...worth the wait

For many of us a passport is something which enables us to travel and visit faraway places and we tend to take this little book for granted. But for Silas and for us it has taken to meaning so much more! Over the last few months Silas has asked each time we went into kampala if we were picking his passport and today we could say yes today is the day!
This little booklet is the final step of a journey we started in 2007, though it changes nothing for us because he is our son and no document or booklet changes that, he can confidently show it to others and say "hey i am a Brown". It's been a long process but its been more than worthwhile. Today we picked the passport from the High Commission and there was only one thing we could do and that was to celebrate with ice cream!

Silas and all of us are looking forward to returning to UK for a few months on 3rd April and i know Silas is going to be very proud to show his passport to anybody who asks and maybe people who don't!

A Long Dry Season

It has been the longest dry season that we have experienced in our short 5 years of living here in Uganda. We have not had proper rains since the end of November, and personally we have not had running water since early January. However the situation is harder on those around us who depend on their crops and cattle. Some cows have just collapsed from lack of water, and we are needing good rain to come so that people can plant and so get a harvest in a few months time.

The other day though I was driving along a back street and saw these banana trees that have started growing after drought and fire - beautiful flowers making an appearance!
This week we have had two downpours - very exciting and refreshing!

coffee

“As you know I am a coffee snob, and this coffee is great!” so said someone who had recentl
y had some Investment Year (I.Y.) coffee.

“Everyone’s a winner”- For every bag we sell of our coffee, IY benefits financially but also and maybe more importantly the many skills that running a business can teach you; marketing, budgeting, customer services, handling money and helping us to develop and encourage self sufficiency in our children.

The process of packaging the coffee starts with buying 60kgs (132lbs) from our supplier in Kampala and bringing it home in the car (by the time we reach home the very strong smell of coffee has filled the car!), we then pack it in ½ kg (1lb) bags and seal them with a charcoal iron. (The iron has proved to be much better than a ‘proper’ heat sealer! One final step is to put on the labels and to put some in our special gift bags. We then all rest and enjoy a good cup of coffee!

just for girls!

Kathryn went with a Ugandan friend to a shcool that has become infomally linked with the girls in youth at CCD who have been giving to 'pads and pants'.
You can see the girls proudly holding up their new packs of reusable pads that can be purchased in Uganda and that should last them for one year.
Girls here often miss schooling each month because they cannot afford pads or other sanitary items, so they stay at home to avoid any embarassment. We have worked with Jessica, a good Ugandan friend of ours who has done the leg work in locating reusable pads, made the necessary contacts and then done the explaining and training for the girls themselves.
If you are interested in being involved either talk to Helen Millward in Derby (if you know her!) or just let us know.