Out Touring

Sorry- it has been a few days since the last update. We have been busy showing Mike and Tanya around Kampala and area. We are all tired by the time evening hits and we head to bed before 9:00- aren’t we just the party animals?!
On Friday we started working Mike and Tanya hard. Greg had Mike doing all kinds of things at the different Watoto sites around the city. Tanya was lugging little and “not so little” babies in and out of the babies’ home. She even got to hold Lorenda’s special little preemie for a few seconds until Lorenda stole her back!
On Saturday we finally got out to Suubi village- we have been trying to do that most weekends since we arrived. First we toured the woodworking shop and metal fabrication shop. In these shops they make furniture and other supplies for use in the Watoto homes, churches and other buildings. These shops are also part of the Watoto self-sustainability plan- they build items to be sold to other organizations.
Next we toured the goat farming operation. Currently they are milking 53 goats and produce enough milk to feed the babies in the baby home at Suubi. The long term goal is to produce enough milk to feed all the children in Suubi village (over 1200 children)- they have a little way yet to go to accomplish that goal.
We then toured the medical center in Suubi village. The clinic is very busy seeing about 40 children and adults from Suubi village each day. They also have a physiotherapist and a psychologist that are available to serve the village children and adults each week. Starting next week there will be a dentist in the clinic one day per week- this is going to be a great asset to the clinic and will save Watoto a lot of money.
Lorenda was already somewhat familiar with the medical building since she and three others spent some time there during our 2010 trip. When we arrived at the medical clinic in 2010, there was a room piled floor to ceiling with donated medical supplies from all over the world. It was a challenge to get them in order, but with three nurses (Darlene Toews, Kelly Picavet from Belgium and Lorenda) sorting and Donalda Rohde organizing, that room was ready to go in just a few hours. The room looks great now with six stretchers where they can admit short term patients. Lorenda mentioned to the nurse doing the tour that she had been there helping to organize. The nurse laughed and said she remembered that day well. Everything we do is for the Lord- even cleaning out overwhelming storage rooms.
Nothing can really prepare you for what an African Pentecostal Church will be like. We tried to explain it to Mike and Tanya before we went this morning, but it really does defy explanation. You have to experience it. Mike and Tanya enjoyed the service and are looking forward to going back next week. All of you should come and join us next week- that would be great!