Sunday 3rd March, 2024
Dear friends,
The week began with us preparing for the Management Meeting, but we had problems with the printer that refused to work with new ink cartridges! Petra eventually went to a print shop. We also had a call from the Ministry of Gender asking us to take in new boys. This was arranged for Wednesday. My friend Sue, from Exeter, arrived from South Africa to spend a couple of weeks in Uganda and is staying at my flat. Tuesday morning I collected Petra from the office and we drove to George’s Place for the Management Meeting. Peace, Ian and Ken had already arrived. We had a good meeting followed by lunch. The Health Inspector, Hon. Juma and Patience the Probation Officer joined us. Unfortunately the Probation Officer from Wakiso was still unable to be there.
“Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19v26
On Wednesday morning I was collected by Jessie, we called in at GP and Ronald, saying he was representing all the boys, came with us to the airport to drop me off – the airport is really smart now. Before we collected Ronald, Jessie who has been driving for me for a few years now, commented that the boys didn’t seem like ‘street boys’! I said they weren’t – some of them have been with us for years now, they are all loved, accepted and have a home to come back to even after they leave. He found it difficult to believe that they can change so much, even the very damaged lads, I also can feel like this at times but we know ‘all things are possible with God!’ I arrived back in the UK Thursday morning. It’s hardly stopped raining since, All blessings!
Early on Wednesday Tresor went with Joseph (Yusuf) to Don Bosco where he is starting a 2 year Agricultural Course. He was really happy. He met up with the other Joseph and Griffin. Ronald has found work at a garage where a lad he met at Hope International College is working – there is nearby accommodation and hopefully he will be starting work next week. We now only have Sula to get into college and he is going to Jinja on a hairdressing course starting shortly.
The new boys didn’t arrive! They had been collected by the police before the G77 summit and have been in a ‘holding centre’ since then. The centre is outside Kampala and we are waiting for a call to collect the boys from City Hall.
The young boys are off swimming today, Saturday. Everything seems to be running smoothly at Homes of Promise – it’s Benard’s weekend off so Sam is working. Ian is going to call in tomorrow after church to check on the boys and I am sure it will be very quiet with so few of them there.
Thank you for all your kindness, love and support, we really couldn’t do this work without you. I hope to catch up with many of you over the next six weeks.
With love and prayers.
Jane x
