Our orientation at Watoto Church took place on the morning of our second day. It gave Watoto an opportunity to explain their motivation and model and gave everyone in the team to visit the church and understand how grateful everyone is that we are there to spend our time with them.
We made a visit to Living Hope where our team met the women living with HIV who are trained in business and crafts so they can stay alive to support their children - by earning a living during training, being able to afford a good diet so their ARV drugs work. That way they can stay alive and not leave an orphan to be cared for.
But God had more for us...
Last year Nikki had a meeting of hearts with a lady called Rachel. Rachel has now graduated the program (July 15th just gone) and last week was finally asked to leave - there are so many ladies who need support - so places have to be made for them. Rachel is not the only one asked to leave we understand.
Rachel has gained the useful skills, has researched, booked and paid for a stall in a busy part of a market and has been given her sewing machine. She wasn't supposed to be at the project that day.
Except she had returned to pick up her sewing machine with which she would start her own business with a second-hand clothes stall as a front for people to discover that the stall is run by a seamstress - her USP - and it's over the next few months that parents search for new school uniform. But she is stuck.
When Nikki and Rachel recognised each other it was very emotional. They spent a great deal of time, just the two of them in the corner, whilst we all talked to the other ladies and saw their merchandise. There were many tears shared between the two until Nikki came over and explained Rachel's situation.
Rachel has the plot booked and paid for. She has the sewing machine ready to go...but she doesn't have the stock to get rolling. She is very worried about the next few months when school fees for her child are due (and Ugandan children are required to be in uniform - hence the urgency). Initially I was sceptical so I consulted the ladies overseeing the program and asked what they would suggest. They explained would be best if I asked her for a business plan, that we went through Living Hope so they could keep track on her and encourage her to stay the course - that they can be the bridge between a provider and Rachel - a link which is vital and so easily eroded through distance if left alone.
What will ensure her future is a secure as any of ours is £100 for second hand clothes to sell. I wonder if you're able to help? Perhaps to make a contribution so we can get her up and running? If so please email me HERE to make a pledge - I will deliver the money here and now and you can fulfil the pledge when we return. Does that sound OK?
At the same time we were trying to understand these issues, we were being pressed to decide how much we can commit to the Summer Camps next week. We managed to have a meeting crammed into Pastor Dora's office (who oversees the children's ministry in Watoto Church) and once we had email misunderstandings out the way and discussed how we can support them we had a clearer picture of our second week...
We're are now ministering in 2 sites fro the evening sessions - one of 600 children in Suubi where we built last year (the Gulu children will be joining them) and the other of 300 children in Bbira where we had a fun afternoon last year facepainting etc.
We'll be leading the worship and reinforcing the teaching in the morning with an object sermon (which I have learned is something that uses a prop and helps the children remember) - 15 mins worship and 15mins message.
We had withdrawn from it owing to the fact we have 6 children under 9 with us - but we're convinced that we should be doing it and are in a very good place about it - even though we're also delivering the medical checks for Viva during the day Weds-Fri next week.
Later that night we prepared for the first full mission day (which was today actually) but I'll have to bring you up to speed on that soon).
The head injury sub-plot: Dressing has been replaced and thankfully not as bad as I thought - our team are wonderful nurses and have treated me with kid gloves - even though they worked out I'm old enough to be their father...Ask them about "Dear Daddy God" and praying for dreams... ;-)
About Rachel...to help click HERE.
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