Almost over

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