And today Katini

13 August
Today School Connect had organised a cross cultural day, nine or ten of the connected schools in the Teso region had sent a couple of teachers and children to it.

Games were played stories told and songs sung and I was volunteered to teach a little origami.

School bus Uganda style

Teachers comparing notes

Impromtue geography lesson 

Michelle teaching songs

Song in Eteso about squirrels digging up ground nuts

more singing

Ikea eat your heart out!!!!

Ok, so here is some flat pack furniture Uganda style!!

As it arrived from the supplier 

the back panel 

Michael and Moses making sure its ok 

Almost there

Joshua supervising 

cutting the back panel

Ok can someone explain why a masungo is not allowed to crawl on the floor cutting ply-wood???

The finished article

Francis {who commissioned the selves } Myself and Michael

 Whilst putting the books on the shelf this fly leaf was discovered, Bob was Pastor at Canterbury Baptist Church whilst I was growing up and I know Mary his wife who still lives in Canterbury.

Whilst Michael, Moses and I built the book cases the Pastors had training on how to use the lamps they received yesterday and Diana with the help of two translators spoke to the Pastors Wives about women's issues and how Touching Lives Initiative might help them. 

We gave each of the translators a chicken in thanks.

I forgot to say yesterday we had to pay someone to bring the materials to the site, they charged 1000 Ugandan Shillings per item!!! Total cots for a 30km trip 10000 shillings, just under £2!

Soroti and Atiriri

9th August
We left Sipi refreshed and took a leisurely drive to Soroti, 'PRAISE BE!' the road is now complete no running of the carriage way to avoid work men any were on route.

Descending Mount Elgon

Descending Mount Elgon

The Lake west of Soroti

Soroti Rock

Soroti Market from my Hotel balcony

A Stoney Pastor!

Later in the evening we were joined by Diana Mbabazi from Touching Lives Initiative. 

10/11 August

We travelled to Atiriri Bible School where Dave would lead some training and Sally & Michelle would travel out to visit link schools and do some teacher training. 

Bicycles are the usual form of transport for Pastors in rural Uganda

I found these chain wheels interesting

Pastors arriving on Monday

I have today found a new best friend, Diane said that she thought Dave was older than me when in fact he is more than ten years younger! Yes she actually said she thought I was in my early forties.

Diana Mbabazi

Diana, Dave, Sally & Michelle

Small group work

On Tuesday afternoon Jude, Michael and I went into Soroti to collect materials to make some bookcases for the Bible Schools Library, I saw the vehicle below on our travels.

When we returned the teaching session had almost finished

Dave teaching with Cornelius translating

Lunch

We also had the Solar lamps to give out to the Pastors here is my friend Ojur Michael Pastor of Obalanga Baptist Church, the Ugandan Church linked with Faversham baptist Church receiving his lamp. He will now be able to study after 6:30 in the evening.

Some of the other Pastors benefiting from the Let There be Light Project

Jinja, Babago & Sipi

7th August

We travelled to Jinja to collect the new tyre to replace the one that had burst on us, yes we had spent the time at Kumi running on a skinny spare!! Having said goodbye to Andrew and Pearson both of who where catching the coach back to Kampala we drove to Babago Primary School. This school has just created a link with St Peters Primary in Canterbury through School Connect  which both Sally & Dave have connections with. We were received warmly by the children and the Head Teacher.

Headteacher  

We were fed as usual

Then the whole school were assembled under the big tree for speeches from The Head a representative of the Village council and the Chair of the PTA

 Followed by singing and poetry and Sally told them all about School connect and St Peters School

After more food we said our farewells and headed for Sipi Falls for a well earned day off!!

8th August

Having arrived at Sipi River lodge around six pm yesterday today was some what greyer and cooler than we have had so far but what a sight from our porch!

The day was spent in equal amounts of reading and wandering around the extensive grounds bird watching or just enjoying the scenery. I was really pleased to see a pair of Little Bee-Eaters feeding their young, but even with my Guide to Birds of East Africa one or two species went unidentified!

View on entering Sipi River Lodge

OUR COTTAGES

David, Jude, Michelle and I were in the main cottage Sally had the little one at the back to herself

View from our porch

And here is a selection of views around the grounds