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June 2011

I should be doing a lot of other things, it being Monday morning! But I have been musing over something for several days. We are responsible in some way for more than 20 kids here at home - some during the holidays (they go to our primary school in the term), some come in the term time to study at the local secondary and return to their home in the holidays. Most are orphans.

This got me thinking. We gave a job to a young lady last week (for less money than she wanted, but she had not worked since leaving school a year ago, so we thought it was a fair -for here- wage). In her interview she said that she eventually wanted to work in an orphanage. I did not tell her that most of our kids are orphans. She worked on the 1st and 2nd day, and then we did not see her again.

I think I could have enthused her more, if I had explained that the resident youngsters are orphans. We might get more funds - we may attract more attention - it may get us more kudos - whatever that is- but I REFUSE to think of the children here that are loved by us and each other as orphans. The word shrieks poverty and loneliness. The youngsters who have been here longest are starting to call each other brothers and sisters. They are watching out for each other as teens, - even sticking up for each other when they are in trouble. I asked one "Do you still think of yourself as an orphan?" "No" was the very strong answer.

I've been sorting out bed-sheets, and handing them out.... so many sheets. We are aiming for 2 sets per youngster, because they are impossible to dry in the rainy season. It is symbolic to me somehow, that we are going beyond just enough, to enough! Bought from Kampala's second hand market they are good quality, and are mostly duvets cut into two. I am not sure who is going to sleep on Sesame Street.
We had a party Friday night. To celebrate everyone being here (either to or from school) and the new home for the boys. It is grand. There are sets of double rooms, with an inside shower, and outside latrines. First class - with room for the lads to study.
Party means food -huge saucepans of the stuff - and sodas. I now enjoy the standard party food of matooke, rice, pork, spaghetti, chicken and fried cabbage. Everything tastes lovely, but I find the attached lumps of fat on the pork unappetising still. Then we watched a film - picked by Lydia - "Coach Carter". The language was bad to begin with, and I wondered where it was leading, but the storyline was excellent. Coach Carter in this true story wins over difficult teens, and turns them from academic failures and social misfits to a basketball team of fine successful young men. There was a lot of laughter when he yelled at the kids, or dished out punishments, and I heard our names amid the laughter.
After the film they discussed it - inspired - moved, and the thing that struck them most was that Coach Carter believed in the teenagers. He wanted something better for them. They saw the similarity in their own lives.
So what am I musing over? The fact that some just "don't get it". Some never get it. We talk about the kids that are here - but there are others that have gone. They never "got it", they never saw their potential. They chose to continue what they already knew -how to survive on their own, by their wits, on the streets. I hear that some are sick, or have a baby, have dropped out of education, are not working....... We failed. The percentage is not great, but everyone counts. I ask myself - "How can I help them understand?" How can I help the new ones "get it?"
Everyone is so individual-of course. One is very sick, but never mentions it - another is The Drama Queen. One never holds a grudge, another looks at someone whilst making a very Ugandan hisspt - which I have also perfected! One works hard at their studies - another bunks school. One loves cooking - another tries to dodge their turn. Two of the girls love to "play house", another two would rather be busy elsewhere - but all this is what you would expect - in a family.
I am not sure that it is "my family" though. We are certainly the head of it, and we live in the hub -with the boys in their new home in one village, and the girls in theirs in another- all coming together for meals here. I am the "In Charge", with the yell that makes them quake, but Alan is ‘The Authority’. When I am mad they are in for a bad time, but when Alan is cross, boy are they worried. We are the ones that budget, and plan, but it still does not feel like our family.......
By this I mean that no-one is more overawed than we are that it works. We have brilliant help, but even that is not enough. We feed and encourage the youngsters - counsel and chastise - but even that does not make a family. No, this is a God thing - and I say again no-one is more amazed than we are.

The verse that I am musing on - meditating on if you like - is this
"He puts the lonely in families". not orphanages - families.
Sylivia (Our Residential Social Worker/my right hand) has taken away a lot of the problems from me - she is now the one who buys and dishes out the things they need, and moans about cleanliness and timekeeping. She makes rotas, buys the food, plans menus, and rations the sugar (Now that is an IMPOSSIBLE task!) She manages to keep smiling and has won their respect. Games of football or basketball happen more often because the chores are done more readily and happily. Often when I go outside I see a happy gaggle of kids laughing and tumbling around on the grass. Now we just need to add in home-work, and we will be flying!!!
So we are left with encouraging, nagging, first aid - hospital - decisions, reprimands, prayers for and with a constant flow of individual attention to youngsters coming to talk about....well the kind of things you talk about in families.
Of course, our own family remain closest in our hearts, and our longing for them never ceases. Here we are not Mum and Dad or Nannie and Grandad, but Aunt and Mr Alan (we never wanted a title at all!) or Jja-jja to the babies. The words "Mum and Dad" are precious - and here so many youngsters do not have the privilege of using them. I try to remember that on days when "Aunt, Aunt" gets on my nerves.

Alan comes back from the office in the evening, and receives a barrage of greetings. I've noticed that however tired (dare I say even grumpy?) he might be, that the lisped "Welcome Back Jjajja Alani" from a tot brings a huge smile to his face.
So, the next time I advertise for the position of "Child Care Assistant", I STILL will not call them orphans - or OVCs (Orphaned and Vulnerable Children) as they are called here) - I will refer to them as Our Youngsters, because that is who they are. It might not get me someone whose ambition is to work in an orphanage, but it will get me a person that loves kids!

Beryl

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Love in Action News May 2011

Love in Action News May 2011 So much has been happening within Love in Action this year so we thought that we would write a brief newsletter to keep everyone up to date and inform you of some exciting changes that are taking place. First we would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has supported Love in Action over the last year, it was an amazing adventure and we are really lost for words as look back and see what God is doing here in Uganda. Beryl & I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who made us so welcome while we were back in the UK in February and March this year. Thank you for all your hospitality and support. Accounts Since we first came to Uganda and set up Love in Action all the accounts have been looked after by one of our trustees, Susann, working from the Kingsland Church Offices with the blessing of the Kingsland Church Trustees who pay her wages. We have now grown considerably and Andy Neill, another of our trustees, has agreed to take on responsibility for the finances in conjunction with his business Chann Neill Solicitors. This means that from 1st May donations postal donations, cheques etc. can be posted to: Love in Action (International) 107 Charterhouse Street, London. EC1M 6AW, Tel: +44(0)20 7253 7781 email: [email protected] Susann will continue to help Love in Action and cash donations can still be given to her at Kingsland Church, Lexden, Colchester (above Aldi Supermarket in London Road). Susann will also be helping distribute information to sponsors of children. We really do owe her a great debt of gratitude for all her hard work over the past 7 years. Also again we would like to thank the Kingsland Trustees for their generous support, our links with Kingsland Church, our home church, remain very strong. Kasaka Primary School For those who have not heard, we have been able to drill a borehole 100m deep to provide good water for the school, pictures are on the web site. We have plans to put a water tank and solar pump on the site during this coming year. See http://www.loveinaction-int.com/water_for_kasaka.html for pictures of the well drilling. This week the builders moved in again, this time to build new toilets for the teachers and a small shop to sell snacks and other essential items for the school and village. The children continue to study hard, we currently have 10 teachers and just under 300 pupils at the school. Our first group of school leavers sat for their exams in November and they all passed really well, 2 of them achieved 1st grade passes. We have been told that it is about 20 years since any child got a Grade 1 pass in the sub-county! Kasaka Secondary School Last year we were able to buy around 15 acres of land next to the Primary School ready for our planned Secondary School. Please ask for details if you would like to help with this major project. Sponsorship The number of sponsored children has continued to rise and we are very grateful to all our sponsors for their support. Approx. 200 children / young people are sponsored. Please ask your friends if they would like to sponsor a child for £12 per month. Hosanna Teenagers Project We have renamed our Teenagers project to recognise the fact that we have girls and boys in the our care and support. Hosanna House is our home for girls and to this we have added Hallelujah House for the boys. In August we had a group of young people join us from ‘He Will Provide Ministries’ when Robin & Jim Fruehan moved back to the USA. We continue to work with them as they support their young people. In August we employed a Residential Social Worker (Sylivia) to help Beryl in looking after these young people In October / November 2010 we again hosted the candidate class from Kyetume Parents Senior Secondary School. At the end of the year we had 7 girls (2 with their babies), 7 boys and 2 staff members within the Teenagers Project. Recently we had 5 more girls and 3 boys join the project. Four young people sat for their A Level Exams this year which was a great achievement for them. Within the last 2 weeks Dorothy and Goreth have joined our family, they have been welcomed by all the young people, especially by Priscilla who has taken them under her wing and really looks after them. We are currently in the process of buying our own building for the boys to live in, please see the website for details. Other News If you want to see what is happening here in Uganda please look at the 2 main newspapers here www.monitor.co.ug and www.newvision.co.ug. Andy Neill continues to help by donating a percentage of his fees for Accident Claims (see http://www.loveinaction-int.com/chann_neill.html for details. Over the past year many people have helped us to expand the work here, by sponsoring children, by organising parties, by talking to churches, by collecting Sainsbury’s school vouchers, selling home-made cards and cakes, selling surplus books, by giving funds to buy a mini-bus and purchase land and buildings etc. We want to say a big thank you to all who have helped us in any way over the last year. THANK YOU! Alan & Beryl Went And all the team. Love in Action Masaka Uganda www.loveinaction-int.org

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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.

Z1 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...

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a quick note from Alan

Cimg1090 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

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some pics from Kasaka

here are a few pics Alan has sent through of the building work on the new classrooms at 100_1917 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?)  100_1916 Well done to Rachel who has raised £3000 for this so far100_1918 !

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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!

Chicken 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

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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

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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_noahSusan 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 ([email protected]) 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.


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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.

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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!!

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