3rd November, 2018

Dear friends,

I thought I should write a short note to update you on the work Homes of Promise. I was so pleased to see many of you at the Thanksgiving the other Thursday evening despite the terrible traffic – thank you for coming and for all your support. God has really blessed our work through your kindness and generosity.

I’ve received an email from Dr. Will the ophthalmologist who we supported a few years ago in the glaucoma pilot scheme in Uganda – the following is from him:

‘I cannot thank you enough for having the belief in me, and the work of simulation surgical training in Africa more than three years ago.

You all were a huge part in supporting the very first and initial work in Uganda and Malawi. We did, with your kind support, the pilot work of simulation-based surgical training for eye surgery in the two most common causes of blindness globally: cataract and glaucoma.

‘And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. then he rose and was baptized;’ Acts 9 v18

Since then, I have raised over half a million pounds, set up a surgical training centre in Cape Town, and trained over 50 trainees from training centres in Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and Tanzania. Some of the trainees themselves have come from those places, but also further afield including Burundi, Somalia, South Sudan, Mozambique, South Africa, UK, USA, Swaziland, Democratic Republic of Congo, Botswana, and Cameroon.

We now have interest from training institutions in Rwanda, Cameroon, and China who are very interested and will be involved. We are about to apply for a £1.7 million grant to fund this work in a very meaningful way for five years from 2020. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists in London are also interested, as is the International Council of Ophthalmology.

ALL of this was only possible because of your belief. Your initial support in the idea and project, over three years ago.

As I said, I will never be able to thank you enough!’

It is really good to have played a small part in making such a difference to many people’s eyesight all across Sub-Saharan Africa and further.

The Homes of Promise boys are all doing well. Bob visited Simon Peter at Don Bosco on Saturday morning (on the Plumbing Course) and Denis at Boarding School, during the week, who are both fine. He has also seen the boys at Meeting Point on the Welding Course – Patrick and Emma will soon sit their final examinations and were needing welding equipment for their exams – please pray for them both. Derrick still has another year to go.

Anton has been growing tomatoes in sacks in the compound and the chickens thankfully are now restrained from eating the plants. Paul has been helping with the cooking and Augustine has been working some days on building sites. Everyone has been fit and healthy this past month with no visits to the clinic! The younger boys are all enjoying school and are fine. (Some photos from Bob attached).

I’m really missing everyone in Uganda and planning to return shortly. Thank you again for your ongoing support.

With love and prayers

Jane