Friday night was an amazing night for us although slightly surreal I must day. Have you ever heard of the artist Mesach Semakula? No, well neither had we but we most definitely know who this gentleman is now. Since arriving in Uganda some five weeks ago Lorna and I have had the unfortunate experience of using a boda boda everyday! Although slightly exhilarating the first time we hoped on one of these crazy little scooters the excitement soon wore off and now being ripped off daily by wee Ugandan Boda drivers who wish to make a quick buck from the muzungus (white people) has lost its appeal. As we weave through busy traffic holding on for dear life (even the black people here get white knuckles from these rides!) we often comment on the people we see, the cars we often scrape past, hotties you know the usual stuff. We also didn’t fail to notice the thousands of posters plastered all over the city with Mesach Semakula’s face staring out at us. We actually asked people about it because we thought it was strange that this one person seemed to be so popular. Now, we were told that Mesach is a huge star here and that the reason for the publicity was that he was going to be releasing his new album and so this was the build up to it. Neither of us though any more about it (well at least I know I didn’t, who knows what goes on in the Main’s head) that was until we heard some of the children at DP (Dwelling Places) mention his name. I, being the dizzy blonde that I am, didn’t actually put the “musician” the children were talking about with the face on the poster but Lorna keeps me right and so she told me that, that was who the children were talking about.
Anyway, it turned out that this big star is a supporter of DP. I don’t really know the details of whether or not he supports them financially or what, nor did I ask. I didn’t really have time because before I knew it we were backstage getting the children ready to go on and perform. Yes that’s right. He chose our children, “the lucky ones” to be one of the opening acts at his big launch. Needless to say it was an amazing evening. The children were so, so hyper meeting one of the biggest stars in Uganda and Lorna and I, well we were just happy that so many people got to hear and see how wonderful they are.
Lots of love and then some Erica xxx
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Taking You Through The Day
Hi! I hope everybody is well?! In this post i would like to tell you what me and Erica are getting up to in our days at Dwelling Places, i will take you through the schedule...morning till night and all the workshops in between!. I will not miss anything out, so you will be finding out what we have for breakfast and dinner, i know you want to know!
At our time in Dwelling Places (DP) we are staying with Rita's Auntie Florence (Aunt 'Hey Ho' Flo to me and you...i will explain later!) We have been very blessed and they have given me, Erica and two other members of our team called Buchan and Heather a lovely apartment to stay in. Below you will see the days events ( this is very accurate!!)
6.15 am - Lorna gets up to wash
6.30am - Lorna tells Erica its her bathroom time
6.35am - Lorna tells Erica its her bathroom time
6.40am - Lorna tells Erica its her bathroom time ( ha ha sorry Erica ok this has only happened once..or twice!)
7.30 am - we have our breakfast, typically we will have weetabix or peanut butter and banana on toast!(you can take the girl out of Scotland but you can't take Scotland out of the girl!)
8.00am We arrive at DP and have our daily devotional to get us hyped up in Christian action for the day!
9.00am We round up the children for warm ups, this consists of a dance called 'Follow da leader', if none of you have heard of it before its a really active dance that will have you hopping about on one leg and bring a rosey tint (or blazing red) to your cheeks! i will teach you it one day!!
9.30am. Singing Workshop
This is the start of the workshops, the most beautiful Erica takes the children that are in 'Peace Child' and starts to do vocal warm ups, the children have never been taught to do warm ups like these before so it is interesting to see the improvement in the childrens voices after Erica has done such a great job with them! We then do a run through of the songs in peace child, splitting them up into groups, making sure that they know the words and actions, teaching them how improvements can be made etc.
11am Dance Workshop
This workshop is taken by Heather! Again the children have never done exercise warm ups before so they find it hysterical when they fall over trying to touch their toes and doing squats. Come to think of it..maybe they are laughing at me trying to touch my toes...hmmm! Heather has done such a good job, she has learnt all the 'Peace Child' dance moves to the 11 songs that are sang during the show and she is making sure that she is rehearsing them to perfection for the show!
1pm - This is lunch. Pocia (sp?!) and beans.....everyday of the week. Pocia is like half between rice and potato. And the beans are beans. Can you all share my enthusiasm!
2pm - Drama Workshop
The ever so talented Buchan takes the children through drama lessons. This usually consists of role playing games so the children know how to change characters and emotion games. He goes through the day blocking scenes in the play and making sure that the performers in the show play there parts with all the talent that he can squeeze out of them!
Yes people i can hear you say... 'Lorna, why don't you have a workshop??!' well i spend my day helping the others in their workshops but my main job is Stage Manager. So during the day i am sussing out what props we have to use, what costumes everybody will be wearing, lighting that we are going to have, decoration for the stage. Eh, i think i should be having a panic attack! But i am suprisingly ok, God has been so faithful and provided people to help me. But this show has got absolutely no money for these extra things that will make the show special but i know that God will provide them for us. I know that the children are poor but that doesn't mean that the show is going to have to look poor. These children deserve the best, all their hard work and prayers are going to pay off! This show was planned by God! He didn't send me and Erica and the rest of the team all the way from Scotland for nothing! (If you feel that you can donate money towards the show please look at Erica's blog 'Peace Child' to see how you can donate!)
Ok lets carry on with the schedule!
7pm Aunt 'Hey Ho' Flo provides us with a wonderful meal. We have had such things as pasta, lovely potatos, beef, she is an absolute legend!
8pm The four of us work out a schedule for the next day and reflect on how the day has gone and what God has done during the day!
9pm We have a wee boogie in our apartment for 15 minutes before we go to bed! This is where Aunt 'Hey Ho' Flo got her nickname! She is the 'diva' when it comes to swinging the old hips to the soul music! We clear the floor and let her show us how it is done whilst we clap and shout 'Hey..Ho..Hey...Ho'!! I will learn from the best!!
9.30 - zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
So thankyou for joining me through our daily routine, the days are jam packed but thats why it is called a mission that we are on! We will conquer on until we have done what God has called us to do here in DP!
I would like to share with you another poem of mine that i have written. When we are singing in church or with the children at DP it feels like God has called all his children together at it takes me to a place so close to what i imagine heaven to be like. It is called 'In a song'.
In A Song
Heaven hails worship to the King!
I can hear the spirit rise in every child that sings
For a moment, I know that God has taken me up into the sky,
Raised my heart and mind so high
A melody that stops the hands of time
Voices unite in words and rhyme
Eyes looking up, i shed a tear
Because i know Heaven is near
No troubles or fears are here to stay
The angels came and blew them away
My soul shines, God bathed it in grace
His Glory rains down upon my face
Jesus your children are singing their lives to you
They're holding nothing back in anything they do
You are their hope, their treasure, their light
You give them strength in the rough days to fight
In one song a thousand blessings fall
You've listened and smiled upon your childrens call
I hold onto the last note and pray it doesn't fade
Lord, keep my soul singing the song heaven made.
At our time in Dwelling Places (DP) we are staying with Rita's Auntie Florence (Aunt 'Hey Ho' Flo to me and you...i will explain later!) We have been very blessed and they have given me, Erica and two other members of our team called Buchan and Heather a lovely apartment to stay in. Below you will see the days events ( this is very accurate!!)
6.15 am - Lorna gets up to wash
6.30am - Lorna tells Erica its her bathroom time
6.35am - Lorna tells Erica its her bathroom time
6.40am - Lorna tells Erica its her bathroom time ( ha ha sorry Erica ok this has only happened once..or twice!)
7.30 am - we have our breakfast, typically we will have weetabix or peanut butter and banana on toast!(you can take the girl out of Scotland but you can't take Scotland out of the girl!)
8.00am We arrive at DP and have our daily devotional to get us hyped up in Christian action for the day!
9.00am We round up the children for warm ups, this consists of a dance called 'Follow da leader', if none of you have heard of it before its a really active dance that will have you hopping about on one leg and bring a rosey tint (or blazing red) to your cheeks! i will teach you it one day!!
9.30am. Singing Workshop
This is the start of the workshops, the most beautiful Erica takes the children that are in 'Peace Child' and starts to do vocal warm ups, the children have never been taught to do warm ups like these before so it is interesting to see the improvement in the childrens voices after Erica has done such a great job with them! We then do a run through of the songs in peace child, splitting them up into groups, making sure that they know the words and actions, teaching them how improvements can be made etc.
11am Dance Workshop
This workshop is taken by Heather! Again the children have never done exercise warm ups before so they find it hysterical when they fall over trying to touch their toes and doing squats. Come to think of it..maybe they are laughing at me trying to touch my toes...hmmm! Heather has done such a good job, she has learnt all the 'Peace Child' dance moves to the 11 songs that are sang during the show and she is making sure that she is rehearsing them to perfection for the show!
1pm - This is lunch. Pocia (sp?!) and beans.....everyday of the week. Pocia is like half between rice and potato. And the beans are beans. Can you all share my enthusiasm!
2pm - Drama Workshop
The ever so talented Buchan takes the children through drama lessons. This usually consists of role playing games so the children know how to change characters and emotion games. He goes through the day blocking scenes in the play and making sure that the performers in the show play there parts with all the talent that he can squeeze out of them!
Yes people i can hear you say... 'Lorna, why don't you have a workshop??!' well i spend my day helping the others in their workshops but my main job is Stage Manager. So during the day i am sussing out what props we have to use, what costumes everybody will be wearing, lighting that we are going to have, decoration for the stage. Eh, i think i should be having a panic attack! But i am suprisingly ok, God has been so faithful and provided people to help me. But this show has got absolutely no money for these extra things that will make the show special but i know that God will provide them for us. I know that the children are poor but that doesn't mean that the show is going to have to look poor. These children deserve the best, all their hard work and prayers are going to pay off! This show was planned by God! He didn't send me and Erica and the rest of the team all the way from Scotland for nothing! (If you feel that you can donate money towards the show please look at Erica's blog 'Peace Child' to see how you can donate!)
Ok lets carry on with the schedule!
7pm Aunt 'Hey Ho' Flo provides us with a wonderful meal. We have had such things as pasta, lovely potatos, beef, she is an absolute legend!
8pm The four of us work out a schedule for the next day and reflect on how the day has gone and what God has done during the day!
9pm We have a wee boogie in our apartment for 15 minutes before we go to bed! This is where Aunt 'Hey Ho' Flo got her nickname! She is the 'diva' when it comes to swinging the old hips to the soul music! We clear the floor and let her show us how it is done whilst we clap and shout 'Hey..Ho..Hey...Ho'!! I will learn from the best!!
9.30 - zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
So thankyou for joining me through our daily routine, the days are jam packed but thats why it is called a mission that we are on! We will conquer on until we have done what God has called us to do here in DP!
I would like to share with you another poem of mine that i have written. When we are singing in church or with the children at DP it feels like God has called all his children together at it takes me to a place so close to what i imagine heaven to be like. It is called 'In a song'.
In A Song
Heaven hails worship to the King!
I can hear the spirit rise in every child that sings
For a moment, I know that God has taken me up into the sky,
Raised my heart and mind so high
A melody that stops the hands of time
Voices unite in words and rhyme
Eyes looking up, i shed a tear
Because i know Heaven is near
No troubles or fears are here to stay
The angels came and blew them away
My soul shines, God bathed it in grace
His Glory rains down upon my face
Jesus your children are singing their lives to you
They're holding nothing back in anything they do
You are their hope, their treasure, their light
You give them strength in the rough days to fight
In one song a thousand blessings fall
You've listened and smiled upon your childrens call
I hold onto the last note and pray it doesn't fade
Lord, keep my soul singing the song heaven made.
Meet "The Peace Child" Team
Good morning all. How are you or “Oliotia” as they say here in Uganda? It’s 6am here and the troops (Lorna, Heather and Buchan) are reluctantly lifting their pretty little heads from their pillows. Partly tiredness and partly physical exhaustion keeps them resting. Don’t feel sorry for us…it’s good exhaustion! Singing from sunrise to sunset with fifty excitable Ugandan children does that to you. So first of all let me introduce the team and what it is that we’re actually doing over here:
The project: Dwelling Places is a home for children who have been rescued from the streets. It is a safe place. It really is a beautiful home and they have welcomed us with open arms into their (very big) family. I will tell you more about the home itself and the work of the organisation but that really is an entry (or two) of its own. The vision Rita Nkemba (the director) and her staff have for this place is huge and we are only a small (but hopefully valuable) part of it. So we’re putting on a show. It’s called “Peace Child”. The children tell the story of two tribes: The Wannapeepees (yes seriously. I have found this name a great source of amusement much to the bemusement of the children. They are obviously much more mature than I am) and the Sopongis. The tribes are separated by a ferocious river and years of hatred. Then the unexpected arrival of a Western TV crew disturbs their primitive demise and the tribes are forced to reconcile their differences. I won’t spoil the ending for you but yes a child is involved and the two tribes come together. We’ll film it (or you never know God’s big plans for this project. I’ve got a feeling it won’t stop here!) and you can see just how talented these children really are. I’m sure they created the definition of the word rhythm.
The team:
Stage Manager: Lorna Main. Many of you know her and those of you who don’t I am sure you will be very familiar with the legend that is Miss Lorna Main or Morna Lain as I call her by the end of this year, if you’re keeping up with the blog that is. She is the talented one who composes the beautiful poems while I prattle on! Lorna answers to most things but “Auntie Lorna” is the most recent addition to her signature strip. What can I say about this gorgeous lady apart from that she is a complete inspiration to me and that it is my absolute privilege to be travelling the world with her. Some of you will know that Lorna and I originally met in Peru on a Vine Trust work party. I don’t know if sharing a mosquito net and living in the jungle with each other for two weeks was really adequate preparation for this monumental trip but it certainly helped and God has done the rest. She is my best friend, a constant (and I mean 24/7) support and encouragement to me. Lorna has amazing faith and her wisdom compliments my “kookiness” (yes you know who said that!). Anyway enough bumming this girl up- you get the idea, she’s bloomin’ wonderful! So Lorna’s official role on the team in stage manager (poor soul), which means she has all of the responsibility of organising lighting, sound, costumes, props and well yeah…staging. So basically Lorna does all of the difficult chasing of Ugandans. If you can try to imagine having to organise all of these things in Scotland where you know the currency, you know where (roughly) you would find these things and where you would have people to help. Then take all of those factors away and you have her job! Stressful but she is walking (or should I say marching: she’s such a wee warrior) in faith and so lets all just pray she gets these things done with minimal stress. Of course we will all help her and the team at Dwelling Places are helping, not to mention the children who are unbelievably talented and have already amazed us with their ability to sew and create aswell as sing, dance and act. I should really thank you in advance on behalf of the team for your generous donations towards costumes and all of these things. We want the production to be as professional as possible and these children really do deserve to have the opportunity to shine. Yes they have come from the streets but they are no longer there and they shouldn’t look, or feel, as if they are! If you haven’t already contributed then please go back to the main World Without Walls Website and get a contact for St Andrew’s church or phone the office (01506 825803).
Ok back to the team. Big B, Uncle Buchan, real name Buchan Lennon. He is something else. His official title is Artistic Director. He works incredibly hard coaching the children and encouraging them to be more theatrical. If anyone is capable of doing this it’s Big B. If you thought I was hyper…you haven’t seen anything yet. Infact I think he has done such a professional job that we now have children wondering around the home convinced that they are actually Wannapeepees. One young man, Sam, is convinced that he is actually the chief of this tribe and has taken to shouting at the smaller children and is permanently positioned on his “throne” with his head in the air. I know it is slightly concerning but hey if it makes the show look good who am I to correct him.
Heather Lennon (Buc’s big sis). Aka “Auntie Heva”. What a sweetie and boy can she boogie!? Heather is choreographer with hips that do not lie! I’m sure Lorna’s timetable goes into a little more detail about how much time we actually spend dancing in the baking hot sun but just incase she hasn’t I think I should add that this girl has energy and a set of lungs to match. She is doing a fantastic job drilling the kids of their dances. Many of them had been started before we arrived and so Heather has embraced what they had aswell as the children’s natural love and ability to dance; where we have no ideas they always come up with something! She has also injected a hip-hop flavour into the show and I know that she is creating some of the most exciting, original and innovative dance displays Uganda has ever seen. I am enjoying being taught by her just as much as the children!
Ok last but not least (I hope) Moi! “Auntie Erica”. I am musical director (Eliza please try not to laugh when you read this!) Basically I torture the children by making them sing the same songs over and over again. They adore singing and are very good at it but it pains them to have to stand or sit still while singing; they find it hard not to tap or wiggle as soon as they hear the beat but they are learning…slowly. I am pleased to report that they are getting used to my confusing directions for dynamics and their pronunciations of some of the song lyrics are now more Scottish than Ugandan, which is just great! We’ve also introduced (or sorry Gillian reinforced) the importance of vocal exercises and warm up routines. At the beginning these simply consisted of name games and some singing and dancing but with the show fast approaching everything is becoming a little fraught, to say the least, and the poor souls are being subjected to scales, vocal breathing exercise (Eliza Bonnar style) and gruelling stretches. So my job is pretty fab- anyone who knows me knows that I love singing and doing it all day everyday with children who can harmonise naturally is a dream come true!
I hope you’re exhausted reading this. We are pretty much knackered doing it but seriously we would not have it any other way. We still have an awful lot of work to do but I know that God has not saved these children (literally off the streets) for any mean feat. They are supper talented and he has big plans for them. As for us we just continue to pray every day that we are doing as much for the children as they are doing for us. They bless us every morning with their smiles and are so appreciative of our help. Their faces light up when we talk about home and tell them about you guys rooting for them. So thank you. Thank you for being part of this project and as they say, “I hope you enjoy the show”!
Lots of love and then some Erica xxx
The project: Dwelling Places is a home for children who have been rescued from the streets. It is a safe place. It really is a beautiful home and they have welcomed us with open arms into their (very big) family. I will tell you more about the home itself and the work of the organisation but that really is an entry (or two) of its own. The vision Rita Nkemba (the director) and her staff have for this place is huge and we are only a small (but hopefully valuable) part of it. So we’re putting on a show. It’s called “Peace Child”. The children tell the story of two tribes: The Wannapeepees (yes seriously. I have found this name a great source of amusement much to the bemusement of the children. They are obviously much more mature than I am) and the Sopongis. The tribes are separated by a ferocious river and years of hatred. Then the unexpected arrival of a Western TV crew disturbs their primitive demise and the tribes are forced to reconcile their differences. I won’t spoil the ending for you but yes a child is involved and the two tribes come together. We’ll film it (or you never know God’s big plans for this project. I’ve got a feeling it won’t stop here!) and you can see just how talented these children really are. I’m sure they created the definition of the word rhythm.
The team:
Stage Manager: Lorna Main. Many of you know her and those of you who don’t I am sure you will be very familiar with the legend that is Miss Lorna Main or Morna Lain as I call her by the end of this year, if you’re keeping up with the blog that is. She is the talented one who composes the beautiful poems while I prattle on! Lorna answers to most things but “Auntie Lorna” is the most recent addition to her signature strip. What can I say about this gorgeous lady apart from that she is a complete inspiration to me and that it is my absolute privilege to be travelling the world with her. Some of you will know that Lorna and I originally met in Peru on a Vine Trust work party. I don’t know if sharing a mosquito net and living in the jungle with each other for two weeks was really adequate preparation for this monumental trip but it certainly helped and God has done the rest. She is my best friend, a constant (and I mean 24/7) support and encouragement to me. Lorna has amazing faith and her wisdom compliments my “kookiness” (yes you know who said that!). Anyway enough bumming this girl up- you get the idea, she’s bloomin’ wonderful! So Lorna’s official role on the team in stage manager (poor soul), which means she has all of the responsibility of organising lighting, sound, costumes, props and well yeah…staging. So basically Lorna does all of the difficult chasing of Ugandans. If you can try to imagine having to organise all of these things in Scotland where you know the currency, you know where (roughly) you would find these things and where you would have people to help. Then take all of those factors away and you have her job! Stressful but she is walking (or should I say marching: she’s such a wee warrior) in faith and so lets all just pray she gets these things done with minimal stress. Of course we will all help her and the team at Dwelling Places are helping, not to mention the children who are unbelievably talented and have already amazed us with their ability to sew and create aswell as sing, dance and act. I should really thank you in advance on behalf of the team for your generous donations towards costumes and all of these things. We want the production to be as professional as possible and these children really do deserve to have the opportunity to shine. Yes they have come from the streets but they are no longer there and they shouldn’t look, or feel, as if they are! If you haven’t already contributed then please go back to the main World Without Walls Website and get a contact for St Andrew’s church or phone the office (01506 825803).
Ok back to the team. Big B, Uncle Buchan, real name Buchan Lennon. He is something else. His official title is Artistic Director. He works incredibly hard coaching the children and encouraging them to be more theatrical. If anyone is capable of doing this it’s Big B. If you thought I was hyper…you haven’t seen anything yet. Infact I think he has done such a professional job that we now have children wondering around the home convinced that they are actually Wannapeepees. One young man, Sam, is convinced that he is actually the chief of this tribe and has taken to shouting at the smaller children and is permanently positioned on his “throne” with his head in the air. I know it is slightly concerning but hey if it makes the show look good who am I to correct him.
Heather Lennon (Buc’s big sis). Aka “Auntie Heva”. What a sweetie and boy can she boogie!? Heather is choreographer with hips that do not lie! I’m sure Lorna’s timetable goes into a little more detail about how much time we actually spend dancing in the baking hot sun but just incase she hasn’t I think I should add that this girl has energy and a set of lungs to match. She is doing a fantastic job drilling the kids of their dances. Many of them had been started before we arrived and so Heather has embraced what they had aswell as the children’s natural love and ability to dance; where we have no ideas they always come up with something! She has also injected a hip-hop flavour into the show and I know that she is creating some of the most exciting, original and innovative dance displays Uganda has ever seen. I am enjoying being taught by her just as much as the children!
Ok last but not least (I hope) Moi! “Auntie Erica”. I am musical director (Eliza please try not to laugh when you read this!) Basically I torture the children by making them sing the same songs over and over again. They adore singing and are very good at it but it pains them to have to stand or sit still while singing; they find it hard not to tap or wiggle as soon as they hear the beat but they are learning…slowly. I am pleased to report that they are getting used to my confusing directions for dynamics and their pronunciations of some of the song lyrics are now more Scottish than Ugandan, which is just great! We’ve also introduced (or sorry Gillian reinforced) the importance of vocal exercises and warm up routines. At the beginning these simply consisted of name games and some singing and dancing but with the show fast approaching everything is becoming a little fraught, to say the least, and the poor souls are being subjected to scales, vocal breathing exercise (Eliza Bonnar style) and gruelling stretches. So my job is pretty fab- anyone who knows me knows that I love singing and doing it all day everyday with children who can harmonise naturally is a dream come true!
I hope you’re exhausted reading this. We are pretty much knackered doing it but seriously we would not have it any other way. We still have an awful lot of work to do but I know that God has not saved these children (literally off the streets) for any mean feat. They are supper talented and he has big plans for them. As for us we just continue to pray every day that we are doing as much for the children as they are doing for us. They bless us every morning with their smiles and are so appreciative of our help. Their faces light up when we talk about home and tell them about you guys rooting for them. So thank you. Thank you for being part of this project and as they say, “I hope you enjoy the show”!
Lots of love and then some Erica xxx
Friday, August 24, 2007
Stuffing Your Face
Have you ever eaten so much that you are completely full? Silly question really. You probably only have to think of the last meal you ate, the last party you attended or even Christmas; a time when every Scot loosens their belt to fit in another slice of turkey or mince pie. After a good rest and a snooze your tummy settles and you feel comfortable again. You can move without feeling pain- infact some of you fatties may even go back for a second helping. We are hungry so we eat. Yet our bodies are only temporarily satisfied before we have to eat again.
You may be wondering why I am going on so much about food, especially as I am in a country where many people have very little, or in most cases nothing, to eat. We may even refer to them as being “deprived”.
Yes in the literal sense this may be correct: they beg, borrow, steal and pray for their next meal and so yes people here in Uganda are hungry. They cannot simply open the fridge or go to the nearest Tesco to stock up. Yet since I arrived here in Dwelling Places I have felt permanently full.
You see they make sure that I am fed well. They make sure that every morning I pray and every day we read God’s word. They know what it is to be hungry. What’s more they know what it is to be starving yet they never complain of feeling empty.
You know the feeling I’m referring to. The empty feeling you get sometimes deep, deep down inside you. You can’t really explain it and if the truth be known you wouldn’t want to admit you even get it. It’s not in your tummy; it’s deeper than that, somewhere inside. Think back to the last time you felt like that. Was it something somebody said to you? Or maybe it’s something they didn’t say!? Maybe you’re feeling empty right now. Something aches deep inside in a place no person can touch and no amount of chocolate cake can begin to satisfy (trust me I’ve tried). The reason the children, volunteers and staff here at DP (Dwelling Places) never feel hungry is because they literally do stuff their faces with God’s word. It is their daily bread and without it they would starve.
Food provides us with the nutrients we need to survive. What we put into our bodies determines how we grow physically in the same way that what we fill our minds with determines how we grow spiritually.
Everyday I am told, “You need to learn to eat like an African woman.” Seriously I am trying but they can eat but I’ve worked out their secret. Initially I struggled to understand how the women here can survive on a diet of Posho, Matooke and beans (and lots of it) yet stay so thin. For those of you who don’t know posho is like potato- and all the women in the west say “no carbs!” They stay thin because they dance so much in church! Although I am not yet persuaded that this food is actually, “good for you” I am utterly convinced that their daily diet of reading God’s word is totally fulfilling. I just wish it would catch on as fast as the Atkins diet or Dr Gillian’s You Are What you Eat. I wonder if she had a word from God when she came up with that title!
I am completely blessed and still overwhelmed by the amount of support that Lorna and I received before we left, and are continuing to receive now that we are here. So many people said how they “admired” what we were doing and I was asked frequently, “doesn’t it break your heart seeing all of those hungry children who have been abandoned.” The answer is yes but no more so than watching our family and friends starving at home. We are in a country where people are hungry, malnourished and dissatisfied…but so are you. Your neighbour, your friend, your father/mother, your children. If their bellies were empty wouldn’t you want to give them something to eat? If they came to your home wouldn’t you prepare a meal for them? Yet why do we neglect their souls? Wow Erica, slow down...you’ve hit a nerve there. You’ve made me uncomfortable. Well just keep reading this is a feast not to be missed.
Being Greedy with the word:
It’s like having the most delicious M&S (Marks and Spencer) banana and raspberry muffin and keeping it all to yourself even when you know the person sitting next to you would like a piece. Come on that’s just greedy! If something is really good you naturally want to share it with the person or people you love. That’s why they make family packs of these good cakes!
Maybe you’re too embarrassed. Maybe you don’t think they’re hungry- don’t be daft of course they are. Stop making excuses. You see we all suffer from these hunger pains. God made you with a desire, a will to serve him, to love him and to want to feast on him. Until you come to his table you will always be hungry.
But what if they really aren’t hungry for God…right now? Yes I know this feeling too. It’s actually, dare I admit it, quite a nice feeling. To be oblivious to any responsibility God might want to place on you shoulders; to be having so much fun in the world that you don’t plan ahead for the fun God has in store for you for eternity. There are people, you know them, who are so busy eating rubbish. They are full up and even something scrumptious doesn’t seem to temp them. There are two things to consider here: the devil and ourselves. Firstly the devil. No, this is not a fictional character or something out of the Lion King or Jungle Book, get real. Don’t pretend you’ve never come across him. Maybe you just haven’t recognised him but he is everywhere and he hates it when you feast on God. When you get your strength from God you no longer serve the world or the devil. He fills the world with things that are appetising: things that look and taste good. Shopping, sex, work, promotions, relationships and yes even food …the list goes on. Don’t get me wrong I am not saying some, or all, of these things are not good in the right context or in moderation but lets go back to the fridge to get them into perspective.
You open the door slowing releasing the rubber seal around the edges. The cool air escapes and the little light pings on. Your eyes furiously scan the contents. Mum’s just done the “weekly” shop and it’s bulging with your favourites. Dad is still unloading the car of French baguettes, still hot from the bakery and you’ve already opened the crisps before they’ve had a chance to see a cupboard. You close the fridge door. Five, six (or in my house two) days later you go back and it’s almost empty. All the best things are gone and what’s left is starting to go off. You’re dissatisfied.
It’s the same with life and it’s quite obvious why: these things are of the world. They are not permanent and so they disappoint you, just as friends do, colleagues do, your children do.
The second thing to consider here is ourselves. How delicious do our lives look? Do you live your life in such a way that people want to have some of what you’ve got? Mr Tesco and Mrs M&S are very cunning about the way they package their foods, about how good it looks to the consumer and more importantly how it tastes. I reckon God invented consumerism. You see he made a product every single person would want: Jesus. And he chose you as his sales person. He gave you the job. But are you doing it? Are you getting up every morning ready for work or some days do you just call in sick? Are you making your product available to your friends and family or do you hide it at the back of the shelf? God never intended you to be in the shelf. He designed you perfectly and wonderfully. He gave you talents and he will show you how to use them.
So how does this relate to food you wonder? Well your relationship with God is a process. It is like cooking (not that I can cook but hey). Here’s the recipe I want you to try and make:
Recipe number 1:
1. You open the fridge- good
2. Take out the egg- well done
3. Crack it into a bowl
4. Whisk it. Heat it on the ring. Add veg and cheese
5. Result: It’s an omelette.
It’s the same with the word
Recipe number 2:
1. Open it- good
2. Read it- well done
3. Meditate on it (let it cook)
4. Result- understanding. You now have something so delicious that I assure you others will want a slice of.
Here in Uganda the children are so, so, so generous with God’s word because they know it is the only bread that can truely satisfy them. These children have taught me that I can stuff my face with God’s word. So mum don’t worry I am never hungry and what’s more I have never been healthier!
Lots of love and then some Erica x
You may be wondering why I am going on so much about food, especially as I am in a country where many people have very little, or in most cases nothing, to eat. We may even refer to them as being “deprived”.
Yes in the literal sense this may be correct: they beg, borrow, steal and pray for their next meal and so yes people here in Uganda are hungry. They cannot simply open the fridge or go to the nearest Tesco to stock up. Yet since I arrived here in Dwelling Places I have felt permanently full.
You see they make sure that I am fed well. They make sure that every morning I pray and every day we read God’s word. They know what it is to be hungry. What’s more they know what it is to be starving yet they never complain of feeling empty.
You know the feeling I’m referring to. The empty feeling you get sometimes deep, deep down inside you. You can’t really explain it and if the truth be known you wouldn’t want to admit you even get it. It’s not in your tummy; it’s deeper than that, somewhere inside. Think back to the last time you felt like that. Was it something somebody said to you? Or maybe it’s something they didn’t say!? Maybe you’re feeling empty right now. Something aches deep inside in a place no person can touch and no amount of chocolate cake can begin to satisfy (trust me I’ve tried). The reason the children, volunteers and staff here at DP (Dwelling Places) never feel hungry is because they literally do stuff their faces with God’s word. It is their daily bread and without it they would starve.
Food provides us with the nutrients we need to survive. What we put into our bodies determines how we grow physically in the same way that what we fill our minds with determines how we grow spiritually.
Everyday I am told, “You need to learn to eat like an African woman.” Seriously I am trying but they can eat but I’ve worked out their secret. Initially I struggled to understand how the women here can survive on a diet of Posho, Matooke and beans (and lots of it) yet stay so thin. For those of you who don’t know posho is like potato- and all the women in the west say “no carbs!” They stay thin because they dance so much in church! Although I am not yet persuaded that this food is actually, “good for you” I am utterly convinced that their daily diet of reading God’s word is totally fulfilling. I just wish it would catch on as fast as the Atkins diet or Dr Gillian’s You Are What you Eat. I wonder if she had a word from God when she came up with that title!
I am completely blessed and still overwhelmed by the amount of support that Lorna and I received before we left, and are continuing to receive now that we are here. So many people said how they “admired” what we were doing and I was asked frequently, “doesn’t it break your heart seeing all of those hungry children who have been abandoned.” The answer is yes but no more so than watching our family and friends starving at home. We are in a country where people are hungry, malnourished and dissatisfied…but so are you. Your neighbour, your friend, your father/mother, your children. If their bellies were empty wouldn’t you want to give them something to eat? If they came to your home wouldn’t you prepare a meal for them? Yet why do we neglect their souls? Wow Erica, slow down...you’ve hit a nerve there. You’ve made me uncomfortable. Well just keep reading this is a feast not to be missed.
Being Greedy with the word:
It’s like having the most delicious M&S (Marks and Spencer) banana and raspberry muffin and keeping it all to yourself even when you know the person sitting next to you would like a piece. Come on that’s just greedy! If something is really good you naturally want to share it with the person or people you love. That’s why they make family packs of these good cakes!
Maybe you’re too embarrassed. Maybe you don’t think they’re hungry- don’t be daft of course they are. Stop making excuses. You see we all suffer from these hunger pains. God made you with a desire, a will to serve him, to love him and to want to feast on him. Until you come to his table you will always be hungry.
But what if they really aren’t hungry for God…right now? Yes I know this feeling too. It’s actually, dare I admit it, quite a nice feeling. To be oblivious to any responsibility God might want to place on you shoulders; to be having so much fun in the world that you don’t plan ahead for the fun God has in store for you for eternity. There are people, you know them, who are so busy eating rubbish. They are full up and even something scrumptious doesn’t seem to temp them. There are two things to consider here: the devil and ourselves. Firstly the devil. No, this is not a fictional character or something out of the Lion King or Jungle Book, get real. Don’t pretend you’ve never come across him. Maybe you just haven’t recognised him but he is everywhere and he hates it when you feast on God. When you get your strength from God you no longer serve the world or the devil. He fills the world with things that are appetising: things that look and taste good. Shopping, sex, work, promotions, relationships and yes even food …the list goes on. Don’t get me wrong I am not saying some, or all, of these things are not good in the right context or in moderation but lets go back to the fridge to get them into perspective.
You open the door slowing releasing the rubber seal around the edges. The cool air escapes and the little light pings on. Your eyes furiously scan the contents. Mum’s just done the “weekly” shop and it’s bulging with your favourites. Dad is still unloading the car of French baguettes, still hot from the bakery and you’ve already opened the crisps before they’ve had a chance to see a cupboard. You close the fridge door. Five, six (or in my house two) days later you go back and it’s almost empty. All the best things are gone and what’s left is starting to go off. You’re dissatisfied.
It’s the same with life and it’s quite obvious why: these things are of the world. They are not permanent and so they disappoint you, just as friends do, colleagues do, your children do.
The second thing to consider here is ourselves. How delicious do our lives look? Do you live your life in such a way that people want to have some of what you’ve got? Mr Tesco and Mrs M&S are very cunning about the way they package their foods, about how good it looks to the consumer and more importantly how it tastes. I reckon God invented consumerism. You see he made a product every single person would want: Jesus. And he chose you as his sales person. He gave you the job. But are you doing it? Are you getting up every morning ready for work or some days do you just call in sick? Are you making your product available to your friends and family or do you hide it at the back of the shelf? God never intended you to be in the shelf. He designed you perfectly and wonderfully. He gave you talents and he will show you how to use them.
So how does this relate to food you wonder? Well your relationship with God is a process. It is like cooking (not that I can cook but hey). Here’s the recipe I want you to try and make:
Recipe number 1:
1. You open the fridge- good
2. Take out the egg- well done
3. Crack it into a bowl
4. Whisk it. Heat it on the ring. Add veg and cheese
5. Result: It’s an omelette.
It’s the same with the word
Recipe number 2:
1. Open it- good
2. Read it- well done
3. Meditate on it (let it cook)
4. Result- understanding. You now have something so delicious that I assure you others will want a slice of.
Here in Uganda the children are so, so, so generous with God’s word because they know it is the only bread that can truely satisfy them. These children have taught me that I can stuff my face with God’s word. So mum don’t worry I am never hungry and what’s more I have never been healthier!
Lots of love and then some Erica x
Friday, August 3, 2007
Dwelling Places
Well, we have just finished a meeting with Diana Mawaali. Diana is a beautiful young lady (she's 24) and she works at Dwelling places here in Kampala. Apart from being a stunning African woman she also obviously loves God and hads dedicated her life to serving the abandoned children of Uganda. Her job specifically is to co-ordinate all of the volunteers that come here, hence she will be looking after Lorna and myself; I feel that we are in safe hands. She has lots of energy and is very excited about the work we are going to do with the children. She also explained a little bit more about the work of Dwelling places. Please check out their website as their work is vast and what they are doing needs lots of support. It's: wwwdwellingplaces.org
The aim of their ministry is to "rehabilitate and restore street children". They do this in a number of ways but to put it as simply as I can they rescue infants, babies and children below the age of 18. They educate and care for these children as well as counselling them and showing them the gospel. Weird phrase you might think but I actually think it's quite appropriate. For some of these children it is impossible to believe that Jesus loves them or that they were made in the image of God. Their own mothers and fathers do not even want them so why would God? By caring for them, nurturing them and loving them unconditionally Dwelling places forms relationships with these children and very often with the families too.
This brings me to the reason it is not called an orphanage. It is not simply somewhere that looks after abandoned children it concentrates on giving them homes and in the best case senarios restoring broken home relationships. This involves working with the parents too and supporting them and in many cases teaching them basic parenting skills. Remember that some parents are still children themselves, many are as young as 15 and 16. They call this their family empowering programme and it sometimes even involves giving whole fmailies somewhere to live. SO you see the challenge is no mean feat.
We heard from Diana many wonderful stories of saved lives and we are desperate to start out work with them on Monday. We are however, as well as excited, slightly nervous; that we would do a good job.
Ok so what can you do? Yeah you didn't think you were getting off that lightly did you!? So as you know our reasoning for being here is to direct a musical called Peace Child. The musical will be performed by the children of Dwelling Places and over the next six weeks we will be working day and night teaching them and, as Diana put it, "perfecting it and making it look professional". No pressure then! The musical will be performed in the national theatre in Kampala and will hopefully generate some much needed income for the work as well as spreading the gospel.
The children have no costumes though! Diana did not tell us this nor did she ask us to provide them but when I asked she explained that they simply cannot afford them. Nor can they afford to braid the children's hair. Not important you might think but many of the children have lost hair from abuse and/or rough living. We want this production to be something they can be proud of. We want them to be confident and to really bless people with their music. If you feel at all that you could contribute anything at all then please contact us or even the WWW team at St Andrew's church. I do not apoligise for asking on their behalf, they deserve so much more.
Ok I'm getting a bit teary eyed, you know what I'm like. Finally thank you for your support, your prayers and your messages. Keep them coming they make us smile and really do encourage us!!! We will give the hugs you've been sending and more!
Lots of love n then some Erica xxx
The aim of their ministry is to "rehabilitate and restore street children". They do this in a number of ways but to put it as simply as I can they rescue infants, babies and children below the age of 18. They educate and care for these children as well as counselling them and showing them the gospel. Weird phrase you might think but I actually think it's quite appropriate. For some of these children it is impossible to believe that Jesus loves them or that they were made in the image of God. Their own mothers and fathers do not even want them so why would God? By caring for them, nurturing them and loving them unconditionally Dwelling places forms relationships with these children and very often with the families too.
This brings me to the reason it is not called an orphanage. It is not simply somewhere that looks after abandoned children it concentrates on giving them homes and in the best case senarios restoring broken home relationships. This involves working with the parents too and supporting them and in many cases teaching them basic parenting skills. Remember that some parents are still children themselves, many are as young as 15 and 16. They call this their family empowering programme and it sometimes even involves giving whole fmailies somewhere to live. SO you see the challenge is no mean feat.
We heard from Diana many wonderful stories of saved lives and we are desperate to start out work with them on Monday. We are however, as well as excited, slightly nervous; that we would do a good job.
Ok so what can you do? Yeah you didn't think you were getting off that lightly did you!? So as you know our reasoning for being here is to direct a musical called Peace Child. The musical will be performed by the children of Dwelling Places and over the next six weeks we will be working day and night teaching them and, as Diana put it, "perfecting it and making it look professional". No pressure then! The musical will be performed in the national theatre in Kampala and will hopefully generate some much needed income for the work as well as spreading the gospel.
The children have no costumes though! Diana did not tell us this nor did she ask us to provide them but when I asked she explained that they simply cannot afford them. Nor can they afford to braid the children's hair. Not important you might think but many of the children have lost hair from abuse and/or rough living. We want this production to be something they can be proud of. We want them to be confident and to really bless people with their music. If you feel at all that you could contribute anything at all then please contact us or even the WWW team at St Andrew's church. I do not apoligise for asking on their behalf, they deserve so much more.
Ok I'm getting a bit teary eyed, you know what I'm like. Finally thank you for your support, your prayers and your messages. Keep them coming they make us smile and really do encourage us!!! We will give the hugs you've been sending and more!
Lots of love n then some Erica xxx
Building At Butaguya
Morning Chiclets, how goes it? I'm sorry that I haven't written earlier (I feel like I'm always apologising on this thing, but really it's because we so, so appreciate all your comments and words of encouragement and I desperately want to keep you guys updated with what's going on, but sometimes that's easier said than done) Anyway, life in Africa today is wet! I say today because life in Africa really does change with the weather. The only things that seem to stay the same are our clothes! Yes we smell and we don't care!
The experiences we are having are so different that our emotions are on a constant rollercoaster but I'm pleased to say that it's all good so far. Actually it's better than good it's amazing. Lorna and I keep pinching each other because we really can't believe how blessed we are to be here.
So let me explain a little bit of what we have been doing so far. You've heard, or read rather, about how we ended up meeting up with the Friends of King Alfred's team.
http://www.kingalfreds.oxon.sch.uk/
OK so King Alfred's is a Secondary school in Oxford. The team was made up of 48 people from all over the UK but mostly Oxford. The team was all different ages, talents, qualifications, shapes and sizes...you know the score. It was wonderful actually just listening to individual’s stories about how they came to be involved in the project. Maybe if you’re reading this and you're from the team you could share some!?
Anyway, we met the team at Adrift Camp Site in Jinja. This place became our home, and a very wet one at that, for the next 10 days. Lorna and I had the unfortunate experience of choosing a tent that was not at all waterproof. Never a good idea during Africa's rainy season but quite funny looking back. The site itself was gorgeous although very busy. I thought sharing a bathroom with a family of six was annoying try two hundred and six!
So as far as I understand in 2004 37 schools in England, Primary and Secondary, were linked up with "developing" schools in the third world. King Alfred's happened to be linked to a secondary school here in Uganda called Lords Meads, a very affluent boarding school by African standards. Meanwhile a neighboring Primary school in Oxford (sorry I can't remember the name perhaps someone could enlighten me) was linked to Butugaya primary school.
( Blewbury Endowed Church of England Primary )
Since 2004 the schools have enjoyed communications between students however both King Alfred's and the Oxford Primary school agreed that in terms of immediate help, donations and funding Butugaya Primary was in more urgent and desperate need. Remember I spoke to you about the girls all crammed into one classroom where they sleep by night and learn by day. So although King Alfred's still maintains contact with Lords Meads and we did spend time there, they have subsequently directed the majority of their physical and financial support to helping Butugaya.
So our team of 48 was divided into teams and we split our time and talents between the two schools. Each day you chose, or were allocated to, a team you wanted to join and felt you could contribute something to.
On the Butu (that school name is seriously too long) site we had a team of builders.
Their daily tasks involved carry bricks, laying bricks, cutting bricks and basically doing anything else you can possibly do with bricks. The work was very strenuous and the team did a fantastic job working alongside the local builders building a boarding house for the children there. There was also a resource team. Their job was to go the the local market and but any equipment the team needed as well as ordering the different materials needed for the finished boarding house. This was a fab idea as it generated some income for the local people and it's always exciting to get communities involved, that way the word of good work spreads and more lives are changed! We also had teaching teams there doing guess what...teaching and finally we had the support team. Their job was to go to the local market everyday and to provide lunch, cups of tea and water for everybody. Good job team. I never lost any weight so they obviously did their job well! (Too well)
Then over on the other site, Lords Meads we had a team teaching. This included science, maths and English lessons. For me it was (one of) the most enjoyable days I have spent so far in Africa. Not only did I spend the day with my beautiful sister singing but I just felt God's presence in that place. The children were so unbelievably responsive to what we wanted to do and welcomed us with open arms. Not to mention their ability to harmonise...naturally, which made our job a lot easier. At night we then enjoyed a huge concert where they performed some local dance and songs and then we all performed together. It was amazing. It's weird because I know that I should be saying that building was the most rewarding because we really were doing something productive but I just can't stop thinking about those children and their passion for education. It was so inspiring. They were just so appreciative of us spending time with them and singing with them. Of course singing gospel music all day with children who can sing is my idea of heaven but it was more that that. I felt like they knew and understood what they were singing about. They sang Eliza's song "May the Lord Bless you and Keep you" and let me tell you everyone in that audience was truly blessed.
In Africa the parents have to pay for their children's secondary education and so it is a privilege to even get to go to school. Some of them walk 4 or 5 kilometers everyday just to get to school (with no shoes) they start school at 5 in the morning and don't finish until 9 at night. Each child I spoke to said they wanted to go to university but in order to do that they must get the best grades so they study and study and study!
K I want to finish with once last story about a conversation I had whilst at Lords Meads. I spoke to a young boy called Francis; or rather he spoke to me. It was the end of the day I must admit I was knackered. It happened to be one of the hot days and we'd been singing and dancing all day. Then the kids decided to set up a basketball game. The last time I played basketball I was 16 and I ended the game with a broken nose so needless to say I sat out on the side cheering my team.
I had just moved under a tree for some shade when Francis came over to talk. I feel bad looking back because to be completely honest I couldn't really be bothered talking to him. I wanted to sleep. Anyway he persisted asking me questions. Even my one word answers didn't dampen his enthusiasm for this dull white girl. Eventually he asked me what kind of music I liked and I blurted "gospel". That usually stops conversations with 17 year old boys but oh no not Francis he was determined. SO then he asked, "Any particular gospel Erica?"
"Have you heard of Hillsongs?" I asked fully expecting silence. For the next hour Francis and I sat under that tree singing Hillsongs and praising God. He knew every song and he loves God! He told me all about how children at his school don't think it's cool to go to church and how they'd rather listen to Akon or JT than church music. He spoke of how he would be dead by now but his relationship with God had saved him and how he gets though the days here by praising God. "When I have a bad day or I see something bad in my country I just sing to God". You see JT or Akon may make you feel happy for a second and it can be a quick fix but I know love that is everlasting!" Wow who said the sidelines weren't as much fun as the game!
The experiences we are having are so different that our emotions are on a constant rollercoaster but I'm pleased to say that it's all good so far. Actually it's better than good it's amazing. Lorna and I keep pinching each other because we really can't believe how blessed we are to be here.
So let me explain a little bit of what we have been doing so far. You've heard, or read rather, about how we ended up meeting up with the Friends of King Alfred's team.
http://www.kingalfreds.oxon.sch.uk/
OK so King Alfred's is a Secondary school in Oxford. The team was made up of 48 people from all over the UK but mostly Oxford. The team was all different ages, talents, qualifications, shapes and sizes...you know the score. It was wonderful actually just listening to individual’s stories about how they came to be involved in the project. Maybe if you’re reading this and you're from the team you could share some!?
Anyway, we met the team at Adrift Camp Site in Jinja. This place became our home, and a very wet one at that, for the next 10 days. Lorna and I had the unfortunate experience of choosing a tent that was not at all waterproof. Never a good idea during Africa's rainy season but quite funny looking back. The site itself was gorgeous although very busy. I thought sharing a bathroom with a family of six was annoying try two hundred and six!
So as far as I understand in 2004 37 schools in England, Primary and Secondary, were linked up with "developing" schools in the third world. King Alfred's happened to be linked to a secondary school here in Uganda called Lords Meads, a very affluent boarding school by African standards. Meanwhile a neighboring Primary school in Oxford (sorry I can't remember the name perhaps someone could enlighten me) was linked to Butugaya primary school.
( Blewbury Endowed Church of England Primary )
Since 2004 the schools have enjoyed communications between students however both King Alfred's and the Oxford Primary school agreed that in terms of immediate help, donations and funding Butugaya Primary was in more urgent and desperate need. Remember I spoke to you about the girls all crammed into one classroom where they sleep by night and learn by day. So although King Alfred's still maintains contact with Lords Meads and we did spend time there, they have subsequently directed the majority of their physical and financial support to helping Butugaya.
So our team of 48 was divided into teams and we split our time and talents between the two schools. Each day you chose, or were allocated to, a team you wanted to join and felt you could contribute something to.
On the Butu (that school name is seriously too long) site we had a team of builders.
Their daily tasks involved carry bricks, laying bricks, cutting bricks and basically doing anything else you can possibly do with bricks. The work was very strenuous and the team did a fantastic job working alongside the local builders building a boarding house for the children there. There was also a resource team. Their job was to go the the local market and but any equipment the team needed as well as ordering the different materials needed for the finished boarding house. This was a fab idea as it generated some income for the local people and it's always exciting to get communities involved, that way the word of good work spreads and more lives are changed! We also had teaching teams there doing guess what...teaching and finally we had the support team. Their job was to go to the local market everyday and to provide lunch, cups of tea and water for everybody. Good job team. I never lost any weight so they obviously did their job well! (Too well)
Then over on the other site, Lords Meads we had a team teaching. This included science, maths and English lessons. For me it was (one of) the most enjoyable days I have spent so far in Africa. Not only did I spend the day with my beautiful sister singing but I just felt God's presence in that place. The children were so unbelievably responsive to what we wanted to do and welcomed us with open arms. Not to mention their ability to harmonise...naturally, which made our job a lot easier. At night we then enjoyed a huge concert where they performed some local dance and songs and then we all performed together. It was amazing. It's weird because I know that I should be saying that building was the most rewarding because we really were doing something productive but I just can't stop thinking about those children and their passion for education. It was so inspiring. They were just so appreciative of us spending time with them and singing with them. Of course singing gospel music all day with children who can sing is my idea of heaven but it was more that that. I felt like they knew and understood what they were singing about. They sang Eliza's song "May the Lord Bless you and Keep you" and let me tell you everyone in that audience was truly blessed.
In Africa the parents have to pay for their children's secondary education and so it is a privilege to even get to go to school. Some of them walk 4 or 5 kilometers everyday just to get to school (with no shoes) they start school at 5 in the morning and don't finish until 9 at night. Each child I spoke to said they wanted to go to university but in order to do that they must get the best grades so they study and study and study!
K I want to finish with once last story about a conversation I had whilst at Lords Meads. I spoke to a young boy called Francis; or rather he spoke to me. It was the end of the day I must admit I was knackered. It happened to be one of the hot days and we'd been singing and dancing all day. Then the kids decided to set up a basketball game. The last time I played basketball I was 16 and I ended the game with a broken nose so needless to say I sat out on the side cheering my team.
I had just moved under a tree for some shade when Francis came over to talk. I feel bad looking back because to be completely honest I couldn't really be bothered talking to him. I wanted to sleep. Anyway he persisted asking me questions. Even my one word answers didn't dampen his enthusiasm for this dull white girl. Eventually he asked me what kind of music I liked and I blurted "gospel". That usually stops conversations with 17 year old boys but oh no not Francis he was determined. SO then he asked, "Any particular gospel Erica?"
"Have you heard of Hillsongs?" I asked fully expecting silence. For the next hour Francis and I sat under that tree singing Hillsongs and praising God. He knew every song and he loves God! He told me all about how children at his school don't think it's cool to go to church and how they'd rather listen to Akon or JT than church music. He spoke of how he would be dead by now but his relationship with God had saved him and how he gets though the days here by praising God. "When I have a bad day or I see something bad in my country I just sing to God". You see JT or Akon may make you feel happy for a second and it can be a quick fix but I know love that is everlasting!" Wow who said the sidelines weren't as much fun as the game!
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Passing Blessings
Hi everybody, how are you all? good good, i am fine too! First of all i have to apologise to my mum for the state of my clothes in the photo of me and Erica at the church at Pretoria, I will put on my sunday best for the next church photos! I would like to call this post 'Passing Blessings'. The first thing that i have noticed whilst being away is that God is bringing all his children that have stepped out the boat for him together, to stregnthen each other and to support each other, to spread each others stories of God's miracles and faithfullness. He is sending a connection through us all and using us to pass on his blessings!
When we were in Mozambique our team hired an electricain called Jose, there was a language barrier there.He could only speak Portuguese and German and i could only speak English and...a bit of German that came along with a confused face. Jose had left his family for a while because he had felt God call him to help Pebane. He stayed with our team whilst he was there and help with the building of the surgery. He told us his testimony and stories of God's miracles that had gone on in his life, truley inspiring stories that showed God's greatness and how one mans love and faith in God took him away from his family to help a helpless Pebane. It was such a blessing for me to hear of other people leaving their families to do God's work, just like me and Erica were and how God provides in every step. He said that our team was a blessing to him. Jose was an answered prayer for our Pebane team, he too was a blessing for us.
Yesterday we were on the boat coming back from the Ssese Islands to Entebbe. The ticket collector came to collect our money for the ticket. My Joyce Meyer book was open with a book mark that my mum had made with Phillpians ch 4 v 4-9 on it. The gentleman sat down opposite me, i could tell that he was reading my book mark. He said ' I like what is written on this', I said ' The bookmark is yours! Take it!' , he said ' I have been blessed today, thank you.' he smiled and went off. He didn't know that he had blessed me too, my prayer that morning was for God to show me how i could spread his word. He showed me, if i am with his word then i will be able to spread it.
God has been using everyone to show that he is walking side by side with me and Erica, even down to the taxi driver that took us from Entebbe airport to Jinja! It is scary getting off at Entebbe and trying to find a trustworthy taxi driver to take us on a two hour drive! Me and Erica knew that we would just have to let our spirit guide us. We then approached a taxi driver that we felt would be ok to take us. Can you guess what happened next? yep Dennis, our taxi driver was a christian and we ended up singing gospel songs from Entebbe to Jinja! Dennis was another blessing to us, were we a blessing to him? He didn't say. But my spirit said that we were!
Being blessed passes on blessings.
There are so many little stories that i could tell you of how blessings have been passed and i hope that i will be able to tell you sometime but this blog has limited space!
I will share a poem that i wrote about letting God guide your steps.
'LISTEN'
Listen to your spirit
Listen to your soul
Shut your eyes for Jesus
And let him be in control
Clench your hands in a prayer
And believe in every breath
That God has heard your every word
In width, height and depth
Hear him speak with the birds
And let him know you hear
By smiling like a ray of sun
You've heard him loud and clear
Feel your spirit beat with joy
In the presence of your Father
He wants you to hold out you hand
So the gifts he gives, you can gather
Never fail to believe
That God has planned every hour
Now open your eyes to his Glory
And see all his power
He has done these things all for you
You're a child of a King
And now that you've listened to your Master
Recieve the joy that his words will bring.
Lorna xxx
When we were in Mozambique our team hired an electricain called Jose, there was a language barrier there.He could only speak Portuguese and German and i could only speak English and...a bit of German that came along with a confused face. Jose had left his family for a while because he had felt God call him to help Pebane. He stayed with our team whilst he was there and help with the building of the surgery. He told us his testimony and stories of God's miracles that had gone on in his life, truley inspiring stories that showed God's greatness and how one mans love and faith in God took him away from his family to help a helpless Pebane. It was such a blessing for me to hear of other people leaving their families to do God's work, just like me and Erica were and how God provides in every step. He said that our team was a blessing to him. Jose was an answered prayer for our Pebane team, he too was a blessing for us.
Yesterday we were on the boat coming back from the Ssese Islands to Entebbe. The ticket collector came to collect our money for the ticket. My Joyce Meyer book was open with a book mark that my mum had made with Phillpians ch 4 v 4-9 on it. The gentleman sat down opposite me, i could tell that he was reading my book mark. He said ' I like what is written on this', I said ' The bookmark is yours! Take it!' , he said ' I have been blessed today, thank you.' he smiled and went off. He didn't know that he had blessed me too, my prayer that morning was for God to show me how i could spread his word. He showed me, if i am with his word then i will be able to spread it.
God has been using everyone to show that he is walking side by side with me and Erica, even down to the taxi driver that took us from Entebbe airport to Jinja! It is scary getting off at Entebbe and trying to find a trustworthy taxi driver to take us on a two hour drive! Me and Erica knew that we would just have to let our spirit guide us. We then approached a taxi driver that we felt would be ok to take us. Can you guess what happened next? yep Dennis, our taxi driver was a christian and we ended up singing gospel songs from Entebbe to Jinja! Dennis was another blessing to us, were we a blessing to him? He didn't say. But my spirit said that we were!
Being blessed passes on blessings.
There are so many little stories that i could tell you of how blessings have been passed and i hope that i will be able to tell you sometime but this blog has limited space!
I will share a poem that i wrote about letting God guide your steps.
'LISTEN'
Listen to your spirit
Listen to your soul
Shut your eyes for Jesus
And let him be in control
Clench your hands in a prayer
And believe in every breath
That God has heard your every word
In width, height and depth
Hear him speak with the birds
And let him know you hear
By smiling like a ray of sun
You've heard him loud and clear
Feel your spirit beat with joy
In the presence of your Father
He wants you to hold out you hand
So the gifts he gives, you can gather
Never fail to believe
That God has planned every hour
Now open your eyes to his Glory
And see all his power
He has done these things all for you
You're a child of a King
And now that you've listened to your Master
Recieve the joy that his words will bring.
Lorna xxx
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