Our little "Angel" is in Heaven

I am saddened to report the passing of our special boy Nathan.  If you have been following our blog, you will know that he suffered with both HIV/AIDS and cancer.  This past month, he fought the loss of his eyesight along with contracting malaria, but this 7 year old little boy was a trooper.  Not many saw him shed a tear.
Edwin, David and Dr. Isaac visited him every day, administering medicine, wrapping his eyes to prevent the seeping and just letting him know they cared.  All three were with him at the end along with his mom Mutesi and his older brother Alex. Nathan, you touched the lives of many and because of you, we were inspired to complete this project with determination.  We will be there for your many friends that have noone.  We will bring them to Jaaja Barb's Home of Angels and we promise to give them dignity as they pass and come to join you.  We love you Nathan. R.I.P.

One of the last stages of HIV is being cold.  Nathan was always very cold so Edwin found a warm jacket to put on him and he felt much better.  The bed that Kim and Chris bought him with the snuggly blankets kept him warm at night, and with his Teddy bear, he had comfort in the end.  We will never forget you Nathan.

We had a donation of $300.00 for Dr. Isaac to purchase medicine.  This is what he bought with it and
since then, has helped so many.  One of the little ones he administered to was a little child that's head was
swelling.  Another, was for burn victims and our little Nathan received the bandages he needed for his eyes.

This looks like alot but realistically, it will only last a month or two.

Dr. Isaac with a sick child and his mom.  This child's head is very swollen and he has been administered the medicine which will enable the swelling to subside.

Sweet little boy

We don't have a container but we certainly could fill one with this woman on our side.  Meet Tina.
This wonderful woman has made it her life's mission to sew for our 32 little ones plus many more kids.  On Saturday I came home with 37 home made dresses.  She made 50 pairs of shorts with coordinating T-shirts for the little boys and lots of little girls underwear.  Her ideas are endless....God bless you Tina for your huge heart.

Tina modelling one of her many dresses.

Atimu the welder...who could forget this man who welded our 28 windows and 6 large doors with a pair of sunglasses.  When I put that on the last blog, the country came together and donated Atimu every piece of welding equipment imagineable.  He hasn't even received all of it yet.  This welding hat and special glass was donated by Mike...OK Mike, I didn't say your last name so no one knows...you are still anonomous.  I just want you to know that Atimu shed a few tears over this and told me to tell you that you saved his life, his family and his job....he will have eyes to continue...Thanks Mike

Uganda will never know what this is....someone from another planet possibly??

This is Pastor Paul and Lydia's church.  We will be going here when we open and they have graciously accepted us to bring all 32 kids with us each Sunday.  We will make this our home church on Sundays.  This is the kid's choir but they were the only kids that did not have a uniform when they attended their first competition.  A donation was given which allowed them to feel the pride the other teams felt.  They are so good.

The kid's latrine is finally finished.  Edwin and his brothers will be painting it soon.

 bright color I hope.....hint

Acknowledgements:

Laury and Tom...OK, I know we have thanked you before, but I have to say it again.  Do you really realize what you have done?  You have saved 32 little ones and probably many in the surrounding areas, to be provided water....clean water.  This is the most valuable commodity in Uganda and Africa.  Laury, you sold your baby that you raised, for this water.  Words can never express it so I just send a simple thanks with a huge hug attached.  I love you guys so much.  Thanks from all of us.

Rich and Marian...you two have gone over and above with making this happen...I don't even need to say what, you know and I just want you to both understand how much you mean to Edwin an I.  Without you I cannot even imagine....Thanks so much from our hearts and I just hope that you both, Tom and Laury will one day visit so you can see what you have done to change lives.

We have been so blessed with all of you in helping provide a home for 32 little "angels".  I sometimes sit and wonder how it is possible for so many of you to trust me so much...to put money into my account without ever meeting me...to never ask for a tax receipt and just know that 100% of your money is going towards this project.  I know I am very blessed with this trust.

I want to tell you about 3 women, one of whom has passed recently, but three women who gave their hearts to these kids.  Carmen, Diane and Theresa.  After watching the last Global TV newscast, when "Faithful" the cow was donated to put in all our water, Carmen and Diane called me to tell me that they were donating $10,000 into my account for the completion of the staff home and the purchase of 50 goats.  I want to say a huge "THANKS" from all of us in North America and in Jinja, Uganda for this unbelieveable gift.  You have provided our sustainability program, our home is now almost finished and we are so grateful to you.  Theresa, I know you are up there watching all of this and I want you to also know that you made change in a very impoverished part of the world...We thank you and your two daughters.  God bless you

I want to thank Mark and Angela for finishing the latrine...I wish you could help me talk Edwin into bright purple...Thanks so much

To Susan Morrison and Mark Heiby for all the paint for the kids rooms and the main house.  I promise to get pictures when it is finished.

To Ish...the plumbing..wow, we have plumbing now and thanks to you I am going to have a real shower...yipppeeee

A big thanks to Lorene Vanderwal for writing the wonderful story of "Water from a Cow" in the Westgen magazine.  Good job, loved it.

And to everyone else who sent donations helping us to complete our home.  We may have a way to go with the interior but I know that we will finish in time before grand opening.  Thanks to all of you who continually help us to reach our goal.  If we can get these kids in before they get to Nathan's stage, we may be able to help them live longer with medicine and lots of love. 

And of course...Global TV, there are no words strong enough to say enough thanks to you all.  Linda and Carl...you are the best.  

Hard Work Pays......

I remember back when we first started this dream, Edwin placing a small sign in the dirt for all workers to see, saying the words "Hard Work Pays".  We have had teams of men clearing the land, constructing the children's home and now finishing the staff home and clinic.  We will have another team arriving soon to drill and provide the water with submursive pumps for the entire compound and yet another who will be finishing the interior of both homes.  Every one of these men seem to have never taken their eyes off this little sign.  They have worked tirelessly to provide a beautiful area to raise 32 little "angels".  Right down to the City Engineers and Inspectors, all of who continually pass us with flying colors on the quality of work.  It is as though each person involved takes a personal pride in the job they are doing and are building this compound as if it is their own. 

And then there is our side of the world...North America

How could we have ever gotten this far without you all?  You are amazing, really you are. Tom and Laury with our "Faithful" to provide all water...  my daughter and her husband, who has helped us so much, sending clothes over by DHL, sending Nathan and his family all food and medicine money to help with Nathan's condition and providing the cost of a lawyer to establish a non-profit organization.  Rich and Marian on our Board of Directors who continually step in when something is needed and guide us through the legal system.  Because of you and Chris, we will soon be a "Society", the first step in a long process.
The work that has gone into all of this, is done with such love....
I could go on and on but like "some people say"  Barb talks alot.....won't say who...lol

We have another surprise but I need to get permission to share with you....next blog

No truer words were ever spoken

Meet Martin....he comes every day to help Edwin, Issac and David plant the lawn.  Such a different process than we know. Little tuffs of grass set in the soil and watered and eventually......

Voila...

I wonder if we'll need a lawn mower one day...I bet this will be a plush grass when fully developed.
OK, add this to the list...a lawn mower

I wanted to brag about my birthday present I received in May.  My avacodo tree....it's growing fast and one day it will be as big as.....

This one 

If you are as big an avacado lover as I am, you have to come and spend some time with us. This is only one of the trees on the property.

Does anyone recognize these?  Yup...I took seeds over and they are growing well so we definitely will have
a little of Canada here with us.

We have the main latrine going up presently.  This is one of the boys who offered to help us, placing the left over bricks from the houses in order to build.  We think we will have enough remaining from construction to finish.

Almost there.....

This is one man I want to talk about....Atimu
Atimu works day and night to make the windows (28) and doors (6).  You cannot imagine the work that he has put into them and they are so beautiful that people want to purchase them off the street. This is a door he is working on here, welding the insert in.  He will then sand the entire unit, add a coat of rustproof paint and then paint a beautiful color.  Surprise, you will see when finished.  Look at his glasses...if anyone knows where I can purchase a welding hat or special glasses from Canada will you let me know?  I want to do something special for him as he has really given his heart to this project. 

Just a few of the windows

You can see the idea of what the windows will look like.  Again, another Inspector.  This is Jenson, a qualified Engineer checking on Atimu's work.  He was commended on the quality.

You all know Edwin, the role model for all these boys.  He is with Alex, Nathan's brother.  We put him
into school today, so Edwin went shopping for shoes, clothes and books.  This little one will be coming to
our home as it isn't looking good for Nathan or his mommy Mutesi.  Nathan is now blind and Mutesi is not
well with her HIV.  We have assured Alex that he will have a home with us.

Proud new student

Thanks once again for your caring and love for the kids.  Also, thanks to all of you who helped put a child
in school today and to the people who spoke to others in order to get me more speaking engagements.  All these are acts done out of love and we appreciate you so much.

Our love for God can be measured by our love for others