Chapter 26 - Update #14 - August 30, 2023 - Wedding Flowers!

Many of you know that I love to do flowers for weddings.  The florist who taught me years ago how to make bows (update #4), also taught me the basics in floral arranging. That developed into a side hobby of making bouquets, corsages and arrangements.  So, I offered to help with the flowers for Florence & Hilary’s wedding.  Normally when I do flowers, the bride and groom only pay for the flowers.  My labor is part of the wedding gift.  

I had been in communication with Godfrey about where we were going to purchase the flowers. I had no idea what kind of flowers would be available.  There were discussions as to whether they would be “natural” flowers or artificial.  I discovered when I was there that if we used artificial that means we “rent” or “hire” the flowers.  He said that he was sure they would want to use natural flowers. 

We had to wait until after the Introduction to start the process of finding flowers.  Godfrey assured me that he knew where to go and we could get them even up to the day before.  Yes, that was as crazy as it sounds!  

In Update #13, I mentioned Godfrey & I had gone to Kampala.  I need to make a slight correction.  It was actually the week in-between the Introduction and the Wedding, not the previous week.   

So we didn’t start looking for flowers until Tuesday, August 8th.  Godfrey took me to town where he said we should probably order them ahead of time.   Ha!  I told him I normally order flowers a month in advance.  Not even knowing what flowers were available for me to work with five days before the wedding was definitely a huge challenge! 

When we went to town, flowers are not sold at a typical “florist” shop like we are use to.  We walked up to a small shop where the owner mainly had some supplies for weddings. When we asked about natural flowers, she walked us back to the side of the shop where she had some buckets holding miniature roses and chrysanthemums.  That was all she had.  But because it was Tuesday, the flowers wouldn’t work for Saturday.  She wasn’t sure if they would get more flowers by the weekend even if we ordered.    

On Wednesday, Godfrey took me to another shop, but the owner was not there.  Another vendor pointed to a phone number that was written by a sharpie onto a part of a door frame!  Godfrey called that number and she said she was out of town until Monday!  He took me to one more place but they also were not able to help.  So it was four days before the wedding and I still had no idea where the flowers were going to come from!

We had to stop the hunt for flowers to meet with Sylvia who was joining us at the market to buy some supplies.  While we were there, we ran into Irene, Hope, Trust, Maria and Florence!!   I told Florence we were having issues with finding natural flowers.  I asked her if it mattered if we used artificial flowers if we were not successful with finding natural flowers.  She said, “Whatever you do I know it will be beautiful!”  Ha!  Pressure was on!  

Irene has a beauty salon and was an instrumental part of the Introduction and Wedding for both the girls and boys.  So I asked her if she had any ideas about where to find flowers.  She said the only other option from the places Godfrey and I went to was to drive to Kampala where they have more variety. We didn’t have another full day to make that drive.

We were running out of options and were seriously considering renting artificial flowers.  But I happen to mention the dilemma we were in to someone else at the home.  They said, “You should ask Sylvia because she was in charge of the Send-Off decorations.  I think she has a contact.”  So on Thursday I asked Godfrey to check with Sylvia.   She said, “Sure.  Let me contact the person we used and see what they have.”  

Sylvia went on her own to meet with the person who sells flowers.  She began texting me photos of what he had and they were beautiful !  Sylvia said we should buy what we needed now because he wasn’t going to get another order before Friday.   

Godfrey wasn’t available to pick me up to bring me to town.  So Sylvia came to the hotel on a boda boda (motorbike used for transportation) to bring me to town.   I like to ride a boda boda at least once each trip as long as it is just to town.  I normally ride side-saddle because of wearing a dress.  When you ride on a boda boda the regular way, they called that riding like a man.  But try doing that wearing a long dress!   Even though I was totally comfortable riding side saddle, Sylvia was very nervous!  She has not been with me before when I have used a boda.  So she told my driver to drive carefully and her driver to stay close to us in case I fall off.  She was going to jump off and rescue me!  Ha ha !   

But we made it safely to town after a very enjoyable ride!  When we got to the man selling the flowers, some of what she showed me by text were already gone. Everything was in a big pile on burlap on the ground.  No telling how long they were out of water!  But I was able to buy roses and chrysanthemums as well as a few other filler flowers.  He wrapped up our order while we went to find a place to buy buckets to put them in.  

What I was missing was any type of greenery.  So Friday morning, just one day before the wedding, I had flowers but no greenery.  Sylvia came to the rescue again!  She went back into town and found another contact who said he had an order coming from Kampala.  If we ordered the greenery at that moment, he could catch his driver and it would be there by the afternoon.  Praise the Lord!   So I was able to order two types of greenery that worked perfectly!  

By Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours before the wedding,  I finally had flowers and greenery!  Talk about cutting it close!  I gathered all the flowers and supplies and prayed that God would take it all and make beautiful “bloom” from the little I had.  

One time on one of my first trips,  we actually did have a very simple Christian wedding for a young couple they knew well.   I offered to do the bouquet.  That one was definitely a challenge because I didn’t have any of my correct supplies.  That was over 16 years ago where was even less availability of flowers in town!   I remember searching for anything I could use to make a bouquet.   The night before the wedding, I laid out all I had on the bed and prayed that God would multiple it like the fish and bread in the story of the feeding of the 5000!  It was a miracle that I formed a bouquet out of the little I had!   The bigger surprise was when I went to deliver the bouquet, the bride had a dress she rented for me and I suddenly was her matron of honor!   

I prayed a similar prayer over the flowers for this wedding.  God truly did the miraculous with only hours to spare!  I was able to put together four bridesmaids bouquets and one bridal bouquet.   The other shock was the total cost for all five bouquets was only about $50 USD!  Here at home you wouldn’t be able to get even one bouquet for that price.  

Something you get used to when you are here is being flexible.  Things can change without notice.  Before I came I asked Godfrey what colors the bride was using as a theme so I knew what color ribbon to bring.  It took awhile to get the final answer but I finally was told, “royal blue & silver”.  So I chose the colors of the flowers to match the royal blue ribbon.  Good thing I used silver with just a thin royal blue accent.  When the bridesmaids came out of the cars, to my surprise their dresses were maroon!  

Plus, I gave Florence her bouquet which she did hold momentarily.  But for the main ceremony she had been given an artificial bouquet that came with the rental of the wedding dress!  It was perfect and beautiful!  So instead of one she had two bouquets! 

Waiting until the last minute was definitely a challenge.  But the bigger lesson was in trusting God through it all.  I had no idea what the bouquets were going to look like because I didn’t know what was available. But putting its in God’s hands first, He gave me all I needed to do my part with my hands. 

But the flowers paled in comparison to how beautiful Florence was and how handsome Hilary looked.  Together they were a picture of God’s grace and goodness!   The most important part of the day was they were becoming man and wife! 

The next update will be about the long awaited wedding!    After that just one more update as I got ready to head home! 

Kale, 

Mama Kisakye 

 

Chapter 26 - Update #13 - August 25, 2023 - Friends and Reconciliation

Hotel

In Update #3 I talked about the hotel.  I have stayed here since I first began coming to Uganda.  They truly are family.  The owners are Mr. & Mrs. Otile.  They are an older couple who manage not only our hotel but the sister hotel next door.  When I arrived I found out Mr. Otile had been sick the past three weeks. They were not sure what the main problem was.  I didn’t see him until the last week of my trip.  But when I finally did see him he was looking great and feeling stronger.  

I normally see Mrs. Otile multiple times during the week.  But we kept missing each other.  I thought it was because she was going home to take care of Mr. Otile.  When we finally had time to just sit and talk, I found out why she was spending less time at the hotel.  They have taken two very young children into their household.  At this stage of life they should be enjoying grandchildren.  But now they are back to raising two toddlers who are both under 2 years old.  They were originally helping the mother of the two children.  But Mrs. Otile said, “the mother was going to throw them away,” meaning she was abandoning them. They decided to take the two young children in. They are keeping them very busy!  Her desire is to give these two young children a hope for a brighter future.  They are investing in their lives so that they grow to have a deep faith in Christ and make a difference in the world.  It is inspiring to see the commitment they have made to help two who now don’t have a family become a part of theirs.   Please keep them in your prayers. 

Their son, Robert is the General Manager of the hotel.  He and his wife, Sylvia are precious friends.  Andrew is our dear friend who is like the Assistant Manager.  His wife, Rachel works at the sister Hotel next door.  They are all dear friends of the Raining Hope family.  Most mornings I would see one of them when I went down for breakfast.  Selevus, our friend who I mentioned in another update is the food and beverage manager.  They all attend and minister at Glory Be to God Church.  I will be writing about that in another update.  I didn’t see our friend, Esther until the last week I was there.  She works in the financial department.  

The only one who had left the hotel since COVID was our friend, Apophia.  She used to manage the little business center.  I always would pop my head in to say hello. It was sad to not have her there.  

Even though the hotel was not opened during COVID, they were able to continue operating because of the catering side of their business.  They catered food to the businesses that did remain open.  They also were able to do home food delivery service like our “doordash” or “grubhub”.  They said it was very eerie having no one at the hotel.  Things were so quiet.  But they found themselves going down to where I ate breakfast each morning and just enjoying the peace.  One of them told me they take for granted the beauty of the Nile.  COVID caused them to slow down and stop and be thankful for what the Lord blesses them with on a daily basis. 

KAMPALA

One of the days in-between the Send Off Celebration and the Introduction, Godfrey and I were able to squeeze in a day to drive to Kampala.  It is tricky because of traffic jams.  You have to time everything just right.  Not only is there traffic in Kampala, but now it gets bad through the town of Mukono.  Thankfully because Godfrey use to live in Mukono and Kampala, he is an expert in working his way around the jams.  Most of the time that means rough dirt roads!  But it works!  

I have friends, Troy & Leanne that are serving in another town about 5-6 hours away (depending on traffic) with another ministry.  They moved there about a year and a half ago.  Carol & Diane actually met them on vacation a few years ago.  They have been supportive of Raining Hope over the years.  I spoke to them by Zoom before they moved giving them as many tips as I could about the Ugandan life. 

We met in Kampala at a restaurant near where they were having a meeting.  It was good to be with them in person!  I had brought some of their favorite “Kind” granola bars as a reminder of home.  I am glad that we were able to find the time to meet them.  It was a just a good time of fellowship and encouragement! 

We had a wedding meeting that night back at the house so we had to get right back on the road by 3:00 pm.  Thankfully, because of Godfrey’s local knowledge of how to get around the jams, we made it back right at 6:30 pm!    

Sylvia, one of our graduates actually lives in Kampala because she got a job in the city.  But she comes back to Jinja every weekend to lead worship for our ministry.  She told me she is trying to move back closer to our home.   Sylvia said where she lives the congestion is so bad, you continually breathe in the exhaust from all the automobiles. Pray for her that she will be able to find another job and move closer to home! 

RECONCILIATION

The wedding of Hilary & Florence had more purpose than we could ever imagine. 

As a background for those who are new to Raining Hope, whenever we have any disciplinary issues, Godfrey works diligently at resolving them.  Multiple conversations happen for as long as it takes and most of the time are resolved.   

Unfortunately, through the years there are some issues that despite many opportunities towards restoration, we were not able to resolve. Godfrey still keeps in contact with those individuals to try to encourage them and mentor them.  We never give up hope.

I had written in a previous newsletter that Florence was one we had let go years ago.  But even before their engagement, the reconciliation process had already begun.  We had beautiful and private moments of forgiveness and restoration while I was there.  I spent time with both of them separately and together .  Those moments are some of the most significant of the whole trip. To see how God has worked in their hearts is inspiring.  It is why I wholeheartedly gave my blessing to them as a mum on their union.  

The night of the wedding, Robert, the hotel manager blessed them with a room to stay in at the hotel.  They won’t go on a traditional honeymoon.  So this was extremely kind of Robert to provide them such a sweet wedding gift.  They loved being able to be newlywed guests!  They decided they wanted us to have one more time together before I left for home.  So they asked to have breakfast together with me before I left for church.  What a precious time I had with the newly married Mr. & Mrs!   They are adorable as a married couple!  But we had very deep conversations about their lives, where they believe God is leading them, and how very happy they both are.   

ESTHER - This is Florence’s sister who also had to leave us at the same time as Florence.  She was one of the bridesmaids for her sister.  The reunion that I had with her was also significant.  We first saw each other at the Introduction.  When we hugged each other it was like the Lord was holding us together.  Throughout the two events, we were able to have a shorter but significant moment of reconciliation.  I found out from Florence that Esther was able to finish school and now is a school teacher for the primary age group!  She is happy and is doing well.  

RONALD - He as well was released from our care a couple of years ago.  To my surprise he showed up just before the wedding!  He was also in attendance the day of the wedding to support Hilary.  That moment of reunion was a beautiful, special time.  He is attending a church where he is working with the sound system.  

RITA & SARAH - These two were a part of our organization from the early days.  About 10 years ago one of the other managers let them go.  We discovered later it was not for truthful reasons.  But Godfrey has kept in touch with them.  In the case of Rita, she had gotten married but it was a bad situation.  When she had to leave, she needed a safe place to land.  

Godfrey told me that Raining Hope is also like a “shock absorber”in a car.  When I asked what that meant, he said, “I have always told these ones that they can use Raining Hope as a safe place to come if they need it.  He said that we can help “absorb some of the shock” of their situation.  She just needed a place to get her feet back on the ground.  Once in a while she travels back to us (lives in another town) just to be with the family and have much needed emotional support.  

Both Rita and Sarah were there for the wedding. Rita was actually with us all weekend to help.  The reunion we had was significant.  God truly had more going on than just the union of Hilary and Florence.  The RE-UNION of some of those that we had let go was inspiring.  

I witnessed repentant and humble hearts.  One expressed they now see how we have been committed to building a foundation that would last their whole lives.  They didn't always see it when they were younger, but they see it now.  They came back thanking us for standing for truth and not compromising our faith.  

This is who we are as the Raining Hope family.  We stand for truth raising a group of born again believers who will make a difference in the world for Jesus. 

Hilary told me that he wants to become a teacher of the gospel.  He wants to teach TRUTH from the WORD alone.  Because of all we have instilled in these students the past 17 years, he wants to do the same.  He wants to influence others with the truth.  He desires one day to go back to school to receive the next level of education which is a formal bachelor’s degree.  In the meantime, he and Florence are a powerful team for the Lord, proclaiming His Word and reaching those around them for Christ.  They are tremendous and a testimony to God’s glory and grace. 

Deep before wide.  Hilary's example is confirmation of that goal being fulfilled.  We are proud of all of them. 

After all the updates, I will post formal thank you’s from the graduating students. They are forever thankful to each one of you for your prayers, support and encouragement throughout the years.  

We are getting close!  Just a few more updates!  I pray that I will be able to send the rest of them before the end of next week. Thank you for reading, praying and sending words of encouragement!   God is SO GOOD!  

Kale, 

Mama Kisakye

Chapter 26 - Update #12 - Aug 23 2023 - Jinja Town

Main Street in Jinja town is where I do most of my shopping.  I would say it is about a 7-8 block of shops that I have frequented over the many years.  At one end is the furniture shop we have bought various items for the house.  At the other end I have gone to “supermarkets” where I buy more packaged snacks and spices. We buy the occasional ice cream cups for the kids at these local supermarkets.  But I focus on on long block where I buy most of my African crafts.  Over the years I have made friends with specific shop owners.  This has been important because so many of the shop owners will see a “muzungu” (anyone non-black) and will start with a higher price.  It is very common and very expected to “barter” prices down.  They will start very high and sometimes it is obvious they are charging too much. 

Unfortunately, our long time friend, Rita, had to move back to her village during COVID.  Godfrey had checked on her and she wasn’t able to keep her shop open.  For those who have known the story of Rita, I first became friends with her and her young daughter, Mary.  I began buying from her because she was fair and didn’t try to cheat me.  We became such close friends, when she had her next baby, she named her after me!  She gave her my American name, Eydie.  I did not yet have the name Kisakye.  It was a deep honor for them to make that decision.  I happen to be in town when Rita gave birth and was able to meet my namesake! 

The other shop I buy most of the African crafts from is Faith’s.  Since Rita was gone, I spent most of my time there.  When I was in Jinja last before COVID she had just lost her husband.  That was a very difficult time for her.  This trip I was able to meet her daughter and her grandson!  When I went into town it was later one afternoon.  When I bought some things from Faith, she thanked me because it was the first purchase of the day for her. 

The things I buy to bring home are helping people to literally feed their families.  The first time I learned this was from Rita.  I will never forget the time I bought some things and she was so thankful.  She said, “now I can go and buy milk for the family.”  So many times they are dependent on the sale of the day to buy the food for the evening. Main Street is filled with shops that basically all have the same thing.  The competition is high.  So my focus is helping the ones who have become family over the past 17 years.  

There is a new friend called Sarah who I met through a friend, Ben.  Ben has made the “Raining Hope” bracelets for us before.   I did buy some things from her and paid her little bit more.  But she had some items no one else had.  Because of Ben, I told her that I know I spent a little more, but I wanted to help her.  But if she is fair to me I will come back.  The next time I went in, she was lower on prices and treated me more as a local because I was honest with her.  

I also go to the Source Cafe where my good friends, Irene & Justine work.  Not only is there a great craft shop there, but there is a wonderful little cafe.  I was surprised to find a few years ago they installed an espresso machine and started making lattes!  I introduced Godfrey to a mocha latte. You can imagine how much he enjoyed it after only ever having regular coffee!  When Sylvia comes and helps me with shopping, I will take her in there to get a milk shake as a thank you!   On my last trip she experienced a milk shake for the very first time!  How fun it is so see her savor each drop!   We go 

the Source Cafe just a couple of times as more of a special treat and thank you.  

One day we were in the Source Cafe and Irene’s daughter, Rachel came in.  I couldn’t believe how much she has grown!  I have known her since she was a little girl.  She is now 20 years old!  Wow!   

The second week I was there I found out Irene had to take her to the doctor in Kampala.  She is having lower back and right leg pain.  She has gone to many doctors in Jinja and has had many tests.  She was referred to a doctor in the capital city.  The doctors still can’t find anything wrong with her.  One day Godfrey and I were in the shop when Rachel was there.  We had a time to pray over her for healing for her body.  Continue to keep Rachel in your prayers that the doctors would be able to diagnose her and she can get the right treatment.  

THE MARKET 

All of our shopping for the family is mainly done in an area that is off of Main Street.  This is where we buy all of our food staples.  I LOVE shopping off the main path.  This is where all the locals shop.   Think of it as a HUGE swap meet or farmer’s market atmosphere.  There is a large three story building that was built before COVID.  It is basically an indoor mall to give a place for all the vendors to sell their goods.  Before the stalls were all in an open field.  Rain would make things so hard on the shop owners because of the mud.  

The bottom floor is mainly “stalls” of food vendors.   This is where we find our vegetables, spices, fruits and fish.   If you go up a floor there are areas to purchase other items plus chicken and beef.  Buying a chicken is not like our grocery stores.  You pick them out alive but they are not that way when you go home!  The fish are HUGE whole tilapia that are probably three times the size of the fillets you can buy at home at the seafood counter in the grocery store.   

The upper floor is where you go to buy clothes.  This is very much like going to a local swap meet.  All the vendors have their stalls of clothing.  When we are buying clothes for the family, this is where we go.   Clothes are in good shape and we always can find things everyone likes for the fraction of the cost. 

Outside of the main building are shops that we frequent.  There is one shop we buy the majority of our supplies.  Godfrey said the owner had asked about me because I hadn’t been there for so long.  She is known as Mama Phiona.  Her daughter, Phiona works inside taking orders.  Godfrey said they don’t know the older woman’s name but she is just known as “mother to Phiona”!   

Just like on Main Street, we have specific vendors we buy most of our food from.  We go around the corner down an alley to a vendor we buy large bags of beans and posho.  Another place we buy g-nuts (ground nuts) used to make a paste for a sauce. We buy our beef at a stand just a few doors down from Mama Phiona’s.  This is not for the faint of heart!  

What is such a blessing is to watch the process of how Godfrey buys the monthly food supply.  This time he brought Sylvia, Joan and Vivian.  We start at Mama Phiona’s shop and Phiona takes our order down.  It is a fairly large order.  After we pay for it, they are in the process of pulling all the items.  He had Sylvia stay there and make sure the order is fulfilled.   Then we went with the other two to the beef stand.  After we ordered and paid, Vivian stayed behind while they cut up the beef.  We gave Joan some money with the list of vegetables and spices needed.  She went to the main building while Godfrey and I went to buy the beans and posho.    

Godfrey began bringing some of them with him as they got older to help them understand about budgeting and purchasing food.  It is part of how we prepare then for when they are ready to be on their own.  So many are not trained then don’t know how to deal with life when they move on.  So to see how well a system he has in place was so fulfilling.  

Because we don’t have the van any longer, we have to hire a truck to transport all the items back to the house each month.  So as everyone is responsible at each specific shop, all items go to the central area where the truck is parked.  We all end up back at Godfrey’s car when we are finished.  

At one point we had a very special bonus.  Sylvia and I walked a block away from the market area.  There was a place where she bought fabric for one of her dresses.  In town they would sell a similar dress for 35,000 shillings ($10).  In the market you can buy the material for 13,000 shillings ($4).  She said the Main Street owners will buy from the market and then sell it at the higher price.  

So we walked to where she bought the material.  When we arrived, there was a woman on the ground sorting through the material pieces.  Sylvia thought she was the one selling.  When the woman looked up, Sylvia said, “Mom”?!   Seriously, it was Sylvia’s mom!  Her mother looked at me and jumped up to give me a big hug!  It turns out, Sylvia’s mom was trying to surprise me.  She wanted to buy a dress for me as a thank you for all I have done for Sylvia.  She had asked Sylvia if she could join her in town to help.  But Sylvia told her she couldn’t that day because we would be very busy for the house.  Then we ended up there at the SAME TIME!  Wow!   I had picked out a simple black dress that was already sewn (15,000 shillings or $4). Her mom took it from me and said, “I want to buy this for you”.  Such a humbling moment for me for her mom to want to do such a kind thing. It was another moment you want to say, “there is no need”.  But to see the smile on her face because she was able to do that was worth even more than the simple dress.  

The kind gesture from Sylvia’s mom is a symbol of what all the parents think of all the sponsors and supporters over all these years.  The students as well as their parents are forever thankful for all of you who care so deeply for them.  We are able to buy all the food and supplies each month because of YOU. 

Jinja Town is a whole family in itself.  More stories of other friends and family as well as the Wedding will follow soon!  

Kale, 

Mama Kisakye