We’ve certainly earned some points with the big guy upstairs today.
After two really enjoyable days we set off on the first of two days working in Kampala’s orphanages. The first on the list was Missionaries of the Poor.
We were all hit with a sight we weren’t prepared for. 300 people sheltering on a quarter of an acre block. Most staying there had some form of serious mental or physical disability and had been abandoned by their family and society.
Missionaries is run by a Catholic order of brothers that started in Jamaica. It has now expanded its operations to East Africa and focuses its work on the poorest of the poor. Our team now has a greater appreciation of the value of religion in Ugandan culture. A team of brothers rotates duties to spend time at Missionaries to care for the people. Without these brothers, and their faith, these people wouldn’t have a place to live.
Once inside, we were all allocated duties. It’s fair to say that some of us drew shorter straws than others. Shandy was given the sporting rotation and spent the morning playing soccer with the kids. Shandy was unimpressed that he let a goal through during the game (the longest straw). Shags had the second longest straw, and spent the morning on the toilet at the guesthouse absent from Missionaries. Mini was asked to lead a classroom and sang songs and imparted wisdom to a class of 80 children. Teegs and Green were asked to spend some time with small girls with intellectual disabilities and HIV. Leylan and Remmy (our driver) had laundry duties and washed soiled clothes out the back. Neil and I arguably drew the shortest straw and were asked to wash and clothe adult men with physical disabilities who were unable to care for themselves.
A confronting day but one that will stay with us for the rest of our lives. Hats off to the brothers who spend their lives giving to the people who most need their help.
Michael ‘Richo’ Richardson
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