26th June, 2015

Dear friends,

Rain, rain and more rain – I was told we were in the dry season but over the last few days there have been downpours lasting for a couple of hours most days and as I look out of my window this morning the sky is overcast and grey, reminders of home! Photo of my compound last Saturday morning.

The Meals for Kids project continues, not so many boys this week which has helped in finding out more about them.  One young boy, an orphan, begs every day for me to send him to school, buy him clothes, shoes and cries – really difficult.  Tresor is still helping out with the project, (his sister is getting married this weekend and he is Best man so involved in the wedding arrangements, the official wedding is in Rwanda today and the reception will be here in Kampala on Saturday).

Yesterday I took Antony, (street boy, I met about 6 weeks ago) with the tumour, to the private hospital, the local Mengo Hospital said he needed a specialist surgeon as the tumour is on his face.  We only waited a couple of hours to be seen, the surgeon is confident it isn’t malignant but the cost is 3,000,000UGX (about £750) for the operation and hospital fees.  If the operation isn’t carried out the tumour will enlarge deforming him even further.  Antony has a telephone no. for an aunt who I am proposing to contact to see if the family has any objection to the operation being carried out (he has a father, mother has died).  At present Antony is staying with in the slum area, 20 boys stay there, 1 bed no other furniture, two rooms, outside kitchen – but they are dry and being fed.  Antony will probably have to stay with me after the operation as he will need looking after in a clean environment.

Prayer seems high on the agenda as to know where to go from here, the more I get to know the boys the more I long to see them living in a safe environment, clean and learning basic life skills.

Weekly I’m visiting the market in town to buy shorts, T-shirts – haven’t looked at flip flops yet but will soon – because of bare feet they get lots of cuts and problems with their feet.

‘But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed, but not in despair………..’ 2 Corinthians 4 v 7 – 12

Last week I visited the wife of the guide who had taken me on the waterfall walk in Bwindi.  A couple of hours prior to my visit she had given birth to a precious baby boy, wonderful to have a cuddle and to pray and give thanks with her for the safe arrival.  She will be staying with her sister when she is discharged from hospital and hopes to visit me before she returns home.

Social Life : Today I’m off to meet Norah for lunch at an Indian restaurant, we have only met a couple of times since January, though she telephones me regularly to check I’m ok – she is so busy with her law practice. I stayed at Norah’s home in Namirembe last year for a couple of months and then she visited me in the UK just before I returned here. I really appreciate her friendship, help and advice.

I’ve  been attending the Kampala International Fellowship Church most Sunday’s where I met Maggie an American lady who has been in Uganda for about 15 years.  She is shortly moving to Entebbe, and needs to return here weekly so will be coming to stay with me regularly – she’s a real character, about my age,  laughs and smiles at everything, should be interesting!

Life continues to rush by, its Ramadan and the Muslims are fasting from 7am to 7pm each day, the mosques calling them to prayer.  In Kampala there are people begging at every set of traffic lights –  toddlers, teenage mums with babies, older disabled people – such a need everywhere, so much pain and suffering – so where is God in all of this? Don’t think I have an answer but we keep seeking and trusting to know His Will in our lives and to serve Him.

Thank you for all your prayers, love and support. God Bless.

Jane