time for a catch-up

Greetings, it has been 7 weeks since our return so we are having a few days out, this time in Entebbe. We knew that we needed to get away sometime soon and in the next two weeks there are 4 family unit birthdays which we didn't want to miss (one being Rhode's 4th ), so this week gave us the best option. We have been blessed with fine weather, spent today poolside and soaking in the sun, I think we are both 'glowing' somewhat. However the seasons are about to change. Last week we had several days of much needed rain so we try to keep up with the washing while it is dry. The 2nd girls family unit is all but completed, they are not there yet but should be within a month and they are very keen to go. We continue to get more babies, about one a week at present, the latest, called Daisy and about one week old, was found in a sack behind the market in Mukono. A man had gone to urinate behind the market(as you do in Uganda) and heard the baby crying, took her to the police who contacted Piet & Pita. She seemed to have been well cared for up to then as she fed well and continues to do so. That night we had some serious rain so she would not have survived if she had not been found. Our current number of children is162, there have been 8 children who have been returned to family but they keep being replaced by new ones.
A lot of containers are arriving at present so space is at a premium, but they are much needed for many of the projects here. The dentists are coming this week, well one dentist and two assistants, which Marilyn is pleased about as she has had one or two teeth that have been bothering her and we have little faith in the dentists here.
Supper is about to be served in the garden so I'd better go, thank you to those of you who keep in touch, we do enjoy having contact with folk from elsewhere, please continue to pray for this organisation and the need to nurture these children, and pray for us and our roles that we have
God Bless

Some further pictures

 What better way to spend our first day back but in the pool with the older children

 Rebecca enjoys squirting water

Marilyn gives floating lessons

 and swimming and kicking lessons

 but also time for just lazing about

 lunch in the shade

 Saturday night cookout, cook your own sausages

 Nickson a new addition to BFU2

 bread, salads, and fruit too

 Timothy, our soda opener, very popular

 Hannah on her 15th birthday

 and Auntie Prossy  birthdayon the same day

 The band marching up to General Manager Sam's celebration for his 25th wedding occasion

 Uncle Daniel, the band master

Uncle/teacher Bosco joined the band too

 entertaining people while we waited for the wedding party to arrive

 after the church service

 arriving at the house for the reception

 the band playing them in

 ready for lunch (at around 5pm)

 the following Sunday we hosted our own celebration for Sam & Mary after church

 Family Units dancing

 Uncle Jared's special percussion group

 Secondary girls dancing

 guitar group singing

 toddlers dancing

cutting yet another cake. A lovely celebration

Our arrival back from NZ

As we entered the gate the band played us up the drive

 children ran alongside the car, Caleb still has a lovely smile

 Up past the teachers quarters, the band is still playing

 the view out the back window, everyone following

 Being greeted by the Aunties as we arrive at our home

 The band still playing

 Welcome home with red ribbon over the doorway

cutting the ribbon

 done

 a special message on our floor

And on our bed too. We felt very humbled and very happy to be back.

Some Rhode Pics

 Thanks to Uncle Christian we can now add pictures to our blog. Some recent ones of Rhode - the day we arrived back from NZ

 Our big schoolgirl on her first day

sleeping (or not) on the mat in the afternoon

 Helping me with my new hose

Bathing after supper on Sunday night, it doesn't get any better than this

Some recent pics

 Farewelling Aunt Daisy, all the three family units together

 New sportswear tops for some of the school

 Saturday night sleepover at our house, four girls this time!

 Baby class making good use of the new mats we have bought with money given to us

 What better way to spend a hot afternoon

 But not all of baby class were asleep, Rhode at the top of the mat

Meanwhile top class are outside in the shade with teacher Harriet reading books