Christmas Day at the Village - a little late - sorry!!

What a priviledge to spend a Christmas Day at the Village of Hope in Uganda. After being there almost two years ago as a family, when we were with the first team that started the building of the homes, to now return and see children living, laughing and enjoying life in the homes, was amazing!


Christmas Day dawned and seemed to be shaping up to be a hot one. After breakfast at the Village together with Luke we set off for church (a short walk) together with the children. The church service was quite an experience – we had a great time of prayer and then some special items including one with a group of young children singing, this group included many of our VoH children. It then started raining with thunder and lightening – this meant that we couldn’t hear the speaker, even though he was yelling – as well as his interpreter. Then the roof started leaking and the preacher continued oblivious to all that were moving and trying to avoid getting wet. Yes this was Africa and a Christmas service not to be forgotten.

The service was followed by an amazing feast prepared by our mothers with the help of some of the older girls. The whole tribe gathered in the Admin building otherwise known as “Uncle Luke’s home” and there we had rice, matoke, cabbage, irish potatoes, beef, chicken and chapattis, and after eating we had a treat of sodas – yes fanta, coke, mountain dew and other flavours. After lunch we were feeling like a siesta, however the kids had other ideas – it was time to dance! So we were then treated to some amazing performances – these kids certainly know how to move and music and rhythm is definitely “in the blood!”

As far as the children were concerned this had been a ‘perfect’ Christmas Day especially as they had sodas, they weren’t expecting anything more, they just wanted to keep dancing and singing. So when we brought out the ‘shoe boxes’ which had been beautifully filled for each of the children, the mothers, Ivan, Robert and Michael our farmer, it was incredible to see their faces. The simplest things in these boxes were bringing so much enjoyment and happiness – WOW! Thank you to the members of WCCC and Bakers Delight in Wellington Village for filling these boxes and bringing so much joy to these awesome children.

We ar now looking forward to the arrival of the Vandenbergs (Luke’s family) tomorrow and then the Vanderzaags and the team on the day after.

The Popps are now in India - more amazing kids!!