This morning we all went to Pastor Robert’s Church. The service was a powerful combination of worship music and a message of being thankful for everything in our lives. The music was delivered by a talented group of individuals who co-ordinated their outfits and movements and brought the congregation to their feet with their phenomenal voices. Our group noticed the generosity of the village; people who have very little themselves, but offered up sugar cane, chickens, vegetables, and a variety of other items. We were lucky enough to witness the dedication of baby Solomon and participate in communion, which funnily enough was referred to as the communion of cookies and grape pop! Our team was flooded with visits after the service.
Many of the people were so grateful to see us that they fell to their knees and shook our hands and thanked us for coming. It was very powerful experience to be part of. After the service, our team took a tour of the new facilities at Fountain of Hope. We got to see the new boarding house that has been developed and went inside the school rooms. The children very happily accompanied many of us, holding our hands, and looking at themselves in the pictures that we had taken of them.
Unfortunately weather prevented us from taking Damali’s children to the pool, but Faroukh drove us to Ivan’s children’s house and we took 9 eager children with us downtown Jinja to buy some ice cream and cookies. The children were so excited to come with us! We took them into the Supermarket before boarding the bus to go back to Ivan’s to eat the ice cream. Six of Damali’s children joined us for our delicious snack. The children enjoyed their treat so much that many would not give me their container lids until they had licked off every bit of ice cream! After our treat, the team enjoyed some time playing with the children. Some of them found their way to the bus and enjoyed sitting in the big seats, while others kicked the soccer ball around or played tag games.I enjoyed playing with a boy who enjoyed stepping on my feet while I walked, and spinning around in circles. The giggles and smiles that we helped to create this afternoon were amazing and I won’t soon
forget them!
After an eventful day, the team arrived back to the Guest House for a delicious dinner prepared by our very generous hosts. We are tired, but very excited for the projects that are to come tomorrow!
Christine Roth, on behalf of the Grandview 2011 Uganda Team
