7th March, 2021

Dear friends,

It’s been a busy week at George’s Place with most of the older boys going back to vocational training.

Ronald and Asaph returned to Don Bosco on Monday, Asaph resumed his carpentry course and Ronald joined him. Paul and Shaffick went for interviews at Hope Vocational Training Institute and will be starting there shortly. Paul did very well in his interview and will be taking the Grade 1 examination in tailoring in April, and his Grade 2 exam in November. Shaffick was accepted on the course but didn’t do so well in the skills test, he will continue on his hairdressing course and not take exams until November time. Prayers please that they settle in well.

‘Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.’ Lamentations 3 v22/23

There was a change of plan with Dennis, he came back to George’s Place and has now returned to Maranatha High School – boarding. I was advised that it hadn’t really worked out for him staying with his uncle and cousins, he will visit them and his mother in Pader during the holidays to build good relationships.

Peace and Shadrach took Haruna to Connect Africa to resume his welding course on Friday, he’s looking so grown up. The boys and staff always pray and give advice to those going back to college or boarding school before they leave.

Charles has returned from the village – next week Peace and staff will be looking into where and what course he will be undertaking, he gets on really well with his father now, sadly his mother died before he came to us.

Anton has been sending me photographs of the sand he has bought for work on his house. Work has also started on a pit latrine – they usually have to dig a hole 15 feet deep – he has employed a man who has experience in digging pit latrines as this is obviously quite a skill!

On Saturday quite unexpectedly Saviour and Joshua’s mother arrived to visit them at George’s Place. We had never been able to find her, though knew she was in Kampala – this must have been a shock to the boys, as they have been in our care for several years now and had lived with their father and stepmother in Tororo before running to the streets. I do hope and pray that she will continue to take an interest in them, they are both bright, polite, hard-working, lovely boys who get on with everyone and do well at school, prayers again please that this doesn’t disrupt their stable lives.

Our younger boys continue with their maths, science, English and art classes at the home until school reopens. They are all fit and healthy, also enjoying football games.

Over the last couple of months, we have received two donations via PayPal of £135 each – we are not sure where these have come from – of course, if someone wishes to remain anonymous that’s fine, but if you are reading this, many thanks!

Thank you dear friends for your continued love and support for these boys. As you will see from the photographs the older boys are growing up quickly and we continue to give thanks to God for the way their lives have changed.

With love

Jane