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Most of the time I refuse to say "This is Africa", as it tends to indicate that nothing can be changed, but 'This is Africa! I thank my Jesus for teaching me so many things, not least of which is the virtue seldom found in women - rarely in men. Patience! Being trained in Work Study I do enjoy observing work methods and sorting out improvement in my mind as I watch without getting frustrated hat I can't implement changes for the good. So back to Ugandan MoIA on Thursday 17th January to Room 2. I gave her my receipt and she asked me to take a seat and she would call me. I waited an hour and went back to her and said I was wondering if I had not heard her call my name. She said no, you wait a little. 20- minutes later I went to her again and said I was thinking about coming back tomorrow. I could see my passport with my receipt on her desk. She said "We are waiting for the man with the signature". I know from the time when I used to deal directly with the 'Charles' the signature man that often after his afternoon meetings he went straight home, so I said I will come back in the morning and she gave me my receipt back.
Friday morning 11-days after first submitting my application I'm at Adonai House thinking shall I go now, no I'll wait till the morning rush for applications is less; shall I go now, no I'll wait a little longer. So about 12.30 i said toMalik "let's go get a sandwich for lunch at Quality Cuts, then you go to Aweno Market for the last things of your 'School Requirements' and I will try for my visa." So, lunch over I go with Boda Boda Moses to UMoIA. A lady was there eatiing lunch and she said "come back at 2pm" "What time is it now I asked" she said "it is 1pm" Hmm, I looked at my watch and it was 1.45pm. OK i'll take a seat and wait it is only 15-minutes. (Here in Africa they only tend to wotk in hours - it is 1pm until it reaches 2pm and then it is 2!)
I only waited a few minutes when another woman came to me and "your passport is at Room 5." Thank you, I replied and off I went across tyhe courtyard to the window of Room 5 where the curtains were drawn closed, but I could see a woman just starting her lunch. I sat on the floor and waited until about 2 when I decided to stand by the window, as others were gathering. Half an hour passes by before the curtains were opened and I handed in my receipt. "You go to the next window" Agh! Next window - "You need go to the next window" - Thank you. Room 5 has three windows and finally I give my receipt and get my passport with visa. Good News - The price is still USD100 - bad news it is only for 6-months not 12. Ah well I have a visa roll-on July for another opportunity to observe, perhaps a system change for the better :-)
I booked my ticket for the Arua Sunday night bus; Sunday luchtime too Malik to Revelation Life, Bweogerere where Tim and Anna had kindly agreed for him to stay with them before going to school on Sunday 27th.
Kampala to Yei
Tom from Adonai House took me and my four large suitcase, a small one, rucksack and shoulder bag to Arua Park for 9.30pm where the GaaGaa Executive bus had started loading; I paid UGX15,000 for my extra luggage, saw it stowed away under the bus and took my seat. The 'executive' bus is worth the extra UGX10,000 because there are 2-seats / aisle / 2-seats whereas the normal bus has 3 & 3. The seats also recline a little on the Executive.
I was additionally blessed as no one had booked the seat next to me. I was the first to book a seat on this bus, so I took the front seat behind the driver as there is a little more legroom for my rucksack and shoulder bag. We set-off on-time at 10pm. The conductor cut short the usual announcements and he unusually prayed for the journey. Normally the conductor asks who is going to pray. I didn't sleep much on the journey; it is always difficult to get comfortable, even so the journey was good with just tw delays. The first was a long wait where a longish section of road is being rebuilt. The other was just after we crossed the riverNile at Karuma Falls where we leave the Gulu Road & take the road west to Arua. The delay was to help another GaaGaa bus that was stopped; I didn't find out what the problem was. So we arrived in Aruaabout 6.30am and I hired a car with driver to take me and all my luggage to Yei. Two people had already booked a seat each in the car, one for Yei and one only to Koboko. The driver was obviosly interest in me wanting to pay for all the seats! So he organised the next vehicle to take the others. However one of the other passengers was a lady and she stayed by this car and I said it is ok another car is here; she said but I am going to Yei could I come. So we had one seat without luggage that I said was OK for her. We set off, I prayed for the journey and the drive also prayed and the lady. I then introduced myself and realised we had another God arranged moment. The woman was the one who pioneered the Yei YWAM base where I teach on their annual DTS course. She was now pioneering a YWAM base further north at Wau. The South Sudan YWAM staff were having a one-week conference at Yei to share plans for 2013 etc. We had a pleasant journey to Yei; a nice cange to have dry dusty roads even though well rutted and still difficult in places, nevertheless I arrived home at Iris Children's Village, Yei by lunchtime. Good border crossings with only requests for a Bible from everyone. There is a genuine hunger for the word of God, particularly for those who have learnt to read English.