Soul Touch » Uganda

Drama, Drama, Drama

Lo — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 18:23:44 +0000

With only five days until opening night, well day: our first show is a matinee, we have become completely obsessed, possessed, depressed (only joking) by Peace Child! The children are still working hard to make this show a success. This weekend we have spent every waking minute advertising the show and selling tickets- there are still some left so if you happen to be in Uganda next weekend then let me know, seriously! They have sung in churches and shopping malls literally from dusk until dawn, without complaint, and I think everybody is just about exhausted- but we’re keeping going.

You see we are here to teach them the music, the dances and how to act. Although they are learning everyday and the show is improving song by song, act by act, scene by scene we are also learning. Let’s consider how a show is put together- I told you I can’t think of anything else. On stage the children are told how to act. They are told what words to say and what songs to sing. Yet even though they are given a script; and they are given direction from the team, they instinctively put their own flavour and unique personalities into each part. For starters they deliver each line with Ugandan/Glaswegian accents and songs are sung in Lugandan with a special Bo’nessian twang. (It really is a show not to be missed.)

Putting the children under the spotlight made me think of my life as a Christian and how I would feel and how I do feel about having my faith on stage. I suppose this blog is a bit like a stage in that you are watching our journey (our story) being told. Some of you may enjoy it, others will be like the critics on the opening night (hopefully not too harsh) and some of you may even recommend it to a friend. I really pray it’s the latter!

Anyway, thinking of our lives on show. Where are you on the stage? Have you a main part in the church? Do you say more than others for example or are you part of the chorus? This part, as the children have found, is equally as important to the success of the show. If one member of the cast chews chewing gum (let me tell you it has happened during rehearsal…never again!) they stand out and not for the right reasons. In doing so they let the others down. But then again there are members of the chorus who stand out because they are supper doper fandabydosey on the stage and we can’t help but be drawn to their performance. Are you that person? Are you ready for a small speaking part or maybe even a solo? Is God trying to give you a wee bit more limelight but you’re shying away? Or maybe you think you need a bit more practice before opening night (ba-boom-chi- I love all the wee clichés that come with Drama- I was born to be a Diva!)

We have been explaining to the children that there are lots of ways to perform. It is interesting to watch what was once a bit of a rabble, or should a say disorganised group of amateurs, become a professional and very talented cast. Where once we had to scream over the top of the noise (Even Margaret Hunters teaching tips didn’t help in this situation!) now they correct each other. They are accountable to each other and they want each other to do well. Where once they giggled and teased those with parts now they applaud their brothers and sisters efforts. So that’s what’s happening on our stage but what’s happening on yours? What’s going on in your church? Is everyone sharing the load, playing their part? Are you mocking those who are struggling, criticising them or do you take time after rehearsal (as our children do) to encourage them and help them learn their parts? Just a thought.

Then let’s think of the director of the show: God. You see the father is there to direct us. He gives us our script and even gives us boundaries (the commandments) to protect us and make sure it’s a good show, just like the perimeters of the stage. Ultimately though what we do when the lights are on us and the curtains go up is up to us. How well do we learn our lines or in other words do we read and understand our bibles? This is something I’ve really been finding relevant especially as on a daily basis I find the children around me memorise scriptures for fun! Do we get by, by simply ad-libing and busking our way through life or do we study our lines (the word) carefully and try hard to understand it? When we stumble do we discuss it with others, apply it to our own lives? More importantly are you playing your own part or do you look at others and want theirs? You have been given something to do; you have your own important part God wants you to play so start practising it, perfecting it adding your unique flavour to it. For a while I looked at others, whether in church or at work or even among my friends. Their roles all looked so exciting and professionally polished. It wasn’t until I realised that they were working hard to have that success that I saw that, that was what I had to do too. So now no matter where God puts me on the stage I know I want to play that part to the best of my ability and I want my part to glorify him.

Sometimes proclaiming to be a Christian is like putting yourself on stage ready to get tomatoes thrown at you. People immediately have expectations of you and others are simply waiting for you to trip up. My advice to you would be to keep going. Keep practising your part cos at the end of the day at least you’re on the stage: they are still in the audience dreaming of being where you are!

Enjoy the show I know with God as the director it is sure to be a success!

Trusting His Word

Lo — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 18:18:27 +0000

Trusting his word:Before we left Scotland Lorna and I spent a lot of time in prayer and committing ourselves to this project. Much of our time was spent discussing and meditating on the verse from Romans:

“I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Romans 9:17

The other day we were chatting about what God has already done on this trip, the responsibility he has given us with the show and then we were looking forward and asking God for guidance for the plans ahead. It was only as we lay reflecting on the work here that we realised that this has been our prayer and that day by day it is being answered. This is precisely what we asked God for and we see it manifesting itself in these children- yet we were, and still are, shocked that it is actually happening before our eyes. Everyday we are grateful for his faithfulness and we urge you too, to make yourselves available to him. We are truly believe that no matter what is causing you to struggle at the moment nothing is more powerful than God and nothing can harm you (Romans 8:31) for he will give you all things if you just ask. Joyce Meyer probably illustrates this point better than I can. She uses an analogy of an unused cake mix (in her book ‘The Making of a Leader’). In it she describes how our faith can sometimes be like the unused cake mix. You have all the ingredients to make something delicious. In other words God has given you all the talents, gifts and recourses you need but unless you make the effort to open the cupboard and put it together you will never be able to make the cake. What’s even more disappointing, and slightly more concerning, is that other people are just dying to taste your cake: they’re praying for you and longing for you to take that step so just open the bloomin’ cupboard.

Easy for you to say, you grumble- jetting off around the world. Well, not exactly! It wasn’t easy for us to get to this place. Before this there were a lot of tears, trials, failures and anxieties. I really won’t bore you with the details but getting through those is what has brought us to this place. So never give up on believing in God cos I can assure you he never gives up on believing in you.

A Cry From the Streets.

Lo — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 18:16:12 +0000

A cry from the streets is a song sung by the children. I’ve heard them singing it many times and they’ve rehearsed it so often I too can sing it by heart. Yesterday the song took on a new meaning for me. The words somehow made more sense and as I watched tears run down one young girl’s cheeks as she really did cry on behalf of every street child singing with her I tried to understand something of the pain she felt. The twenty-five children huddled on the floor of Garden City, one of Uganda’s biggest and busiest shopping malls, pleaded to their audience to help them and more importantly to notice their friends and family members who remain in the sewers and gutters of Kampala.

They were at the mall to promote the show they will be performing in this weekend (14-16th Sep 07). Peace Child (see blog for information) Their performance yesterday was different, special, sickening all at the same time and for many reasons. Firstly they were performing with someone special- Rita Nkemba.

Rita is the director of DP and for those of you who have had the privilege of meeting her on one of her visits to the UK you will already know she is a lady with a big God given vision, a huge heart and an even bigger voice. It is quite rare for the children to be able to perform with her because she is so busy- imagine what it is like looking after your own children then multiply that by 382 (the amount of children she has in her care) and then you will understand how crazy, mental her life is. Yesterday Rita took time out and came to garden city to see some of her children perform and she sang along with them. The programme was full of crowd pleasers; It’s Raining, He knows my name, Ekitibwa and Ebala, a song sung in Karamajong in which the children do some typically “African” moves. Basically they are gorgeous; they are full of energy; they are African and their smiles are captivating, what more do Muzungu (white) tourists want! But what we hadn’t prepared the audience for was the reality of these little ones lives. Brightly dressed in their choir uniforms with their teeth cleaned and faces washed they look “so cute” yet the words which poured from the mouths told a very different story.

The introduction Rita gave upset some of the children but I could see it pained the audience more. Uncomfortable coughs rose like a descant above Rita’s husky African voice as token gestures were thrown into the baskets infront our kids. Rita reminded us all where these little ones have come from: the streets. The mimicking of begging they were doing was not choreographed; they were not taught how to look distressed, lonely and unloved. The children know exactly how it feels because each of them has experienced the abuse and desperation that comes from living on the streets of Kampala. It was from these streets that God- through Rita Nkemba- saved them.

Being away from home and away from the comforting words of my family and friends I am learning more and more to rely on the words of my Father, sorry Bob not you this time although I do appreciate your support and wisdom more than anything! In Scotland I found myself constantly asking God. “What can I do? The problems are so huge. What can I do? What is the purpose of my life?” I always thought that the answer was going to come in some miraculous way. Maybe with lightening or something exciting like a loud voice in my ear waking me from my sleep. I was always so envious of other Christians that would say, “Oh God spoke to me”, or God told me. I was like “Well hello God, where’s my telephone call?” I even joked with friends that if God could give me a neon sign with what I should do I would be very grateful. It is only latterly that I have realised that I have actually been ignoring all of these things. I’ve been ignoring God’s voice because I was so adamant I wanted it to appear in the places I though it should. Infact I even walked about with the bloomin neon sign in my bag- yip you guessed it, my bible. You see God’s voice and his spirit lives in the word. But here’s the catch you gotta open it to allow it to minister to you. It’s a two-way relationship. If you take time to talk to God he will meet you and talk to you. Maybe not in lightening or dreams (although sometimes he will, who am I to minimise his awesome capabilities) but in his word. He’s already written so many messages in his word. So often we’ll groan “God I just don’t know what you want from me. I don’t know what direction my life should be taking” or with regards to the little children we see so often on the news or on Oxfam adverts we’ll switch channels muttering about the scale of the problem and how it is someone else’s responsibility. Then on Sunday when we go to church we’ll ask God what can we do. So incase you’re still looking for your neon sign, like I was, here it is:
(It was given to me by Rita Nkemba and let me tell you God’s voice doesn’t come any louder and clearer.)

Isaiah 58: Share your food with the hungry and provide the poor wanderer with shelter- when you see the naked clothe him and do not turn away from your own flesh and blood. 11 The lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 12. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called repairer or broken walls, restorer of streets with dwellings.

And so dwelling places was born and hundreds of children were given a home and hope for the future. So you’re still asking what is your part. How does this apply to your life? Erica are you telling me to come to Africa? Well no it’s not me that’s telling you anything. It’s God that’s asking you just to open up the gates of communication. I have seen with my eyes what God can do when you allow him to talk to you. So you can decide what to do with this word. You can switch off the computer, just like the times you have turned the channel when the Oxfam adverts are putting you off your tea or you can read on. You might even go a step further and open your bible and allow God to finish this chat with you. The other option is you have is to leave it on the shelf for fear of what he might say, or what responsibility he might give you. I pray that you don’t leave the book on the shelf because it scares me that if you do these children may be forgotten.

Through My Eyes

Lo — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 18:10:12 +0000

Many of you may have read the website (www.dwellingplaces.org) or seen the literature passed out (via email) about Dwelling Places and what this organisation are actually doing here in Mutundwe (Uganda).

“Who we are: Dwelling Places is a Christian non-governmental, charitable organization that provides holistic care services in terms of rehabilitation, education, family reconciliation, fostering and adoption facilitation to ex-street children, abandoned babies, and high-risk slum families. The thrust of our mission is to prevent the recurrence of street migration among children in Kampala and other towns in Uganda. We also aim to play our part in providing gravely disadvantaged babies, children, and families with a chance to a better and dignified life and we do this first and foremost through the impartation of Christian (Biblical) principles. We encourage our clientele to get to know God in a personal way as a means to alter their lifestyles and consequently influence their destinies.

Although the words on the page are powerful and the vision sounds grand I want you to take time to read what DP really is…at least through the eyes of one volunteer- me.

Ok so first and foremost it is a family.
Ephesians 1:4 For the chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted us as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will.

The promise we have here is so powerful. The word “adopted” makes complete sense to me here as I see what it is to belong to God’s family. The children living at DP become brothers and sisters- many of them become mothers and fathers (aunties and uncles) to the younger ones: sorting our fights, putting on plasters, braiding hair and even disciplining the excitable little ones and translating for them during rehearsals (for which I am extremely grateful). (Many of them struggle with English. They have been living on the streets and so have had no formal education before coming to Dwelling Places. They speak only Lugandan and broken English depending on how long they have been in the home).

DP focuses on rehabilitating the children and their families. It is unlike any other orphanage (that I know of) in that it works with the communities and families. Many of the children have been abandoned, they have lost parents to aids or accidents although some do still have relatives or families that simply can’t afford to look after them. They become street children. In these situations DP takes the children to the home and pays for their education (for this we rely on sponsorship and fundraising). There they live with the other children and they become their extended family. They are taught skills, which they don’t learn on the street; basic things like how to brush their teeth and wash with clean water, manners and rules. The only rule they have ever known whilst on the streets is to “survive”.

Meanwhile DP makes relationships with the children’s families, if they can trace them. They offer them support, training in crafts or skills they can use to earn an income in the hope that one day their children will be able to return to them. One example of this is Mamma Maureen. Maureen’s children live in the “orphanage”. She has been supported by DP to start her own hair salon in the village and is becoming more and more self sufficient. I don’t know the percentage of children that return to their homes or if Maureen will ever be able to house her family again but I do know that she and her children both belong to a new family. A family opened up to them by the work of DP: the family of God. And so they will never be in that desperate, lonely place again.

DP is like a little piece of heaven: Yeah so not all the time. I am not going to pretend that these children are from another realm and they never quarrel or strop; trust me they do. But the reason I associate DP with heaven is because the children and staff never cease to praise. It reminds me a little of the picture in Revelations 4:8. (Day and night they never stop saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.” I must admit imagining these angels or “creatures” as they are described here is beyond even my vivid imagination; I can only wonder. But I want to focus on the angels worshiping. You see it never stops; it never tires or weakens. They don’t have a wee rest from praising God. They don’t stop during the week and then remember God on a Sunday. It reminds me of the way the children worship. They are so in love with God. They are so grateful and fully aware of him at work in their lives that they really know him. At home, at church, even with their friends they lift their hands to him. There is no question of embarrassment or worry who is watching or what people will think; that seems to be a characteristic of the western world. They work at the relationship they have with God (by reading and discussing his word) and they believe the promises he has given to them. You see they are the children that Jesus talks about: they were the hungry that are now fed, the naked that are now clothed; the homeless who now have a place to call home. Because of this they believe that God really does fulfil his promises. They believe that when they pray for something in his name that they will receive it. So much so that’s it’s almost a case of, you know the saying “be careful what you wish for” well here it’s be careful what you pray for because it will happen. Can you imagine what would happen if you started to pray with this amount of confidence? (Ephesians 3:12) “ In him and through faith in him we can approach God with freedom and confidence”. Imagine approaching God and expecting him to answer!

Let the little Children Come:
Finally for me DP is the future: it is the next generation, after all it is children they are nurturing. I’ve said this before and I remember talking to people about this in Peru and then when I returned from Peru: about the next generation. God is raising a new generation of men and women who love him and are not afraid to confess him as their saviour. Just take a second to reflect on that. Digest it. No I’m not kidding. I’ve seen it and I’m excited about it. It may not be on your doorstep but all around the world children, youth, young men and women are praising God and they are desperate to be known by him. It’s exciting to be part of it and you should be too. So often in the west we beleive we are ahead of the game. A friend of mine here sommented that “we Ugandan’s are trying to catch up but you in the West are so far ahead, you’re so civilzed, so educated.” Yes educated we may be but ahead…I think not. As I looked around at the thousands of men, women and children who filled Uganda’s national stadium last Sunday FOR CHURCH it made me realise how much catching up we have to do!

Just before we left on our “mission” I had the miserable and unfortunate experience of turning twenty four. I was not at all happy about it and still bite my lip when people ask me what age I am, forgetting to add on a year. Yeah pathetic I know- get over yourself Erica. But it’s just because I want to be part of the “youth”. I still consider myself in that group. It’s not until I see that the youth are ten years younger than me that I realise that I’m kidding myself. Anyway that’s a personal issue and a bit of a sore point it would appear. But the good news is, is that we can all be little children. I’m not suggesting you start wearing baseball caps and start defying your parents but here’s what I think:

Truly I say to you, whoever does not accept and receive and welcome the kingdom of God like a little child (does) and shall not in any way enter it (at all).

Luke 18:17

Ok so I didn’t choose this verse to scare you but I guess just reading it will make you slightly worried. There is a process described here. The first step is to “accept”. Humbling ourselves and becoming childlike is a very foreign concept for many of us. From a young age we are taught skills to enable and prepare us for adulthood. We are told to ‘grow up’ and to ‘take more responsibility’, ‘to be more responsible’. Yes in the world these things are important. It would be slightly embarrassing if we couldn’t cross the road without reaching for someone’s hand to hold and I wouldn’t like to be in a place of work with someone who couldn’t tell the time (although I have been accused of this a few times). However, it is not behaviours I am talking about; it is humility. Being able to accept that you are not King of your own castle, as much as you would like to think you are, is the challenge God presents to us. (Sorry if that cut deep, I think that might have been a sore one for all you men reading this). Taking a leap of faith and letting God take control of your life is an incredibly difficult thing to do; it involves humility.

The good news is that once we “accept” then we are invited to “receive”. It’s like getting an invitation to a party. You are given the invitation and you “accept” it. You don’t go to the party expecting to have a rubbish time. You go there to meet friends and have fun. Well the same rule applies here. God is asking you to ‘accept’ his invitation so that you can “receive” all the things he has in store for you. The word “receive” is most commonly associated with gifts. If you leave your invitation stuck to the fridge (yeah sorry I always go back to there, it must be in my sub conscience) you won’t receive the goody bag they give out at the end of the party and someone else may have eaten your slice of the cake! Get it…you won’t “receive”.

The third part in the process is described as “welcoming”. How hospitable are you to God? Is he like a visitor who rings the door bell early on a Saturday morning and disturbs your sleep or are you ready for him? Are you at the bedroom window looking out for him and do you welcome him with open arms? Actually let’s take this analogy of a visitor a step further- Kate Bonnar style. If you’re anything like my mum you tidy the house for your visitors coming. (Yeah she has a life so sometimes, only occasionally, the dishes are left! I guess that’s why she had four children- although I dare say there’s no-one there to do them now that I’m gone!) Anyway you tidy up don’t you! You buy some biscuits; make sandwiches you even go to the hassle of cutting off the crusts! You make an effort. You certainly don’t leave your dirty washing on display or leave dishes unwashed. That would be disrespectful and would embarrass your guests.

So look at your life. How welcoming is it to God? What parts would you want to hide and why? Are there some bits that would embarrass him…or you? I know that I want to get these things sorted out before he arrives!

Lastly, he says we should do all of these things “as a little child”: humbly and willingly. Every morning we start rehearsals with a warm up song called “Follow the Leader”. The song has an amazing rhythm and involves lots of shaking of booty (a talent African’s excel at), wiggling and singing loudly. The lyrics of the song got me thinking about how impressionable these little children are and more so how willingly they follow. When we jump they jump, when we shake they shake: they do it without question but with enthusiasm.

13. Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. 14. Jesus said: “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. 15. When he had placed his hands on them he went on from there.”

Mathew 19: 13-15

It interests me why anyone would “hinder” a child from wanting to know God. Why any parent would deny their child the opportunity to go to church or to be part of this exciting movement. Or more importantly why any adult would deny themselves the opportunity to be part of it.

As adults are we intimidated by how faithful children can be? I know that when I look at these children and I hear how wise they are with regards to the gospel, how God fearing they are yet how hopeful they are it does disturb me. It makes me question my faithfulness.

I know in the past people have confused my own enthusiasm for God. They have put it down to naivety. Some, I’m sure, even put it down to my over excitable personality (yes I am completely aware of my annoyingly loud laugh and excitability thank you very much). You see what I have seen in these children is that they make themselves available to God and that is exciting. Another thing is when you do that guess what happens but: God uses your availability to bless others. I am just grateful that I have been allowed to be blessed by them. So let’s not doubt their faith, but nurture it, encourage it and learn from it.

Don’t let yourself be the one to “look down” on these little one’s faith. We’ve all though it, said it or even been subjected to the kind of criticism I’m referring to: “Oh he’s getting carried away with the church.” “ She’s becoming far too holy.” “It’s weird how much time she spends at the church. They need to clam down, keep their feet on the ground.”

1 Timothy 4:12

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in, love, in faith and in purity.

No matter what age you are this passage refers to you. If you are an older person in the church what are you doing to build up the youth? What are you doing to encourage them and support them in their faith? You are wise and probably know a lot more of the word than they do- share it with them. You think: but young ones don’t want to listen to me…yes we do! We are crying out for teaching, guidance friendship. (I know I must stop including myself in this category) People of St Andrew’s church (Bo’ness) will remember Mrs Cormack, she lived on Brea head Road thee little flat at the end as you turn down to Marchlands. Anyway, I used to walk that way to and from school. Almost everyday I would see Mrs Cormack. I knew she was something to do with the church and being typically Bonessian she knew everybody and everybody knew her. We became friends and I would visit her after school. I think at the time there must have been at least sixty years between us in age but that made no difference. Our conversations didn’t really revolve around God. Her dementia meant that we often had the same conversations over and over again which at a young age I found amusing, although my mum knows that when I returned home sometimes I would complain that it was slightly frustrating. On one occasion, and truthfully I can’t remember why, she talked to me about her faith and how “in love she was with Jesus”. I remember being completely inspired by her enthusiasm. She had something that I wanted. When she talked about him her eyes looked like she was a teenager! She welcomed him like a child, humbly and with boundless enthusiasm. I remember shortly after she died talking to Albert (he needs no introduction I assume everyone knows him!) about my relationship with Mrs Cormack and we were talking really about his own mum, Maggie. She too had an ability to relate to “youth” to communicate to them and they, including myself, loved being around her. He said that it was amazing how ladies of their age could still create such relationships with young people. But you see, what Albert and I saw was that we all had a lot in common: we were all in love with Jesus “like little children”.

Go back to 1 Timothy: “Youth” grab onto this verse with confidence. Maybe you are struggling with being a Christian and still being taken seriously by your friends and family. Trust me confidence is attractive No-one can be bothered with people who say one thing and do another- and we all do that at some point. So be confident in what you believe. God never tests you beyond what he will give you the strength to cope with so just keep trusting in him. As my big sis says “enjoy the ride”. Being in love with God and walking the walk he intended you to walk is a bigger high than any alcohol, drugs, relationship or shopping can give you! Don’t leave it until you’re twenty four (ahh Yuk!) to start enjoying it. Do it now. The kids here in Uganda are already doing it and it’s a real buzz to watch.

Good news for everyone who no longer fits in the “youth” brackets don’t loose heart. I just looked up the dictionary definition of the word children on this computer. Children: A descendant of somebody, or a member of a people founded by somebody. Wow! Yes we are all the children of God and yes we are members of his family and Yes we were founded by him! Remember the promise he gave us at the start of this blog entry (I know I never stop talking), in Ephesians. We are “adopted”. Before you were even born he had a plan for you. You were “predestined” to be part of this family. So go on 1. “accept” the invitation”, 2. “receive” the gift of his grace and lastly 3. “welcome” to his family!

Happy Days!

Lo — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 15:59:26 +0000

All dressed up and we all had somewhere to go! Today we took (when I say we I refer to all of the volunteers working at Dwelling Places right now) all of the children to Didi’s world. It is a theme park here in Kampala. I was slightly skeptical as I have seen the safety precautions they take on then roads…eh none and so I wasn’t really convinced that the rides would be safe but we went never the less.

Thunder and torrential rain woke us early this morning and so us Scots put on our hiking boots, as you do, jumpers and even waterproofs (African rain is scary!) We did feel slightly under dressed however when we arrived only to be greeted by around 70 excited children and young people. They were almost completely unrecognisable but their warm smiles and familiar hugs gave them away. They were top to toe in completely new clothes and even the rain could not, and did not, dampen their spirits! I have never felt so proud and Lorna even commented (and not for the first time) that she felt like a proud mum, or what she presumes one must feel like when they see their child so, so happy and full of the joys of life. God almost knocked me over, quite literally, when I saw them. “Auntie” they screamed as they ran towards us and little “baby Rita” jumped into my arms. I hope you can see the photo of her. She is in a hat and has a huge smile! I couldn’t believe it the whole family was there…even the babies, as they call them. They really just mean the little ones but some of them are only days old when they are rescued.

The rain soon cleared up and we enjoyed the rest of the day in the sunshine, playing on rides, jumping queues, wiping the tears of children who were scared (and it wasn’t just the babies!) and organising the group as they jumped in and out of the pool. None of them can swim but that didn’t bother them. So I guess it has just been another day on this rollercoaster (excuse the pun) we call life. This trip is full of highs and lows. It is painful to hear the children’s stories and see where they come from but today was a definite high. Being here and seeing what Dwelling Places is doing for these children fills me with hope.

Needless to say we were all exhausted by the end of the day and the new clothes were filthy; ice cream, the dust of Kampala and sticky fingers saw to that. Watching them lick their sticky fingers reminded me that they are children. They love what other children love and they deserve childhoods, which is what DP is striving to give them.

Lots of love and then some Erica xxx

CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting)

Lo — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:00:06 +0000

News flash! We have mice! Well one special little mouse who visits our flat regularly. We’ve called him Mr Chogm after the event that is coming to Uganda in November. For those of you who are as dizzy as me and don’t keep up to date with what Queen E is up to these days you should know that she is going to be in Uganda in November (26th-28th). It kinda annoys me that they are doing a clean up. Similar to what we experienced in Peru the Ugandan’s also want to give the best impression of their country as they can and so they are busy fixing the roads (yes they are a national disgrace) and making the place look good. However, they seem to be concentrating on the areas that Betty will be in and so to hell with the people who have bigger problems than potholes!

Anyway I don’t mean to rant, that just annoys me. The good news is that they are doing what Ugandans do best: they are going to entertain Her Majesty. There will be singing and no doubt booty shaking and lots of it. I wonder too if they will make her eat Matooke and beans? Anyway they want the best to represent the country and so they have chosen the best- the kiddies at Dwelling Places! How exciting is that!? The children will sing for her so start praying now that she sees in them what we do and that she will be blessed by their performance!

Lots of love and then some Erica xxx

Meet The Peace Child Team

Lo — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 15:35:29 +0000

Good morning all. How are you or “Oliotia” as they say here in Uganda? It’s 6am here and the troops (Lorna, Heather and Buchan) are reluctantly lifting their pretty little heads from their pillows. Partly tiredness and partly physical exhaustion keeps them resting. Don’t feel sorry for us…it’s good exhaustion! Singing from sunrise to sunset with fifty excitable Ugandan children does that to you. So first of all let me introduce the team and what it is that we’re actually doing over here:

The project: Dwelling Places is a home for children who have been rescued from the streets. It is a safe place. It really is a beautiful home and they have welcomed us with open arms into their (very big) family. I will tell you more about the home itself and the work of the organisation but that really is an entry (or two) of its own. The vision Rita Nkemba (the director) and her staff have for this place is huge and we are only a small (but hopefully valuable) part of it. So we’re putting on a show. It’s called “Peace Child”. The children tell the story of two tribes: The Wannapeepees (yes seriously. I have found this name a great source of amusement much to the bemusement of the children. They are obviously much more mature than I am) and the Sopongis. The tribes are separated by a ferocious river and years of hatred. Then the unexpected arrival of a Western TV crew disturbs their primitive demise and the tribes are forced to reconcile their differences. I won’t spoil the ending for you but yes a child is involved and the two tribes come together. We’ll film it (or you never know God’s big plans for this project. I’ve got a feeling it won’t stop here!) and you can see just how talented these children really are. I’m sure they created the definition of the word rhythm.

The team:
Stage Manager: Lorna Main. Many of you know her and those of you who don’t I am sure you will be very familiar with the legend that is Miss Lorna Main or Morna Lain as I call her by the end of this year, if you’re keeping up with the blog that is. She is the talented one who composes the beautiful poems while I prattle on! Lorna answers to most things but “Auntie Lorna” is the most recent addition to her signature strip. What can I say about this gorgeous lady apart from that she is a complete inspiration to me and that it is my absolute privilege to be travelling the world with her. Some of you will know that Lorna and I originally met in Peru on a Vine Trust work party. I don’t know if sharing a mosquito net and living in the jungle with each other for two weeks was really adequate preparation for this monumental trip but it certainly helped and God has done the rest. She is my best friend, a constant (and I mean 24/7) support and encouragement to me. Lorna has amazing faith and her wisdom compliments my “kookiness” (yes you know who said that!). Anyway enough bumming this girl up- you get the idea, she’s bloomin’ wonderful! So Lorna’s official role on the team in stage manager (poor soul), which means she has all of the responsibility of organising lighting, sound, costumes, props and well yeah…staging. So basically Lorna does all of the difficult chasing of Ugandans. If you can try to imagine having to organise all of these things in Scotland where you know the currency, you know where (roughly) you would find these things and where you would have people to help. Then take all of those factors away and you have her job! Stressful but she is walking (or should I say marching: she’s such a wee warrior) in faith and so lets all just pray she gets these things done with minimal stress. Of course we will all help her and the team at Dwelling Places are helping, not to mention the children who are unbelievably talented and have already amazed us with their ability to sew and create aswell as sing, dance and act. I should really thank you in advance on behalf of the team for your generous donations towards costumes and all of these things. We want the production to be as professional as possible and these children really do deserve to have the opportunity to shine. Yes they have come from the streets but they are no longer there and they shouldn’t look, or feel, as if they are! If you haven’t already contributed then please go back to the main World Without Walls Website and get a contact for St Andrew’s church or phone the office (01506 825803).

Ok back to the team. Big B, Uncle Buchan, real name Buchan Lennon. He is something else. His official title is Artistic Director. He works incredibly hard coaching the children and encouraging them to be more theatrical. If anyone is capable of doing this it’s Big B. If you thought I was hyper…you haven’t seen anything yet. Infact I think he has done such a professional job that we now have children wondering around the home convinced that they are actually Wannapeepees. One young man, Sam, is convinced that he is actually the chief of this tribe and has taken to shouting at the smaller children and is permanently positioned on his “throne” with his head in the air. I know it is slightly concerning but hey if it makes the show look good who am I to correct him.

Heather Lennon (Buc’s big sis). Aka “Auntie Heva”. What a sweetie and boy can she boogie!? Heather is choreographer with hips that do not lie! I’m sure Lorna’s timetable goes into a little more detail about how much time we actually spend dancing in the baking hot sun but just incase she hasn’t I think I should add that this girl has energy and a set of lungs to match. She is doing a fantastic job drilling the kids of their dances. Many of them had been started before we arrived and so Heather has embraced what they had aswell as the children’s natural love and ability to dance; where we have no ideas they always come up with something! She has also injected a hip-hop flavour into the show and I know that she is creating some of the most exciting, original and innovative dance displays Uganda has ever seen. I am enjoying being taught by her just as much as the children!

Ok last but not least (I hope) Moi! “Auntie Erica”. I am musical director (Eliza please try not to laugh when you read this!) Basically I torture the children by making them sing the same songs over and over again. They adore singing and are very good at it but it pains them to have to stand or sit still while singing; they find it hard not to tap or wiggle as soon as they hear the beat but they are learning…slowly. I am pleased to report that they are getting used to my confusing directions for dynamics and their pronunciations of some of the song lyrics are now more Scottish than Ugandan, which is just great! We’ve also introduced (or sorry Gillian reinforced) the importance of vocal exercises and warm up routines. At the beginning these simply consisted of name games and some singing and dancing but with the show fast approaching everything is becoming a little fraught, to say the least, and the poor souls are being subjected to scales, vocal breathing exercise (Eliza Bonnar style) and gruelling stretches. So my job is pretty fab- anyone who knows me knows that I love singing and doing it all day everyday with children who can harmonise naturally is a dream come true!

I hope you’re exhausted reading this. We are pretty much knackered doing it but seriously we would not have it any other way. We still have an awful lot of work to do but I know that God has not saved these children (literally off the streets) for any mean feat. They are supper talented and he has big plans for them. As for us we just continue to pray every day that we are doing as much for the children as they are doing for us. They bless us every morning with their smiles and are so appreciative of our help. Their faces light up when we talk about home and tell them about you guys rooting for them. So thank you. Thank you for being part of this project and as they say, “I hope you enjoy the show”!

Lots of love and then some Erica xxx

Building at Butugaya

Lo — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 10:03:15 +0000

Morning Chiclets, how goes it? I’m sorry that I haven’t written earlier (I feel like I’m always apologising on this thing, but really it’s because we so, so appreciate all your comments and words of encouragement and I desperately want to keep you guys updated with what’s going on, but sometimes that’s easier said than done) Anyway, life in Africa today is wet! I say today because life in Africa really does change with the weather. The only things that seem to stay the same are our clothes! Yes we smell and we don’t care!

The experiences we are having are so different that our emotions are on a constant rollercoaster but I’m pleased to say that it’s all good so far. Actually it’s better than good it’s amazing. Lorna and I keep pinching each other because we really can’t believe how blessed we are to be here.

So let me explain a little bit of what we have been doing so far. You’ve heard, or read rather, about how we ended up meeting up with the Friends of King Alfred’s team.

http://www.kingalfreds.oxon.sch.uk/

OK so King Alfred’s is a Secondary school in Oxford. The team was made up of 48 people from all over the UK but mostly Oxford. The team was all different ages, talents, qualifications, shapes and sizes…you know the score. It was wonderful actually just listening to individual’s stories about how they came to be involved in the project. Maybe if you’re reading this and you’re from the team you could share some!?

Anyway, we met the team at Adrift Camp Site in Jinja. This place became our home, and a very wet one at that, for the next 10 days. Lorna and I had the unfortunate experience of choosing a tent that was not at all waterproof. Never a good idea during Africa’s rainy season but quite funny looking back. The site itself was gorgeous although very busy. I thought sharing a bathroom with a family of six was annoying try two hundred and six!

So as far as I understand in 2004 37 schools in England, Primary and Secondary, were linked up with “developing” schools in the third world. King Alfred’s happened to be linked to a secondary school here in Uganda called Lords Meads, a very affluent boarding school by African standards. Meanwhile a neighboring Primary school in Oxford (sorry I can’t remember the name perhaps someone could enlighten me) was linked to Butugaya primary school.
( Blewbury Endowed Church of England Primary )
Since 2004 the schools have enjoyed communications between students however both King Alfred’s and the Oxford Primary school agreed that in terms of immediate help, donations and funding Butugaya Primary was in more urgent and desperate need. Remember I spoke to you about the girls all crammed into one classroom where they sleep by night and learn by day. So although King Alfred’s still maintains contact with Lords Meads and we did spend time there, they have subsequently directed the majority of their physical and financial support to helping Butugaya.

So our team of 48 was divided into teams and we split our time and talents between the two schools. Each day you chose, or were allocated to, a team you wanted to join and felt you could contribute something to.

On the Butu (that school name is seriously too long) site we had a team of builders.

Their daily tasks involved carry bricks, laying bricks, cutting bricks and basically doing anything else you can possibly do with bricks. The work was very strenuous and the team did a fantastic job working alongside the local builders building a boarding house for the children there. There was also a resource team. Their job was to go the the local market and but any equipment the team needed as well as ordering the different materials needed for the finished boarding house. This was a fab idea as it generated some income for the local people and it’s always exciting to get communities involved, that way the word of good work spreads and more lives are changed! We also had teaching teams there doing guess what…teaching and finally we had the support team. Their job was to go to the local market everyday and to provide lunch, cups of tea and water for everybody. Good job team. I never lost any weight so they obviously did their job well! (Too well)

Then over on the other site, Lords Meads we had a team teaching. This included science, maths and English lessons. For me it was (one of) the most enjoyable days I have spent so far in Africa. Not only did I spend the day with my beautiful sister singing but I just felt God’s presence in that place. The children were so unbelievably responsive to what we wanted to do and welcomed us with open arms. Not to mention their ability to harmonise…naturally, which made our job a lot easier. At night we then enjoyed a huge concert where they performed some local dance and songs and then we all performed together. It was amazing. It’s weird because I know that I should be saying that building was the most rewarding because we really were doing something productive but I just can’t stop thinking about those children and their passion for education. It was so inspiring. They were just so appreciative of us spending time with them and singing with them. Of course singing gospel music all day with children who can sing is my idea of heaven but it was more that that. I felt like they knew and understood what they were singing about. They sang Eliza’s song “May the Lord Bless you and Keep you” and let me tell you everyone in that audience was truly blessed.

In Africa the parents have to pay for their children’s secondary education and so it is a privilege to even get to go to school. Some of them walk 4 or 5 kilometers everyday just to get to school (with no shoes) they start school at 5 in the morning and don’t finish until 9 at night. Each child I spoke to said they wanted to go to university but in order to do that they must get the best grades so they study and study and study!

K I want to finish with once last story about a conversation I had whilst at Lords Meads. I spoke to a young boy called Francis; or rather he spoke to me. It was the end of the day I must admit I was knackered. It happened to be one of the hot days and we’d been singing and dancing all day. Then the kids decided to set up a basketball game. The last time I played basketball I was 16 and I ended the game with a broken nose so needless to say I sat out on the side cheering my team.

I had just moved under a tree for some shade when Francis came over to talk. I feel bad looking back because to be completely honest I couldn’t really be bothered talking to him. I wanted to sleep. Anyway he persisted asking me questions. Even my one word answers didn’t dampen his enthusiasm for this dull white girl. Eventually he asked me what kind of music I liked and I blurted “gospel”. That usually stops conversations with 17 year old boys but oh no not Francis he was determined. SO then he asked, “Any particular gospel Erica?”
“Have you heard of Hillsongs?” I asked fully expecting silence. For the next hour Francis and I sat under that tree singing Hillsongs and praising God. He knew every song and he loves God! He told me all about how children at his school don’t think it’s cool to go to church and how they’d rather listen to Akon or JT than church music. He spoke of how he would be dead by now but his relationship with God had saved him and how he gets though the days here by praising God. “When I have a bad day or I see something bad in my country I just sing to God”. You see JT or Akon may make you feel happy for a second and it can be a quick fix but I know love that is everlasting!” Wow who said the sidelines weren’t as much fun as the game!

Passing Blessings

Lo — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 08:58:40 +0000

Hi everybody, how are you all? good good, i am fine too! First of all i have to apologise to my mum for the state of my clothes in the photo of me and Erica at the church at Pretoria, I will put on my sunday best for the next church photos! I would like to call this post ‘Passing Blessings’. The first thing that i have noticed whilst being away is that God is bringing all his children that have stepped out the boat for him together, to stregnthen each other and to support each other, to spread each others stories of God’s miracles and faithfullness. He is sending a connection through us all and using us to pass on his blessings!

When we were in Mozambique our team hired an electricain called Jose, there was a language barrier there. He could only speak Portuguese and German and i could only speak English and…a bit of German that came along with a confused face. Jose had left his family for a while because he had felt God call him to help Pebane. He stayed with our team whilst he was there and help with the building of the surgery. He told us his testimony and stories of God’s miracles that had gone on in his life, truley inspiring stories that showed God’s greatness and how one mans love and faith in God took him away from his family to help a helpless Pebane. It was such a blessing for me to hear of other people leaving their families to do God’s work, just like me and Erica were and how God provides in every step. He said that our team was a blessing to him. Jose was an answered prayer for our Pebane team, he too was a blessing for us.

Yesterday we were on the boat coming back from the Ssese Islands to Entebbe. The ticket collector came to collect our money for the ticket. My Joyce Meyer book was open with a book mark that my mum had made with Phillpians ch 4 v 4-9 on it. The gentleman sat down opposite me, i could tell that he was reading my book mark. He said ‘ I like what is written on this’, I said ‘ The bookmark is yours! Take it!’ , he said ‘ I have been blessed today, thank you.’ he smiled and went off. He didn’t know that he had blessed me too, my prayer that morning was for God to show me how i could spread his word. He showed me, if i am with his word then i will be able to spread it.

God has been using everyone to show that he is walking side by side with me and Erica, even down to the taxi driver that took us from Entebbe airport to Jinja! It is scary getting off at Entebbe and trying to find a trustworthy taxi driver to take us on a two hour drive! Me and Erica knew that we would just have to let our spirit guide us. We then approached a taxi driver that we felt would be ok to take us. Can you guess what happened next? yep Dennis, our taxi driver was a christian and we ended up singing gospel songs from Entebbe to Jinja! Dennis was another blessing to us, were we a blessing to him? He didn’t say. But my spirit said that we were!

Being blessed passes on blessings.

There are so many little stories that i could tell you of how blessings have been passed and i hope that i will be able to tell you sometime but this blog has limited space!

I will share a poem that i wrote about letting God guide your steps.

‘LISTEN’

Listen to your spirit
Listen to your soul
Shut your eyes for Jesus
And let him be in control

Clench your hands in a prayer
And believe in every breath
That God has heard your every word
In width, height and depth

Hear him speak with the birds
And let him know you hear
By smiling like a ray of sun
You’ve heard him loud and clear

Feel your spirit beat with joy
In the presence of your Father
He wants you to hold out you hand
So the gifts he gives, you can gather

Never fail to believe
That God has planned every hour
Now open your eyes to his Glory
And see all his power

He has done these things all for you
You’re a child of a King
And now that you’ve listened to your Master
Recieve the joy that his words will bring.

Lorna xxx

“The Lucky Ones”

Lo — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 15:59:15 +0000

src=’http://blog.standonline.org.uk/soultouch/files/2007/08/lorna.jpg’ The title of this update was a passing remark made by one the members of this team. I’m not even sure who said it but the words have been ringing in my head for the past few days. They make me feel sad and joyful at the same time, if that is even possible. They were referring to the children here at the school we have been working at. I will try to upload photos as soon as possible (this is the first time I have been on a computer or near electricity for weeks) but for now try to imagine if you can. We arrived at Butagaya school on Monday and we were met by a sea of black children wearing bright yellow dresses and shirts. These uniforms are one of the ways to distinguish between the boys and the girls in this school. They all have shaved heads as they board at their school and so head live spreads quickly, especially as they are crammed into classrooms where they sleep by night

and learn by day.

The other way of course is by their developing bodies the young girls can barely afford to go to school and so they wear torn dresses and no bras. My first thought on seeing the girls “dorm’ was how horrible it must be for these girls in the heat menstruating. They have absolutely no privacy and no sanitation. The beds they sleep on are simply straw mats, but of course a few have mattresses. They’re the “lucky ones”. I will spare you the details of the toilets but I’m sure you can imagine. They call it the long drop. I tend to hold my breathe when using it and Gill you’ll be happy to know I’m singing through it.

I will start with some news of today and work backwards. Today for me was slightly different from the rest of the team. I was privileged to go with only two other people to meet some children who were previously child soldiers in Northern Uganda. They told me of how they were captured by rebel soldiers. This war is going on as we speak and children and their families are living in fear that they will captured in the night by these men. They are taken into, what they refer to as, the bush. There they are trained to kill. One girl we spoke to said she was stolen from her school in the night. The soldiers took her along with another hundred girls. They marched them for days into the bush. She was made to cook for the commander of the rebels. I asked her if she ate with the soldiers but she sad no. They were not fed so they ate the leaves from the trees and the dirt from the ground. It’s hard for me to fathom how she could survive such torture let alone talk to some strange (intrusive) white girl about it but thank God that she could and I pray that her story will not jut be heard by me but that you will listen and take not, pray and tell and others about her. She now attends Lords Meads, a secondary school here in Jinja. She too is one of the “lucky ones” I guess.

Another young boy spoke of how he was taken from his home when he was eight. His parents were killed. I’m not sure if he was forced to kill them or not but I know that, that goes on and that it is seen as a sign commitment to the rebels. He too was taken to the bush. He was given a gun and trained to use it. The rebels take these young boys and train them to kill. Their intention is to overthrow the government and rule Northern Uganda. He talked about how they had to walk and train everyday and how if they became to weak to continue (baring in mind they were not fed) they were killed. Not only shot but “chopped up”. He pointed to a point on the back of his head and said, “they hit you there and you die.”

Both of these children escaped. I cannot imagine the bravery of these young people to flee the rebels but they both said that God was very important to them when they were in the bush and he got them through. Another interesting thing they said was that they went to the camp in Gulu. (I haven’t researched it but maybe you could research it a little). He said that it was better to be in the bush than in the camp because in the bush he could eat the leaves but in the camp (where I assume there is aid) they had to share bags of rice and there wasn’t enough for everyone.

Visited an Aids orphanage this afternoon…a whole other blog!
I’m sorry I’m running out of time to write, we have to go back to camp and I may not get internet for some time. But please keep these children in your prayers.
I promise to write happy stuff next time. So many good, exciting and wonderful things have happened since we got here it’s just that this is what is on my heart right now.

Last night we had a musical evening at Lords Mead school. Eliza and I spent the day singing with the children and teaching them some music which they performed with us infront of their whole school. Em taught them dance (they have serious rhythm) which was amazing and Lorna spent the day teaching the younger kiddies English. We love it here and wouldn’t be anywhere else! Love you all xxx