearrange the house again. I think we were also taking time to grieve after the loss of Emma and for her family, friends and work colleagues. Naturally, this was also mixed with our feelings of separation from Laura too.
We received a number of text messages from Laura to let us know how their journey was progressing and were glad to hear of their safe return to Exmouth on Saturday evening.
Later in the evening we were playing Laura’s silly card games when we got a knock at the door (about 9.30pm). A student was unconscious and had to go to the hospital. I returned at around 10.45pm after she was admitted. It’s not the first time the girl has been taken ill so they need to do some tests, but it doesn’t look to be life-threatening. By the time I returned all the others had gone to bed. Matt was sleeping in the lounge and the outside door creaks considerably. He had said that he can sleep through anything. Now I believe him! He didn’t miss a single snore (and I even heard from outside that he was asleep but was too polite to tell him!).
On Monday Laura, Lisa & Matt started preparing the hall for painting under the supervision of Ronald and the help of the site staff. The site staff did the really high parts. There was a lot of dust but they also managed to get one coat of paint done. Even with the watered down emulsion it has made a significant difference already. They finished by lunchtime and rested in the afternoon before spending some time with the students. Andrea did her knitting session and was joined by Jeremy who wants to knit himself a Man Utd scarf, much to Lisa’s pleasure as she supports them. Lisa spoke at the devotions but some of the students were more than a little noisy. I had a “firm talk” to them afterwards. A significant number of them aren’t Christians and daily devotions are compulsory – at least in theory but it’s rare that anyone checks. Laura was pleased to find that they are just normal secondary school students!
On Tuesday the British trio again ventured into the hall to spread a second coat of paint on the wall of the hall. The staff and students find it very interesting that they actually know how to paint! White people doing manual jobs seems to be a novelty! We left in time to go to town and the Asiki’s for lunch – we were treated to sausages! In the evening we watched the first half of the France v Ireland rugby match from the Six Nations Championship. Matt had very kindly recorded some of the matches on DVD so that we didn’t miss them completely. I’m looking forward to seeing the Ireland v England match!! We also heard that one of the part time teachers had given birth to her second child late on Monday evening. She was taken to the hospital over the very rough road on the back of a motorcycle while in labour! Things are definitely different here.
The saddest part of our day, and indeed of our time here, was when we received a message to say that Emma Golding had slipped away during the night. We have been to America and Bulgaria with the Goldings and have many happy memories of them as well as many other occasions nearer home. We will greatly miss Emma and it hurts us that we are so far away from our dear friends in this sad and difficult time.
The painting continued on Wednesday with the first coat of gloss up to window height. In the afternoon we went to Kuluva Hospital to meet Molly and Isobel. Molly is the acting Principal of the Nursing School and took us on a guided tour of every ward in the hospital – our first time too. Some of the older wards were difficult to see. The hospital was set up by two AIM missionaries in the 1950’s so has a strong Christian emphasis. It is held in high regard in the area, as is the nursing school where the trainees receive a better education than in government run institutions. The evidence for this is the ease with which they get jobs. Back at school, Laura did the devotions in the evening. There was only one problem, how do we follow the three Youth Workers? We’re old and boring in comparison. It was a delight to hear Laura speak so confidently and fluently without any notes.
Painting continued again on Thursday morning although the work will not be finished. A good start has been made and teacher Ronald has said that he will ensure that it is completed. After lessons the three visitors spent some time outside the classrooms chatting to the students and taking photos. We returned to the devotions for the last time – but not intending to participate. However, Matt & Lisa were asked to sing again and received a loud round of applause. They really appreciated their different and lively style. At the end, Simon, the Chairman of the Scripture Union, got all of the committee up to the front to sing for the visitors. He then turned and led them in saying “Thank you” – all together and drawn out for emphasis. We were then ushered into the staff room where they had cleared the tables, covered them with table cloths and set out sodas and biscuits. The staff who were around joined us and each one gave a short speech of thanks for what Laura, Matt and Lisa had contributed in their short stay. Laura replied on behalf of her friends and gave a very eloquent speech. We think she takes after her mother in this regard! The time together was very touching and greatly appreciated.
We took Laura, Matt and Lisa to the airport on Friday morning and managed to get fuel on the way. There has been a shortage of diesel in Uganda so was becoming something of a concern. It was sad to see them go. Saying goodbye and watching them get on the plane was one of the hardest things we have had to do. They were very easy to look after and left behind many things that will make our lives just that little bit easier. Except that every we see something they left it reminds us of their visit which is good, but that they are now so far away and we miss them, our family, especially Laura and Richard, and our friends.
Shopping was something of a let down without the company we have got used to during the last week and the house was too quiet when we returned.
I don’t remember much about Saturday but expect that we were resting from entertaining and starting to rearrange the house again. I think we were also taking time to grieve after the loss of Emma and for her family, friends and work colleagues. Naturally, this was also mixed with our feelings of separation from Laura too.
We received a number of text messages from Laura to let us know how their journey was progressing and were glad to hear of their safe return to Exmouth on Saturday evening.
posted by J & A McAdam at 12:21 PM
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