The Busoga Visit

Visit of St Denys’ Representatives, Carol Bunday, Cathryn Spiller, Lizzie Fennemore and Simon Whitbread to St John’s Church, Wakitaka Parish
8 – 18th July 2008

Daily Programme

We were usually collected at 9.30 by Eddie, our driver for the duration of our visit. We began the 9 day programme with a visit to the Jinja HQ of the Family Life and Education Programme (FLEP) and were greeted by Rev. Chris Kweye who was the Chair of the Programme.

The Reverend Chris Kweye

Rev Chris has many roles but the most important to us was as the Southampton/Busoga Partnership Development Office, responsible for setting up the initial link and working with Rev John Kiiza (vicar of St John’s) to organise our programme. He was also the Bishop of Busoga’s Chaplain.

We learned about how FLEP operated, their health programmes/challenges and funding streams. Unbeknown to us, the visit to FLEP delayed our visit to St John’s by 2/3 hours, as the visit was not part of our programme. Anyway we were warmly greeted by members of St John’s Church who did not seem to be fazed by the delay.

We soon learned that the programme, while well planned, was fluid, as there were often ‘extras’ slotted in literally along the way to a venue or sometimes the day before. Our visit here seemed to form the template for future visitations, to the 10 out of 11 Churches and Schools in the Wakitaka parish.

At all times we were accompanied by an interpreter, Edward, (who had taken unpaid leave as a school teacher to accompany us), Rev John Kiiza, Martin (Head of Laity for St John’s) and various wives/lay clergy. We were clapped, sung, drummed in (or a combination of all) to all the churches/schools and it was expected we sit at the top visitors and clergy table, sometimes with flowers and bottles of water. There would often follow dances, or drama which had been rehearsed for any visitors.

We were invited to give a few minutes talk to each place which was obviously tailored to our audience. Our speech would include information such as our name/marital status/children details (if applicable)/our jobs/our involvement with St Denys’ Church/a few words for the listening group, which was different every time. We mostly did this individually, but if an extra visit had been slotted in at the last minute time could be limited and Carol, as the Team Leader was invited to speak for everyone.

After this, each place responded and mostly supported their welcome with a written report which included demographics, challenges - See Appendix 1. We would then be shown around each Church/School and grounds. After most visits we would be presented with a gift – mostly fruit as this was in abundance.

In some places we were presented with wooden plaques, carvings and crafts for St Denys’ Church - we did have to refuse the offer of a live chicken at one point, in one of the many income generating projects we visited on our travels. At one stage the back of the 4 x 4 was crammed full of fruit, and often we would give some to the children at the schools down the road taking into account who was accompanying us, so as not to offend anyone.

Having Lunch in a Classroom

The children had no food during the day and often walked anything up to 20km to and from school.

We felt guilty eating lunch which consisted of rice, potatoes, matoke (cooked banana), chicken, ground nuts, tomatoes, bottled water, when the children playing outside had nothing.

Our food had been prepared on a charcoal fire and was one prepared for special visitors. It then became clear why those accompanying us pilled their plates high and returned for seconds, as this was probably the only meal most of them would have that day. Sometimes we were unsure when exactly was lunch as fruit had been offered in some places mid morning. Some days it felt like we had ‘grazed’ all day.

During our visit we attended a staff meeting where all Lay Ministers who looked after the satellite Churches, attended and gave a report including monthly giving of their Church. We also were taken to the Diocesan Office and visited Busoga Cathedral.

Sunday Services

It had been previously agreed that we would all take part in the 7.30 and 9.30 services so were collected at 7am to travel the 5/6km from Jinja to St John’s. Carol respectfully declined the kind offer to preach at one of the services, and it was therefore agreed that Simon would talk at the 7.30, which was mostly in English, and Cathryn would speak at the 9.30 service through an interpreter.

Carol. Simon & Lizzie went out with the children during Cathryn’s talk and taught the Sunday School 2 new songs. While the Church was very happy to receive all the gifts presented by Carol (in both services), they were most pleased to receive the small communion set which was donated, as St John’s did not possess one of their own.

St John's Staff and Lay Readers

During the service

Lake Victoria

Leisure Time

We had very little leisure time, but we were taken to see Bujagali Falls, a popular tourist spot and one for entrapaneurial students who charged visitors to see them white water raft on a yellow water container or in a canoe.

We took a boat trip to see where the new hydro electric dam was going to be built.

Rev Chris, his wife and 2 of his 3 children took us to a beautiful park at Lake Victoria, where we had another boat trip to see the source of the Nile.

In the evenings, as we were mentally and physically tired, we usually just had dinner somewhere, and went to our rooms to sleep or to find a rare enjoyable film on the random channelled T.V.s

FLEP Health Centre, Kamuli

FLEP

On our last day, we were driven 400km by Rev Chris, who showed us 4 Health Projects FLEP had set up and a mobile HIV testing programme.

The Way Forward

The PCC have given us permission to form a group to facilitate the way forward and they will be meeting on a bi monthly basis. Suggestions for the development of the link are that the cell groups adopt a Church and oversee its growth and fund raising to assist its financial support.

Other ways of developing relationship with the children are forming pen friends, also Simon and Lizzie will send an quarterly update to the children of Wakitaka parish from St Denys’ young people’s groups.

Summary

We all felt very privileged and humbled by what we have seen and experienced. Carol, Cathryn, Lizzie and Simon would like to thank the PCC for their support in supporting this visit and for giving us the opportunity to see God at work in another part of His world.

Financial Information

In order to assist with your deliberations it may be helpful for you to know that there are roughly 3,000 Ugandan Shillings to the British pound.

Also some idea of what items cost out there;- Bible in local language = 3,500 shillings (£1 – 1.50), Bicycle = 120,000 (£40), Motorbike = 2m (£6 – 700) Labour – Qualified Foreman = 5,000 shillings per day, 10 Locally reared chickens, including cockerel = 100,000 shillings (£33), Shed for any income generating project 200,000 shillings (£70)

Please note that while these figures were correct at the time of writing they are subject to variations in exchange rates and inflation

Appendix 1
Wakitaka Parish Challenges and Prayer Requests.

Appendix 2
Transcript of emails sent by the team during their visit to Busoga

Busoga visit 1st report, Received 12/07/08

Hi Everyone,

This is our first chance to get to an internet cafe so here is our update.

"After a 25 hour journey, Rev Chris Kweye collected us from the airport and we arrived safely at our Hotel 2 and 1/2 hours later. We have been treated like royalty (sometimes being sung and drummed into meetings) and been transported by our driver in, Rev Chris's 4 x 4.

We have seen many churches/schools and met many officials from the Churches and even been to the Diocesan HQ. Sometimes we have needed an interpreter, sometimes not. Many things have fallen into place, from the emails we had received from Rev. Moses. (Rev John's predesessor).

Lunch has been provided every day, either by individuals in the homes we have visited or by the school or Church. We have been overwhelmed by the welcome given to us by people who works so hard for their Ugandan shillings and walk so many miles to get to Church/School. We all feel very rich in comparison.

We are being collected at 7am (Uganda time - they are 2 hours ahead) to take part in 2 services -7.30 and 9am. Simon is preaching at the 7.30 and Cathryn is preaching at the 9am. I am presenting the gifts and teaching the children My God is so Big and going to sing them the English words of an old Methodist song, to which we have been greeted severl times. (I am so glad that Jesus loves me). Expect Lizzie will be doing something somehow.

We are in Jinja now and don't expect to get back here for a few days but will write again when we can. Not much free time but we were taken to Bujagali Falls yesterday and went on a short trip down the Nile. The programme has changed a bit with 'extras' being put in. We are all keeping well and thoroughly enjoying the experience - please pray for quality sleep as our hotel is a very noisy.

Love and prayers The Busoga 4."

2nd Report, dated 14/07/08

Hi Everyone

In Jinja again this after noon on our afternoon off.

The services went very well yesterday with Simon and Catherine;'s talks being well received. Catherine preached in the 9.30 service and Simon/Lizzie and I taught the children some songs. The gifts were also well received (I had to present them twice as there were 2 services). Everyone was very happy with everything, espeially the communion set. They had previsouly had to borrow one. The money will also be well used as there is a lot to do out here.

The generosity has been so humbling with people/churches/schools who have very little giving us lunch most days of hot cooked food and vegetables. We felt so sad and guilty as we were eating lunch at the school on the first day when there were hundreds of children playing out side who had not eaten since they left for school probably somthing like 5 - 6am and will not eat again until they have walked the many, many kilometres home.

We have been given gifts of fruit and crafts. The fruit we can eat some and give the rest away but just how we are going to get the 4 x 8 feet long sugar cane home we dont know. Seriously though, we will cut it up here and either give it away and eat a bit ourselves. We were supposed to have yesterday afternoon off as well but Rev Chris generously took us to the top of Lake Victoria and on a boat trip to see the source of the nile. He also treated us to dinner.

Anyway that's all for now ,

Love and best wishes The Busoga 4.