kingsland members around the world

A day in the life of Alan & Beryl

Written Saturday 20th July and rested till sent.

A Day in the life.........
Well, we really did go rambling today – in the car that is, surely you didn’t think that I meant walking?? James our son is here, so to encourage him to take time off of his Busman’s Holiday at the Internet Cafe, we went to a small safari park 2 hours from our home. Lydia and Teddy came with us. Great excitement as we set out at 7.15am. (honestly.... we were awake before sunrise - Ed!)

By 8.30am our spirits were dampened as we heard the tragic news of a friend’s death. This was Winnie, who had had a terrible moped accident about 2 years ago. She nearly lost her leg then, but recovered it’s use, but never really regained her health. She died suddenly in hospital. The burial would be later in the day. After the shock of the phone call we wondered whether to turn back, but as we had nearly reached our destination we continued and planned to try to return to the burial at 4pm.

We were all sad, but brightened as we saw the animals – the various deer, wart hog, hippos and birds. The highlight was watching a standoff between a school of hippos and a large crocodile that swam slowly past them. The hippos lost interest in us, and turned to watch the silent menace glide past. We were mesmerised. Our fantastic guide threw a fish and we watched a pair of fish eagles swoop down to catch it. (they were about as good at cricket as I am though, as they did not catch a single one – Ed)

Hot from the sun, to the car – back on the dustiest road imaginable, and to the burial. At a very poor homestead we were welcomed by friends, but we were too late for the burial. Winnie had no close relatives, but masses of people had come to pay their respects to this much loved lady. It all felt so rushed and un-befitting of someone who had so much sparkle and life while alive; however some of that comes from a mixture of missing the burial itself and a comment from one of our friends here who said “That’s life”.

Back home for a quick change before meeting up with a couple who come each year to train midwives at the local hospital – new friends who were passing through.

While we were at home our newest young lady was brought to us, so we escorted her down to Hosanna House. Out then for the lovely meal, and then back to muse over the day.

Such intensity of feelings – joy, sorrow, mourning, excitement. Loss.

But last of all my thoughts are with our new, young teen, who is herself expecting a baby. I will meet her properly tomorrow. I found myself praying often during the day; questioning God, asking for comfort for ourselves and others, praising Him for the beauty of the lake, asking for safety on the roads. Thanking Him for Winnie. Then, as we plan for the new lass tomorrow, I find my prayers are for her. She looks shy, bewildered and scared. I think I would be too in her shoes. (anyone facing an interview of any sort with Mother has my compassion – even if it is one to make her welcome – Ed)

Some days are plain boring; some days are like today – full of surprises, sadness and joy. Again reminded of how brief our lives are, I plan to make tomorrow a significant day.

Have a great week Beryl

PS. Today’s ramblings contained a few editorials from our son, James...

a quick note from Alan

Hi

just sent this weeks pictures of the Kasaka building. Had a school management committee meeting yesterday - it was so positive - Some comments made:-

God is walking physically in Kasaka!
God's mighty hand is here!
When I went to sub-county headquarters for meetings it was so hard because Kasaka was the poorest village in the subcounty and they laughed at me. Now I am Parent's representative on the SMC of the best school in the sub-county and its in Kasaka!!!
Thank you everyone for what you have done in Kasaka
My child can now write my name!
We never expected anything like this in Kasaka!

Please say a big thank you to everyone at Kingsland for what you have done, lynne will tell you more when she comes back.

Alan

some pics from Kasaka

here are a few pics Alan has sent through of the building work on the new classrooms at Kasaka. term starts again early Feb and there'll be a new head and three more teachers. Apparantly the playground is still in tact. Its amazing to see green on the main forecourt - it was just hard earth every other time we have seen it.(remember the famous pic of the chicken?)  Well done to Rachel who has raised £3000 for this so far !

Ugandan Ramblings

When someone returns after an absence a common phrase is "You have been lost!" so maybe we have been lost because it is ages since we sent out any news!

Maybe the Queen has also been lost! She has come back to Uganda after last visiting over 50 years ago, this time her visit coincides with the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting here in Kampala. What chaos this has caused, roads have been repaired, street lights & hotels erected, grass planted, the city has been beautified! But not all of it you understand, just those bits that the visitors will see. Last Wednesday, a practice convoy took place simulating the arrival of the Queen, roads were closed - at rush hour 6pm! The whole of Kampala came to a standstill for over 4 hours. People complained, missed their planes, got frustrated, and so the problem was pondered upon, what to do???
The decision was announced - Thursday & Friday this week will be public holidays! The army will take over security in Kampala. So Kampala will be empty, people will 'go upcountry' for the long weekend, no rush-hour, no traffic! Problem solved! Its just that the whole country comes to a standstill for 2 days!

Bird Flu has reached the Sudan, just north of Uganda - so the government has reacted!

All Chickens to be registered at Parish level said the headline in the National Newspaper! Can you imagine in a place where not all children have birth certificates how are they are going to register all the chickens -

Just imagine the scene?
"I have come to register my chickens"
"How many do you have?"
"356"
"Right what are there names?" .........

or "We have eaten 3 chickens last night......."
"Who did you eat ....."
Let your imagination run wild  !

Last night we were eating with our son-in-law Paul at a local restaurant (Highway at Nyendo - for those who have been here) when our car was broken into - we could see the car from where we were seated, no more than 15 ft from us, but it was entered and our bags taken - cameras, passports, work permits, credit cards and some money - all gone!! We could not believe it. But it happened in day light - in front of us - so off to the police who confidently announced they would catch the guys. We prayed. WE PRAYED!

This morning I printed out some notices, we went to the radio stations to get some announcements made, then about 11.30 Joshua walks into my office with his driving instructor - with the bags - they had spotted them on some waste ground 1 minutes walk from the internet cafe!!! Passports, credit cards driving licences all there. Obviously the cameras and the money had gone together with my watch and wallet but most important those important documents were there!

Who says God does not answer prayer!!!

What else has happened recently?

Hosanna House - the girls home - is now open with 3 girls living there together with Josephine who is 'house mother'.
I (Alan) have moved my office out of the internet cafe after 4 years to give Susan space to run the cafe.
We have a new teacher at the school in Kasaka.
We are getting ready to build 1 or 2 more classrooms at the Kasaka school, this school year ends on 7th December and when the new year starts in February we will need to add Primary 5 and probably split this years Primary 1 into 2 classes because there are 65 children in it now, and I think all school teachers will agree that is too big. So we have to recruit 2 more teachers as well.

Big faith needed - and more sponsors!

Thanks for your interest in what we are doing here.

love Alan & Beryl Went
Masaka, Uganda
www.loveuganda.com

from the school in Kasaka

Hi all

This is a quick note to say that The Ministry of Education here in Uganda has licenced Christ's Embassy Primary School, Kasaka to operate as a Private School!!!

Noah has worked very hard on this and after much chasing around different offices and many trips to Kampala we were finally given a licence to operate, this is really good news. Now he has to start work on the next level, that is to Register the school. No, I don't really know the difference but I do know that it is going to mean loads more forms, photographs, plans and piles of paperwork, but we have to do it.

Last week was a very interesting week at the school as Milly, the teacher for Primary 1 resigned and left, and Prossy, the teacher for Primary 3 was rushed into hospital for an operation. She is doing well but will be off for at least 4 weeks and we have already found a replacement teacher for Primary 1, Edith has joined us after training with YWAM in Jinja. We are sure she will be a real asset to the school.

We are advertising for another teacher for P3 who will then take on P5 next year as the school has to add on one class each year until we have 7 classes. (We need to cover Primary 1 to Primary 7 and really should have a Nursery section as well!)

These are big steps of faith for us, but it is exciting to see the possibilities and watch the school grow.

Alan & Beryl, 

Love in Action,   Masaka,   Uganda, 

www.loveuganda.com

Chaos and a wedding!

Hi all

Beryl is back from the UK! (Hurrah!)

The whole world has gone crazy!! Well Masaka anyway!!

Those 2 things are not connected!

There are:

17 live chickens camping in back of my car
2 live goats at home
The Love in Action Resource centre looks like a market - it is full of cabbages, tomatoes, rice and other goodies
The cafe has no staff - they all keep running out to get their hair done - or their nails polished or to get a new dress or .....
The phone keeps ringing ----- I have just had a phone call - can I find 150 chairs and a tent for tomorrow (its 5.15pm!!!) the place that they were booked from has just said they were already taken!
All the girls at home have suddenly grown long hair!
I (Alan) have a new outfit - details to be revealed but only to the person who makes the largest donation!!!!!!!!! (A small hint - a heavenly being would look good in it!)
The cafe will be closed tomorrow for only the 3rd time I think in the last 3.5 years.

Why all the chaos?

Susan and Noah are getting married this weekend -

Tomorrow is the introduction ceremony, this takes place at the home of one of Susan's aunts. This is traditionally where the prospective groom is introduced to the family and asks them to allow him to marry his chosen one!
Then on Sunday is the wedding service and reception.

If you would like to send a message to Noah & Susan then please email (Alan@ugandamail.com) me and we will print them out and pass the messages on.

Please remember to pray for them.

I will write again after the weekend to let you know how it all went.

Thanks
Alan & Beryl.
Masaka, Uganda

PS I have sorted the chairs and tent! (Its now 5.45pm)

PPS - If you don't know Susan is Manager of the Internet Cafe, a Director of Love in Action and has lived at home with us for the last 4 years. Noah is the Pastoral Worker for Love in Action.
They are both really special to us.

news from Beryl in Uganda

it's a delight and privilege to host these wonderful and handsome young men, actally spotty youths is a better description. They are all worried about how little i eat and how this seems to have deflected to Alan as well. i want to congratulate the parents on raising such fine individuals.  they leave the table hastily, to do the washing up and have left their room immaculate. they make Uganda a finer place and the president himself has asked they stay longer.

Today they saved my life as i choked on a sparrow sized mango.

they are now working on their presentation for tomorrow at the Christian Union at Kyteme.

an evening with Alan and Beryl

Come and hear what is going on in Uganda
Come and hear about the various schools we are involved in.
Come and find out more about your sponsored child.
Come, laugh with us, cry with us
Saturday 24th March 7.30pm
Kingsland Church, 2 London Road, Lexden, Colchester.
Please come and find out more about Uganda - The country with the youngest population anywhere in the world!  Look forward to seeing you.
Alan & Beryl
www.loveuganda.com
PS: Bring your friends!!

here is a brillaint newsletter from Alan and Beryl - keeping you up to date with many aspects of the ministry of Love in Action   Download lia_2006_news.pdf

Reste and a falling kitchen

Sunday 19^th November 2006.

 

Last evening we had a message from Kasaka, the kitchen where the children’s food is cooked and where the boarding children gather in the evening had fallen down in a heavy rainstorm. Isaac had seen what was about to happen and shouted to the children to get out, but 1 little girl, e was too far from the door and she was hit on the forehead by some falling pieces. As she fell she caught her leg on the cooking fire and burnt her leg and a thumb. They took her to the local clinic and then to the health centre some 10 miles from Kasaka, where she was stitched up.

This morning Noah & I went to get her because the ‘doctor’ said she needed to have her head x-rayed.

When we arrived in Masaka discovered there are no x-ray facilities in Masaka on a Sunday, so the local hospital dressed her leg and re-stitched her head where there is a gash right down her forehead and she will stay with us (well Josephine really!) until we get the x-ray done and the results tomorrow. She is very quiet and a bit concussed we think but lets wait and see.

 

Thanks for you prayers and caring.

Alan & Beryl.