24th January, 2021
Dear friends,
When all around seems gloom and despondency I have awoken this morning to a wonderful sunrise with a sharp frost, leaving the fields at the back of the house covered in white. Two people have asked me this week ‘Do you still believe God is in control and I have answered a resounding ‘yes He is’, and how much we need to be praying and drawing closer to Him. St. Martin in the Fields have a wonderful Saturday morning meditation walk in London parks on Facebook at 8 am. which are well worth joining through their website.
At the beginning of the week, the Internet was back on in Uganda but somewhat intermittently – thankfully it seems to be working fine now. Kodet went back to school last Monday and Shadrach took Big Brian back to Don Bosco college in Bombo on Wednesday for him to resume his welding and plumbing course. I was unhappy to see photographs of Brian dressed totally inappropriately and it has caused me some concern that none of the staff advised him that he should be in his college uniform to return to school – of course, he was in trouble with the Fathers when he arrived back!
‘You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.’Isaiah 26 v3/4
Boxes arrived from the U.K. and these were collected by Shadrach from the shipping agent. They contained books, which I know the boys will appreciate, t-shirts, a few pairs of trainers and some knitted jumpers. I am not sure that the footballs Harry gave us have arrived yet or the large box of Lego donated.
Early in the week Flavia the young lady who has a home for young children contacted me and asked for food to feed them – the easiest way to help was to send the money directly to her and she will be able to buy beans and posho. I haven’t received any photos yet but she is always very appreciative and lets me know what she has bought.
Shadrach had a ‘Zoom’ meeting with Crane, the organisation that brings all the NGO’s working with street-connected children together – I was impressed that this has been set up via Zoom, and this will definitely help with communication between organisations. We usually start planning at this time of the year for the International Day of the Street Connected Child in April as this is a major event in Kampala so I look forward to finding out what is being planned. I need to buy a small camera for my laptop so that I can ‘Zoom’ with the boys as probably the connection will be better than through the television. I sent a video message to the boys this week as it seems a while since I have had any direct contact with them. I might be able to speak with them when they meet for their Sunday worship time as I would appreciate finding out how they all are.
Mary arrived on Saturday for the art classes and Dennis helped her. He has really ‘shot up’ in the last year. Teacher Francis is beginning homeschooling this coming week which is good for the younger boys. Ivan is returning this weekend from visiting his mother in the village.
I believe you now have to be vaccinated against COVID before you can fly which will obviously delay my return to Uganda for a couple of months but I hope and pray that I can plan to get back before too long.
Thank you for your continued love and support for our work. It must be very difficult for those of you who are on your own in these difficult times of lockdown and my thoughts and prayers are with you.
With love and blessings.
Jane
