Sunday 24th December, 2023
Dear friends,
Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and every blessing for 2024.
James and Rebecca left early Monday morning for their holiday in Zanzibar, it was lovely seeing them. Tresor sent me some photos at the beginning of this week of the boys preparing for last week’s party with the cooks, which I will include. They were obviously very involved! On Monday afternoon after sorting out the finances I took Tresor back to George’s Place to say goodbye to the boys who were returning to their villages the next day.
Jessie and Tresor took the boys travelling to the East in the minibus and returned Wednesday. On the way they called to see Griffin in Iganga and visited the restaurant where he works for lunch. They met young Denis’s grandfather in Mbale as it was too far for him to travel alone to the village. Sam took Brian, New Brian and Saidi who were going by bus to the bus park. All have arrived safely.
”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.“
It seemed very quiet at George’s Place when I called to see everyone on Thursday afternoon. Sam took 10 of the younger boys swimming as it was such a nice afternoon. Later Tresor arrived with a box he had collected from Salabed, from the UK and the older boys were pleased to be given a pair of jeans each. We have been sent money to buy a new television and he also went to check on prices which seem to have been discounted for Christmas – a blessing. The television arrived on Friday with two small bags of posho as a gift from the shop!
Yesterday I went back to Garuga and took the younger boys with Victor and Yusuf swimming – there were other children there and a boy, fully dressed was pushed into the deep end – he couldn’t swim, thankfully Raymond was nearby to grab him and swim to the edge of the pool with him to be lifted out! All our boys apart from Beckham can swim well.
Joseph is still working for National Water so decided not to return to his grandmother for Christmas – it looks like he is doing really well – we are so pleased with his progress.
I’ve had a head cold this week and felt quite low for couple of days but feeling much better now. The weather has changed and it’s really hot here. The boys are coming to Kampala International Church on Christmas Day and we have decided to take them to a Restaurant called ‘2K’ for lunch that day. Ian will be joining us – later they’ll probably go to Sky Beach for the afternoon.
Kampala is undergoing major roadworks for the G77 summit in January, so many roads are closed, trees are being planted, kerb stones put in place – a large metal globe sculpture is now at the roundabout at end of the motorway, even the road to my flat has a new road sign! Hopefully all be finished in time! I think they will be meeting at Munyonyo so great improvements at Ggaba.
I do hope you all have a very special Christmas. Thank you once again for all your prayers, generosity and kindness to our boys and the work of Homes of Promise.
With love and blessings.
Jane x
