2017 CHRISTMAS GREETINGS FROM KISIIZI
from Ian & Hanna
Spillman
http://spillmanuganda2.blogspot.com
PRESSING
ON!
“Lo,
within a manger lies,
Dear friends
Yes, we are still in Kisiizi… not what we anticipated
when we came back unexpectedly in 2012 following an out-of-the-blue phone call
from the Bishop asking if we could help as there was a crisis… we must be slow
workers! The past year has again been a roller-coaster
of exhilaration, blessings and encouragement with challenges, frustrations and
setbacks including unprecedented flooding of Kisiizi in September with damage
to the hydro-electricity generation, water supply and low-lying wards which had
to be evacuated, not an easy task in the dark with the power off.
Yet we have been greatly encouraged by the
heart-warming response of many friends, churches and groups within Uganda and
beyond who have prayed with us, shared practical support and helped us press on…
the initial recovery phase saw temporary water supply established, power
restored and emergency widening of the river channel to try and avoid a
recurrence. Subsequent very heavy rains
and might have caused further flooding if it had not been for this work. Now we are focusing on the longer-term
definitive installation of a more robust water supply, back up for the
electricity services plus protection of vulnerable parts of the channel and
installation of bridges etc.
Hanna has continued to work as In-charge of
Labour Ward, a busy and often challenging environment as some mothers present
very late with major problems. She also
currently co-ordinates the Guest House for hospital visitors. Ian works as a Paediatrician with 1:2 on-call
rota as well as the Medical Superintendent role which is demanding. One of the first lessons is to accept it is
impossible to please all the people all the time!
We are grateful for progress that has been made
not least the opening of the Ahumuza Centre, the first purpose-built rural Mental
Health centre in Uganda. It is part of
the Christian testimony of Kisiizi to care for the poor and vulnerable and it
is a joy to see the Centre operating and bringing help to very needy
individuals and families. We hope to
develop the community mental health services more including commencing epilepsy
clinics as this is a neglected problem at present.
Mark with girlfriend Sammie, Ruth and ourselves
in UK summer 2017
Mark works as a Chemist and moved from Reading
to Gosport to take up a civilian job with the Royal Navy. He co-authored a text book for undergraduate
students and he is drummer in a band that has just recorded an album while Sammie
is a Nanny. Ruth is a primary school
teacher in north London and organized fundraising in the School to support
Kisiizi following the floods. It went really well especially as Kisiizi’s
administrator, Moses Mugume, was in London on that day and visited the school
where the children assumed he had flown in from Uganda especially to see them!
<<<
Hanna with Ian’s Mum and her husband Peter
We had been back in UK as usual to help run the
annual Christian Medical Fellowship Developing Health Course and then we had a lovely
week’s holiday with Mark and Ruth on a last-minute deal to Crete .
We also enjoyed a visit to Holland to catch up with the Dutch side of the
family including a special reunion party >>>
We had also managed to get back to UK earlier in the year as Ian’s sister Claire was over from Oz and it was the first time we could all get together for a long time…
The Kisiizi Falls tourism project has proved
very popular with over 9,700 visitors in the first 11 months. All the proceeds go to the hospital Good
Samaritan Fund to help the poorest patients.
Attractions include an extraordinary monument showing the transformation
from a place of death and despair, where historically girls who became pregnant
before marriage would be thrown off the top of the falls, to a centre of
healing and hope today. Do look at www.kisiizifalls.com
to see the cave, zip-line, visitors centre, lagoon etc. Earlier in the year we really enjoyed Ruth
visiting Kisiizi in February, the photo shows her with Hanna on the suspension
bridge which gives stunning views.
As we look ahead, the Kisiizi Diamond Jubilee
is April 6-8th and will be a big event hosted by the Archbishop of
Uganda. Meanwhile we continue to develop
Stre@mline software ready for
distribution to other units. More info on webinar Ian presented on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWCU2gsqf0k&feature=youtu.be for those interested.
We send you our warm greetings and best wishes
for a wonderful Christmas as we recall afresh the wonder of the staggering
story of Bethlehem. May there indeed be
Peace on Earth and goodwill to all men.
