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.