South Sudan

Things you need to know

lynn923 — Thu, 7 Jun 2012 19:43:00 GMT

Things you need to know when travelling through Maridi, South Sudan. I really must say that these people are the kindest, gentlest and generous people I have ever met. However if you’re intending to visit here are some local customs you need to know.

Knees are too sexy for display, keep them covered up. (women only). Boobs are not.

When buying oil out of a coke bottle, ck with the vendor whether it’s cooking oil or engine oil. (I squeezed out the meat and rinsed it; nobody was any the wiser and nobody got sick (phew))

If it itches, scratch it immediately, it will be something about to take a bite out of you.

“Yes no problem” means I haven’t got a clue what you’re talking about.

It’s far better to make out you know somebody when you don’t than not realize you have met somebody before.

When you’re just taking a peek at a shin-dig to see what’s going on; don’t get too close. You will be given the best seat in the house, at the front, with no hope of escape or sneaking out. You will be sat for four hours during the speeches and still never find out what’s going on.

Handshaking is compulsory, even if you have already shaken hands with that person, that day. You must especially shake hands with all the people who are with the person you know (or are pretending to know (see above)).

Driving rules are not universal. Drive on the right unless it’s too muddy or the hole is too big. If something comes towards you while you are on the wrong side of the road ck out the engine size, if it’s bigger than yours, get out of the way, if it’s smaller do what you like.

An oncoming car signaling it’s turning to its left means move over. It really does.

Approaching a round-about, going straight on? Put your hazards on. I’m not joking; if you don’t do this a traffic policeman may pull you over and give you a ticking off.

If two or three of you need a bike taxi, only flag one bike, it’s all you need! (Women remember; side-saddle).

When pulling out of a side road onto the main road do not look for oncoming traffic, it’s chicken.

Don’t look at dogs, especially when you’re driving; they’re not used to it. They go nuts and try to attack the car.

When shopping, ask for a little less than you need as they always give you extra without charging! I told you, they really are lovely. That’s all folks xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

nothing is impossible

lynn923 — Tue, 29 May 2012 16:26:00 GMT

Saoirse will find this one very boring as she's heard it all before:)I have had a week off from teaching this week as I wanted to concentrate on getting the day centre up and running. We have been given a donation of $7500 and with that have been able to get started. It’s only enough for six months though so I have been visiting UNICEF and World Vision. They have offices in a town about 100 miles west of here and I managed to get a lift with another NGO. The roads are so bad my bum was really sore when we got back. We are having our first meeting with the widows tomorrow to see what business they’d like to start up.(update..they decided they'd like a farm and Bishop has given us land whoop whoop...everything is possible through God)

Today I went to market and got a boda boda (motor bike taxi..keep up).. back. I decided to take a detour and get him to take me up one of the hills round here. We got most of the way up and then got off and walked. At the top I was delighted to be able to see Maridi from above. Apparently there are about 40,000 inhabitants, they make so little impact on the environment you can barely see anything but the bush. I was also delighted by the butterflies up there. Loads of them - all different colours and patterns. (just like this bloomin American spell and grammer checker that’s underling everything I type!!!)

talk soon xxxxxxxxxxx

nothing is impossible

lynn923 — Tue, 29 May 2012 16:26:00 GMT

talk soon xxxxxxxxxxx

noisy nights

lynn923 — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:05:00 GMT

It's 2am. Unable to get back to sleep I decided to distract myself by reciting all the bible stories I have memorized (5) and sing hymns. Badi dak (after that) I tried reading. I picked up a biography of a very successful missionary (Ken Strachan) to Costa Rica 50 years ago and on the inside sleeve it describes the man as suffering agonies of self-doubt and having a lack of faith in himself whereas, to others he was a rock of strength and had boundless warmth. My Father God has been and still is, teaching me not to look at my lack of faith in myself but if I love and obey Jesus, which I do, I can have total confidence in Him. I cannot stop singing ‘Be bold, Be strong, For the Lord your God is with you’. Not the slightest help in getting to sleep but good for preparing for the English language service at the cathedral at 9am today which I am leading (not preaching).

The English lessons with the Mothers Union in town are a joy and a privilege to teach and the planning for the day centre for orphans and widows is going really well. I’m off to the capital city, Juba, on Monday with my friend, Rev. Eunice to see a day centre in operation there which should be an adventure as we’re taking public transport. You’ve all seen them on the telly, overloaded mini-buses both inside and out.

Another reason I might not be able to get back to sleep is the noise. We have no electricity, no cars going about, no music blasting. It’s birds, crickets, frogs, fruit bats and goodness knows what. There are trees here that scream. I kid you not; similar to crickets but one note, not two and LOUD. Every now and again a dog starts howling and all the others join in, in sympathy, (I don’t blame them, they too do not have the luxuries of living in the west like us, it’s a miserable life for a dog here).

I booked my flight today on the missionary plane that will take me to Entebbe to connect with my flight to Manchester on July 24th It’s getting close now. I really will see you all soon! I’m soooooh excited.

Love love love and God’s blessing on all who read this

Lynn, Mum, Sis, Aunty Lynn ps it’s still only 5am. Now what shall I do?

Hi

lynn923 — Wed, 2 May 2012 18:25:00 GMT

I want to write but I don’t often, many times because I can’t do justice to that which I wish to express. I don’t have the vocabulary or the poetry in me that describes the world around me in which I find myself.

Early mornings which were always my worst time of the day unless I managed somehow to get through them without thinking (not as hard as you might think) have turned right round to become the best part of my day. I still have the immediate guilt and worry of timeworn habit but now I can quickly dispel those attacks by our enemy into moments of prayer, then longer moments of prayer, until I come back to the truth that God is in charge and I am in His care. Faith without action is dead we are told but I’m also learning that being in Him is not always just about action but also about just being. Hmm. Deliciously wonderful.

Today has been about blue skies and sunshine, tinged with joy. An early morning call to Saoirse, 21 today!, who is having a wonderful day with Flora who I also love, easy ozey hour on the internet, with prayers answered and comical friends, nursery monitoring, bike rides down gentle everlasting slopes which meant the ride back up was not too hard, lift hitched to airstrip to greet my friend and my funds and back to camp for lunch prepared by new-found friends with banana and custard! Book reading afternoon, learning new wisdoms and now the confidence to write. Joy indeed.

I cannot express my love for you all and how much my confidence is built upon knowing God and knowing you are all there, loving me.

News from Maridi, South Sudan

lynn923 — Sat, 7 Apr 2012 21:27:00 GMT

Hello everyone. I’ll start by reassuring you on the security front that Maridi is an oasis of calm in what is the madness that surrounds us. We are just praying like billy-oh for the peace to continue here and spread to the rest of the country. Trisha, Leah and I went for a prayer walk this morning around the ECS (Episcopal Church of Sudan) land which is large and under-developed. There is a lot of fertile land but not the facilities to farm it. Even the NGO’s (Non Government Organisations) struggle to operate here due to the disproportionate prices and difficulties in getting anything here. Right now prices are rising daily, trucks are loaded up with goods at the border but unable to get in without paying unaffordable taxes. Therefore the cost of what is here is soaring and the need to grow your own food is getting urgent.

The weather has cooled for the past couple of days after reaching 42 earlier in the week. The benefits are for those of us going through the change wringing with sweat, nobody notices. And Millions of mangoes are literally falling off the trees all around us. We will not go hungry in the next couple of weeks. It’s really, truly fabulous.

Its Easter week-end as I write and the youth group bands and parties are in full swing. Music fills the air as if it is coming out of the air. It’s such a gift as music lifts the spirit and helps to lighten the load of what is a manually hard life. The water taps were off again for a couple of days due to fuel shortages at the plant. The borehole is very hard to pump and the queues are long. The manager went to the lake to fill up the jerry cans meaning the water was so dirty I was scared to wash in it. I put so much bleach in it I think my hair might turn blonde. I had one bucket to wash a weeks’ worth of clothes and I’m not sure they’ve come out any cleaner. But God is blessing us here. I know i could not do this without His supernatural help.

I’m off to town this afternoon to photo some widows and orphans who I’m hoping to get sponsorship for. For those who worry about where their money goes to when they sponsor kids like this can i tell you that it really is an answer to prayer for those on the receiving end. Life changes completely when you have money for a uniform and school fees and the widow’s struggle is turned to joy when she can send her kids to school. She may still have to work all hours breaking stones but at least there is hope.

I’m loving it here and feel I have a work to do but I am now counting down the weeks until I see my family again. I’m dreaming of meeting you all at the airport. (I hope someone is there to meet me). July 23/24^th I think is my return date. How wonderful is it though that love can travel across the miles from my heart to yours and yours to mine. Love you all gazillions as you know.

Lynn

Maridi cont.

lynn923 — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:46:00 GMT

I have the most amazing of times and the worst of times. Today started with me going up to a church I’ve never been to as a favour to my friend Leah who is a bible translator. The newly translated books had been delivered and she’s not here as she had to go to Juba, the capital city, so she asked me to go and take photo’s. But of course it’s not as simple as that. I got treated as an honoured guest and it really was an honour for me. I came back to a lazy day around camp as we like to call the “guest house”. I had lunch of acida(?) white doughy stuff with some green stuff. I find it’s best not to ask. Some foods are just for filling you up and not for enjoying, although I’m really grateful to have food at all, polished off with Cadburys chocolate (thanks Mum). This afternoon I went to a football match which Trisha had been invited to. We had our eye on the skies most of the time because a storm was brewing. It keeps threatening to turn really wild and then calms down. I saw giant fruit bats, eagles and a vulture.

I know it’s a worry for my family and friends me being here and hope you know you’re doing your bit by suffering me being out here. I’m sorry if I’m causing you grief. I want you to know that just me being here is an encouragement to many people who are amazed to know people out there really do care about their plight. There has been and still is an incredible shortage of education. Not being able to read and write is the norm. It’s very difficult to get anything done. It seems ok to have up to 100 children in a class which of course it isn’t. We have about 65 3-4 yr olds in one class at nursery and 47 5-6 yr olds in the other in very small rooms. Quite a few wander off back home by themselves and as we’ve no fence you can’t stop them. We lost 7 children today but it can’t be helped. There’s not much traffic or many strangers so not too much danger but I find it hard to accept. You just have to manage. The last 50 years of war has caused untold suffering. Independence Day may have brought some kind of freedom but as you know the borders are still not clearly defined and there are still tribal differences causing trouble. These ongoing traumas are continuing down the generations. By training the teachers and playing with the children at the nursery and teaching English, reading and writing and numeracy the spirits of so many women and children are being lifted. It really is a joy. By sharing me you can share in the joy. We’re trying to get the garden started at nursery. Not just for teaching gardening but also because it may be the only food to eat soon. The ongoing dispute with Nth Sudan means there is no economy???? There are a group of 92 refugees here from Sth Kordofan which is being bombed by the Nth as it wants their homeland for its oil. They have asked me to help educate them. i so want to do it and just pray that God will touch someones heart to send money so i can stay here.

If anyone wants to donate to keep me here please contact ChristChurch Southport Merseyside UK who have a way to get money to me. Pls know your money is going directly to where it’s needed and none is wasted. Someone stole our pencils last night. Another reason we need a fence.

God Bless you all and know that I love you all

Lynn

lots of love xxxx

lynn923 — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 22:01:00 GMT

I’m not kidding, a snake came in under my door the other night. I didn’t see it because it was under the cloth I’d put down to block up the gap. Fortunately I heard it and just saw its sneaky ,snakey shape sneaking towards me. . I can’t believe I actually told it to get out haha. The nearest thing I had to hand was a folded up blanket which, as I requested the snake to leave, I threw on top of it and fortunately it slithered back out. The mosquito net is tucked in ever so tightly and the blanket now lives wedged under the gap.

Apart from that all’s going well. It’s plain to see God has answered the request of His people to bring peace to Maridi. We are praying for it to spread all over Sth Sudan. As doubtless, you’ll have heard about the atrocities going on further North. It’s because of ‘bride price’, a system that has been going on for thousands of years, where the groom hands over something valuable to show his seriousness and commitment to the bride. But the price is so high now the only way to get the valuables is to steal them. Many people are trying to talk the tribes into a new way of living and showing the youth there is more to life than fighting and killing and I pray that peace comes to those areas soon.

I’m on Maridi FM on Sunday. Trisha is teaching a bible lesson and I get to read out the Bible passages and answer the questions on why it is good to go to church and be with other Christians. I love going to church especially singing my heart out with thanks to God with others. A little bit of heaven on earth and being with Christians is great because you know they’re all trying to be like Him which we will be in the end. I’m also going to pray live for people to ask forgiveness of their sins and give their lives to Jesus. We need Gods bright shining light to spread over all of South Sudan

I’m still not used to this heat here. I went out for esh and mooze (bread and bananas) this morning about 11. I only walked for about half an hour before my pulse started racing and I felt I had to sit down. I made it back to the house ok but had to sit for 10 mins slowing my pulse. It doesn’t feel burning hot to me but the 90 degrees does affect you, well me actually, everybody else looks fineJ

There was an explosion last night. I asked Trisha about it this morning and she told me when the grass is being burnt back they set land mines off. That’s the second one I’ve heard. Bad news. I pray no-one was hurt.

So I’m off to the pictures tonight. Not really, they don;t have cinema’s here but the UN have a screen so I’m going for a night out up there. It’s the first time I’ve been so I’ll tell you all about it in the next blog. (If I’m not sworn to secrecy that is)

OK. Love you all...big squeezy hugs x

Ps I’ve made friends with the dog who bit me. Naivety or courage I’m not sure but she’s loose about the compound at night so I have no choice if I want to get out to pee. L

I think another month may have gone by since i wrote that last bit. Radio Maridi was off air until this sat so we only did our broadcast (hark at me) on Sunday. It went well despite me being so nervous i thought the listeners could hear my heartbeat..

what a let-down the UN site was. totally filthy and they have the cheek to charge everyone who stays $600 a month. not glam at all.....

Christmas Sth Sudan

lynn923 — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 21:48:00 GMT

Christmas in south sudan for me was very lovely especially in 96 degree heat.. Lots more about why God sent Jesus to earth and much less materialism compared to UK and much more relaxing even though the price of chicken here is so high the same money worries we all might have happen here and all over the world.. A 3 hour not boring church service filled with the voices of children and youth praising God. Also for Christmas dinner a bunch of people who were far from home and families got together and appreciated the global message. We had 9 nationalities and nine dishes plus the obligatory coke or pepsi from the UN. It was special as well because we had a young girl poss 18/19 from Sth Sudan but a different town who thought she was going to be very sad and lonely but instead felt blessed by being surrounded by loving caring foreigners. Since then it has been a round of dinner and party invitations mostly held in tukles (mud huts) and under the mango trees. This ‘under the mango tree’ is such a way of life as we enjoy the shade and the breeze. I love the music but the speeches are difficult as my Arabic is so limited and i’m slow to learn. People do throw in the odd sentence in English though and sometimes kind people interpret but usually the sound systems are so loud i can’t hear the interpreter. So here i am trying to look interested not only to the speaker but to the interpreter neither of which i understand. I am still greatly enjoying the hospitality though even if i do feel a little awkward at being an (to me undeserved) honoured guest, seated with the important people. If it wasn’t for Jesus insisting on washing my feet I’m not sure i’d enjoy myself at all and people here do enjoy honouring people so it is my duty to go along with it. We have another party this afternoon with the honourable?(commissioner). I love it.

I also prepared my first sermon today for the English service on 1/1/12 at the cathedral. Another place where I am totally undeserving to be but aren’t we all? I’m talking about one body in Christ Jesus and how it’s all coming together in God’s plan for his victory which he has already won. Mind-bending, to begin with.

What i have learned is people are the same the world over. Most people are good and kind but wherever you are there are thieves and dogs that bite. So be careful. I Love you but not as much as He does.

There are a lot of beetles in Maridi.

lynn923 — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 19:46:00 GMT

I love my mosquito net. Not just for the protection against mosquitoes, there are a few, but the protection it gives against beetles of which there are many. They vary in size from that of a flee to that of a small hedgehog. I am not kidding. I have seen what must be the biggest beetle ever with pincers like a lobster. It’s quite scary in itself but now, every scuttling, running thing that habitates my floor in darkness could be one of those. And then there are the ones that jump like a cricket. EEEEEK! Mosquito net is well tucked in.

I’ve been studying the culture here in South Sudan as regards to money. Things are very different here. Understanding the culture has helped me to relax my ever so pompous and arrogant attitude. Here money matters are sorted like they are in the very poorest of British society. AKA the “feral underclass” according to a Tory after the riots in the UK.. Basically, in your social circle of friends and family, what’s yours is mine. Budgeting is planned around what’s urgent today. The receiver of money decides what to spend it on. Not the giver even if it was given to help buy a specific thing. Also, if you have accumulated wealth and or goods, then you obviously don’t care very much for your friends and family. Accumulating either can leave you open to jealousy and the subject to witchcraft. (I haven’t seen it in Britain but you never know) Wanting to see accounts means you don’t trust the accountant. Who are you to judge? And if you must judge then be kind and merciful, not critical. It’s the African way.

We’re singing “heads, shoulders, knees and toes today in English class. I can’t wait. I’m smiling in joyous expectation before I get to work. Life is good especially at 98 degrees! I’m told the weather is brutal in Scotland just now and i feel for you guys. But then I bought a bucket and a tap for hand and feet washing before entering my abode. Swings and round abouts. By the way, there is no word for personal possession here (my bucket is our bucket). You’re very welcome.

Miss my family a tadL. But Christmas here is still about the birth of the Anointed one and no pressure. I just heard a great reggae Christmas carol which I’m very keen to buy and send over. If anyone wants it leave a comment.

Love well, live well!

Maridi

lynn923 — Sat, 3 Dec 2011 17:00:00 GMT

South Sudan is a wonderful place. It is the newest country on earth as it was only registered as The Republic of South Sudan in July 2011. Before that it was part of Sudan and there were many troubles. Sudan is to the North. He north is mainly muslim and there is still a lot of fighting as different tribes fight for control. Some have got together and formed a new group. They are organising themselves like the Libyan Transitional Council did before gadaffi was killed........The north is where Darfur is with its massive refugee camps and where many people are starving due to lack of good governance. Not due to lack of money as far as i can tell. South Sudan is very different and full of hope. Here we are 98% Christian. The people have found their voice and are no longer prepared to put up with corruption and/or ineptitude. We are getting a new commissioner here in Maridi. We do not yet have a bank or a post office but they are on the way, which is great because the mission air co that brought me here is in dispute with the immigration dept. who says they are to land at Juba, the capital, every trip putting an extra £2000 on to every return flight. So at the moment i do not have an address. There is a post office opening in a town just up north and when it does we will use that for the interim. I’m quite looking forward to the trip.

Temperature in Maridi dry season which we have just entered is 62 morning and evening rising to 100 mid day. I love it. I am not getting a suntan, Shoulders and upper arms and knees have to be covered for modesty. I don’t really mind. Its too hot to sunbathe,

My work in the nursery is going well. The children are as cute as cute can be and love the all singing all dancing action songs they are learning. The Mothers Union group where I teach English has grown to 27. English is a vital tool in this newly emerging country as the govt has decided all business is to be conducted in English. I’ve no idea why as most tribes already speak Sth Sudan Arabic, which is more than adequate. I am learning it. albeit vey very slowly.

My new house is getting a tarpaulin ceiling. I think Trisha thinks I’m struggling with the bugs. But I’m really not. I did ask this morning if the ants trailing up one of the inner strets of the roof, in their millions, were any threat, which they weren’t and I think she may have noticed my hacking cough due to the inordinate amounts of bug spray I’m using but i think I’m coping really well...considering...I am so thankful that God prepared me for this journey by allowing my daughter, Georgina, lizards as pets that were fed live crickets. Because if she didn’t I would not have coped. They are the ugliest, springiest noisiest things but I don’t have to get them out the room before I can sleep. Trisha just has a very generous Spirit.

Tomorrow is World Aids day and I’m pleased to say there is a big party in the town to announce it. The schools are closed and most people will be in attendance. We should all get T-shirts given as well. I love the fact that here most t-shirts have profound messages rather than just wise crack. Such as ‘send your children to school’ or ‘End the stigma of Leprosy’

Ah well you can pray for me to give up smoking as I’m a very bad example of a saved Christian here. The Anglican Church is very stiff upper lipped. Although sometimes I think God keeps me as a poor example so people can say to themselves “well if she can be a Christian so can I” J and it’s true. He loves us just the way we are......

Photos: Maridi South Sudan 1st impressions

lynn923 — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 21:20:00 GMT

!st 10 days in Maridi South sudan

lynn923 — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 23:30:00 GMT

‘No eye has seen, no ear has heard what God has prepared for those that love Him’. No truer word. Not in my wildest imagination did I dream that at 53 i would be riding side-saddle on the back of a bike through forests, with shouting adults and children running and waving alongside to say “hello how are you” and wait for you to say. “I’m fine thanks how are you” What an amazing God we have.

Ok. I’m typing this in word and will try to paste it into nomads tomorrow. Sorry for the delay. But that’s South Sudan. Every megabyte is precious and not to be taken for granted. There’s a company called zane running things (phones and internet) and it’s spasmodic. We’re only allowed 1.5 gigabytes a month and there are three of us. So slow means snails pace.

So Maridi...a very beautiful place with fruit trees of every description all over the place. Banana, pau pau, mango, orange, lemon, lime and tangerine are the most common and roads of red dust in what you would think are quiet forests but they are alive with people living in small communities of mostly small thatched mud huts. Kept very dark to keep the heat out. It doesn’t matter where humans live in the world. They feel the heat and the cold just the same. We live about 1 mile from the airstrip and 5 mins walk from the main road. I live on Episcopal church land which has brick buildings. A cathedral, primary school, a nursery and Trisha’s house. There are also church offices. When i arrived i was greeted by half a dozen pastors who sang me a welcome song. I then climbed into the place of honour (front passenger seat)in the land cruiser while Trisha’s driver Jackson drove and trisha and leah sat in the back. I mention this because the roads here can hardly be called roads at all. They are worse than disused farm tracks and getting thrown around in the back is bone-breaking. So I was very honoured to be sitting in the front. I then moved into my little house in the guest house compound. My neighbours were mostly UN soldiers and police from Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. I often talked around the dining table with the Zimbabweans about life in general. Their view of the world is very different from ours. They think the only reason the BBC is not allowed into Zimbabwe is because they haven’t fulfilled their license obligations. “oh, i see” I said. Anyhoo, the guest house is very pretty but with very basic utilities. No running water and electricity is on but too expensive to use. Running water was put in by the Chinese not long ago but it has broken. It is too expensive to fix and also the chemicals are too expensive. The trouble here is wages are dirt low and prices are as high or higher than some western prices. Ie. milk powder is £4.00 a small can ans wages may be £40 a month. So a lot of tooing and froing with buckets of water. For me thats just to and fro from the water butt but for families here starting at three years old its a lot further to carry and while once they’re older the people may have stoic faces I’m telling you they are working very hard. You can’t run and help a crying 3 yr old because they must develop strong muscles to carry heavier loads when they are older.

I went to two church services on Sunday. One in what could have been one of three languages they speak here and the other in English. I was introduced at the front and given a great welcome. I also started working at the nursery. YAY! 71 anxious little faces just waiting for you to be nice to them. And giggling when you are. At the moment I’m working with the teachers but I do get to teach the kids Christian English songs. I stand in the circleof kids outside and sing with them .We love it! And even though there is nothing in the classrooms but a little furniture and a blackboard they still like coming to nursery school.

On Tuesday afternoon I started teaching English to the Mother’s Union. Nothing here seems to go quite as planned but turns out well anyway. I had 17 pupils of mixed ability so we’re learning to read and write as well. What an honour. These people have been traumatised by a very long war and the loss of loved ones including children through illness and yet we had such a laugh. They were very good and patient with me.

So i was at the guest house for 8 nights (BTW my roof came alive at night. I had a monitor lizard as a permanent house guest and goodness knows what else). In the mean-time Trisha had been getting her guest house done up for me. Two men putting on a new grass roof, painted inside and out. New curtains and flooring and furniture. I now have watchman and a Rhodesian ridgeback guard dog in case any of you were worried. Which you don’t need to be. The UN are all but pulling out soon as there is nothing to do. Trisha has not onlyspent a fortune but has also opened her house up to me completely where i bathe and eat etc. I moved into my new house yesterday and am very happy . last night i woke up in pitch darkness except for flashing lights around the room. Fireflies! It was like something out of Avatar ...only real.

Yesterday Trisha drove us out to a village called Nambiya where we met with the village in the paiot or meeting hut(we tried to have this meeting last week but the rains were still on. Trisha used all her off-road driving training to keep the car on the road and in forward motion but when we got there the pastor said to cancel as it was too wet.). Trisha is doing her dissertation on why youth are leaving the church and what can we do to stop them. Funny how different people are yet we in the church have the same issues the world over). While i was in there i had to keep doing a reality check. Am i really here. Is this really happening?

There is a town up the road about a mile away with shops selling most things we need these days now that the roads are back open. And markets selling everything. It really is a great place but there is no-one to collect the rubbish and nowhere to put it if they did! There are loads of roadside snack places which taste a million times better than McDonalds. Homemade bread and doughnuts. Japatties, biscuits. Full meals even. There are also a lot of fans of English football. I found a Liverpool supporter but the rest are very misguided. I’m putting them straight. Let’s see about twinning this place with Liverpool!!

Ok I’m getting off now to go and take more butterfly photo’s. I know it’s nerdy but i don’t care. There are millions of them and all different sizes and colours. There are amazing birds and insects. I can’t stop snapping but I’m a kawaje(a white person apparently) in a foreign land and allowed to be eccentric.

I’m not ending without saying very many congratulations to my neice Sammy and nephew in law to be Barry in Southport UK on the birth of their baby boy Harvey. I am very, very happy for you. I hope to be checking my emails tomorrow and hope there is a photo of him.. Love you all and back asap xxxxxx

Arrival Maridi

lynn923 — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 22:06:00 GMT

Hi Guys this jounal is not going to be as regular as I would like as my computer does not like the satellite dish that provides internet even though the dish is as big or bigger actually than most of the houses here. The journey here was the most straightforward anyone can remeber as entering and exiting boundaries here is usually complicated and time-consuming but not for me. Praise God.The soldier at the little airport gave my luggage a cursory once over and did not pull everything out as expected. The little plane took off from Kampala at 8am after a prayer of thanks to God by the pilot. This was mission Air after all. We flew 50 mins to Arua Nth Uganda where we (me and 5 other passengers) landed to get our passports stamed with an exit visa. We then flew to Juba, Sth Sudans capital city where we needed to land to get our entry visas stamped (£100). As we waited on the runway I began to roast instantly. I would have been well-done ready to eat in 15 mins. we then flew another 50 mins iver bush to Maridi. No animals to be seen, not a one. They all left during the war. Fortunately Maridi is 500m above sea level so not as hot as Juba. sorry got to go. More soon love love love .....

Kampala 3000m above sea level

lynn923 — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 18:16:00 GMT

I'm wearing a cardigan today! i thought places near the equator would be boiling hot all year round. But not here in Kampala. I found out today the reason why it is not so hot is because it is 3000m above sea level. Making the temperature a very gorgeous 16 to 26 degrees allyear round. Could I love this place more? A wise old constantly travelling vicar called Don from SOMA advised me to guard my heart but I think it might be too late! I've fallen hook, line and sinker for this place. Hurry up plane to Maridi before there is no dragging me away. i leave at 6.15 tomorrow in a taxi to Kajinsii Airfield. We fly up to Arua, Nth Uganda to ck out and then on to Maridi stopping at a few runways in between. There are a few quibbles over flying times and whether we have to stop at Juba, capital Sth Sudan but this is bound to arise with a brand new country. Also there is fighting south of the border over land and oil disputes. So security is strong.

I have to finish up quick i don't know if it's this website or to do with the power cuts that keep happening but if you don't save every 10 mins your writings disappear. There are protests here in Kampali overe the electricity situation that have got quite severe but as can happen in the UK if it's in a different part of the city it doesn't affect you

Photos: Kampala Nov 2011

lynn923 — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 02:00:00 GMT

downtown

Kampala 2nd day

lynn923 — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 04:33:00 GMT

ok 3rd attempt to update this journal..don't wait the 60 mins it tells you it's timing out after 30.

Had tha most amazing blessed day. I'm staying at the Christian Namirembe guest house high on a hill in old Kampala. The view covers the whole of kampala and is to die for both night and day. There is good security here and I feel safe sleeping at night. I took the 5 min walk up to St Pauls cathedral and really enjoyed the service. I came back to the guest house where the women were holding their own service and sat, listening to that enjoying the view. Richard from logistics (?!) came and we had lunch of plantains, pumpkin, rice and beef stew. He is a great enpowerer for the people and told me how to set up primary schools. I hope that info comes in handy one day. After lunch we walked down to the shops. The sights of whole families hiring one motorbike taxi is a sight to behold.I unfortunately found a garage that sold cigarettes so the giving up thing is on hold til i get to Sth sudan but hey I've experienced Ugandan cigs called sports and they're not half bad..like a mild gallois...I walked back on my own as richard jumped in the bus that nearly ran us over and I was pleased to be walking in kampal tout sol. (although not really as my god is with me so who can be against me. i have never known so little fear.

Had dinner tonight on the restaurant veranda. there's a party going on in the cafe and African music was playing loudly but not too loudly in the background. I was invited to share a table with Larry from Charlotte NTH Carolina. I asked him if he knew my friends Tanya and Zac Mapes who live there but he didn't, unsurprisingly. He's a construction worker for an organisation who builds churches for the deaf. He also writes tribal languages down and then translates the Holy Bible into that language. How amazing is that?

I left, deliberatly walking past the African music party when I phoned Georgie my youngest, who is on a mission with Youth for Christ in Bath SW England, so she could hear what;s it's like where i am. i think my daughters are amazing letting me come on this mission trip. They are only 17 and 20 and I'm so grateful to them.

Now i have to get ready for my trip to the Sth Sudanese embassy tomorrow and pray they give me a visa. I really want to join my friend Trisha in Sth Sudan More of whom to come...night all God Bless You.

Kampala

lynn923 — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 01:26:00 GMT

I never planned to come to Uganda so this is a bit of a bonus. I'm going to stay with my friend Trisha in South Sudan and had to come here to Kampala to get a visa. I've never even been to Africa before. I arrived at Kampala local time 11.45pm so Godfrey the taxi driver wasn't best pleased as he'd been waiting since 9.30.Neither was he pleased about me not being able to pay him because my friend had paid the journey to someone in advance as i didn't have any money. but he was long-suffering about it. Poor man. He told me on the way that he had three children and one only three days old. Gulp. The journey from the airport could have been hair raising if I wasn't completely in the will of God and without any fear. the taxi felt wobbly in all depts inc steering, brakes and gears but Godfrey seemed calm and so was I. Arrived at guest house 40 mins later in pitch black. Lucky I brought a torch. I climbed onto the bed under the mosquito net and fell asleep in the most pich darkness I have ever known. Too tired to care. I had popped outside earlier for a quick cigarette and did wonder if one of the guards might mistake me for an intruder. Felt this wasn't a wise decision and decided not to do it again.

Woke this morning thinking it was 7 but it was 10 and had to let betty the cleaner in. She moved me to a much nicer room with a veranda and a view over the whole of Kampala that took my breath away. It's green trees and plants and red dusty roads with the biggest potholes I have ever come across. There are a few high rise buildings but most of them look unfinished. I don't think they are though.and what look like shanty shops for miles and miles along the sides of the roads. Children begging. I took a taxi into town to the Imperial hotel for money exchange and was gob smacked by this city. Hundreds of taxis both car and motor bikes pulling out with whoever has the biggest nerve seeming to be the highway code for right of way. Bikers wear no helmets, take two. passengers and women mostly ride side saddle I came back to the guest house just as the rains started and was soaked to the skin in the 5 secs it took me to run inside.. so the WiFi is working when the electricity is on and I managed to phone a couple of contacts and my daughter in Scotland. I really couldn't be any happier :)