The return of the main man, Moses

So, last Friday, Jenny set off with Justine, and the rest of the family, Caleb, Kaka, Dan and little Elinah, in their big car, with their slightly crazy driver Moze. They were bound for Entebbe, where Moses; husband, father, head teacher, pastor, and the man in charge of setting up and running Childrens’ Sure House, was returning from a 3 month trip around Europe, picking up new sponsors. At about 10pm, I got a text from Jenny saying they’d broken down and were stuck in the bush on the way to Entebbe, we later found out that one of the axles had completely snapped off.

Everything has been going wrong for the family in the last few weeks, including Charles (one of their adopted children) being badly bitten on the face by their large, male pig, he was rushed to Masaka hospital, and the pig was rushed to the pork shop. He had to have extensive stitches from above hi eye, down to his chin, and his face really was very swollen. Jenny and I visited him I hospital, the day after the accident, and it was quite upsetting to see him lying there, in this ward full of men, all ages, all with different ailments. His bed was falling apart, and we took him on a walk around the compound, just to get him to stretch his legs. Another part of the hospital is the most impressive building I’ve seen since being in Uganda, apparently designed and built by a Japanese company, as a gift to Masaka. We also visited the anti-natal clinic, where Emma’s (one of the male teachers at CSH, who stayed with Charles, on the floor of the ward next to his bed whilst he was in hospital) aunt is charge. She was a brilliant lady, and told me 35-50 babies are born in that hospital every day, with 8-10 caesarean sections. Their anti-natal service is pretty impressive too, with 4 visits during pregnancy, and at least that many after the birth. Charles is home now, and doing much better, in fact, he’s along at the health centre with  Emma and Calum having his stitches removed.

Back to the story of Moses’ return.. The break down ultimately resulted in the whole family, plus Jenny, staying overnight in Entebbe. The following day was meant to see a full day party to celebrate the return of the pastor, and people began early in the morning, preparing large vats of matoke and rice, beef and g-nut sauce (mandatory to every celebration), and setting up the sound system in the church. Rogers came to the house at 12 exactly (an exception to the rule of Afrcian Time), the party was due to start at 12pm, and he needed my laptop to start the music, despite the fact no one had arrived at the church yet, and the man who the party was being thrown for was still in Entebbe. We were the first to find out that they were still in Entebbe (a good 4 hour drive away), at 2pm, when I rang Jenny to see when they’d be getting back. So I ran round telling everyone, it didn’t seem too much of a big deal, everyone is so used to things going wrong here, they take it in their stride, and plans can be modified at the drop of the hat. So everyone ate, and it didn’t matter the man that the party was for, was absent. The party was postponed until half 8 that evening, when a very tired Moses and his family crawled up to the church, exhausted. Everybody ate again, and we were sat at the front with the rest of the family, I really do feel a part of the Kiwala family. Which reminds me, I now have a Lugandan name, given to me by Justine, I am Kisakye, which means grace. Adding to my feeling of inclusion. So we ate, Moses gave a speech in Lugandan, and we danced. By half 9, everyone was flagging, and the party drew to an end, short, but sweet. And everyone, especially Justine, was glowing with the return of the main man.