Yesterday.....

It seems that sometimes in Africa there is electricity and sometimes there is none - yesterday there was none....so no blog!  Here's what happened for us yesterday.....

It wasn't the birds that woke me, it was the dogs!!! But regardless, another day and we headed back to the school for more building work.  Our two mimi buses took different routes, the one I was travelling, was going to stop off for some more trowels to lay bricks with. As we left 'Red Chilli' we turned left the other mini bus turned right. The houses and homes that line the roads and are everywhere you look resemble farm outbuildings at best, dilapidated sheds as worst. However, having turned left this morning we suddenly were staring at not sheds or huts but grand buildings with high gates and guards. It was an uncomfortable contrast that these two extremes stood almost literally side by side, at the end, literally not metaphorically, at the end of each others street. What a land of contrast. We called at a supermarket which would match any in the UK and were told this is where the rich shop. I chatted to Rob about this leter in the and explained to him that I was trying not to be judgemental but questioned how some could live with so much right next to those that have so little? We wondered how much we are guilty of it in other ways within our own country, within our own culture. The difference here is that there is no mixing of the rich and poor - in the UK the divide is less defined?  For these families living in mud huts, in shanty towns there is no way out. What Rob and Possibilites are striving to do and are acheiving, is to bring hope, to make a difference.

At the school we moved bricks again. One brick at a time, along a conveyor belt of humans! It was all about the throwing and catching (good job we have two PE teachers here for guidance!). So many lessons to be learnt in that one task, a mountain of bricks was moved one brick at a time, by working together and keeping our eye on the task in hand - you can work out the analogy for yourself!

African organisiation is frustrating!!  There were times today when the list makers and task oriented amongst us (you know who they are!) wanted to take charge and come up with a plan! But we (yes, I'm one of them!) are learnign to adopt African timings, Africam thinking, and African planning....on going!

For lunch we were prepared Kasava & Stew - it was a little grim, but when faced with the 'porridge' dish that the children have day in and day out, we were grateful.  After lunch as the children played I was able to give the Headmaster a football kit that Sally at work had given me - Witnesham Wasps old kit!  They were thrilled and immediately many of the boys donned the yellow and black shirts and began playing. Just as had happened the day beforem even though we'd worked hard in the hot sun the lads amongst us found new energy when a football came out. Jack was in his element!! I have pistures of Uganda, looking like Witnesham Wasps V England! Priceless.   At one moment to day I stood back and watched Zoe sitting on a wall surrounded by African children, playing with them and making them laugh and behind the wall Jack playing football with more African chilren. They were both doing what they do so well. At that moment I was immensely proud of my children and so grateful to God for them.

And finally last night we expereienced an African Cultural show! I tasted food I didn't recognise which was delicious. I smelt the interesting fusion of cooked banana, beef, rice & beans. I heard the sound of African drums, voices that sang from the soul and instruments I'd never seen before. And I saw dancers moving in vibrant colours. What a treat for the senses!!

Today has raised many questions but the one most on my mind at the end of that day was 'How do African women manage to make their bottoms move like that?!?!' I'm gonna practice!!

Well that was yesterday and today has been another day......after some food I'll tell you about it......