19th December, 2021
Dear friends,
It’s been a tiring week! The weather has been really hot and we were travelling on Thursday and Friday, taking some of the boys back to see their families for Christmas. We only have 9 boys at George’s Place today and Sula’s sister is collecting him tomorrow, Asaph returns from college on Monday and will be with us.
Earlier in the week I was still collating all the papers for reregistering the organisation as an NGO – there seems to be more paperwork than I remember needing last time!
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14 v27
The boys went swimming on Wednesday afternoon – a midweek treat, as so many were travelling the next day. Tresor also took the boys in groups of five into Kampala to buy new trainers as they were all in need of them apart from Dan – we have plenty of shoes for his small size feet.
On Monday afternoon the boys spoke to Paul, who used to work with us, you might remember he was visiting family in Rwanda and couldn’t get back to Uganda about three years ago, then he and his family were given asylum, in the USA, they are from DRC. Paul is kindly sending some money for the boys for Christmas – they all wanted to speak to him – great excitement!
Very early on Thursday morning Zach and nine of the boys arrived at Diana’s in the minibus to collect me, and we started on our journey. First we took Brian to the bus park for him to collect the coach to Nebbi, the traffic was terrible and it took us a couple of hours before he was finally on his way! We then collected Peace and travelled on through Kayunga where we planned to catch a ferry but a new bridge had been built! We didn’t arrive at Kasita’s home a good distance north of Kamuli until 1.30pm. We were made very welcome by his stepfather, mother and his three young half sisters. (Kasita’s father died when he was young). We were presented with two chickens and a basket of oranges that were just picked from the tree we were sitting under for shade. We asked if Kasita could bring the chickens back with him as I was concerned about travelling with chickens for two days! Afterward we travelled to Buwenge and met up with Benon’s father and younger brother and left them to get local transport to their village. All the boys took posho, beans, rice, sugar and soap as gifts for the family. It was a long drive to Mayuge where we dropped off the new Derek to get a boda to his village. Then it was Griffin’s turn to be taken to Iganga, where we met his father (he was in Senior 4 when Griffin was born and is a very young man!)
By the end of the day we were in Tororo where we stayed the night with Augustine, Saviour, Joshua and Ivan (The boys stayed in twin rooms and so did Peace and I, with just Zach having a single room). They enjoyed chicken and chips for supper.
Early the next morning we called on Omoding, his mother’s home had been demolished but they were staying nearby in the hope of getting a new place if/when they are built by the local authorities. The boys were pleased to see Omoding and we left him some money for Christmas. We then took Saviour and Joshua to their dad, saw the granny who was unwell and complaining of pain, sadly I didn’t have any paracetamol with me, she appreciated the small blankets we gave her.
On our way to Mbale we dropped off a box of baby clothes at the medical centre we have been visiting recently and called to see if older Derrick was around at the workshop – unfortunately he was working elsewhere. On reaching the town we took Ivan to the taxi park for him to get transport to his mother’s home. It was then time for us to start travelling back to Kampala via the road that goes past the turning for Pallisa where Augustine’s home is and we left him to get a taxi . We bought Irish (potatoes), oranges, mangoes, tamarind and pineapples to take back to the boys from the roadside. I arrived safely back at Diana’s at 7pm.
Tresor took the boys who are remaining for swimming again on Friday afternoon after their art class. Diana and I called in this morning, Saturday, to George’s Place and Diana taught them a dice game that involves adding up, which they enjoyed. I had also bought them some of the small bands to make bracelets and rings, which will probably keep them busy all afternoon.
So this afternoon I’m relaxing – I walked Peanut early this morning before we called at George’s Place for an hour but think I need some time off as tomorrow will be busy at church all day with the service first thing, followed by communal lunch and Carols By Sunlight!
Wishing you all a peaceful, blessed and Happy Christmas.
Love from
Jane and the Homes of Promise boys.
