A day of visiting schools & sponsored children

Thursday 24th September – Caroline Lamb has been busy visiting schools and sponsored children.

Another early start as the team from Uganda with 2 Brits left at 7.00am – they had done a whistle stop tour of KK staying just 36 hours – they were looking into producing honey commercially and some farming business support. 

Then I say my goodbyes to the Bishop and leave for Ebenezer School, we arrived around 10.00am and found the 1420 children carrying their chairs to the bottom of the grounds (that sounds rather grand – it is just a sandy area) here they sat in a semi circle under some birch looking trees –  this providing some shade. Chairs were ready for me to sit on with the Director Wani and the Headmaster. They had a programme of speeches,  songs and a poem. Even the school has been touched by the widespread drought that has affected Northern Uganda and Southern South Sudan as the parents have not been able to grow and sell vegetables so therefore cannot pay the fees.

Then it was time to give the gifts – a laptop from Jenny Head and Anne Johns, printer and games equipment from Broad Chalke Primary School. The children and staff were ecstatic! Joseph did an epic Joseph talk – straight from the heart about trusting God, working hard and not relying on others and being grateful for what they do have – a sort of “ I have a dream “ speech! 

I am so impressed with this school as right from the start they have looked after all that we have given them – with the world map Sue Todd gave me the first year I visited pinned in their waiting area.  We urged them to continue looking after these gifts and I reminded them they were given in love and to see them in that way and not in monetary terms.

Then back into the Jeep – eat some sweets as it is so hot and arrive bump bump bump at the Catholic Secondary school Comboni where Cress sponsors 14 pupils.  They had all been at the Cress family day and had looked so smart and behaved in an excellent way. We talked with the head master – mainly about the pupils that are struggling to pass exams – Golda is going to spend time with each child and see what ways she can help them 

Next stop Wudu town for lunch – but Bishop Anthony is at the airstrip so another goodbye and then it is lunch in the local guest house of well cooked fish before working with Joseph and Golda.  We worked until sweat was dripping down me and we agree it would be better back at the Bishops. 

Another couple of hours work, chat – sharing vision and Mirjan Haasnoot arrives to walk back with me to supper at their accommodation. It is good to talk with them and especially as Jacob will be leaving to work in Kampala in another role as he feels it time for a new challenge; I hope I will stay in touch when I am in Kampala. 

Caroline Lamb