23rd October, 2022
Dear friends,
I’ve just finished listening and watching Revd. Richard Carter’s (SMITF) weekly Nazareth Walk and Meditation, this week from outside The Houses of Parliament to St. James’s Park – how we need to be praying for our country in these confusing days and for a new Prime Minister with integrity and compassion.
This week Peace and I travelled to Kayunga to visit Dan and his family – we arrived in a downpour (considered a blessing by the famIly) and ran to the little mud house they have constructed and were thankful for the new iron sheets that kept us dry! Later we visited the school Dan is now attending and all the children came out of their classes to greet the visitors. We sorted out the school fees and a new uniform for Dan and agreed that his younger brother George, will start nursery in January. We then took Dan and his father to the Probation Officer, we had been unable to make an appointment with him as the central records had not been updated. He didn’t have time to come with us to see where the family live but he is now aware that Dan is back with his family in Kayunga. We are helping this family, and Tresor will go next week to sort out materials for building the new latrine, (cement, bricks, iron rods etc). Most of the latrines I have seen dug have been very deep but in this area the ground is waterlogged and they dig out a large rectangular pit, which the father has already done, brick down to the base and then build up. I’ll ask Tresor to take photos! The parents were very generous and gave us a sack of sweet potatoes and Irish for the home. It was good to see Dan well settled.
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”………. “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” Psalms 23:4/6
On Wednesday we arranged for the land in Ibanda to be signed over to Anton, he is 20yrs now and this will help him as he starts constructing a small house.
Loy, Gorette’s daughter, came and collected the sewing machine this week and we will monitor her progress. All Gorette’s children are lovely and it’s good to see them working and studying hard to help their mother.
Dennis is still with me, he has taken exams in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Maths so far and tells me he has two papers of each of the 10 subjects he is taking. This afternoon I am taking him and the other boys in Maranatha back to George’s Place for the night. Ian is coming with us.
I have been trying to sort out renewing my work permit but when I finished filling in the forms online realised I didn’t have all the necessary attachments to upload! I closed down the application and then found I had lost all the info. submitted – will try again on Monday!
The boys are all fine. We now have our renewed NGO certificate and one to Operate an Organisation for another 5 years, framed in the office. My friend, Pat is leaving Uganda next Wednesday, the month she has been here as gone quickly. I’m taking her to Garuga to see the boys on Sunday afternoon.
Petra and Tresor are planning a celebration party for when the older boys come back from Vocational Training and when Dennis, Musumba and Kasita have finished their exams. This seems to be becoming a large event – but no date fixed yet, we are inviting the Management Committee, people from the community (eg. doctors, school director/teacher, pastor of their church, obviously the staff will want to bring members of their families as well). I’m asking them to work out a budget as we haven’t had anything like this for a few years, I’m sure we should be celebrating the new George’s Place and how God is blessing the work.
Thank you for all your love and support.
Love Jane
