Dear followers and readers,
we just arrived in Mexico. Jet lag is killing us (or at least me) but I'm sure in a couple of days we'll be fine. The altitude doesn't seem to be a problem but we may be feeling it when we'll start going up and down the hills of Zacatecas.
Anyway, as from now on we'll have different experiences and feeling going on, I'll update as often as I can. But I'll be moving to our new blog www.needgreatersmexico.blogspot.com
So please, if you want, follow us on our new blog (and maybe become official followers if you'd like)
Soooo.... ta ta for now!
Hasta la próxima vez!
Byeeeee
PS. If you want to read our past experiences in Uganda, please refer to the archive on the right.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Official News!!!
NO, I'm not about to give you some new enlightening on the truth or something coming directly from the GB... This news are about us, the intrepid Panduro family...
Goodbye Uganda!
Goodbye Uganda!
Monday, April 18, 2011
Lord's Evening Meal... What an Adventure!
As you all know (and I think all of you had it by now) we just had the Memorial of Christ's Death. Now, last year it was an adventure. It was pouring down with rain, we couldn't hear the speaker as the tin roof was amplifying the noise of the rain and power was off... but still we had an outstanding 189 attendance!
Yesterday (Sunday) we woke up and we had power, the sun was shining, the sky was blue and now the Kingdom Hall has a proper cement ceiling so we didn't worry about the sound! So me and Chris decided to chillax at home and VERY SLOWLY prepare for the Memorial.
Our Memorial was starting at 6.30pm so we had plenty of time. At 4pm a storm came, it was bucketing down and it continued until 5 when we got to the Kingdom Hall. Funny thing is, the council is planning to tarmac the road outside the Kingdom Hall, but before tarmacking, they're widening it. This means that they are actually digging the actual road (to make it flat) and the sides (to make it wider), chopping down any tree that is in the way.
At the entrance of our Kingdom Hall, we had a beautiful, massive old tree...but it was in the way!!!! So Saturday afternoon they decided to cut it and to work on the stretch of road just outside the KH. We thought that they would either finish their job by Saturday evening or, while chopping the tree, do it in a way that would make the tree fall away from the road, the KH's entrance or the KH's roof! Anyway, by the time we left the KH Saturday evening, they hadn't finish with the tree yet.
Another little interesting particular of this story is that the main road to the KH is closed as there's a river going across the road so the council decided also to build a bridge. So there are 3 other ways to get to the KH but each one of them is narrow, full of potholes and humps and they're not happy road during the rainy season.
Guess which season we're in now...
Anyway...
...when we leave the house it's 5pm, it's pouring down and we're all anticipating the mud/slidinglikeonice problem. What we didn't expect is this:
1. While working on the stretch of road outside the KH, the council dug 50cm deeper than the normal level of the road, meaning that each tiny narrow road going to the KH would end with a big drop. So we couldn't reach the KH with the car.
2. While cutting the tree, they decided that it would be easier to make it fall parallel the road and that's how the tree was: parallel to the road, but blocking the entrance of the KH (so even a 4x4 car wouldn't have been able to make it).
3. Because of the roadworks, the road was soft therefore after the heavy rain, the mud was about 15cm deep (imagine that with snow). The car got stuck and 4 or 5 brothers, Chris included, had to push it out of the mud.
Now, because of power problems here in Uganda, we decided to bring a back up system, an inverter with a battery. For people who don't know what it is, the battery is a normal truck battery (VERY HEAVY) and the inverter is a machine that takes power from the battery and gives it to whatever you connect to it. We thought we would get to the entrance of the KH so we wouldn't need to carry it for a long distance. But as you read, we couldn't get to the front of the KH. So Chris and another brother had to carry it for 300mt in thick deep mud (remember that all of them are suit up for the Memorial). I had high heels (very clever of me) and got stuck in the mud up to my ankles.
So while Chris and others were pushing the car out of the mud, we (sisters) "run" (more like made our way) to the KH, took our shoes off, set the stage, washed our feet, washed our shoes, greeted everybody and found a sit for other brothers' studies.
Anyway, WE STARTED IN TIME!!!
And the full moon didn't fail us.
The atmosphere was great. The KH was full and in a nearby village, Kyarusozi, where we've been having the meetings once a month, one of our Elders was holding the Memorial and they had a great attendance.
Christopher was assigned at the emblems and funny story: one teenager, wanted to eat the bread. Seeing that, the brother passing the bread from the other end of the line slapped his hand down (just imagine the scene ok?). The boy looked up at him, and went for the bread AGAIN. So the brother looked at him and slapped his hand again and then a third time. So finally the boy got it and passed the plate without taking any of the bread. Another lady took a piece (but didn't eat it) and put it back when she realized no one was taking and the plate was already a row behind her.
As total, we were 188. One less than last year, I know, but one of our sister is soon due, so you know what??? I'm counting the baby. As Jehovah does ;] .
Yesterday (Sunday) we woke up and we had power, the sun was shining, the sky was blue and now the Kingdom Hall has a proper cement ceiling so we didn't worry about the sound! So me and Chris decided to chillax at home and VERY SLOWLY prepare for the Memorial.
Our Memorial was starting at 6.30pm so we had plenty of time. At 4pm a storm came, it was bucketing down and it continued until 5 when we got to the Kingdom Hall. Funny thing is, the council is planning to tarmac the road outside the Kingdom Hall, but before tarmacking, they're widening it. This means that they are actually digging the actual road (to make it flat) and the sides (to make it wider), chopping down any tree that is in the way.
At the entrance of our Kingdom Hall, we had a beautiful, massive old tree...but it was in the way!!!! So Saturday afternoon they decided to cut it and to work on the stretch of road just outside the KH. We thought that they would either finish their job by Saturday evening or, while chopping the tree, do it in a way that would make the tree fall away from the road, the KH's entrance or the KH's roof! Anyway, by the time we left the KH Saturday evening, they hadn't finish with the tree yet.
Another little interesting particular of this story is that the main road to the KH is closed as there's a river going across the road so the council decided also to build a bridge. So there are 3 other ways to get to the KH but each one of them is narrow, full of potholes and humps and they're not happy road during the rainy season.
Guess which season we're in now...
Anyway...
...when we leave the house it's 5pm, it's pouring down and we're all anticipating the mud/slidinglikeonice problem. What we didn't expect is this:
1. While working on the stretch of road outside the KH, the council dug 50cm deeper than the normal level of the road, meaning that each tiny narrow road going to the KH would end with a big drop. So we couldn't reach the KH with the car.
2. While cutting the tree, they decided that it would be easier to make it fall parallel the road and that's how the tree was: parallel to the road, but blocking the entrance of the KH (so even a 4x4 car wouldn't have been able to make it).
3. Because of the roadworks, the road was soft therefore after the heavy rain, the mud was about 15cm deep (imagine that with snow). The car got stuck and 4 or 5 brothers, Chris included, had to push it out of the mud.
Now, because of power problems here in Uganda, we decided to bring a back up system, an inverter with a battery. For people who don't know what it is, the battery is a normal truck battery (VERY HEAVY) and the inverter is a machine that takes power from the battery and gives it to whatever you connect to it. We thought we would get to the entrance of the KH so we wouldn't need to carry it for a long distance. But as you read, we couldn't get to the front of the KH. So Chris and another brother had to carry it for 300mt in thick deep mud (remember that all of them are suit up for the Memorial). I had high heels (very clever of me) and got stuck in the mud up to my ankles.
So while Chris and others were pushing the car out of the mud, we (sisters) "run" (more like made our way) to the KH, took our shoes off, set the stage, washed our feet, washed our shoes, greeted everybody and found a sit for other brothers' studies.
Anyway, WE STARTED IN TIME!!!
And the full moon didn't fail us.
The atmosphere was great. The KH was full and in a nearby village, Kyarusozi, where we've been having the meetings once a month, one of our Elders was holding the Memorial and they had a great attendance.
Christopher was assigned at the emblems and funny story: one teenager, wanted to eat the bread. Seeing that, the brother passing the bread from the other end of the line slapped his hand down (just imagine the scene ok?). The boy looked up at him, and went for the bread AGAIN. So the brother looked at him and slapped his hand again and then a third time. So finally the boy got it and passed the plate without taking any of the bread. Another lady took a piece (but didn't eat it) and put it back when she realized no one was taking and the plate was already a row behind her.
As total, we were 188. One less than last year, I know, but one of our sister is soon due, so you know what??? I'm counting the baby. As Jehovah does ;] .
Fort Portal - Attendance 189
Fort Portal - Publishers 67
Fort Portal - Partakers 0
So, another Memorial is gone. My 27th Memorial! Our 4th Memorial in Africa!! I Wonder where we're going to be next Memorial...
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
He will make you strong!!!
Well, we just came back from Mbarara for our Circuit Assembly. The program was really encouraging and straight forward. But let me start from the Pioneer Meeting on Friday.
We left Fort Portal Friday morning early (me, Chris, Trevor, Abraham and Benjamin, one of our studies) and I have to admit that by the time we arrived, we just had the time to put on a skirt (for me) and a tie (for the boys). We were tired and I was feeling a bit "lazy" (I found out later that I wasn't the only one) but the moment we stepped into the Kingdom Hall something lifted our spirits instantly. We felt... happy and light at heart!
The moment we started singing...
WOW... we could definitely feel Jehovah's spirit at work in there. We had goosebumps. We were shouting, all of us, at the top of our voices, but we sang beautifully. We sounded like the Vocal Renditions (I'm not exaggerating). After hearing song 36 "He will make you strong" (my favourite), Jehovah took us away with him in what it turned out to be the best Pioneer Meeting we had since our Pioneer School! Three and an half hours went like a blink. And the District Overseer asked to sing the last song 75 "Our reasons for joy" in turns. So the sisters sang the first part of the line and the brothers the second. We then joined in for the chorus. Well, the stereo wouldn't work but I personally think that it turned out to be AMAZING!
Again, shouting at the top of our voices, but perfectly in harmony! Not one of us was out. And I have to admit that the brothers were simply perfect. Even the D.O. said so at the end. And the feelings we had after that...well we couldn't even explain it to each other. Not only goosebumps again but also tears (some of us).
So let me stop talking about the singing and let's go on the talks! The first thought in the first talk was brilliant! The District Overseer said that Satan wants us to leave the SAFETY of the full time service! I never thought about the full time service as a SECURITY for us. But when we think about it, being in the full time service does keep us safe.
We have less time and opportunity to be distracted!
We're constantly in the field talking about Jehovah so our faith keeps on growing and that's what keeps us in the full time service! It's a continuous cycle! And another important thought was that joy should spring from within us, not from outside! And it's true as sometimes the environment, emotional, economic or other type of hardship can take away that joy from us and although we're still in the full time service we're not giving our 100% to Jehovah!
Now to cultivate that joy though we need to get to know Jehovah really well and always see our ministry as a privilege. Isn't it true that sometimes we give our privileges for granted? Or that we tend to feel superior because of our privileges? I personally feel that it's difficult to fight these feelings! Like "Oh yeah I was at the pioneer meeting because I'm a pioneer" or "Oh yeah I know the missionaries because I'm a pioneer" or something like that. To be honest, yes it's a wonderful privilege to know all these missionaries and to be good friend with them, but sometimes I look in the congregation and I see the sister who preached in Sudan in the 70's on her own although it's a muslim country. I see the sister that although she wasn't a pioneer, brought to the truth entire families. I see the brother that could choose to go to university but instead chose pioneering. I see the brother that was abandoned by his wife and he has 2 children to care for but still endures! These brothers is a privilege to know! They form our congregations. They encourage us by being there although they have to walk miles under the sun!Well yes, I think that Pioneer Meeting was what I needed! It recharged me!
Now I could tell you more... but then I would have to kill you ;)
So I'll be writing about our CA soon and our crazy evenings in Mbarara!
Hope I wasn't boring!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Moving House!
Changing house is among the main causes of stress in humans' lives. That and divorce.... and divorce is not included in our vocabulary so...
Now let me tell you about our "changing house" experiences in Uganda. You see, here contracts have no value. I mean, you can write down together with the Landlord/Landlady, sign it in front of witnesses but still... it has no value! Actually, it has value when it comes to the landlord rights but not when it comes to your rights.
Let me explain...
Since we came to Uganda, we changed 7 houses. 7 HOUSES!!!! In less than 5 years... now someone could say "Well, maybe you're the problem then". To be honest, we thought that too for a while... but the evidence says the opposite.
So, 4 years ago, the first house we found, was a 2 bedroom,2 bathrooms,study, sitting room, dining room, kitchen and garden. Very nicely finished. Tiles, proper shower with an amazing water pressure (big deal for Africa), nice size kitchen with door on back garden. Mosquitoes' net on windows (another big deal for here, especially in Kampala) and half furnished. The Landlord was very reasonable and, even more important, he was never there as he was half Ugandan half Argentinian so he was spending most of his time in Argentina.
Well, the house was in a very secure compound with other 5 houses, all occupied by nice people (so we thought). But then few weird things started to happen. For example in 2 months we got malaria twice (both of us) and we later found out that behind our back garden there was a swamp. Our house was at the end of the compound, bordering with the owner's house who had 3 dogs that kept barking every night, the whole night. We asked him to keep them in at night but, after 2 or 3 days of peace, they were out again barking. So we couldn't sleep. The neighbour opposite us, an Italian by the way, used to bring girls and have big parties every other day. The women often started fighting with each other (probably jealous) so all you would hear was screaming and swearing. So I think you understand why we had to leave that place.
Now on to the next house. We got in contact with this Landlady who was living in UK and was thinking about renovating her house. When she heard we were interested, she agreed with us to give us the house after renovating everything. She even asked us to help in choosing the tiles, doors, handles, kitchen cupboard and to give ideas on how to improve the garden. After going around for 2 weeks with the plumber, carpenter, electrician, painter etc etc the house was nearly ready. 2 weeks before moving in, we called the Landlady to update her on the developments and she was strangely cold and dismissive and hanged up. After that phone call, we tried and tried again but she would never answer the phone. 5 days before moving in, she finally picked up the phone and simply said that she didn't want to rent it anymore. So we talked to our Landlord and asked for a couple of weeks to find a place, but he had people moving in our place 2 days after we were supposed to move out. So we had 5 days to find a house.
We eventually found two storey house (1 apartment above where the Landlady was living, 1 below empty). The apartment was really nice. Beautiful tiles, massive kitchen, massive garage, laundry, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and an annex with another en-suite double bedroom (that came handy later when a sister needed an accommodation for few months). Everything was fine and it was incredibly cheap. The surroundings were not the best, but we were right into our territory so we didn't mind. Until we found a rubbish tip on the back of the house. Until we found out that there was a problem with the water pipes coming to this part of town meaning that we didn't have water for 2 months. Until a 15 year old boy was killed outside our gate so they could take the equivalent of £2 from him. Until we got stuck in the mud with our car and we had to pay 10 guys to pull the car out by hand. We HAD to leave.
On to the next house. My parents were coming to stay in Uganda so we decided to start with a bigger house and see if we could just share the rent. The house was really big, but not well distributed. One bedroom was enormous while the other, although en-suite, was tiny. Fine! No problem! Until... the toilet seat broke and the landlord didn't want to change it! Until the sewer started coming up from the drain in our bathroom and the landlord wouldn't do anything about it. Until the kitchen started to fall apart. Until my cat chopped half his foot off on the barbed wire. Until I got malaria again because on the other side of the wall next to our bedroom there was a slam area with stagnant water. Until the Landlord found someone who would pay more than us and took our complaints as an excuse to send us out.
Next please!!! An old house, half renovated, perfect size for us, not too big nor too small. Big garden. Only house in the compound. The landlady was even building an on-suite bathroom outside our bedroom. Perfect! Until... we started noticing rat droppings on the kitchen top coming from a whole in the ceiling. Until the builders used to come and sit around, leave a mess but they wouldn't get anywhere with the building. Until after 3 months we asked the Landlady when this bathroom would be finished and she got so angry that she sent us a letter giving us 1 month to get out of the house. That's when we decided that we had enough. We decided to go back home. So we took our safari trip and discovered Fort Portal.
Planning to come to Fort Portal, we then found the "perfect" house. European Landlord, only 2 bedrooms, B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L garden with bananas, avocados, mangos and even a marijuana plant (that we obviously eradicated). Amazing flowers, anything I would plant would grow. Why did we leave? We had to leave the country as the immigration would not renew our visas. We would never have left it otherwise. But then we came back...
So the house where we were staying before the one we're staying now, was too big, bad condition, very old...not very nice! I know, someone would say that T.I.A. but as we finally decided to stay in Uganda, we wanted to find something where we would feel happy and that would take less time. So we moved into this house where we're leaving now.
You see...as the house is new and unfinished, the Landlady agreed to use the money from our rent to finish certain things around the house. We entered the house without any kitchen cupboard or internal door. She said they would be fixed in a week or so. It took them 3 months. If you could see the house today, you would notice that nothing has changed in the last 8 months a part from the money WE spent to fix things she didn't want to fix (vital stuff like electrics and showers). At the end of September 2010 if you remember we had the C.O. staying with us and we still had no internal doors. A bit awkward to have a shower without the bathroom door right? When we called the Landlady 3 weeks before explaining the situation, she assured us that she would fix every door in a week. 2 days before the C.O. arrival, we called her to ask about the door and she just replied "Well you have to stay without doors because I don't have the money to pay". After a "short" discussion in front of other people (and our threat to leave the place) the doors arrived and were fixed in 2 days.
Then we finally asked for the boys quarter (external rooms) as we wanted to help a pioneer sister in the congregation. Now, the boys quarter is supposed to be included in our rent but we've been patient with her as she said she had some of her things in it and we didn't really need it until now. When we finally asked, after 6 months, she said "No I'm not going to remove my things from there." End of story. Again, we tried to ignore that. But then we found out that Chris' parents are coming to stay so we wanted to make some improvements to the house, even if it meant doing it ourselves. So we cleared out all the building sand and broken tiles and pieced of metal left over where the parking space should be. We asked her many times to clear out the "rubbish" (as SHE called it) and she always said "I will, I will". So now we just took action. Two days after, Chris receives a call from her, screaming that she wants all her "rubbish" back as it was very expensive. So Chris, very politely and calm, clearly explains that we needed that space cleared out as his parents are coming but she replied by rising her voice even more "I want my stuff back!!!". So Chris, exhausted just said "Ok, I'm sorry but we're going to leave in June (after his parents leave)". She hanged the phone and we've never heard from her. In the meantime, Chris wrote the notice letter as the contract stated that the notice should be written and should not be only verbal.
Two days ago we received a letter from her lawyer saying that we have to get out by the 10th of May as our rent expires on that date. We then called the lawyer and said that we obviously wanted to give the money for extra month and that we didn't have any intention to stay here without paying. We still waiting for an answer.
We're currently looking for a decent house and still deciding if it would be wise moving before Chris' parents arrive (don't want to move house while guests are here...I get all stressed and nervous and then become nasty with everyone).
So anyway... T.I.A. As you can see, IT'S NOT US!!!
Jehovah always gave us the strength and patience to keep our calm with our landlord/landladies and in a way he always rewarded us with a better place. So we're heading to our 8TH house! We're praying that the next place will be our last one, so we're looking carefully trying to make a wise decision.
We'll keep you up to date.
Now let me tell you about our "changing house" experiences in Uganda. You see, here contracts have no value. I mean, you can write down together with the Landlord/Landlady, sign it in front of witnesses but still... it has no value! Actually, it has value when it comes to the landlord rights but not when it comes to your rights.
Let me explain...
Since we came to Uganda, we changed 7 houses. 7 HOUSES!!!! In less than 5 years... now someone could say "Well, maybe you're the problem then". To be honest, we thought that too for a while... but the evidence says the opposite.
So, 4 years ago, the first house we found, was a 2 bedroom,2 bathrooms,study, sitting room, dining room, kitchen and garden. Very nicely finished. Tiles, proper shower with an amazing water pressure (big deal for Africa), nice size kitchen with door on back garden. Mosquitoes' net on windows (another big deal for here, especially in Kampala) and half furnished. The Landlord was very reasonable and, even more important, he was never there as he was half Ugandan half Argentinian so he was spending most of his time in Argentina.
Well, the house was in a very secure compound with other 5 houses, all occupied by nice people (so we thought). But then few weird things started to happen. For example in 2 months we got malaria twice (both of us) and we later found out that behind our back garden there was a swamp. Our house was at the end of the compound, bordering with the owner's house who had 3 dogs that kept barking every night, the whole night. We asked him to keep them in at night but, after 2 or 3 days of peace, they were out again barking. So we couldn't sleep. The neighbour opposite us, an Italian by the way, used to bring girls and have big parties every other day. The women often started fighting with each other (probably jealous) so all you would hear was screaming and swearing. So I think you understand why we had to leave that place.
Now on to the next house. We got in contact with this Landlady who was living in UK and was thinking about renovating her house. When she heard we were interested, she agreed with us to give us the house after renovating everything. She even asked us to help in choosing the tiles, doors, handles, kitchen cupboard and to give ideas on how to improve the garden. After going around for 2 weeks with the plumber, carpenter, electrician, painter etc etc the house was nearly ready. 2 weeks before moving in, we called the Landlady to update her on the developments and she was strangely cold and dismissive and hanged up. After that phone call, we tried and tried again but she would never answer the phone. 5 days before moving in, she finally picked up the phone and simply said that she didn't want to rent it anymore. So we talked to our Landlord and asked for a couple of weeks to find a place, but he had people moving in our place 2 days after we were supposed to move out. So we had 5 days to find a house.
We eventually found two storey house (1 apartment above where the Landlady was living, 1 below empty). The apartment was really nice. Beautiful tiles, massive kitchen, massive garage, laundry, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and an annex with another en-suite double bedroom (that came handy later when a sister needed an accommodation for few months). Everything was fine and it was incredibly cheap. The surroundings were not the best, but we were right into our territory so we didn't mind. Until we found a rubbish tip on the back of the house. Until we found out that there was a problem with the water pipes coming to this part of town meaning that we didn't have water for 2 months. Until a 15 year old boy was killed outside our gate so they could take the equivalent of £2 from him. Until we got stuck in the mud with our car and we had to pay 10 guys to pull the car out by hand. We HAD to leave.
On to the next house. My parents were coming to stay in Uganda so we decided to start with a bigger house and see if we could just share the rent. The house was really big, but not well distributed. One bedroom was enormous while the other, although en-suite, was tiny. Fine! No problem! Until... the toilet seat broke and the landlord didn't want to change it! Until the sewer started coming up from the drain in our bathroom and the landlord wouldn't do anything about it. Until the kitchen started to fall apart. Until my cat chopped half his foot off on the barbed wire. Until I got malaria again because on the other side of the wall next to our bedroom there was a slam area with stagnant water. Until the Landlord found someone who would pay more than us and took our complaints as an excuse to send us out.
Next please!!! An old house, half renovated, perfect size for us, not too big nor too small. Big garden. Only house in the compound. The landlady was even building an on-suite bathroom outside our bedroom. Perfect! Until... we started noticing rat droppings on the kitchen top coming from a whole in the ceiling. Until the builders used to come and sit around, leave a mess but they wouldn't get anywhere with the building. Until after 3 months we asked the Landlady when this bathroom would be finished and she got so angry that she sent us a letter giving us 1 month to get out of the house. That's when we decided that we had enough. We decided to go back home. So we took our safari trip and discovered Fort Portal.
Planning to come to Fort Portal, we then found the "perfect" house. European Landlord, only 2 bedrooms, B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L garden with bananas, avocados, mangos and even a marijuana plant (that we obviously eradicated). Amazing flowers, anything I would plant would grow. Why did we leave? We had to leave the country as the immigration would not renew our visas. We would never have left it otherwise. But then we came back...
So the house where we were staying before the one we're staying now, was too big, bad condition, very old...not very nice! I know, someone would say that T.I.A. but as we finally decided to stay in Uganda, we wanted to find something where we would feel happy and that would take less time. So we moved into this house where we're leaving now.
SHOCKING NEWS!!!! WE HAVE TO GET OUT!!!
You see...as the house is new and unfinished, the Landlady agreed to use the money from our rent to finish certain things around the house. We entered the house without any kitchen cupboard or internal door. She said they would be fixed in a week or so. It took them 3 months. If you could see the house today, you would notice that nothing has changed in the last 8 months a part from the money WE spent to fix things she didn't want to fix (vital stuff like electrics and showers). At the end of September 2010 if you remember we had the C.O. staying with us and we still had no internal doors. A bit awkward to have a shower without the bathroom door right? When we called the Landlady 3 weeks before explaining the situation, she assured us that she would fix every door in a week. 2 days before the C.O. arrival, we called her to ask about the door and she just replied "Well you have to stay without doors because I don't have the money to pay". After a "short" discussion in front of other people (and our threat to leave the place) the doors arrived and were fixed in 2 days.
Then we finally asked for the boys quarter (external rooms) as we wanted to help a pioneer sister in the congregation. Now, the boys quarter is supposed to be included in our rent but we've been patient with her as she said she had some of her things in it and we didn't really need it until now. When we finally asked, after 6 months, she said "No I'm not going to remove my things from there." End of story. Again, we tried to ignore that. But then we found out that Chris' parents are coming to stay so we wanted to make some improvements to the house, even if it meant doing it ourselves. So we cleared out all the building sand and broken tiles and pieced of metal left over where the parking space should be. We asked her many times to clear out the "rubbish" (as SHE called it) and she always said "I will, I will". So now we just took action. Two days after, Chris receives a call from her, screaming that she wants all her "rubbish" back as it was very expensive. So Chris, very politely and calm, clearly explains that we needed that space cleared out as his parents are coming but she replied by rising her voice even more "I want my stuff back!!!". So Chris, exhausted just said "Ok, I'm sorry but we're going to leave in June (after his parents leave)". She hanged the phone and we've never heard from her. In the meantime, Chris wrote the notice letter as the contract stated that the notice should be written and should not be only verbal.
Two days ago we received a letter from her lawyer saying that we have to get out by the 10th of May as our rent expires on that date. We then called the lawyer and said that we obviously wanted to give the money for extra month and that we didn't have any intention to stay here without paying. We still waiting for an answer.
We're currently looking for a decent house and still deciding if it would be wise moving before Chris' parents arrive (don't want to move house while guests are here...I get all stressed and nervous and then become nasty with everyone).
So anyway... T.I.A. As you can see, IT'S NOT US!!!
Jehovah always gave us the strength and patience to keep our calm with our landlord/landladies and in a way he always rewarded us with a better place. So we're heading to our 8TH house! We're praying that the next place will be our last one, so we're looking carefully trying to make a wise decision.
We'll keep you up to date.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
So...what's new?
Well, not a lot honestly but maybe I can update you on the little things that make our days here in a small village 50km from Congo at the feet of the Rwenzori.
Let me introduce you to Sarah:
Chris found Sarah just before we left for our holiday in November.
She seemed very interested and after a couple of studies with her, my hopes to have a daughter were rocketing sky high...
She was always prepared, she studied the Appendix on 1914 and explained it to me (better than how I explained it to her, I assure you). She's 16, she has a small boy, Dalvin, meaning that she lost a year in school (here you can't go to school if you're pregnant) but she reads amazingly well and she has the capacity to reason (which is really something considering that in school here they don't teach you to reason). The mother always attended the study and followed with her own book, but honestly speaking I was concentrating on Sarah as after a couple of studies, she started coming to the Kingdom Hall regularly while the mother didn't want even to think about leaving her church. So, then the time for me to go in holiday came and I left Sarah to continue the study with Joy (my African twin pioneer sister).
When I come back Joy tells me that the mother one day, during one study, started arguing regarding the thing we teach saying that they're very confusing and very different from any other religion. Joy, tried to explain that the teachings are coming directly from the Bible as she saw during all the studies she attended and then clearly said "If you're so confused, there is no point in you attending the study. Let us continue studying in peace with Sarah". Now this could seem to you a bit harsh, but it's quite common here (and Joy in particular doesn't like to waist time) to be straight forward with someone. The reaction of the mother? She started attending every single study and getting serious in learning the truth. After a while she recognized that what we teach is the truth and she stopped going to her church. All this happened while I was away!!!
So, now, she has her own personal study and Sarah studies on Sunday after the meeting (which she attends regularly). A couple of weeks ago though, I lost any hope as after the study she told me that the mother decided to send her to boarding school (you live at school basically, they don't allow you out even on a Sunday and you're forced to attend their church). She obviously didn't want to go as she has a child and she wanted to continue the study and coming to the meetings.
So after praying together we talked to the mother who didn't agree or disagree at that moment but eventually thought about it as the next time I saw Sarah (with a 54 teeth smile on her face), she told me the mother agreed to send her to a normal school. So I thanked Jehovah and my hope raised again.
Well, the other day, after the Sunday meeting it comes out that the decision of sending her to boarding school was because one aunt offered to pay for her school fees and the mother, being a poor widow, couldn't say no to such an offer. But after 3 days (and many many prayers), this aunt decided that she didn't have the money to give, but she offered half the fees for a normal school. (Jehovah works in ways we don't expect sometimes).
Now all it was left to Sarah to do was to find the other half of the fees and she could start her last year of school (without it here you can't find a job). Last Sunday, after many many MANY prayers, I had decided to help her with the other half as she promised that if she started school, she would attend the Saturday (Thursday) meeting as she want to become a publisher and get baptized (my heart stopped for a second when she said so, but then I realized that many people say that and don't pursue it). I didn't even have the time to take the money out of my pocket that she said "Someone came around and gave me the other half so I'll be going to school next week". Again, Jehovah keeps on working behind the stage don't you think?
Yesterday evening she sent me a message on my phone saying that she got a really nice school near her home and that the mother is expecting me for the study tomorrow morning. So I'll be updating you on Sunday to tell you if she's keeping her promise to attend Saturdays.
Now something that I'm sure will make you laugh:
Chris was in the field the other day and there there was this beggar boy (unfortunately he has mental problems) we know who is always around town. So this boy goes up to Chris and start asking for money as Chris is talking to one of the shop keeper inside the market. So Chris ignores him (generally he goes away after a couple of minutes) but the boy continues pestering him so Chris greets the shop keeper and walks off. Suddenly Chris feels a kick up his bottom!!! He turns around and the boy, still there with his hand out, is telling him off (more growling than talking) because Chris wouldn't give him anything.
Chris, feeling sorry for him, doesn't do anything and while he turns around to leave, the shop keeper comes out (a lady) running towards the boy with a massive courgette (or marrow, don't know really) and starts beating him up, while the boy starts punching her in the face and runs away so she chases him down the market with a stick. The whole market was laughing! And even Chris couldn't do anything but burst in laugh.
So that was a "change" for the day!
And this is it! As for now...
Ciao Ciao
Let me introduce you to Sarah:
She seemed very interested and after a couple of studies with her, my hopes to have a daughter were rocketing sky high...
She was always prepared, she studied the Appendix on 1914 and explained it to me (better than how I explained it to her, I assure you). She's 16, she has a small boy, Dalvin, meaning that she lost a year in school (here you can't go to school if you're pregnant) but she reads amazingly well and she has the capacity to reason (which is really something considering that in school here they don't teach you to reason). The mother always attended the study and followed with her own book, but honestly speaking I was concentrating on Sarah as after a couple of studies, she started coming to the Kingdom Hall regularly while the mother didn't want even to think about leaving her church. So, then the time for me to go in holiday came and I left Sarah to continue the study with Joy (my African twin pioneer sister).
When I come back Joy tells me that the mother one day, during one study, started arguing regarding the thing we teach saying that they're very confusing and very different from any other religion. Joy, tried to explain that the teachings are coming directly from the Bible as she saw during all the studies she attended and then clearly said "If you're so confused, there is no point in you attending the study. Let us continue studying in peace with Sarah". Now this could seem to you a bit harsh, but it's quite common here (and Joy in particular doesn't like to waist time) to be straight forward with someone. The reaction of the mother? She started attending every single study and getting serious in learning the truth. After a while she recognized that what we teach is the truth and she stopped going to her church. All this happened while I was away!!!
So, now, she has her own personal study and Sarah studies on Sunday after the meeting (which she attends regularly). A couple of weeks ago though, I lost any hope as after the study she told me that the mother decided to send her to boarding school (you live at school basically, they don't allow you out even on a Sunday and you're forced to attend their church). She obviously didn't want to go as she has a child and she wanted to continue the study and coming to the meetings.
So after praying together we talked to the mother who didn't agree or disagree at that moment but eventually thought about it as the next time I saw Sarah (with a 54 teeth smile on her face), she told me the mother agreed to send her to a normal school. So I thanked Jehovah and my hope raised again.
Well, the other day, after the Sunday meeting it comes out that the decision of sending her to boarding school was because one aunt offered to pay for her school fees and the mother, being a poor widow, couldn't say no to such an offer. But after 3 days (and many many prayers), this aunt decided that she didn't have the money to give, but she offered half the fees for a normal school. (Jehovah works in ways we don't expect sometimes).
Now all it was left to Sarah to do was to find the other half of the fees and she could start her last year of school (without it here you can't find a job). Last Sunday, after many many MANY prayers, I had decided to help her with the other half as she promised that if she started school, she would attend the Saturday (Thursday) meeting as she want to become a publisher and get baptized (my heart stopped for a second when she said so, but then I realized that many people say that and don't pursue it). I didn't even have the time to take the money out of my pocket that she said "Someone came around and gave me the other half so I'll be going to school next week". Again, Jehovah keeps on working behind the stage don't you think?
Yesterday evening she sent me a message on my phone saying that she got a really nice school near her home and that the mother is expecting me for the study tomorrow morning. So I'll be updating you on Sunday to tell you if she's keeping her promise to attend Saturdays.
Now something that I'm sure will make you laugh:
Chris was in the field the other day and there there was this beggar boy (unfortunately he has mental problems) we know who is always around town. So this boy goes up to Chris and start asking for money as Chris is talking to one of the shop keeper inside the market. So Chris ignores him (generally he goes away after a couple of minutes) but the boy continues pestering him so Chris greets the shop keeper and walks off. Suddenly Chris feels a kick up his bottom!!! He turns around and the boy, still there with his hand out, is telling him off (more growling than talking) because Chris wouldn't give him anything.
Chris, feeling sorry for him, doesn't do anything and while he turns around to leave, the shop keeper comes out (a lady) running towards the boy with a massive courgette (or marrow, don't know really) and starts beating him up, while the boy starts punching her in the face and runs away so she chases him down the market with a stick. The whole market was laughing! And even Chris couldn't do anything but burst in laugh.
So that was a "change" for the day!
And this is it! As for now...
Ciao Ciao
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Call to all women...
To all the members of the female "weaker" gender... listen up! The Bible refers to us as the weaker vessels...the faithful and discreet slave reminds often brothers to remember that we have different kind of emotional needs...
It's true, WE ARE THE WEAKER VESSEL!!!
It's true, WE ARE THE WEAKER VESSEL!!!
BUT...
This is what every woman in Africa has to go through when she is in the field and nature is calling
OK, I'll admit this is the worse I've ever seen, but still...I had to go... TWICE!!! In case you're wondering, the "toilet" is actually the gap between the boards and the leaves is the toilet paper.
Now...
We all very well know how men go for first call (nature call not first call in the field), so although challenging, they don't have it as bad as us women...WE HAVE TO SQUAT/CROUCH to go for first call.
Our...everything...goes closer to the "toilet", including our nose and mouth...which by the way you have to keep open to be able to breath or a foul/revolting/disgusting/awful/horrid/outrageous/vile etc etc etc smell will permeate your nose and force you to gag and, if you're not strong (and quick) enough, puke!
Now I know many men who rather than using this "toilet" would turn to mother nature (the next bush available)...but for us we can't turn to mother nature because in Africa, everywhere you go, there is a small house or hut and people working in the nearby field.
So we HAVE to use these "toilets" (that sometimes even local sister won't use being so horrible).
NOW, ARE WE STILL DEBATING ON WHO IS THE "WEAKER" VESSEL HERE? GIVE ME A BREAK!
Members of the female gender..........VOTE, COMMENT AND SHARE WITH THE WORLD WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT BEING THE "WEAKER" VESSEL...
By the way, the board on the far right was not secured into the soil...I nearly went into the "ditch/toilet" with my whole leg...
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Spooky Trevor!!!
Now, you tell me if this is not spooky! Every time I decide to take a picture of the Field Service Meeting or the brothers in the field, HE KNOWS!!!! And HE'S READY!!!!
Check it out...
ONE!!!!
TWO!!!
And I assure you, I'm not calling him and I'm trying to take the photos as silently as I can!!!!
But there he his... looking at the camera!
THREE!!!
But HE'S ALWAYS THERE....
Now, he SAYS he doesn't do it on purpose which makes it even more SPOOKIER!!!!
He's like Barney (I can't say from which program but if you watch it you'll know what I mean) coming out in every photo with his suit in a James Bond pose even when he's in t-shirt and shorts (or when he's not even there)!!!
COME ON!!!!
Check it out...
ONE!!!!
And I assure you, I'm not calling him and I'm trying to take the photos as silently as I can!!!!
But there he his... looking at the camera!
But HE'S ALWAYS THERE....
Now, he SAYS he doesn't do it on purpose which makes it even more SPOOKIER!!!!
He's like Barney (I can't say from which program but if you watch it you'll know what I mean) coming out in every photo with his suit in a James Bond pose even when he's in t-shirt and shorts (or when he's not even there)!!!
COME ON!!!!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Baibuli Mali Eyegesa Ki?
I don't know if you can understand the joy and appreciation we feel in our heart in this small part of the world...Fort Portal, a small village in the middle of nowhere, with a population of max. 50.000...
Still Jehovah heard our prayers and saw the REAL need! So he decided to give us this wonderful gift!
We just received the BIBLE TEACH BOOK in the local language RUTORO!!!!!
Still Jehovah heard our prayers and saw the REAL need! So he decided to give us this wonderful gift!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Our first year!
Well I couldn't believe today! It was what brighten our day. Everything was going wrong (basically everything was breaking in the house just before Trevor [alaskan brother...remember?] would come and stay with us for a few days) but then I remembered!!!
I found some of the photos of our first year in Kampala...the most important ones! I had totally forgotten... from December 2006 to September 2007... we made a short video for the friends back home with the photos of the most important moments during those 9 months.
And I've found THEM...
Gary and Angela Rappenecker (hope is spelled right)... I will tell you all about them another time, but in the meantime what you need to know about them is that THEY WERE AND STILL ARE AMAZING!!!! And we'll never forget them... We had some wonderful time together and those precious moments will always be in our hearts.
When I was extracting the photos from the video and saw them, I was in the house alone and found myself crying like a baby... a bit silly really, but I can't explain how much I miss them. So be prepared to read about them soon...
Well, as for now you can check out our first year of experiences and all the missionaries we know in our Picasa Album under Kampala 2007 (click on the slideshow on the right handside). As soon as I can, I'll upload the video we had made for the friends back home (although some frames are in Italian but are not important). After 4 years, when I watched it, it still brought tears to my eyes as it brings back a lot of memories... good and bad memories... but these memories will stay with us for the rest of our life. And for this, we need to thank Jehovah that gave us the "inspiration" to come to Uganda 4 years ago.
Thank you Jehovah for making us understand, many and many times, that you wanted us here in Uganda serving you... Thank you for making us come back every time... And thank you for giving us the strength we needed to endure all those trials that, without your help, would have sent us back home!
I found some of the photos of our first year in Kampala...the most important ones! I had totally forgotten... from December 2006 to September 2007... we made a short video for the friends back home with the photos of the most important moments during those 9 months.
And I've found THEM...
When I was extracting the photos from the video and saw them, I was in the house alone and found myself crying like a baby... a bit silly really, but I can't explain how much I miss them. So be prepared to read about them soon...
Well, as for now you can check out our first year of experiences and all the missionaries we know in our Picasa Album under Kampala 2007 (click on the slideshow on the right handside). As soon as I can, I'll upload the video we had made for the friends back home (although some frames are in Italian but are not important). After 4 years, when I watched it, it still brought tears to my eyes as it brings back a lot of memories... good and bad memories... but these memories will stay with us for the rest of our life. And for this, we need to thank Jehovah that gave us the "inspiration" to come to Uganda 4 years ago.
Thank you Jehovah for making us understand, many and many times, that you wanted us here in Uganda serving you... Thank you for making us come back every time... And thank you for giving us the strength we needed to endure all those trials that, without your help, would have sent us back home!
Monday, January 17, 2011
I missed the meetings here!
I mean, obviously the material is the same everywhere in the world, but the secret is that the brothers are not, meaning that the approach and the quality of the meetings changes a lot. For example, the comments the brothers and sisters give here at the Congregation Bible Study regarding the feelings Jesus may have showed to others in different circumstances, simply shock me! I mean, for someone coming from Europe or US, Italy in my case, where feelings are kind of showed one way or another (where I come from feelings ARE VERY WELL EXPRESSED IN WORDS, FACIAL EXPRESSIONS AND HANDS!), the culture here could be a bit...tricky! It's difficult for the Ugandan to show their feelings. It's a culture... thinghy! They will probably express it very well in words, but sometimes the facial expression is completely the opposite of the feeling they're expressing in words. For example, the line between laughing and crying here is so THIN that sometimes, when they're talking about something dead serious, they laugh about it instead of crying. So it could be challenging sometimes to work them out, if you know what I mean.
That is why I'm shocked every time they give an answer regarding Jesus' feelings...they really get them, while sometimes I struggle trying to imagine that type of feeling.
Then we get articles regarding DEEP THINGS OF GOD and I spend hours sometimes trying to understand completely a concept so that I can make it mine and therefore explain it (not being in my mother tongue doesn't help). Then, at the meeting, the deep comments the brothers give explaining perfectly what that paragraph meant, are simply amazing.
In Fort Portal we're also blessed as the majority of the speakers are really REALLY good, but even when someone is not, you can really FEEL the spirit of Jehovah wondering "above our heads" :).
This last Sunday, we had only the watchtower study as there was a ZONE VISIT in Kampala so majority of the brothers went to attend being a very important event. Well, we were still in 50 between publishers and interested ones and it was THE BEST WATCHTOWER in a long time.
In addition to that, I had the joy to see 2 of my studies coming and commenting. One of them, Susan, never came. Actually every time I would try to invite her, she would change the subject and every Sunday I would be disappointed. So last Wednesday, after the study, I told the sister that was working with me that I was ready to "sift" this study as she quite advanced into the book and never showed the intention to come to the meetings. So I received a nice "slap" on my face from Jehovah when I saw her coming in and sitting down....and then when she commented.
The other study, Queenie, stopped studying at least 2 months ago because she started University and I was really disappointed as she now lives 5 minutes from the Kingdom Hall, but came only once and then disappeared. Well, another slap, when I FOUND HER THERE 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED!!!! She explained that she was trying to adjust the lessons (yes, they study even on Sundays here) so that she could come on Sunday and do the study after the meeting at the Kingdom Hall. So now, she promised she would be regular.
I was SOOOOO glad to find out that one of my studies, Sarah, went to all the meeting when I was in UK and that the mother finally changed her tune as she was attending the study and be argumentative about everything. So when I was away, Joy, the pioneer sister looking after Sarah, told her that if she thought that our teaching was "confusable", she shouldn't attend the study. From that moment on, she attended the study and appreciated the fact that every single teaching is supported by the Bible (she got to a turning point at Judgement Day). So now she's happy to attend the study and participate actively in a very humble way.
And I felt amazing the first day back in the field doing first call on a business territory. Even when they're busy, they always listen to you, often stopping what they're doing to check out the scriptures you're reading to them.
So anyway, as you can see, we're really happy to be back!
The brothers welcomed us again with much love! And we have many good news! For example, from March there will be a Rutoro meeting after the English one on Sundays! This is wonderful news as we have brothers and sisters who don't understand a word of English and can't follow the meetings properly. So now, we have to resume our Rutoro lessons and try to get serious about it!
Nyniega mpora mpora!
Bye for now!
That is why I'm shocked every time they give an answer regarding Jesus' feelings...they really get them, while sometimes I struggle trying to imagine that type of feeling.
Then we get articles regarding DEEP THINGS OF GOD and I spend hours sometimes trying to understand completely a concept so that I can make it mine and therefore explain it (not being in my mother tongue doesn't help). Then, at the meeting, the deep comments the brothers give explaining perfectly what that paragraph meant, are simply amazing.
In Fort Portal we're also blessed as the majority of the speakers are really REALLY good, but even when someone is not, you can really FEEL the spirit of Jehovah wondering "above our heads" :).
This last Sunday, we had only the watchtower study as there was a ZONE VISIT in Kampala so majority of the brothers went to attend being a very important event. Well, we were still in 50 between publishers and interested ones and it was THE BEST WATCHTOWER in a long time.
In addition to that, I had the joy to see 2 of my studies coming and commenting. One of them, Susan, never came. Actually every time I would try to invite her, she would change the subject and every Sunday I would be disappointed. So last Wednesday, after the study, I told the sister that was working with me that I was ready to "sift" this study as she quite advanced into the book and never showed the intention to come to the meetings. So I received a nice "slap" on my face from Jehovah when I saw her coming in and sitting down....and then when she commented.
The other study, Queenie, stopped studying at least 2 months ago because she started University and I was really disappointed as she now lives 5 minutes from the Kingdom Hall, but came only once and then disappeared. Well, another slap, when I FOUND HER THERE 10 MINUTES BEFORE THE MEETING STARTED!!!! She explained that she was trying to adjust the lessons (yes, they study even on Sundays here) so that she could come on Sunday and do the study after the meeting at the Kingdom Hall. So now, she promised she would be regular.
I was SOOOOO glad to find out that one of my studies, Sarah, went to all the meeting when I was in UK and that the mother finally changed her tune as she was attending the study and be argumentative about everything. So when I was away, Joy, the pioneer sister looking after Sarah, told her that if she thought that our teaching was "confusable", she shouldn't attend the study. From that moment on, she attended the study and appreciated the fact that every single teaching is supported by the Bible (she got to a turning point at Judgement Day). So now she's happy to attend the study and participate actively in a very humble way.
So anyway, as you can see, we're really happy to be back!
The brothers welcomed us again with much love! And we have many good news! For example, from March there will be a Rutoro meeting after the English one on Sundays! This is wonderful news as we have brothers and sisters who don't understand a word of English and can't follow the meetings properly. So now, we have to resume our Rutoro lessons and try to get serious about it!
Nyniega mpora mpora!
Bye for now!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
New year, new adventures!
So here we are...back home...back in our routine that we love so much!
Of course we liked beingWe were in the field today, in the beautiful SUNNY Fort Portal. Unfortunately the usual peace you find here was broken by people with whistles and trumpets who kept on "playing" them to promote the voting of the current President.
The field was great...first call was great! I finished all the literature within 1 hour. I have 2 returns already (I know...everyone here is a potential study here but you can work them out if they're really interested in the Bible or in your skin colour).
In the meantime we bought a new bike, a bit better than the last one as is a much more stable bike and the tires are especially for muddy roads...so we should be fine with that for a long time. We really don't see the need to buy a car as the only times we need the car is when we go to assemblies and conventions which means that either we get a ride with the brothers having a car, or we rent a car for few days.
And using a bike in this lovely weather is so...COOL!!! You feel constantly in holiday (I said we FEEL in holiday, not we ARE in holiday!!!) We brought decent helmets and waterproof jackets from UK so we are even safer and "dryer" now.
So here we are again... and it's lovely!
We're having the pioneer meeting on Wednesday as the elders decided to wait for us to come back, which was really nice of them!
Then every Thursdays we're working on the KH to finish the ceiling meaning that now, during the raining season, we will be able to hear the speaker EVEN WHEN IT'S RAINING!!! That will be nice...Looking forward to that being finished.
One of the pioneers sisters whom I left my favourite study with, informed me that this study has been regular to the meetings and she prepares and give really good answers, so that lifted me up today. And all my studies were really happy to see me, so I have to say that today was a B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L day.
So I'm looking forward to tomorrow and start with my studies again. But this year I'm going to make sure I'll be doing first call every day before any return.
So... ta ta for now!
Of course we liked beingWe were in the field today, in the beautiful SUNNY Fort Portal. Unfortunately the usual peace you find here was broken by people with whistles and trumpets who kept on "playing" them to promote the voting of the current President.
The field was great...first call was great! I finished all the literature within 1 hour. I have 2 returns already (I know...everyone here is a potential study here but you can work them out if they're really interested in the Bible or in your skin colour).
In the meantime we bought a new bike, a bit better than the last one as is a much more stable bike and the tires are especially for muddy roads...so we should be fine with that for a long time. We really don't see the need to buy a car as the only times we need the car is when we go to assemblies and conventions which means that either we get a ride with the brothers having a car, or we rent a car for few days.
And using a bike in this lovely weather is so...COOL!!! You feel constantly in holiday (I said we FEEL in holiday, not we ARE in holiday!!!) We brought decent helmets and waterproof jackets from UK so we are even safer and "dryer" now.
So here we are again... and it's lovely!
We're having the pioneer meeting on Wednesday as the elders decided to wait for us to come back, which was really nice of them!
Then every Thursdays we're working on the KH to finish the ceiling meaning that now, during the raining season, we will be able to hear the speaker EVEN WHEN IT'S RAINING!!! That will be nice...Looking forward to that being finished.
One of the pioneers sisters whom I left my favourite study with, informed me that this study has been regular to the meetings and she prepares and give really good answers, so that lifted me up today. And all my studies were really happy to see me, so I have to say that today was a B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L day.
So I'm looking forward to tomorrow and start with my studies again. But this year I'm going to make sure I'll be doing first call every day before any return.
So... ta ta for now!
Monday, December 27, 2010
I want to go home!!!
So as you might have guessed, we didn't go to Scotland thanks to the weather. I mean, here where we are is fine but there was a good chance of being stuck there coming back.
So we decided not to take the risk.
As from tomorrow we'll be with some dear friends in Banbury, who kindly offered to come and get us all the way from Banbury to here.
They're a lovely couple we met in Mbarara 2 years ago and they're from the same town where Chris grew up. So it was a nice coincidence.
Since then we have always been in contact and they are so kind to put us up every year when we come home.
So I'm looking forward to stay with them and then go home next Friday.
I'm sure we'll have a wonderful time with them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And here we are with the pictures of the weather in Banbury.
At the bottom here you can Stratford-upon-Avon which is the birthplace of Shakespeare. The building you see is where he was born. Cool eh? By the way, this village is really nice with a contrast between the new and dear old England.
So we decided not to take the risk.
As from tomorrow we'll be with some dear friends in Banbury, who kindly offered to come and get us all the way from Banbury to here.
They're a lovely couple we met in Mbarara 2 years ago and they're from the same town where Chris grew up. So it was a nice coincidence.
Since then we have always been in contact and they are so kind to put us up every year when we come home.
So I'm looking forward to stay with them and then go home next Friday.
I'm sure we'll have a wonderful time with them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And here we are with the pictures of the weather in Banbury.
At the bottom here you can Stratford-upon-Avon which is the birthplace of Shakespeare. The building you see is where he was born. Cool eh? By the way, this village is really nice with a contrast between the new and dear old England.
Stay put Uganda....we're coming!!!!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Winter Sky
"Way up high in the winter sky, Two little snowflakes caught my eye. (Point 2 fingers to sky)
Down to the ground they fell without a sound. (Twist around)
And before very long, It was snowing all around. (Hold arms out)"
........
What???? It's just a preschool snow song! So...WHAT? I have plenty of these...
"Snow is falling all around,
Falling, falling, to the ground.
I catch snowflakes on my tongue.
Building snowmen is such fun.
Snow is falling all around
Falling, falling, to the ground."
....
OK, ok. I'll stop it. Anyway...the point is. IT SNOWED LAST NIGHT!!!! And it never snows here! At least not on this side of UK.
It's nice, I like the snow. But it's getting cold now. We had 2 beautiful weeks with sunny days and 7/8 C. So now that the temperature is around 0/-1 C we're feeling it.
So we took my parents to the airport last monday and picked up some friends from Italy after a couple of hours. Obviously we had a fab time!
We enjoyed English breakfast, Fish & Chips, Cornish pasty, KFC, proper Steak night, English curry (yes you read correctly, English curry Tikka Masala...) etc etc. We're probably some few kilos heavier than when we arrived. But that was nice.
We walked for hours for shopping as the prices here are cheaper than Italy, so they took advantage of it.
We had a nice drive through the Moors. The landscape is amazing. You go from the green green English typical grass to the brown fern called bracken. It's a bit like Uganda the way it quickly changes landscape. We drove for three hours in narrow (but tarmac) roads, passed through many little stone bridges and saw many wild ponies, sheep and a big falcon which was on a wooden fence in front of us, staring at the camera while I was taking his picture. 
One evening we had a couple from Torquay over for dinner. We played the game we always play in Uganda with weird scriptures trying to adapt them for the field with a weird object to give out (do you remember? I uploaded some videos). Well I must say they were really good. They pulled it off easily... We were also lucky as this past week they had the CO visit so we got a nice treat.
We went to the beach many times and every time, although is freezing, I'm left speechless staring at the beauty of the sea.
We're back at Chris' parents now which is also nice as we can relax a bit.
We're supposed to leave for Scotland on Tuesday but weather wise (it's snowing in the south of UK, imagine what the weather is like in Scotland) we don't know if we'll be able to go as we don't want to get stuck there for snow. So let's see. In the meantime thank you for reading. I know UK is not as exciting as Uganda. So I know is not as exciting to read about food and shopping as it would be reading about studies and meeting attendance etc etc.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Updates
Hi guys...
I just updated with videos the post "Time for a break". Go and have a look how we have fun around Fort Portal...
I just updated with videos the post "Time for a break". Go and have a look how we have fun around Fort Portal...
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Brr..... it's freezing!
Wow.... we just came back from a couple of hours of walking around shops and I must say IT'S FREEEEZING!!!! I mean, we knew it was going to be like this but we're not used to it anymore. When we got on the plane it was 30C in Kampala and when we got off the plane in London it was -4C.... just imagine the shock. We didn't even have proper coats...
Where we are, in Devon, the temperature is the best in UK, but it's still 1C - 2C top. Fortunately we had left proper coats here and jumpers and and boots but as soon as we arrived we bought hats, gloves and scarf's.
So we're looking around for things to bring back home like shoes, t-shirts, etc. but it's difficult to find summer clothes in December!!! So Chris found already a really nice pair of branded shoes with a 70% discount. I still haven't found shoes for me but my number is not easy to find as I have a teeny tiny foot. But today I'm so proud because I manage to find 2 pair of original Crocs (2 different colours, MY SIZE!!!!!) at 2£ each instead of 25 each, saving a total of 48£... Isn't that amazing?
We've been to the local congregation and they've been very welcoming and they actually remembered us from last year (they organized a party for us before we left to go to Uganda last year although they knew us only for a month...so they're really nice). But we're not used to go to the meeting at night anymore as our meetings are on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning...
I know... we get excited for small things. But this is what happens when you live in Africa for so long... It's like when we get excited after a day without electricity and it comes back just before dark and we all shout in applause. Anyway, my parents are coming tomorrow to stay for 10 days. I hope it won't snow so we can have a nice time on the seaside. If it does, I'll post some pictures.
TTFN
Post soon...
Where we are, in Devon, the temperature is the best in UK, but it's still 1C - 2C top. Fortunately we had left proper coats here and jumpers and and boots but as soon as we arrived we bought hats, gloves and scarf's.
So we're looking around for things to bring back home like shoes, t-shirts, etc. but it's difficult to find summer clothes in December!!! So Chris found already a really nice pair of branded shoes with a 70% discount. I still haven't found shoes for me but my number is not easy to find as I have a teeny tiny foot. But today I'm so proud because I manage to find 2 pair of original Crocs (2 different colours, MY SIZE!!!!!) at 2£ each instead of 25 each, saving a total of 48£... Isn't that amazing?
We've been to the local congregation and they've been very welcoming and they actually remembered us from last year (they organized a party for us before we left to go to Uganda last year although they knew us only for a month...so they're really nice). But we're not used to go to the meeting at night anymore as our meetings are on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning...
I know... we get excited for small things. But this is what happens when you live in Africa for so long... It's like when we get excited after a day without electricity and it comes back just before dark and we all shout in applause. Anyway, my parents are coming tomorrow to stay for 10 days. I hope it won't snow so we can have a nice time on the seaside. If it does, I'll post some pictures.
TTFN
Post soon...
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Ready for a break...
So, yes, we're ready for a break! We're in Bethel right now and I must say that it's always nice to see the brothers here and see how Jehovah is a God of organization.
We're going to have a busy 5 weeks as we're meeting in UK my parents who are coming from Italy (so they spare us another flight), another Italian couple we met when we used to attend the English congregation in Verona, then obviously we're going to spend some time with Chris's parents, then catch a short flight to Edinburgh to meet a sister we met here in Uganda, then we're going to stay with a couple in Banbury we met always here in Uganda... then catch an 8 hours flight to come back here.
In the meantime many things are happening here.
For example, our congregation organized to do a Public talk and Watchtower not far from here and the first meeting had 35 in attendance! Imagine that.... So that was a success and we're going to do it every last Sunday of the month. But the problem now is that we're trying to find a place where to hold the monthly meetings so Jonathan went there last Saturday to find something decent that can accommodate more people. He found one for the equivalent of 12£. The owner is from Fort Portal so Jonathan came back to meet him and agree on the days and on the price. In the meantime though, someone must have called the owner and told him that the person looking to rent the place is a mzungo (foreigner). So when Jonathan got there, the price went from 12£ to 80£, which is crazy. So again we need your prayers to find a place to hold the meetings in this small village 40km from Fort Portal.
Then, a new brother from Alaska arrived. His name is Trevor and he's quite young but very adventurous. We were in contact for a long time and honestly although from his emails we knew he was a really nice and spiritual brother, we didn't know what to expect. You know, Africa is not for everyone. We were scared that maybe it would be difficult to adjust for him, being single in the midst of 3 married couples. We kind of expected someone like
... you know what I mean. Instead he's 
. So that was a nice surprise. Especially because I suppose you need to be like that to cope with a bunch of nutters like us.
But I must say he's adjusting perfectly and he's loving it here (well at least I hope so). He lives with Brian and Rowena (the new couple from Kampala, remember?), which I suppose is nice for him as it can be a little scary to live on your own in a house in the middle of Africa...especially at night...
We're having a great time together, as we spend many evenings either at our place or at Brian's place, so we take it in turn cooking for each other and Trevor is always willing to learn to cook new things which one day can come handy. We also call him "dishwasher" because he doesn't even give you the time to finish that he's already at the sink washing and drying and no discussion with him if you want to help him. His mum did an excellent job in raising him.
While he was here, we had the District overseer and his wife as guest. They're long time friend, but we hadn't seen them for 2 years (since we left Kampala basically). They're crazier than us honestly, but that is what is the truth all about, especially for need greater. You need to be a bit crazy so that you see life from a different perspective.
As we often play a game which involves using a very unusual scripture to introduce a presentation and a very unusual object instead of a magazine to support that scripture, we decided to introduce the D.O. to this game.
It's a bit complicated to explain so let me show you....
This was the D.O. and obviously he came out of it with style. But now, I know he'll probably kill me for this, let us have a look at how Trevor did. First of all let me tell you that we were mean in choosing the scripture but it wasn't done on purpose. Generally the scripture get chosen before the publisher, so it's not completely our fault.
We're going to have a busy 5 weeks as we're meeting in UK my parents who are coming from Italy (so they spare us another flight), another Italian couple we met when we used to attend the English congregation in Verona, then obviously we're going to spend some time with Chris's parents, then catch a short flight to Edinburgh to meet a sister we met here in Uganda, then we're going to stay with a couple in Banbury we met always here in Uganda... then catch an 8 hours flight to come back here.
In the meantime many things are happening here.
For example, our congregation organized to do a Public talk and Watchtower not far from here and the first meeting had 35 in attendance! Imagine that.... So that was a success and we're going to do it every last Sunday of the month. But the problem now is that we're trying to find a place where to hold the monthly meetings so Jonathan went there last Saturday to find something decent that can accommodate more people. He found one for the equivalent of 12£. The owner is from Fort Portal so Jonathan came back to meet him and agree on the days and on the price. In the meantime though, someone must have called the owner and told him that the person looking to rent the place is a mzungo (foreigner). So when Jonathan got there, the price went from 12£ to 80£, which is crazy. So again we need your prayers to find a place to hold the meetings in this small village 40km from Fort Portal.
Then, a new brother from Alaska arrived. His name is Trevor and he's quite young but very adventurous. We were in contact for a long time and honestly although from his emails we knew he was a really nice and spiritual brother, we didn't know what to expect. You know, Africa is not for everyone. We were scared that maybe it would be difficult to adjust for him, being single in the midst of 3 married couples. We kind of expected someone like
... you know what I mean. Instead he's . So that was a nice surprise. Especially because I suppose you need to be like that to cope with a bunch of nutters like us.But I must say he's adjusting perfectly and he's loving it here (well at least I hope so). He lives with Brian and Rowena (the new couple from Kampala, remember?), which I suppose is nice for him as it can be a little scary to live on your own in a house in the middle of Africa...especially at night...
We're having a great time together, as we spend many evenings either at our place or at Brian's place, so we take it in turn cooking for each other and Trevor is always willing to learn to cook new things which one day can come handy. We also call him "dishwasher" because he doesn't even give you the time to finish that he's already at the sink washing and drying and no discussion with him if you want to help him. His mum did an excellent job in raising him.
While he was here, we had the District overseer and his wife as guest. They're long time friend, but we hadn't seen them for 2 years (since we left Kampala basically). They're crazier than us honestly, but that is what is the truth all about, especially for need greater. You need to be a bit crazy so that you see life from a different perspective.
As we often play a game which involves using a very unusual scripture to introduce a presentation and a very unusual object instead of a magazine to support that scripture, we decided to introduce the D.O. to this game.
It's a bit complicated to explain so let me show you....
I think he did well, don't you think? Anyway we were laughing our heads off. Especially when Christopher decided to play the part of the "lady" as a householder with Jonathan as a publisher.
I decided to play the part of the proper Italian householder and Brian didn't have an easy time with that. You know, in Italy we're often abused in the field so I tried to gave them a taste of that. And I must say that is not easy to be mean, it requires effort, so I don't know how the people cope with such anger in their every day life.
Anyway... were was I? Oh yeah! Did I mention that we're having Rutoro lesson from a lovely sister? No? Well, now you know. So, every Wednesday afternoon me, Chris, Trevor and Rowena take the car and go to this sister, who by the way is the older sister around here and she never misses a meeting even if it means taking a bodaboda, and spend one hour with her trying to learn how and why verbs and subjects get incorporated in a sentence.
I didn't expect it to be so difficult. I mean, Italian is not easy and I probably wouldn't be able to explain how it works, but at least a verb is a verb and a subject is a subject. In rutoro that doesn't work. Well, I suppose that slowly slowly (mpora mpora) we'll get there. What was really funny is that at the end of the lesson, we asked the sister how to say "Please leave me alone" or "Please go away" (sometime some people become insistent and annoying and they follow you everywhere). It's interesting that in Rutoro the word "Please" doesn't exist so your tone determines if you're asking politely or not. So at the end, after giving us a couple of phrases to learn, we were laughing our heads off because what came out was "Stop following me and go home or I'll beat you" or something like that. We will never use it of course, but still...it was very funny.
As for the field (and this blog should be about that right?), Chris lately found a mother with her son, Nora and Akim, that are incredibly interested. They already come to the meetings and they
Anything else? Let me see... well yeah, Trevor is house sitting for us so he has 5 weeks all alone. I'm sure he'll enjoy it. And Soda, my cat, can make you feel at home no matter who or where you are.
So as for now, we're in the stinking cold in UK, enjoying food and shopping and the sales obviously. I'll update soon. And please be patient...I'll put the video in as soon as I can.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
We're growing fast!
So here we are, a bit late I know, but we've been so busy lately. Were can I start?
I think we posted just before the District convention in Kampala. Kampala is not our Convention, but we took the opportunity to have a full program as we had to take to the airport the couple from Alaska, Joel and Naomi. The program was amazing and it was wonderful to see again the brothers from our former congregations. They all welcomed us and some of them were surprised as they didn't know we were back. We also saw all our "children" and to see them all together again was really heartwarming.
The Sunday program was really nice and we were looking forward to see the drama as in our assigned convention in Mbarara is a short program of 2 days and we don't have the Drama. A terrible storm came straight after the brothers started acting the Drama. The storm lasted more than one hour and the Drama had to stop obviously. The wind was so strong and blowing sideways that all the brothers moved to the center of the extensible Kingdom Hall and tried to use their umbrellas to protect themselves from the rain.
Finally the storm stopped and the Drama started again. That night we had an invitation from a couple in Bethel and we had a lovely evening with special pioneers from Greece, bethelites, need greaters and Matts (see Yearbook 2010).
We came home from crazy Kampala and resumed our daily life of preaching. In the meantime we moved to a new house that was just finished. We actually entered the house when they were finishing it. So we were without internal doors for a long time. But it wasn't a problem as it was only us living in it. The house is really nice and we can see how Jehovah blessed us.
In the middle of September we went to Mbarara for our District Convention. It was also very nice and I must say that the number in attendance is increasing every year. Two of Chris' studies came and they loved it. And of course we had 3 baptized, one of which is a sister 78 years of age that speaks Kinyarwanda but comes to the meetings although they're in Rutoro. She can only read but not write, but she still prepare for the meetings and engage in the field as much as she can.
We also spent a nice evening at the Missionary Home in Mbarara together with all the member of the translation office and our new C.O. Cleophas and his wife Jane.
When we came back we had the privilege to have the C.O. visit and to host them in our house. The only problems was that we still didn't have any doors (but you know, here is not a big deal).
We started panicking as the Friday before the C.O. visit arrived and we still didn't have any door installed. So we asked the Landlady to hurry and after praying to Jehovah several times, we finally had the carpenters bringing the doors and installing them on the Saturday before the visit.
We had a really nice and encouraging visit. Having the C.O. in your house means hearing all kind of experiences. For example, he told us of a lame sister in Eastern Uganda who never misses a meeting although she lives on a hill some kilometers away from the KH and she can't walk. So, obviously Jehovah never leaves his servants, she bought some chickens that give her eggs to sell. But what's interesting that her chickens produce double the amount of eggs of all the other chickens around that area. So she pays 2 eggs to some boys to push her wheelchair to the KH and to push her back home after 2 hours. The weekend she sleeps inside the KH as she takes active part in the field service and she has bible studies. She never misses assemblies and conventions and sometimes she even pays the transport for other brothers in need... Isn't she a demonstration of how Jehovah blesses our efforts to serve him?
In the meantime we had and addition of other 2 regular pioneers in our congregation and the couple from Kampala that helped us when we moved to Uganda, Brian and Rowena, moved to Fort Portal and are settling here. So we have another experienced elder in the congregation and his wife has a wonderful pioneering spirit and they're incredibly generous toward everyone.
We are also having the joy to have some studies regular to meetings, including a girl (we have 3 sons, we need a daughter now...). I gave her the photocopy of the watchtower of last Sunday and she prepared really well (she prepared so well that made me feel ashamed of myself).
Do you remember ZamZam? I wrote about her some time ago. She was from 80km away and she started coming to the meeting after reading the God Requires brochure. Well, she disappeared for a while, and we knew it was because she was actively involved in the elections. So we kind of lost hope on her. Then we heard she had a small accident on her heel while moving on a bike. So being in the town center again and the elections being finished, she started coming to the meetings again. One day, I was asking her where was she staying while being in town, and it came out that she was thrown out of the house because the father, being Muslim, didn't accept that she was studying with us and she wouldn't give up studying because she know it's the truth. And she told me that she knew Jehovah would care for her. So she's staying in the center with a friend and she's looking for a job but in the meantime she doesn't miss any meeting. And she's only on the 4th chapter of the Teach book.
This taught me never to judge on the first appearance. And never underestimate the fact that is Jehovah who makes it grow.
Well, we don't have any other news for now. In about a month we're going home to see family and we're quite excited about that. Thanks for following us... Hope I didn't bore you.
Posting soon...
Finally the storm stopped and the Drama started again. That night we had an invitation from a couple in Bethel and we had a lovely evening with special pioneers from Greece, bethelites, need greaters and Matts (see Yearbook 2010).
We came home from crazy Kampala and resumed our daily life of preaching. In the meantime we moved to a new house that was just finished. We actually entered the house when they were finishing it. So we were without internal doors for a long time. But it wasn't a problem as it was only us living in it. The house is really nice and we can see how Jehovah blessed us.
In the middle of September we went to Mbarara for our District Convention. It was also very nice and I must say that the number in attendance is increasing every year. Two of Chris' studies came and they loved it. And of course we had 3 baptized, one of which is a sister 78 years of age that speaks Kinyarwanda but comes to the meetings although they're in Rutoro. She can only read but not write, but she still prepare for the meetings and engage in the field as much as she can. We also spent a nice evening at the Missionary Home in Mbarara together with all the member of the translation office and our new C.O. Cleophas and his wife Jane.
When we came back we had the privilege to have the C.O. visit and to host them in our house. The only problems was that we still didn't have any doors (but you know, here is not a big deal).
We started panicking as the Friday before the C.O. visit arrived and we still didn't have any door installed. So we asked the Landlady to hurry and after praying to Jehovah several times, we finally had the carpenters bringing the doors and installing them on the Saturday before the visit.
We had a really nice and encouraging visit. Having the C.O. in your house means hearing all kind of experiences. For example, he told us of a lame sister in Eastern Uganda who never misses a meeting although she lives on a hill some kilometers away from the KH and she can't walk. So, obviously Jehovah never leaves his servants, she bought some chickens that give her eggs to sell. But what's interesting that her chickens produce double the amount of eggs of all the other chickens around that area. So she pays 2 eggs to some boys to push her wheelchair to the KH and to push her back home after 2 hours. The weekend she sleeps inside the KH as she takes active part in the field service and she has bible studies. She never misses assemblies and conventions and sometimes she even pays the transport for other brothers in need... Isn't she a demonstration of how Jehovah blesses our efforts to serve him?
In the meantime we had and addition of other 2 regular pioneers in our congregation and the couple from Kampala that helped us when we moved to Uganda, Brian and Rowena, moved to Fort Portal and are settling here. So we have another experienced elder in the congregation and his wife has a wonderful pioneering spirit and they're incredibly generous toward everyone.
We are also having the joy to have some studies regular to meetings, including a girl (we have 3 sons, we need a daughter now...). I gave her the photocopy of the watchtower of last Sunday and she prepared really well (she prepared so well that made me feel ashamed of myself).
Do you remember ZamZam? I wrote about her some time ago. She was from 80km away and she started coming to the meeting after reading the God Requires brochure. Well, she disappeared for a while, and we knew it was because she was actively involved in the elections. So we kind of lost hope on her. Then we heard she had a small accident on her heel while moving on a bike. So being in the town center again and the elections being finished, she started coming to the meetings again. One day, I was asking her where was she staying while being in town, and it came out that she was thrown out of the house because the father, being Muslim, didn't accept that she was studying with us and she wouldn't give up studying because she know it's the truth. And she told me that she knew Jehovah would care for her. So she's staying in the center with a friend and she's looking for a job but in the meantime she doesn't miss any meeting. And she's only on the 4th chapter of the Teach book.
This taught me never to judge on the first appearance. And never underestimate the fact that is Jehovah who makes it grow.Well, we don't have any other news for now. In about a month we're going home to see family and we're quite excited about that. Thanks for following us... Hope I didn't bore you.
Posting soon...
Monday, August 23, 2010
T.I.A. (This Is Africa)
So, here we are, just moved in a new house and this time we honestly thought that it would be the best place and deal we ever got in Uganda. But, as the title says "T.I.A."... you can't expect the same standard that we have back home. So anyway, the house is really nice! We have 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, nice size kitchen and a big sitting/dining room (i'll put some photos soon). The garden is nice and we're trying to improve it.
I (Taby) finally had the chance to take out of the suitcase all the things for the house I bought in UK before coming here, so now this place has feels like "home".
Unfortunately, although the house was supposed to be finished by the beginning of August, it's not. We still miss the internal doors (that will not come before the next month) and we have workers every day coming in finishing something or fixing it (yes...fixing it...some of the "new" stuff is already breaking)... but again, T.I.A.... no stress, no worries.
The field is compensating whatever disappointment we can get from dealing with this system. Our studies are increasing. Chris found a new boy, 19 years old, and after the first study he asked if he could come to the meetings...and he came!
Unfortunately I still haven't had the joy of seeing one of my studies coming regularly to the KH. And when I analyze their situation, is really not their fault. The majority of them have newborn babies and the ones that don't have them is because they're 12 or 13 and the parents don't allow them to come to the meetings. On the other hand, Chris is having at least 3 of his studies coming regularly to the meetings. They prepare, participate and expressed the desire to preach with us. So we're really happy, both of us of course (although I'm a bit jealous considering that we have "3 sons" and no daughter in the truth).
Ivan, "our firstborn", had the privilege of attending the Pioneer school and we know he had a lot of fun, especially because he was together with Abraham (our youngest and crazy pioneer here in Fort).
We have a new young brother who will start pioneering in September in our congregation and it was a nice surprise to hear the announcement. Another sister is just being appointed and a brother is waiting. We're now 12 pioneers in a congregation of 50 publishers. Not bad eh?
The field service meetings are really supported by our brothers and it's always an encouragement to see them there, in time despite they probably had to walk for more than an hour.
We're currently preaching in our unassigned territory (or as they call it here "Macedonia") and we were so surprised to find so many interested people. Chris found a girl, Stella, and we now study with the whole family. She is very smart to an exceptional point. I always have difficulties when explaining paragraph 7 to 9 of Chapter 1 of the Teach Book, but she got the point before I even ask the question. She even illustrated the difference between allowing and causing something. And in their language the distinction is not so clear, so I was amazed at the illustration she came out with.
On Thursday we leave for Kampala to take Naomi and Joel to the airport as they're going home. I will miss her very much as she is an amazing sister, a valid companion in the field, spiritually stronger than many I know, encouraging, understanding...and she is an amazing friend, one of those mentioned in Proverbs 18:24...very rare to find!
I hope she'll miss me as much as I miss her... and I'm honestly praying for them to come back.
As we're going to Kampala we're taking the opportunity to attend the District Convention, the full program, as our program is abbreviated. We'll stay with friends. It's going to be so much fun. And I heard this convention is REALLY good. So we're looking forward to that also because we're going to see all of our "children" at once.
So, ta ta for now... I'll update again once we come back from Kampala.
I (Taby) finally had the chance to take out of the suitcase all the things for the house I bought in UK before coming here, so now this place has feels like "home".
Unfortunately, although the house was supposed to be finished by the beginning of August, it's not. We still miss the internal doors (that will not come before the next month) and we have workers every day coming in finishing something or fixing it (yes...fixing it...some of the "new" stuff is already breaking)... but again, T.I.A.... no stress, no worries.
The field is compensating whatever disappointment we can get from dealing with this system. Our studies are increasing. Chris found a new boy, 19 years old, and after the first study he asked if he could come to the meetings...and he came!
 |
| Our transport |
Ivan, "our firstborn", had the privilege of attending the Pioneer school and we know he had a lot of fun, especially because he was together with Abraham (our youngest and crazy pioneer here in Fort).
The field service meetings are really supported by our brothers and it's always an encouragement to see them there, in time despite they probably had to walk for more than an hour.
We're currently preaching in our unassigned territory (or as they call it here "Macedonia") and we were so surprised to find so many interested people. Chris found a girl, Stella, and we now study with the whole family. She is very smart to an exceptional point. I always have difficulties when explaining paragraph 7 to 9 of Chapter 1 of the Teach Book, but she got the point before I even ask the question. She even illustrated the difference between allowing and causing something. And in their language the distinction is not so clear, so I was amazed at the illustration she came out with. On Thursday we leave for Kampala to take Naomi and Joel to the airport as they're going home. I will miss her very much as she is an amazing sister, a valid companion in the field, spiritually stronger than many I know, encouraging, understanding...and she is an amazing friend, one of those mentioned in Proverbs 18:24...very rare to find!
I hope she'll miss me as much as I miss her... and I'm honestly praying for them to come back.
As we're going to Kampala we're taking the opportunity to attend the District Convention, the full program, as our program is abbreviated. We'll stay with friends. It's going to be so much fun. And I heard this convention is REALLY good. So we're looking forward to that also because we're going to see all of our "children" at once.
So, ta ta for now... I'll update again once we come back from Kampala.
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