Teacher Ssuubi

Posted on October 23, 2012 by Lorna

This week we have begun teaching at Chosen Children’s school. The idea was that we would just be observing to begin with but all of us have ended up teaching already! The first lesson that I taught was literacy to P2 class. The resources are very limited (big cracks in the blackboard and not enough pencils for all of the children) but the kids are so receptive and amazing.

Last week we visited Goshem again (the rural village that Smile works with) where we visited the school because we might be doing some teaching there. The resources in Goshem are even more limited; one of the classrooms is missing a wall and some dont have desks, but the creativity of the teachers is inspiring. In one of the classrooms branches from trees had been hung from the beams to display work.

On Wednesday we went to the site of a church which is under construction to help with the building. We joined 2 or 3 builders and the pastor of the church for the day in the building work and plan to return to help out again. We started off by moving a pile of bricks closer to where the wall was being built. This was done by throwing them (yes throwing!) along a human chain. We then began to level the floor of what will be the inside of the church. The boys took to the ground with hoes and brought wheelbarrow loads of earth whilst us girls took our shoes off and stamped it into the ground for hours! We decided to paint lines on our faces with the mud but this soon turned into an enormous mud fight involving everyone on site! Despite the fun and games, by the end of the day the floor was looking much more level. All day we had been eating sugar cane and chapatis and had had our own packed lunch too, so when the Pastor’s wife brought out a meal (which was delicious!) we really struggled to finish it!

The next day we went to Chosen School where we now teach to paint what is now our staff room. The paint was so thin that it took several coats but fortunately it dries really fast in the heat and its really lovely to have a fresh room to eat our lunch in and to eventually plan lessons in. From there we went straight to the slums for outreach like every Thursday and I heard that the little girl who was abducted last week had been found- unfed but unharmed, praise God! After this we went to KBC for choir practise where we realised that the Ugandan concept of alto and soprano are very different from the English concept!

On Friday we visited a crisis pregnancy clinic for young mums between 13 an 19. It was humbling to hear their stories and to share with them. We were also blessed to be able to hand out some aid in the form of baby clothes and blankets to them which had been provided through Smile. From there we went back to the slums for the childrens club and the widows club where I made some more beads, and from there we went to KBC where us girls went to the womens fellowship. They’re currently reading ‘The Purpose Driven Life”. After this we stayed for the TGIF meeting which involves fellowship with games and dancing (we were too tired to dance much this time though!) and then some discussion. We were introduced and had to announce our status and whether or not we are ‘searching’, although Andrew wasn’t listening when this was explained so he said he was single and was asked “and?” and he replied “and loving it” which got a good laugh!

Saturday was our day off but Smile held some fellowship for the sponsored widows so we took some time to pray with them and to hand out some toiletries. Then Marina, Olivia and Innocent took us girls to a craft market whilst the boys did the food shop.

Sunday was beautiful. Simone is our the trips coordinator and we have all become very close with her over the past few weeks. She led our training week and travelled to Uganda with us. She has become a big sister and best friend to all of us and is very much a part of the team. She is such an inspiration to all of us in her faith and her attitude and we love her! But Sunday was her last day in Uganda so we held a big evening meal for her with all of Smile Uganda’s volunteers. After we ate everyone had a chance to say a few words about Simone. Other that the two weeks that she has spent here with us she has only been to Uganda for 10 days last year, but it was so clear how much of an impact she has had on everyone here. It was a really special evening and we were all very blessed by it. I don’t think I’ve ever laughed and cried so much in one evening!

But early on Monday morning, despite attempts to ‘lose’her passport, Simone travelled to the airport We’re all going to miss her so much and are praying that God will make a way for her to return to Uganda. (We’re praying she can come back for Christmas!)

So in the last two days we’ve spent the day at Chosen Children’s school. Some of us have been challenged by the chosen methods of discipline, but as a part of the culture here its something that we have to learn to accept. The children are all so beautiful. Every time any of us walks into a class they all stand and say together “Welcome our dear visitors, this is P2class (depending on which class) Our school motto is education is power, you are very welcome.” The children call me “Teacher Ssuubi” (Ssuubi is my Ugandan name). They are such a pleasure to teach and personally I have really enjoyed the last two days. I’m looking forward to teaching proper lessons that I’ve planned properly rather than improvising on the spot when you’re handed a piece of chalk and the teacher walks out of the room!

Thank you so much for your support. I brought with me all of the cards that people had given to me before I left and I spent some time yesterday evening reading them again, it was such a blessing.

Please pray…

- For health and safety

- That God would guide and lead us in teaching

- For energy

Thank you,
Lots of love,
Lorna