Well…. It was a busy day! It all started out by my rushing to check emails at the office, hurrying to Lugogo Shoprite for some few groceries and taking a Boda to the Red Cross site; where we would be preparing a lunch spread for the British High Commission! Yes, it all was very exciting, and we were on time with preparing everything, thanks to our coming in last night to prep for today! Maggie, Monica and I worked last night to chop vegetables for samosas, cook and dice chicken for sandwiches, and prepare the potatoes for potato salad. This morning, we finished the salad, the samosa's were prepared and fried, and the sandwiches were made and grilled. As this was the second trial for the contract to cater for the British High Commission, we were to use the Red Cross' kitchen; prepare all foods and then bring it over and serve the food. As we hurried to pack things in the car and head over, we looked at the clock, excited that we were exactly on time for our appointment at the gate, for our entry request to be processed. All went well, as we handed over our phones and ID, continuing on inside to the eating area.
We hurried to arrange all foods, warm and assemble burgers, heat the sausages in the oven, and time for lunch crept up! Thankfully we once again had enough time and were ready to serve as the guest's came. From here on out, I missed on the rest of the excitement at the British High Commission, as I headed to church to meet a friend; Ruth, to go visit the street children with her. However, back at the British High Commission, the Deputy Head honcho, came to Monica and gave them the contract to cater for them, beginning the 1st of June! Praise the Lord for that, we had been praying for this contract for some few months and God gave them the patience to wait until the perfect time!
As Ruth and I headed to Kivulu Slums to spend some time with street children that attended a program there on Wednesday's for a few hours in the afternoon, I was again humbled by the many blessings we take for granted every day. These children sleep wherever they can lie their heads; never in a nice soft bed, with warm blankets and a pillow under their head. They bath from a spring trickling water out of a pipe in a wall. As we walked through the area, to spend some time with children in a Halfway House, the stench of rotten garbage filled our nostrils, urine, sweat, dirt, and more than one can imagine, it's all there. You walk through it, past in, experiencing in your minds for a few minutes what these special people live in. Do we ever remember to thank God that we have a shelter over our heads, as in REALLY thank God? What about clothing to wear? More than half of the street children run around bare foot, with clothes in shreds, either many sizes too big for them, or no clothes at all. They never bathe properly; as I was chatting with one boy who had joined us for the Annual Frontline Sports Day on the 8th of May; he still had face paint on his face and in his hair.
After having no water in our water tank, and turning the taps open, to not receive so much as a drop, I understand the value of water, it's such a blessing! I was thrilled and so thankful; to wake up this morning, turn on the tap and WATER came out!!!! Yes, it was so exciting; I could wash my hair and really take a shower! After sponge bathing, rationing 2 pails of water between washing myself, doing dishes and flushing the toilet, yes I was praising God for the water in the tank!!!!
Back to Kivulu, Ruth and I spent some time with the children in the Halfway Home and then headed to the shelter where the literacy program was on for any street child to come by and join. I helped a little boy named Trevor with some Math, it was special to work one on one with him, and my heart was paining for all the children like Trevor, who randomly attend school. Yes, I say randomly, for if the parents have money for 1 term, that is what they will attend, but if there is no money for the next term, the child will not return to school. That is the reality of nearly every family in Uganda who struggles with finances and sending their children to school. It's not easy, life is expensive and difficult. Many children walk 2 hours one way to school, beginning school at 7am, and not finishing till 5pm, and yet having to make the 2 hour trek back home again; to come home do several hours of homework, eat dinner if there is food and than to bed, to be up to early again the next morning. School is very difficult here in Uganda, and the children have to study very hard. There is no time for leisure when school is on. Even the primary students have end of the term exams! It's bizarre to us who are not familiar with it, but that is a reality here. It's not a wonder Ugandan's are so intelligent, they spend so much time studying. In fact, as they grow older and attend boarding school, the girls hair is shaved to keep them low maintenance, their studies are their priority, the hair can grow back after they are finished with school if they so choose.
That is a peek into a day of mine, well that was a special day and I am continuing to pray that God would allow for me to return and reach out more and more to the children here. Loving them and sharing with them the Love of Christ! Please continue to pray with and for me!!
God bless, Lena
No comments:
Post a Comment