As part of my trip to Uganda in December 2007, I visited Abba Father’s House for four days and nights. I was accompanied by Rita, a colleague from work, and we had the most wonderful time there, and were made most welcome. I have made a DVD about my trip to Uganda, and you may be able to access this at a later date on the Abba Father’s House (AFH) website.

Before starting our journey to Jinja, where AFH is located on the Kamuli Road, we stopped at the cargo warehouse where the Christmas boxes had arrived from the UK. I had sent them 10 days earlier from London! They arrived intact! No theft! Praise God! I took them to AFH, and gave strict instructions not to open until 25 December. The children were on school Christmas holidays, which is their big annual holiday. That was good, as it meant that we could spend some time with them. They were all in good health and high spirits, and were eager to show us around. They had been very shy when I had been here last year, but this time, the shyness only lasted for a few minutes, and they chatted to us in pretty good English! The place was clean and had probably been spruced up for our visit, as “dear visitors”. We were entertained to their lovely singing, which is a signature at AFH! Juliet, the founder, had given them a song about AFH, and they sang it beautifully!

We did lots at AFH:

• Training the children in personal hygiene
• Took the children on a picnic to the falls at the source of the White Nile (during which an eagle which swooped down and pinched a chicken drumstick from Irene’s hand! Fortunately this only resulted in a small scratch to her hand, and the loss of her chicken drumstick!)
• Met the Widows, and saw the items they are making and selling locally
• Went to church in Jinja, and saw the Abba Father’s House choir in full voice!
• Held a fantastic party on the last day, to which many of the people we had been networking with during the trip, were invited. The children, were really the hosts, and the Widows came, along with successful businessmen, successful Pastors as well as four young people, to whom I have become quite attached. Also, I had invited the Hon. Nabila Sempala, MP for Kampala Central, with her family, plus another influential woman, Mrs. Maclyn Kamuhangi, with her family!! Wow, it WAS quite an occasion, with this diverse group all meeting under the roof of Abba Father’s House, and it was the climax of the trip.
• Lovely evening singing and devotions by the children, led by Eva, Head Girl.
• Prayer for rain - it had been without rain for the previous 6 weeks, which was now threatening the vegetable plots that the children were tending. That night and for the next 3 nights it rained! And interestingly, it stopped raining after I left Uganda.
• I did another specific prayer, which was to drive out the snake, which was living in the metal shipping container at the far end of the compound. It was quite a large snake, and had frightened James (the younger) when he had entered the container. I envisioned the snake as a threat to the peace of God’s Kingdom at AFH and rebuked it with Deborah (the Matron). The next day James killed a snake in the vicinity of the container!! Praise God!!

The time rushed by very quickly, and soon it was time for the journey to the airport, with lots of hugs and hand-waving. I tell you, I can’t wait to go back. Interested in coming?

Maggie Goodwin