Another message from Ann

I drove to Kumi in a boneshaker bus which took 6 hours from Kampala. In all journey was 21 hours from Heathrow! At Mbale I was very close to the Kenya border. Hordes of unbelievably tattered children scampered on to the bus crawling and scavenging under the seats for empty water bottles and other treasures left by people rich enough to travel by bus. Chickens belonging to the person behind me kept pushing and pecking round my feet.

At one fairly remote place the bus stopped and wouldn’t start again. For a moment I was aware that I was alone in the middle of Africa with a bus full of Ugandans that I didn’t know. If we were stuck where would I sleep? However, a pushing party got us going again.

The Conference at which I was supposed to be speaking was curtailed through lack of funding. However the times we had were very blessed. Very blessed indeed. At a big Baptist Church I was speaking over the noise of a tropical deluge beating on the tin roof. Fortunately the sound system was loud and I had a wonderful time with them.

One day I visited Omatenga Village. This has to be the poorest most primitive village I have ever been to. The people are fishermen and live in scattered thatched mud huts by a beautiful lake, but the lake is becoming logged with weed. I met the LC1 and he took me round and introduced me. 375 people live here but there are only 30 pit latrines. Waste is put in the lake and next morning drinking water is taken from same area. Much typhoid, malaria and malnutrition.

No school here,and only a fewchildren travel to neighbouring schools. Just one villager has finished Secondary Education. One widow invited me into her little mud hut. One bed for her and kids and virtually nothing else but a bowl and a water container. All swept clean and tidy. My heart really went out to these people.

I saw several Bishops on my way through. They knew of me through being at Mityana last year for Bishop Stephen’s enthronement. One was expecting me to stay at his home, and is pressing hard for me to go back. Of course they all want me to start a charity in their areas.

Going to have rest day tomorrow! All well here in Mityana.

much love

A