Farewell Kenya Youth for Christ

It's time to leave. 

What a wonderful time we have had together these last three months. Thank you to each one of you who has made my time with you very special. So many great memories to take home with me.

On Monday, we all came together to say our Goodbyes. We started by praising God. He was/is responsible for our joy. These beautiful women are from the rehab centre where Lucy and I, and later me on my own, spent some really good times together. It was so lovely of them to make the journey over to the office. Thanks, girls.

Next, everyone prayed for me, thanking God for our time together and the things he had done among us, and they also prayed for my safe return home.

Everyone said some words about me - always very humbling to hear how God has touched hearts because I came.

Then it was time for gifts. Anna, National Director, presented me with a YFC Kenya T shirt - can you make out the shape of Kenya and the YFC letters? 

And a magic cup - completely black until you put something hot in it and then the design appears.  Good job, Sasino. I'll remember you all as I enjoy my cup of tea in the mornings.

Sarah, the lady who heads up the rehab centre, had crocheted a scarf for me - star crochet student -

 and also presented me with this kanga (not at all related to a kangaroo, Aussies!) A kanga is a rectangular shaped, 100% cotton, printed cloth with a brightly coloured decorative boarder around the outside and includes a Swahili proverb.

At the bottom in this photo of my kanga are written, in Swahili, words which mean 'We will never forget you.' I think that's true for all of us.

 Sarah proceeded to dress me in the kanga so that I would know how to wear it correctly.

My turn next. I gave Kenya YFC an Australian flag to remember our good time together and handed around anzacs that I had baked for everyone.

On behalf of the rehab girls, Joyce presented me with a lovely fabric zip purse and a watch !!!. She said that is because I taught them the importance of time. I couldn't believe it. Africans don't do time like we do and its often very flexible. I live that way when I'm here too and so wondered what she was talking about. 

Joyce went on to add: "15 minutes for muffins, 8 minutes for Anzacs" referring to our cooking lessons a couple of weeks earlier. Very funny and clever, Joyce.

and then hugs all round, starting with Joyce.

 Little Jonathan, from the rehab centre, is always keen to investigate what's going on and wanted to check out my new watch. Its a gorgeous blue.

 

I think you can tell that I had a very special time. I feel so very blessed by God to have been able to spend these three months with the Kenya YFC team.

And lastly, a photo of all of us. 

What an awesome team they are. I'm so glad to have known you all these past three months. 

Thank you for your hospitality and sharing your lives with me, everyone.

You have invited me back and I'm sure we would have a good time together. Let's see what God does.

My day was topped off by a lovely evening with Anna, her husband and two boys. Thank you, Anna, for your warm welcome to your home and to YFC.

And this morning Mokua from YFC came to pick me up to go to the airport

and Larry and Ginny came to see me off.
Thank you Niemeyers for loaning me your 'cave' these last three months. You have been very good to me and I am thankful for you.

Goodbye, Kenya.

 

Farewell YFC Ethiopia

So it's almost time to say Goodbye to my new friends/colleagues/family in YFC Ethiopia.

 

On Tuesday the team celebrated both my time here

 and Desta's graduation as an accountant.

There were many words of affirmation

spoken to us both and gifts given. It was a very special time together and we all recognised God's good gifts to each of us.

 On Wednesday it was my turn to say my goodbyes and give small Aussie gifts to each person. Some weeks ago I baked some Anzacs and they all loved them and so I decided that it would be a popular move to bake some more as part of my gift to the team.

 First of all each of my English students received a Certificate of Participation. They were SO excited.

 and then it was time for gift-giving. I had invited a few people, other than staff, who have been significant to me over my time here as well.

Each person seemed to be pleased

 with the gift and card received

and finally the Australian flag for everyone to share. This included a lesson on the flag, of course.

It's always such a challenge to bring gifts with an Aussie flavour when one has no idea how many on the staff,  whether they are male or female and if there will be 'other people' I will connect with during my stay and want to give a gift to at the end.

I am thankful that God knows ahead of time and there have always been suitable gifts for everyone.

And so I have three more sleeps until I fly back to Australia on Monday afternoon. Not sure if I will blog again or not. Let's wait and see.

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

Farewell

So our 10 weeks in Rwanda is over and it is time to say Goodbye to the 'land of a thousand hills' - a land of poverty and hardship, beautiful people with spiritual depth and richness and hope for a bright future. What a privilege it has been to serve the Lord here amongst the Rwandese Christians in the RYFC family. I pray that the Lord will allow me to return here to share in their lives again.

On Thursday afternoon we farewelled all the teachers. On Friday morning we met with all the watchmen at 6.20 am so that we could farewell the night shift and the day shift guys all at the same time. We gave each of them a tiny gold kangaroo pin and a small card. It was a happy time. These guys keep watch over the RYFC property and the people who use it and live and work there. They had taken care of us on numerous occasions - taken our washing off the bushes when it started to rain and we were not home, hidden our shoes from view so that no-one from the road might see them (and take them) when we had left them out to dry, walked with us by torch-light when we arrived home late any evening. Most of the watchmen speak little English but it's amazing what a smile, a handshake each morning or evening does, and making an effort to say their names and speaking a few words of greeting in their language can do. It lights up their faces! Smiles speak every language. I think that smiles are a gift from God so that we can bless other people.

On Saturday Sue and I decided to have 'Open House' from 2 pm till 7 pm to say 'Goodbye' to our Rwandan family.  We bought crates of sodas, baked about 150 pikelets (mini pancakes) which we spread with jam and cut two pineapples into pieces and stuck toothpicks in them for easy pick-up and eating (very Rwandan!) We also had some yummy roasted groud nuts (peanuts) which had been given to us when we visited David's family a week or so earlier. It was both deep and fun - a very fitting end to our stay.

 

Our visitors enjoyed the refreshments we had prepared, brought gifts and we all enjoyed each other's company. Several stayed later and we had a deep time of sharing and praying - rare and beautiful.

Check out our new bags from two of our favourite teachers.

We needed to be helped with the head gear. Our visitors helped us to 'get it right' (!) and were delighted with the way we looked.

In the morning we had both packed our cases and carry on luggage and were pleased that everything fitted (at a pinch!) But by the end of the evening we had a luggage problem!  But hey! How special to be loved like that! We wouldn't change that for anything.

On Sunday the previous week Sue had been farewelled at church because she left to fly back to Australia in the early hours of Sunday 18th.

 
I departed Rwanda in the evening of 18th and so I was farewelled in the morning before I left. They too blessed us with gifts. These people are so appreciative and so generous with the little that they have. We could learn much from them.

Farewell 'Land of a thousand hills' and Rwanda Youth for Christ. God used you to bless us and we love you.