Airfield View Primary School

Games with the children



Mary teaching the children


Bethany and Sarah doing role play on "How to say NO"

Rebecca talking to the older children

Dickie asking questions to the older children

Deep in conversation

Noah in action with younger children

Mary and her teachers are doing a brilliant job with the children in this school, which we had the privelege to visit during our Uganda trip.

Final comment - written from home

All the Uganda 2009 team are now safely at home and I would want to thank each one of the team for all their efforts at making the 2009 trip so productive and a blessing to those we met in Uganda.

In total we delivered programmes in 24 different places (20 schools and 4 other church/projects) In all 58 programmes were delivered to pupils, teachers and parents.

Additionally 18 different items of playground equipment were erected and over 90 cases/boxes of mercy items distributed.

What was achieved was quite amazing and considering for many on the team it was their first time in Uganda I would have to say they all adapted and worked brilliantly to achieve our purposes.

As is always the case in Ugandan trips what will linger longest in the minds and hearts of the team are the people we met, the relationships we formed and the memories of Uganda as a place and the Ugandans as a nation. We will continue to remember all the children, teachers, pastors, parents we met during our short time in Uganda. They can teach us much about humility, thankfulness and simple faith. In this they are definitely our teachers.

Many, if not all of the team were challenged by their experiences and it is our prayer that it will not be the last time that they work in Uganda.
We are thankful to God for safety during our trip and for good health that we all enjoyed – no one from the team missing a single day with sickness during what was a very busy schedule is testimony to Gods grace and is quite an achievement. We are thankful for the prayers of many that were answered on our behalf.

As this Blog closes can I ask you to continue to remember our Charlene. She was scheduled to go to Uganda but her health did not allow her to make the trip. She very bravely sent us on and although there were times when we felt we could not go through with the trip or that either Janice or I would have to return early, Charlene continued to encourage us to complete the task she had sent us to accomplish – namely selecting the school build for Charlene’s project. Basil, one of the team prayed with us a few nights before we left as we agonised over our decision. He said that God had called us to go and if that was the case He would look after Charlene at home while we were gone. Basil was right. Charlene remained in Belfast City hospital the full time we were in Uganda receiving excellent care and made very significant progress.

She met us in the luggage collection area of Belfast city airport and it was wonderful to see how well she looked. She had progressed so much that she was able to travel with Dickie to the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle upon Tyne for her inpatient lung transplant assessment the Monday after we returned from Uganda.

Charlene in Newcastle

As this Blog closes Charlene will begin her Blog which will keep you informed of her progress and the project she is starting which will allow others in Uganda to be educated during the time she is unable to complete her education as a result of her ill health. It is found at http://charlenesproject-theschool.blogspot.com/2009/08/and-so-dream-begins.html#comments

Thank you for sharing with us in thought and prayer through our UgandaCrew2009Blogspot

Day 23

I am writing this on our last night in Uganda. At 5 am tomorrow morning we will be up and leaving for Entebbe and our return BA flight to Heathrow and onwards to Belfast. What can I say except that the last 3 weeks have been an incredible experience of knowing the Lords provision as we have delivered our programmes in schools, churches and community groups around Kampala. The need is enormous and we have been blessed as we have done just a little for a few people to make things a bit better.

Today we dropped off pineapples at Hands for Hope with Joe Cummiskey, Wenford and Andrew returned later to distribute some clothes and other gifts as the children were leaving nursery.

The rest of the team headed back to Airfield View Primary School to deliver programmes at Mary's school (see yesterdays Blog). Hannah led the Kids Programme while Dickie led the I'm Special; You're Special programme. We were amazed at the knowledge of the children around spiritual issues and their awareness of sexuality and relationships issues.

Mary asked Dickie and Janice to visit an 11 year old who was unable to sit up. Sadly the little girl although bright and alert had severe cerebral palsy from almost certainly a cerebral haemorrhage that occurred during her premature birth the result of a botched abortion. The mother was advised around simple measures to reduce the likelihood of her arms and legs developing contractures. Mary said she would bring cushions to the bare little one room home so that the little girl could be nursed at least in a way that she could interact a little bit better with her family. Mary also said she would bring some plastic sheets so that her incontinence could be better managed. This was the second child with severe cerebral palsy that we had come across durng the trip and you wonder how many other children with cerebral palsy are in little houses across Africa being managed by their families in very primitive conditions with none of the assistance that is so necessary and that we are so used to in our own country.

We were able to distribute a lot of mercy items in the local community around the school and shared a wonderful time of fellowship with Mary. She hopes to contact Bernard at Fields of Life around the possibility of becoming a Fields of Life Associate.

It has been a wonderful couple of weeks. We have had a good team of people working with us and have met some very special Ugandans. I don't think it will be our last time in this beautiful country.

The Barr family are looking forward to seeing Charlene again.

Day 21 and 22

Day 21
We started off our day at a little more leisure which was lovely! We split our team to visit two projects. Five of us went to Joe’s project at the Namuwongo slum area. The project is called ‘Hands of Hope’ and is run by Joe Cummisky. We had a lively morning in their nurseries. We enjoyed playing with the little ones who were very affectionate and full of beans! We had fun doing the Noah presentations and seeing the little ones singing and participating. The teachers are doing a good job with all the wee ones from the slums. We were impressed at some of the older nursery kid’s levels of English. We had a great chat with Joe who was kind to give of his time to fill us in on all that is going on with his very diverse project.

The rest of the team visited the Hospice in Kampala. We heard the history of the work and about the home visits made daily to many who were dying with cancer or complications from HIV/AIDS. As a result of the project morphine had been made available for pain relief and very significant progress had been made with training health staff across Uganda in effective palliative care measures. There was opportunity to interact with some of the children who were receiving Day Care at the Hospice and we were pleased to be able to give the children small gifts.

Patients waiting to be seen at the Hospice

Children receiving gifts at Hospice

Day 22
The team headed off this morning with great excitement to visit an abandoned babies home. Sanyo baby home has 40 little ones ranging from 3 months to 3 years. We had such fun playing with the babies, learning their names and experiencing some little personalities! It was shocking to meet the youngest baby who was abandoned and just arrived in the home yesterday. Deborah was very frail and had very prominent bones. Many of the kids are left in latrines, dustbins or abandoned on streets, hospitals. These wee ones are the lucky ones who have managed to survive and are now thriving on the love and care they get in Sanyo. Many of the children are adopted in Uganda and also outside of the country. It was a privilege to visit the home today and also to learn from the Social Worker about the processes of Ugandan local and international adoption.

Wenford relaxing at sanyu while the others fed all the babies

David had left a Greek New Testament with us to deliver to Father Aloysius on the Entebbe Road. We took the opportunity after Sanyu to see him. He was delighted to receive the New Testament and offered to come with us to deliver some relief items to needy local communities. We called at a school in the slum area and left clothes and footballs for distribution and then he brought us to see Airfield View Primary School which was being run by Volunteer director, Mary Smith from USA. Mary told us the story of how God had given her a vision for orphans and those sexually abused and she had bought land to build an orphanage for those who had been traumatised and bereaved through the terror of the LRA. Already Mary had opened an orphanage in India and had come to Uganda 3 years ago investing all her resources in the school and in land for an orphanage. On her own she had established the project and it was amazing to hear how she had established the school and was working towards her vision with no outside help. She had met Father Aloysius 2 weeks earkier and asked him to bring any visitors he met to her school. We had asked Father Aloysius to bring us to places of need and he had immediately thought of Mary. She told us she had been praying for folk to visit and had just that day prayed for a football (we brought her 4) and we were her first foreign visitors. Wow – to be an answer to prayer and to be able in just a little way to bless her by providing a few simple resources for use in the school – which was so impressive. What a mighty privilege for us to meet Mary and see the work. We will definitely follow up this amazing networking opportunity. Only God knows where this connection will go.

Day 20

Hidden Treasure Christian School in Wakiso District

Today we visited Hidden Treasure Christian School in Wakiso District. The school, which was about 40 minutes from central Kampala, is one that has been approved by Fields of Life for a school build and is awaiting sponsorship to allow progression of the project.

After arriving in the town we were met by the Pastor/Head Teacher who jumped on a boda boda and we followed him up firstly a short mud road and eventually up a narrow grass path in the most beautiful surroundings to where we stopped outside the simple, tiny wood building that housed the little school and the 75 pupils.

The school had originated 7 years ago from a Sunday School with the vision of giving a Christian education in this little community where both alcohol and marijuana related problems abound. The Pastor and his wife and 3 other teachers welcomed us and showed us round the little campus and it was immediately evident the excellent care and attention that the children received.

The children were a little timid at first as they were not used to school visitors, let alone white ones, but they soon warmed up as Hannah and the team told the Noah story as the HeadMaster translated. The children sang heartily and were excited as they listened and sang. The visit was rounded off with the presentstion of simple gifts to all the pupils and teachers in what was a very needy school.

As we looked around the tiny classrooms which contained the most simple of homemade furniture and little if any resources, we were glad to have visited and everyone counted it a privelege to have spent just a little bit of time with some very special teachers and children.

As we consider "Charlenes Project", which will involve Charlene raising money to build a school in Uganda Hidden Treasure Christian School will be one that we will consider a worthy option to assist if God so leads.

Charlene has had to drop out of school this year due to failing health from cystic fibrosis. Charlene was originally scheduled for Uganda with the team this summer but sent us on the look out for a school for her project when she had to remain in Belfast City Hospital being unable to travel. She is currently undergoing assessment for lung transplant, travelling to Newcastle next week for a weeks intensive assessment. It is her desire that if she is unable to continue presently in school - she will do all she can to help others receive an education in Uganda.

Day 19

Day 19 began early but in relaxed mood as we made our way to Makerere Full Gospel Church for 9am service. There we received the customary warm Ugandan welcome and joined with over 800 others in an uplifting lively and challenging worship service. The choir was all you would expect from an African choir and the Pastor gave a truly inspiring address on qualities required from a true Christian .The second of the 3 services for the morning lasted until 11am and as we left the Church was filling again and the 3rd service was beginning.

We travelled for about 2 hours by bus to District of Jinja to the area where the river Nile flows out of Lake Victoria. This is an unbelievably beautiful area and we had a light lunch on a balcony overlooking the River Nile and Lake Victoria.

We then spent the next 3 hours travelling round the Jinja rural area in our mini bus giving out teddies, blankets, clothes, sweets to people who are unbelievably poor but seem so grateful and content with life. It was very rewarding to see the hard work of folk back home in making blankets and teddies reaching such needy and deserving recipients.

Until Tomorrow. Wendy and Sarah.

Best African Dancers in the team

Today has been quieter for the team and we have had the chance to judge the video clips to decide who was the teams best Ugandan dancer - two of our team members tied for first place - Basil and Wenford.

The clip links are below - we have all enjoyed watching these phantom dancers - I hope you enjoy seeing them displaying what unitl now has been hidden talents. These two guys will go down in Ugandan folklore.

Wenford:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZiOGKsk5Ntw

Basil:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q2t4m0JrqyE

Day 17 and 18

Ok......so somehow I (Becs) have escaped writing this blog so far....as my way with words is most definitely not one of my strongest points. As always Uganda has been such a challenge and a humbling experience. I have felt overwhelmed at times....and I have to admit at times have been very heavy hearted at what I have seen. But again God has been teaching me, that it is not up to me to solve all of Uganda’s problems.....it is our responsibility to examine our own lives under Gods word and see what He requires of us.....to bring these people before God and leave it to Him.

Yesterday, we visited the school for the blind at Salaama and the visually impaired unit at the associated secondary school. Programmes were delivered to the children at both schools and it was encouraging to see all the excellent work being done with these disadvantaged children.

Many of the cases of blindness that we saw, in the west would simply not have occurred. Some became blind after getting measles because of lack of immunisations and others from living in unhygienic conditions, with conditions being carried on household flies, and through dietary deficiency of Vitamin A. It seems so unfair that things we take for granted like immunisations, diet and hygiene, so deeply affect people here. However, it was encouraging to be at this school and see children in education as the blind in society here are not sent to school as it is seen as pointless to educate the blind. They were such joyful children, despite not being able to experience the amazing beauty within their own school grounds.

Close to this school we stopped the bus to watch a troop of monkeys do their stuff above the trees at the side of the road and got some pictures of workers harvesting tea in a field at the road side.

Today another six of our team left on an early flight this morning, leaving twelve of us still remaining. We went to a primary school within a prison compound, that had been scheduled for earlier in the week but was cancelled due to the death of a teacher from HIV related causes. The primary school was massive, with a total of about 1700 pupils. It was very difficult to begin with.....as all of us were extremely tired. The pupils were divided into two groups, primary 1 – primary 3 and primary 4 – primary 7. Wenford and Andrew worked extremely hard on concreting in the swings at the school, in extremely hot weather.

However, nothing could have prepared us for the mass number of pupils we met. We tried first of all to do the kids club with all 700 primary one – primary 3 (each year group has at least 3 classes of 80 pupils-with one teacher to each class) but it was just not possible as the children were too excited. We tried again delivering the programme three times to each individual year group. This worked and the programme was well received. The Love for Life programme was delivered by Ruth and David with the dramas being acted out by Bethany and Sarah in the packed prison church to over 1000 senior primary pupils – what a challenge. After the pupil programme input we addressed the teachers and left the pupil resources with them. What a difference teaching is in Uganda to what is the N Ireland experience.

Tonight Daniel, the headmaster of Shammah joined us for dinner. He told us of the ongoing impact in the little community near his school that we had visited two days earlier. We were able to provide him with more basic resources for his very needy community. Dad also got an opportunity to talk to Ian Clarke from International Hospital and Rory Wilson from Kiwoko Hospital (Denise and Rory had just arrived back in Kampala this afternoon). Both meetings occurred within 1 hour of each other in two separate places (total God incidence). He had the opportunity to chat around some of the medical situations we had encountered over the last two weeks. As I write this we have just receiveda text from the other six team members to say they have arrived safely in Belfast.

Well I better go here and get some much needed beauty sleep. Thanx for continuing to follow. God Bless...xo

Day 16

Yet another early start albeit a slightly shorter journey to Ebeneezer Junior School, Kawempe. Despite a population of over 300students and very cramped conditions, we found both the children and all the staff members enthusiastic and ready to get involved in the day’s programmes. Again, we found the children extremely well mannered and able to concentrate throughout the day despite the sweltering heat, with all morning programmes being delivered outside under the blazing sun.

We were challenged again at how some children manage to cope with severe physical disabilities. One the young girls in upper primary was missing both hands. We can only surmise as to how this horrendous disability had occurred, but such atrocities were unfortunately typical of the warfare tactics employed by Kony in northern Uganda of recent years.

After lunch, the parents programme got underway as per usual whilst the rest of the team attempted to amuse the children.

We rounded off the day with a lovely dinner in the guesthouse, and treated ourselves to a wee ice-cream – John Haw jumped with glee!

Devotions allowed us an opportunity to reflect upon the activities of the past two weeks, and spend some time in encouraging one another. We were very happy to hear that the first two members of the team to leave, Basil and Nan, had reached the UK safely after a long day of travelling.

Any yet again as we sit here writing this, we are serenaded with the melodious cries of Natalie as she encounters another of Africa’s numerous beasties!

Day 15

On the bus on the way to school - another early rise and sleepyheads on the bus.

The welcome at school today included an incredible display of Ugandan dance. Some of the team attempted to emulate the Ugandan children - Basil in particular displayed a hidden talent. We have a copy of this on video - this can be seen on request - despite Basils protestations of confidentiality within the team!

Both Kids Club and I'm Special, You're Special were presented to the 350 children in Kiwoko Primary School this morning. The parents received programme input. As in other schools teachers were very pleased with all the programmes delivered and with the resources, gifts and books left with the school.

As always the little team of workers put both swing and goal posts in place for the Primary children . It is not an easy task in the 40 degree sunshine. Afterwards they got into conversation with a teacher around the war in the area and the situation about so many orphans. He also pointed out a witch doctor in the vicinity of school and the guys got to meet the Bishop of Luweero.

In the afternoon some of the team headed to Kiwoko Secondary where they presented to over 800 young people. Afterwards they had many individual conversations with young people and questions ranged from ones around sexual infections to situations about friends who were being offered money for sex to allow them to pay for school fees.

Some of the team headed to Shammah to see Daniel the Head Teacher, planning to deliver some gifts in the little church community near the school. As is typical of Daniel, he immediately welcomed us, even though our visit was unannouncd, immediately saying he knew of an even more needy community, not far from school. Arriving at the little scattered community, need was everywhere as the team members were surrounded by nearly 100 small children and women with babies in arms. We were shown the little church and the community wanted to have an impromtu church service to celebrate the arrival of their visitors. It was so noticeable that virtually all the community were women and children with very few men to be seen anywhere. As gifts were distributed house to house some comments were so humbling; "We never thought white people would visit our little commuinty and bring gifts to us all". As we got inot the bus and got ready to leave we watched as the women got the little children in line to give them a little piece of the bread and sweets that we had brought. It was obvious as the children eagerly devoured the meagre offering, that they were very hungry. One of the men who said he did not believe in God said - "Today I am going to church to thank God for your visit to our community". Daniel encouraged us by saying that our visit would support the owrk he and the pastors were trying to do in this very needy community. He pointed out to us that the village folk were already heading to their little one room church to give thanks to God for what they had received. Again as has been so often the case over the last two weeks we all acknowledged that we had so much to learn from our Ugandan neighbours.

Day 13

Hello everybody,
Today was another busy day, but very different from the rest. It started off tough when we heard that one of the teachers in the prison school that we were to go to had passed away the night before so therefore the school was closed. We therefore would really appreciate all of your prayers for the school and also the teacher's family, friends and community as the funeral is tomorrow and it will effect the whole community.

When we found out we weren't going to the school due to the circumstances we decided to visit an organisation called Waakisa. There we saw Sharon and Stuart Hamill who had just arrived in Uganda on the Friday. It is a very good organisation which helps young girls who get pregnant at a young age and are abandoned or don't know where to go or what to do, some of them were also girls who wanted abortions. Waakisa took these girls in and counselled them throughout their pregnancy and when it became time took them to the local hospital and cared for them. These girls who had wanted to have abortions learnt to love their babies and look after them. Waakisa then tries to get them back enrolled into there families and homes and then they follow up a couple of months after to see how they were getting on. We heard one awful story of a young 13 year old girl who was raped by family members and she became pregnant and came to Waakisa for help. Some of these girls find it hard to open up at first but through Waakisa counselling they finally do. There are some situations when the families won't accept their daughters back into the family because they blame the girls. In these situations these girls are given a new home and are allowed to run a small business. It is a very good organisation which could do with a lot of prayers.

After our visit we then went back to the school we were at on Friday to leave the football team a kit and two balls. They were so happy and thankful and it was lovely to see all there smiling faces again and hear them sing the songs we taught them on Friday.

We then ate our lunch looking out onto Lake Victoria in the warm sunshine. It was a beautiful sight and it was very peaceful. After that we took off and went to a small viillage where Arnold lives with his mom, Joy and his brother. We collected them and took them onto our bus. We then went into his small village and gave out small gifts like goodie bags and knitted teddies and blankets to the children. It was lovely seeing there smiling faces as we gave out the gifts and we got many good photos.

We then went back to the guest house and some of us rested and some of us made more bracelets while Ruth, Keith and Jessica went with Joy and Arnold to the hospital. This was to decide what was to be done with Arnold. As he is not too well as he needs two valves in his heart repaired. His situation is being talked over with a surgeon tomorrow so a lot of prayer will be needed tomorrow for Arnold and his family. They then returned and ate dinner with us which was a lovely experience. Also joining us at dinner was Ribena and Robert, two teenagers Rebecca had got to know on a previous Uganda trip. They are originally from Rwanda and tragically lost both parents to the genocide. They have struggled to stay in school being unable to afford the necessary school fees.

The outlook looks good regarding Charlenes project. The project which will see a school built in Uganda is part of Charlenes to allow some children in Uganda to be able to go to school, something she currently cannot do as a result of failing health. We think we have identified a school pending further research by Fields of Life.

See you soon, Bethany and Serena.

Teacher Death

Just a small update.

The school we were to attend to day has had an unforseen tragic incident. A teacher at the school (A prison school) has passed away. This has shocked the whole team and we ask for your prayers for the school and for the family.

Day 12: Fellowship, Food and Football...

Greetings to you all from the whole Uganda team!

Today was the last day of our fairly relaxed weekend, with the hope that by now we are all well rested and prepared for another week of hard work in and around Kampala. This morning, we had the privilege to join in fellowship and worship with a local church in Kampala that was based within the largest prison in Uganda. The church itself was for the wardens and their families who work within the prison and is led by Pastor Nathan, who we met on day 7. It was he who had the vision of opening the schools in the war-torn area of Uganda, giving homes and support to many children who had lost their parents during this war. He is truly an amazing man, who finds time to dedicate himself to the work within these schools along within the prison. The service itself was truly inspiring, with lively and enthusiastic worship, as seems to be the custom in Ugandan churches. We were treated to a sermon looking at women within the New Testament, and in particular, Mary the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene. The Kid’s Club team were asked by surprise to lead the Sunday School Children’s services, but stepped up to the task with a very high standard as always, forming great relationships with the children. This will prove a true blessing as we shall be visiting the schools within the prison tomorrow to deliver our programs, and it was great to be able to say ‘See you all tomorrow’ to the children as we left, along with ‘What about ya?’ and ‘What’s the craic?’, courtesy of Tracey teaching this to the children.

After the service, we had a quick(ish) pit stop for food in a local restaurant. We had quite a long wait (David’s was much longer than the rest), but it was well worth it, and everyone was well fed, all be it, under the watchful eyes of the local scavenger birds (see left!).

After this, the team split in two, with a group of the ladies (and Wenford) returning to Shalom for a relaxing afternoon sunbathing and reading. The rest of the team departed to watch the ex-players of Uganda take on a Brazil Legends team in a charity football match, to raise money for Bulrushes orphanage, which we had visited yesterday. This proved to be a highly entertaining afternoon for all of us. We somehow ended up in the royal box (or the Ugandan equivalent) seated in the row behind the Brazilian ambassador and along with other past players of the Ugandan national team. As we began our first chorus of ‘We’re not Brazil, we’re Northern Ireland’, we drew peculiar glances from the Brazilian ambassador, but soon after, the Ugandan supporters were appreciating our support of their country. It was a highly entertaining game, with Brazil edging it 2-1. Afterwards, we descending to the pitch side and had some photos taken with the Brazilian players, (if anybody can put names to faces it would be much appreciated!), followed by some more chants of ‘We’re not Brazil, we’re Northern Ireland, which was then recorded by the Brazilian players as they left on their team bus.

In the evening, we were once again well fed by the wonderful staff at Shalom Guest House. Afterwards, John led us in a truly challenging devotion, to follow God’s guidance, whether it is where we are at the moment, or to move on to something new. After this, we discovered John’s hidden talent for bracelet manufacture as he joined the rest of the ladies in making bracelets for the children that we meet every day. As I sign off, I’d like to leave you with the verse that John spoke to us during the devotion as food for thought for you all....

Numbers 9 v23

Thank you all for your continued support through prayer and God’s richest blessings from all the team in Uganda