Monday 7th September 2009

Today we started building again, the next plot of land where we will build is still being cleared but we started again on the first house, starting to raise the walls:

It was a bit of a run around day again, building site visits, selling feathered chickens, getting the car looked at for bad noises that have developed, meeting the school inspector, trying to organise the school since one teacher did not come back after the holidays, and then Kathryn had another training session with the board of VCCS – which is when I took myself out for dinner and then spent some time with the children at Akanyijuka.

The weekend also saw the launch of a revamped website for missions at our supporting church.  They have information and regular posts from us as well as from other childrens’ work and missionaries from around the world that our church supports.  Check it out at www.destinations.org.au

Friday 4th to Sunday 6th September

These three days we just tried spending as much time with Jan as we could, whilst still trying to get our normal jobs done.  Saturday I took Jan shopping with the Matrons to buy bulk food for the month.  Sunday we went to church, had lunch and took Jan to the border where we left her to her own devices to get to Kigali to catch a plane on Monday.  Thanks so much for coming Jan. We love you!

Here are a few extra photos of Jan’s time here:

A rare photo of our house that Jan took:

Thursday 3rd September 2009

Today was chasing up things to get ready for school starting next week and also building starting again on Monday.  In the morning Kathryn took Jan to another speaking engagement.  Then in the afternoon Kathryn had a training session with the VCCS Board, while I took the boys from Akanyijuka to White Horse Inn for the afternoon.  Playing on the swings and a soda.  They had been asking ever since last holidays when the girls went – I think that just going was enough to keep them happy, but they also had a great time while they were there.

Wednesday 2nd September 2009

We had a nice relaxing day today with our second trip to the lake in the last week or so.  This time we went with just Jan and Lettie to an island on the lake.

Tuesday 1st September 2009

Today Kathryn had training with the Matrons and I took the chance to just catch up with Jan, then in the afternoon Jan gave me a haircut – well overdue.  We also went to Bubaare to see the building site and take chicken feeds and pick up eggs.

Monday 31st August 2009

Today was one of those run around like a headless chook days.  To start I dropped our Aussie visitors at the bus stop and said farewell after which it was straight to the land to put water on the slab and to let the workers know that we would let them know when we were ready to start working again.  Back into town by nine for the weekly VCCS fellowship meeting after which we went back out to the land with some people to quote us on removing stumps on the next area that we want to build on.  Kathryn stayed and talked over with Ronnie (Olivia’s mother) from Australia about her schedule while she is in Kabale for another couple of weeks.  When I returned to town I not long got home to do a few things and Kathryn called.  We were borrowing Pastor Frank’s car so Kathryn could run Jan around to various speaking events so I could still maintain my headless chook state.  The car had a flat tyre and I had to go and help. 

After that was all taken care of and we finished lunch, Kathryn took Jan to the women’s conference in town, where Jan was giving her normal straight forward in your face message – which went down really well:

I on the other hand went to Akanyijuka with my plumbers hat on and fixed the toilet that one of the boys had managed to play with and flush one of the parts.  Of course the parts were not readily available to replace them and I had to ad lib with what I could get, but all the systems are flowing well now.  After a long chat with some friends, Johnson and Ruth Agaba, on the way home, it was preparing dinner time.  I whipped up a simple dish with some of my home made Indian Paneer.  Jan was impressed with my dish.  If you know Jan, that is a big compliment – so if the children are not enough to encourage you to come and visit, then come and I will cook you a nice dish for dinner one night!!

Sunday 30th August 2009

This week we are with Jan Best and Pastor Edward had her preach at church – which was a bit of a ‘blast’ from the past. 

Jan enjoyed the hill up and down to church the most.

Late in the afternoon after having a long chat with the Aussies from Mbale we headed down to Akanyijuka so they could say goodbye to the children as they were off on the Posta Bus at seven in the morning.

 

Monday 24th – Saturday 29th August 2009 Part II

Monday 24th – Saturday 29th August 2009

This week we finished off with the building for a couple of weeks, having completed the slab on the first building.  The rest of the land needs a few things done to it that will take a couple of weeks.  We could keep going with the first building, but we would have to stop after a week to wait, so we are waiting two weeks and then hopefully we will be able to build without breaks, which helps us keep good workers etc.

 We also had a stack of visitors this week.  Jan Best visited to drop off her friend, Lettie from Botswana.  It was so good to catch up with her and meet her friend.  Lettie is a great girl also, she is staying for around 3 months to help out and to see how we do things at Akanyijuka.

We also had a group of four Aussies visit.  Stewart, Briony, Karen and Brooke have been in Uganda for various times, but have been living together in Mbale for some time and had been planning to visit at some stage and this was the week it happened.  They were great company, made us feel a little older as they were all quite younger – but Jan helped us feel not too old!!! Sorry Jan.  They are looking like they are going to be doing great things in Eastern Uganda.  To check out what they are up to, check out Briony’s Blog – http://brimmyos.blogspot.com

I can’t remember which day it was, but we also went to the lake one day:

Friday 28th August 2009

Today we celebrated Dismus’ birthday, it was actually yesterday but the electricity refused Kathryn to be able to bake the cake so we had to delay the celebrations: