From Jinja to Sevenoaks (part 2) - interview with Ben (19/3/22)

Nearly 9 years ago, Papa told this journey to the church that helped him. I was privileged to be standing next to him as he proudly shared.

A few weeks ago I shared it to my church in St Johns. This time I was alone.

We also were able to hand out some special bracelets that are made by Syrian friends about something that meant a lot to us during a time of crisis, friendship. 

Amazingly these were sponsored by a handful of friends to give away to each attendee with the message that friendships are a powerful thing that we can each bring to displaced people. Certainly our family can testify to this power. 

If ever you are wondering what to do during a time of disaster: choose to be a friend.

Ben Solanky · Jinja to Sevenoaks - Ben Solanky at St John's Breakfast - 19 Mar 22

Generational empathy: Papa shares his journey of leaving Uganda at a school Lent assembly

Quite a moment. 

Still taking it in really.

This morning I was able to share the story of my Dada (grandfather) and the family's exile of Uganda back in 1972. 

My Papa then joined me to share the poem (called "Welcome" by Rachel Salter) to the sixth formers and year 11 at Trinity School as part of their Lent services. Their theme of doing good. 

Papa was particularly glad to share about the acts of good by so many during those days and how these acts have travelled through the generations of his family right the way to his grandchildren, my boys.

As I dropped papa off home he whispered the words: "thank you for letting me come along and share today".

Foi

My friend shared how he has had several miscarriages.

He shared that each was painful. As he and his wife prayed afterwards. He said to me that his belief, their belief, is one day, they would meet their child again. That they would get to give their child a cuddle.

Travelling to a family party yesterday I was speaking to my mum about life in Uganda. She shared how she and my father used to play together.

My father, "papa" to me and "dada" to my boys, is a wonderful dad and grandfather. Yet there is so much behind his years that I only get to learn about in rare pockets of special time. Those opportunities only seems to get scarcer. Recently, the family came together to recollect their exodus from Jinja to Sevenoaks. I learnt a whole heap that I simply never knew.

I asked about when my Dadi, grandmother, had her second baby. My auntie.

My mum shared that when in labour, the girl was caught by the umbilical cord. As she was passing through the cord wrapped around her neck. Whilst trying to enter into the world her life was being strangled out of her. She didn't survive.

Mum went on to say she remembers vividly how my papa had prepared many gifts and presents for the arrival of his sister. She remembers how he wept bitterly.

In gujarati the father's sister is called a "foi".

I hope one day we shall meet.

HK Bus tales

Sitting on a bus in HK. The whole bus seemed absorbed into their phones, tablets and worlds of their own.

My mind wrestles with the rules that prohibit us to drink our ever cooling coffee that sits in the brown pacific coffee bag, the 45 minute journey to Central and the absence of eye contact.

My friend David from northern Uganda would tell me tales of epic bus journeys in Africa where by everyone is passing around food, drink, sharing stories and tales. He remarked these trips are greatly enjoyable.

I turned to my friend and start a conversation to keep our minds off the coffee.

Today is World Refugee Day

The question before me is "What would you take?"

Here is the picture:

My parents were asked to leave a country.

They were only allowed one suitcase. They passed 17 check points.

They were locked in massive areas with a sea of other people for long periods without access to facilities.

They boarded the refugee plane. They pleaded with stewardess for water for their parched baby.

We were saved through others coming to get us.

We were saved through others coming to help us.

We are grateful and remember those who are "asked" to leave their countries.

Today is world refugee day.