Greetings from Kampala,

Great achievement again yesterday, concluding our work requirement here for the Watoto Bbira Village!
Yesterday 15th : We cleaned the 9th house in our Cluster 6 (Head Mum's house), prior to Morning Tea.
Then came some choices of where to head next - Painting again in Cluster 8, or go back down to 'previously cleaned' Cluster 5, for some quick sink cleaning, or to do both tasks.
After viewing houses in C5, we had no choice but to tidy up C5, as the Mums designated to these had already started moving in, and the cleanliness was debateable. We have a photo showing us with these Mums on other attachment.

The cleaning (including toilets - which still had clay or mortar in the pans!) concluded mid afternoon, and a aussie cricket game was well under way with the school kids who had descended on us.

Today Friday 16th:

Visit to 'Bullrushes' Baby home again this morning.
Then back to Bbira for the dedication service, followed by BBQ (cooked by Dave - another aussie) & sports with school kids.
Tonight we have our celebration dinner.

Tomorrow, we plan to van up to Jinga, visit the sites our previous team saw, and more! Source of the Nile, and Lake Victoria visit will rate highly. Plan to stop at waterfall and forest on our travel up or back.

Sunday, worship with KPC brothers & sisters, followed by lunch at Bbira - hosted by existing families :)

Monday, trip down to the Equator, then to the Airport - and HOME :)

God has certainly blessed us, and we trust we've been the blessing He would want us to be.
Looking forward to sharing on our return.
Big thanks to all who have supported us in so many ways, and praying for us before and during our time here.
The mission has been a fantastic experience, and in many ways ~ challenging.
Great company, and a real blessing to be here with our sons!

God bless you all,

The PCC ~ Watoto team Nov '07

Turning houses into homes

Greetings from over there! Up-date from your members abroad, working on your behalf here in Uganda. Yesterday - Tuesday 13th: we managed to clean 3 houses ready for occupation ~ new record, & all worked hard to achieve!

Not photographed was a heap of cooking pots delivered today, for the new houses.The moving / occupation is a large task to co-ordinate. We've seen dif deliveries the last few days, of bed frames, mattresses, pillows, and now cooking pots.Detoured on way home, into Kampala for some special shopping, and experienced their Peak Hours traffic (no spelling error!). Finally made our way home in time for shower & typical delicious dinner.~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wednesday 14th (today). Started the day by again hitting the traffic congestion, as we had to head back towards the City (normally a quicker trip heading out to Bbira), to purchase more supplies - equipment particularly. Arrived on-site @ morning tea, and completed our planned final two houses in our Cluster, by knock-off time (4.40pm), even with the water off for most of the 2nd house.

Watoto Village people are daily acknowledging the work commitment of our Church ~ thank you BODY at PCC!We had another group of youngsters join us after about 3.00, that currently live at Buloba, very excited about their move, and wanting to see for theselves what their future house looks like.

Heard today that the Buloba Village move is planned for early Dec '07. Logistically, with CHOGM and associated transport factors (tying up many vehicle requirements may-be), seems to make sense. Other factor is that with-out our Churches help, the current Staff may not have been in a position to have so many houses completed for occupation in this short time.Our theme of 'Turning the Houses into Homes' has had us start our time Painting {Cluster 8}, then prioritising the cleaning of a whole Cluster {6} of houses (to enable immediate occupation ~ subject to their planned logistics), and plan tomorrow (final full work day) of resuming the painting, to help push that Cluster {8}.

We were hoping to help a move in of some Mums and Children, but are told we're a week out. We assume the first families may be brand new, and not from Buloba. As noted earlier, Bill and I caught up with two of these Mums last Friday afternoon, as they were helping each other clean their new houses.To our lovely supportive families back home, we will be coming home next week, as despite being here for the welcoming in of these new excited folk, the pull home is a priority!We're all getting along well, and looking forward to a bit of r&r this coming week-end (well earned by all).

Regards,Robert.

A message from the team in Uganda

Greetings from Uganda,

Our last few days of work:
Friday - cleaning our first house in Cluster 6 (other 2 days we were painting in Cluster 8). Hard work due to the mess, but better we do it, and allow an earlier move in! Caught up with 2 new Mums for Cluster 5 (cluster by the way is a group of 8 houses, with capacity for each to make a Home for Mum and up to 8 children of various ages, starting from Watoto Baby Home - teenagers).

Saturday - visit to two Watoto villages primarily, Suubi, and Buloba.
Suubi has the largest development, including Housing, Primary and Secondary Schools, Tech (Industrial Arts) workshop, Teachers accommodation, e.t.c.
Spent some time here, and go into more detail when return.
Buloba is the first Village KPC (Kampala Pentecostal Church) constructed for the Watoto Ministry, and the houses confirm. They are smaller, have no running water inside the house, no / minimal doors inside, outside wash bay (believe showers are bucket of water over the head), and they still hold up-to 8 kids & Mum! All 20 home families here will be transfered to Bbira, and these existing houses then renovated / improved. They will house the Mums retiring (their choice of residence), and provide initial housing for new mum / children, in preparation for the permanent housing at Suubi or Bbira.
Very motivated to help them into some of the new houses in Bbira!

Sunday - 10.00am service at KPC - Central (Building), packed as per usual. Witnessed the start of 50 baptisms, which ran through whilst singing proceeded, followed by children being Christened.
Pastor Gary Skinner lead message "Purpose in Life is to bring Glory to God'. Caught up with one of our previous hosts ~ Apollo! He's leading one of the current Canadian teams, so we couldn't talk for long.
Rest of day was free-time.

Monday - (today) Cleaned two houses in Cluster 6 at Bbira! Long day, but worth while.
Pillows were being delivered by Bbira children into Cluster 5, to go with new beds and matresses. Must be close to moving in. We may change our Fri/Sat programme, if the move may occur / start this Sat. School is out from this Fri due to CHOGM. We wanted to be present for this achievement ~ if possible!
Aspect of doubt, as we haven't any 'official word' on the move / occupancy.

In brief, Bbira Cluster 5 appears to be ready to move into, with Mums cleaning last Friday, and bedding & other items stored in one of the Houses. 3 or 4 of these will be set for new families. Other 4 or 5 (of the 8) will go to Buloba Families relocating.
Bbira Clusters 6 & 7 ~ total of 16, are set for the remaining Buloba Families.
Cluster 6 required final clean and landscape completion, both of which are well into final stage. Cluster 7 is same, with extra minor items e.g. toilet seats fitted.
Cluster 8 still in final construction phase, and is where Staff requested Painting services. Sewer pits and drains are in progress.
No power to any house at present ~ will further investigate as week goes on.
Buloba runs on Solar / battery, but not the brightest idea , as solar panels don't generate enough power to run lights if rain spell (no sun).

Well, trust that keeps you all up-to-date at present.
This email may assist in the story behind the photo choice sent through.
Regards, and thanks for the prayers ~ we feel blessed to have you support us in this realistic, spiritual protection. God has provided in many ways!

PCC ~ Watoto Nov 07 Team.

Uganda building team - November 2007