Making the earth move? (not to mention a mouse)

The Diocese is getting ready for a special Convention next weekend to celebrate 100 years since the first people brought Christianity to Kisoro in 1912. The special speakers are the Archbishop of Uganda and the Archbishop of York. John Sentamu, who was brought up in Uganda but had to flee to Britain in 1975 to escape execution by Idi Amin, arrived early and took the opportunity to visit Potter’s Village to meet the staff and children.

Everyone wanted to look their best, but some did have trouble finding clothing to fit.



One of the local roads running beside Potter’s Village has been impassable for several weeks as it needed to be rebuilt after flooding. One source of muscle in Uganda are prisoners who can be used in work parties for manual jobs. They are distinctive in their yellow shirts and trousers: Like most roads this one is made of dirt and stones so a repair job means digging and moving lorry loads of earth to make a new surface.



Which brings us back to the earth mover!!! It has been a momentous week. It hasn’t been used to move earth, but it was used as a grandstand so that children could get a good view of the Archbishop. And as the final preparations were made for the Convention a couple of mechanics arrived to move it away. End of story (we think).






Another saga has been the capture of a 4th mouse, this time in Rosie’s flat at Potter’s Village. 2 times the trap was baited and set, and 2 times the bait was eaten, the trap was ‘tripped’ but the mouse escaped. But not the third time when, perhaps having eaten three helpings of porridge the mouse was too fat to squeeze out. He was released by Malcolm about a mile away (near where the earth was dug to repair the road, as it happens.



And continuing the story of Sorghum, this week’s picture shows the seeds being left to dry on raffia mats.



This week’s proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from South Sudan:

“If you are looking for a fly in your food, it means that you are full”

A Refreshing View

“Malcolm, could you climb the hill behind your house, and take a photograph of the Diocese buildings?” The hill in question looks more like a climbing wall used by mountaineers rather than a gentle incline. Malcolm had walked (scrambled) down it once over a year ago when he walked back from Lake Mutanda, but hadn’t plucked up courage to attempt to go up it. So packing a spare oxygen cylinder, saying a (last?) fond farewell to Irene he set off.



It wasn’t as bad as he feared. He has to say that as there are houses up the hill where people older than him live, who must make the climb on a daily basis. We are pleased to say he took the photos and returned in one piece. The photos clearly show are house and the other Diocese buildings

One of the houses on the hill had Sorghum seeds drying in the sun. Sorghum is a common plant which is used for a variety of purposes and in particular to make the local favourite drink – Bushera. When we first saw Bushera we thought is was hot chocolate, being a similar colour and consistency. It was a bit of a shock to taste a slightly off, sour, fruity flavour – definitely an acquired taste.



And as for our now regular feature – the earth mover is still there with the signs of other life moving in.



This week’s proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from South Sudan:

“A quarrel is like buttermilk, the more you stir it, the more sour it gets”