Dan’s mum passes away, travel to Kayunga, Mbale, Sironko, Tororo, Bugiri and Iganga.

Dear friends,

I’ve come away for a couple of days to a place called Tilapia Lodge near Entebbe. A little boat came and collected us (Christine and I) from the Landing Site at Entebbe and brought us across Lake Victoria to a quiet oasis, surrounded by trees, plants, birds and wildlife!

It had been such an eventful, sad week.

Last Sunday morning before I left for church I received a call from Benard notifying me that Dan’s mum had passed away. After church, Peace, Johnathon, (Peace’s son) Tresor, Dan and I started off from George’s Place to go to Kayunga, we met Jessie on the Gayaza Road, it’s a long journey and I don’t like to drive at night. We arrived just before 7pm. On reaching the home we found lots of people seated outside. Sadly Dan’s mum had been walking from a nearby village on Friday evening and been attacked by drug addicts, she survived the attack but later died of her injuries. They have 9 children, Dan being the oldest boy. Whilst we were there an ambulance arrived and took the body to her family home near Jinja in preparation for the funeral on Tuesday. We came back to Kampala as we had work to sort out for the week. Dan wanted to come back with us.

‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.’ Ephesians 4v32

Monday morning I took Griffin to the Country Club for a two week course on making coffee, he tells me he’s good at cappuccino’s now and can use the ‘barista machines’. Benard took Kodet and Brian to the hospital for dental treatment. Kodet has to return again this coming Tuesday. Brian had a tooth extracted and is now back at school.

Tuesday Joseph who was going to sort out his National ID came with us to Lugazi to catch a boda to his home village. Peace, Dan, Tresor and I, Jessie driving continued to the village near Jinga for the funeral. I think there were probably about 1,000 people there, sitting in the shade of trees or under awnings. The weather has been extremely hot this week over 35 degrees most days. We stayed until 5pm, having given our condolences and meeting all the LC’s, dignitaries and family. Tresor stayed with Dan until after the burial, he then helped organising the family to get back to Kayunga whilst Tresor stayed in Jinga. The following day he visited Dan and his family before returning to Kampala.

Tuesday evening we arrived in Mbale late and the following day went to visit Ivan near Sironko, and found him busy making school uniforms. We then met Emma and Sam, our old warden, who is helping him settle as there are family issues. We also visited Peace’s brother-in-law who has had a boda accident and badly damaged his leg. The boda driver had been killed.

On Thursday we travelled to Tororo to visit Omoding who was working with his stepmother in the garden and then took him to the vocational college to find out why he had not sat his hairdressing exams last year. He will take the exams in August with other students. We also met with his older brother who is looking for work for Omoding in a local salon. Later we traveled to Malaba on the Kenyan border and met Robert who was working but not in a salon. It was so hot we talked in the car with the AC to keep cool! His grandmother was in Kenya that day but we will call and ask if she can find him a salon to be working in. We then drove to Bugiri and met Shaffick, he was fine and had just finished work. He doesn’t work everyday but is getting some hairdressing work. We don’t inform the boys we are coming to see them as we want to see exactly what is happening in their lives, we were pleased they were all working and supporting themselves.

Friday morning early we went to find Derek in the garage in Iganga, but he had been called out to work on a car, we left him a message and he has been in contact with me.

We then travelled back to Kayunga, and visited the school to check that the uniforms had been made for Shilla and George. We bought groceries for Dan’s family before visiting them. The two youngest children Edith and Jane are staying with an older half sister Brenda, leaving Esther with her baby, Shilla, George and Ronald with the father. We brought Nora, an older sister and her baby back to Kampala where she stays. They have been unable to find Olive the oldest daughter to notify her of her mother’s death. Dan came back to Garuga with us, plus a rabbit! Dan told Jessie they had buried his mum with her shoes on so that she could walk and find the culprits! Prayers please for this large sad family.

On arriving back at George’s Place, I found that the older boys, Kodet and Ronald had been cleaning and tidying the boys bedrooms. Ronald then cleaned my car. On Saturday there was a parent’s day at Trinity School and Tresor visited Musumba. Prayers please for Charles, he went back the hospital last Monday and received medication and treatment.

Saturday afternoon the young boys went swimming and Ronald went with them.

The news from DRC is awful please be praying for the people of Goma, Bunia, Bukavu and towns and villages on the east – many people have lost their lives.

It’s so peaceful where I’m staying, I’ve had a short walk down by the lake, and found a comfortable swing chair in the shade with a wonderful breeze.

Thank you for all your love, support and kindness.

Love Jane x