NEWS FROM NICK AND TESSA

 

Dr Nick Laing, diocesan health coordinator and wife, Tessa, are deeply committed to their local community, church and ministries. Copied below is their latest news which has a link to their fascinating blog (link). They are an amazing couple. 

Then Peter got up the nerve to ask, “Master, how many times do I forgive a brother or sister who hurts me. Seven?”Jesus replied, “Seven! Hardly. Try seventy times seven.” Fire, Forgiveness and Family  We sat around a beautiful pile of pikelets, sliced mango and bannanas with our friends and their two wee kids. A relaxing Sunday afternoon after a stressful week. Our neighbor Lucy was in hospital, very ill, and needed a lot of practical support. Finally, she was recovering. I took another pikelet, glanced out the window, then did a double take. Smoke. Billowing out of Lucy’s door. We sprinted over and found her bed ablaze with thick choking black fumes from the mattress filling the room. With the help our friends, a neighbor, our small fire extinguisher and many jerrycans of water we managed to put it out. Lucy’s return from hospital was not as joyful as we hoped. The fire did not remain a mystery for long. The culprit was a small boy called Aken, only 11 years old. He’d managed to steal Lucy’s key. His mother had a long-standing family feud with Lucy, now apparently fuelled by jealousy at Lucy’s fortune in finding a new home moving in with us. With Lucy still in hospital, we were the ones to take our wee arsonist into the police. The police shrugged it off saying he was young, and sent him home with zero follow up. His mother sent him to stay with relatives in the village, but he was chased away after stealing and selling their chickens. Lucy's burnt home Two weeks later we woke to find our hut roof on fire. I will never forget the fierce red glow and crackle of the grass thatch as I rushed outside. Neighbors came sprinting to our rescue from all directions with jerry-cans and basins, throwing water on the fire and dragging our furniture and things outside. Unbelievably, Lacor hospital fire truck showed up and doused our hut in water inside and out, extinguishing every last ember. It was over. But my mind was ticking over. Physically we’d escaped extraordinarily well: no-one harmed, property soggy but not burnt, roof damaged, but still livable. But I knew we weren’t going to get much sleep that night. Or the next night. Aken, of course, had fled and was no where to be found. The next month gave us the tiniest taste of the worried nights everyone here in Northern Uganda suffered for two decades of civil war. Except we feared a poor, downtrodden child with a box of matches, not grenade wielding rebels and government soldiers with AK47s. The emotional aftermath wasn’t all negative. I had a heightened awareness that community was our security, and a grateful warmth to or immediate neighbors who came running. I felt pleasantly detached from material ‘stuff’, and tried to pass on anything useful we weren’t utilizing to local friends. But the question of what to do about Aken still loomed. After several weeks, Aken was finally found, charged with arson and taken to the children’s remand home till the court hearing. This bought us time at an opportune moment: Nick’s parents were about to arrive! Time to pray, get away with family, and put things in perspective. I visited Aken again before we headed off to collect them at the airport. The remand home is depressing, but not horrible. Theres no razor wire or harsh discipline, just kids sitting around looking bored and dejected. Determined to understand him a bit better, I’d brought some string for him to make a timeline of his life, pebbles to represent the bad things that had happened, and flowers to represent good times he remembered. The guard squinted and said it looked like witchcraft. “Just talking, no flowers” he warned me. I handed Aken a bag of snacks and wondered nervously where to begin. So far I know that his dad died when he was small. He likes school, but has only finished 2 years of primary. His older brothers steal things. His mum had a mental break down two years ago and attempted suicide. He is convinced she doesn’t want him. We decided to drop the charges and find a way to get him to school. Mum teaching some of our friends Family Our time away with Nick's amazing parents was glorious. Nick’s Dad became anthropologist extraordinaire, more intrigued by the small details of life in Uganda than by tourist attractions. Nick’s Mum’s enthusiasm was not quenched by nights without plumbing and electricity. We communed with monkeys, climbed hills, and had big catch ups over coffee and chapattis. The kids we teach are already complaining we don’t give them  as many stickers as their visiting tutor! Bliss ended a day too soon by a phone call to say our home had been thoroughly broken into. The iron window bars had been filed, and it seemed the thieves had had plenty of time to work. The close friend we’d left to house sit for us, it turns out, had only spent 2 nights there. Thanks to the heroics of our Australian friends, the window and our solar power system (the most significant thing they took) was already fixed by the time we got back. Needless to say, our feelings of insecurity were further shaken, and we felt betrayed. We were glad to have Nicks folks around.   Dad uses ancient methods to safely cut down branches While I’ve yet to get a smile out of Aken on my visits to the remand home, he certainly associates me with food. He is coming home in a week. He can join our afterschool reading classes for neighborhood kids. Then, he will go to boarding school, his first year paid for by Nick’s parents. If you are the praying type, our big request is that you pray with us that his life is turned around, and that the brokenness can be healed. So, all in all it hasn’t been an easy return to Uganda. We’ve also had a bad run of illness: between us 8 skin infections, 3 bouts of malaria (all Nick) and numerous tummy bugs. And yet when I look back on the last 5 months there is so much to be thankful to God for. We have some great new relationships with young neighbors. Lucy recovered when we thought she might not make it. We’ve grown enough basil to make a jar of peanut-pesto every week. My community organized group has launched 3 new water-access campaigns and strong leaders are emerging. Next week we are running a preaching-training at our church. Nicks health centers are flourishing better than he ever could have imagined last year. And right now, we are sleeping well at night again. All this might seem extreme, but is part of the deal here; stuff happens. We’re not singled out, or different from other people here. This chain of events is perhaps an induction to the everyday struggles of many of our friends. Pray for complete forgiveness from all ends, pray for Aken and his future, pray for redemption. As always, we are really really keen to hear whats going on for you at the moment in NZ, Australia, Jersey, America, Chile or wherever else you are! For so many reasons, we couldn't be here without your support and encouragement. Drop us an email and say hi! And check out our blog www.Ugandapanda.com Love and peace, Tessa and Nick

Copyright © 2016 Nick and Tessa, All rights reserved. We sent this email to everyone who said they'd be interested in updates from Uganda. Feel free to unsubscribe or stay tuned! Our mailing address is: Nick and Tessa 31 Longmuir Street, Christchurch, New Zealand Christchurch, Canterbury 8041 New Zealand

 Update

Thank you for checking in to the blog. There is a lot of good work going on in Gulu

Advances continue

Dr Nick Laing and Fiona working in the diocesan and health coordination office are moving things along well. Our money has been used to assist in a number of ways.

Oberabic

Oberabic, the health centre in the most impoverished community, has been assisted by Gulu Connection with:

• provision of solar power,
• refurbishment of accommodation block,
• provision of a solar fridge,
• purchasing most of their drugs,
• paying for one nurse assistant,
• financing an incentive scheme for the staff at the health centre to increase their provision of family planning services. Limiting the size of families is a key component in improving maternal child mortality and health.
• Purchase of motor bike
• We have agreed to upgrade the solar installation to make the solar fridge fully reliable.

Annette with renovated block

St Peter’s Health Centre, Awere

This health centre serves the second poorest community and has made magnificent – and to Peter’s unfaithful thinking - unexpected progress over the last couple of years. Gulu Connection is providing the whole of one qualified nurse’s salary and subsidising a second.

Saint Luke's health Centre Koro – just outside Gulu



New St Luke's Building

This was housed in a very inadequate shop unit. In the autumn of 2015 Gulu Connection provided £5000 to complete a new health centre building which is a massive improvement on what went before.

 

 

More news soon - hopefully!!!

Blog is back

It really has been a long time but Gulu Connection blog is back.

We thought the best way to start would be to copy in a video we received from Nick Lang health coordinator of the diocese which shows white ants being harvested and cooked. This is fun, but more importantly the introductory words and atmosphere of the video demonstrates the huge progress materially and in morale at this Health Centre - Oberabic - located in our poorest area. Nick’s Acholi language seems pretty good too!

We hope you enjoy the video.

Please click to watch : White Ants

Malaria at Oberabic

Malaria on the Rise

Malaria is on the rise in the Gulu area because house spraying
has stopped. We do not know why this has happened.

Consultation

This little girl is ill and has been brought to Nurse Chris. Note Mum is pregnant - Family planning is a big need which we are attending to.

Before we were involved all such patients were given malaria treatment leading to stock outs, missed diagnosis and waste of money. Now each patient has a finger prick test that makes a clear diagnosis

Happy Mum!   

Team

Danny, (standing) is the most recent trained nurse who has joined Annette (sitting) who is in charge.

                   

                      Give as You Live- No Cost to You.                          

 Once again we asking you to help us by shopping through Give as      You Live. So far no one has. On line purchases and in store at            Sainsburys makes money for us with no cost to you. Whatever you  are buying please do it through Give as you live. Please click  this Link to get started.

          UK News  - Congratulations Gemma.

Gemma who does a lot of our Gulu Connection
work has just graduated in Theology with a 2:1
from Birmingham University.

Congratulations  Gemma!!

MONEY MAGIC

Three Easy Ways to Help Now

Will you spare the time?
Check out: "Give as you Live." No cost to you. 

Why Help?

Lives are saved. In March 2013, one of our antenatal patients chose not to have her child at the HC and like many others, died in labour. As we develop our unit, more will come and lives will be saved. We also save lives by providing easy access centres to treat malaria and gastroenteritis.

Illnesses healed. Without our help guy's like this go blind - all for the sake of eye drops and advice. In Africa malnutrition and poor hygiene means small illnesses often become major . This conjunctivitis in Africa can lead to Trachoma and blindness. Our project is working in Uganda so more lads can get advice and drops and not go blind.

     

How to Help? - Just takes some time. 

Idea 1 - Give As You Live - No Financial Cost!!

Books, DVDs, food or holidays -  Amazon, Eden, Sainsbury’s 
or E-bookers - wherever you shop online - you could help us  
with no financial cost to your self,

All you need to do is sign up with Give As You Live 

by clicking this link : www.giveasyoulive.com/join/nechells. 

Please make time to do this.

Idea 2 - Give a Little; Get a Lot Campaign - Money you wont miss

                      We give a little; They get a lot!

Be a hero and save lives. Please consider setting up a standing order for an amount you won’t miss -- say £1.00/month.  It will make a big difference to our poor patients. It will take a little time; perhaps you might do it. 

Details

• Bank TSB
• Sort: 30 - 90 - 95
• Account No: 0190468
• Name: Nechells and Overseas Care Fund (NOCF)

Idea 3 - Recycle Printer Cartridge

So simple. So effective. Please put your used printer

cartridges (not toners) into one of our envelopes.  We

can send you an envelope or you can order  direct  

from the charity recycle firm by clicking this

link www.recycle4charity.co.uk/Register/C59069

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Three ideas which will cost nothing or very little financially. We hope you will spare the time. 

A New Beginning

We are delighted that Dr Nicolas Laing joined the Diocesan  team in January 2015.

Nick with wife Tessa have built and live in local style huts. They work in their community and are involved in several worthwhile projects. Amazing folk - real missionaries. Check out their blog: click link. Lets provide as much support as we can for Nick.









Nick has also recruited 24 year old Akwero Fiona to work with him in the office. Akwero graduated with a degree in demography and reproductive health care, and this is her first full time paid job. We look forward to working with her and pray that she settles in well.

 

 

 

Reward In Heaven


Paska and Maxwell have advanced the health care project on their own for 2 years as the Diocese would not allow visits to the Health Care work from outside Uganda. They have coped with many challenges and done a good job. It has been very stressful but they have continued faithfully in the service of poor people. Now Dr Nick is in post, they are free to leave and we wish them every success in all they chose to do in the future.

 

Stop Press - Reward Now!

Paska has just landed a job with an NGO that deals with land disputes (and was shortlisted for another job). This is an amazing achievement. We thank God for His providence.



Oberabic - Still Battling On

Oberabic is the Health Centre in the area of greatest need. It is where most people die needlessly and where most lives can be saved.

It is very remote and although beautiful, is a difficult place to live and work. A further complication is that there are some people in the community who become aggressive causing good staff to leave.
Also, the latest qualified staff have not worked out and moved on. The excellent nurse assistants are
holding the fort whilst new qualified staff are appointed. 

 

 

We stand ready to support Nick in trying again to develop this important unit and have offered to subsidise good staff to incentivise them to stay. Also, we are ready to provide more equipment and give help with structural needs including improvement to staff accommodation (see picture - each unit is one room, no electricity, water by pump which is not functioning well), improved security, solar energy and improving the delivery room.

 

                                   This is where our money can be most effective in saving lives.

 

 

ANOTHER PICTURE THAT TELLS A STORY
You can help - It's Easy.
A little of your time will go a long way. 

Africa is different from the UK. We are normally fit and can resist most diseases. When illness does break through, there is the NHS

In Africa malnutrition and poor hygiene means small illnesses often become major  - and when they do there is little medical cover. 

So this lad. He was wandering around outside a health centre. His eye swelling was so gross, I was not sure what it was - then the penny dropped -  Conjunctivitis - with a lot of rubbing with grubby hands. In the UK a whiff of drops. In Africa rubbing and infection can lead to Trachoma then blindness. It is so unfair!! 

Our project is working in Uganda so more lads can get advice and drops and not go blind. 

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And you can help by:

• Joining Give As You Live. It's an easy way to do your shopping online while supporting us without cost to yourselves. Here is the link : Click here 
• Joining the Give a Little; Get a Lot campaign.
• Recycling your used printer cartridges in our envelopes

For details and other ideas, please click this link