Dear Don!
I received a call in the morning on Tuesday 17th, July 2012 from the House of the Girls that Fiona Namugerwa had delivered a kicking lively baby boy! Both the boy and the mother are fine. Thanks for your prayers, please!
Gerald
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Street Ministry
Sometimes ministry starts after the official ministry
ends…..
Last night, after four of us completed the street ministry
for St Aloysius, a man approached me with a funny request. I walked through a
park we had just been in and he came to me with his hand out and took mine. He
said, “What I really want is a hat.” He looked at mine and smiled. I said,
“After having just given you two sandwiches, five packets of crackers and a
bottle of water, what you really wants it my hat?” He said, “I really need a
hat.” I took off my hat and said to him,” This hat has travelled the world with
me. You want my hat? Really?” He said, “I really need a hat.” I said, “The pin
that is on this hat was given to me as a gift at my ordination 17 years ago.
Really, you want my hat.” He said it would truly be a blessing to have a hat. I
placed the hat on his head and said, “Then let God give you this blessing. But
don’t let me find this in a dumpster or discarded in an alley. You wear that
hat.” He promised that he would.
I walked two blocks and passed through another park and was
approached by a man I have known now for about a year. He asked how I was doing
and started to walk with me. He thanked me for having worked to get him some items
for his apartment. However, he needed something else—a rug. I told him who to
see someone in the morning and we could work on the rug. He asked where I was
headed and said he would walk with me as my body guard! I smiled and said he was
welcome to tag along. We talked about our younger years and the deaths of our
fathers. He lost his dad at age 16 and I lost mine at age 17. He is 56 years
old and I am 57—much to his surprise I am older than him. He told me he would
be 57 next week on his birthday and I told him I had just turned 57 the week
before. We were both born in July. I said to him, “See we are very much alike.
“ He smiled at that. As we walked across the boulevard a man called out to me,
“Hey I know you. You’re the guy who hands out the sandwiches.” I said, “Yes I
am and I just finished. In fact the guy sitting next to you just a got a bottle
of water from me two blocks over.” The man lifted his bottle and said, “Thanks
for that by the way.” We chatted for a bit and then I walked on.
My body guard said to me as we approached the little store by
the carport. Deacon could you help me out with something in the store? I said,
“How long have you known me? Have you ever known me to carry money on me?” He smiled
and looked me square in the eyes and said, “A man has to try doesn’t he?” We
both laughed and he said, “I’ll see you at mass on Sunday!” I told him I would
look forward to seeing him there.
I wonder where the real ministry took place tonight. Was it
with the backpack with all the supplies or was it with the men a met along the
way walking home? I guess I’ll let God decide on this one.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Future Plans and Costs for My Daughters
Dear Don!
Greetings from the House of Jjajja Don at St Kizito!
i) Below are the estimated costs of some (used) tailoring sewing machines plus their accessories found in Kampala that can be bought to establish the girls’ workshop or industry:
1. Sweater / Socks sewing machine (1) at Ug. Shs. 300,000/=
2. Over-lock machine
3. Baby-lock machine
4. Machine straight & zigzag (1) 250,000/=
5. Button-presser (
6. Buttons (each size)
7. Tables for manual machines 80,000/@x(4) 320,000/=
8. Motor
9. Scissors
10. Threads - Tweads (packets):3,000/=@x(10)
11. Materials (boxes) 20,000/=@x(10) 200,000/=
12. Oil
13. Mirrors
14. Models
15. Tape measures 5,000/=@x(4)
16. Electric iron (for stiffening / starch)
17. Stools / chairs 25,000/=
18. Charts
19. Pins
20. Zippers
21. Chalk
Total estimated amount for Tailoring Workshop: 2,699,000/= (an equivalent US $ 1,125, when 1US $ is equivalent to Ug.Shs. 2400/=).
ii) The original agreement for the house of the girls was signed on 16 September 2011, with the funds you had sent last year 2011. Part of the money was paid for house rent (12 months), which will expire on 16 September 2012. The same funds were used make some house-repairs, to buy mattresses, bedding, and other house requirements, as the girls had nothing on them, as I had informed you earlier on; plus their upkeep as I have been updating you now and again.
The best time for the next payment would be August 2012. Note: the Landlord had wanted us this time to raise the house rent to Ug. Shs. 700,000/= monthly, (i.e. Ug. Shs. 8,400,000/= an equivalent of Us $ 3,500), without basic utilities: power i.e. electricity and water payments, which I found to be a lot of money, yet the locality is good with nice security for the girls. I shall have to sit with him and discuss for a bargain. I shall let you know the developments in due course, please.
May God bless you!
Yours,
Gerald.
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