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| Carrying Eilidh the Ugandan way! |
Since August, life on the home-front has been about as far
from normality as I can ever remember. Keeping it all together juggling full time
work and the kids alone in East Africa while your husband undergoes surgery for
a life threatening condition on a separate continent – lets just say it
stretches you! I’ve gone from moments of
loving my job to wanting to run onto the next plane leaving for Europe. It has been a roller coaster of emotions for
the whole family and I’m thankful we are on the other side of it now. After Andy came back from his extended time
in Scotland (cancer free) he was then
off to Europe for ten days for a training course. He arrived back beginning of October and this last month has been a time of settling back
into routine and dealing with the culture shock that has arisen (I believe) due to the unsettled time our family has been going through. Although we are happy in our jobs and the kids
are happy, the sense of longing for familiarity
of home – (smooth roads and in-corrupt traffic police, or cleaning your teeth
with the tap water) can be overwhelming at times. There are certain things that only those who
have been living overseas in such environments as Kampala can relate to – it’s hard
to explain. Andy has been flying all
over the place for the last few months and he is ready to be settled for a bit.
I on the other hand have been here at home and desperate to fly anywhere to
just get away and have a break.
Interestingly Andy and I often discuss about places we might like to go
and visit in Uganda which may be only four or five hours drive from us. However, the reality of
packing up, travelling tbrough the crazy traffic on pot holed roads, lack of
public toilets or restaurants to feed your family on the way or way home make
it more of an “adventure holiday” as opposed to a relaxing break. Sometimes a holiday just for rest is
required. Abigail and I are going to fly
to Scotland for a week over the Christmas break and I am really looking forward
to having no agenda and spending quality time with my eldest as well as
catching up with my family and meeting my new niece or nephew soon to be born! We
will be flying back with my Aunt who is coming to stay with us for three weeks. I am planning on resting!
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| Dressed as Beatrix Potter for School "Stories from around the world festival" |
Abi is busy with her school work, piano and her French speaking
is flourishing. She was treated by her
teacher to a trip to the snack bar as she was the only one in the class able to
sing the whole song “give thanks with a grateful heart” in FRENCH! Her
Congolese French teacher is making French fun and exciting to learn and she is
loving it.
Matthew’s teacher recently commented on his report that he
wished he had a “Matthew” at every table in the class to show the other
students how to behave and work, so he is making us proud. He has joined the cub Scouts recently and
loves having a special uniform to wear.
I won’t mention how many times I have heard the Scouts promise so far –
more to follow I’m sure. I’m thankful
God is still allowed in the Scouts promise in Africa.
Eilidh attends pre-school three mornings and comes home
singing about days of the week and we also hear a few song in Luganda (national
language) that she has been learning. Joyce who looks after her for me when I am
working is due to have her first baby in the coming weeks so we are bracing
ourselves for coping without her while she is on her maternity break. It has been an education learning about the prenatal care and birthing
experience of pregnant Ugandan women. There is no food offered to her at the
hospital and she must take in a friend who sleeps on a mat under her bed to
feed her, wash her and make sure no one steals the baby, or any of their stuff!
Thankfully her sister is coming from the village to be the “friend” at the
hospital. I hope she gets here in time
as I am not sure I could deal with sleeping under her bed on a thin mat in a
huge room full of laboring women, and many babies. Joyce has to take in all the supplies for giving birth, including her own bed sheets, baby bath, a bucket for herself to wash in, a flask of hot water, and a whole list of other things. Pray for Joyce for a safe delivery and healthy baby and mum.
Eilidh will go to preschool five mornings a
week while Joyce is on Maternity break and Irene our house help will be look after her in the afternoons till I return. We are so blessed to have such great
ladies working with us and for us here.
The work at the hanger is as busy as ever. Andy is preparing for type rating exams as
well as carrying on with the usual program of inspections. There is more maintenance work happening in
the hangar, since the international flying restrictions have been lifted and
the planes are able to fly to Congo and Sudan again. Please pray for those
working in South Sudan as security and peace has once again become a real issue
preventing many mission organisations from doing their work. Chad is also a place that has seen more
bombings of late and heightened security alerts among missionaries serving
there. We have enjoyed having Andrew Mumford in Uganda for a few weeks of
training; he is normally based in Chad, and before joining MAF he flew an air
ambulance out of Aberdeen!
Here in Uganda we are preparing for elections in
February. These elections take place
every three years and this will be our first experience of an election
here. Security at our school is already
preparing multiple exit plans and strategies in preparations for February, as
are the MAF team. Demonstrations are beginning
to take place and traffic congestion will take on a new meaning as the streets
become filled with protests and potential riots. Please remember this nation and pray for
peace and safety over the coming months.
Thank you for praying and supporting us in the many ways you do. I have really appreciated the cards and emails sent from many of you through our time of separation while Andy had the cancer removed. I only wish I had more time to write individual emails and notes but please know that your encouragement has helped us greatly through a very difficult time. The Joy of the Lord is my (our) strength. Nehemiah 8 v 10
God Bless
Heather
