Getting Ready for Christmas

After a busy year the workshop, staff at Neema Crafts get a well earned two week break over Christmas. As its time for a bit of a clear-out there was an auction to sell off surplus and other items. One item was a ‘Beach Bum’ bag which was keenly fought over by the bidders.

The last day of week was dedicated to a staff party and meal. Two staff, Connie and Augustino, were leaving so they were presented with presents and a cake. A custom in Tanzania is that as a sign of respect important people are fed cake. This happens at a wedding when the bride feeds the groom, and on this occasion when Connie feed the Bishop, carefully supervised by Augustino.

Connie is a key member of the deaf football team so the team-mates presented him with a new football shirt. (Does anyone else think that Connie looks a bit like the other football star of the 60’s, Pele?)

It is a busy time for churches. The Christian Fellowship had 2 services – a early evening Carol Service, and one which featured a team of puppets.

Talking of ‘puppets’, the ‘puppies’ of one of the guard dogs are doing well. So much so that their mum was willing to leave them for a few minutes so they could have their photo taken.

The Bishop, and the Bishop's Wife

You wait 6 months for a wedding, and the two come along together!

 

 

This week we were thrice ‘Graced’.

Another couple from the hospital, Paul and Grace, got married at the local Cathedral. Malcolm went to the service which was conducted by his Grace the Bishop of Luweero.

 

The reception, as is usual, was held outdoors under tents.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

On the same day Irene was off to see his Grace the Bishop’s wife. As the Bishop retires this year the Mother’s Union held a special event to thank his wife for being their President.

Everyone was expected to wear the tribal dress – a ‘Gomez’. Even better if it was in the colours of the Mothers’ Union – blue and white

 

  

 

  

 

This week’s proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from Nigeria: “When an old woman falls down twice, people should check what is in her basket”.

No Need to Stand on Ceremony

It’s been a series of ceremonies.

Last week a team of staff from the main funders of the Hospital’s Maternity and Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit, Aspen Insurance and ISIS, visited. They came from America, London, Singapore and Australia and spent time visiting the wards, meeting the staff and experiencing life in Kiwoko. On their last day we had a farewell meal where there was a bit of excitement when it came to cut the cake.

 

 Also one of the doctors, Mushin, was baptised at our church. He had come from a Muslim family but had become a Christian and baptised when at school. However, his father had destroyed his baptism certificate. Because he wants to be married in church he needed to prove he had been baptised, so repeated the ceremony.

On Sunday the Bishop of Luweero came to hold a combined confirmation and wedding service at our local church. When he was introduced to Irene there seemed to be some friendly rivalry about who has the strongest grip.

 

The wedding was for a couple who had been married traditionally, by local ceremony, several years earlier but now wished to be formally married in church. They took the opportunity of the Bishop’s visit to be wed by him.

 

Irene enjoyed her birthday this week. She woke to find that their was no chance of keeping her age a secret, and made the most of the occasion.

 

On Friday the staff arranged a surprise birthday Bar-B-Que.

 

 

The night included fun and games and lots of food.

 

Our fellowship group gave Irene a large shopping bag as a present

 

And as we started the week with a cake, we can end it with one too.

 

This week’s proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is “When a cock invites a cockroach for a birthday party, he has prepared dinner for himself”.

Champions!

It’s been a champion week.

 

We have recovered from our journey and Malcolm has recovered from some minor bug we must have brought with us.

 

However, it may not have been a typical week here.

 

On Tuesday the Bishop of Lowero visited the hospital. This was an opportunity for the various choirs from Nursing and Laboratory Training schools to entertain us. Champion!

 

Wednesday was a bank holiday. It was also a sad day for the hospital as the Personnel Manager, Asiimwe, and Karren his wife said farewell to friends as they move jobs to Kampala. However, on a warm afternoon there was time for a few silly party games, lots of food and speeches.. Champion.

 

We are beginning to appreciate some of the wild-life. This week the largest butterfly we’ve ever seen landed at Malcolm’s feet, unfortunately injured. However it must be a champion amongst butterfly species.

 

To finish the week the Hospital held its first ever quiz night for staff. As usual there was a mix of rounds including ‘media’ (Ugandan pop stars and tv personalities). Somehow our team won by half a point!!!! The photo might give a clue as to why. However, we were confused by one of the questions which apparently came from a Ugandan radio and was something like. “What is the likelihood of you dying tomorrow?”  Answer “50:50”. Oh dear. Lets hope that's not true

 

“We are the Champions”.

 

And we almost forgot. We have also been working.



The following is a link to a video about the work of the hospital.
 

http://www.kiwokohospital.org/gallery/videos.php

 

This week’s proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from South Sudan "Pretend you are dead and you will see who really loves you"

.....Get Set......

It’s been another week of packing and saying goodbye to friends:

The Diocese held a reception for us at the Faith House guest house, and the Bishop presented us with presents to thank us for our work.

The Vocational Training Centre provided a lunch for us and all the students. This included a song and local dances.

When one of the students was asked why he was happy, he said it was because he meal was a change from posho (which looks like very stodgy mashed potato) and beans – their normal daily menu. (Malcolm was relieved he didn't say' because the Crawfords are going!!!!)

And the Senior staff of Potter's Village took us out for our last meal at Traveller’s Rest.



Now, all we have to do is pack up (and start our diet!!!!)

Finally, to complete the series on the local ‘delicacy’, the drink Bushera. Once the seeds of sorghum are dried and left to ferment for a few days in water you end up with the drink. It may look like drinking chocolate, but is tastes like slightly rancid fruit juice. Definitely an acquired taste and a bit of a shock to a mzungu!!!!

This week’s proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from the Gambia: “A thin chicken cooked and shared tastes better than a fat one eaten alone”