Cards By Maureen

Maureen (our housegirl) is making great cards to sell to raise money for her childrens school fees. You can see some in the slideshow to the right of this text. Please pass the word around your churches/friends to buy some. They are made with local material and each has a Ugandan Proverb at the bottom. Each comes in its own clear plastic bag. Email emmanason@yahoo.com for orders and put CARDS as the subject.

The Car Returns!

Just to let you know that 53 hours after leaving the MAF compound in Nairobi, our car got back to us! The drivers had been extremely careful, and thankfully they and the car got back safely! Hurrah!

Asifwe Bwana Yesu, Kwa Mataifa Yote

This means - Praise the Lord with all your life!

This was a song that we sang at church. It is actually Swahili - and not Luganda that is spoken around Kampala. It's our prayer that we do manage to live out this song this week - despite the frustrations of life! There seem to have been plenty to frustrate us this week. The internet has been particularly bad, and of course as IT manager - it comes to haunt Laurie. It hasn't been a problem at MAF end but further up the chain - but nonetheless it has been rather a burden for Laurie this week.

Another frustration is our car (still in Kenya). It is meant to be coming back from Kenya soon - hopefully today. I'm having a hard time trusting into the hands of people we don't know at all! We pray that the roads have been clear and that the driver (and car) have been safe.

Yesterday I went to see a performance to celebrate 10 years of a project here in Kampala called Tigers Club that works with street children. They had some wonderful dancers as part of the performance. I'm attaching a video of them. It's really quite impressive! You'd never realise that bottoms could wiggle that fast!

Also, yesterday a kwangela (Ugandan Introduction Ceremony) happened next door to us. This is like an elaborate engagement party of sorts. We watched as a big truck holding lots of chairs and sound system went up the drive! From experience we knew that we could be in for a loud night. As part of the celebration the families give each other gifts. A cow (one of the presents) was parked outside our house for a time before he was offered (still alive) to the family. We were very grateful that the party ended by 10pm!

Laurie Returns! (and other stories)

Laurie arrived back from S. Africa by a commercial flight last night. He said he saw some amazing scenery - the patchwork quilt of fields of Tanzania, the rose gardens of Malawi, the very full rivers of Mozambique and the busyness of the airspace in South Africa. By the time he got home, he'd had chance to do some shopping at the amazing shopping malls. So, on the whole it was a good trip. Thanks so much for your prayers!

The plane is now going to be resprayed in South Africa. Before it left, our engineers had some fun 'decorating' it. You will probably have to click on the photo below to read what it says.

When the spray job is finished with the standard MAF logo and style, Laurie will go down to do the reverse journey.

Bethany had her first piano lesson yesterday. On a scale of 1 - 10 where 10 is 'as fun as playtime' and 0 is 'as fun as having an injection' - she rated it an 8. Not bad! She's got a fantastic teacher called Paul from the Kampala Music School. She has also been working on her recorder, and can read some basic music now.

Laurie Arrives in Lanseria, South Africa

Again sorry for not putting this up yesterday. We had power, but no internet connection! Gggrr!

Laurie landed after a long flight yesterday. It took about 6 hours to go from Malawi to Lanseria which is next to Johannesburg. Laurie said that South African airspace was crazily busy. It's a bit of a change from the quiet grass airstrips that he normally flies into!

He has a day of quiet today (Thursday) and will fly home tomorrow. Hurrah!

We really appreciate all the prayers that have been said on Laurie's behalf, and for me and the girls at home too. So, thank you all very much!

Laurie Arrives in Lilongwe, Malawi

Sorry I couldn't post this yesterday. The power was off - so that means no internet!

It's a long way to Lilongwe! Laurie arrived safely with all passengers plus a cello at about 1.30pm on Tuesday. Laurie, Mike (other MAF chap, plus his kids Deborah and Ivan) are staying with some friends of ours - Rachel and Stu who used to live here in Kampala. Deborah and Ivan were apparently having a wonderful time playing with Rachel and Stu's two kids - so it sounded like it was a good place to stop for all. I will let you know when he arrives in Lanseria tomorrow.

Laurie Arrives in Dodoma, Tanzania

Laurie texted today at 11.50am to say that he and his passengers (father and 2 kids from MAF Uganda) had already arrived at Dodoma, Tanzania. MAF have a base in Dodoma. The 'pod' from the aircraft - where all the luggage goes will be removed at Dodoma and then they will continue the journey tomorrow without it. Dodoma is 'out in the sticks' and food shopping is extremely limited - so an enormous box of salami and cheese was sent down for the International staff there.

Swimming!

One advantage of living in a hot climate is that the kids get to swim regularly - Naomi swims every day at school if it's good weather.
Bethany is quite an accomplished swimmer now and is working on diving. Naomi swam a width without arm bands on Friday too! Here are some pictures of them - mucking about in the water.

Bethany

Naomi