Ah ha thought we had forgotten you!!

Bet you all forgot about me as its been a bit long since last blogged!! In my limited time on the internet I’m afraid facebook gets precedence and also reading mammoth admin emails from Dad which need dealt with . But I am happy to say that Sara and I are still here, safe, happy and settling in well. Life in Uganda continues to fall into place and our network of contacts and friends is developing. The weather has started to pick up now and is showing us its more expected side with quite hot and humid weather which unfortunately brings with it the mossies, which as we are living fairly near a large swamp, are troublesome. In all my years of travelling to Uganda I have boasted as I have had few bites……I am making up for it now!! So never heed the advice any of you who feel you do not need anti-malarials in Kampala….it would be a very silly health choice. But I will get off my soap box now and tell you about what we are up to. As you all know I can talk so whilst a lot has happened I will try to remain focused so you don’t need a coffee break to complete reading!!

Sara and I are well settled and life is gradually regaining the homely clutter! We were fortunate and were able to move into our house very quickly and its really lovely….I might struggle to leave it after my time! Uganda is proving to be just as I expected….including good and bad points. Although the bad points are things that just need getting used to. Its actually quite strange how once you start to live with them they just become a way of life and therefore no longer a problem!! One example is the absence of a washing machine and the need to hand wash the most incredibly dirty things in a bucket. However overtime, the elbow grease increases, the sun shines brightly and before you know if the Daz effect on once orange school socks become their original brilliant white!! However whilst hanging out the washing this AM, it is best not to wash by candle light at night where the illusion of not needing so much elbow grease is given! Another one is time keeping. Now, you know the phrase that ‘the man with the key has gone’? well that hasn’t changed! Just this morning I got up and got Sara out to school early (she starts at 8am so don’t worry I didn’t send her off to an empty school!) so I could attend a meeting in the hospital at 7.30am. At 8am I was still sitting with no sign of anyone!! So I left to walk up to another meeting in the VSO office and found myself dawdling at quite a snails pace, happy and relaxed as ever!! And I just thought, that’s just how life should be…..chilled and not hurried. Its maybe something we should all do.

All else good- we are eating well and staying well. Although Sara has experienced her first attack of ‘Kampala belly’ where for a few hours bless her she didn’t know what end to aim at the loo first and I had my first experience with a family of tics, but hey all part of the overall experience!! We have both bounced back with no lasting effects. Sara is enjoying school well and although it involves a slightly different…..how shall I put it….clientelle of student, she appears to be very happy and has made some lovely wee friends especially one particular VSO family who have been amazing to us and without them settling in would have taken much longer!. We have been out to Kkalwe a few times which has been lovely. In a good old drum beating and dancing ceremony last weekend Sara and I were officially adopted as village members and I have made the first steps to set up a mums and todds group to which 40 mums and todds arrived!!! Should have seen that one coming. So anyone wanting to send stuff, little person toys, books etc would be great for them to use during the group.

I started work on Monday and have been warmly welcomed by all the staff of IHK. It certainly a very different Ugandan set up to what I have worked in before with a lot of great things going on. I will be working a lot in a supporting a really super midwife called Beatrice who has so much passion and motivation for what she is doing so its so reassuring that a lot of the suspect practises have actually been highlighted!! Anyway gotta go….more next time. And I got a hint today. Looking forward to getting my first letters….HINT HINT! But if anyone wants to send s out parcels or stuff for me to take out to the village or schools please address to me but FOR C/O SAM LULE, VSO UGANDA, PO BOX 2831, KAMPALA. He collects all our post from the post office but if a parcel is not addressed care of him it means I have to trek into Kampala centre (not a joyeus experience) as I need to show ID. If addressed C/O him then he can collect for me.

Keep prayin for us and miss everyone but not the weather!!

2 days gone already!!

well everyone does it feel like Ive been away 3 whole days and 2 here? Time so flies when your havin fun. And are we havin fun! i wish I could describe how being here makes me feel. Suppose it justs feels like hoem...what more could I ask for. Sara and I have had an extremely full but brilliant 2 days here. Yesterday we were collected from Kampala by our good friend Shadrach (from Kiwoko for thise of you who know that connection) and his family Norah his wife, Esther his daughter, now Sara's bezzie mate! and Enoch. After a treat of pizza in Nandoes it was off to Goshen. Now anyone who visits Uganda should visit here. This was a childrens home that was built by Shadrach some years ago and now houses 37 children ranging from 8 years to late teens I think. What an incredible home of happy people who put us Westerners to shame when I see how well they all work and live together. They are fully self sufficient in that they grow some of their own crops, farm pigs (which came in useful at xmas!!!! They so love having visitors and everyone is made to feel so much at home.

We had a brief overnight visit to Kiwoko where we caught up with more friends of old, Beth, Maama Bess to name a few. Then after a peaceful (well as peaceful as night time in the bush can be)we headed back to Goshen where we spent the morning participating in the buzy life there as they all buzzed round doing their chores. Am so looking forward to spending time there especially as Shadrach has been building a school with bricks made by his own fair hands! Its now ready to start and in enrolling children for starting in Feb. Am very much looking forward to the grand opening which I have been honoured with a personal invite to, an important day for Goshen.

But the most important part of the day was the long awaited reunion with my adopted mum and family in a little village called Kkalwe, aboout 30 mins drive from Luweero out into the bush. Those of you who know my wee sis Norah will know about this but shortened form is that she came to live in N. Ireland as a toddler and was adopted by my parents but also over the years we have had the honour of remaining part of her Ugandan heritage as we found and have continued to communicate with her beautiful mother Sarah. Its a wonderful relationship and in the Summer we all went out and Norah was reunited with her amongst great village celebrations So today we went visiting me ma!! and my gorgeous little brother Isaiah. The village is very lovingly guided by a great man of God called pastor Paul who keeps the village going in the right way and runs a school of over 500 children. Another must to visit anyone coming to Uganda!! As for Sara...she remains a true celeb there and it was so lovely to finally see her playing with lots of children as children are meant to play. She is now comatosed and exhausted having ran and laughed and chased all day.

As for food??.....we have eaten like queens and much as I am a real fan of traditional Ugandan food especially the matoke and Groundnut sauce, I have to say the digestive system struggles a bit!! You eat one meal and sorat feel you wont need to eat for another week...at least until the next banquet is laid in front of you! Language has also played a bit part today. I suppose as I will be here a while I might need to know a few words so we have ben getting esther to teach us some. Today I learnt how to say, whats that and leaf!! Both very useful in their context. Think we need a few more words though although a sound quite professional doing the old greetings and thanks and all that.

Well were very safely and skillfully returned to Shalom in Kampala by Shadrach and well here I am. Full of adrenaline and not wanting to go to bed!! But suppose I must...so I can do it all again tomorrow. Till next time....wabale ssebo/ nnybo