Thursday 19th October
Today I woke even earlier than yesterday and thought about Edwards idea of a boarding school. Perhaps we could take a simplified model from Watoto to house children that require housing. At breakfast I asked Edward to tell us about himself, which was great for us to find out about Edward’s past. I will not say too much about him here, just that he is married and has four daughters, and his wife is pregnant – due December this year.
After breakfast we headed to the conference for our first full day! Today was excellent for us in many ways. It started with Pastor Charles Price sharing about the father heart of God. After this we had four ‘breakout session’ which were full of good practical teaching, pulling from Watoto’s combined years of working in this area. Many policies were given, stuff that I have been trying to put together myself. I thought to myself that it was so good we came to this conference. Many of the ideas they talked about confirmed things that God has been talking to me about, but receiving extensive information and manuals on many practical areas is invaluable. My heart is being stirred so much here – building a resolve to actually do something to help and not just thinking about it.
Today Pastor Charles Price spoke on the fathers heart in a Keynote Session to start the day, then we had four breakout sessions on:
- Child Development – Why have schools and the principles and reasons why they run them the way they do, Challenges to expect, Rewards, Discipline, Love, Fairness, Medical Services.
- Social Work – Child selection processes, Criteria, Networking, Legal Processes.
- Village Operation – House and Village layout, facilities, Security, Provisions for children, mothers and staff, Fathers Heart Ministry
- Community Development – Gary Skinner spoke on the importance of the role of church within the community, that there is not meant to be a ‘Church life’ and a ‘Secular life’. He spoke on how the church was becoming increasingly irrelevant in society and the only way to become more relivant was to serve the community.
The conference day was ended with a message from Bobbie Houston speaking mainly to the role of women.
A photo of one friend we made with Pastor Brian Houston.
Our relationship with Edward is already beginning to flourish. We met some of Edwards friends from Kabale today also. Robert, who is part of VCCS, and with his wife runs a support group for women. Moses and Stella, who run an orphanage in Kabale. Jackson, who the Pastor of a daughter church of Edwards church. After the conference we headed back to the hotel for dinner where we talked a lot with Edward about Australia and it’s people and the church there.
