The Early Bird...........and the Worm

In Uganda dawn is always at 6.30am throughout the year, which is the sign that the day has started and work must begin.

 Malcolm often goes for an early morning walk, and every day sees a group of men leading a few cows to a field. Here, the animals are butchered and traders buy hunks of meat and take these back to their shops to sell or cook.

 Its an early start at the Hospital Farm. Once the cows are milked, churns are filled and brought around the hospital houses by distributors on bikes.

The Hospital day starts with a service in the dining room for staff and students. This is in English and this week Irene was asked to speak again. Malcolm presented certificates to a number of medical staff, including Sarah from the UK. These were for their help at a ‘Medical Camp’ at a medical centre in Kampala.

For those staff who prefer a service and prayers in Lugandan, they might begin the day at an outdoor meeting sat around one of the rainwater tanks.

This week’s bug is a large grasshopper which came to visit

 This week’s Swahili proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from Togo  “Once bitten by a snake, you are always afraid of worms” .

Did the earth move for you?

 On Wednesday we thought our chairs had developed massaging features. We were experiencing our biggest earthquake which lasted about 30 seconds at a magnitude of 5.7. Fortunately its centre was on Lake Albert and we don’t think there have been any fatalities, though traditional wood and brick houses in the area may have been damaged.

 

 Last weekend was the end of the financial year which meant it was time to do the annual stock take. In addition to the usual counting of drugs, syringes and other medical equipment that Malcolm was too squeamish to ask what they were used for, it was also necessary to visit the hospital farm and count the cows. For the record there were 24 in the herd: 11 in milk, 6 dry, 5 in calf and 2 heifers.

 

Each morning before work a brief service is held in the dining room.  On Wednesday Irene gave the talk for the first time – Genesis 18. Is your God a big god?

 On Wednesday every week a group of lady patients meet to make craft which is sold in the hospital shop, and is a chance for them to earn some money. They were pleased that Malcolm came to  take their photographs.

This weeks bug is a spider which decided to help out with some embroidery.

 This week’s Swahili proverb from the BBC Africa web-site is from Kenya  “A cow dies with grass in its mouth”