It has certainly been a busy week – I went to work Monday morning but left about lunch time as Christine was going back to Washington DC later that evening and was still packing up to the last minute. She has arrived home safely, with 5 trunks and 2 large sacks! I also had problems with my DSTV not working and had to call the guys out to fix it as I like watching the news.
Tuesday I was at the Ladies fellowship in the morning, it was lovely catching up with everyone. Petra and I then went to the bank to try and sort out the authorising issues but I need to write a letter explaining the situation to have me reconnected to the system. Since I’ve been away some of the staff have started a savings scheme and their money has been deducted at source and left it our account so we also need to open another account for their savings – we wouldn’t like to be using their money!
Wednesday Jessie collected me at 8.30am and we drove to collect Laushen and Andrew for home tracing. Tresor brought them to Kajjansi with Sula, who had been visiting and wanted a lift to Iganga to his family as he is looking for work there. He is doing really well (manicurist). He told me is rich but has no money – but he has the means to earn what he needs. I could never have imagined he would do so well, he was always in ‘bother’ when he was young! Our God is an amazing God! We collected Peace from home and in arriving in Iganga met up with Derek at the garage where he works. He is doing well! His nickname is Black!
“Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! …….
He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.”
Psalms 147:1
We left Sula catching a boda and travelled to Bugiri where we met the Probation Officer and went in search of Laushen’s relatives about 15 miles away. He was very disoriented as to where his grandmother lived as he hadn’t been there for 6 years and they are ‘gold mining’ in the area and have demolished a wood. We drove up and down a terrible road three times. Eventually with the help of the local police we located the home but sadly his grandmother had passed away. His step grandfather was married to a younger lady who had two toddlers but they are willing to have Laushen in holiday times. This had been Laushen’s only stable home, his father is sadly on the streets, possibly in Bugiri. His aunt was not willing to meet us and they knew nothing of the mother. Thankfully the probation officer, LC1 and police were with us and we were able to get the necessary papers signed. We stayed overnight in Bugiri at a place the PO recommended.
On Thursday Jessie drove us to Pallisa about 100 km. away, we again met the local probation officer who came with us to find Andrew’s grandmother. We found her quite quickly – she has married again and it was very confusing to know who everyone was especially as Peace did not speak the language, I counted 30 young children and was not sure how many were children of the grandmothers daughters! (Laushen asked if he could give out some of our knitted hats!)
We collected the LC1 who signed our papers. Andrew will be staying here in holiday times, sometimes members of the family reach out to us later when they understand we are tracing for the families and not having them arrested for child neglect!
Following lunch at a local cafe we started our journey back to Kampala. Jessie and I took the boys home to George’s Place, some of the younger ones had gone to play football with Benard and Tresor but Ram, Raymond, Trevor, Robert, Joshua, Musumba and Brian were there with Uncle Patrick. I arrived home about 7pm.
Today, Friday I am having my day off and have been shopping for food and enjoyed a coffee at the Arena Mall. I am planning to go and spend time with the boys tomorrow, Saturday.
The boys have been busy at home helping with the cooking and cleaning Trésor’s car.
Ian has asked Victor and Griffin to go on the church picnic on Saturday and cook the barbecued chicken to earn extra money! They cut and marinated it on Friday.
All is well it has been about 30 degrees most days this week and there has been no rain so there is lots of red dust everywhere, even my hair is changing colour! Thank you for all your love, kindness, prayers and support we couldn’t do this work without you.
With lots of love and prayers.
Jane x