Wednesday 20th – Sunday 31st August 2008

For around two weeks we had the pleasure of having Gary and Judy Levens, our senior pastors from Australia, and their daughter Liz, visit us here in Uganda.  We had a big schedule, the reason for no posts.  While they were here they visited Akanyijuka (a lot) to spend time with the children and staff, with Gary and Judy praying for all the children on their last visit.  Visits were also made to Immanuel Drop-In Centre, Akanyijuka’s land, a village where some of our children came from, and time to catch up with many friends and partners of Akanyijuka and VCCS board. 

Relaxing activities were also had, such as a visit to the lake and a trip to Queen Elizabeth National Park on the way back to Kampala for their departure.  Their visit was greatly appreciated by all and they are sure to be missed. Thank you so much for your time with us.  Below are a few photos of our visit to the National Park.

Monday 18th – Tuesday 26th August 2008 (Week in review)

A welcome to the visitors, from Akanyijuka children:

Judy comforting Joyce after an emotional testimony:

Sunday 17th August 2008

Today we travelled to Kampala so that we can pick up Gary & Judy Levens and Elizabeth Pardede, visiting from Australia.  We took along Moses Akanyijuka with us for a surprise for our visitors, he is their sponsor child.  It was a good day of travel and at night in Kampala we were able to catch up over dinner with another friend from our home church, Esther.  Esther is in Kampala teaching at an International School and she will visit Kabale over her holidays.  For me it was great to sit and see Moses eating at a fancy restaurant with us.  This seven year old boy is now destined for great things, previously he would have most likely died, found scourging through the rubbish dump with a large wound to his head.

A photo of Moses, now like any other boy happy and nervous about eating out in a strange place:

Monday 11th to Saturday 16th August 2008

Again I have to apologise for late posts, but this week we had visitations; taking all the children home to visit their previous guardians.  It sounded simple at the beginning of the week – drop off the children and then pick them up again.  But it makes for a very long week dropping 38 children off at various locations around Kabale and surrounding villages.  One thing that I noticed this time doing visitations is that some of the children get emotional from the experience.  They all get excited to go and visit, but some would have tears in their eyes when being picked up.  The visit supervisors informed us that the reason that they are upset is because they feel pity on the ones they have left behind, they see what life is like where they used to live and feel sad for those still there.  It makes the trouble involved with home visits worth while if the children do not forget where they are from.

Also this week we had to deal with the local electricity company, we did not receive a bill this month, but rather a disconnection notice; that is about two minutes after we lost power late on Thursday afternoon.  First thing on Friday morning I went and sorted out the problem and they ensured that they were sending someone straight away.  Obviously straight away means totally different things to them and to us.  It was not until after closing time in the back office around 6 PM that we finally got power back.

On Friday Kathryn started interviews for a new teacher with Pastor Edward and Headmaster Rogers.  A couple were organised for Friday and the rest will be set up for next week.  Saturday night, after one of those days where I thought I did not have much on, but ended up not stopping all day, we finally got to relax and enjoy a time out break.  It was a function that Victory Community Care Services put on to raise awareness of themselves amongst the local churches.  It appeared that it went down well, one of the local pastors even spoke to us directly about coming and seeing what we are doing.

Tomorrow we head to Kampala to pick up our senior pastor, his wife and daughter from Australia.  Yet again a long treacherous drive, that always brings good times when we have visitors coming.  We will also catch up with a friend from Taigum, Esther, while we are there, she recently (Friday just gone) arrived in the country and is living in Kampala teaching at an International School.

Friday 8th – Sunday 10th August 2008

Friday was the last day of term 2 for Akanyijuka.  We have one more week before holidays start, but next week is informal as we are having children visiting their previous guardians.  It was not only the last formal day of school, but last day of exams and also Teacher Kathryn’s last day teaching Baby Class.  Next term we will have a local teacher taking Baby Class.  Teacher Kathryn had most undoubtedly some hard days and times trying to deal with cross language problems, but she will dearly miss teaching Baby Class.

Friday was also Mid’s birthday, with which she was rather bewildered.  Even a piece of cake could not bring a smile:

Saturday was spent organising with previous guardians, the visits next week.

Monday 4th – Thursday 7th August 2008

Monday and Tuesday we organised the harvesting of some sorhgum that was on Akanyijuka’s land and stored it at our place to dry out. We also had a visit from the District Minister for Community Based Services. This was so that she can recommend Victory Community Care Services’ renewal of its NGO status. Its scope is being changed to include Akanyijuka as a home, not just a boarding school. She said that she had absolutely no concern with recommending us as we were doing a great job.

Thursday was just a day at home, mostly catching up with a few things on the computer and reading. I managed to read a post on Gary and Judy’s trip blog, hope you do some of these types of things while you are here Gary – it will make great blog material to embellish upon.

I’ve also put up some new photos on my photo page again, profiles of Daphne and Susan: davesphotos

Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd August 2008

On Friday Edward and I showed the American lady we met Thursday afternoon, Cindy, around a little today; showing her what we do. We visited Akanyijuka and the drop-in centre. She seemed to really feel for the street children at the drop-in centre and stayed a couple of nights with the Wards while she was here, before she moved on.

Edward and I also visited the architects to put finishing touches on some building designs before he headed to Kampala to get prints and other things done for us there.

On Saturday Kathryn went down to Akanyijuka for her last training session with the teachers on time management. All three sessions went really well and the teachers were more than happy with the simple certificate that they each received for attending the training.

Sunday I thought we were going to take a few people to church with us, but I was inoperable by flu type symptoms, which had us a little concerned that it might be Malaria. In the evening however Pastor Edward came over and prayed for me and I slept like a baby, waking on Monday morning ready for the week ahead; no signs of yesterday’s symptoms at all.

I managed also to post new photo profiles on my photo page, check it out to see photos of Dorothy and Samuel. davesphotos