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 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.