Sunday 1st

Following the programme

 

So it was that we encountered the final day to be had in Bufumbo. We all arose from our beds as the sun was shining brightly in the sky, had ourselves some breakfast, then shot off to Bufumbo like a bat into the night. We started off our day in the peaceful village with the usual break tea, or elevenses, to those British people reading, then set off down to the church for a goodbye service. We were warmly welcomed to the church by the sound of the Jewa choir, whose songs seemed as though they were rising to the peak of Wanale rock and, after shaking hands with what seemed to be every local in the Bufumbo area, we swiftly moved on into the church. In the service we had the usual meet and greet from the church committee, who all appeared to be called Patrick, but an unexpected turn from the Thornbrarians, as we all decided instead of introducing ourselves, we would say a quick thank you and a few words about our time in Bufumbo. We then moved on to do another one of our now famous sketches, which the children very much enjoyed, followed by a sermon from Mick that had us all in fits of laughter from the beginning as he decided to start leaping around. 

After a bit of rain and a presentation of gifts from us to the community, we moved into the Compassion Child Development Centre for a spot of lunch, which was delightful. The youngsters then proceeded onto their usual duties and spent the afternoon playing with the children and even giving some of them face paints, whilst Fioooooooona finished off the mural at the health center. Meanwhile Mick, Gill and Andrew sat in on a meeting with the committee to discuss the future of the health center itself, in which much ground was covered and many minds changed.

The end of the day soon came upon us, and we went for our last break tea at James’ house, back to where it all began. There we had probably the best break tea since we arrived, as we had the most delightful little biscuits that were perfect for dunking in tea and passion fruit juice which, as Pete stated, actually tasted of passion fruit!!! (Who would have thought it?) After that it came to the goodbyes, some would say this would have been an emotional time filled with tears, but for us it was a most joyous occasion filled with laughter and banter, for we all knew we would see them again in the future. It was then we departed Bufumbo for the last time……that is, until next time.       

Some champagne moments include

• Mick and Gill hearing Johns’ inspirational life story
• Charlie teaching the children to say a typical English phrase “jolly good old chap”
• And Pete admiring Hedleys fearlessness whilst facing a cow down. 

 

Monday 2nd Sept

 

....because of time!!! 

Today we were able to start the day with a slight lie-in! We were meeting James at 9.00am in our hotel, but this soon became 9.30. Because of time, the group split, Fiona and her crew changed up the money that we are leaving with James for the different churches and school etc. This totaled about 10,000,000 schillings.

The rest of the team made our way to see Martins’s project, an orphanage where we met 9 children, whose faces soon changed colour and expression with Mary’s, Fiona and Gill’s face painting skills. The boys shared their rugby skills again. Balloons and bubbles were also very popular.  Martin is also setting up a coffee business where he aims to buy the coffee beans from the villages to process and export it direct to England cutting out the government to give a good price to the growers.

We then went back to the hotel for lunch. We were supposed to be meeting John Faith at 2.00pm, but being African time this was more like 3.30. We then travelled to see his orphanage and school. It is called My Father’s House – many rooms for all! It was a very inspiring sight when we drove in,  the buildings were clean and bright with a football pitch and play area. There are 41 children at the moment with 30 of them being sponsored. The school is also open to other children who pay to come, about another 50. During the tour for the adults the youngsters enjoyed an entertaining game of football.  We then gave the children all the remaining teddy bears that had been knitted in Thornbury.

Because of time, most of us then returned to the hotel but Fiona and crew called into another orphanage, St Kizito in Gangama to give them more goodies from Thornbury.

Martin met us at our hotel and took us to his house for a meal, which was lovely. We were entertained by his 2 children running around the room with a hobby horse and using a little table as a sled.

We returned home for our end of day meeting.

  

Tuesday 3rd September

 

Heading West

Our last morning at Eldima approached,

We said goodbye to Lydia, words catching in our throats.

Our breakfast was lovely, as it had been all week

And we set off away from Wanale peak.

To Jinja we drove, and had much banter,

We all had some drinks, including a fanta.

 

Arriving at our destination,

We took to the streets of the retail location.

Football shirts, jewellery, pictures – it all!

Knives, beers and even a banana skin ball.

We set off again in the buses of fun,

The drivers impressed with the haggling we’d done.

 

We came to our next stop – the source of the Nile

We intended to sit and take it in for a while,

However, unfortunately, this was not to be,

Thanks to a pushy guide named Brian number 3!

What was once before a peaceful retreat -

Somewhere you could put up your feet,

Had been transformed into a commercial area,

Which was much less calm and slightly scarier.

 

The slight disappointment of the Nile behind,

We again hit the road, our good spirits easy to find.  

Lunch for the day was ‘rat on a stick’

The car mobbed by vendors, we got away quick.

 

After a tiring day the journey could’ve been boring,

But with the entertainment that followed, you couldn’t be snoring.

Many boisterous games played, and belting songs sang,

Despite the look on John’s face, we knew he was a fan!

 

We arrived at John’s house, back where we started

For our last dinner before we departed.

Rice, beans, chipatis aplenty,

The basket of bananas was rapidly emptied.

 

We went to the pub for a few Nile Special beers,

James never failing to have us laughing with tears.

We packed our bags and settled down for the night,

A long night’s sleep in preparation for our flight.

We hope you have enjoyed this poetic dazzler,

Composed by Mary and Matt, aka Mazza and Bazza.

Please continue to read our blog as we will be putting up photos for each day

On arrival at Entebbe Airport