Just to let you know that Fi and I arrived home safely last night. I will add a couple of photos of our boyfriends who were there to meet us, for those sports minded people. Hope you enjoy the photos, and will be involved in one of our fundraising lunches. Sunshine Coast one is Friday June 19th and the Canberra is is Friday August 21st. Our goal is to raise enough funds for the Empower program to continue and expand in Northern Uganda. The great thing about going over there, was that we got to see firsthand the impact of the [View Full Entry]

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Hi guys am in airport about to fly to J'Berg and then to Syd. Seems i lost the blog I wrote yesterday. Poor Fi has had horrible case or Gastro for last few days, but has been an absolute trooper and soldiered on. We spent 2 days at Stellenbosch and it is the most gorgeous town, made up of restaurants, shops, cafes, a university and the famous wineries. Unfortunately, we didnt make the wineries, as sat down to have lunch at beautiful restaurant and didnt leave until 11pm. We felt we may have compensated by the wines we did consume, however, [View Full Entry]

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Hi again, sorry for the delay but have had no access to a computer for past few days. Will try and update now. Thanks again for the messages, it is so nice to have so much encouragement. The day after the staff training Fiona and I returned to Samaritans Purse and travelled with Susan to the bible ministry, one of her staff was at a local village church teaching Pastors how to tell bible stories and relate to their congregations, as they have very little training. We then drove bush for a while, and up a narrow dirt road to the [View Full Entry]

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We arrived back to Acholi Inn on Friday, and were warmly greeted by all the staff members, waiters, chef - it felt like we were returning to long lost friends. Our mate Carl Gaede from Wototo came to meet us and the three of us hired a car and driver to visit Wototo childrens home. For $40US dollars we got to ride in a clapped out car, with no window windows or air cond, or suspension. One of doors nailed shut! I have to say it was one very uncomfortable trip and Fi and I felt every pothole , our backs [View Full Entry]

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On Friday, we sadly farewelled Gulu. Got a lift to the local airstrip, no terminal no office just an outdoor table and chairs and a bloke that carried our bags out to the 'airstrip'. Fiona and I started to feel just a little nervous about the small Eagle air plane, which finally arrived an hour late. The flight went well, and it was beautiful flying over Northern Uganda which such an amazing view of all the mud huts and compounds, lovely green landscape and red dirt. Georgia very much in my mind as she turned 16 today, and was spending it [View Full Entry]

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Nearly caught up on the blogs!! WE arrived safely in Capetown on Saturday to freezing cold winter and rain, and laughed and laughed as realised we had not brought any warm clothes with us, and it was about 10deg. Apparently, I had told Fi that we would be spending a few days in sunny Capetown, lying by the pool - and i had forgotten to research the weather. I told her she had to take some responsibility and do her own research, all was forgiven and we headed to our apartment on teh Waterfront, turned on the heater, and walked to [View Full Entry]

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Yesterday, Fiona and I arrived at Samaritans Church to run a staff training day. 30 of the staff had been taken out of the field for the day for staff training. I was apprehensive at first as worried about the content, in terms of cultural differences and levels of understanding, but have to say it was sucessful. I had the whole day to train, and spoke on promoting positive behaviours. We broke the day up with some fun activities, and started off with an hysterical warm up exercise, where all staff were walking around eyes closed, either making noise of cat, [View Full Entry]

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I have to tell you about the church service we attended on Sunday. There are hundreds of churches in the area, and EVERYBODY goes to church often for the whole day. We chose to go to Wototo Church as some of our new friends went there. I couldnt believe it, as we walked up the path I could hear very loud worship, and I recognised the songs - They were singing Hillsong songs, which some of you may know, were written and recorded by Sydney people with the Hillsong church. They absolutely worship with abandon and joy, and it was nice [View Full Entry]

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Greetings to everyone Thank you for your messages, they are all so encouraging and it is nice to hear news from back home. Naomi, you are precious for dropping meals over to the Lindley family, would give them a break from all the takeaway food they are undoubtedly eating! So nice also to hear that Jack has had a hair cut, interesting! Must be a girl in the picture I think!! I have not been able to work out how to reply to each individual message, not sure if that is part of the travel blog functions...so bear with me. Liz, [View Full Entry]

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Hello to all our friends and family I am in the middle of a break of staff training, and had a quick loan of the computer at Samiritans Purse. The training on parenting is going well, and the participants are such joyful learners. I just wanted to let you know that we are getting your messages, have recieved yours thanks Dad. Abbey you are a naughty girl, and Sam thanks for the beautiful verse. Happy Mothers Day to you Mums out there, and I will try and borrow the computer again tomorrow. Liz, they are in the middle of the creative [View Full Entry]

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