A trio of Coffee-shop special moments

Yesterday I went to bed feeling somewhat frustrated and fed up. The planned meeting with Benson from Gulu seemed to be unlikely to happen, none of my emails to research ethics team members at the two Ugandan university departments were being replied to, and the day seemed to be somewhat lacking until a coffee shop treat for four from Acholi Quarters later in the afternoon. My prayer therefore was that today would include some sign of reassurance, something that would just confirm that all is on track, and God has it all in hand (which I deep down know He has, but sometimes the head needs reminding!).

Well, that prayer was certainly answered!

I decided that even though I wasn’t able to meet Benson this morning I’d still go to the same coffee shop, and use the internet there whilst Rozzie went for her ‘test and fly’ PCR. And what do you know – Benson had managed to sort everything that had threatened to prevent the meeting, and was there after all!!! And not just him, but also Ruth his wife, and Francis and Tricia from ILA. What a beautiful moment – walking into the coffee shop, expecting to just sit and work alone, and end up surrounded by wonderful friends who are so dear to me. Coffee-shop special moment number 1. Thank you Lord! 

The conversation with Benson included chatting about the research for my PhD which is very much focussed around the work of ILA. He was so supportive and enthusiastic about it – it was a fab discussion. And when I mentioned about the issues re getting hold of Gulu University, he immediately knew who to turn to. So as a result of that meeting, I’ve now got loads of links into Gulu University, and am no longer a ‘cold caller’. Another prayer answered in a massive way.

But God didn’t stop there. Rozzie and I went for a bit of a wander before transferring to a different coffee shop for our date with the Acholi ladies. And as we got back to the place where we were being picked up ie outside the coffee shop of the morning blessings, a Ugandan guy noticed us, remarked loudly ‘No way’ and then called out my name! It was Martin, a Ugandan friend from Mbale who used to help me with sorting out all the local logistics for teams, and who I haven’t seen for about 6 years. And seeing him left me speechless with delight, what a wonderful surprise!! We had a gorgeous 10 – 15 minutes together, just catching up, reminiscing, and marvelling at the smallness of this world. Another beautiful gift from God, and coffee shop special moment number 2.

The third coffee-shop special moment was the time spent with the Acholi 4-some. Harriet and Miriam do so much to liaise with me re the programme work in Acholi Quarters that we support, and whenever I come over I try and make time to treat them to a bit of time out. Today was that treat, but this time we also included Mercy and Hope, two older teenagers who looked after Harriet’s younger children when Harriet was seriously ill a month or so ago. It was so good to be able to include H&M in the treat, and just a lovely time sitting around chatting, laughing and creating memories together. All the better as the time also included a zoom with Steve (CRED Trustee) and his wife Jane who are currently on a year out in Zambia with CRED Partner programme Chisomo. It was a lovely time as Uganda and Zambia shared stories, compared experiences, and enjoyed hearing about life beyond the here and now.

What a special day it has been. God has spoken into it in so many ways, reassured and encouraged, and, thankfully, lovingly met me where I was and guided me forward, rather than waiting for me to get my head sorted and move to a different place to meet Him.

I know not every day will be so straightforward, and I know that today hasn’t worked out quite so well for everyone as I have had the fortune to experience. But for today I say ‘thank you Lord, thank you so very much!’

 

Uganda and India collide for prayers

I’ve just had a lovely afternoon reuniting with friends at Acholi Quarters. It’s always such a delight and a privilege to sit under the mango tree with them and catch up with them, to marvel at how the children are growing, to hear their stories, to just be alongside them. Some of the ladies have had particularly tough times during the last lockdown, through no access to work and through health issues, and so it was especially to meet with them and hear how they have come through and how life is feeling better now than it was.  

As always the needs at Acholi Quarters are huge – no-one has enough, everyone struggles to make ends meet. But the sense of community is so strong, and if one person has enough food to share with others then that is what is happens. And if one person get the opportunity to do some work and so needs childcare, then there is always a host of other mums and older girls who will help out. No-one is alone, no-one has to face challenges on their own, and these lovely ladies have so much to teach when it comes to resourcefulness, selflessness, and living by faith and in hope.

I came away from the visit with my mind swirling – it was a mix of joy at being with them again, plus a whole new list of prayer needs based on stories and circumstances I had been told about. But then within an hour or so of getting back to John and Sophie’s house, I received a message from Janaki in India with news of devastating floods that have wiped away crops, homes and lives in the Andhra Pradesh region of the country. Janaki sent some photos, and news of what is happening, and a request for prayers.

 

So, at this time my mind has a collision of prayers going on as I pray for the particular Acholi ladies and their circumstances, but also for pray for the situation in India – for the many households who tonight are without anywhere to live, who have lost a year’s worth of income, and or who have lost family members.

And I ask that if you have any spare prayers that you might be able to lift up this cross-continental mix as well. Thank you. Blessings.

Reflections on a week in Kenya

I’m now in Uganda, and before I get fully embroiled in the work and projects over here, I just want to take a bit of time to jot down some reflections on the Kenya week.

It was such a delight to be back there after a Covid-caused two-year gap in my visits. I’ve been in touch with Kenyanito plenty during the past two years, and he’s sent little video updates as well, but nothing quite beats getting out there, being with the children, sitting alongside the teachers and hearing their perspectives on how things are, getting into the community and praying with some of those who are facing massive challenges and obstacles in their daily life.

I shared in a previous blog three little cameos that exemplify some of the challenges and obstacles being faced, so I won’t repeat them here. Meeting people in those situations and knowing that the problems are being faced over and over again in some shape or form, by almost every family in the community, can have the potential to be overwhelming. And yet, it is such a privilege to be able to sit alongside some of them, to share time with them, to pray with them and to hear their stories – well it’s a massive privilege. And to show that prayers get answered, within a day of posting that blog, someone had messaged me and offered to finance the lady who needed to move house to escape from the incredibly horrible landlord – thank you God for nudging the heart of that person, and prayers for the lady as she and her son start a new chapter of life in their new home.

One of the other foci to my visit was delivering initial presentations on some training materials that I have been developing. By the end of the week, I had achieved this, and in so doing had spent time with the Spurgeons teachers discussing how to start implementing the concepts, and given an overview of the materials to the dean of a theology college, a Bishop who has over 100 Anglican churches in his diocese, and to the teaching staff of a rural school which also happens to be the one that Kenyanito went to when he was just a nipper.

They were wonderful meetings, and the materials were very well received by all who were present, with enthusiastic conversations about how they could be applied in each particular situation. Watch this space for next steps!

But apart from my Spurgeons-related work, and the delivery of presentations, I think the key take-away reflection relates to the incredible hospitality shown by so many. The welcoming smiling faces, the offers of water in the heat of the day, the delicious wholesome traditional meals cooked often in very simple and basic kitchens with little more than a charcoal stove. We just felt so loved, so welcomed, and it was a daily reminder of just what a far-reaching gift is the gift of hospitality. A lesson to take home and put into practice more than has been my tendency in the past.

It certainly has been an incredible week. Everyone that we met had a story to tell, a story of how they are doing their best to rise above adversity, to make progress not just for themselves but for others around them. Stories of selflessness, of determination, and of faith. Stories told simply and straightforwardly, without pretension or embellishment or any expectation of anything in return.

I have a lot to process, a lot to work through, a lot of ‘next steps’ for when I get home. Now my focus shifts to the wonderful folks in Uganda – some of whom I know, and some of whom I’ve yet to get to know. So, for now it is a case of ‘thank you Kenya for all that you’ve given me over the past week’, and as I bid a fond farewell until the next visit, I pray for each and every one of the folks that I met and spent time with – for God’s blessings to be on them, as they are a blessing to others.