Ministry Partners,
Please know that as I report on our days that I am not complaining. I am just reporting the way daily events are.
Last night the electricity went off but then came on again for a few hours but was off again from 3-6am. My room got warn, but not bad, due to not being able to use the fan. Going to bed was interesting, as I had to make the bed before I could use it. The top sheet and blanked was neatly folded and on top of the bed but I am thankful that the bottom sheet had been put on. They assured us that there would be hot water to shower with but there was none for me. The hooks to hang cloths and my used towel in the bathroom were so high that I could barely reach them as I stood on my tiptoes. Actually, I gave up on the towel hooks and just draped the damp towel over the sink. Perhaps they are an indicator that the people in the area are very tall or that I am very short!
This is a photo of the elderly woman that I met on the ferry yesterday, she was very happy with her new scarf.
Breakfast today was Rolex’s, Mango, Passion fruit juice, tea and milk. They gave us a number of Rolex so we saved some for lunch, which we ate here before leaving this afternoon at 2pm for the prison, which is close. After watching chickens running around in front of our rooms Alfred asked to speak to the cook to find out about tonight’s dinner …… we’ll see what we actually get.
Aaron commented this morning at breakfast that it is an unusual thing to get up in a strange place, day after day and not know where we are going for the day or in which direction. We all had to laugh at that because it is so true. It is hard to believe that we only have 11 more days of ministry here in Uganda before we head to Kenya.
Today the drive to Olia farm Prison was only about 20 minutes and Reagan the O.C. was a delightful, handsome officer, I think he will go down as one of my favorites. As we setting up the sound system for the inmates, Alfred and I sat in his office and chatted for a bit as he explained the time to be served for these 290 convicted inmates and how with good behavior, etc., they can cut off 1/3 off their sentence. These inmates are hardened criminals some including murder and there are no non-convicted (Remand) inmates here. He said that prisoners from other prisons are sent there when they have only 1 to 7 years left in their sentence. This was new information for me to hear after the twenty years I have been doing prison ministry. He also told us that his wife is the O.C. of one of the prisons we have yet to do. He said he was going to call her and tell her about our program.
I was thankful for the large trees provided shade for the inmates and the IRM team. There were no women inmates there but one of the guards was a woman. Alfred and I entered as I went around and shook hands with those closest to me. The O.C. and the woman guard sat behind me as I spoke while Aaron translated into Swahili and then Alfred followed Aaron, also speaking Swahili. The crusade lasted 2 ½ hours but near the end I saw the O.C. get up and go to the back of where the prisoners were seated, he motioned a couple of prisoners that had decided to leave, to go back and sit down which they promptly did.
The prisoners said they wanted to thank us for coming so they sang a song for us and at the end, Aaron got in with those in front and let them in a song. Everyone celebrated, what a wonderful end to a great crusade where decisions for salvation, forgiveness were made and apologizes were given, even to the O.C.
Back at our lodging dinner of goat and fish fillets were served, the guys said their goat was good and my fish was eatable and to top everything off…… I had hot water to bathe in. Wahoo!!!!!
I am not able to get on line and Alfred worked for some time to see if he could fix it but because his phones (2) are also having issues he thinks the satellite is having issues. So this may not get posted until tomorrow but I will keep trying until 9 then I will head for bed.
Thank you for continuing to pray.
That none would be lost,
Arlene
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