Christmas and Boxing Day Celebrations, Bethel’s parents join us, looking for internships, Victor joins Griffin at the Speke Resort Hotel

Dear friends,

Greetings from a very noisy, busy Homes of Promise. We celebrated Christmas Day at Kampala International Church and 18 boys and staff came to the service. Following this I collected Griffin and Victor who had been working all night and most of the morning at the Speke Hotel – they were tired, there were 7 boys in my car and sadly Robert who had eaten too many cakes and biscuits after the service was unwell. (The car needed major disinfecting!) On arriving back at the home Bethel’s parents and brothers had arrived unexpectedly to celebrate with us, they are refugees from DRC, but seem to be well settled now. Thankfully Halima had cooked more than enough food and we enjoyed matoke, rice, greens, chicken, beef etc. followed by ice cream with sauces and Christmas cake. Later Benard took the younger boys down to Sky Beach to swim and enjoy the bouncy castle and swings. Derek has also joined us this year for Christmas – he’s been working in a garage and doing well.

Boxing Day, Ian and Mark called for me at 9am and we went to Garuga to take the boys for a hike across the lake, travelling there in little boats (we have to climb in and out on large slippery stones) and back on the ferry. We took picnics with us, though Ian carried Bethel’s who has a habit of eating everything at the beginning of hikes, a really enjoyable tiring day. When we arrived back Halima had cooked fish which everyone enjoyed and we were happy to relax.

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

This week I have taken Saviour to ‘Caramel’ a good cafe chain to ask about internships – they didn’t offer these but would have given him work if he had his National ID, sadly these take months to process. We also went to The Garuga Resort Hotel but they were not taking any internees until February. Benard took Sula on Saturday to a hairdressing salon (they didn’t go the week before) also looking for an internship. I invested in a new kennel for Zimba this week as the old one had rotted away in parts!

Tuesday I was at George’s Place, at lunch time Ronald and Godfrey both arrived, they are fine, I’ve also heard from Augustine most days, who finished the doors at Dan’s home and was working in Mukono over Christmas, and from big Denis, Emma, Tim, Omoding who is with his Granny and Patrick, Tresor has spoken to Brian (from Arua in the very north), Ivan and Robert. He and Stephen took the younger boys into Kampala to spend their Christmas money on clothes. Haruna and Old Brian, who left us about 5 years ago and now has a family called in to George’s Place to visit.

Today, Saturday I was back again in Garuga. Tresor and I drove the boys to
Banana Village for a treat as they enjoy the deeper swimming pool. Shortly after I arrived home Griffin and Victor appeared – I was just having my supper – I sorted out their problems and sent them off to work!

I do hope you have all had a peaceful and blessed Christmas. There have been so many blessings in 2025, amidst all the sorrow and suffering in our world. Thank you for all your kindness and support for our boys and the work as we look forward into 2026 and where Our Lord will lead us.

Love and blessings.

Jane x