Photos...

One of our P7 boys - Francis

Look who is at my window!

Little baby David

Baby Eva

Dennis

Police - the guard dog for one of our kids

Sara after healing hearts

David and Dennis...in the slums

Silly faces

Baby Purpose

It's raining, it's pouring!

It has been pouring continuously all morning, which has forced me to have a quiet morning – for which I am very thankful.  It also gives me some time to update you lovely people.  Hope you are all well.  Going to type fast, as power is off and I don’t want my laptop to die on me!

Last Thursday a precious little bundle, nicknamed ‘Baby Purpose’ came to visit us at RUHU.  This little baby boy had been abandoned in the slums and a certain lady, Aunty Emmy, had taken him in, but was looking to RUHU for assistance and support.  Uncle Patrick was out of the country last week and being merely a volunteer I am not in a position to make important decisions.  I tried to determine whether this lady wanted us to take the baby from her and care for him or whether she wanted to remain with the baby, but with the support of RUHU.  I was able to recommend a certain babies home where I have previously volunteered, but she was keen to remain with the baby.  I admire this, because this lady has very little in order to support Baby Purpose, but her hearts seems to be big and open!  I was able to help meet their immediate needs by providing nappies and formula milk but let’s pray for this little baby’s future and the years that lie ahead.  I love how Aunty Emmy has named him ‘Purpose’ – God has a purpose and a plan for this little baby, despite his awful start in life.  

My Aunt and Uncle’s sponsor girl, Brendah, finished her S4 exams last Friday. She is sponsored through a different organisation, but I always make time to see her and enjoy our time together – she is a sweet girl.  To celebrate this massive achievement of finishing S4 I took her out for dinner and she thoroughly enjoyed her chicken and chips, milkshake and cake!  It was an added bonus because she was able to speak to my aunty, her sponsor, courtesy of Cafe Javas’ wifi.  I don’t know who was more excited, my aunty or Brendah – possibly my Aunty Avril!  Technology can be such a blessing.

Please continue to pray for Dennis, in the slums.  I sat with him, squatting in the dust, sheltering from the sunshine for a long time on Tuesday afternoon...just chatting.  I am so thankful for one of our P7 Boys, David, who escorted me and doubled up as my translator and body guard.  We talked for a long time with Dennis about the opportunities that Retrack have provided – sadly he hasn’t returned to their centre since we went together last week.  He seems really scared.  He doesn’t know if he can trust these people.  Obviously in the past he has had his trust abused and therefore he finds it hard to trust people.  I empathised with him and said it is incredibly hard to know who you can trust – I have certainly been disappointed time and time again during this trip, when it comes to trust.  Please pray for Dennis.  He seems to want change in his life, but is scared...

On Wednesday I had the opportunity to visit the slums and see the work of a different organisation amongst the children.  This was very refreshing and encouraging. 

Yesterday I experienced my first ever American Thanksgiving meal, here in Uganda.  My lovely American friend, Becca invited me to her home and we shared a lovely time together.  I am so thankful for her.

In other news...I managed to change a light bulb this week for the first time ever in my life.  It was not an easy task, as the ceiling is very high.  Picture the scene...I am balanced on a broken chair, whilst Lillian, the girl I stay with, holds the chair secure...it is dark, so I am depending on my head torch...I am so rubbish when it comes to heights that I start to feel dizzy...takes me forever to remove the old light bulb...the light bulbs here seem to be a different shape and structure...I eventually insert the new light bulb and think it is secure so I let go...it’s not...it falls to the ground and smashes...I jump off my chair covering my head..off I go back to the corner shop to purchase a new light bulb...whilst I am waiting in line a small boy comes running back to the shop keeper and says, ‘I dropped my spaghetti!’ She instructs him to go and collect his dust covered spaghetti from the middle of the road and bring it back.  She dusts it down and puts it in a new bag and sends him off...then I start my game of charades to demonstrate that I need a new light bulb...there is much hilarity...I decide that if I don’t manage the second time I will call a randomer to assist us...but we managed...praise the Lord!  Who thought changing a light bulb could be such a saga!

There is never a dull moment!

Thanks as always for your love, support and prayers xxx

 

Some photos

Sharron and Jenny

Zalika and her maama

Baby Jordan - super excited by the chocolate biscuits!

Baby Pauline - safe house

Shadrack and Shafic

Maama Zalika - laughing at the giant that I am - had to stoop down majorily for this picture!

Baby Ibra - safe house

Fred

Another wee update from Uganda x

Good evening everybody.

I hope this update finds you all well.  As always thank you for your love, support and prayers.

On Saturday I journeyed to visit my friend Sharron in a small village near the Tanzanian border.  The journey was somewhat uneventful on the way, unlike my last trip, but certain things still strike me as crazy as ever, even though I have seen them before.  I could have eaten lots of exciting things on the way as hawkers thrust grasshoppers, goat’s meat and plantain bananas through the windows of the ‘taxi’, but I declined as I don’t travel terribly well at the best of times.  It is grasshopper season and they are apparently a delicacy – mum and I tried them during one of our trips, but weren’t terribly enamoured by them.  I praise God that I reached the village safely and returned in one piece.  The road I was travelling on is called Massaka Road – but I have heard it referred to as Masacre Road before, due to the high number of accidents. I had a lovely time with Sharron and her family.  It was lovely to catch up with her brothers, Shadrack and Shafic also.  A massive thank you to those who have helped out with their school fees this academic year.  The journey home took forever! I lost count of the number of times we stopped.  The driver and conductor seemed to think it was a bit of a ‘jolly’.  We stopped umpteen times at market stalls to do their personal shopping and then took a massive d-tour to pick up some extra passengers, before taking another d-tour so that these passengers could do some of their business...only in Africa!

I enjoyed spending some time with the babies at safe house on Monday afternoon.  They are easily amused – some chocolate biscuits and some songs/videos on my laptop – and they are content.  Please pray for these little babies.  Their English is virtually non-existent, but love can cross language barriers.  Please pray that they would feel loved and special.

I am thankful for those who come along faithfully to the savings group on Monday evenings.  This group has a lot of potential, but it also requires patience.  Being part of such a group may not reap immediate benefits, please pray that the members would be patient and that with time they would be able to testify to the benefits themselves. 

I have had some encouraging conversations and interactions with Fred this week – which I am so thankful for.  Please continue to pray for complete healing and transformation.  He is showing signs that he is on the journey – so let’s continue to remember him in our prayers.

Poor little Zalika had been sent home from school today – so I decided I would go to her home and do some work with her from there.  She is such a sweet and appreciative girl.  She continues to help me with my Luganda and I continue to work on English with her.  Her mama said something to Zalika before I left and Zalika translated.  Her mama was requesting the equivalent of 50p as the family didn’t have food for today.  Zalika, bless her, asked in such a humble and gentle way.  She said ‘Aunty I love you so much and I am sorry but my mother is requesting 2000 for food.’  This child obviously felt guilty asking me for money – but she had nothing to be sorry for and obviously I was happy to help them out in such a small way.  I get asked for money on a daily basis and sometimes it is demanded in not very pleasant ways – so it was so humbling and lovely that little Zalika asked in such a nice manner.

This afternoon I went to the slums to see Dennis, who I talked about in my last update.  We went together to the organisation that I mentioned last day – Retrack.  The staff member we spoke with was very helpful and informed Dennis of the opportunities that are available with Retrack.  The opportunities are there.  Please pray that Dennis would embrace them and start on the journey of change.  Again he was very humble this afternoon, which was lovely as I am getting used to people being quite rude to me! As he hugged me goodbye and returned to the slums for the night he said, ‘Thank you so much aunty for everything.’            

I want to echo Dennis’ words as I finish – ‘Thank you so much for everything.’  Whilst each day brings so many frustrations and sometimes pain, I have so much to be thankful for.  Thanks for your prayers and love x

And now the photos...

BABY JORDAN

DAVID

HOME VISIT

FAMILY PHOTO!

MY FRIEND JENNY X

ZALIKA

DROWNED RAT! SO COLD!

BEAUTIFUL BABY!

Sometimes I think that I have so many stories to tell that I could write a book.....

Sometimes I think that I have so many stories to tell that I could write a book.  Then at other times I just sit down at my computer to blog and don’t even know what to write.  Tonight I am not even sure what to share with you- my brain is frazzled.  Perhaps it is after the boys deep theological questions tonight at prayers...I really could have done with ‘Phone a friend!’

First of all I want to thank you all for your prayers, particularly your prayers for safety – the roads are crazy here and I am thankful that I have been kept safe so far.  I had a very wet boda ride on Tuesday morning both to and from a meeting.  Most Ugandans don’t move when it rains, but I had an appointment, and being British I had to honour that appointment.  Well, who knew it was possible to get so cold in Africa – I was literally shivering and went purple and blotchy like I do back home.  I was so thankful that the power was on when I returned and I was able to have a warm shower – it’s the small things in life that matter!  I was also incredibly thankful for the meeting – it was such a blessing and encouragement.  I have started to reach out to other organisations in order to help those that I have come to know and love in the slums.  RUHU is not in a position to help these individuals so I have sought help from elsewhere.  I have to say I am absolutely amazed with the work that Retrack are doing in Uganda.  The people have been so kind and super efficient at dealing with me and communicating with me – which is a welcome change! I thank God for these people and for their willingness to help me provide the likes of Shadiah, Dennis and Mama Esa with opportunities.  I went with one of the Retrack workers into the slums today and we talked with Dennis, Shadiah and Mama Esa – opportunities are there if they want to grasp them – the onus is now on them.  Please pray they would reach out and grab these wonderful opportunities that Retrack is offering.    

   

This week I have been reminded again of just how corrupt certain systems are within Uganda.  So on Wednesday I took David back to the government hospital to have his cast removed.  The doctors were striking on this particular day.  However, they were willing to work upon him if I paid.  They asked for 50000 shillings, which is approximately £12.50.  I don’t agree with bribery...but because the boy had travelled home from boarding school especially.... and we had travelled to the hospital... I paid.  Five minutes later I was demanded another 20000.  When I asked what it was for I was informed it was to remove the cast...to which I replied, “I thought that’s what the 50000 was for.”  No, no, the 50,000 had merely been for the doctor to ask the boy how his arm was and check he was no longer feeling pain!  I had already carried out this ‘consultation’ on the boda, for free, on our way to the hospital!  The money was little for me to pay, but the principle.  I sat on the boda on the way home feeling so sad that people were really sick and were not being worked upon because they could not pay.  A big shout out for the NHS once again – we really don’t know how blessed we are. 

Please continue to remember Wasswa and Alex.  I am encouraging them, whenever I see them, to get into class, but they are facing much opposition and there are many barriers.  Pray they would feel loved and valued within the school. 

I don’t want to go into details but the following children are in need of lots of love and prayers – Fred, Paul and Umaru.  

Right I am going to bed now – let’s hope the bed bugs don’t bite! (have been getting these weird bites at night and one of the kids told me they looked like bed bug bites – it is such a glamorous life that I am living!!!)

Thanks for all your love, support and prayers x

Some photos

Crazy faces at girls' home

Colouring at safe house

Lament letters

Very poignant

The ice cream made them hyper!

Don't panic - she is not my boda driver...just pretending!

My boy, Davis