HELLO SHEPPEY - BLOGGER MARI CALLING

I can't believe I have at last entered the 21st century and have become a "Blogger" wey hey !!!

What have I been up to while Beki has been flogging herself to a frazzle teaching? mmmmm.... Emmanuel (hereafter called Emi) and I have met with a Christian artist called Haggai, and I hope to get a few different things to bring home and sell. You will be pleased to know that the Batiks that we sell on behalf of Emi and his family, are paying for his kid's schooling. It is particularly helping now as Samuel, his oldest, has started at Uni.

Each week I attend Prayer Meetings and Bible Study evenings at Bweyogerere church in the evening, so some of my day has to be spent preparing notes etc. I have also been taken to various churches that Emi oversees and have to speak at them also, so my head is always in my Bible (not a bad thing). One of the brothers in the Church took me out on home visits last Friday, which is quite an adventure as we have to go "footin" (i.e. walking). It is pitch dark by about 6.30 p.m. so you are forever tripping over and its a miracle to return home in one piece. I managed to see one of the Pastors (Joseph) who has been ill for about 10 days.... he was so pleased that we visited and prayed with him and his family... These visits mean so much to them.

Last Saturday we held a small Medical Mission at Bweyogerere Church. A Ugandan Doctor (Frank) works with the Medical Team that come over from International Connections. This was the only day he could spare us and we could not go too far afield, due to transport difficulties. He saw some of the orphans for general small problems. A lot of women and kids from the community also came with malaria and various infections. I worked alongside the Nurse putting the various drugs into little envelopes for them. Beki kindly played with the children to keep them occupied.

Last Friday I went to see the Orphans with Florence. They are now all back from the summer holidays and staying in the dormitories at Bweyogerere. We checked all their bunks to make sure they all had a bed, a mattress, a blanket etc. Afterwards we gave out the letters. Thank you to all of you who did a letter for your sponsored child. Their little faces lit up, they were beaming. The ones that did not get a letter had to be pacified with some biscuits we had left over from the children's ministry when the whole team were here. Also some of the kids are sponsored by a different group, who are actually visiting them at the moment. They look after 10 of the orphans. They are taking them out for a while so, Beki and I have cooked up an idea to help the others feel special. We will go down to the school at lunch time (while the 10 are away with the sponsors) and teach them some songs, play games etc. and of course give out biscuits. It is so difficult to know what is best to do. But I want every one of you to know that those kids really love you, your doing a great job. On Saturday, between patients at the medical mission, they were around Beki and I asking.... what is my sponsor like...... Obviously we gave you all a glowing report! At present, I am working on individual "profiles" for each orphan, with a few details of their backgrounds. These will be forwarded to Paul, then in time, Sue will give them out to you. Please be patient, as I can only get into Kampala a couple of times a week for emailing as the connection there is so much better.

Beki and I have been invited to meet the widows of Bweyogerere Church (there are 12 of them). We will be going to one of their houses and have a little meal then share something from the Bible with them.

HEY..... GREAT NEWS.... I'm a grandmother (again). Pastor John from Sonde and his wife Christine had a new baby girl on the 6th October and they have named her Marie. Obviously I am thrilled. I have also got Reenah Marie who is now about 5 years, she is the daughter of David and Emma Baraza. She was born when I was here for 3 months in 2003, and had a lot of health problems. She has had a couple of operations now and is a lot better. And then there is little Jennifer, who was rescued by Emi's mum from the witchdoctors, who were going to use her as a sacrifice (no.... I am not kidding). She lives with Emi's mum (Jaja) and came to Emi's house with the 2 older girls she lives with. When Beki asked her if she could tell us a story, she said "no but I will sing you a song". She then went right ahead and did it. I love her to bits.

Next week (on Wednesday) we hope to go to the village of Butinindi. Emi and Florence have a small plot of land there where they grow food for the school. Florence has a real burden for the elderly people who live there and, in Flo's words, "they have given up hope". So she wants us to go and tell them that Jesus still has work for them - as far as I know there are not many Christians there, so it is a good opportunity to evangelise.

The weekend of 11th and 12th October. Beki and I hope to be going with Baby Charles (the children's worker) to Soroti. We will visit the people who were effected by the floods last year. You may remember that Community Church raised some money for them. We want to see their Pastor - Francis - and just encourage them a little.

The date has been set for my visit to Rwanda - it will be 17th - 20th October. Emi, Flo, myself and a guy called Pastor Isaiah, will be going. It will take all day to travel their by coach and obviously a day to return. Saturday (18th) I will be visiting 2 churches in Kigali which Pastor Isaiah visits regularly, then on Sunday we will go to visit a church that Emi knows. This is a great opportunity to show the love of God to people who have suffered so much through tribal warfare, especially in Kigali which was the centre of the troubles some years ago when so many Tutsi people were killed by the Hutu tribe. Having said that there was killing on both sides. So many refugees and displaced people. I really cant imagine what it is going to be like. Pray for me. Hope to write some more another time. Mari