Daily life

Well you may be wondering what daily life is all about. Suffice to say that every day brings a new surprise! However we do have a vague routine!
We are generally awoken by a noisy bird (nicknamed cheeky chappy) at around 7am. Breakfast and shower (if electricity is on or even if it is not!).
Monday is Kito - a community about 20 mins away who lack basic amenities like water and electricity. One toilet per 10 families.David visits homes in this community offering basic medical advice and will be giving out mosquito nets provided by wellspring to those in need. Malaria is a major problem. He is accompanied by a local lady who may continue health promotion classes with my group Meanwhile I teach basic literacy to a group of ladies and one gentleman plus basic English -quite a challenge as they are unfamiliar with any English as most have only received one or two years (or in some cases no) education. That lasts for two hours then back to base for lunch  - posha rice and beans. After lunch on Monday is PEP which is prayer and worship for half an hour. After lunch I go and teach in the secondary school and David visits the clinic to see patients. The day finishes around 5pm (ish) then back home for me to prepare work or both of us to make resources. David often goes up the road to buy vegetables - cabbage, aubergine, avocado and maybe a few carrots and some Irish's (potatoes to us). David cooks dinner and I wash up -water heated in the kettle or on our calor gas stove. Drying up is necessary as we do not leave anything exposed! We might chat, play games or (as a treat) watch one of our DVDs brought with our own portable player!
Tuesday school for me starts around 7.30am as teachers meet and greet the primary pupils as school starts at 8am I take 3 SEN pupils for an hour and then go to the secondary pupils - 4 pupils of mixed  ages following an English on line curriculum.  Meanwhile David does the washing (by hand of course heating water as he goes)  and then deals with medical matters in the clinic. lunch is as usual and the rest of the day is as Monday.
On Wednesday  my day is similar but David visits a different community with a physiotherapist and visits disabled children in their homes. A house here comprises of one room, no running water or toilet nor electricity in many cases. Many are now using splints and frames provided (with donations) by wellspring. Some have not yet got seats or frames as money is limited and wellspring has to allocate their limited funds judiciously. More funding is always needed. In one case food is also provided as many people still consider that disabled children are cursed so parents are reluctant to acknowledge their existence. Wellspring, by their actions,  put lie to this and parents seem very grateful.
Thursdays are similar to Mondays and Fridays are like Wednesdays. However we have started Open the Book sessions after lunch in the primary school acted out with the help of the secondary pupils.

Every other Saturday has required us to be available - we went to Tororo one weekend and next weekend david is off to a rural island community (camping as no accommodation is available and providing medical services!) and I will be doing in-service literacy teaching with the primary teachers. On one Saturday per month, the children's workers provide a fun factory I.e games, a bible story (which we do), snack and a drink for up to 100 children from the local community then more washing up! It is the equivalent to a party provided to the community by wellspring
Sunday is church from 10am till 12.30pm.
That is not a complete picture as different things crop up on a regular basis - now I know why baden Powell said 'be prepared'!