2nd December, 2018

Dear friends,

‘A week of blessings.’ Everyone apart from Augustine is home.

Saviour and Joshua (about 8 and 9 yrs.) graduated from Top Class into Primary 1 this week. They had never been to school before they came to George’s Place and didn’t speak Luganda or English – they are now able to communicate well in both languages. There was a celebration at school which Bob and I attended on Wednesday morning and we enjoyed seeing the school children from different classes, singing, dancing, acting out skits and reciting poetry – followed by the presentation of certificates and of course cake. It was lovely to see our boys so well integrated with the class. They also played a game where the Top Class children were covered over apart from their ankles and feet then the parents had to identify their children – of course, Bob was one of the first to pick out our boys!

‘The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.’ Proverbs 18 v 15.

Thursday we collected Denis from boarding school – where he achieved grades in 16 subjects of on average 74% (if he gets 80% he receives a bursary!) – we are so proud of him. We also collected Faiza, who attends the same school (I mentioned her last year – she is a refugee from South Sudan, who walked to Uganda and was under the care of Bishop Peter from South Sudan who sadly died recently, we collected two of his daughters as well and took them all to their home in Kampala.) Then we drove to Bombo and collected Simon Peter from Don Bosco who received a B+ in practical work on his plumbing and metalworking course. On Friday Bob collected Derrick from Meeting Point he also achieved good marks on his metalworking course. All of the older boys vocational/school reports comment that their conduct was ‘Good’ which is what I stress as important. We await the school reports on the boys from Maranatha and Kennedy which will be collected next Friday.

Peace and Sam attended a meeting at the Ministry of Gender this week and we have to submit our papers for an ‘Approved Home’ status next Thursday. Prayers, please.

It’s quite hectic and noisy at George’s Place now with 22 boys at home, some of them have been ill this week and had to attend the clinic, it’s also very hot and the mosquitoes are around!

On Saturday morning, Martin, who works at London Diocesan House arrived to stay for 10 days. We visited KK Beach in the afternoon and the boys enjoyed their normal activities of trampolining, football, badminton and dancing, we finished the evening back at George’s Place welcoming Martin with prayers of thanksgiving for his safe arrival.

I received a message from Lynn this week telling me that one of our supporters had sold a nearly new dress on eBay and donated the money to Homes of Promise towards our Christmas celebrations – we really appreciate this act of kindness. Thank you.

With love and prayers.

Jane