A day in the life of an African adventurer begins with break of dawn and the incessant sound of cocks crowing. After a wash in a bowl of hot water, lovingly brought by young local girls each morning, Mary and Julia join other guests for breakfast. Small, sweet bananas, hardboiled eggs and bread – and for the braver ones, rice and steamed plantains (known as Matooke – ‘Ma-tow-key’.)

Breakfast over and the party set off for the day’s visits. The roads in Uganda are in stark contrast to the roads of Bristol and Swindon. Imagine the lovely tarmac road you live on has eroded away, leaving only a strip of tar wide enough for a single vehicle, pitted with potholes, and that you and your neighbours constantly have to jostle for right of way. Journeys are no longer swift and easy, but become instead a long and constant battle to avoid the larger holes. When you see a lorry coming in the opposite direction at speed the safest thing to do is to close your eyes and pray! Not so dissimilar to the M4 at rush hour I suppose.

Arriving at Bushenyi female prison Julia and Mary are impressed by the commitment and compassion of the Mothers Union workers – fearless and strong women who visit the prison each month. They come with tea and food ready to spend time sitting and eating with the young women prisoners, allowing them to share their stories and praying with them. As well as time spent with the inmates the workers wage a constant campaign to encourage the warders to maintain clean and hygienic conditions in the prison. Bristol MU, working in partnership with the West Ankole MU, have purchased mugs for each female prisoner after learning that they had only one bowl each for both food and drink. They leave aware of the deep injustice that women may suffer having learned that some of the women had experienced violence and abuse from their husbands, only to be jailed when they finally retaliated.

Returning to the guest house, lunch awaits – Matooke, potatoes, rice, millet bread, peas, carrots, cabbage, ground nut sauce and goat stew. Followed on a good day by fresh pineapple – twice as large and twice as sweet as our supermarket specimens.
In the afternoon a visit to a school highlights the dedication and hard work of the teachers. Many schools are unadorned with any decorations or work, but not so much for lack of care as for lack of experience. Those teachers who have been privileged enough to travel abroad and visit schools in Europe or America have returned and transformed the school environment with their new insights and skills.

Once more back to the guest house, where supper, a repeat of lunch is ready. The menu will remain essentially the same throughout their stay.

In the evening, or at lunch, Mary who is training as a preacher and speaker on the Equipping God’s People Course, might is asked to share a word of testimony or a reflection from the bible. Wherever they went they found that they had to be ready to share a word of introduction or encouragement.

In the early hours Mary wakes, and drawn by the sounds of the bush wanders outside and raises her eyes to the sky. Joined by Julia they gaze silently at the sky ablaze with stars, ‘as if someone had dribbled milk through the sky,’ marvelling at the wonder of God and His creation.

Interview by Chris Dobson

If you are on the Equipping God’s People course and would like to discover what opportunities there might be for you to visit Uganda or if you would like to invite a speaker about Uganda to visit your church, please contact Chris Dobson by email.

Rt Rev Zac Niringiye, Assistant Bishop of Kampala attended the launch of the Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda (ACCU) in November. Speaking after the event he challenged the prevailing ethos of corruption and graft, calling on churches to look to their own behaviour.

Archbishop Henry Orombi had earlier addressed the Church of Uganda’s Synod in August highlighting with sadness the fact that in a country where 85% consider themselves to be Christian there is also one of the highest levels of corruption in the world.

Archbishop Henry called the church to a new commitment to personal integrity and holiness.

It takes courage to look honestly at ourselves and to admit where we have got things wrong. Sometimes those things have become so much a part of who we are that it is difficult even to acknowledge them. Yet as Jesus observed, it is knowing the truth that will set us free. Perhaps the example of our Uganda brothers and sisters in facing painful truths can inspire us to look again at our own Christian life.

White Ant Relish

200g white ants

100g roasted groundnuts

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons honey

• Clean white ants and roast well
• Roast groundnuts and remover the husks
• Mix groundnuts and white ants and grind to fine paste, add salt
• Heat water in large pan
• Place bowl with mixture into water and warm
• Add honey and stir well before serving

For more exciting (and useable) recipes you can borrow Jolly Gonahasa’s book, Taste of Uganda from any public library.

Peter Fund

St Peters Henleaze is linked to St Philip’s Pro-Cathedral in Gulu. There has been a close relationship over the years, and in 2003 we received a request from the then President of the Mothers’ Union in Gulu to consider sponsoring one boy, Peter, through his secondary education. Through the generosity of one member of the congregation we started to support Peter.

We thought it would be good to explore the possibility of supporting orphaned children. There are thousands of orphaned children in Gulu, as result of the war and of disease. While primary education is free, secondary education has to be paid for and this excludes many children from continuing with their education. It particularly affects orphans who have no one who can earn the fees for them.

It took a while to work out the logistics, but after a visit to Uganda in 2004 by a two members of the congregation and discussions with the Mothers’ Union in Gulu, we were able to launch the Fund in 2005. It was named The Peter Fund after the first young man to be supported. It has captured the imagination of St Peters and has been far more successful than we could have imagined.

The Mothers’ Union in Gulu administers the fund for us, which means that it fits into the cultural norms of Uganda. Unlike bursaries given by NGOs, the MU requires that each student also contributes what they can, so that they learn that life doesn’t come for free. Three young people have left the programme, one because she wanted to be married, but now regrets leaving; one because the ladies of the Committee discovered that he had gained funding from another source; the third wasn’t studying well.

When I visited in January 2008, there were 14 students. The Committee intends to keep even numbers of boys and girls, so although there is enough funding to support 25 students, the numbers have risen to only 24.

Most of the students are at schools in Gulu; though it is hoped that the displaced schools will soon return to the country near to villages, as the people return to their homes.

The Mothers Union in Uganda was started in 1908 by Mrs. Weatherhead, wife of the then head teacher of Budo Junior School. Over the years it has had a profound influence on the lives of countless families.

“We believe that a happy marriage is of great value to family life. And through our work over two million families have been saved from breaking up.” Rev. Canon Edidah Mujinya, the president of Mothers’ Union Uganda.

On October 19th, 2008 Julia Lettey and Mary Head travelled with over 3000 Mothers Union members from all over Uganda to Mengo Primary School in Kampala to celebrate the Ugandan MU Centenary. It was a great event with wonderful singing and dancing competitions. Many people in Bristol Diocese will be pleased to know that the whole event was organised and introduced by Odidah Mary. At one point the clouds came over and threatened rain, but the Archbishop prayed and the rain stayed away. After the service at which the Archbishop spoke eloquently paying tribute to the role of Mothers in the church and the nation they had the feeding of the 3000.

Julia came away with the sense that we too “need to proclaim God’s Kingdom more positively and confidently.”

The four hour return journey to West Ankole turned out to be a real adventure as the bus broke down an hour out of Kampala. Fortunately when the bus going in the opposite direction arrived the drivers swapped over their passengers and they were able to continue on to West Ankole. (Who knows what time the other passengers eventually arrived in Kampala though!)

An inspirational leader

Before becoming vicar of Stapleton in 1970, Canon Norman Campbell had been a missionary in Northern Uganda since 1949. His love of Uganda made him a great advocate of clergy training and he was instrumental in supporting Janani Luwum Theological College in Gulu. He did all he could to impress on the Diocesan Uganda Link (40 years old in 2009) and others the vital importance of its role in the North.

A friendship begun

When a former bishop of Northern Uganda, Gideon Oboma came to Trinity College, Bristol for training, St. Peter’s Henleaze, provided much of the furniture for his and his wife’s accommodation. This started the support that the church has made each year to the North. But perhaps just as important has been the friendship that has grown up between the Church and the people in Gulu.

Personal visits keep the link alive

Over four years ago Richard and Judy Winn went with others to represent the Diocese at Archbishop Orombi’s Installation and then flew north to visit Janani Luwum College. Though rebel activity was still in evidence we spent a peaceful day at the Theological College, which is struggling to survive. They showed us with pride the Library and other buildings to which the church had contributed. But the real joy was an opportunity to discuss in small groups with the students who were eager to listen and contribute. (See photos) They were particularly interested in the West’s version of the homosexuality issue!

Sacrificial service means education continues despite the difficulties

The college relies on students coming from Nebbi and southern Sudan as well as the area of the North. But these areas have no money to pay for the fees as rebel activity has devastated the area for over the last twenty years. The teaching staff has taken no salaries for some time. The college is trying to provide other courses than theology and hopefully tieing up with the new Gulu University. The College needs all the financial help that can be given, and this is the concern of us all in the Deanery, as the college is vital for the training of the church leaders in this war torn area.

Article contributed by Ricky Winn

Looking for something that will grip young people’s imaginations and open up their understanding of the world?

Why not visit the ‘Slum Survivor’ website, for great ideas to help youth groups understand what it’s like for a young person growing up in third world slums. The interactive materials can be used in youth groups or school settings and have proved both popular and thought provoking.

There is £1000 available for each deanery to help facilitate travel to Uganda. For more information contact Chris Dobson at Church House: 01179060100 or chris.dobson@bristoldiocese.org

This money is available to help groups or individuals who are travelling to Uganda as part of our Diocesan and Deanery links. We would particularly like to encourage people who have never had the opportunity to go before.

Our African days …

Mornings were spent on a building site helping local builders construct a nursery school. Unlike the UK where most of the hard work is done with the help of machinery every single aspect of the building had to be done by hand.

 
In the afternoons the group went to visit different projects in the area. Emily was struck by a ‘Chilli growing and picking project’ that was helping families with disabled children to become self-sufficient. A visit to a

I asked Emily what were some of the hightlights of her trip.

Chris: How did the experience affect you?

Emily: It was completely new, and it opened my eyes to a different reality. We visited a hospital one day, and were overwhelmed by how little they had and the unhygienic conditions. Yet another day we visited a village and there was a brand spanking new surgery, but it was useless because there was no equipment! Yet the money they’d been given could only be spent on the building … what a waste.

Chris: What did you learn from the children you met?

Emily: I was really impressed by how the children (and everyone else) looked after each other. We took the children at a School for the Deaf some sweets and we had just enough for two each. If it had been an English primary school we would probably have been surrounded by a crowd of children trying to snatch as many sweets as they could. Instead the children were very careful to make sure everyone got their share, and if they were offered more by mistake refused them and pointed to someone who hadn’t had any yet. It just seemed as though people were rejoicing in what they had, whereas in England we tend to focus on what we haven’t got! I also learned to receive from God in really practical ways, especially through the love of the children and in serving the people on the building site.
I learned that people all over the world are exactly like us, just ‘over there.’

Chris: Was there anything different from home?

Emily: When they took the collection at church it was a revelation. People didn’t just bring some money or an envelope; they brought live chickens and goats with them. After the service they auctioned the chickens and goats … we ended up with our own fair share of course. Then there were the bananas and pineapples which are so much better than the ones we have at home.

Chris: So have you changed at all?

Emily: I haven’t changed that much, but I’m learning to see God in every situation. There was a little boy I met with his mother, who had escaped from Rwanda. She had to dress him up in girl’s clothes to keep him from being murdered until they got away. Yet despite everything they were just full of praise for the way God was looking after them. I’m also much less stressed over whether or not I have the right clothes, or the right CD.

Chris: Will you go again?

Emily: I hope so, I thought about going again this year with Mission Direct on their three month programme, but in the end I decided to go to Minehead to work with at a place called the Beacon which runs Christian camps for children. I start there in January.

Chris: Final question did you get a chance to travel at all in Uganda?

Emily: We got to spend a couple of nights at the Queen Elizabeth National Park in Western Uganda where we saw lions, elephants, hippos and antelope. We went on a fantastic cruise on the Kazinga Channel where we saw loads of hippos!

14 years of support for Theological Education in Uganda

One of the greatest challenges facing churches in Africa is the provision of good quality education for clergy and lay ministers. This is particularly hard for those living in areas of conflict or economic deprivation.
In 1994 Canon Paul Berg, who was then vicar of Christ Church Clifton, visited Northern Uganda and stayed for several days with Bishop Gideon Oboma and his wife. This was Paul’s first visit to Uganda and the time when the civil war with the LRA was raging. As Christ Church was linked through the deanery with Northern Uganda he decided that the most effective way to help the local church would be for Christ Church to provide financial support to enable up to eight ordinands at any one time to be trained at Bishop Tucker Theological College, near Kampala. Bishop Tucker College is now the Uganda Christian University, Mukono, and Christ Church continues to support up to eight ordinands there, 4 from the diocese of Northern Uganda (Gulu), and 4 from the diocese of Kitgum.

Personal visits keep the links alive

Trevor and Barbara Harrison met the students at Mukono when they visited Uganda in 1997, and spent an afternoon talking and praying with them. Four years later they returned to Uganda and travelled extensively in Northern Uganda, visiting parishes in the Gulu and Kitgum areas. They were impressed and moved by the fact that several of the Christ Church sponsored clergy came to introduce themselves and reminded the Harrisons of their meeting at Mukono four years previously. It was clear that they had been appointed to key positions in the dioceses and were fulfilling a vital role in the work of the church.

An ongoing commitment …

During the visit to Kitgum, Bishop Mac Ochola Baker introduced Trevor and Barbara to his successor, the Rev Benjamin Ojwang, who had also been sponsored by Christ Church. Shortly afterwards Bishop Ben and his wife Margaret were able to visit Clifton and meet the church members. Since then we have kept in touch through further visits and news circulated to supporters of the diocesan link.

Trevor Harrison, October 2008