The greatest disease and the greatest suffering is to be unwanted. Without a doubt, we are currently living in a community of poverty and brokenness. It's been a difficult year for everyone through many days of rain, homes washed away, few crops planted and now the people feeling as though they're travelling through uncharted territory. There is no more wood or charcoal for cooking, food and fuel is terribly expensive and there's very little work. Officials are also receiving intelligence that terrorists are interested in planting bombs in churches.
With all that's changing in Uganda, we still continue to have some really good stories. Two of our girls passed YWAM. Hope excelled in her grades and will be coming to Canada with her team soon. We have three more girls phasing out of HOA at the end of 2023 that will also attend YWAM and hopefully in 2024, two more girls will have the same chance. We have three more new orphans coming in as soon as they pass their medical and have their jiggers removed from their feet. Each blood-sucking parasite I've been told carries 1000's more if not removed and burned.
Because it rained for many months, the septic tank for the church collapsed underground. The smell was so intense that church services had to be held in the Bible school. The new tank has been rebuilt underground so services will continue very soon. This room will hold 500 people.
This is Alex and he's in the last stages of AIDS. His mother, Mutesi recently passed away and his little brother died in 2013 of the same. We were very close to this family and Edwin checks on him regularly. Alex knows it's a matter of time now but he wanted to say goodbye to Jaaja Barb. Broke my heart but I know I'll see him again.
Yasin is delivering food to a neighbour that hadn't had food for some time.
This is the first new child we will currantly be taking into HOA. She has had the jiggers taken out of her feet. She lived with her Grandma until she recently passed and then off to the streets looking for food.
This picture makes me so homesick. Look at these "not so little ones" anymore. It's been almost five years since I've been to Uganda and honestly, I struggle to know who some of them are. I'm very excited to be going back for another Christmas with the kids and our neighbours.
Edwin and the police wanted to help the men in addiction in our area, so Edwin organized and brought together the police, community leaders and camp leaders. There are 4 camps, each with a very organized leader. The men and women were nervous to come when they saw the police thinking they were going to be arrested but Edwin explained to them that wasn't the case. It was a good meeting. The police spoke kindly to them, explaining if they wanted help, they had professionals ready if needed and not to fear them.
Our LOVE project is amazing. These children are physically and mentally handicapped. Precious and Edwin went for a visit taking clothes for the children. This little one and many others there can only crawl on the ground. Their Mamas are providing everything they need by working hard to make soap, bricks, chalk for schools and anything new they can learn. They have a community bank account and each family is putting in money monthly. Precious is the Treasurer.
Precious took him over to try some clothes on him and he was so happy.
Look at this smile!
This father has four handicapped children. His wife left him for another man but he never abandoned them. He of course struggled for food so we helped him out with porcho and soap..
Everyone received a new shirt.
I love this expression!
The older girls are in another school off-site but when I go at Christmas, I'll be sure to update you.
Thanks again to all of you who've been a part of this wonderful story. The sponsors, the donors and you prayer warriors who never stop praying for health and safety.
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