6th February, 2022
Dear friends,
This week Paul has been making himself shirts out of my old skirts that I can’t fit into anymore! He has been busy and has also helped the four boys who are now going off to vocational training on Monday to make bags to keep their money in.
We have been sorting out requirements for vocational college – we have two boys going to do a hairdressing course, one tailoring and one motor mechanics.
Shaffick is also returning to college to complete his final exams.
‘Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfil the law of Christ.’ Galatians 6v2
I have received photos this week from Ronald and Brian who are on the motor mechanics course at Hope International who carried on with their course instead of returning to us at the end of term. They were asking if we could bring them sugar/drinking chocolate/dried milk etc. when we drop the others off to Hope on Monday.
Prayers please for Tim who has lost a friend (17 yrs.), the young lad had not been serious about taking his medication, which can be really strong and sometimes has difficult side effects to cope with. Tim attended the funeral in Masaka.
Anton has also sent me photographs of the 4,500 bricks he has made in preparation for building himself a house. He tells me he has been working hard and felt unwell but from the symptoms he described I think he’s just been lifting too many bricks at one time! We have sent him some money to help with the baking of the bricks. I keep promising Anton to go and visit him in Ibanda but there always seems other priorities.
One of our older boys has gone into a rehab unit, he had been on the streets for years, is an orphan and has little support from elderly grandparents or other family members. I feel we need to be looking for more counselling for older boys when they first join us.
On Wednesday morning, Ian came and led a session for the staff on teamwork which we found extremely helpful, it was good to look at where there is need for improvement in our communication.
Early on Saturday Tresor and Benard took the boys to buy school shoes, Jesse drove the mini bus – I had a morning off and took Diana and Sue (who arrived from Kenya yesterday) to Village Mall for a coffee. The boys were all pleased with their shoes and hopefully there won’t be any more comments from the teachers about them not having proper black shoes!
Augustine phoned me this week, he is still visiting his mum in the village and helping with his siblings (9). His father has returned to the Army for a few months.
So life continues in Kampala with all the problems and uncertainties for some people of where the next meal will come from. There appears to be more homeless families living on the streets and children begging at every street corner. When I drop Tresor off each evening a little boy of about 3 yrs always waves to me and asks for money or food with hand gestures – his mother sits nearby with a baby – it’s ‘heartbreaking’.
Please do continue praying for the people of Uganda and Homes of Promise as we make decisions about new accommodation and the way forward.
With love and prayers
Jane
