Today, there was a wedding downtown for the sister of a young friend of ours. I elected not to attend, but Florence went to the wedding, Miriam and Rachel will attend the reception held out our way.
At Watoto Church, weddings are booked on the hour, every two hours. If you are late, too bad....
The wedding was set for 1 pm. Florence left here at 11:30. By 12:45 she was there and noticed the mother of the bride was no where to be see. When she inquired, she was told that it was all taken care of. Florence called her friend, who was still at home, waiting for the transport car to come!!! Sophie finally arrived about 1:45, in time to see the signing of the documents and the preaching. She had missed the wedding proper, and the parental blessing of the new couple. Fortunately, there were some other family there to stand in for her.
The reception, scheduled to begin at 4:30 about a 25 minute taxi ride from here, will be in a fancy place, with music and food and dancing with the husband's family from Kenya and all the bride's family and friends from here.
It is now 4:20 and Rachel just finished showering, Miriam is next. They will arrive fashionably late and have a great time, taking even more photos than Florence did at the wedding.
This all reminds me of the first wedding held at KIC a few years back. The wedding was set for 1 pm Muzungu time. We started an hour late, 2 pm. We were finished at 3 pm and as we left, there were some family and friends just arriving. Different ways of keeping time.....
Saturday, August 27, 2011
update
Company has returned to their home in eastern Uganda, Simba is back here in our compound and I am resting today, with a stuffy head and runny nose. Lots of naps today.
Met an American family yesterday, Charley and Tyra and their 3 kids, who live just down the road from eMi. charley has been on 2 eMi project trips. The family is here now for 4 years with Africa Inland Mission, kids going to Heritage International School. Lovely people. AIM had them attend a 3 week training in Kenya before they landed here. Look forward to seeing more of them. One of our female interns and one Long Term Volunteer have a space in the same compound, so we are sure to get acquainted.
Met an American family yesterday, Charley and Tyra and their 3 kids, who live just down the road from eMi. charley has been on 2 eMi project trips. The family is here now for 4 years with Africa Inland Mission, kids going to Heritage International School. Lovely people. AIM had them attend a 3 week training in Kenya before they landed here. Look forward to seeing more of them. One of our female interns and one Long Term Volunteer have a space in the same compound, so we are sure to get acquainted.
Friday, August 12, 2011
What is it worth?
If someone gave you a used T shirt, clean and in good condition, what would be your response?
Florence recently gave 2 such shirts to a man who has been hauling dirt to spread around her school. He came to her the following day, to say thank you again and to tell her that he would level the entire area for free, about the size of a basketball court. She was amazed and asked why.
The man explained that the only shirt he owned was the one he had been wearing, everyday. What little money he earned went to feed his family and provide for them. No one that he had worked for had ever considered him as a human being, he was just a worker. He felt the love and compassion that came from Florence and wanted to be a blessing to her as well.
So...giving things away to the right person at the right time can help others see how much God loves them. What a joy to be a blessing to others.
Just one of the reasons why I love living here in Uganda.
Florence recently gave 2 such shirts to a man who has been hauling dirt to spread around her school. He came to her the following day, to say thank you again and to tell her that he would level the entire area for free, about the size of a basketball court. She was amazed and asked why.
The man explained that the only shirt he owned was the one he had been wearing, everyday. What little money he earned went to feed his family and provide for them. No one that he had worked for had ever considered him as a human being, he was just a worker. He felt the love and compassion that came from Florence and wanted to be a blessing to her as well.
So...giving things away to the right person at the right time can help others see how much God loves them. What a joy to be a blessing to others.
Just one of the reasons why I love living here in Uganda.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Florence's school teachers
King of Kings Nursery and Primary School is the result of much prayer, effort and gifts of many people. Florence is the Head Teacher, Head Mistress, creator, visionary and energy behind this educational wonder.
Miriam, her elder daughter, teaches the middle class at the school, which operates from 8 am to 1pm, Mon to Friday.
Rachel, her younger daughter, teaches the baby class, which now has 20 students! Rachel shares the teaching with Ruth, who has a counselling certificate and attended the LiteNet training along with Rachel and all the others.
Here are Miriam, Jolly, Ruth and Rachel on the beach after the zoo trip.
This is the baby class that keeps these young teachers on their toes.
Here are the ladies of King of Kings: Miriam, Florence, Ruth, Jolly, with Rachel behind the camera.
Andrew, the only male influence, comes once a week with a guitar to play music. Kids are quick to leave their work when they see him coming down the path. Brittany and other volunteers from eMiEA have also come regularly to assist in the classes, share songs, games and teach the lessons, if needed.
Frances comes every Friday with her computer on which she plays DVDs and music for the kids to enjoy. It is a good thing the computer has a strong battery, as there is no power in the classrooms. Frances and her husband, Dennis, blessed the school with its first ever field trip to the zoo in Entebbe and the Garuga Beach Resort playground. The entire school traveled by bus, many for the first time in their life.
There are funds provided by a few anonymous donors. Additional funds are always welcome as the students come from very poor families who can't even afford the low fees of 50,000/= for each term. (This is less than $25.) There are work exchange options offered to some of the parents where funding any part of the fees is a burden. Another source of funds comes from the sale of quilts, lap robes and potholders that Florence makes on school term breaks.
Miriam, her elder daughter, teaches the middle class at the school, which operates from 8 am to 1pm, Mon to Friday.
Rachel, her younger daughter, teaches the baby class, which now has 20 students! Rachel shares the teaching with Ruth, who has a counselling certificate and attended the LiteNet training along with Rachel and all the others.
Here are Miriam, Jolly, Ruth and Rachel on the beach after the zoo trip.
This is the baby class that keeps these young teachers on their toes.
Here are the ladies of King of Kings: Miriam, Florence, Ruth, Jolly, with Rachel behind the camera.
Andrew, the only male influence, comes once a week with a guitar to play music. Kids are quick to leave their work when they see him coming down the path. Brittany and other volunteers from eMiEA have also come regularly to assist in the classes, share songs, games and teach the lessons, if needed.
Frances comes every Friday with her computer on which she plays DVDs and music for the kids to enjoy. It is a good thing the computer has a strong battery, as there is no power in the classrooms. Frances and her husband, Dennis, blessed the school with its first ever field trip to the zoo in Entebbe and the Garuga Beach Resort playground. The entire school traveled by bus, many for the first time in their life.
There are funds provided by a few anonymous donors. Additional funds are always welcome as the students come from very poor families who can't even afford the low fees of 50,000/= for each term. (This is less than $25.) There are work exchange options offered to some of the parents where funding any part of the fees is a burden. Another source of funds comes from the sale of quilts, lap robes and potholders that Florence makes on school term breaks.
Visitors
Last month Florence's sister came to Uganda for a month, from NC, and stayed with us for about a week out of her travels. It was great fun to have her here and to see the joy that filled Florence for having a family member actually stay the night.
This week one of her brothers and his family are coming to stay for 2 weeks or so. These are the people who took us to Kenya 2 years back and we are more than excited that they will be with us. African hospitality is bigger than anything I had ever imagined and is really a blessing for everyone, the visitors and the hosts. So much to learn and so much joy in such a simple act. Who would have guessed that my life could be so full of positive lessons at this stage?? I thought I knew a lot when I came here, but it seems there is so much more to learn.
This is the brother, James, who is a carpenter and made all the chairs and tables at Florence's school. What a boon to her students to sit properly and at the right height. Most schools here have long benches with narrow long tables, with little room to have papers and they are usually too high for the little ones. Maybe the chairs and tables will get painted in these next two weeks and look smart when school begins in mid September.
This week one of her brothers and his family are coming to stay for 2 weeks or so. These are the people who took us to Kenya 2 years back and we are more than excited that they will be with us. African hospitality is bigger than anything I had ever imagined and is really a blessing for everyone, the visitors and the hosts. So much to learn and so much joy in such a simple act. Who would have guessed that my life could be so full of positive lessons at this stage?? I thought I knew a lot when I came here, but it seems there is so much more to learn.
This is the brother, James, who is a carpenter and made all the chairs and tables at Florence's school. What a boon to her students to sit properly and at the right height. Most schools here have long benches with narrow long tables, with little room to have papers and they are usually too high for the little ones. Maybe the chairs and tables will get painted in these next two weeks and look smart when school begins in mid September.
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