Well my friends, yet again I find myself apologising for not updating this blog enough!! But yes, after a fantabulous, (albeit rather hectic) summer, I find myself back In the Pearl of Africa that is the Uganda massive!! Brap!!
Oh and how I love it: the crappy internet that takes 2 hours to send a few e-mails; the power that goes off just as the e-mail you’ve spent 2 hours trying to send looks like it might be about to go somewhere; the shower that you have to spend a months budget on to get fixed 3 times in one week only for it just to blow up again, ahhhh I could go on and on!!! Hey - anyone who needs to learn some lessons in patience let me tell you, Uganda is your destination my friend!!
But truly I do love Uganda and it’s good to be back (especially to the cracking equatorial sunshine – how nice after a typical British summer of rain, rain and yes, camping in the rain!!!)
We are just about to start up the building work on the Boy’s Home again, after the triumphant Manchester to Blackpool cycle ride this summer, which raised almost £17,000!! Unbelievable, and I can safely say I’d happily violate my bottom again in a similar way if it means raising such fabulous amounts of money for such a worthy cause! I realise that I may stand alone however! I know at least 1 participant who found the whole experience so traumatising that she hasn’t ridden a bicycle since!! (Mentioning no names….but she’s a doctor….he he!!)
On a less happy note, we had to ask 2 of the boys to leave the project 2 weeks ago due to some ongoing problems we were having with them to a point where we felt they posed a serious risk to the safety of others. It’s really heart-breaking because the White Eagle Project is a family at heart. We are learning however that a line has to be drawn somewhere!
Still, I’ve been meeting with one of these boys to continue mentoring him and the whole experience has given him the kick up the backside that he needs. I really believe there’s hope for him yet and God’s on his case so I’ve no doubt it will be turned around to a powerful testimony somehow! Please pray for him.
With Duncan and Mary still in the UK and our Project manager Emily having been quite sick, it means it’s been rather busy! I’m also trying every big company and their auntie to try and get funding for our yearly football tournament, which will take place in January. Lots of interest so far but until I have the money in my hand I can’t rest on my laurels!!
So anyway, it’s back in at the deep end, but that’s good cos they say it’s the quickest way to learn how to swim. Having said that I can’t say I actually know a single person who learnt to swim like that! “In you go son…..that’s right kick your legs….try not to swallow so much water….no don’t be silly, you're not drowning…...Oh tits, where’s he gone??” What a lovely enduring image to leave you with!!
