Pre-packaged, or the Real Thing?

During the latter part of August a team of visitors from a church in Manchester stayed in the guest house next door to us. They had come to offer support to Potters Village for Vulnerable children and do some leadership training. A friendly bunch of various ages (7 women and one male vicar!) they enjoyed seeing the cockerels strutting freely around the compound. However when they were told that these were for their dinner the next day they were somewhat nonplussed and at the meal itself the chicken was left barely touched! Even though the cockerels had probably had a much better life than most of the chickens brought from the super markets in Britain they just didn’t like the idea of eating something they had seen alive and walking around. They preferred the sanitised, pre-packaged, oven ready version which looked nothing like the real thing!

Is our Christianity like that? Do we see our Christian lives in the terms of our civilised Sunday services, sociably arranged meetings and organised mission outreach; nicely packaged and parcelled, separate from our Monday to Saturday life? Or do we live out our Christian lives in the real world every day. Showing love to that cantankerous neighbour, befriending those noisy teenagers, taking time to talk with the lonely; picking up someone else's rubbish, telling the shop keeper they have under-charged us. Loving as Jesus did, to the point of putting others before your own wants and desires. Are we a plastic packaged or the real thing?

Last month we mentioned the work of the Organised Useful Rehabilitation Service (OURS ) who ran a one day outreach clinic for disabled children at Potter's Village. This was a wonderful witness to both the locals and ourselves. The compassion and love that the doctors showed to each and every single child was incredible. The team worked non-stop all day and much to our amazement they were able to assess all 140 children. For some, advice and support was given; many carers were shown physiotherapy techniques which they can now do themselves to help their children; and some children will have further treatment and follow up at a later date. Five children were offered the chance to go with the team for treatment for club feet but only 2 could afford the small amount of funding needed for transport. Very sadly there were some children who were not able to be helped, and little could be done for them. Despite this, the parents or relatives who came with them said that it made so much difference just to know that theirs was not the only child to have the disability or illness and so they went away feeling a little less isolated and alone. Potter's Village staff hopes to work with the OURS team again in the future, so that this programme can be repeated regularly.

In the meantime, Malcolm had one more “bachelor week!” at Kisiizi hospital helping the treasurer to prepare the draft accounts ready for audit, and has almost completed drafting a Book-keeping manual for church treasurers in the Diocese. Irene has been working on some promotional leaflets for the Diocese and teaching some of the V.T.C. staff basic computing. With great excitement she witnessed the arrival of about 30 sewing machines donated by Tools with a Mission. Some of these will be used by the tailoring students but at the moment they have all been put in store awaiting a sort out.

Please thank God for:
- the work of the OURS Team and the care they show to children and families in medical and emotional need
- our continuing good health and for Malcolm's safe journey to Kisiizi Hospital where he was able to assist the Finance team

Please pray for;
- those families of children with disabilities, that they would see God's love at work through the children, and that they will get the physical support they need
- Malcolm as he plans for a training course for treasurers and leaders from the 140 churches in the Diocese
- the arrangements as we begin to prepare for our 3 month break in England from the end of October
- the family of the CMS Mission partner, Jenny Green, as her daughter, Hannah, flies to her new school in Nairobi that they will quickly adjust to the change

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