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hought we would share some of what we did today and a little about Mariska. Christmas is coming and the celebrations start on Dec 4th with the school breakup. At this each family gets a set of clothes for the family, along with a Christmas shoebox for the children. Last week we spent some time sorting suitable clothes, from the bales of clothes here. That task we completed today (there was a need for approx 180 sets). The workers here have a Christmas gathering on the 5th Dec where they all get some gifts. This year they are getting bedding along with other things, so we sorted out 120 nice blankets or quilts for that today as well as sorting out some clothes for Gulu ( the part of NACMU which operates there) and some nice clothes for gifts for the children in the home for Christmas. We managed to complete that task today too. So, all in all, it has been a busy but very satisfying day. All of these things are coordinated by Mariska, on top of her other responsibilities at the home. Mariska is a wonderful organiser, always unflappable when situations arise. She is 'in charge' while Piet and Pita are away. We finished the task about 5pm, Marilyn went to feed Raghma (we try to do that when we can) and as I was about to return home Mariska got a call from the police in Mukono. There were two children needing somewhere to go. She called on Marilyn and they both went to get the children-a 7 month old girl named Peace, and a 2 year old boy called Godfrey. Their mother had been arrested for child neglect as she had been locking the children in a home while she tried to find work so she could buy food. When we arrived, we had to take the children out of the mother's arms. It broke us all up to do this. The boy had a distended stomach and was so thirsty that he wanted to drink his bath water. We also suspect malaria as he was burning up. The little girl weighed about 3 kg and was severely dehydrated, so on arriving home Mariska and Renske decided that she needed immediate hospital attention, as feeding her anything could kill her if she got too much protein at once. So at half past seven Mariska and Renske and Auntie Eunice left to go to Mulago Hospital where there are 2 wards for babies with severe malnutrition. In Uganda, you need to stay and act as nurse to anyone admitted-there are no nursing staff like at home. Auntie Eunice a delightful 25 year old Ugandan woman with an amazing faith, will do this as she has for many other children. Dinner for Mariska would be at 10.30pm at the earliest!! We really love this amazing young woman, who has such a heart for the work she does. Do pray for her, she carries this place while Piet and Pita are away. As can be seen from the photo she always has a ready smile no matter how she is feeling. She is truly one of God's special saints!
hought we would share some of what we did today and a little about Mariska. Christmas is coming and the celebrations start on Dec 4th with the school breakup. At this each family gets a set of clothes for the family, along with a Christmas shoebox for the children. Last week we spent some time sorting suitable clothes, from the bales of clothes here. That task we completed today (there was a need for approx 180 sets). The workers here have a Christmas gathering on the 5th Dec where they all get some gifts. This year they are getting bedding along with other things, so we sorted out 120 nice blankets or quilts for that today as well as sorting out some clothes for Gulu ( the part of NACMU which operates there) and some nice clothes for gifts for the children in the home for Christmas. We managed to complete that task today too. So, all in all, it has been a busy but very satisfying day. All of these things are coordinated by Mariska, on top of her other responsibilities at the home. Mariska is a wonderful organiser, always unflappable when situations arise. She is 'in charge' while Piet and Pita are away. We finished the task about 5pm, Marilyn went to feed Raghma (we try to do that when we can) and as I was about to return home Mariska got a call from the police in Mukono. There were two children needing somewhere to go. She called on Marilyn and they both went to get the children-a 7 month old girl named Peace, and a 2 year old boy called Godfrey. Their mother had been arrested for child neglect as she had been locking the children in a home while she tried to find work so she could buy food. When we arrived, we had to take the children out of the mother's arms. It broke us all up to do this. The boy had a distended stomach and was so thirsty that he wanted to drink his bath water. We also suspect malaria as he was burning up. The little girl weighed about 3 kg and was severely dehydrated, so on arriving home Mariska and Renske decided that she needed immediate hospital attention, as feeding her anything could kill her if she got too much protein at once. So at half past seven Mariska and Renske and Auntie Eunice left to go to Mulago Hospital where there are 2 wards for babies with severe malnutrition. In Uganda, you need to stay and act as nurse to anyone admitted-there are no nursing staff like at home. Auntie Eunice a delightful 25 year old Ugandan woman with an amazing faith, will do this as she has for many other children. Dinner for Mariska would be at 10.30pm at the earliest!! We really love this amazing young woman, who has such a heart for the work she does. Do pray for her, she carries this place while Piet and Pita are away. As can be seen from the photo she always has a ready smile no matter how she is feeling. She is truly one of God's special saints!
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