Whoops, I seem to have posted last a year ago... this is
turning out to become as bad as my fanfiction updates. Well technically that’s
not true because those have literally taken years. Anyhow I left you last as we
were waiting for the sea container to arrive and, as most of you know, it did come
later that day and after a lot of technical precision work, it is now sitting in
the compound. Yay. It defiantly involved a lot off boxes because, once again we
had to unload everything from the container, so it was light enough to lift by
the crane, and then have to put everything back in again. We finished very late
that night, finally closing the container at around 12:30. So the next day we
relaxed in the morning before we had LT in the evening, so that was nice.
Friday brought more work though, with the cleaning of a
nearby schools hall so it would be clean for the sponsored children’s meeting
the next day. This was a lot hard then it sounds, although it was mostly
amusing trying to push water up a hill before it runs past you. So we managed
to get that reasonably clean (as much as you can do in a dusty country with a
half mud half tiled floor) and it was all ready for the next day in which we
were staring as the hosts. This day dawned earlier then we had been used to but
we were ready with smiles on our faces for when the guests started to arrive.
It seemed like a great informative day, which included sodas, biscuits and
chapattis (yay) as a snack. Now I say seemed because I can only go on Alex and
Charles’ word considering it was all in Luganda. We then spent the rest of the day
fighting the boys over who gets to keep the rest of the biscuits, which was...
interesting, oh and welcoming Grace back from what seemed like an extremely
long trip to South Africa.
Sunday was also a nice rest, after church in the morning I
only had my washing to do and that was softened by the entertainment brought by
Brian’s little girl as we where babysitting her for a bit. The same could be
said for Monday but after a slow start the evening got very busy with the
sorting out of some of the boxes in the container, the post office and LT. The
sorting was interesting though because at one point me Grace and Anna where
literally surrounded my soap, literally I don’t think I can see any more of
that stuff for a while (no comments please :P). Tuesday followed the same trend
as we basically did nothing until LT in the evening but we did get back to a
‘girls night’. Did someone say facemasks, hot chocolate, chocolate and chick
flicks? Well it can’t have been me because we aren’t allowed to mention the c
word.
The next day we had a really nice time as it was Alex’s
birthday and we gave the Sponsored widows their Christmas gifts, which was a
delight to see. We gave them three enamel cooking pots, some t-shirts and some
of toiletries I mentioned we where sorting out earlier. They kept on breaking
out into raise songs and randomly coming up to us to say thank you. Topped of
we had a really nice rehearsal with the LT guys.
Friday was another chilled day with Lt in the evening
although this time we managed to get to a bit of TGIF, which was really nice
and saw a sort of mime artist performing to ‘God is able’ as well as a
children’s street dance club which most likely put my skills to shame.
We went to the
Saturday service that week because Grace and Susie where singing but it was the
evening where we went a little bit mental. After getting locked out by Jon,
because we where skipping around the house and decided to go round the
compound, we colour coded the shoes and played sock tennis whilst trying
potting how to get back in and getting Alex to get us the key. After a bit of a
distraction, provided by me, we managed to sneak in through the other door. I
think we are a bit saner now... I think.
Christmas service was the one thing in our mind as we woke
up on Sunday. We went off to church in the morning, hung around after wards and
got a bit of lunch before it stated at 4. Here we struck a little bit of a
disaster as, a few minutes before we were supposed to perform there was still
no sign of some of the lead roles. There was quite a lot of panic but
eventually they came and we managed to get on stage just in time. Few. In all
we got some good feedback about our dances and the mini ballet bit that Anna
and I made up about 3 days before went smoothly. Again few.
Christmas party time, now I have had a few parties that I
have been quite warm at but this was ridicules it felt like 34’, probably
wasn’t though. Anyhow, that Monday consisted of cooking, cooking, plucking a
chicken, welcoming people, and card games. It was really fun, if interesting
day. We also welcomed the newest member of our house team that day a mini Moses
who would be staying with us over the Christmas period.
Christmas Eve. I had a lovely surprise at the post office
finding that Eva, my amazing friend from Latvia had sent me a parcel containing
bracelets for the kids and a lovely card for me. We helped with the shopping,
and then went to a massive concert that a big church in Kampala was showing.
The girl doing ballet in it reminded me so much of my sister as she seemed to
be the choreographer but also filling in for someone in nearly every dance.
Christmas. Had an... interesting journey to and from church
with Brian driving us, and a nice service as the start of our first ever
Christmas in Uganda. Straight into cooking when we god back as we had set
ourselves the task of cooking an English roast and sat down to enjoy said meal
at about 4. It was very good, Jon even tried making a Yorkshire pudding which
neither looked nor tasted like it but was also delicious. We exchanged presents
and I got to Skype my parents. All in all, a good day.
Boxing Day. Got to Skype my aunty and uncle which was
awesome but apart from that absolutely nothing. It was great.
Friday we had a laugh, watching Jon get his hair cut by
Moses, and we managed to have a nice chat with Kelly and Jonno again. Saturday
we rehearsed for Sunday. Sunday LT went to another church to perform and it was
really nice getting a change of scenery. The production went really well as
well which was a plus. The following few hours where really nice but pretty
weird... just doing lots of stuff, and nothing at all... (that sounds really
mysterious, it’s not meant to be though.)
Monday was pretty awesome as I finally got packages from my
Parents and Aunt and Uncle, plus a completely surprising one from my brilliant
friend Rachel. I also got to see my honorary Aunt and Uncle over Skype whilst
opening my pressies.
New Years Eve. Tried to get as much of a lie in as we could and
chilled until we made our way to church for around 7. We welcomed in the new
year with dancing, praying, singing, hugging in muted celebration when the
clock stuck midnight, because its custom here to pray through 12, and watching
fireworks a little bit after. We clocked off at about 2:30, wanting to see the
English new year (3 hours ahead) in online.
New years Day. Slept, slept, and slept a bit more. Managed
to do some paperwork though!
Thursday and Friday we literally just rested and did more
paper work and Saturday was pretty much the same with the exception of welcoming
Alex back from his Christmas holiday and having a lovely meeting with the LT
guys.
Today’s busy, as we realise we have so much to so before we
go on Youth camp tomorrow and then are literally (my literally is not really
literally, just clearing that up because it looks different on paper as such,)
away until February.
I have been very blessed over this Christmas period as I had
been so worried about it both before coming here and as it slowly approached.
But God had been so wonderful to me, being there just when I need him, a
package here a laugh there, and not just enough to get me through my first
Christmas away from family but enough to give me and enjoyable one. Again I feel
so blessed and you guys who have prayed or send messages or parcels to me have had such a massive hand in that I
want to thank you so much. If you are still with me in all my blabbering, I
just want to give you a big spiritual hug. Here it is. *HUG*
