As I write this Pete & Pita, Hannah, Elizabeth, Noami & Deborah will be in the air on their way back from 4 weeks in Holland so our time up at the home is almost over.
It has been a full month and we certainly have a better insight into what they experience day by day. Often awake at 5.30 -6 am when the first of the children wake, dealing with babies that come through from the nurses in the morning (currently there are 4 who come including Daphine who is still with us) and seeing what goes on up here. We have tried to continue with some of our other duties as well so it has been very busy for us.
We have enjoyed getting to know P & P's children better and they have learnt to cope with Uncle Grumpy too. Some of the events of the past month have included: an electrical fire in the kitchen (minor fortunately), having children come through from the home for reading after supper (they love being read to or reading to you - this has been a special time for us). Also getting Daphine from Lugazi police, a quite different situation where there are two women who are claiming to be her mother. The police have DNA tested them all but they felt that the results were not accurate,that there may have been some bribery, so they are going to do the tests again at a different hospital. Meanwhile this gorgeous little girl stays here, she is absolutely lovely I think I have lost my heart again. Our P7 class at school are sitting their PLE (Primary Leaving Exams) starting tomorrow so we have been giving some extra help in the evenings to those from the compound.
We have had a number of new volunteers arrive, young ladies, who are here for 3 months or so which will help for when we are away in NZ and presently we have the dentists here (very timely for Marilyn) for two weeks.
Last Monday was a difficult day, we got a call at 9.30 am that the police in Mukono had rescued a baby from a pit latrine about an hour earlier but needed somewhere for him to go. He had been born at home at around 3am and the mother thought he was dead so threw him in the pit. A neighbour heard the cry and the police had rescued him around 8.30am. He had been taken to the health clinic in town and we went to pick him from there. It took almost an hour before we got clearance to bring him here, he was well cared for at the clinic. We took him straight to our clinic where he was placed on the baby warmer to get his temperature up as he was extremely cold. He was monitored throughout the day but inspite of the best care we could give, he died at 8.30pm. The police came and took the body around 10pm to take him for an autopsy. They have the mother in custody so she will likely be charged. It was a sad day for us all.
This time next month we will be in NZ preparing for Chris & Beck's wedding, then Jen & Scotty's a week later so we are beginning to get excited about that but we still have a lot to do before then. However we hope to get away for two nights this week as a final break before our leaving as we are both quite tired. Marilyn had a fall at Sunday School two weeks ago, she slipped on some wet grass and broke her fall with her wrist. It was not broken but she has had immense pain since. We had it X-rayed on friday and it appears to be some indication of osteomelitis in the bone so we will need to research that a bit to seek out treatment.
Please pray that she can get relief from the pain and also pray for the right outcome for wee Daphine to be able to be reunited with her true mother.
Whew, I think that is about all for now, until next time
God Bless
Greetings from Arrowtown in NZ.We had a marvelous wedding of Chris and Beck last Saturday in Piha and have travelled down south for Jen & Scott's wedding this weekend. As we left the band gave us a royal sendoff. Fabulous
Chris & Beck at the beginning of the ceremony
the rings, his turn
her turn
singing 'showers of blessings'
done it !!!!!
a happy time
our 'clan' there on the day
Joan and Petra having dinner with us on Saturday night.
Rhode with her little 'sister' Daphine
Grasshoppers ready for cooking
deep frying
ready for the next stage
de-winging and de- legging, ready for eating
guess who the smiley girl is?
Rhode and her special friend Nathaniel sharing a seat together
Aunt Daisy's birthday with Aunt Christine
Morning time in bed
Don't you just love those eyes
Nelima on Saturday night, she looooved her banana custard
Daniel doing an Uncle Warwick with his shorts, I always wear mine like that (NOT)
See, custard is great
the fruit we buy each week for the family units. Watermelon, passionfruit, bananas, tomatoes, pineapple, cabbage, oranges, and mangoes-Thank you Jenny and Pete Pearson!
Joan & Petra last Saturday night enjoying a roast dinner at our house
Rhode & Daphine enjoying the sun
Since then Rhode has got malaria badly and is quite miserable though she is lovely in this shot. Please pray for her to get well.
Rhode playing with 'Nana's' jewels
Pete, Pita, Hannah, Naomi, Deborah, Elizabeth all packed and ready to go
Uncle Christian and his technical advisers Nelima and Christy
Nelima looking terrified on the swings but she had been laughing 10 secs before
Rhode enjoying one too
Dominic determined to get his leg up
enjoying playing outside
a small fire in the kitchen. The home was in darkness for one night. Chilodren in bed early but up VERY early the next day.
Mama,s birthday celebrated in style on Thursday
children all got ice cream
Zoe enjoying hers
they all enjoyed it
even Mama was there, well sort of, Mama Jesca stood in
with her present of a new baby (doll)
Saturday morning breakfast
our newest arrival, Daphine, we got her yesterday
a beautiful girl about 5-6 months. She was stolen at 2 months, was found in Sudan and has two women who are claiming to be her mother. While the police sort that out she needed somewhere to stay...... where else
Saturday night supper for 15
Daphine too
Aunt Jesca and Zippora
