Jaaja Barb's Home of Angels: Overcoming Challenges

Since the pandemic first began spreading in early 2020, its changed life for everyone worldwide. All of us are definitely overcoming many challenges. We're separated from extended family and friends and learning new ways to cope with the isolation, stress, and anxiety that's come with this new normal. The constant barrage of media news and knowledge can dominate our minds and it becomes increasingly difficult to find time to be quiet, to think and to pray. Statistics in Uganda are much better than ours. They have had 318 known deaths since the start of COVID-19.

We recently evacuated the children to Edwin's family's home in Malindi village. With the election violence around us, we felt it was important for the kid's safety. Edwin loaded the children into the school bus, and David, his brother followed in the van with bedding and essentials. As you can see by these pictures, this was probably the most exciting time in their lives. They had no knowledge of what was happening around them so besides the fact they were actually going on a real bus for the first time and a trip to boot...this was even more exciting than a soda pop. Can you imagine?

Besides The COVID-19 and restrictions involved, plus the elections that were held recently, the country has been relatively locked down. I've had little communication with Edwin this past month but I do know the children are safe and having fun playing on 40 acres in the village.

Many of you are emailing me to ask if we are in trouble and where is the monthly blog? Thanks for caring and know that everything is going to be just fine. We just need a little time for the dust to settle from the election.

In the meantime, here are some pictures to make you smile.

Thank you Lord for what you have done for these little munchkins. They're so happy, healthy and full of love for each other. This is the reason we don't call ourselves an orphanage....We are one big family.!!

First of all, I'd better explain this sign on the bus. Before evacuation, the company that made the sign had made a template in plastic. This was it. All the letters weren't on yet and there were errors, but all will be fixed when they return.

Can you imagine being the bus driver (Edwin) and driving many hours listening to this excitement?

We want to thank everyone who donated towards the Bibles. These are in English, Lusoga and Luganda, but the ones previously ordered were solar, audible and Luganda. When everything settles down, Pastor Richard will be heading to the villages that are requesting him. Why? When COVID hit and the country was closed down, people in the deep villages had no access to food. Between Edwin and the village leaders working together and our wonderful donors from Canada, they were able to feed many, many people. Edwin and David accessed the food and because of the danger of starvation, the armed soldiers distributed it, explaining the food was from Jesus. The big question for them now is....who is this Jesus?

OK, don't get excited. Remember when we elderly people were kids? We used to climb trees to pick fruit too. These are jackfruit and my favourite. If I ever get the chance to return, I won't be climbing but I'm definitely looking for this tree.

Annette, Joanne, Zakia, Marian and Eva....I'm so happy they have a few more years with us.

I'm thinking Edwin had gone to the market to get these clothes and Mama Precious is distributing them. The one good thing is, everything is passed down and when they don't fit anyone, out to our neighbours they go. It's been a year since I was there and the children are growing so quickly.

Edwin teaching the kids English by singing.

Edwin and I would like you all to understand how much we appreciate what you have done for Home of Angels over the past almost 12 years. Beginning in 2010, with a request from a person I didn't know, "Edwin" who wanted to feed some garbage dump kids. He asked me for help!! Long story short...I sent him some money for rice. He sent me pictures of the dump and pictures of feeding the children. I had never been there, but before I knew it, snakes or no snakes, I was on a plane and never looked back.