Profile: DIIKWE

Diikwe is the most remote village where Community Church Sheppey has supplied the building of a brick church. The original wood and grass structure was ‘planted’ by members of the parent church in Bweyogerere.

Hope ministered there alone for many years before she married Herbert. Every week she made the journey there from Bweyogerere on public transport to the junction nearest the village road. Then for the remaining miles, she either took a pushbike taxi or walked down the rough bush road. That part of the journey takes about 30 minutes in a car.

Since Hope and Herbert made their home in the village they have had 3 children (2 boys, Jessie and Mark, and a new baby girl named Favour). They have worked hard to build up the congregation, which in the beginning was made up mostly of children. Now there are over 100 members including many adults.

For the last 3 years, the church has also been used during the week as a school attended by over 100 children. It isn’t easy to teach in one large room when the children are of such a wide age range (4-11 years) and the textbooks and other educational materials are scarce. The teachers are particularly dedicated as they often wait long periods to be paid. Fees are given by parents as and when they can afford them.