A long and VERY full day!!!

After a very long and full day yesterday, the team have a dayoff and have gone white water rafting for the day....

It got late, and updating the blog was scuppered.... I said i'd do it today...

Yesterday started with a trip to Home Of Hope. A home that takes care of disabled children that need 24/7 care.  Hopebuilders began supporting the ministry quite some years back helping them to pay staff to be there 24/7 and help cover food expenses. The government doe snot assist families at all, and the stigma (and cost) attached to a disabled child sees families get rid of them... and there are very few places to care for them... Since our involvement with Home of Hope, the ministry has developed an 'education' outreach to help families to care (afford to care) for the children and to teach them basic therapies.  A hospital has also now been built on site that families can come and get emergency care for the kids.

It remains a very confronting place to visit, YET, the children absolutely love the attention and care, and being able to share God's love practically with them... is precious.  We really sensed God's presence there!

                                           

                                       

 

 Holding and feeding the kids... a 'not so easy' task.. but the team did amazing!!!

After Home of Hope, we headed home to race across the road and join the lunch time chapel service at the High School next to Suubi House.  We were able to sing and intercede with them, then give testimonies of God's work in our lives - as did many of the School students.....  

A mini sermon was given ,.......... then.. the bell went... Back to class!

Lunch time chapel with the high school kids at the school next to our house

After the chapel, we went up to Abundant Life church to join their Tuesday afternoon 'Action of Love' home visits in the small villages around. We broke into 3 groups to join theirs and walked into the villages to listen, pray and share Hope with them.  No pics of that as it's not something that they do...

From there we went straight to Village of Hope to enjoy a variety of experiences with them.

Before the kids got home from school, we were divided into 3 groups (each group with 2 homes), and were put to work preparing the evening supper for all the kids (and us, as we would be joining).  We were well schooled in how to cut veges, with no cutting board, stir pots on a smokey wood fire, and learn the recipes. Dare to wander away from your pot  tochat....(Kate), and you are reprimanded to stay with your pot!!!

While the food was now just simmering, and the kids were home.. it was netball time... It was an 'all in' take no prisoners battle for supremacy...  but a ton of fun!!!

We, along with the kids, were called to the homes as dusk fell. Time for devotions with the kids, led by the kids. This is regular and the kids know the drill. They started by leading worship, very passionate, and enthusiastic praise. (we noted after that of the 6 or 7 songs - yep you read that right - not one was about them.. they were all focussed on giving God glory, thanking Him, and expressing praise for who he is!)

They went seamlessly into prayer, supplication, and praying for the needs of the world and their country. One of the girls was to lead the Word for that evening and had prepared a message on the need to be thankful, for God has promised to always be with us, and give us salvation. She shared that money might be good and can buy many things, but it cannot buy salvation.. and that's the greatest gift...   The children are then all asked to share what they have learned about God, and they all share. The lead child for the evening closed in prayer

Now....... its tome for food!!! And it was so good!!! we thoroughly enjoyed it......  (and us mzungus got way too much but each found very willing kids to have more!) After food, beagan the exuberant games, challenges, laughs and noise.... We discovered that Uncle Andrew is pretty useless at keeping time and remembering whats next... so .... he was 'out' a lot!!  The singing started again as the kids showed us all the Aussie songs they knew... Kookaburra sits.... and especially: 'I am, you are, we are Australian'  BUT we quickly corrected them on that one.. it's 'I am, you are, we're West Australian'!! We think they got it.  In fact they have been taught that next time Uncle Johann, or Uncle Glenn come, they must say: West is best. And oh boy, did that chant get loud!!!!

All in all, a fantastic evening, where fun wa shad, we were deeply moved by their faith and passion, and we love their food!!!

Andrew....

Netball with some VERY competitive kids - and young Aussies :)

                                

                                

Budding African chefs, under the watchful eyes of the Mammas!!

                                   

                                    

Prayer, praise and worship led by the kids....

                                      

 Not much text today.... the pictures tell the story well....

Building local cooking skills!!

The Boys up at 6.30 to learn to make Mandazi

Success - Yum...

Building a wall with bricks, mortar and hard work!

                                    

                                    

Building Hope in Massese Slums with Love, Laughter and Prayer!!

 

                                  

                                   

                                                              

                                           

A Special Birthday day.....

Today was a special day, because it was Harry’s Birthday!

Andrew organised cake and some balloons and we surprised Harry with a birthday song.

It is Sunday so we went to worship with God’s people at Abundant Life Church down the road. We were very warmly welcomed by the congregation and sang plenty of songs in English and Lugandan. We listened to the congregation testify to God’s goodness and faithfulness in their lives, we celebrated communion together, then Pastor George preached to us and encouraged us to listen to our conscience. 

It was very different, and very specialto be part of.

In the afternoon there was time to relax, to play with the community kids, head into Jinja to spend a bit more money in town and then enjoy a cruise on Lake Victoria to the site of the source of the Nile, where it begins its long journey to Egypt. Ending our day with a lovely meal together at All Friends Restaurant which was very delicious…. and very abundant, seeing us take home some leftovers to share with our hosts here.

Back at Suubi house we spent the evening having a very exuberant sing-a-long with Alex on the guitar.

Kate..... Team 31

                     

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY!!!

                  

2nd full day and the Building begins...

As I write this blog, Hayley and I are looking through photos with big smiles on our faces,
reflecting on the heart-filling day we’ve had. It began with a pancake breakfast made by
Juliette, before heading to the village where we met many children, them holding our hand
and asking lots of questions about life in Australia – and they never ran out of questions!
Anything between “how many people live in your Australian home?” and “do your nails
grow in Australia?”

We began building the wall, carrying heavy bricks which the children loved to help with, and
spent a few hours getting a few layers established – with Mrs Murphy hand feeding us with
red lolly frogs as our hands were grubby with mortar. The children kept us good company
with inventive games, one holding our arms behind our back saying “what’s the password?”
and we’d have to respond with “you are so handsome”, “you are so funny”, or “you are so
amazing” – but the password would change each time. Many locals would drive by wit
waves and smiles, a monkey in the tree was eating fruit, and when we finished the building
for the morning, we had fresh chapatti before heading back to the Suubi house for fresh
rolls.

After lunch, we went to the YSU centre (Youth Support Uganda), getting a tour of the
rooms, such as the tailoring room filled with sewing machines. HopeBuilders gives a sewing
machine to each girl that completes the year-long tailoring course. This was only one of the
different courses they run the youth through, many discipleship programs and other
opportunities for them to grow in their love for and hope in God. After meeting everyone
and introducing ourselves, we played volleyball with the men, got fitted for new Ugandan
skirts/shorts with the women, and played with the children. I was asked to teach a young
man a new song on the guitar and then he invited me to sing with him, while he played –
and he harmonised with me. We walked to Lake Victoria, with rows of children holding our
hands, and sat with them in our laps while they pointed out birds and boats.

After YSU, we returned to the house, and Hayley, Heidi, Jordan, Riley, Harry, Ben and I
walked through the village, bought stale mandazi which we gave away, one team member
**ben** almost getting hit by a local with a loaded motorbike, danced with some locals
across the street, ate more fresh chapatti, and stood outside a church listening to choir
practice. On our way back, we ran into the same children that we played with yesterday- so
we played with them again, loads of giggles, loads of cuddles, loads of piggy backs, just
making us smile so so much. They walked us back to our gate and gave us cuddles to say
goodbye, blowing kisses as we waved them goodnight.

We finished the day with a delicious curry that was so delicious we left the pot empty and
now have very full stomachs and very full hearts. We’re so excited for what the next few
days are going to bring, and can’t wait for more cuddles and giggles.

Alex… Team 31.

Pre Brekky UNO game

2 master bricklayers and 1 rookie

Hard at it...

   

                                               

Team 31 ... First Full Day!

Our first full day in Uganda began - after a small sleep in - with a delicious breakfast of Rolex (omelette rolled in a chapatti) as well as plain chapatti to which we added banana and Nutella... Yum!  And... of course the fresh cut pineapple that is so sweet and abundant here!

After breakfast, the Hopebuilders team came to share with us. They shared a little about the history of Uganda and the culture as well as the beginnings and history of Hopebuilders and the vision behind it.  With that came some stories fo challenges, but also of wonderful achievements over the years.

We then headed up the road to Village of Hope to see the Village, the homes, meet the mothers and to see all the development that has occurred.

After a lunch of freshly baked rolls (baked by Juliet), salad - and of course fresh passion fruit and pineapple we headed into Jinja to check out the town.

We were able to go to the ATM and load up with Ugandan 'shillings' and felt rich ( an Aus $ is 2000 shillings!)  We bought a huge range of things, mini bongos, skirts, bracelets, a 'pink' shirt was bought by one of the guys... and more.

Coming home, we decided to walk down the road to buy some Mandazi (kind of like Ugandan olliebollen) that we have fallen in love with!! On our way back we met some local kids, and began to play and interact with them....  Not long and we had so many kids and so many games going on.... enormous fun was had by all.....

We were called back for an amazing supper of Irish potatoes, rice and beans (and.... you guessed it... fresh pineapple!!).... 

That was day 1.... Team 31 style.

Hayley...... on behalf of Team 31!

Checking out the upcoming wall building project

Hayley & Alex help with Lunch
 

The local kids LOVE the Attention of the team...

The ladies after an afternoon at the Jinja 'boutiques'...

We made it!!!

A quick short note to let you know that after a long, long journey, we made it to Suubi house.

A slow process through the airport and getting luggage, then a long bus trip including a lovely night time flat tyre.... :(

But.... we were me at Suubi by lovely fresh clean beds, a warm meal of Spaghetti Bolognese, a shower and bed....

Tomorrow is a new day, it'll be light, we'll see where we are.. and begin with enthusiasm.

We're thankful to God for safety, security and His presence.... 

Team 31. 

Team 31 heads to Uganda - The first team from Western Australia!

So. tonight

9 enthusiastic people from WA head out for the inaugural WA HopeBuilders trip!

Each one of us is super keen, curious and excited to spend the the next 2 weeks in a culture and lifestyle very different from our own! For some of us, it's our first trip overseas ever!  For us, HopeBuilders are the Guinea pig! 

The team are: Kate, Heidi, Alex, Jordan, Ben Riley Harry, Hayley and Andrew.  We will try to update the blog each day (when time and local internet plays ball), sharing what we've seen, experienced and done. We're going to help build a wall, meet the children at Village of Hope, meet the young people at YSU, engage with the local church, bring the warmth of God's love to the disabled children at Home of Hope, and more..... The HopeBuilders team in Uganda is ready for us, our rooms are ready, and they are keen to meet us.

Please keep us in your prayers: 

Safe travel, starting tonight.  Protection for our luggage. Good intro to Uganda.  Good team spirit.  and..... a real sense of anticipation for God to work in and through us. Watch out for more!!

Blessings,

Team 31!!