This is Africa

By 7.20am my husband had uttered the predictable ‘TIA’.  We arranged to have breakfast at 7.00am and with our usual enthusiasm (not) set the alarm for 6.30am.  You cannot imagine my joy at having my first hot shower for 11 days.  However, we arrived for breakfast at 7 and our breakfast arrived at 7.40 just as Charles was arriving to pick us up! 

As we drove to Guiding Star School, Tom said, ‘do you honestly think they’ll be ready at 8?’.  Sure enough when we arrived at 8.15 the teachers and older girls were still decorating the room.   We had been asked by our friend Gertrude if we would speak to the children in P7 (top juniors) and pray for them as they are sitting their Primary Leaving Exam tomorrow and Tuesday.    

They were having a special service at school for them. We were treated to the usual fantastic call and response singing – we could even join in with some of them.  It was interesting to see how the keyboard player coped.  The children would start a song, he had to decide what key they were singing in, then decide what rhythm to play – it wasn’t always entirely successful! 

Tom and I spoke to them about being part of the ‘body’ and that each person is special to God and he gives us different gifts that complement each other.   

Tom was on good form and finished by reminding them what the Bible says about being anxious… and encouraged them to talk to Jesus if they felt worried about the exams. The children performed several songs for us accompanied by actions (brilliant) and then they had to listen to another visitor who talked to them about wisdom.  After that we prayed for the leavers and Tom suggested we make a prayer tunnel.  Gertrude was up for it so we got all the teachers and the other visitors to join hands in pairs to make a tunnel and the children went through as we prayed for each one.

All this took 2 hours so Gertrude took us back to her house for a break, to take tea and to make short calls.  Then we set off for Gertrude’s church.  The 2^nd service is from 11am to 1pm.  We arrived at 11.30 and it finished at 2pm.  TIA.  It was similar to our service at Hope House but there was a translator so everything was delivered in English and Luganda, it was very hot and very loud, and the preacher exceeded even the longest HHC sermon, managing an impressive 1½ hrs.  I liked the idea of the worship leader sitting in the front row and smarting up the 2 pastors’ clothing – straightening a tie and tidying suit pockets.  Could it catch on in the UK?

Gertrude had invited us back for lunch with Charles.  She had prepared a special meal which was delicious.  We particularly enjoyed the fresh fruit.  We talked about education in Uganda.   Gertrude told us about a boy who was at school in P7 but hadn’t paid any fees so he was sent home to get money.  When he got home his mother couldn’t afford to give him the money for the fees and he left home and lived on the streets.  The mother was desperate and went to Gertrude to ask if she would pay for them to put out a TV advert asking him to come home.   The day they were going to sort it out, the boy came home (those who know Gertrude will know that at this point there was much ‘praise God’ and slapping me).   Gertrude was so upset by the family situation that she said the boy could attend the school for free. He was one of the ones we prayed for this morning as he’s sitting exams this week.   It is too difficult for many children to attend school – there are fees and transport to pay for, and stationery which often result in no food.  TIA.

We spent the last hour driving round Kampala trying to find a bank with an ATM that was working.  Kampala driving even on a Sunday stretches the nerves.  People cross the road weaving between cars and taxis that are practically touching, and everywhere there are motorbikes appearing from every side street, often with several very small children precariously balanced between the adults or on the handlebars.  TIA.

We ended up at the shopping centre as the ATM is always working. Note mother, I’m telling you after we’ve gone against foreign office advice not before.  Anyway, is it any worse than when we went to London when the IRA were active? We were amused by the so called heightened security. An armed guard checked the glove compartment – but not any of our bags or the suitcase in the boot.  TIA

We finished our day with a swim and now I’m writing this outside smothered in mossie repellent and accompanied by 4 competing noisy lots of music.  I wouldn’t have it any other way.  When I think of Uganda I think of noise and red dust and heat and heavy rain, the special smells, the rubbish tips, the glorious scenery out of the towns, the city poverty and the village poverty, the injustice, the ridiculous roads and crazy driving, the security guards with guns and the perfunctory security, the ragged barefoot children with their glorious songs and the cries of ‘Bye Mzungu’ as we drive past, and above all the warm welcome we receive wherever we go and the friends we have made.  This is Africa!