Wow, what a trip! It was non-stop but so rewarding.

Duncan and I say it is our second home and everyone we meet there seems to agree, it was therefore great to take 2 others with us to share in the love we are so blessed to receive.
Geoff, on his first visit to Africa, had wondered how he would fit in not having experienced the culture before, no need to worry he said he felt he slotted in just like a piece in a jigsaw. Thank you, Lord! We were all able to use our different and varying gifts, sharing together to work as a team to do our best for all those we met. I can’t possibly mention everything that we did, there was so much, but here is a taster. We all had a morning to lead Devotions which followed amazing singing. Bruce a retired vicar, spent time talking to all the staff, took bible studies and preached; Duncan and Geoff held a workshop for the Micro Finance clients and others interested in setting up small businesses; Geoff helped with the painting of the church, Duncan worked alongside Geoffrey and Alfred.

I held 4 workshops for the older girls and ladies, starting with making hand sewn lavender bags. I taught about their body’s development through puberty, menstruation and menopause, sadly this is not information that anyone receives so there were very many questions. Everyone then made reusable sanitary pads by hand and each were given new underwear. We all went to various parts of the hospital, taking Babygro’s and lovely hand knitted jackets for the new borns in maternity and neonatal; a walking stick, incontinence pads, toothbrushes & toothpaste and lady’s catheters to surgical and medical. All so well received as they have so little. It was a privilege to pray with many, although quite heartbreaking at times, babies dying, horrendous injuries but the Lord gave us the right words as His Peace was evident.
The 3 men went to the Men’s Prison while I visited the Ladies. We all took pens, notebooks, underwear, toothbrushes & toothpaste and soap, life is incredibly basic inside with many on remand and who have been awaiting trial for 2 years. The praise and worship in both the Men’s and Ladies side was wonderful, sharing the Word when you could hear a pin drop and faces are fixed on every word that is said was heartwarming. The most exhausting but truly uplifting time was on Saturday afternoon when we held a Children’s Fun Time. It was hot and very noisy, over 200 children having such fun, such a joy to hear the laughter which sadly is so rare for many. We played team games with Frisby’s, parachutes and balls, I read a story about the Rainbow Fish (with an interpreter as my Lou is not quite up to scratch!!) and then they all made their own fish decorating them with coloured tissue paper - there were bits of tissue paper everywhere!!!
They loved it and were proud to take home their beautiful paper plate fish. Then bananas and a quiet time to round up before they headed home collecting some sweets as they left. How blessed are we to have been part of God’s plan and been a small part to His Blessings, Rosalind