From Strength to Strength

SYNERGY PUSH ONWARDS AND UPWARDS

On heading back to the UK in February, Tim left Synergy in the very capable hands of Brian with half the season in Masaka Division 1 remaining and also an upcoming tournament for our junior players in Mbarara lined up.  On returning in June, Synergy had not only won the Mbarara tournament, but also finished undefeated champions of Division 1, gone on to win the resulting promotion tournament, where they met champions from other surrounding districts, and are now preparing for life in the Regional League, the third tier of Ugandan football (equivalent to League One in England.)

 

Synergy win Division 1 and Zonal tournament
to be promoted to Regional League. 

At the genesis of Synergy in December 2011, such success in the first 18 months could never have been expected. Tim puts it down to the solid Godly foundation on which Synergy is built, enabling the players to embody the discipline, integrity, humility, and support for one another that they are taught about week in week out. At Synergy the focus has always been on the way players conduct themselves, the standards they adhere to, letting their football do the talking, and trying to model righteousness in a sporting world that is anything but. The success on the field, 6 trophies in as many months, and off the field, with 50% of players receiving educational bursaries, is living proof of Matthew 6:33:

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

This news will certainly come as a boost to those who took part in May’s Synergy Football Marathon. It’s good to know that the twisted ankles, painful limbs, and at times utter humiliation (i.e being outclassed by young upstarts, and realising that your body isn’t the temple it once used to be!!), was all worth it for the £2438 that was raised to help Synergy push on! To those that took part, supported us, and donated money, thanks again,and be ready for summer 2014 when we hope to do it again, only bigger, better and LONGER!! (Best start training now then!)

Just some of the brave souls who conquered the Synergy Football Marathon!

NOAH MAKES FRIENDS:

Whilst in the UK, people tend to greet babies softly, here in Uganda the norm is a very loud exuberant “EHHHH EHHHH – KULIKA BABEEEEEEE!!!”.  So Noah has spent a significant amount of time with a slightly wary, bewildered look on his face.  However, when he met the children at Tekera Primary School, they were delightful with him, and since they just smiled at him quietly, they were rewarded with smiles in return!

...And that leads us finally to a new section that we will be visiting from time to time on our blog....

THINGS WE'VE LEARNT THE HARD WAY ABOUT PARENTING!

#1: Don’t take a little boy to visit a very loud and effervescent family 15 minutes before his bedtime – he WILL cry and you WILL spend the next hour soothing him. (For those that know the Lutaaya family, you can imagine I'm sure!)

3 is the Magic Number!

Team Crow is back in Uganda – and we are very pleased to be a larger team than before, with the addition of our most delightful little boy, Noah Kitangala Crow.  Everything has been ticking over nicely whilst we’ve been gone, and our house was only robbed twice (!).  Luckily, the first robbery was foiled by our friend Andrew, and the second involved the loss of only the metal manhole covers in the garden.

 

Noah has been greeted with rapturous applause, though he has been a source of intrigue to many who behold him.  Firstly nearly everyone believes we are being cruel parents, as SURELY he must be cold when he’s not wearing socks (never mind the sweat pouring down his forehead!).  Secondly, his ample squidginess is another perplexing issue – SURELY Sarah must be over-feeding him (and even, perhaps she should stop breastfeeding!). 

Noah has taken it all in his stride, and is enjoying himself immensely, fascinated by the chickens (well, we couldn’t have a blog without mentioning our precious friends, could we?). In order to protect his hearing at our ear-splittingly loud Sunday services at River of Life, Noah has been donning some fetching ear protectors. He is well set for a future career either as a pneumatic drill operator or a DJ! 

Back at work, the Baby Unit has been getting on very well.  The main problem before was a lack of power, but thanks to some kind donations (and the sage advice of our acting pastor, who used to be an electrician), we were able to get an inverter to enable us to give our babies heat and oxygen when the power is off.  In addition, a group called “Embrace” have given us some “baby sleeping bags” which keep a baby warm for hours, and these have been put to good use.  We’re in negotiation now to see if we can start accepting babies born outside the hospital, but will need to hire more nurses to do so.  If you, or someone you know, would like to support the newborns of Masaka by sponsoring the baby unit a regular amount each month, please do get in touch with me at sarahgiles35@yahoo.co.uk

Over the next weeks, we’ll be collating data to see how we’re doing on the baby unit, but it will be an ongoing progress.  What I do know is that of the 757 live babies born since the unit opened, 129 babies have required admission to, or treatment in the baby unit and only 15 of these have died (a definite improvement from previous figures!).  The nurses are doing a great job, and we will keep on running training sessions.  Noah even came along to attend a session, and said that he feels much more confident in resuscitating a newborn now, and if only he was able to sit up, he thinks he could manage it!

Next time, Tim will update you a bit more about the exciting progress with Synergy Sports! For now though we're off to hear DJ Kitangala featuring MC Magoo! Brrrrrrrap!! 

DJ Badman Kitangala, spinning on the decks in Bwala!

on the Mic MC Magoo, spittin Lyrics loud and true!