The Camp!

Dear friends,

I went to work Monday morning, Trésor came and collected me as Ian had taken my car on Sunday afternoon with mattresses, little tents for staff, craft activities and sports equipment and driven to Mbarara – where he stayed Monday night – the following morning he bought frozen chickens to supplement the menu for the camp.

Monday night Petra stayed the night at my apartment and we left with Jade at 7am Tuesday by Uber to go to Garuga. When we arrived at George’s Place the boys and staff had packed the minibus and taxi we had booked to travel. I was in the taxi with Trésor, the eight young boys, Saviour and Victor. All the older boys, Benard, Jade and Petra went in our minibus with Jessie driving. 26 of us went camping. We have had a really good time! Lots of laughter and fun. Matayo the camp manager, his wife Juliana who cooks, their children Becky (who attached herself to Jade) and toddler Liam with Sadam their helper made our visit memorable. Breakfast was at 7 am each day!

Wednesday morning we enjoyed a scavenger hunt, in 4 teams led by Tresor, Petra, Jade and I – really good – the boys were engrossed in finding mpala poo, hare poo, wild melon, took photos of a dung beetle, ant run, a grasshopper, etc. etc. there were over 20 items we had to find or photograph, it took us about 2 hours wandering around. My team were runners up to Jade’s.

“Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes.” ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭54‬:‭2‬ ‭

We’ve had close encounters with hippos who are nearby in the lake and walk through the camp site during the night, we saw 100s of zebras, water buck, mpala, warthogs. One afternoon we collected some sisal plants and were shown how to extract the fibres and make sisal ropes. The boys are always keen to learn new skills. Each evening we have enjoyed a camp fire where songs have been sung, led by Omoding, and the leaders have shared Bible readings challenging us on how we can care for each other.

The young boys acted out a parable each morning, the Lost Son, the Good Samaritan and the Sower during our devotions, then Ian asked questions about the parable and what they taught us.

Thursday morning we walked to the nearby beach and went for a boat ride, avoiding the hippos who were nearby, the younger boys going first. It did rain but we enjoyed seeing so many fish eagles, a couple of pelicans and flamingos, as well as kingfishers. We bought tilapia from a fisherman on the lake (who also had lung fish), which were cooked for Friday lunch.

The boys and staff learned how to play rounders, Jade had brought them. They also painted pictures, wrote journals and learnt how to make bird feeders. Thursday afternoon we travelled to a nearby village as Matayo, the camp manager, had arranged a football match for them to play with the village team. I think we lost!

On the way back from the camp we dropped Brian in Masaka to visit his grandparents for a few days.

It was a really tiring week and this afternoon , Saturday, I called to see the boys but they were engrossed in football on the television and relaxing! So I’m writing my newsletter!

Joseph, welding/plumbing was around as he is on an internship with National Water. Griffin is still staying with Joyce and John whilst doing his internship but phones and messages regularly.

The boys still have a couple of weeks holiday before going back to school/college. Sam who was our deputy warden has been offered full time employment at a factory and we are missing having him around. The atmosphere in the home is good. Shaffick and Omoding are still with us and everyone is fine, Zimba’s a bit grumpy but probably it’s been quiet here this week and he’s finding the boys being around difficult.

Thank you for all your interest in our work and your love and support.

Every blessing.

Love Jane x