Busy-ness!

I’ve not blogged for a few weeks because I’ve been so busy with project preparations, getting product samples ready and a few other things…

My friend Zoe was in Uganda for a whirlwind six day visit last week to do some work for Link International and to attend a very important wedding/introduction. We had fun at the introduction which had more than 3000 people, even though we couldn’t understand much of what was being said. It was important that we were there to celebrate, represent Link International and to network as there were many Members of Parliament in attendance.

Picking people up on the side of the road on the way to the introduction. Just out of shot is the baby that Zoe was thrown to look after!

Fields of Life

These past few weeks I’ve also been meeting with my new friend Anne Brown who is from Northern Ireland and is a trustee for education charity Fields of Life. Anne has introduced me to the possibility of Alli Wano parents making reusable sanitary pads – not very sexy but a necessity in Uganda’s rural areas. It seems that soon it will be compulsory for all schools here to provide sanitary wear for female pupils, so the market could be very lucrative. There are some organisations already making these pads, such as Afripads, but they cannot possibly make them for the entire country. Anne has set up a project called I Am Girl, focusing on educating girls about their menstrual cycle and enabling them to attend school even when they have their monthly period. (They would normally have to stay at home during heavier flow.) 

To be able to help not only Alli Wano/Suubi House parents through sewing training and employment, but also help another set of people with the end products would be wonderful. Monica and I are going to look at some patterns and research next week to see if it’s something we want to pursue.

Communications

In amongst all that, as tends to happen in my life, I have offered my services on a voluntary basis as a communications consultant for Fields of Life as they are realising that they need to be more strategic in their comms approach in Uganda. So I’m going to be working with them one morning a week on their comms strategy, as well as conducting some training for staff.

Ex-trafficked women

I’ve also been approached by someone from my new church, Freedom Church, to come and look at the possibility of holding sewing classes at an organisation supporting women who have escaped trafficking. Monica and I are planning to visit this project next week to discuss the way forward with them. I hope that this may be another source of income for Monica.

Arios sewing her first line of stitches

First training sessions

The training sessions this week have gone really well and have been so encouraging for me, the mums and Monica. Tuesday’s class had four women and today’s had three – all have different backgrounds, children and circumstances but they’ve been getting on well; there has been lots of laughing (and lots of hard work of course). 

As I expected, some challenges are already arising – some predicted and some not – let’s just say I’m so glad I have Monica on board. One of the biggest problems is only having two sewing machines. If you would like to donate towards another sewing machine for Alli Wano please get in touch - they are about £80 to buy here.

Seeing the way God is working in different people's lives already is so uplifting. It looks as though next week is going to be just as full and busy and I'm enjoying it all so much. 

Allison

Two confessions to start with:

1. Good spelling is fairly ridiculously important to me, so it may surprise you to know that the name of my project, Alli Wano, is actually spelt incorrectly. (It should be Ali Wano.) 

2. I’ve told you that Alli Wano means ‘He is here’ in Luganda. Well, I may have told a half truth about the meaning of the phrase - you see in Luganda there is no distinction between ‘he’ and ‘she’ so the same word that means ‘He is’ can also mean ‘She is’ depending on context.

Why am I telling you this?

As well as wanting to help empower families with disabled children, my project is also a tribute to a girl called Allison. But who is she?

Allison 

Allison Malacara was a woman whose life was full of creativity and determination. A flamboyant Mexican who loved African textiles, Uganda and fashion; she was a stylist to many Ugandan celebrities. She was also my good friend Zoe’s best friend, but tragically Allison died in a road accident in Kampala in 2013. Along with Zoe she had begun to produce and sell kitenge bags and purses in a bid to help children in Kampala. I never met Allison but I know that she meant the world to Zoe so when God asked me to call my project Alli I knew that it referred to both Him and Allison.

Two by two

This brings me to today. Today I met with my seamstress to discuss the way forward for Alli Wano. I found Monica through Pasiss (you can read about her here) and she is a wonderful woman who I can’t wait to work with. 

Even since before coming out here I have wondered why I’m doing it alone. To have someone there to bounce ideas off, as Zoe and Allison had, and to encourage you is invaluable. Jesus always sent His disciples out in pairs at least, but never alone. I have prayed for someone to partner with me and felt today that I had found my partner in Monica. As we sat and discussed designs and training programmes I shared my fears about the project with her and immediately she asked Jesus to take away that fear. 

I have a new found confidence and am pleased to be able to say that training will begin on Tuesday 24^th February!

Waiting

The last week or so has been a week of firsts for me:

Trying the fro yo with Sarah and Rachel

My first time to try frozen yogurt, ably assisted by my American friend Sarah.

My first time to have my eyebrows threaded (painful but worth it for £1.16!).

And I had hoped that by now I would have had my first sewing training session under my belt. But things here just don't work that fast. I've been here for three weeks now and although I’ve made progress with plans and preparations it’s easy for me to feel that I should have done more. In light of this, God had to have a word with me to tell me not to rush things; everything is moving in His perfect timing.

Divine meeting

I’ve had a few divine meetings this week, and I’ll tell you about the others another time, but the most significant was only a very short conversation with a girl called Hannah who I met on Saturday. She volunteers as a nurse at an organisation I greatly admire called Revelation Life. It went like this:

Me: I’ve never known a project or community here where I could feel the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit so much as when I visited Revelation Life. 

Hannah: I think that has a lot to do with the fact that we never ever go out without seeking Him in some way beforehand, whether that’s worshipping, praying, or just soaking in His presence.

And that was it! That’s what I want Alli Wano to be – ALL about Him. It made me realise that it’s important to DO but it’s equally, if not more, important to WAIT on HIM.

Preparations

Oliver, one of my potential students, 
whose son Peter has Cerebral Palsy.

Most things are ready for Alli Wano; I’ve bought tables and chairs for the sewing machines, have a place to set them up, around eight people wanting to come for training, and all the fabrics and equipment I need for the first set of training. I just need to finalise a Ugandan seamstress to come and help train and I’m all set! – I’ve had a few failed attempts at finding one.

I guess God is deliberately holding off on providing the seamstress for me so that I can WAIT. Whether that’s the case or not I’m choosing to wait on Him in this time and allow Him more and more to take control of the process that He started and the outworking of the vision He planted in me.

To find out more about the work of Link International or to donate to the work of Alli Wano please click here.