If we had just arrived from a 9 hour flight from England to Kampala, and then, after a days rest, had completed an 9 hour drive from Kampala to Kisoro, I think the last thing we would want to do is entertain about 30 guests for the evening. Bed, or failing that, to relax would be on my mind. But this is Africa where it is important to make sure that you welcome people properly, especially someone of importance.
On Thursday evening the Bishop and his wife arrived back in Kisoro after spending 6 weeks touring England. As soon as they arrived we met them for a cup of tea in his office, and then moved up to their house where about 30 people from the office, clergy and friends stayed for about 4 hours hearing, over a meal and speeches of welcome, of their experiences in England. They spoke of the people and friends they had met, and, surprise surprise, the snow.
Apart from that its been a fairly quiet week. On Sunday we visited, with Jenny, another Parish church – this one actually an ‘Archdeaconry’ which meant it was a bit grander than a normal parish church with a large congregation – so large in fact that, as we were sitting in the front row we felt rather squashed and pressed in when the children and people came forward, to be prayed for as they went too Sunday School, to give to their offerings and later for communion.
It was a longish service – about 3 hours so Malcolm did leave part way through for a bit of a breather and to try and discourage the children from climbing all over the car.
Irene has been doing a lot of sewing for Potter’s Village baby home, and on her own dresses. As in Tanzania we seem to have temporarily inherited an electric sewing machine which no-one was able to get going until she arrived. She is getting a bit of a reputation.
Next Monday the Diocese Finance Board meets to consider a number of matters including the budget for 2011 so Malcolm has been busy helping the accountant with some of the background reports.
As for Christmas, it hasn’t arrived here yet. There are no Christmas decorations in the shops, or piped Christmas songs but if you look very, very carefully you might be lucky to find one, or maybe two adverts in the national newspapers decorated with a small picture of holly, or something like that. Other than that, Christmas has not arrived, although we have been warned in a week or so the prices of vegetables will increase as people return to Kisoro from Kampala to stay with their families over the holiday season.
Regarding the nest outside our office the news (bad?) is that it appears that instead of the birds nest we have gained the nest of a rather large flying insect; it looks something like a giant black wasp but a wing span of over an inch. It makes UK flies look puny, I’m afraid.
The signs this week are from a Child Development Centre run by the charity ‘Compassion’ located next to the church we visited last Sunday.
You know you live in Africa when….
… you find yourself staring at white people walking past your office and wondering ‘Who are those Mzungus?’
… the drain in the floor of your ‘wet-room’ shower is higher than the rest of the floor (and even African water only flows down-hill!)
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