Another week...another update...

So it has been another busy week since I last blogged...but all is well.  Thank you once again for your prayers, messages and love.

Fred’s situation is becoming ever more complicated.  He is currently in hospital and possibly will be for some time.  The situation is pretty dire.  Please pray for wisdom and understanding for the doctors and a willingness to work with previous doctors that have been involved with Fred.  Please pray for protection over Fred – his maama is currently seeking help on his behalf and is visiting the local witch doctor.  There is some very dark stuff going on. Please pray for Fred – that God would break all the chains that currently have a hold on his life.

I was able to spend two afternoons this week in the slums.  As I have mentioned before I love the work in the slums.  Is always a blessing to spend time with these precious children.  It always amazes me how polite and lovely some of these kids can be.  It is so humbling when they thank you for the food and ask God to bless you for what you have done for them. Despite how dire some of these children’s circumstances are...we always manage to have a good laugh, which is such a blessing!  This week one of the children told me I was walking like a crocodile! This caused much hilarity.  When I asked him what he meant he said it was because I was walking so slowly.  I think he meant a tortoise!  The reason I was walking like this was because there was a young man with a horrendous foot injury that I was assisting.  His injured foot was double the size of the other one and was somewhat of a mess, after being run over by a car.  Whilst I feel somewhat under qualified to deal with these injuries, it is a blessing to at least be able to show them some love.  When the kids in the slums call me ‘doctor’, I assure them that I am not a doctor, I am a teacher and that I am simply trying!    

You may remember in one of my early blog posts I talked about a young girl called Agnes.  I spent the night in the clinic with her during the early part of my trip.  Agnes is now back at boarding school.  I went to visit her this week.  It was such a blessing.  Her smile and hug upon my arrival was so beautiful.  She is doing well.  Thank you for your prayers. 

I have been continuing to enjoy fellowship with the kids in the evenings.  On Thursday evening I was fellowshipping with the girls and I shared the song – ‘I have a maker’ (don’t worry, I didn’t sing – I played it on my laptop!) Several of the kids asked if I would write out the lyrics of this song for them.  I popped in briefly today to drop off the ‘words’.  As we drove away on the boda we could hear the girls singing away and practising in the compound – it was a very sweet moment!

This morning I popped to the safe house to spend some time with them, as it was little Ibra’s 3^rd birthday today.  Ibra stays at the safe house with the other young mum’s, but his maama has not been around for some time, I have never met his maama.  However, when I arrived this morning I was overjoyed to hear that his maama had returned to the safe house last night.  I don’t know the situation or the story, but it was lovely for this little three year old that his maama was by his side today. 

This afternoon I caught up with my best friend’s sponsor boy, Moses.  He has just left school and is feeling somewhat stressed and overwhelmed about what lies ahead.  Please pray for peace and guidance. 

I visited my ‘friends’ at the local clinic again this week.  Once for a sick teacher (malaria and typhoid) and once with a sick baby (flu and malaria).  I praise God that both of these patients are now recovering and I am thankful that I have stayed healthy and well so far. 

I hope all is well with you my friends back home.  I thank you again for your love, support and prayers. 

Lots of love x

P.S. I just remembered a funny moment from the week that is too good not to share.  So, when I was teaching the P6s on Wednesday morning one of the boys, Michael, announced that when he was older he wanted to be the president of Scotland!  I explained that we did not have a president, to which he replied that he would be the first! His friend, John then said he would like to be the King of Scotland.  I again explained that we did not have a King in Scotland.  To which he also replied that he would be the first! 

Micahel's 'serious' face?! The future president?!

John - the future King of Scotland

There is never a dull moment!

Hello all. I hope this email finds you all well.  Thank you for your prayers, support, messages and emails – they mean a great deal!

Since I blogged last I have certainly been kept out of mischief! I have added a few more clinics and hospitals to my list of health institutions in Uganda! Last Saturday was quite the day.  I popped to the boys’ home in the morning to deliver some soap for a boy who was having some trouble with his skin and I picked up ‘Sparky’ ,the teddy bear, to take him to the safe house, as one of the babies was sick.  He was delighted to see ‘Sparky’ returning to the safe house!  I then went to the girls’ home and spent some time with them.  I helped them prepare the vegetables for lunch, which having my hair braided – not sure how hygienic that was, but not to worry.  We then had a nail painting session which was cut short as I received a phone call from the other volunteer.  He said he was not feeling good at all and could I get to the guest house as quick as possible.  We had to carry him into the clinic, he was so weak.  But praise God, several hours later, after being hooked up to a drip, he was able to walk out himself! 

Baby Jordan - excited to recieve bear and try on helmet!

Veg prep and hair dressing!

Nail painting - not sure about my technique, a salon certainly wouldnt hire me!

On Saturday evening after returning the volunteer to the volunteer house I rushed to Fred’s to check on him, as we had received some interesting phone calls throughout the day.  When I reached Fred’s home I found him in an unconscious state...this was then followed by a boda ride in the dark, whilst holding onto him, slapping him, pinching him and shouting at him the whole way.  Bless Uncle Isaac, our dear friend and boda driver, I have never seen him drive so fast.  I honestly thought we were going to lose Fred this time last week, so I praise God he is still with us.  Much has happened since last Saturday and yesterday he was admitted to hospital.  The situation just seems to be getting more and more complicated.  To be perfectly honest, I don’t even know what to ask you to pray – but please be remembering him in your prayers and the doctors looking after him. 

Thank you to all of you who kindly donated your old socks.  The children that i have been helping home school on Mondays had great fun making sock puppets this week.  This family are such a blessing and support.  Please give thanks for the Sweazy family!

I got to the slums this week...which I am delighted about.  I absolutely love the work in the slums, these children are so needy and so vulnerable, it is a privilege to be able to be there for them and show them some love in practical ways.  We went on Valentines’ Day and I shared the story – Guess How Much I Love You’ with the kids in the half way house.  I talked about the love we have for them and the love that God has for them.  I am eager to go back and see them all again.  I didn’t see my little friend Brian on Tuesday, but hope to see him soon.  

I managed to fit in a little teaching on Wednesday at RUHU School.  I forget each time, how different the education system is in Uganda, compared to back home.  The children were super excited by the pencils and rubbers – so thank you to the Global Group at Craigdhu for buying these!

So our little lodger, Stuart, went back to boarding school last Sunday.  Sharron, the cook, and I are missing him greatly, so we went to visit him this afternoon at boarding school. It was such a blessing to spend time with him!

Stuart this afternoon.

I will be heading out to fellowship at the boys’ home shortly.  No matter how busy or stressful the day has been it is always an absolute joy to fellowship with these kids.  They encourage and bless me so much!    

As ever, apologies for typos and bad grammar/spelling...rushing whilst the power is on!

Love Ruthie x       

Apologies for lack of contact!

Good morning all. Apologies for lack of contact lately, has been somewhat busy.  I have a little bit of ‘bonus’ time just now, was supposed to be having a meeting prior to taking a child to hospital, however the meeting has been ‘postponed’.  This is becoming somewhat of a regular feature, plans continually falling through.  The Lord is certainly trying to teach me patience!

Here is a brief overview since I last wrote....

More trips to clinics and hospitals...Three establishments in the one day is my record.  The local clinic for one of the boys with a skin condition in the morning, the dentist for one of the girls who required a ‘filling’ – or ‘cementing’ as they say! Then Mengo Hospital for one of the boys who required surgery in the afternoon/evening. 

So I think I mentioned Stuart briefly in my last post, the boy requiring surgery.  I packed my bag, as did he, expecting to stay the night with him in hospital.  However, as we were walking up the hill to catch a boda, one of the other boys, Francis, came running up behind asking if he could come and offering to sleep the nights at the hospital with Stuart.  This enabled me to come home in the evening and sleep, which was much appreciated!  Francis was so cute.  I asked him on several occasions if he was sure he was happy to spend the night in the hospital with Stuart, to which he replied, ‘I am happy aunty, I have the gift of caring for sick people.’  Bless him.  Stuart is now on the road to recovery.  He has been staying at the volunteer house to recuperate. It has been such a blessing to get to know him more.  At first he was incredibly shy and reserved; I don’t know whether it was because he didn’t know me, or whether he was in so much pain prior to surgery, or a combination of both!  But now he has turned into this little comedian who makes me laugh daily when I come home, sometimes late and tired.  He is currently singing – ‘Who’s the King of the Jungle!’

Here are some pictures of Francis and Stuart.

The lovely Fancis!

The lovely Stuart, with a letter he wrote for the children back home....

I have managed to do some fellowshipping with the children in the evenings, which is always so lovely...though some of them have been telling me that I have been ‘lost’ lately.  I tried to explain to them that I was not ‘lost’ and that I had been spending time with Stuart in the hospital and also visiting Fred, who has been having a tough time lately.

I spent a lovely morning with the girls at the safe house last Friday.  They continue to enjoy braiding my hair and teaching me clapping games – at which I am useless, as I have no coordination whatsoever! I am somewhat concerned that my hair may fall out before I come home, what with all the braiding and my lovely new African Shampoo! When packing I was only able to pack a small bottle of Shampoo.  It is now finished.  I popped into the local supermarket and asked if they sold shampoo.  It came in a 1 litre jerry can container. My hair hasn’t fallen out after the first wash, so praise the Lord! 

The braiding continues....

They didn't stay in long...think I look a bit daft with braids!

Have spent a lot of time with Fred these last few days.  Many tears have been shed on my part.  My heart is literally breaking for him.  I don’t want to post details here, but as always, if you want more information speak to my lovely parents.  There has been laughter amidst the tears, and he does have good days, but he desperately needs your prayers.

Fred, Dorah and Auntie x

On Sunday afternoons, after going to church with the children, I join my American missionary friends at their home, for their house church.  I stayed over this Sunday evening and did some homeschooling for their children on Monday.  Hopefully this is going to be a weekly thing.  It is always a joy to spend time with them and their beautiful children.  When I am around other ‘muzungoes’ (white people), I forget to speak slowly...which sometimes results in blank looks, even from these Americans, as they try to tune into my accent!  Part of their maths work on Monday was to do with American money – which I have to confess, I just skipped, as I hadn’t a clue!  

Gorgeous little Cati!

Here are some of their beautiful children

Mask fun - super excited!

Ava the giraffe! 

Haven’t made it to the slums yet as Uncle Patrick has been so busy.  I love the work in the slums so I am eager to go and be with the kids.  God – willing we will get there this afternoon.  I am hopeful, though not holding my breath, as plans are ever changing!

Apologies as ever for any typos, spelling or grammar mistakes.   I always stress to the children back home the need to ‘proof read’ their work.  However, I am not practising what I preach, as I am rushing to get this done before going to hospital with Stuart for Out Patient Appointment – though we don’t actually have an ‘appointment’.  Rather I have ‘Doctor Frank’s’ number in my phone and I am to call him when we arrive – how is that for professionalism....can you imagine if our doctors handed out their personal mobile numbers to their patients?!     

Thank you so much for your prayers, messages and love – so much appreciated.

Give thanks – Stuart is recovering and is blessing me with daily laughter and smiles!

Give thanks – For safety as I ‘move around’.  Witnessed a boda accident the other night, which reminds me just how thankful I ought to be when I reach my destinations safely!   

Give thanks – for good health thus far.  The extent of my problems is very itchy, ugly looking mosquito bites, so I am thankful for that!

My biggest prayer request is for my ‘little brother’ Fred – please pray for him.

Love Ruth x