Monday 24 October 2016

Another Busy Day in Uganda!



Wow that was busy but what a great day. We opened our office to families and children and families. OSAAT facilitated their transport. Many had never been out of the village. So to come to a town in such a beautiful places our office was an amazing experience for them. That's what we want to do not just send people to school and ignore everything else but to give some life experience is that all of us take so much for granted. We know that these people of gone back to the village and this will be the topic of conversation for many weeks.

One girl came with her mum and her headteacher who insisted he wanted to come and say what life was like in town and to meet some white person. When he got me poor boy. He acts he stayed overnight with the family I hosted six people that night. But it's so lovely to spend time with real village people they are so kind everything is appreciated I love everything and they chat. They played ball they ate good food they slept on mattresses had lots of hugs and fun. You will see by the photograph just how many people attended and that wasn't even half of the people. It made me realise just how many people that we are supporting. And without your help and the support of sponsors that would never be possible.

 So many of our bigger girls came and helped with the cooking the bigger boys put up tarpaulins cut out shares clean the compound it was just amazing. The chairperson of our local management board who is also the LC3 chairman a bit like a Bedford borough Council Chairman came to give a presentation and was completely impressed with the family feel and the love that actually was a man everybody old young families staff. Presentations were given by staff myself two of the management from Uganda children themselves about how I sat helped them the football coach who said how proud he was to be managing such a team.  The trophy was held high and lots of celebration woods were going on. They heard about the knitters and Crotcheters Who received a rapturous applause from all.

Every child in the charity and every brother and sister plus other vulnerable children now are sleeping under a blanket from those women. It's an amazing thing they do and I can't express the joy and the feeling of hope that it gives our people. Also the love can be Felt in those blankets imagine hundreds of children across poverty stricken northern Uganda are sleeping under such beautiful items. Children are looking smart in the sweaters and wearing hats and mittens all from that group. Children who came with no shoes on their mothers were fitted with shoes that had come from you people in England and clothes were distributed to many others. Parcel sent from sponsors also went home being gripped very tightly by the recipients. They also learned about the football is football boots and football strip that I've been so generously donated in kind but also financially supported through all those that have taken part in that we have to say thank you to you.

 All in all it was a fabulous day lovely to be surrounded by all those children from from eight years ago right up to the newest recruit little Priscilla from about two weeks ago. Photos will be added during the week enjoy them and do you let us have your comments lots of love to you all from sunny Uganda.

Monday 17 October 2016

OSSAT Uganda Visit - First Week


This week has descended into an absolute blur of early-morning visitors late night visitors and busy during the day. On Saturday morning people knocking the gate at 7:30 and Ronald answered and set up a new role. He came to me and said mum  I'm telling everyone that the office gate Will not open until 11 o'clock at the weekends. Mum you have to have some rest. How lovely to be looked after.

This time I bought a car my health doesn't allow me to sit for hours on the motorbike doing long journeys on bumpy roads. It's been wonderful and is given me a sense of freedom too. The problem is night time driving he is so dangerous. Coming back from a wedding on Saturday evening people were everywhere cars parked with no lights in the middle of the main roads. So decision has been made to not do you any more night time driving.

I have seen a real decline in the ordinary folks lifestyle here. For those who have businesses there are no customers as no one has any money. The level of youth and young people unemployment is astronomical. Even when youngsters qualify invocational training or a degree there is no work for them. We have people with degrees coming to ask if they can just clean or do you some weeding or something just to earn some money. My original question for coming here was held to people live with nothing and I think now I really have the answer. Sadly are struggling life of poverty changes people. Many are struggling so hard to survive that they don't have time for anyone else except their own survival.

Yesterday I was helping one of our boys to sort out his school fees had been sent away from school by the deputy head saying don't come back until you have a nil balance and nothing owing. As we tried to establish what was arranged just hung up the phone on him. Today he begins his O-levels a really crucial time for those of us who can remember that. And that's the kind of support that teachers here will give the children. Luckily I was here and could give him everything he needed but that's not the case for many of these children. Yesterday was visited by six of our very first children that we sponsored Latigo Daniel Ronald Dennis Aaron. We sat around our dining table where the world is seriously put to rights we discussed what is love, how could we help other people around us even though we have our own problems, what is it that would change this country, and then we moved on to more practical things of let's build a barbecue. So today Ronald and Joffrey are mixing cement digging the trench is to put the walls of the barbecue and we are looking forward to putting in action very soon. Visited by seven-year-old girl and when I asked where was mum mum had gone to the village to buy charcoal for her business and the girl had been alone for four days at home. She had washed her own uniform should take on a self to school based herself only her mother had paid for food at a local hotel and had advised us that she was going. So she came for lunch with me and if her mother is not home this evening she will come to stay in the office. That's uganda.

I had the pleasure this Saturday are going to our chairman of the council's wedding. It was a traditional marriage where everything was conducted in the local language. Six hours of listening to a foreign language but the boredom was broken with some dancing and followed by local feast. I was seem to manage to get invited to a wedding when I'm here. Today is about getting myself organised. I didn't bring shampoo so I'm using hand soap for washing my hair my camera memory is now full my phone memory is full my iCloud is now full and for those who know me you are aware that I have no clue about any of those things so I am trying every tactic to avoid having to do those things. Hey ho I think I will go and prepare the jack fruit or shall I just make a cuppa?


















Tuesday 11 October 2016

OSSAT Uganda Visit Day 3!


I have had a very serious few days engulfed with some amazing nature. In the night we were treated to the most powerful thunderstorm and rain like people here have not seen for 5 years. Bearing in mind I am surrounded by water in the "island room " the noise and light show was amazing.    However in the morning I opened my eyes to a monkey on my verandah balustrade and gushing water. There was serious flooding. Empty trenches were gurgling as the water rushed through at high speed. With the sun rising it soon dried up and although it is still moving it is finding its own level. The afternoon brought a session of swimming in the pool supported by Some sunbathing. I've not left the hotel since I came here and decided tonight I need to make a journey and it was to part of lake Victoria where Blackwing turns gather. Some have come from UK and there were tens and tens of thousands of small white creatures joining the throng from every direction and not one collision.   They have the best sat nav system.       






























Monday 10 October 2016

OSAAT Uganda Visit Day Two!





A very nice day with a friend Adam who came to enjoy the beauty of nature in this rare Jewel in the crown of Entebbe. It was Independence Day and I had hoped to be dancing somewhere. Instead we watched monkeys supporting their tiny baby to navigate through the trees, listened to the bird song, watched geese settling in trees for the night, investigated the garden of food growing to supply the hotel,  read some Angel cards, eat a hearty supper.  Now as I lie in bed a storm is raging. My house has no door, as security is the water ponds which surround me. Feels a bit Alkatraz. Curtains are blowing, rain is beating on the roof and the whole room is lit  periodically by lightening accompanied by thunderous applause from the Gods. I am being treated to the best nature has to offer.  Just a minute there is a negative, just had a mosquito buzz by inside my net.  Must go this is a serious operation. A murder is about to take place.