Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 - Retrospect

Two weeks since landing back, so time for some reflection.

Hilary and Janet were quickly out of the starting gate in proposing a return visit to the Nairobi sewing project and Richard's Children's Home.  They have in mind a couple of weeks in December that squeeze in from the end of Janet's term and before the New Year.   Huw's happy.  I must remind them to take some clothes  pegs for their stay at Sundowner.  If the extra fund-raising goes well enough they'll take a couple of other younger women with them. 

Meanwhile, sadly, Phibian's had to suspend the project for a couple of weeks because Four Square's hall was needed for something else.  But it's a good outcome, because they're finding replacement premises, and they've tapped into some micro-finance to keep going.  Hilary's fund-raising Gala Dinner is Thursday 12 November, and we have some planning to nail down, including video stuff, etc.

A green shoot - cheesy, but I don't care

Janet stole the show at the national celibates and singles event, relating how on the Sunday in Kampala, Pastor Philip was unsure whether to introduce her as Pastor, Bishop or Apostle. 

My enduring memories of Uganda proved to be the amazing bird-life, the abundance of pineapples, and the second-hand European clothes that change hands in preference to new Chinese stuff on quality grounds.  I also failed to mention the rice and tea fields that line the main trunk roads.  Len commented that the place is so fertile that if you stand still for too long, you'll grow roots.  I also recalled a couple of pastors asserting that the country was the site of the Garden of Eden, with the third (unidentified) river being the Nile.  Hmmm.

Cornelius continued his extensive correspondence to Trevor.  I remembered a comment in his garden, after the two-hour evening round of exchanges.  "Milton Obote once took eight hours over a broadcast presidential speech.  His sign off was: 'And with these few words...'."

I went to thank Ali for lending us Len while the Brighton saints endured an arson attack at home.  She confided that she'd been given an unexpected gift, and told to, "Go and have a good holiday yourself."  So a return visit to the literacy project in Zambia is in her sights - apparently with or without Len!  To add to the to-ings and fro-ings, it appears that 42 of the RAW-ites have signed up to go to India next November.  And Andy and Eva have posted photos of Kathmandu on their Facebook.

Because having the use of the minibus was so helpful, I've re-written the draft budget for our trip to Rwanda next March, allowing for hiring one for the duration out there.  On the journey across Kenya I forgot to mention the green and yellow agave cactus that grows by the roadside.  They have just one specimen in the glasshouses at Sheffield Botanical Gardens, and it looks creepy. 

Fatigue hit me about three days after we came home, and I must have been a poor advertisement at the Bank Holiday Festival.  Back at the gym, my body felt like rubber, but I managed a five-mile run round the Memorial Park while staying in Coventry last weekend.   At the last count, Viv had 47 outstanding IT service tickets.

Most worrying, I can't find the Jesus Centre credit card that I put 'somewhere safe' at home rather than risking taking it on the trip.  A confession to the Accounts bods is impending if Mary's 'finding angel' doesn't come up with the goods. I may have said 'apostolic irritation' if Nathan hadn't deflated me with an aside in India, "Don't you think these things happen to anyone?"

Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 16 August 26 - UK

I managed three hours sleep, then went for a walk around to get my circulation going, find some fruit juice from the stewards' kitchen and sample the fancy blue LEDs in the Dreamliner's toilets.  After breakfast, about halfway through 'Minority Report', the seatbelt alert came on and I had to put away the video screen.  Then we had an announcement that we were being 'stacked' at Heathrow (the result of the late take-off), and I had to twiddle my thumbs for an hour.  Viv tells me the film doesn't end like you'd think, but I guess that now I'll never know. 

(Jinja)  "You can't avoid vultures flying over your tree,
but you can stop them from perching in the branches"

We didn't see anything of the approach to Heathrow because of cloud, and as we stepped out of the cabin onto the air bridge, cold rain dripped through the canopy.  Baggage reclaim took ages, and it was 8am before we rendezvoused with Sam.  I dozed for about an hour on the M1, and the car heater kept my toes warm.

At the Farm Central Offices, Claire was all, "Aren't you excited...?!".  Well, not really, because I'll need to stay over until after the Bank Holiday Weekend Festival, as it's pointless making unnecessary journeys back and forth to Sheffield.  Viv, or Len's son, George, may get a chance to knock a bit of video together for the Saturday evening event feedback.

I dumped my bags in the bedroom, freshened up and then went to see Kelly.  We're on a roll, with Annual Church Convocation on Saturday and lots of Disclosure Process stuff to discuss at tomorrow's Apostolic Team meeting.  Claire announced that 42 RAW folks had signed up for the November 2016 India adventure, and Kiran Paul from Chilipatnam will be in UK in September, giving us a chance to get planning.

I was too late to book in for tea and a visit to Phil and Donna, now settled in Bugbrooke.   At the Farm mealtime, I entertained the guys with my parody of an African preacher doing the worship, bible teaching, prayer for healing, prophesying and tithes announcement one-man-band routine.  Gav rang in the evening so I could say goodnight to the children.  At my desk in the Multiply office, I faded away about 9pm and succumbed to the need for sleep.  (Just as well, because next morning my body thought that 4.15am was a perfectly acceptable time to start the day.)  I'm hoping that Mary will bring my trainers so I can have a jog round the Memorial Park in Coventry when we finally meet up and stay at New Kings.

What stands out in my mind from this trip?  Well, we stayed within budget overall, and nobody got sick.  The visit to the balokole in Magodes was quite special, and the overland journeys in the minibus have given me an idea for Rwanda next March.  The team we've identified in Kampala have the ability to make it work, and Hilary and Janet have given the sewing project in Nairobi a flying start.  But most of all I look forward to using the hand-held mosquito zapper that I got for £3 from a local street trader.

Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 15 August 25

I took a little time to savour the last breakfast: warm sunshine on the balcony of the Lodge's big lounge and two cups of Ugandan coffee, while I read Romans 15.  A team of eight girls from Ireland had arrived to help at Emmaus's school along the road, and were getting through their acclimatisation.  I thought about the challenge we've thrown out to our rising generation to self-finance a larger-scale visit to India in November next year (say 20 - heading for three locations). 

Pastor Chris arrived, and laid out the plan for the day.  Giraffes were the priority.  It's been nice that he'd has a grip on all this.  I did the whole checking out thing in the Lodge's office, and mercifully I had enough local currency, so there were no red faces!  Ps Andrew had stayed over with us to avoid the tedious journey to-and-from Jinja.  Our flight to Nairobi was 6.15pm, and we needed to allow up to three hours for the chaotic check-in that can easily happen at local airports.  This would give us about three hours at the zoo park in Entebbe.

Len was buzzing around providing us all with a box of tea-with-ginger to squeeze in our cases and take home.  Baggage all stowed, the friendly security guy let us out through the big gates for the last time.  I'd joined Hilary and Janet in a car driven by Carole, one of Chris's leadership team.  It was good to chat with them - they've done well in a situation where the guys have obviously had the bigger slice of the action.  They're both resolved that they'll be back to give the Nairobi sewing project a boost, and we discussed that the Sundowner Apartments would be an ideal place to stay.

The Uganda Wildlife Education Centre isn't quite your average zoo, but houses mainly rescued animals as part of conservation promotion.  Chris went off to pursue some deal for a discount and a chance to see Charlie the young elephant.  Through the entrance turnstile we could see clouds of lake flies.  "Insect repellent on!"  Carole instructed. 

Chris ushered us through the main reception.  "They normally charge $70 to see Charlie, but it'll cost us nothing."  He clearly has some influential connections - or he had persuaded someone that we were mighty important visitors.  The zoo is fairly extensive, and has a selection of animal in each of the many fenced-off habitats.  A couple of lionesses and a male played about in the shade under a distant tree, but our guide wasn't able to coax them nearer despite his calls.  There was a pair of white rhinos, the broad-mouthed ones, that came very close and accepted a bunch of pampas grass from the guide's hand.

The leopard, we were told, was at some display going on in Kampala, but we found the the giraffes at home, and willing to stretch over the wire fencing to be fed from the viewing platform.  Altogether delightful.  Next, the guide told us to watch the male baboon's behaviour when it saw a man showing attention to a lady visitor.  Sure enough he went mad, leaping against the cage sides.

Chris's phone rang, and he announced it was time to meet up with Charlie's keeper.  We stood under the shade of a couple of trees, and the four-year-old swung into view, as the keeper walked ahead carrying a big pan of carrots, bananas and pineapple.  We took it in turns to lift up the fruit at arms length while Charlie's amazing trunk took a hold and he happily munched away.  

Back at the entrance, I settled up with Ps Andrew for the last lot of receipts and we got off to Entebbe Airport.   Check-in was fairly painless, and the lady on the desk took a liking to Viv (calling him Vivian, which nobody gets away with) and allocated some long-leg seats.  We headed for a small cafe by the duty free shops.  We tipped all our local change onto the table and worked out that we could afford a coffee, soft drink and sausage roll each.  It was coming up to 5pm, and we'd stood out in the hot sun, clouds of flies and considerable red dust for a long time.

We landed in at JKIA's new terminal, and headed for the food hall.  The snack on the plane would be served after midnight, and Hilary and Janet sensibly preferred to eat something earlier.  Viv was on a mission to get to a charger, and I wanted to grab some WiFi time on my laptop, so we transferred to the new Departure Gate with plenty of time in hand.  "I've done this fight (KQ102) three times before," I offered, "and it's never left on time."  Nothing new, then, when we took off half an hour late.  However, what was new was that the customary Boeing 777 had been upgraded to a 787 Dreamliner.  The up-swept wings and large windows are very impressive, but the plastic fixtures squeaked and rattled like a 15-year-old crate.  I'd heard Gregory complain that the Airline was losing money through vanity.

I managed half an hour more on the laptop, enjoyed the roast lamb, stretched out my legs and got down to the serious matter of some sleep.

Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 14 August 24

Rukundo and I spend his final breakfast together catching up on the disclosures process back home.  While I've been here, the local Northampton paper has featured an article about us.   Next, we scrutinised the programme for the visit to Rwanda in March 2016.  Is he happy with the team?  Will it work for us to hire an eight seater 4x4 to do the journeys from Kigali to Kabarondo, Rukavu, Butare (or hopefully Bujumbura)?  How quickly can Rukundo confirm conference venues and suitable accommodation so I can get the budget agreed in the present round of sub-committee discussions?

It's our first prospect of a day in the open air, as we join the local leaders' group at Lake Victoria.  But first, with Ps Andrew driving, we have to detour to the coach station to get Rukundo sorted out for his evening departure.  We go around the Chieftain's Palace and archway, and Kibuye roundabout, with the crested crane statue.   When our car arrives at Ggabu Resort, the orders for the tilapia fish have been placed.  Now the proprieters are out fishing, and in 45 minutes we'll be served.    A welcome cool breeze blows across from the Lake.  Recently, stormy winds raised the water level here by 12 feet.  The hotel grounds were flooded, and a nearby island sliced in two by a newly created channel.  We watch the prolific bird-life at the edge of the Lake.

The fish arrives - huge portion - and we settle down to the meal: it's all done by fingers.  Half an hour later, Viv asks Chris to grade his efforts by the pile of bones.  Chris is busy pulling the head of his fish apart to get the omega oils out of the brain.  I gave up on this quest when the spinal cord pulled out looking like an intestinal worm.  "A minus." Chris offers.

At 2.30pm we head back to the city and the East Africa Village craft shops.  Len loves this bit, and barters away happily for something for Ali.  Hilary gets a set of three drums at a good price.  "You are welcome." Chorus the stall holders.  I examine some sets of authentic hunting arrows complete with vicious barbs.  Not for hand luggage. 

Chris has arranged that we should spend the evening in a civilised part of the city at the Nanjin Restaurant. He'll be joined by his entire Return to Light leadership team, as a blessing to the UK party.  Even by 7pm I wonder how I can face more food.  "I feel like I ate a shark." Len confesses.  We settle around a huge circular table  Fortunately the hotel recommends that we order one portion between two of our chosen dishes, and use the rotating glass table top to share the food around.  I sit next to Benson and we talk procurement.  Viv is wedged between two eligible single ladies, and momentarily distracted from his phones and camera - momentarily.  The Ugandan ginger tea that's served is sharp, and Len is getting addicted.

At 9pm, Chris calls us together for some final appreciation.  He has a very talented team, and I explain how Multiply draws together saints in many nations and situations: cyclones in the Philippines, constitutional changes in Nepal, Ebola in Liberia, war-torn northern Nigeria and body parts trafficking in Moldova.  A rainbow movement.

Soon we're home at Emmaus, and I can't resist starting my packing.

Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 13 August 23

I was due to go to Pastor Matuva's Eternal Life Worship church, out towards Entebbe, where the edges of Kampala are rapidly expanding (as in Wakiso). He had been interpreting into Luganda for me, very effectively.  During the group discussion times, we'd leaned across the lectern and had some good conversations together.  I took the chance of a later start to have a nice hot shower - our bathroom has its own Ariston boiler.  Then I'd joined in saying 'goodbye' to the Kenya guys.  On the evidence of the last two weeks' bumps and shudders, the dear travel-stained minibus KCD402Y will probably not survive the seven years that Gregory built into the financial plan: three or four will be good going, despite Toyota's admirable build quality!

I noticed that the Korean resident who always wore a hoodie at breakfast ('the Monk', we'd dubbed him), had also checked out.  Pastor Chris had taken leave from his own church's regular meeting to see us all off in our various directions, and ensure that the host churches knew that we must be at the City Royal Hotel, Bugolobi, before 3pm, for the widely-advertised Business seminar.

An Airport Taxi arrived somewhat late, with Mutuva and the co-pastor.  At one point we used the newly under-construction superhighway that's going to link Entebbe and Kampala, throwing up clouds of red dust.  "Is this so the Chinese businessmen can got to the city and do deals faster?" I enquired.  "Oh, yes.  And they're paying for it.  In fact they're paying for every big scheme that's going on." I was told.

We bumped along a turn-off road and pulled up by the skeleton of a building, with the mandatory blast of PA kit.  "My goodness," I thought, even the worst of our barns at the Farm is better than this."  But it was newly erected, and the worshippers were clearly satisfied.  The sun was hot, and church-without-walls was the ideal arrangement.  I think they hadn't started the meeting properly until I came, which was obviously later than the usual time.

Somewhere along the way, in their obvious delight at having muzumu with them, I changed from being referred to as Pastor Ian, to Rev Ian, to Rev Doctor, to Doctor Ian.  As last week, my skillful exposition of Hebrews 13 was going to need 'dumbing down'.  Unlike in Kenya, we'd already found several folks at the last two days' conference who actually seemed to speak no English. 

There was a clutch of children on the right-hand side of the congregation, who joined in the singing and dancing.  I managed to make a good bit of the teaching down-to-earth, and they enjoyed my loud closing prayer.  Matuva's wife brought over some bananas and water melon for lunch.  It was an ideal arrangement, and meant we could head back to the city centre in good time.  They also related how an angel had come along with a spade to dig their car out of the mud when travelling to the 'Greater Nile Convention' meeting in Jinja.

City Royal Hotel was a marked contrast, with uniformed staff, manicured lawns and plush leather seats.  This is where Pastor Chris holds his Return to Light Ministries meetings, with engineers, accountants, doctors and business people in his congregation.  At 3pm only he and I were ready; we had some prayer and (quite tuneful) worship.  I resisted the urge to set up the projector, as I trusted Viv would somehow manage to turn up. 

When the remainder of our folks had arrived, the room was pretty full - maybe 100 delegates.  This included Pastor Calvin from Abiding Rock Fellowship.  The session went well.  This was a 'first' in our conference planning, and from the follow-on questions confirmed that we'd pitched things just right.  And, glory be, my friend Alfred Okello from Lira, whom I'd met in Nairobi three years ago, was there, too.

Dinner entailed another visit to Cafe Roma, and I was ready for a good meal.  I texted Gregory to see what progress he'd made.  Tomorrow, we'll have to get Rukundo on his bus back to Kigali, and we're heading for a beach resort on the Lake at lunchtime.

Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 12 August 22

Today was cooler (i.e. not heading straight into the 30sC).  I noticed that the early morning sunshine that lit up the guest lodge gardens clouded over by the time we set off for Wakiso and our conference venue.  We planned a varied day: Janet giving her testimony about celibacy in response to yesterday's questions and conversations, Rukundo giving his, and an introduction to Kingdom businesses as a taster for Hilary's full workshop session tomorrow afternoon.  We also negotiated that we'd stay at the church for lunch, to simplify things.

Gregory was anxious to get the three Kenya guys moving towards home as soon as possible, but not at the expense of doing a proper job of things here in Kampala.  He talked through some options, and having them all leave after breakfast tomorrw (Sunday) seemed best.  We could be confident in Chris's administration and care.  Rukundo' too, would need to plan his return to Kigali - he didn't need to hang around for flights, as there are daily coach services.

Len wandered by.  "Did you find where the toilets are?"  "Round that side - some plywood sheet and gravel on the ground.  It just drains into the swamp." I added.  "I couldn't find it," Len continued, "so I went to the bushes.  Then I thought 'crumbs, snakes'!  Pastor Asua's seen black and green mambas and a viper or cobra, which he tried to hit with a rock."

A few spits and spots of rain fell, and folks got restive.  Really, only 4x4s could really make a decent job of reaching the Church, and everyone had an eye on the journey home.  We did finish promptly and were guided round to Ps Asua's home again for the postponed something-a-bit-more-special.  Meanwhile Gregory sat down with the expanded interim team that he'd assembled and introduced, to give them a thorough briefing.

'Buffalo' Charles had been miffed because he didn't get a chance to give greetings from the platform.  For over two hours he wrestled with his native Kikuyu pride while we teased and jostled him to get the matter in perspective.  'Iron sharpening iron' some of the guys had glibly quoted, but the reality was proving tough to process.  Earlier in the week, I'd gently instructed him in the foremost need for passenger consideration when driving a minibus.  Len had explained across the table at Cafe Roma that this is a most touchy sensitivity for a man.  'Buffalo'  had taken it well, and his driving - which he already saw as a serving ministry, had indeed improved.

George had blossomed, too.  First, unaware of the history, his brief contribution to last evening's 'introductions' at Cornelius's had been perceptive and timely.  Although to accompany Hilary and Janet from Nairobi, he'd left his two sons, wife and two-week-old baby, plus a stack of University work, he saw the whole deal as a privilege.  Gregory was keen to find men of this calibre for Uganda.

Our fellowship was jarred by a loud crack and sharp burst of white light.  Ps Asua was smiling, electronic wand in hand, having zapped a mosquito.  Ah, an object of desire.  Time for us all to move on.  A few final exchanges about the arrangement for tomorrow's church services and the afternoon Business seminar, and we were on our way.

I was more relaxed, feeling that the day's format had worked well.  In the back of the minibus, Gregory turned to me and confessed, "I gave them a hard time.  They should have done several things better,"  he stated.  "But we have made good progress."

Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 11 August 21

I woke before 6am, and (while Rukundo slept on) stretched my presentation notes on the Renewed Mind to include eight new bits of teaching.  Then I searched for some breakfast.  Janet and Hilary were already out on the veranda: there didn't seem to be too many other guests around.

Pastor Chris arrived promptly and I joined him in his spotless blue car, leading the travel-stained minibus across town to Hoima Road, Wakiso.  For some reason I'd imagined that the Greater Love Christian Centre would be a substantial and well-advertised facility.  Chris turned on to a steep  unmarked  track that tested the limits of his car's traction, steering and and suspension.  Recent heavy rain had cut gulleys in the mud, and it wasn't difficult to imaging us (and the minibus) getting stuck.

We parked, and slithered the last part by foot into an open field.  The building was a structure of poles with sheets of plywood cladding for walls.  I couldn't imagine who would join us in attending.

Pastor Asua was beaming as we arrived.  Maybe he'd been waiting since 8am, the advertised start time.  With dismay, I noted there was no projection screen: and the level of ambient light meant it would be a pretty hopeless exercise, anyway.  I was glad to hand over the problem to Viv.  There were about fifty plastic chairs in the place, and we'd done all our preparation for 200 delegates.   The folks present (who weren't being registered) at this stage looked like the ladies from the neighbourhood and their children, not cutting-edge leaders who would impact Kampala.  Sixteen months' worth of planning for this!  

After Len's introduction, at 11am, I offered everyone to go to the tables at the back and finish the tea that had been provided: I wasn't confident that we could maintain attention for two hours until lunch!  It arrived on time, but the team was being diverted to Ps Asua's home to eat.  I protested on several grounds: we wanted to mix with folks, we didn't want special treatment in the catering, and it would take up too much time.  All in vain.

Charles got the minibus stuck up the track at our destination: by now he'd earned the nickname of 'Buffalo'.  We knew that unless folks got away by 4pm, they would catch the rush-hour congestion, but the late restart gave us no chance of keeping to schedule - and we had booked to be at Cornelius's for 7pm.

The early evening traffic was a misery.  We sat stationary on the Northern Bypass watching the ankole cattle on the suburban waste grounds.   I still have no idea where we went in relation to the conference or our accommodation.

 
Cornelius was his effervescent and voluble self, hugging everyone and pressing us into the back garden to enjoy some cool air.  There, nearly two hours passed of post mortem on the last two years' tensions and failures of resolution, hinging on mismatched assumptions about what Multiply should look like in Uganda and who may be best to lead it.  Gregory was a model of meekness.  Hilary stepped in an suggested that the matter should be resolved at Jesus's cross.  We finally got some food - it was delicious - though Cornelius's wife was near to tears over the dislocated events and relationships.

At last back at our accommodation, I reflected how men, with their egos designed to 'make things happen', take second place to women when some more nuanced need arises.

Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 10 August 20.

Len was keen to see the Lake and source of the Nile.  Gregory agreed he and Viv could chip off early with the minibus providing we got off to Kampala by 10am.  We had an address, but we didn't know where to start looking for the Emmaus Guest Lodge, though Ps Andrew offered that he did.  We were up against a deadline, because Hilary and Janet were due to land in at Entebbe (with George) at 1.30pm, and were to be collected and brought to rendezvous with us.

11am passed, and Andrew, bluetooth adaptor permanently plugged into his left ear, and two other phones on the go, was nowhere to be found.  When we hit the outskirts of Kampala we spotted a Shoprite.  At my cry of, "Ah, civilisation!" Viv wheeled the minibus round and we piled out to change currency, buy airtime, and replenish our provisions (specifically - yogurt!). 

"I know this place," Rukundo broke in, referring to the adjacent recreation ground.  "It was where I was converted - at a TL Osborne crusade."  (That was July 1991.)  Having enjoyed the first taste of air conditioning at Barclays, I stuffed my two-plus million Uganda shillings into my bag and joined Len in the supermarket.  Isaac, from Entebbe, appeared, dispatched by the local leaders to guide us into Kampala city centre, but Charles had disappeared with the van in search of some shade.  More waiting around; more time lost. 

Tank Hill Road is a prosperous district and the security around Emmaus is formidable.  "The Chief of Police lives next door", we were informed.  We trooped in and were provided with welcome chai while Gregory checked the accommodation arrangements.  An MPV arrived with the Nairobi trio, and an impeccably dressed Pastor Chris.

It turned out that the conference church was way over on the other side of the city.  I wasn't happy.   The local guys hadn't followed what Gregory had requested and transferred to somewhere central.  We were faced with the daily prospect of long journeys.  In Nairobi everything had been compact and convenient.

Pastor Chris, courteously explained that he lived very nearby, and would deal with the transport needs.  We decided to accept the situation.  Emmaus offered a mix of single and twin rooms, all at the same per-head tariff, and Rukundo and I opted to share.  Our next priorities were a chance to check out the conference venue needs, plan the sessions in detail and finally a meal.  It was too late in the day for the first.  We waited around for Andrew and others to appear for the second, but they never came.  Pastor Chris steered us to the nearby Cafe Roma for the third, after the travelling team had agreed that tomorrow we should concentrate on leadership issues.

It was incongruous to see local folks orientating around Italian cuisine.  With a lot of laughter we explained the choices and everyone ordered.  Gregory frowned intently at his huge bowl of spaghetti.  Rukundo's eyes popped at the pizza he was presented.  Charles played safe and went for chicken.  Viv had a side dish piled high with chips.  Len ate his own pizza and sampled some of everybody else's on offer.  I saved some space for a tiramisu.  This bill was 322,000Uganda shillings. 

Our bedroom had a small private balcony overlooking the tidy garden, and our beds were four-posters with mosquito nets for canopies.  This is a recently introduced improvement on the ceiling-hung pyramid style.  I was troubled  that we weren't ready for the next day's sessions, but it was too late to tackle some new presentation stuff.  I'd done teaching sessions on each of the past six days, and had needed to recharge my emotional batteries: it hadn't really happened. 

Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 9 August 19

We rattled and bumped down the un-made-up road from the Shell Garage in Jinja, until the gates of Arise Lodge appeared.  Pastor Andrew had manfully met us at 3.30am, and we milled around sorting our rooms without doing a proper check-in.  I'd dozed along the way, but Viv (driving) and Gregory had stayed awake in the front of the minibus.  I'd hoped for a shower, but the power wasn't connected, so I opted for a couple of hours sleep before we assembled for the leaders' breakfast at 9am.

Now adjusted to the two-hour time difference from UK, I woke up before 7am and got the lady on reception to scrounge some hot water from the kitchen as a consolation prize for our non-functioning shower.  Downstairs, there was coffee!  Arise Africa runs the guest lodge and various enterprises to support its ministry: one is coffee growing.  At 9.30am we had 15 people present and formalities began.  By late morning the attendance had risen to 35.

Rukundo showed me a long message from Cornelius expressing his angst over the whole change of programme.  "If God overturned our plans, then let's believe it's for a better purpose." I offered, though not entirely convinced in my own mind.  Gregory approached.  "If we finish at a reasonable time, we can make the journey to Magodes and return here at night." I'd been confused, thinking that we were due to be in Kampala tonight, and Viv and I had fully packed our luggage.  It was a good proposal.

We finished the session at 12pm prompt, and the leaders loaded up with fruit, mandazi and boiled eggs.  Then we led a question and answer time, which Gregory steered very well.  Somewhat doubtfully, I handed Ps Andrew $450 for catering in Kampala.  We chided Rukundo to get on with messaging Cornelius that the local folks in Magodes should expect us at 5pm. 

By 2.30pm we were on the main road back to Tororo, with heavy-footed Charles at the wheel.  Jinja sits on the edge of Lake Victoria and is the source of the Nile.  (In fact, it flows about 100 metres from our back garden.)

What awaited us in Magodes was delightful.  After we'd got directions from a bunch of young guys hawking their fruit, We parked, and wound along a track past a mud and brick school, with the chanting of children at their lessons.  Pastors from several local churches had gathered in a similarly-constructed tabernacle:  Resurrection Power Church.  Many of the homes are round, thatched, huts, all set amidst banana trees (which I have come to refer to more correctly as plantain), and cultivate vegetable plots.  "Look out for snakes," Gregory warned, as there were various sissing and chirping noises from the bushes.

The little church building was overflowing, and several degrees warmer inside than the outside temperature.  After exuberant worship, the beaming faces sang us a welcome song, which was followed by the customary round of introductions, appreciations and "by-the-grace-of-God"s.  After each of the pastors, a slightly smarter guys spoke about  a collaborative agricultural project they were embarking on.  He stressed how this was an initiative of unity: they have already combined their inherited plots to make the land available.

The tradition of these folks is the 'balakole' (born agains) of the East Africa revival.  I'd read a lot about them after the visit to Rwanda in 2012, and it touched me deeply to catch their spirit and genuineness.  The link we have is through Cornelius, as his wife is from this district.

We'd explained that we could only stay with them about two hours, and this soon passed.  On invitation, I prayed that God would sustain their unity, bless them with wealth creation grace, and open a way for a deeper expression of community.  In my heart, I felt they are worthy inheritors of our vision.

We travelled back in the dark.  After pulling in for petrol we began to think about something to eat before it was too late.  Len and Viv vainly fancied pizza.  In the event, we hit Jinja without anything promising appearing at the roadside.  Someone directed us down a side street near the main market, and we found the 'Tasty Chicken' that still appeared to be open for business.  We ordered and waited.  Margaret, who had hitched a lift with us to this point, sliced up a large water melon.  After 40 minutes, the waitress returned.  She quietly explained to Gregory that they could only do five of the seven meals.  "Then bring those, and we'll share them."  She looked blank.  "I think she's trying to say," Len guessed, "that we're not getting anything..."  He was right.

Now past midnight, we gave up and trooped off back to Arise Lodge.  Let's hope that tomorrow brings us better fare in Kampala.

Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 8 August 18

At 4.54am by my alarm clock, the local cock-crow concert struck up.  Breakfast had been announced for 8am, though it wasn't clear whether this was at Bishop Zechariah's home or the church.  The queue for the bathroom was like Paddington Station, but we all found our way into the dining room more or less on time for generous spread. 

In the event, we arrived at Mount Olive church at quarter to nine.  A breakfast was being served there too, though very few folks had turned up, at that stage.  The serving stretched to half past nine, and it looked like the morning sessions would be an unhelpful scramble.  Just as I was about to join Bishop Zechariah on the platform, Gregory beckoned me over.  "Pastor Andrew has arranged the leaders' event in Jinja for tomorrow morning, not Thursday.  So we must travel straight there - nine hours - and miss Kimilili and Magodes."  "Well... we can do it," I replied.  We agreed that in fact it may be helpful to have a bit more time in Uganda to get some final conference arrangements sorted.

"There's just one other thing," Gregory added. "I've found out that the border control will need to see original vehicle documents, and I only have photocopies.  So I've arranged for Oscar (his son) to send them ahead by courier."

With this on my mind, Viv assessed that I didn't carry as much punch in my ministry.  But I felt that the teaching on Fathering went well, and a queue of folks came for prayer.  The change of plan did at least allow a decent time for the sessions.

We had some lunch, including hard-boiled eggs, which seems to be a local 'snack', and Len had a long share with Bp Zechariah's wife Rebecca, which she needed after the recent family tragedy.  We finally got onto the Eldoret road at 2.30pm, with nine hours drive ahead, plus time to pick up documents and cross the border.  As Gregory said about our lunch, "Enjoy it, it may be a long time before the next stop!"

Charles drove to Eldoret.  We crossed the Equator about 4pm, and stopped for a leg-stretch, then hit the five o'clock rush hour traffic.  Along the way, I suggested to Len that he should send Cornelius an explanation of our necessary change of schedule.  This precipitated half a dozen phone calls to Rukundo in response, pressing for some sort of arrangement for meeting up with his Magodes team.  It really wasn't practical, but by a compromise we agreed to meet briefly at Tororo after we'd crossed the border at Malaba.  This was likely to be 10.30pm, and didn't seem to carry a lot of point.

We reached Bungoma by 8.00pm and Gregory went in search of the documents, while Viv filled up with petrol (rocking the minibus to get in as much fuel as possible) and I suggested we find a chippy (i.e. shop selling chapatis).  We converged on the Tesia supermarket and ordered (mainly) chicken and chips, and whizzed round the aisles to spend a bunch of Kenyan currency that we'd found we prematurely wouldn't need. 

We bumped the final stretch of road under construction and at about 10.30pm reached the border.  Here Gregory had to negotiate his way round the inadequacies of our paperwork, aided by a student he used to teach who now brokers insurance extensions.  The rest of us filed through Immigration Departures.  We waited.  Then we went back to the minibus and sat and waited some more.  Gregory came back.  "They won't let the minibus out of Kenya.  I'll ring Pastor Andrew and get him to collect you, while Charles and I stay here until the morning."

We weren't having this.  We prayed.  Len joined Gregory back in the office.  The lady official began to soften her line.  More time passed.  Tanker lorries of petroleum crossed in a continuous stream - the principal way that Uganda get its (therefore more expensive) petrol.  At about 12.30am we got clearance to leave, and drove round the short distance to the Uganda side.  We exchanged Kenya shillings for Uganda ones (rate of 1:32) with the 'unofficial' dealers.  More waiting while Gregory got insurance papers to proceed. 

He arrived, smiling and relieved.  We just had the vehicle inspection to complete, and at 1.15am we were in Uganda.

Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 7 August 17

Len was busy emptying the kitchen cupboards, and a mountain of our cases and bags was piling up in the hallway.  Gregory had been a bit vague about our leaving time for Nakuru.  He arrived a little after 9am.  We heard that the conference session was due to start at 2pm, they were expecting us around 1pm, and it was three hours' drive.  So when we stopped off at Four Square and then headed over to Westlands Mall to exchange some more currency, I feared (rightly) that we'd cut it too fine.  We hit the Nakuru Road at 11am, with Len driving, and couldn't afford to stop or let up along the way. 

The road takes a descent onto the floor of the Rift Valley, and along the way we saw flocks of goats browsing by the roadside, zebras and a troop of baboons.  The temperature climbed all the way: by the time we reached the church in Nakuru, it was the warmest we've had so far - around 26oC.  Mount Olive sits in a tidy plot of land surrounded by maize fields and grazing animals.

Bishop Zechariah was pacing up and down and the band was ready to start.  On the opening note my hearing aid battery died, and then the crash cymbal fell over exactly at a crescendo point in the music.  The church had thoughtfully provided some sandwiches and tea, as we got straight into action on arrival.

The whole afternoon was scheduled for business and finance stuff, similar to our Saturday afternoon session in Nairobi; but we had no Hilary.  Len ran through a brief introduction to Multiply, and said he'd noticed that the district was one of rich deep soil, and felt this applies spiritually, too.

We over-ran, but the sessions had been well received.  After some waiting around we travelled to Bishop's and his wife Rebecca's home.  It's quite large, and they'd offered to accommodate all the travelling party.  But first a big dinner.  Rev Charles from Christ Covenant Church was with us, and has a good appetite!

"Brother, I must talk through some nuts and bolts with you," Gregory announced to me - though everyone else was within ear-shot.  "Tomorrow will be quite a stretch.  We must leave Nakuru at 12pm to reach Kimilili by nightfall.  Then Wednesday will be even more of a stretch, because we must make our way to Jinja, calling in at Cornelius's churches at Magodes.  Then Thursday will be even busier - we have a leaders' session in Jinja, then we must travel to Kampala and arrange the two days' conference."  "So we're finally getting into our stride," I smiled.  We also discussed when the Nairobi brothers may leave Kampala in the minibus, while we stay on for flights back to UK on Tuesday.

Viv and I were sharing a room and I caught up with some stuff on my laptop til quite late.  I'd seen him eyeing up the extensive security around the house (common to the other nearby properties).  "Did you hear what happened?" he quizzed.  "Their fifteen-year-old son was murdered just outside the front gate a month ago."

Brave people for not letting this quench their desire to open their hearts and home in hospitality.

Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 6 August 16

"Do you know..." Rukundo had asked last night, "why I find my iPad in a pan in the morning?"  I smirked.  "Well, if you get up first to switch on the shower, take the butter out of the fridge, open the balcony door and put the pan of water to heat on the cooker, you'll find that you can't light the gas unless the power is switched on, and you'll have to unplug your charger and put your iPad somewhere safe.  Later, in bed, I felt bad about teasing him like this.  I felt even worse when I got up to find that he'd done all that, and was sitting reading morning devotions from the said tablet.  I apologised.  He smiled.  "I know your heart means good."

The other guys were still scurrying around when their lift arrived early.  "We've left you the washing up, Old Man - okay?" I heard as the door slammed.  Gregory's wife, Judith, had generously supplied us with a couple of chapatis each for breakfast.   I think that Len and Viv ate theirs in the car going into the city centre.

My extra hour and a half allowance went quickly.  I hand-washed another load of Viv's and my stuff and hung them out.  On my early Multiply trips, I used to take a complete set of clothes for the whole time.  But when I last went to India, Steve Surefoot introduced me to the high-tech world of travel convenience, by which you wash your clothes in the shower and find they're dry in the morning.  Last year I returned from Zambia not only with shirts, etc, that I'd packed but not worn, but also clean clothes I'd washed along the way in my luggage.  But, and it may be a big but, when you're constantly moving from place to place, as we shortly shall be driving overland to Uganda, you don't know what facilities you're going to find.

I read and reread the teaching notes I'd complied back in Sheffield until my lift arrived.  We bumped along a side road near Gregory's house and church.  Sam, my driver swung into a tidy parking space by an equally tidy blue-painted corrugated sheet tabernacle: Christ Covenant Church.  The warm-up worship was in progress, and when I stepped in there were about 15 people in the congregation.  Pastor Charles' wife was leading the service.  I panicked slightly realising there'd be a collection, and all my money was in the bag I'd packed ready for the afternoon's 'bonus' conference session.

The meeting started and the worship team of three ladies, plus Charles on keyboard, left the rest of us depleted.  I sneaked the purse that had local currency out of my bag and surreptitiously unzipped it and peeled what I took to be a 1,000 Kenya shillings note (about £6.50) ready for the action.  African tithes and offerings are a notoriously theatrical affair, and, looking around at the other folks, I though this fairly high denomination note may be somewhat conspicuous.  I also wondered how my highly intellectual exposition of Hebrews 13 may go down.  Ah, cares at worship time.

After I'd finished the 'preach', we poured out into the sunshine.  Charles asked me if I'd like a bottle of pop, and sent a lad off to find one.  Waiting around, I got into conversation with Sam.  It turns out he's a hairdresser.  "Ah, where would you start with me?" I asked.  "Ah, yes, I've thought there may be some business here," was his reply.  The bottle of pop never arrived, and after nearly and hour hanging around Charles dispatched Sam and me to Gregory's Christ Evangelistic Church.  He pressed and envelope in my hand.  "This is for a nice lunch," he smiled.  It was a 1,000 Ks note.

Gregory's 'boys' helped me to set up, in between their trying to learn "Not because of what I am..."  I got a welcome cup of chai, and launched into the workshop session on teamwork.  Towards the end, Len and Viv slid down to the front chairs, and I handed over to Len for a second session on servant leadership.  Viv plonked himself beside me.  He graphically described how in the 'south' service, as well as the tithes and offering there'd been an acutely embarrassing and drawn-out appeal for funds for a new pulpit.  "Wave your 1,000 Ks bill now and get a special blessing."  "If I thought I could have created a disturbance by kicking over some chairs and storming out, I would have done!" Viv exploded.

Len heard from Ali that someone had tried an arson attack on Abundant Grace and the Police forensic team had been in action til 2am.  He was worried.  We had our final meal of filleted tilpia at Cabroche Growers Cafe while the Man City versus Chelsea match was on, did some shopping for food to eat on the next three days' of minibus travel, and landed back at the apartment to start packing.  Tomorrow, it's all new territory.

Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 5 August 15

We succeeded with a promised earlier start to the day.  This even included Rukundo finding time expertly to iron his shirt and trousers, with Len watching in awe.   Meanwhile, I rang Mary to wish her a happy birthday.

When we arrived at the Technical Institute conference venue, I was greeted by a lady I'd recognised from yesterday.  "Oh, you know," she started, "I've had such a long period of feeling no breakthrough in prayer.  But this morning my prayers were pouring out for over an hour.  I know it was because I received the Holy Spirit yesterday."

The first session - Len speaking about church planting - went well.  As he got underway, the catering team at the back of the hall set up three large urns of chai.  "We will stop for a break when Len has finished," Bishop Joseph whispered to me.  We did.  But there were so many delegates and the serving took so long that nearly an hour disappeared.  This cannoned on to lunch not arriving until 2pm. The afternoon Businesses teaching and Hilary's Financial workshop looked like they would be squeezed into losing effect. 

I spoke about spiritual Fathering, with examples of the fallibility of church members and the need for patience that always get good audience response.  "Now you are wise, and you are mature.  How would you have dealt with this situation," I teased.   Lunch didn't happen for me because I got a missed phone call from Curd, eager to tell me how the Battlecentre leaders' meeting had gone, and I wasn't going to find much time to reply as the day rolled on.

Janet slipped a piece of paper under my nose saying, "Anne says please can we gather at the end for some photographs."  In the event, Hilary was brilliant, and nearly all the delegates stayed on the extra hour.  Then came the photos.  Of course is wasn't just one little group thing - everybody wanted to be in on the act, warm climate culture style. 

Hilary and Janet shook my hand and said, "See you in Kampala.  We'll be going to church with Anne tomorrow, and then on to see two Aids projects."  They have a jam-packed programme ahead, meeting the sewing project team on Monday, and the first batch of students on Tuesday, and a dozen other things to.  Really, they could have usefully occupied themselves here in Nairobi until the end of the visit.

Gregory sent us guys back to Sundowner, trusted with the minibus.  We compared notes on the assignments we'd been given for the Sunday meetings: Len and Viv to the south of the city, Rukundo to the north, all being picked up by 8am.  We set of for Gregory's home, where Judith and the family had laid on a spread for dinner.  With the conference formalities over, Gregory was relaxed (though still on the phone much of the time!).

"There's just one thing I've missed," I asked, "Where do I go tomorrow?"  "Well you see, with the afternoon session starting at 2pm..." (This was a spontaneously arranged 'encore' teaching session at his Christ Evangelistic Ministries church), you'll need to be local.  So Pastor Charles would like you to be with him.  He will pick you up for 10am."  Ah, the chance of a lie-in! 

I performed the usual night-time DEET spraying routine, and climbed into my sleeping bag liner.  "There was definitely a mosquito in our bedroom last night," Viv announced as I drifted off to sleep.  "What did you do?" I managed.  "Left it to the overnight fumigating kit to deal with," he replied.  Oh, great.

Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 4 August 14

The guys all agreed it had been an unpleasantly hot night.  There seemed to be less enthusiasm for breakfast, too.  Perhaps last evening's late meal had sunk us all.  Outdoors, the weather was cool enough to be verging on chilly: Len put on an extra layer under his smart jacket, and even Viv toted a fleece.
Gregory was particularly chirpy, which probably meant the last minute arrangements had fallen into place.  At the gates of the Kebete Technical Training Institute, a bunch of cheeky boys greeted us with, "Muzungu!" (approximately translates to 'rich white man').

We heard the worship band from the end of the driveway leading to the main hall.  My first indoors meter reading hit 93 decibels.  (Why do I do this?)  Later, Viv told me that at least two speakers in the various stacks weren't working.  Being on the top table, Len, Rukundo and I were privileged to have a foldback jammed alongside our seats.  (Why do I go on about this?)

Gregory led the conference introduction, controversially mentioning that when the Kikuyu and Luo tribes come into the Lord sufficiently to bury their historic differences, then revival will truly come to the nation.  Len and I spent the remainder of the morning talking about spiritual gifts, with George translating.  There was a good response and a rising faith among the delegates.  Gregory estimated that by the early afternoon we had 180 present.

Lunch was prompt and quickly served: a feat!  And the handouts arrived, all as planned.  Starting the afternoon, Rukundo spoke about the Kingdom (what else?) with Charles interpreting.  They both got so excited at several points that Rukundo unconsciously switched into Swahili and Charles carried on in English, reversing roles without seeming to notice!  I'd sloped over to where Viv was doing the projector, and when Rukundo had reached our 4pm closing time, switched him onto the last slide.  We stole another half an hour with some group work on disciple bands, and then announced the end of the day.

At lunchtime  Hilary and Janet filled me in on the visit to the Grace Community childrens home near Anne's home.  Here 102 children from two months to 18 were looked after basically be one 27-year old guy called Richard.  'Looked after; means housed, fed and educated.  Today a group of the eight-year-olds are fasting so the rent money will come in."  I think we shall hear more about this.

Gregory came back to Sundowner with the guys, and after about an hour we drove to Cabroche Growers Cafe again for dinner.  As it happens, the apartment water had gone off, so showers and the like were off the agenda.  Viv was well engaged today, driving the minibus, sorting out kit and getting alongside a couple of guys who may prove to be candidates for the Intern Scheme.

Tomorrow, Len's got the job of doing a session on church planting, for which he feels inadequately qualified, and Hilary's got her Finance workshop in the afternoon.  Great teamwork. 

Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 3 August 13

I woke up just before 7am: the day was well underway and only a couple of cock-crows were left to enjoy in the neighbourhood repertoire.  First job was to put a large saucepan of water on the cooker so that breakfast could get underway.  I sat out on the balcony with a bowl of cereal, and read Romans chapters 1 to 3, a recap of the last few Sunday evening bible studies.
 
Once the morning was underway for everybody, Len organised the pile of 'conference stuff' that filled the lounge, including four projectors, the strung up (or is that stringed up?) red crosses from last night, the Multiply tee-shirts from Brighton and the 'Biggest Issues' that would be given out at registration.  He was thinking ahead for tomorrow.

Gregory arrived in the minibus just after 9am, and announced that Janet and Hilary had already arrived at Four Square (Bishop Joseph's church).  When we joined them they were deep in conversation with Phibian, the sewing project 'champion'.  As he explained that he saw growth in the Christian life as both spiritual and practical: you trust God to help you with education, family and employment.  He also anticipated that the project about to start was just a 'pilot', and that it would grow. 

"At that point, we knew we were going to make it work," Hilary and Janet told me afterwards.

I tidied up the Finance workshop presentation that Hilary had brought, Viv sorted out Janet's SIM card, Gregory spent a lot of time on his phone, and Len and Rukundo talked together about covenant (while stringing red crosses).  Pastor Charles joined us, announcing that the carpentry tools that Trevor had sent over were 'very good'.  We transferred to JMB's for lunch. 

The we drove round to the Kabete Technical Training Institute where we'll be holding the conference.  Folks strolled around admiring the parasol tree and other interesting botany in the grounds, then we inspected the main hall.   After an exchange of opinions about where to hang a projector screen, and where we thought the worship band would want to set up, we were satisfied.  Gregory will send a bunch of folks over this evening to put out chairs.

Back at 'Four Square', Anne collected Janet and Hilary.  Len and I came back to Sundowner.  Charles drove Viv and Rukundo round to try to find some authentic coffee for Viv's work colleagues, and children's bibles for the Rwanda community/church.

I was pleased with my hand washing of all the clothes that Viv and I had thrown into the corner of the bedroom, though there wasn't a lot of sun around to dry them before nightfall.

Charles was due to collect us for an evening meal at 7pm, so Rukundo and I got round the laptop to knock out his presentation, while Len likewise prepared for his sessions.

Charles backed the minibus into a parked motorbike, which was invisible in the unlit side road.  We drove over to the 'Cabroche Growers Cafe' for an evening meal.  On principle, Viv's been having the same food as the local guys.  This time he got ugali and whole pan-fried tilapia fish. Charles showed him how to get the sweetest bits out of the head.

We didn't know then that during the evening Anne had taken Hilary and Janet to a childrens home near her own home.  We're just immersed in all that's coming across our paths.

Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 2 August 12

With Viv, Hilary and me on board, plus Janet's main luggage, Sam put his foot down.  We soon cleared the M40, and next came the Heathrow perimeter road as we headed for Terminal 4.  Although we were an hour ahead of our 5pm rendezvous time, Len was already standing near the Kenya Airlines' automatic check-in machines.  Then Janet rang.  There'd been a mix-up with coaches from Birmingham, and she wouldn't arrive until 6.30pm.  The desks closed at 6.45pm for departure.

As we sipped our coffees, hoping for better news of her progress, Len offered, "There had to be something to make us pray."  He wandered off to the Airline desk seeking advice if we could get on and check in.  As we got to the last bag, Janet burst into view. 

A few more delays, and we boarded.  The air hostess looked Viv and me up and down, and suggested we swapped for long-leg seats.  Bonus.  Another steward gave us his phone number so we could give him details of the conference. 

We descended into Nairobi late, but not before I'd nodded to Viv to notice the sunrise.  It always gets me.  We lost more time faffing about trying to get through Immigration in the new terminal.

Gregory, Bishop Joseph and Pastor Daniel were grinning across the crowd, and did us a full-on reception line greeting.  Hilary and Janet went off to Sister Anne's house with Daniel, and the rest of us piled into the legendary minibus.  We headed round a new partly-completed ring road, hardly slowing down along the sections that were just substrate.  Kabira slum passed on the right, a glaring contrast with the smart condos sprouting up on the city's rapidly-expanding suburbs. 

We paused at the Sundowner Apartments just long enough to drop off our cases and pick up Rukundo, who'd stayed overnight.  Then we grabbed some breakfast at JMB's Bar and Restaurant.  This is all familiar territory, matching my stay here in March last year.

The priorities of the day included changing some currency, getting local SIM cards, stocking up with provisions for our self-catering challenge at Sundowner, and planning out the conference sessions and preparation work.  We started with a visit to the recently reopened Westlands Mall, where Daniel and the ladies joined us from the other side of the city. 

When all was done, and Viv had had his first gurgle of Stoney, we headed for Bishop Joseph's church for a planning meeting and preview of the sewing project.  It was very useful, but inevitably meant more work - revising some of the presentations and getting handouts copied.  Phibian, the project champion will join us tomorrow morning.  By now it was 3pm and Anne was keen to avoid the evening traffic build up, but we needed time for a late lunch.  Gregory guided us to a Cafe near his church.  Most of us tried something adventurous, but Len was disappointed that goat stew wasn't on the menu.  An hour later the radiation from the corrugated sheet roof and heat from the charcoal cooker suggested we moved on.

Back at Sundowner we unpacked and spread out.  Viv slept for an hour, I had a shower and Rukundo caught up with emails.  I got out the red crosses, scissors and string and invited everyone in the lounge.  Len found out how to make the gas cooker grill work, and we rounded off the evening with toasted currant rolls, local green tea and phone calls home. 

Rukundo's promised me a draft of the 'Discipleship' session on Thursday that he'd really like to do, and Viv's working out how to set up local WiFi.  A great start.  We feel settled.   

Multiply Trip East Africa 2015 Day 1 August 11

I stayed overnight at New Creation Farm, as Monday afternoon and evening had been a national Leaders' event, and it was pointless hacking back to Sheffield.  It's a novelty to be getting a lift to Heathrow, as I usually catch a train.  Last time had been specially hectic because I'd miscalculated the time I'd need to travel, and then the service from Sheffield to Chesterfield was 'off-timetable' because of a landslip. 

There was the usual deluge of last-minute jobs, including swapping the 30 'Jesus Army' tee-shirt I'd bought (to give away), in favour of red crosses, because Len and the crew in Brighton had done some fund-raising and had the same idea.  Ian, at The Shop, couldn't have been more helpful.  I confess to having drifted off to sleep last night doing the mental arithmetic how many crosses at five for a pound I'd get with £33.

Viv rang at 9.30am announcing he was shopping in town and asking what he may need to get last-minute.  Two hours later he burst through the door of the Multiply office - where I'd set up camp with luggage spread all over the place, and I'd spilt my coffee in the process.  'Town' had been Northampton: he'd slept along the corridor from me. 

On Sunday, Janet had emailed to say she'd sent her cases ahead for Hilary to add some last minute extra stuff for the sewing project.  Yesterday morning, I caught Gregory on the phone.  He was unhappy with the posh hotel the guys in Kampala had booked for Saturday evening's 'business masterclass'.  "Unnecessary.  The church where we're holding the main two days will do fine."  Looks like we're up against the same capital city mentality that we met in Lusaka last year, where if you don't lay on a four-course lunch people don't bother to turn up - they don't think your network's up to much (and that type usually slopes off mid-afternoon, anyway).  In the leaders time yesterday, Hilary had texted to say the outstanding amount of our budget that she'd converted to dollars at a commercial rate had arrived in both large and small bills - which may not suit the exchange bureaux.  Another job (for her).

And I'd hardly got through the door this morning when Hannah reminded me to get a team photo for the Multiply website: only doing her job.  Claire just wanted to know if I was excited.  Exhausted, more like. 

When I rang home, Mary was her usual calm self.  She will feature in one of the conference presentations when I remind folks that Jesus looks for disciples who mend nets.  She told me that, "I wouldn't recognise the bedroom" when I get home.   

This theme of changing landscapes is recurring.

Multiply East Africa Trip August 2015

This blog is by popular demand. I was thinking of transferring to 70+AndNowSlowingDown, and quietly, well, doing that.  But...  O well, let's scrub round the self pity, and get down to business and normal service. This visit is to Kenya and Uganda, and there's a novelty angle that we're going to do the journey between the two capital cities overland by minibus.  I'd agreed a basic programme with Gregory, our main man out there, way back in 2014.  But in February this year I was still struggling to assemble a team. 

This isn't a haphazard thing.  Each time round we have to listen to the local needs, and then try to splice them in with our ambitions (like, mainly, taking some younger folks).  And we have a critical path plan that guides us through eight months preceding the visit and allows for three months of follow-up.  So were were already late.  Truth is, we'd really wanted to go in March this year, but with budget squeezes we had to wait until the new year was up and running to be sure of the funds.  This meant a false start, with planning meetings being abandoned last autumn.  At least we'll be a little more adjusted to the warmer climate, travelling from UK in the summer.

So, we come to the minibus.  We'd hoped to send out one of our own de-fleeted ones.  We were pretty confident that we could get a better age and condition than the same money would buy over there.  The complication was shipping, £2,500, and customs taxes, £4,000 unless we could prove charitable exemption.  It all looked too flimsy.  Gregory sourced one in Mombasa, and collected it with George back in June.  The bus will be available to use for all the local Multiply-connected groups.  Len and Viv will be sharing the driving on the visit.

In the same generosity, Gregory asked for a second project to train in sewing and tailoring at another partner church (Bishop Joseph's).  This was Hilary's and Janet's challenge.  We beavered away scratching together some second hand equipment.  But then Hilary, who's well-connected in the accountancy world, had a spectacular offer of 18 new commercial machines.  This bears out that when you've been quietly living in faith and are thrown into a new circumstance (like Multiply) astonishing things happen! 

So, the five of us fly on Tuesday 11th.  Rukundo is joining us for the duration, and has already spent the weekend in Kampala to break the coach journeys from Kigali.

In fact it's been a season of departings over here, too.  After fifteen years, Andrew and Ellen and their four children have left 'Madiba', their narrow boat home, and become caretakers at Kings House.  Phil and Donna, regular hosts to Mary and I on Wednesday evenings since the middle of December 2012, are moving from Chesterfield to Bugbrooke on 15 August.  So we we've said our farewells.  And this month, Gav and Georgie, with Neive, Elise and Nate, are moving from Coventry to Onley (near Rugby).

So I'll come back to a very different landscape.  And I don't just mean autumn.

AMEN Conference 2015 'Rest/Study Day' - Friday

I admit I tend to go at life relentlessly.  I insisted that we should have planning sessions for both this August's Multiply trip to Kenya, and next March's to Rwanda while both Gregory and Rukundo were available.  This meant an early start for both of them to travel to Central Offices.  But the meetings were invaluable. 

First Janet rolled up with the back of her car full of tables for the sewing/tailoring project in Nairobi.  We've got ourselves on a very tight schedule since finding out the container leaves from Cambridge next Wednesday.  She also showed us the colourful pin-cushions and needle-cases that the Birmingham congregation had produced.  Viv texted to say that set-up in the marquee was running late, and he wouldn't make it to the meeting.

We ploughed through the action points from our last get-together.  The first hot topic was the guys' overland minibus trip from Nairobi to Kampala.  Gregory announced that we'd fit in an extra conference at Nakuru.  It all seemed to hinge on an early start leaving Nairobi, about which I was constitutionally doubtful.  No matter.  The next day Eldoret, as planned, then on to Kimilili.  Four more hours' travel and a whole day conference: a bit tight. 

Then Trevor dropped in that his old friend Cornelius wanted us to visit his tribal work en route to Kampala.  This entails crossing into to Uganda on a 'B' road, and a bout of after-dinner tribal dancing to accommodate their warm hospitality.  Mental note - take your own mosquito net.  Finally we rendezvous with Janet and Hilary in Kampala.  "It's all looking very tight.  Can't we take longer?" someone commented.  "Well the programme wasn't before all this was crammed in." I countered.  One consolation emerged - we'd probably get a free afternoon to visit Lake Victoria when the following weekend commitments were over.  And Viv may get the drive the minibus back to Nairobi while the rest of us fly.

Crunch point number two was the need for a proper business plan for the sewing/tailoring project.  All through AMEN is emerged that the international guys are wonderful pastors and preachers, but the well-intentioned practical support we try to roll out just falls over through lack of planning and oversight.  Ed is on everyone's case for a business plan and a 'champion'.  Gregory 'gets it', but already has his hands full.

By this time the skeleton team for Rwanda had arrived, so we swapped over and began round two.  "We simply must get a better idea of what the community support and income earning projects need," Ed and John agreed.   Around the table we chorus, "You never told us that!" as Rukundo explains that the two tons per month of grain that his wife has been grinding to sell in the market, first has to be washed and spread out to dry.  Basic mis-assumptions.  So John and Jenny will go for ten day in mid-September - in fact as they had partly planned to do last year.  We have several ideas for small scale income-earning business projects.  But the need is to get the right supervision in place.  "Rwanda is littered with broken equipment donated by NGOs," he's told John. 

Rukundo clarifies that the two halves of his community we're to visit are 90km apart.  Further stretch on the programme.  We've also planned to go to Burundi, but the present unrest casts doubt on this.  "It will be alright when the election is over," Rukundo assures.  It seems that this is pretty average for Africa. 

It takes me all afternoon to consolidate the action points.  Then I grab some tea at the Farm and walk to Cornhill for the evening event.  Mary is waiting.  Driving the minibus on the way to stay at New Kings, I collect my luggage from the Farm.  They made me very welcome.