Greetings, having had a chance to catch-up last time we will try to keep-up to date. Two postings of pictures show our holiday venue at The Haven, just lovely and tranquil, and our new venue for Sunday School, the new church. As you can see it is huge and also very noisy so there are some challenges ahead for us as we sort out places for each group. At the moment my group are combining with the littlies as we study and make our 'Armour of God'. It is just as much fun the second time around for me though it is a challenge to make 50 belts, breastplates, shields etc.. but they all seem to enjoy it.
We had some good news today, we are getting a new person to help with the housekeeping starting on Friday this week. Having been used to having someone for a few weeks earlier we realised how much we needed the help especially with the other things we are trying to do, so Friday cannot come around soon enough.
Our dear wee Raghma's roller-coaster ride with her health continues, she has pneumonia again poor wee thing, and there is a lot of diarrhea in the home Raghma included. However she is still delightful when well. She has discovered that she can push the white plastic chairs around and walk holding on to those. I got a beautiful video of her doing that the other day, she has a gorgeous smile and a wonderful giggle and gives us so much joy.
We heard from our daughter Jen the other day and she is hoping to visit us in March next year which is exciting news
It has been raining steadily for about an hour now and it is time for bed, so I'll go and snuggle up in bed and listen to the rain. Please pray for our babies that they get well, and continue to join us in prayer for the organisation as a whole but especially Piet and Pita. Pita has been particularly tired and returned today from having 'time out' to recuperate. Pray also for us to maintain our energy, patience, tolerance, wisdom.......
Till next time
God Bless
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday School in our new venue
Ready to start
Praise time
Marilyn with the older children 9-11
The younger ones making their breastplates of righteousness.
He restoreth my soul
inside our Banda
outside our Banda
view of the rapids from the restaurant
view from our door in the morning, beautifulThursday, September 23, 2010
Yes, there's more
As it happened we watched the film Evan Almighty on Saturday night and that reminded us of ARK (Acts of Random Kindness) which formed the basis of the sermon (God is good)
By Sunday after church however my energy gave out and I went to bed. Was no better on Monday morning, headache, no energy, diarrhea (again...sorry), so slept some more, then in the afternoon I got the shivers so went to the Dr who tested for malaria (which wasn't positive though he thought the symptoms were all there) so he decided to put me on a drip with quinine for four times. Each time takes about 3 hours to finish so that took care of Monday afternoon, Tuesday (two times) and Wednesday morning. the good thing is that it worked and I feel fine again.The side effect of quinine however is that I go VERY DEAF, YOU EVEN HAVE TO SHOUT WHEN TYPING.. oops, sorry. It was really quite comical as I couldn't make out anything anyone was saying (maybe a glimpse into the future) but as I write my hearing has returned nearly to normal which is a blessing.
Well, this lengthy epistle is three weeks worth, sorry it has been so long, we will try to be more regular with the postings.
We have had some wonderful volunteers over the last three months and they are mostly returning home so we will miss their company and their work. It has been good seeing some folk on their second visit since we have been here too. Anyone from NZ would be welcome here too.
Please continue to pray for us and for Marjorine and the girls family unit. They have settled in well but still have some habits which need to change. Baby Dina has made wonderful progress but please continue to uphold her too, and of course Raghma. today when down here she had a Ugandan number 11 (a runny nose, common in most Ugandan babies) and she is still vulnerable to picking up bugs.
Also please uphold Pita in prayer, she was/is on the verge of burnout and has been recuperating in Jinja for three weeks now. She was absolutely exhausted and could be another week or more out yet so please pray for her 'recovery' and for Piet as he continues to keep things moving here.
Until next time, God Bless
By Sunday after church however my energy gave out and I went to bed. Was no better on Monday morning, headache, no energy, diarrhea (again...sorry), so slept some more, then in the afternoon I got the shivers so went to the Dr who tested for malaria (which wasn't positive though he thought the symptoms were all there) so he decided to put me on a drip with quinine for four times. Each time takes about 3 hours to finish so that took care of Monday afternoon, Tuesday (two times) and Wednesday morning. the good thing is that it worked and I feel fine again.The side effect of quinine however is that I go VERY DEAF, YOU EVEN HAVE TO SHOUT WHEN TYPING.. oops, sorry. It was really quite comical as I couldn't make out anything anyone was saying (maybe a glimpse into the future) but as I write my hearing has returned nearly to normal which is a blessing.
Well, this lengthy epistle is three weeks worth, sorry it has been so long, we will try to be more regular with the postings.
We have had some wonderful volunteers over the last three months and they are mostly returning home so we will miss their company and their work. It has been good seeing some folk on their second visit since we have been here too. Anyone from NZ would be welcome here too.
Please continue to pray for us and for Marjorine and the girls family unit. They have settled in well but still have some habits which need to change. Baby Dina has made wonderful progress but please continue to uphold her too, and of course Raghma. today when down here she had a Ugandan number 11 (a runny nose, common in most Ugandan babies) and she is still vulnerable to picking up bugs.
Also please uphold Pita in prayer, she was/is on the verge of burnout and has been recuperating in Jinja for three weeks now. She was absolutely exhausted and could be another week or more out yet so please pray for her 'recovery' and for Piet as he continues to keep things moving here.
Until next time, God Bless
We're Back!!!
Wow, it is almost three weeks since we last posted a blog and a lot has happened in that time. Firstly though we are pleased to say that Raghma has recovered from her pneumonia and malaria and you can see by the photos posted earlier that three weeks ago she was down and on a drip and this week back to her happy self. She is a pure delight (but enough G'dad, enough... but those of you who are grandads know you can never get enough). Thank you to those who were praying for her recovery, God is good.
The other photos posted tonight were part two of our day out at the end of the holidays at ten-pin bowling, a family photo taken last Sunday, and us having breakfast while getting some R & R.
The holidays sadly came to an end (yeah right) and in the first week back we set about giving 'crocs' to every child in the school. These are quite upmarket crocs with laces and so far seem to be lasting the distance as far as wear and tear (but it is early days yet). It took us nearly three days to outfit the school, we think we must be being prepared to run a shoe store when we eventually return to NZ, we have had some considerable training here. At the end of the week we prepared the 'new' unfinished church for Sunday school. The place is very dusty but we have tried to clean it up and it is a little better each week. It is enormous so we have plenty of space but it is also very noisy. We will try to remember to take some photos to blog next week.
We then headed off on Monday to Jinja for three nights out and boy did we need it, we were both quite exhausted as it had been eight weeks since our last break, including three full-on holiday weeks. I 'crashed' on Monday with a headache and mild diarrhea and Marilyn just slept. We stayed at a lovely place called The Haven for two nights which had wonderful meals and was so peaceful with a beautiful view over the Nile and some rapids. It was lovely to hear the water at night, we could almost imagine we were at the beach. I wish I felt better as I was not able to take full advantage of the food on offer, however we did enjoy our stay there. We then moved on to Kingfisher, our usual haunt, for one night, so that we could enjoy the pool. It is so much cheaper to stay there and we were aware of our somewhat limited budget.
We came home on Thursday afternoon having barely felt rested but were pleased to see the boys again. They had been well looked after by a young Dutch couple who have been here for three months, and both sides enjoyed it, so we were happy. On Friday Marilyn went to look after the girl's family unit as Marjorine was taking two nights off to visit her family hence we were kept busy especially on Saturday. Marilyn has started music lessons on a Saturday morning with six children learning the guitar and four learning the keyboard so Saturday mornings are all go. Then late Saturday night we got a text from our Pastor John to say he would be unable to be at church on Sunday so we had to fill the gap.
Our power is variable at the moment so I'll publish this much now and continue soon...... yes folks, there's more.
The other photos posted tonight were part two of our day out at the end of the holidays at ten-pin bowling, a family photo taken last Sunday, and us having breakfast while getting some R & R.
The holidays sadly came to an end (yeah right) and in the first week back we set about giving 'crocs' to every child in the school. These are quite upmarket crocs with laces and so far seem to be lasting the distance as far as wear and tear (but it is early days yet). It took us nearly three days to outfit the school, we think we must be being prepared to run a shoe store when we eventually return to NZ, we have had some considerable training here. At the end of the week we prepared the 'new' unfinished church for Sunday school. The place is very dusty but we have tried to clean it up and it is a little better each week. It is enormous so we have plenty of space but it is also very noisy. We will try to remember to take some photos to blog next week.
We then headed off on Monday to Jinja for three nights out and boy did we need it, we were both quite exhausted as it had been eight weeks since our last break, including three full-on holiday weeks. I 'crashed' on Monday with a headache and mild diarrhea and Marilyn just slept. We stayed at a lovely place called The Haven for two nights which had wonderful meals and was so peaceful with a beautiful view over the Nile and some rapids. It was lovely to hear the water at night, we could almost imagine we were at the beach. I wish I felt better as I was not able to take full advantage of the food on offer, however we did enjoy our stay there. We then moved on to Kingfisher, our usual haunt, for one night, so that we could enjoy the pool. It is so much cheaper to stay there and we were aware of our somewhat limited budget.
We came home on Thursday afternoon having barely felt rested but were pleased to see the boys again. They had been well looked after by a young Dutch couple who have been here for three months, and both sides enjoyed it, so we were happy. On Friday Marilyn went to look after the girl's family unit as Marjorine was taking two nights off to visit her family hence we were kept busy especially on Saturday. Marilyn has started music lessons on a Saturday morning with six children learning the guitar and four learning the keyboard so Saturday mornings are all go. Then late Saturday night we got a text from our Pastor John to say he would be unable to be at church on Sunday so we had to fill the gap.
Our power is variable at the moment so I'll publish this much now and continue soon...... yes folks, there's more.
Raghma, family and Holiday breakfast
Raghma on a drip two weeks ago with double pneumonia and malaria
Raghma this week well again
family foto (you try getting them all to smile!!!)
Breakfast at the Haven on holidayten pin bowling
Now just aim for the middle Joshua
Mark on a roll
Matthew showing style
Champion bowler Hannah in actionMonday, September 6, 2010
Please pray
Dear folks, our Raghma is very sick again. She has Malaria and pneumonia on both sides and has been unable to keep down food. today we had her on a drip for three hours to help rehydrate her and she is a little better this evening. She has three more drips to go. We are keeping her down here for the time being as she is so weak. It is distressing how quickly children can dehydrate and become lethargic here so please join us in praying for her. Thanks
Thursday, September 2, 2010
our day out
leaving on the bus
arriving at the chicken spot
chicken on a stick (the best in Uganda)
ProofWednesday, September 1, 2010
cookout with the girls
The site
Marilyn & Marjorine with Rebecca and Priscilla
Peace & Hannah tucking in
Marshmellons for pud
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