28th November, 2021
Dear friends,
On Monday morning there was a knock on the gate and the young lad Peace advised a couple of weeks ago to come back later was standing there. Peace and I talked with him, his name is Robert and he is now registered in our care. Sam took him to the clinic and he has been on daily treatment for the last week. He seems very quiet and reserved but we know that might change!
Tuesday I took Paul to the hospital for a counselling session, he has to attend once a week for the next couple of months. On the way back we called in to Salabed and collected the shipment that had arrived, mostly knitted children’s jumpers, pens, pencils, toothbrushes, toothpaste, plus some T-shirts.
‘Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.’ Revelation 3 v20
Tresor travelled that day with Kodet to Mbale to buy bunk beds for Kodet’s siblings, (they took 3 of the spare mattresses) and to find out the best way of helping get the roof fixed on the house where the family are renting. They stayed the night in Mbale and travelled to the health centre on Wednesday morning to see the ‘fish and chip’ jumpers, blankets and other children’s clothes distributed.
Late on Thursday afternoon I was telephoned by the police at Kabalagala and asked to collect a young boy they had, who had apparently been abandoned in Kampala. Peace and Petra were just leaving the office, but it was agreed that we would all go. I asked Tresor to come along as otherwise I would be driving the lad back on my own in heavy traffic and knew it would take a while, be in curfew hours and I was not sure if the boy spoke any English. It was also decided that Robert, who doesn’t speak English, would come so that we could get the paperwork on him sorted out. It felt like an outing to the police headquarters! When we arrived we were welcomed, introduced to Daniel, the young boy, who was handed into our care. We were then shown a ‘container’ and small hut, that had been given by Crane (U.K. organisation) for children to stay in overnight if they are picked up on the streets and need somewhere safe to stay. We have agreed to donate mattresses. Daniel is only 7yrs old and our boys have been looking after him.
On Friday when I arrived at work the boys were doing their schoolwork and Daniel was being helped by Uncle Sam and had settled in. In the afternoon Mary arrived and the boys made mosaic pictures with dried beans and peas that look really good – they enjoyed the class.
This week the boys have been busy:
- Anton and Yusuf have been making areas for planting and these are now ready for seedlings that are in a nursery bed.
- Paul has started making trousers for the boys and set up his own little workroom in his and Dennis’s room.
- Augustine came and painted the hall a bright lime green!
- Kasita has still been involved in cooking the meals.
- Dennis and Kodet went shopping for the fruit and vegetables.
- Dennis continues helping with schoolwork.
On Saturday they went swimming again with Tresor, whilst Peace and I took Daniel to Kayunga, with Zach our driver to find his family. About 4 hrs. away. The police had informed us the boy had only just arrived in Kampala but on locating the parents he had not been in the family home since last January when a relative had taken him. As the parents don’t possess a telephone they had been unsure of his whereabouts. The father was extremely emotional when he saw Daniel and said he knew they were poor but he loved his children and managed to feed and care for them. They have a very small one room house, with no windows, (the latrine is the worse I have ever seen!) He hurried off to the garden and came back with a large sack of maize, cassava and sweet potatoes for us to take back to George’s Place. We agreed to keep Daniel in our care for the present time as we find out more information. We are having a Management Meeting next Tuesday and are expecting the Probation Officer and Government Official to be present to offer advice.
On our way back we called at Connect Africa as Haruna and Charles are having difficulty with the written tasks they are given – we have to return on Wednesday to meet with the Principal.
It’s been an eventful week with many blessings and challenges, I am looking forward to Zone Sunday today when we meet in a member’s home and then hopefully just relaxing
Thank you for all your love and support.
Jane
