dan the skidman in africa: Ramblings from the pen of Daniel in Uganda

September 17th 2008

Ramblings from the pen of Daniel in Uganda

Many of you have been visiting my blog just to find that it hasn’t been updated of recent days. With time restraints more particularly with the slowness and unreliability of the internet connection I have asked Dad & Mum to update this blog from our rambling Skype chats

Life in a week at Mukono:

I have very little free time with going to Luwero Monday and back to Mukono Tuesday night, a study in Romans with Shannon Wednesday morning and back to Luwero for a bible study with the locals in the afternoon. In Lowero until Saturday, then Sunday is spent at Mukono attending church and planning the week which consists of determining what funds are available and what materials are required for the next stage of building. Wednesdays Deane and I share alternate weeks at taking the Bible Study with the locals.

Life in a day at Mukono:

Deane and I went to Kampala today (Tuesday) to buy timber which turned into a very long day. After meeting the roofer, 2.5hrs late, we went to the timber yard which turned out to be an interesting place. There was all sorts of timber in varying qualities all stacked on the side of the road. The locals saw us park and in no time we had 20 guys at the windows trying to get our custom, even reading the order on the piece of paper in my hand through the window. Four hours after negotiating a price for the timber and cartage the first truck was loaded. He wanted to leave straight away as it was a slower truck, an old TATA. So I went in the truck.

This was the worst ride I have ever had in a vehicle. We arrived at Lawero at 5:45pm, unloaded and got a ring from Deane to say the other truck had broken down (Rear axle, suspension something). The truck was 3 times overloaded. When it took off it would do wheel stands. I went back to Marjojo (Just out of Kampala) with the first truck. That was an even worse ride. We also ran out of diesel on the way. After meeting Deane the first problem we encountered was that the driver of my truck wouldn’t take the second load. A new truck pulled into the petrol station and we started to negotiate a price with him. When the first driver heard the price he immediately went and backed his truck up. We employed 4 school kids (15-16yrs) off the side of the road to load and unload the truck. So 12am we left for Lawero arriving back at 2am with the 4 boys. By 3:30am we had unloaded the truck and argued with the driver because he wanted more money. We took the four boys back to Matuga for them to catch a taxi home We left them at 4am arriving back at Mukono at 5am. I managed to sleep till 9am

A special weekend:

It was long. I took sound gear out and set up on Fri night .Sat we finished the cakes with Deane and Sherrilyn. Went out at 10am with the 10 people in the car, dropped them out then flew back to pick up the Grainger’s.

We understood Irene’s family had to be there at 10am and Christopher’s family had to be there at 12pm.We were going on Christopher’s say so. We were late leaving here with 4 large cakes and two small round ones on our laps. Turned out things weren’t starting till two. We had no lunch.

It didn’t start till 4pm but it was interesting what goes on- the bit that I picked up from one of the guys sitting next to me. The introduction is intro of the groom’s family to the bride’s.

If you are two hours late you have to pay a fee set by the bride’s father. They managed to get that one wavered. Then someone from the bride’s family has to vouch for the groom’s family, so four aunts came out and knew no one. They had to pay money for the fifth aunt to come out and she could only vouch for one person.

Then the aunts had to find Christopher in amongst the family. Then Irene comes out and they set a price for her.

They bring the gifts which go from the groom’s family to the bride’s family. There were crates of soda, a leg of beef and if you don’t leave the foot on it is seen to be stolen and be refused, 2 cows, a live chicken and a heap of other stuff.

Then Irene comes out again and it is all formally agreed and a cake cut.

A lot of Ugandans refer to this as being wed but to be recognised by the church they then have to have a wedding. I’ll find out more in a month.

We ate at about 7, got home at 9:30. Then on Sunday I went back to pick up more gear than we took out!!.

Please Pray for Daniel in that:

Ø God will continue to give him wisdom when dealing with the locals

Ø God will be glorified as He works out his purposes in Daniels life

Ø Protection as he travels

Ø He will have a clear understanding of God’s Word so that he can impart the truth to others

Ø God will speak to the hearts of the Ugandan people as they hear the Gospel

Ø His personal financial needs will be met

Ø God will provide SOS Ministries with sufficient funding to enable the building project to be completed

Erecting shelter for keeping building timber dry

Repairing Alex & Simon's bike - Tyre as well as wheel bearings a new carrier and peddles

Digging a 450 metre drain for the placing of the water pipe from the bore to the house tank. There were 25 guys digging in a chain each going down a little deeper than the previous.