Farewell Uganda

It is time to say Goodbye to Uganda. I fly back to Australia today.

What a very special time it has been.

 On Friday at lunchtime, YFC farewelled four of us who are just finishing our time here.

The back courtyard looked great again and

Miriam spoke lots of nice words about us all.

The ones being farewelled were Mike, who had spent several months in the accounts department as an intern for his accounting degree,

Alina, a Gap Year student from Germany who has been here for 5 months, Stella, who has been doing an internship for several months as part of her Social Sciences degree

and me, Jajja Jane. Moses had made a special gift for me,

a number of people spoke,

including each of us who was being farewelled.

The G21 young people danced for us

and we cut cake together.

It was a time of celebration of all the good things God had done in our midst and a time for speaking about the loss we each will feel as we part company. It was a very special, fun and deep and meaningful occasion.

On Sunday after church Alina and Eve and I had icecream together at one of the few places in Kampala that serves good ice-cream. We have been going to church together for the last three months and this was our last time together.

Then it was back home for a visit next door to my neighbour from Sudan who wanted to paint my feet with Henna as a farewell gift to me. Well that whole process takes a very long time! But my feet are beautiful, yes?

I am coming home with a new Ugandan name, Kisakye, meaning God's grace. 

I am told that anyone with a Ugandan name has Uganda as home, and must return home sometime. Let's wait and see what God does. I wouldn't argue with Him on that one.

I am also coming home with a heart filled to overflowing with thankfulness and wonder at the way God has used His people in Uganda to teach and grow me and also to affirm, bless, love and encourage me, whilst allowing me to serve them and worship Him in the process.

In worldly terms my gifts are few in number, but just like the boy with the five loaves and two fish in the Bible story, if we give Him the little we have He can multiply it many times over to bless many.

Educating Uganda YFC volunteers

While I have been working with YFC here I have had opportunity to get to know a number of quality young volunteers who spend much of their time working alongside the staff to take the gospel to young people in Uganda. A number of these volunteers have no opportunity to attend university to work towards their dreams because of lack of finances. I would love to be able to connect them with people who are willing to financially support them through uni to achieve their goals. Miriam and I have put together photographs and profile letters for each young person and an idea of costs for each one. If you can help, please be in touch via my personal email justjanie2010@gmail.com  This would not only bless the students but also YFC Uganda.

 

And so this is my last blog post until I travel again. I'll finish with the doxology that most Ugandan Christians finish many of their prayers and times together with. 

And now, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us now and forever more. Amen

Idudi and sewing machines

God first gave me the burden for the need for sewing machines when I visited YFC at Idudi in the east of Uganda in June.

  

 Since then it has been one very exciting and delightful journey with the YFC team and 'their' girls. I am privileged to have been part of what God has done here, showing them what a wonderful provider He is. And I am extremely grateful, along with all of the Uganda YFC team, for the people who gave so generously to make all this happen.

The delivery for the Idudi machines arrived at the YFC office on Wednesday afternoon.

At 6 am yesterday morning nine of us left Kampala for Idudi 4-5 hours away. 

When we arrived there were many wonderful reunions and the machines were unpacked and put together.

After plenty of time for hugs, chats and catching up on each others news, we all met together in the peaceful outdoors to share stories of our lives, God's faithfulness, provision and the sewing machines.

 

And we spent time thanking God.

 

 First the tailoring graduates were presented with their machines,

 

plus fabric, threads, zips, buttons, and much more.

How excited they were!

They had no idea they were coming.

These three girls have already started tailoring businesses renting machines. That's how keen they are to get started. These machines will be new and their own. Their profits will increase and give them opportunity to make headway for their lives and the lives of their children and others.

I was really impressed when Annette told them that they should remember their fellow young mothers and employ them when they need help in the business, that they continue to build into the ministry of YFC, and also be sure to tell other young mums in similar situations that tailoring courses are available because they now have 6 good, new machines that will be available to teach more students.

Next it was time for the present students and teacher to receive the machines for use in their classes. They were very happy and Rebecca, their teacher..... oh... her delight was so very evident. She found it hard to contain her excitement.

When all the presentations and formalities were over we shared a beautiful lunch out under the trees in this most peaceful and beautiful setting that I have come to love and enjoy so much.

Just before we left, Betty, one of the recipients of a machine, gave me this gift to say 'Thankyou'. Please, each donor, receive the gratitude with which she gave so generously. This little chicken will live out its life at YFC Kampala and hopefully produce many chicks in the future.

What a fabulous day seeing God at work.

A trip to Gulu in northern Uganda

Eight of us travelled to Gulu in northern Uganda for three days. It was WONDERFUL. 

We left at 8am on Thursday, fully loaded for the 7 hour drive north.

We stopped along the way for snacks

 
and to photograph the monkeys and baboons.

 

As soon as we arrived the guys unloaded the van

then everyone went inside because they wanted to celebrate, take photos and give thanks for God's provision of sewing machines and materials. Now some young mums in Gulu can also learn tailoring to give them and their children an opportunity for a positive future. Thank you, Aussies.

The history of Gulu is a tragic one. The LRA wreaked havoc and destruction in that area for over 20 years, but YFC is making an impact there.

On Thursday afternoon we went to visit a couple of the young mums who had lived at Mirembe House in Kampala when they were pregnant. Flavia lives with her sister Dorothy and their grandparents and their  littlies. What a beautiful family that is. We all enjoyed our time together very much. Any Luganda greetings we knew were of no use here. These people speak Acholi, but Flavia translated really well.

When we went to Sarah's house little Good Luck was pretty happy with his news clothes that grandmother was helping him to put on.

 On Friday morning I spent quality time with Clement, the one YFC staff member in Gulu, and five of his volunteers. We shared our life stories. How rich and precious that time was. 

We heard about just how good our God is and I was reminded of a poem Mal recited so well and the line that tells of  “the change that is wrought by the touch of The Master’s hand”

Joel was abducted by the LRA when he was 12 years old and remained with them until he was rescued by government troops when he was 16. He was ‘rehabilitated’ and given the opportunity to go back to school. What an absolutely beautiful man he is. You can see by the smile on his face and the tenderness towards his little boy that God has worked a miracle in his life. I felt very privileged to hear his story. He now heads up the YFC Sports Quest in Gulu that reaches teenagers and their communities with the life-changing message of Jesus through sports.

On Friday afternoon 25 young mums came with their little ones to be encouraged, prayed for, enjoyed and given gifts - each mum and child was given clothing and a toy and everyone enjoyed the obligatory sodas and biscuits.

 

 Of course they didn’t want to go home because they were having such a good time being together and being loved.

 YFC really knows how to love, encourage and build into the lives of these young people whose life has been nothing more that one long struggle.

 

 Our next visit was to visit Vicky and Mercy. These young women make an income from making and selling school jumpers which they make on a YFC knitting machine.

 We were able to take another knitting machine - thanks Aussies. Just look at that smile that says it all!

The remainder of our time in Gulu we spent just hanging out together. It was so good to be away from the routine of the office, spend quality time and to get to know each other in a different and more relaxed atmosphere

 
eating strange and delicious new fruit,

using the facilities,

washing dishes,

preparing 

and eating delicious food,

enjoying the wildlife,

relaxing

and roasting ground nuts for snacks.

Probably the pinnacle for me was sitting around outside in the dark (because the power was out) waiting for dinner to cook and singing songs along with the guitar. At one stage we were singing in 5 languages - English, Luganda, Acholi, Ancoli and Swahili. Awesome! 

And Joel's story also touched me deeply.