The Holiday Starts

I know many will think that we have been on holiday for the last 2 weeks, but today is when the holiday really starts. We have now finished our work with the Tigers Club and will not have any contact with them other than socially.

Early Monday we are on our way to safari, a 6 hour drive from here. I am so looking forward to that knowing our experience of the roads. It will be more like a funfair ride than a coach trip.

Yesterday was full of goodbyes. First thing in the morning we went to the Club house and said goodbyes to the staff and boys there. We gathered in a large room and the Director Simon gave a lovely speech full of gratitude for the way we had thrown ourselves into the work, spending time painting, meeting with the staff and being with the boys. Mike responded on our behalf. I think many of us had tears in our eyes as we said goodbye to the boys from the street.

We then went off to Tuda the halfway house. We stopped at the bottom of the road well mud track really leading to Tuda from the main road as some of the boys (Mike included) wanted to ride the boda (the mopeds) to along the lane. I also took the ride and turned up covered in the red dust almost from head to toe. It was a great ride and at times I thought I was going to come off as we went over the bumpy road and I lost contact with the seat and the bike. We did all arrive safely.

We had our last holiday club with the boys. The highlight of the day was the afternoon football match. The boys just loved the sports, Dave got a bit upset with some of the ref's decisions but scored a goal which made him happy.

We finished the club with a prize giving. The talent show finalists all got a t-shirt and cap and then all the boys got a book and football shirt. They were jumping for joy at getting the books; really happy with the shirts. We presented the parachute to them and you would have thought we had given them the crown jewels they were so happy.

The goodbyes were sad, some of the boys got up to say a thank you and goodbye and we were again moved to tears by their gratitude for the time we had spent with them.

Reviewing the pictures this morning just shows that these boys just want to be children ordinary children playing and having fun. Most of the pictures were taken by the boys. I think I have have only taken 30 of the 500 or so photographs I have, the rest have been taken by the boys.

One of my happiest memory from the last 2 weeks will be painting an outside wall one morning. There was me and 3 or 4 boys applying this orange paint to the walls and sometimes to each other. Their English was little my Lugandan even less. We had a good few hours and then I shared with them some sugar can and pancakes. The boys took me down the road to buy it and took great care of me there and back. The sugar was full of water! I was shown the correct way of eating it!

The boys we have meet have been great. I must admit I was worried about how they would react to us. Their reaction has been one of welcome, really happy to see us. The boys come off the street into the club house unwashed smelly and looking dreadful. But all they want is a hug some time a wash and a space to be safe. It has been really humbling to be with them. It is hard to imagine that the boys at Tuda had once been on the street and for some only a few weeks ago. It is nothing short of a miracle the work being done here.

Yesterday talking to some of the boys all they wish for is a home and someone to love them. Very simple requests.

I think in a previous post you will have heard of the 4 or so hour service that Helen and I went to last week. I have put in a request for a short service tomorrow. The boys service that Helen & I went to was really great and very moving as they presented a drama sowing their experiences. We asked them to perform a song yesterday they had written about their life. We have a video of it for all to see.

So what will I miss. Well I shall not miss the red dust everywhere, in my mouth my ears and covering all surfaces. Even after a shower my towel turns red and I thought I had washed. I shall not miss the crazy driving. The days of being on my knees before the shower hoping for water. The routine of tablets suncream insect replant and bite cream. Goat stew!

What I will miss will be the boys. The boys from the street and those in Tuda. It has been a real privilege to have spent time with them. Their thanks and gratitude has been overwhelming. It is amazing to see what football can do and how it has changed these boys.

And yes I will be coming again I think 2009 would be right.

Thanks for all your support and prayers and to my family for their love and support.

Simon