Week 50 (1 – 7 July 2007)
A team from Mukono University came to sing in the Sunday service today – and were very good. They joined the students later in the morning for their Scripture Union fellowship but we listened from a distance. Being older, we can only manage one 90 minute service in the morning! There were three visiting students from Uganda Christian University, all doing theology courses and one of them preached. He is from Moyo, and area further north and bordering with Sudan which means his accent was slightly different. He is also a fisherman. Sadly, he missed some good opportunities in his sermon although he did make an attempt to relate to the school students. It’s very frustrating to hear the Bible stories made so incomprehensible and uninteresting. While we were having (our second) breakfast after the service, the power had been connected again so we watched a DVD of a Christian musician singing and dancing in a lively, modern but distinctly African way. I asked if this was the sort of thing the theological students were being taught. Sadly, it’s not but our Principal did explain that it was an attempt to relate to the school students. He didn’t say if he agreed with it or not! I took the opportunity of having power to catch up with the blog as the laptop was charging – so am back to writing “real time” again. And, by the way, the temperatures have been lower recently but it’s still hot and sticky, more like UK atmosphere on a warm sunny day. But just as I write it’s hot at over 28°C.
Shortly afterwards the temperature dropped quickly and there was w very very heavy downpour for around two hours. Two boys were trapped in the car as they were in the middle of “bathing” it! It’s surprising how quickly the ground dries out.
There was another heavy downpour on Monday afternoon. As I opened the front door four ladies were running for shelter and came into our house. We’ve no idea who they are but they enjoyed the tea and biscuits that Andrea provided. After about half an hour we discovered that one of them was carrying a baby on her back! Fortunately, one spoke fairly good English and eventually Andrea started to teach her to knit! They had been on a course at Kuluva Hospital about healthcare but still had about another 2 hours walk to get home. The course is on the first Monday of each month so it will be interesting to see if they return. Mary, our helper, also got caught in the rain and stopped at someone else’s house – but didn’t get any tea and biscuits! Unfortunately, the rain lasted so long that neither the knitting circle nor the new chess club were able to meet. But I did join the Scripture Union committee meeting at 8pm to try to listen to some of their frustrations regarding storage space for their files, songbooks and other materials. They suggested getting a grass thatched hut but this is not cost effective in the long term due to termites and rats. Another possibility is a cupboard in and unused area of the staff room. As usual, it all comes down to money.
Early on Tuesday morning, about 1.30am, we heard a commotion outside – some students were singing and others praying loudly. We later found out that it was a fear of demons – again. Although we have no experience in this area the descriptions of what happen as told to us by John, our neighbour who eventually sorted out the students, we were a little sceptical.
The staff devotions were held at our home today. The custom here is that friends and family all come to support anyone who has had a bereavement in their family, often in very practical ways such as fetching water and providing food as well as praying and just being with the family. The Chairman of the Board, John Ondoma, and whose home we stayed in last September, gave a short talk in between some songs. I found some photos of Dad and showed those while telling our friends a little about him. They provided some light food afterwards and gave us a monetary gift in lieu of the practical assistance they would have given had we been here. It was difficult in some ways, but it is the way they show their sympathy and probably more helpful than western ways. We were both very touched and grateful.
Around 8pm we again heard singing and loud voices – when the students should be quiet in prep. Knowing John was off site, we went to find out what was going on even though there were other teachers in the staff room. We found three girls rolling on the floor and about five boys praying loudly with their hands on the girls (“laying on of hands”) and a few girls who looked very concerned and unsettled. We watched and listened for a few minutes and both came to the same conclusions and had no need to verbalise our thoughts! We moved the boys away from the girls – they could pray just as easily from the side of the hall. Within a few minutes, calm was restored. The school secretary, Jocelyn, had spoken at the student devotions and joined us but followed our lead. We then asked the boys to return to prep. One of the girls on the floor started to roll around but stopped when she got to my feet. Andrea took my place and was talking to another student so that the one on the floor could only rock between the two. We gave little attention to the other two but made sure someone was sitting near them. Within a few minutes all three were peacefully asleep on the floor where they stayed for the next 90 minutes. Everything was calm from then on but it became clear that some of the students were very confused and the boys hadn’t seemed to realise that there may be some more natural explanation, such as hormones, for at least some of the behaviour.
John returned to the site around 10.30pm and seeing our light was still on, asked for help with a laptop problem – which we solved eventually. We updated him on the evening’s events and discussed what to do – prayer meetings after devotions to stop for now and same gender prayer groups only.
It’s hard to believe that we left home one year ago. And yes, I’ve got the blog week numbers wrong by two weeks. But then I don’t teach Maths. I think it’s just that I’ve missed two entries early on.
We spent most of Wednesday wondering about what to do or day about the disruptions of the last two evenings and eventually thought that we should speak at the evening devotions. John had also spoken at the morning assembly and to a few people at lunchtime. We have much reading to do now but fortunately have collected a number of relevant books during the last year.
On Thursday morning I got up early to observe the student taking my S1 Physics class. He refused to let me watch! I tried to persuade him and the only reason he gave me was that he didn’t want me to. He was so reluctant that he said that I could go and teach the class rather than watch him. I backed off – for today but insisted that I would see him teach at some point. Fortunately, the Head of Science, Victor arrived and manage to sort things out – for now. Samuel, the student is still not happy so it will be interesting to see if either Andrea or I get to observe a lesson. I also said that he would be welcome to visit any of my lessons – his choice of both lesson and time. I’m not holding my breath.
Grace, the S3 Biology teacher has been away so on Friday morning first thing I taught them Chemistry instead as another catch-up lesson. We then prepared to go into town. I was standing sorting some money and was just about to bend down to our locker – which I do several times a day – when I felt my back “go”. There was some doubt as to whether we would go to town but found that sitting was OK. Everything else I just did slowly. Ok, more slowly than usual. We returned in time for lunch which Mary had cooked for us; we now have fish on Fridays. The usual assembly took place at 4.15pm and afterwards several of the students (and staff) offered their sympathy for my “paining” back. Andrea spoke on Esther at the devotions; one of the girls dormitories is called “Queen Esther”. We then worked on our laptops for a couple of hours in the offices while they charged. The laptops charged, not the offices. Some students were watching a video of a modern version of Hamlet. The volume was very high and the rooms echo. Our heads were also echoing by the end of the evening.
We were looking forward to a lie in on Saturday until there was a knock at the door – 7am. Nothing serious, just a neighbour wanting some flour. We worked quietly in the morning and then had another visitor, Simon, the SU chairperson who wanted to discuss the events from earlier in the week. He is well meaning and has more experience than many of the students but at 17 years old still needs some guidance and explanations. He stayed for around 2 hours! Andrea then went to the last hour of the visiting afternoon to do some knitting with the students. Some also wanted to play chess so the first three games of the new Ushindi Chess Club were played today! They picked up the basic rules very quickly and soon progressed from playing with a few pieces to playing with the full set. As the school is connected to mains power in the evenings at weekends, Andrea worked for a while in one of the offices to charge her laptop and we watched our first DCD since our return – an old Star Trek.
Shortly afterwards the temperature dropped quickly and there was w very very heavy downpour for around two hours. Two boys were trapped in the car as they were in the middle of “bathing” it! It’s surprising how quickly the ground dries out.
There was another heavy downpour on Monday afternoon. As I opened the front door four ladies were running for shelter and came into our house. We’ve no idea who they are but they enjoyed the tea and biscuits that Andrea provided. After about half an hour we discovered that one of them was carrying a baby on her back! Fortunately, one spoke fairly good English and eventually Andrea started to teach her to knit! They had been on a course at Kuluva Hospital about healthcare but still had about another 2 hours walk to get home. The course is on the first Monday of each month so it will be interesting to see if they return. Mary, our helper, also got caught in the rain and stopped at someone else’s house – but didn’t get any tea and biscuits! Unfortunately, the rain lasted so long that neither the knitting circle nor the new chess club were able to meet. But I did join the Scripture Union committee meeting at 8pm to try to listen to some of their frustrations regarding storage space for their files, songbooks and other materials. They suggested getting a grass thatched hut but this is not cost effective in the long term due to termites and rats. Another possibility is a cupboard in and unused area of the staff room. As usual, it all comes down to money.
Early on Tuesday morning, about 1.30am, we heard a commotion outside – some students were singing and others praying loudly. We later found out that it was a fear of demons – again. Although we have no experience in this area the descriptions of what happen as told to us by John, our neighbour who eventually sorted out the students, we were a little sceptical.
The staff devotions were held at our home today. The custom here is that friends and family all come to support anyone who has had a bereavement in their family, often in very practical ways such as fetching water and providing food as well as praying and just being with the family. The Chairman of the Board, John Ondoma, and whose home we stayed in last September, gave a short talk in between some songs. I found some photos of Dad and showed those while telling our friends a little about him. They provided some light food afterwards and gave us a monetary gift in lieu of the practical assistance they would have given had we been here. It was difficult in some ways, but it is the way they show their sympathy and probably more helpful than western ways. We were both very touched and grateful.
Around 8pm we again heard singing and loud voices – when the students should be quiet in prep. Knowing John was off site, we went to find out what was going on even though there were other teachers in the staff room. We found three girls rolling on the floor and about five boys praying loudly with their hands on the girls (“laying on of hands”) and a few girls who looked very concerned and unsettled. We watched and listened for a few minutes and both came to the same conclusions and had no need to verbalise our thoughts! We moved the boys away from the girls – they could pray just as easily from the side of the hall. Within a few minutes, calm was restored. The school secretary, Jocelyn, had spoken at the student devotions and joined us but followed our lead. We then asked the boys to return to prep. One of the girls on the floor started to roll around but stopped when she got to my feet. Andrea took my place and was talking to another student so that the one on the floor could only rock between the two. We gave little attention to the other two but made sure someone was sitting near them. Within a few minutes all three were peacefully asleep on the floor where they stayed for the next 90 minutes. Everything was calm from then on but it became clear that some of the students were very confused and the boys hadn’t seemed to realise that there may be some more natural explanation, such as hormones, for at least some of the behaviour.
John returned to the site around 10.30pm and seeing our light was still on, asked for help with a laptop problem – which we solved eventually. We updated him on the evening’s events and discussed what to do – prayer meetings after devotions to stop for now and same gender prayer groups only.
It’s hard to believe that we left home one year ago. And yes, I’ve got the blog week numbers wrong by two weeks. But then I don’t teach Maths. I think it’s just that I’ve missed two entries early on.
We spent most of Wednesday wondering about what to do or day about the disruptions of the last two evenings and eventually thought that we should speak at the evening devotions. John had also spoken at the morning assembly and to a few people at lunchtime. We have much reading to do now but fortunately have collected a number of relevant books during the last year.
On Thursday morning I got up early to observe the student taking my S1 Physics class. He refused to let me watch! I tried to persuade him and the only reason he gave me was that he didn’t want me to. He was so reluctant that he said that I could go and teach the class rather than watch him. I backed off – for today but insisted that I would see him teach at some point. Fortunately, the Head of Science, Victor arrived and manage to sort things out – for now. Samuel, the student is still not happy so it will be interesting to see if either Andrea or I get to observe a lesson. I also said that he would be welcome to visit any of my lessons – his choice of both lesson and time. I’m not holding my breath.
Grace, the S3 Biology teacher has been away so on Friday morning first thing I taught them Chemistry instead as another catch-up lesson. We then prepared to go into town. I was standing sorting some money and was just about to bend down to our locker – which I do several times a day – when I felt my back “go”. There was some doubt as to whether we would go to town but found that sitting was OK. Everything else I just did slowly. Ok, more slowly than usual. We returned in time for lunch which Mary had cooked for us; we now have fish on Fridays. The usual assembly took place at 4.15pm and afterwards several of the students (and staff) offered their sympathy for my “paining” back. Andrea spoke on Esther at the devotions; one of the girls dormitories is called “Queen Esther”. We then worked on our laptops for a couple of hours in the offices while they charged. The laptops charged, not the offices. Some students were watching a video of a modern version of Hamlet. The volume was very high and the rooms echo. Our heads were also echoing by the end of the evening.
We were looking forward to a lie in on Saturday until there was a knock at the door – 7am. Nothing serious, just a neighbour wanting some flour. We worked quietly in the morning and then had another visitor, Simon, the SU chairperson who wanted to discuss the events from earlier in the week. He is well meaning and has more experience than many of the students but at 17 years old still needs some guidance and explanations. He stayed for around 2 hours! Andrea then went to the last hour of the visiting afternoon to do some knitting with the students. Some also wanted to play chess so the first three games of the new Ushindi Chess Club were played today! They picked up the basic rules very quickly and soon progressed from playing with a few pieces to playing with the full set. As the school is connected to mains power in the evenings at weekends, Andrea worked for a while in one of the offices to charge her laptop and we watched our first DCD since our return – an old Star Trek.
posted by J & A McAdam at 5:23 PM
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