Winning and Losing

The journey that Edwin and I are on is all about "Winning" and "Losing".

We have been blessed with so many of you sending donations, buying my banana bread and just praying for our success in building Jaaja Barb's Home of Angels.  Sponsoring the kids, sending them to school and letting them know they are loved is so wonderful.

We started this project in 2010.  Since then, we have many followers that contact us daily to find out what they can do.  We have been able to build almost an entire 1 1/2 acre compound with an added 2 acres for sustainability.  We have no funding and we are trying to get a tax number, but while we wait, you never give up and don't worry about what you will get in return.  This is where we WIN...friends, family and supporters who care.

Then there are the kids that LOSE ...what about the ones who have died while patienting waiting for our home to open.  Our special little guy, Nathan.  Who can forget our little Nathan who died from cancer with 27 tumors on his head when HIV should have taken him.  Or what about Joseph who suffers from HIV that is hanging on for his first home. Kind neighbours look after him in the meantime.  Or what about our missing little one, Sammy.  This is Hope and Desire's brother, who's blind Grandma is hiding him so she can have help to survive.  Sammy is 8 years old and takes care of her, not able to go to school.  Tragic...

These things don't only happen in Uganda, but a problem around the world.  I chose to come here to try and make a small difference.  Because of Edwin on the other side of the world controlling things, and with all of you....We are going to make it.  We are hoping for early 2013 to be up and running but only God knows this for sure.   I believe He is smiling down on us and will help us make this a reality.  Thank you all for following us and caring.

The north side of the wall has reached 8' and runs alongside the road leaving the property by the main gate.  We only have one side to finish and that is beside the grass hut. Once this is done, the plastering will be competed and the gate installed.  Rolls of electrical wire will be placed on top of the entire compound wall.  

The kids home has been painted.  Burgundy doors with beige, white and burnt almond colouring.  This is beautiful and thank you Edwin and Jenson for your expertise in the combination of these colours.  The grass is growing fast and I think James better be getting his panga ready for it's first cut.

Peter has worked very hard on painting and prepping all the rooms for the kids.  Edwin painted the doors and windows so I do have to give him credit for that.  Good job both of you.

All that is left are the floors.  The beds are welded and the trimming and pictures are ready to be hung. Can you imagine a little one coming into this room from a the streets and being able to call this home? I will be sure to take pictures of this to show you all.  

These floors are so pretty but take so long to make.  They started them when I left in May. Each step has to be performed and then dried for days.  The 3 apartments  are almost complete which include 9 bedrooms, 3 kitchens, 3 sitting roomsand 3 kitchens including hallways.  We are grateful to the Hydo company for putting in the the electricity so we can use the machines to grind and polish the stone.  

Edwin is starting to lay the paving stones for the paths and roadway.  We have 10,000 paving stones waiting behind him and we may need more as they complete the roadway out to the gate.  This will complete the look of the project and cut back on the dirt for the homes. When we are finished, there will be only grass, gardens and paving stones inside the compound.  Oh, and most importantly, the mango,  papaya, avocado, jackfriut trees and banana trees. Can't believe I am going to live with a real banana tree.

I'm very proud of my daughter and family to have sponsored 3 kids from one family. They have never had the chance to live together before. You never see these kids smile, but I think I see one sneaking through, don't you?  Kim and Chris decided to help them to grow up together, but also to start them in school now.  They say they are going to make you proud and I am instructed to say "Thanks" to you.  

This is Celeste and her brother Chase.  You may recognize Celeste as she and her friends are baking banana bread as a project in Heritage Woods Secondary School.  They are close to raising $1,000 and this is the 2nd time they have done it.  Wow!

Celeste is graduating this year and so is her brother Chase from elementary school, so to celebrate this event, they thought it would be a great idea to get each of the 30 kids in Chase's classroom to draw a picture of what life in a Canadian school is like.  I will take it to Uganda and get the kids there to do the same and bring it back here.  Great idea you guys....and thanks.

This picture is in the local prison where the men came from that dug our trench.  We wanted to say thanks to them in a way that would be useful and since they were so sick, it was medicine we chose. Carolyn and Warren sent us the money for this to happen and Edwin and Dr. Isaac proceeded to carry out this task.  No cameras were allowed in the cells so these are the guards checking it over first in the office.  There were 111 men on the men's side and 22 on the women's side. Isaac tested for malaria and found 5 positives.  All men had fungal disease (ringworm) so tablets were dispensed. 25 men had diarrhea and they all had wounds from hard labor so he administered antiseptics.
Isaac had purchased a case of soap and divided it up among them all before leaving.



Thanks once again to all of you who follow this blog.  We are not there yet, but each time becomes a little closer and I know that in God's timing, it will happen.  Also, thanks to everyone who bought my banana bread.  It really means a lot to me that you keep ordering and there is always a big thanks to Save on Food for supplying all the ingredients for us.  If I can keep this going, I figure another 1000 loaves and we can finish.

God bless you all.....

Grateful Hearts

There has got to be a word stronger than "GRATEFUL".  Edwin and I have been overwhelmed with this word in Uganda, North America and abroad.  Lets start with Uganda.  Here we have a man named Jenson, our contractor, who has 27 men working to build our compound.  Jenson pays these men every day to build for him, but for Edwin and I, we cannot reimburse him for these wages and Jenson does not ask.  He just takes pride in what is happening and knows one day Ugandan children will benefit.  Well.....if you don't think this doesn't make me shed tears, it sure does.

We then have James... sleeping on the property every night, guarding it with his trusty machete as his family sleeps only footsteps away.  On his own, James planted our vegetable garden, all the flowers and now an entire hedge encasing the inside of the wall. He also never asks for anything as he is so proud to be apart of this home.

We have Global TV on this side of the world.   Because of this professional team of people, we were exposed to many who continually come forth to help.   I am sure that without them we would not be where we are today and also believe that the entire Province of B.C. watches them by the responses we receive.  Thanks Global...

We have Save-on-Food whom I  cannot say enough about.  Every time I need to bake more banana bread, they are there for us supplying all the ingredients.  This enables our construction to continue daily as we  build loaf by loaf and brick by brick.  Thanks so much Mark, Gord and your entire teams.

And then we have our donors....oh my goodness, how can we ever say enough thanks to all of you?  As many of you want to be anonymous, I won't say names but you all know who you are.  Thank you so much for your contributions of shoes, clothing, medical equipment, Bibles, children's essentials and so much more.  To my Board of Directors who has had such a huge impact in so many ways.  We could not provide this dream without any of you.

Thanks to all of you who sponsor the children we already have.  To the Grandmas in Canada who have taken on the Grandma and Grandpa in Uganda to help raise their grandchildren.  To the kids here helping kids there by sending their piggy banks to us to buy their new friends a colouring book or a pair of shoes.  To everyone who sent money to send a child to school for a year and to all the schools who participated in raising money.  I could go on and on, but I will stop now.  You all know who you are and Edwin and I feel very blessed to have you in our lives.  Thank you.

I would like to show you the latest pictures of our beautiful compound that you all took part in creating.

Meet "Angel"o

Angelo is our new mascot for Jaaja Barb's Home of Angels and was designed  by a wonderful women named Lottie.  Lottie has been an inspiration to us as she continues to help the Grandmas and Grandpas in our area. She gives them hope by helping them start a business to provide for their many grandchildren.  Thanks Lottie for your loving heart. 

Meet Jenson our contractor.  God placed this man in our lives for a purpose and we will be forever grateful.  Honestly, I have never met anyone like him and to know that he pays all these men daily and never asks for reimbursement is humbling.  We are able to purchase enough concrete blocks, mortar and other things it takes to keep building, but he knows we can't pay the wages.  There will come a day where he will be rewarded, so thank you Jenson from all of us, you truly are a wonderful human being.  You will never be sorry my friend.

Thanks Richard for painting the house for us also.  Another gift from the heart from Edwin's friend. 

Our children's home is getting a facelift.  Jenson, our contractor thought it would be a nice touch to have rounded pillars and more designing on the front.  The next time you see this picture....the home will be painted on the outside.  The excitement is building with so many changes.

Ohhhhhh, this is difficult to look at.  Simon, you are my hero.  These concrete blocks weigh a lot and we have another 1000 coming in tomorrow.  I cannot imagine what it feels like at the end of the day. Thanks to all the crew who are now working with enthusiasm as they can see big results happening. Check out the grass in the background.

For those who don't know, this is Barb's Lane that leads out to the main road.  At the end
of it will be the large steel gate at the entrance.  The wall has now reached this area and in the next week will continue down the east side of the property.  The entire wall will be 8' high with concrete covering the blocks.  We have only the south side to complete with an estimation time of one month and 200 banana breads.

This is another one of James creations.  A vegetable garden with green peppers and egg plant.  You can also see the entire west and north side of the wall at the first stages of building and climbing higher every day.

Oh James....our trusty guard, flower and vegetable gardener and now.....hedge designer.
When this is all finished and in full bloom, it will be spectacular.  James loves this home and takes great pride in making sure everything is perfect.  When we were there, we watched him picking up the garbage, planting anything he could and just taking pride in our Home of Angels.  Thanks James

The gutters are on the roof and the extension into the community tank is completed.  This tank will be for the village outside our gate.  These people have been a big part of our lives as we build and we want to try and help them in every way we can.  Water is crucial and they will not have to walk so far now with a pumping station outside our wall.  We also have the idea, if we get funding, to fix their roads that we have basically destroyed with heavy trucks coming to our compound.  It would take so little.  Our future plan.

Do you remember Joseph?   We almost lost him more than once due to HIV but God had other plans for him.   Simone and Olivia....I hope you are so happy to see your sponsored child here looking so content and well.  Edwin visits him regularly to make sure he is OK and has everything he needs.  He really loves these kids and makes sure every one of them are not suffering.  We count the days until they can come and be at their new home.

Jimmy is clearing the 2 acres that we recently purchased.  Because of the donation of the pig that was given to his family, he works very hard each day to say thanks.  This lush area is large and there are many stumps to remove before we put in the chicken and goat pens.  We estimate raising 50 goats along with broiler and layer chickens.  Thanks to so many people who gave of their hearts to help us start a sustainability program.  We are not finished but this is a great start.  Thanks to all of you who contributed.


There isn't enough thanks to give.  So many of you email me every day asking what you can do to help make it go faster or what you can sew and purchase.  We need one thing from you all and that is a prayer for a container.  My good friend Amanda has allowed us to use her basement as a storage area in case this dream comes true and since we believe in the power of prayer, nothing will be turned away if it will benefit the compound and the children.

God bless you all.

Strength in Weakness

I really believe in this "Strength in Weakness" phrase.  God's greatest power can be displayed in our biggest weakness.  Here I am, a Grandma, retired because I am sort of old and have no real skills at business, but I can bake banana bread.  That is where I have found my strength.  
Proof that if you have a dream....follow it and go with your weakest strength.  It works.


One of the other advantages of getting on in years (I hate the word "old") is, we have learned to be patient when we cannot snap our fingers and things are done instantly.  Jaaja Barb's Home of Angels is at a point now where patience is going to be needed.  It's human nature to leave the most expensive items to the end...We sure did....the wall.  I have to explain to you all that we never intended it to be this way. We shot ourselves in the foot...we built a wonderful compound in a destitute area and what happened?? Prices skyrocketed everywhere, from land values to the cost of bricks.  Everyone wants to move here now because we are the growing and influential area.  All people in Uganda look for a way to grow and they found us..  
We were able to wheel and deal on the land price by reducing it down $4,000 but we have no hope of changing the price of the wall.  We still need $13,000.00 to complete the entire 8' concrete structure that encases our 1 1/2 acre compound.  It seems to have skyrocketed overnight and not uncommon in these areas I am finding out.


In the meantime, we have people on both sides of the world helping and eventually the Home of Angels will become a reality.  Here are some of the most recent events that have taken place and Edwin and I would like to share them with you all.

This is the land we recently purchased and since telling you about it, the price has come down $4,000.00. There is no rhyme or reason as to why it is "up" of "down".  As we told you before, an anonymous donor gave $8,000.00.  We have now had a donation of $7,000.00 which has almost covered it.  This land will house our sustainability program of chickens and goats plus a Technical school to be built in the future.  It is situated alongside our property which makes it convenient for the children to learn a trade for their future.   It also gives the locals a chance for jobs when it comes time to train them in a trade.  That's our roof in the distance.

This is the start of the construction for the wall.  Thanks to people such as Karen and Gary Booy for getting the word out to the dairy farmers to help raise money for construction.  We have a good portion already built thanks to the donations received, but because of  the costs raising so quickly we have a ways to go.  This wall will be 8' high with rolled wire along the top and with an iron gate at the entrance.  Thanks for writing our story and also to the dairy farmers for caring and giving their hearts to this cause  throughout British Columbia.  We are very grateful.


The entire story can be seen here:

BCHNews-Spring2012-LoRes-PageSuite 33.pdf
1180K   View   Download  

The grass hut is almost finished.  The only part remaining is the floor, chairs and the mosquito screens. The chairs have already been donated by Chloe and her sister Angie and the mosquito screens by Peter and MaryLou May.  Thanks to all of you for helping us make this a very special place. It will be our "community" hut for many different events.

Our gutters are now being installed around the main house. As we explained before, our desire is to give back to the community.  The best way to do this is to provide water in some way, so we decided to install gutters on the roof, buy a 5000 litre tank and run a line under the wall to a pumping station.  The gutters will be completed by next week and as soon as the wall is built, we can run the lines to provide this treasured commodity for them. Check out the sky........beautiful 

And here is Simon planting grass...Ugandan style.  He takes a tuft of grass, digs a hole perfectly spaced and inch by inch he plants each piece.  Wow, what we take for granted.  Simon is one of the boys who was raised by his blind Grandma and thanks to Marlaina and Ron in Alberta, they have been blessed with food.  Also, thanks to Sheila for the pig to start a business.  That pig is now going to have piglets.... Because of their gratitude,  Simon, Jimmy and Sula are working every day on the property to make it beautiful.  It's the only way they can say thank you to people who are making life bearable for them.   These boys are special to my heart for sure......

Another "special to my heart" person....Dr. Isaac.  Here, wearing his Jaaja Barb's Home of Angels t-shirt, he displays what is left of the medicine that was donated to him from Carolyn and Warren.  They are two committed people who never fail this doctor.  Remember, in Uganda, statistics are that there are 4 nurses and 1 doctor to every 100,000 people.  Isaac never charges the poor so when he can get medicine for the children, it makes his heart smile.  Thanks to the both of you for being so kind and helping him provide such a valuable tool for the hurting. Then, on top of that, he is getting good use out of the medical equipment that he received in February from another anonymous donor.  Wow, people are so unbelievable with their hearts.

Celeste Matthews, Claire Huang, Emiko Newman and Amber Chong are all grade 12 students from Heritage Woods Secondary School in Port Moody. They have been raising money since last year by baking banana bread and selling to parents and teachers and also at local events such as fashion shows, concerts, dance shows, and their school music department's Dessert Jazz Night . Last year they raised nearly $800, and this year they plan to raise $1000. The girls and their friends: Janelle Lee, Fred Chang, Clara Tsang, and Felix Chung, have been baking banana bread and only yesterday, they baked 25 loaves! 
You all are amazing to us and we thank you for your hard work and caring hearts.  Edwin and I really hope that one day you will be visiting us.  

Look at these beautiful pillow cases.  Joanne Akkerman made them for our little angels and each one is out of fabric with colorful animals or cartoons.  Can you just visualize these kids hopping up into their first new bed with a pillow like this?  We have been donated stuffed animals and an "angel" for the wall.  So much poured into making them feel loved.  Those are the blogs I am going to have the most fun with....showing you the expressions on their faces.

Meet the first team to ever arrive for a visit to Jaaja Barb's Home of Angels.


The most amazing part of this is that they are from my hometown, Abbotsford.  These are Grade 12 students from MEI and they came to see what we had built in the short period of a little over a year. They were already in Kampala, but took the trip north to visit Edwin.   I had just missed them by a week as I had to return to Canada, but the fact that they came is so wonderful.  Edwin and I often speak about the teams to come and how much they will be an impact on the children.    We hope you will come back one day MEI students.




Thanks to all of you who emailed me on the last blog to say I do not "rattle on".  It always seem that I have so much to tell you.  On behalf of Edwin and myself, I want you to know how much you are appreciated by us.  Not only us, but by our Board of Directors in both countries.  We have two teams of people, in Uganda and in Canada who give from their hearts.  We have been so blessed to walk this walk and see the results in such a short period of time and all of us want to say thanks for your prayers, your love and your encouragement.


Global TV has again put us on the news and we feel blessed by the media coverage.  We would also like to share the newscast with you as it is not only with me this time but with Marian and Laury who came with me and witnessed the true stories of  "Life in Eastern Uganda".





Until next time...

Love and Caring with a Purpose

Edwin and I are lost for words when we speak about how this project evolved and how many people have supported us along this journey.  We believe it is all God and that He put you in our lives for a purpose.  To help His children....and that is exactly what you have done.  PLUS.....the odd Grandma and Grandpa.

We have not completed the entire project, but we know that one day it will happen and it will be in His timing.   Thanks to all of you for putting your hearts and trust in us.  Without that, we could never have accomplished so much in so little time.    Yes, we have a ways to go to make it a safe environment with the wall and it is the biggest part of the cost, but we know in time it will happen.  Our little ones who will be coming in are already learning English, learning how to smile and feel compassion towards others and we can see a future in their lives.  They have hope for the first time.  We have to share with you that we told a few of them because of their circumstances.  We can see a difference in their every day life but the most rewarding part is the "smile".  They know they have HIV, they know they are sick but something has changed.  They have HOPE.   Without your help, this would never have happened.  We hope you will continue to follow our journey as we make this dream a reality for 32 little angels...we are so close.

This is Mr. Peter.  He is the man who made a decision to sell us his land which joins alongside ours.  Land values have increased in our area of Mpumudde, but because we were given a donation of $8,000, we were able to barter with him.  Today he agreed to terms with the local leader present.  It is culture to
do business buying land this way and makes it official on paper.  We must come up with $7,000 by
the end of April and the remainder when we can.  Edwin convinced him to drop his price down $3,000  and we are now blessed with a piece of property that will accommodate a Technical school and land for the animals.  I tell you....Edwin you are the best "barterer ever".  You have saved us a lot of money....

This is the most amazing thing that has happened to us.  I said to Edwin one morning, "Why did you buy the men uniforms to dig?"  He said "I didn't".  These are prisoners from the prison in Jinja.  Normally they would never do this but again....Edwin pulled it off.  His friend works at the prison and
volunteered the men to help us dig the 1 1/2 acre trench for the 8' wall.  It took them 3 days instead of  3 weeks.  The neighbours are just shaking their heads....first the electricity goes in, in 5 days and now this.

We were able to pay them very little but Edwin and his brother, Dr. Isaac are going to the prison tomorrow with medicine to treat them for the many things wrong with them such as ringworm, jiggers and fungal disease.   We have two wonderful followers, Carolyn and Warren who donate money for his medicine to help the people.  It has mainly been for the children, but these men truly deserve help after what they did for us.  Thanks again for helping Dr. Isaac.

These are the stumps they had to dig out with a hoe and an axe...

The men are cleaning out the trenches in preparation for the foundation.  It is only because
of the people in the dairy community in British Columbia that any of this is possible.
They have raised a lot of the money to make it happen and we will never forget them for their huge hearts.
The BC Holstein News, edited by Gary and Karen Booy have made a big impact by sharing the
story in the News... Thanks to all of you who helped protect the kids with this wall.
You can read the story at  www.holsteinnews.com

And we begin the construction of the foundation.

Edwin is reading the BC Holstein News.  The article is about Laury and Tom DeGroot donating the sale of "Faithful" the cow to put in all the water, tanks and septic tank.  See story at www.holsteinnews.com

The tanks are in place and lines installed into each apartment.  The one on the ground that you
see is for the community.  The gutters will go up next week and the rainwater will go only
into that 5000 litre tank.  A line will be put into the ground extending to the outside of the wall
for the people to pump water.  As it is now, they travel a distance with their jerry cans and it is so
often the little ones doing the fetching.  Maybe we can give them some extra playing time.
Once again...thanks to Tom and Laury DeGroot for helping hundreds of people have water.
We all love you for this great gift and I know if everyone could speak, they would be yelling it
across the oceans.  Edwin hears every day how grateful they are, so God bless you both.

This is what I call "Barb's Treasure"..... sorry, but I am not a good squatter and I love my toilet.

This is a beautiful story.  I have tears every time I look at this picture, but everyone knows me...I am an
emotional train wreck when it comes to starvation.

Malaina and Ron from Alberta heard about this story.  Grandma raised Jimmy and Simon as their
parents died of HIV when they were little.  Grandma is blind and has no way to feed them.  Jimmy and Simon are at our compound every day working so hard, never asking for a thing.  Lottie bought them a pig to see if they could start a little business and soon after, Malaina asked "what about the food?"  She and her husband Ron decided to send enough money to feed them for a month and this is a picture of them receiving it.  Jaaja (Grandma) has her hand on it to feel it and Jimmy said it was the most food they had ever seen.
These boys are so special to us and I don't know how they ended up so good with what they have lived with.  They are always there for us and work harder than most.  I watched both of them working for 9 hours, only to take a lunch break.  Edwin makes sure they get food daily with the crew.
I have been asked to say thanks to each of you who made their life a little easier.

Do you all recognize this little one?  This is our Joseph and he is feeling so much better. He has
been through a lot, in and out of the children's hospital needing bags of blood to survive.  He has
now had 3 and is holding his own.  He is a perfect example why we are trying to make this all
happen so quickly.  Joseph has never had a real home...Joseph has never had real love from people
who truly care what happens to him.  He now has Simone and Olivia sponsoring him from England and knows they love him.  He has a bed waiting and he knows that God is going to help him get through
this HIV a little longer until we can get the medication to help prolong his life.  I wanted to share this picture with all of you because we almost lost him more than once and now.....look  "another smile".



You know, they say I rattle on... I admit it.... I do.

But when you are there and you see the situations that are going on, you can't help but rattle on.  You can't show pictures about everything, so you try to explain it all.  So much is happening there, as it is all over the world, but in Mpumudde, we are really trying to make a difference to 32 little ones.  I guess what I am seeing that is so inspiring to me is, each child that knows they are coming into our home, is changing.  They are trying to learn, trying to please and prove they can be productive kids.  They have such potential and we see it.  Now that we have this new acreage, we can put up a Technical school, teach them a trade to survive and they will grow to teach others.  God is really with us on this project and we want to show the world that no matter what it takes, a loaf of banana bread or a fund raising project...just do it...You can make anything happen if your dream is big enough.

Thank you for all your love and your donations.  Thanks for your encouraging words and your contribution of everything to help us help our project.  Helping me to bake the banana bread and just your heart.  Some people tell me they have no time but have the money and send donations because they can and know that 100% goes to these kids.  Thanks for trusting Edwin and I.  We will never disappoint you.

We are now a Society

If you would like to help us with a donation, please send it to:

Jaaja's Home of Angels Society
PO Box 734, Stn A
Abbotsford, B.C.  V2T 7A1

God bless you all...

Leaving a Footprint.....

Leaving Mpumudde, Uganda was difficult for me.  I watched the project grow daily, watched 17 wonderful men working so hard to complete it to the point where I could show the world.  They are as proud as Edwin and I are and ask for so little.  How is it possible in a world so desperate that the people give of themselves out of love?  They do.  The community was shocked even when the poles for electricity were delivered.  They were installed immediately and we must have had 50 phone calls to find out how much we bribed them.  Then, 5 day later, on a Sunday, the wires were installed as a surprise.  I will never forget this.  They wanted to help us.

I came home to Canada to find so many people wanting to become involved...sending money, helping Grandma's and the biggest gift was put a down payment on the 2 acres of land beside us.  They have asked to be anonymous, but they have provided us the dream we prayed for.  Land for a technical school plus land for our sustainability program.  WOW.....I had to make this blog now to tell the world that we are so blessed and the children are going to have a place soon. Praise God.

This is Simon, Jimmy and Sula.  They have worked at the project every day for months and until I came to Uganda, I never knew of them.  They give of themselves, never asking for anything.  Well, that is about to change....these boys deserve a metal and so....because of a wonderful woman in Canada named Lottie...who wanted to donate to a Grandma...here it is.  The parents of these boys died when they were babies and the women who raised them was a blind Grandma....They are still with her but they have no way of survival, until now.  Lottie changed that.

Lottie provide a pig and that male pig has a girlfriend pig who hopefully will produce a baby pig.
Thanks Lottie....we have this huge plan to make it a large family and they will have enough to
make dinner on the table.

You know, I hate the word "anonymous".   BUT,  I have to respect this word.  A certain person who 

has this huge heart donated money to put a roof on this wonderful 92 year old man's home.  This man

had a wife who died just after his daughter did, less then one month ago, is in trouble..  All gone now, he is responsible for 3 little girls.

Hadeeja, Maryanne and a 3 year old.  Our anonymous friend could not stand the idea of having

a roof with a huge hole in it in the rainy season and replaced it.  Wow, he was over the top grateful and she also put the two older ones in school.  This is a huge success story...

Roof is on and no more sleepless nights

OK, now for the EXCITING news.  We have another donor who wishes not to be known that has 

donated a large portion of the 2 acres of land beside us.  We will own land title in the next week and can continue our dream.  Thank you so much .........., we are so very grateful to

be able to build a technical school to provide a trade for the future.   This land will also provide enough space for the sustainability program that is in the plans at the moment.

You can see a portion of the land we are talking about.

The rains are incredible.  We decided to put gutters on the roof of the main house.  They will
have a pipe that will go into the 5000 litre tank and a line from that, under the wall to
the community will be installed.  We need to provide water to our neighbours as well as
ourselves.  We are pumping 5000 litres and hour and the rest must be shared.
Love his boy...Hi Edwin

These are two of our kids.  I decided to start teaching English and you would not believe how

fast they are learning.  I am excited and have so many lessons prepared already.  They learned the

alphabet in less than an hour.  Can you imagine how fast they will learn the language with a 

little encouragement?   Alex and Hadeeja, you are going to be role models for the rest of them.

When I looked around the property before I left,  I discovered an area where someone had

planted green peppers and egg plant.  I saw other areas all sectioned off with other vegetables and

guess who had been making it beautiful for us????   JAMES.  Thank you James for your hard work, your silence to do good and your never asking for anything..  We know you love your home and 

you will always be there to protect and take care of it.  We love you James.  

We are really making this a dream come true..  This home not only will have character but will be full of love for kids that never had any such thing.  They will be encouraged, they will be loved and they will succeed.  Honestly, I know this for a fact.  Edwin and I want to thank all of you for your caring and wanting us to succeed. and never letting us down.  You send emails every day that keep our spirits high and we know you will  never stop believing in us.

I also want to say a word of thanks to David and Dr. Isaac.  Without them, we could not be who we are.  David is our main man with supplies and knows where all the best deals are.  Dr. Isaac is becoming known in Canada and many people are wanting to help him with medical supplies and medicine.  He goes about the villages just making sure his people are not suffering.  I watched him and he is very good with the little ones especially.  Thanks to all of you who donated money, equipment and medicine to him.  I know he would want me to say thanks.   

Thank you all of you....we are so grateful....

God bless you all

Edwin, Dr. Isaac, David  and Barb

Persistance Pays Off.....

It finally happened.

Edwin and I decided to walk to the project before the evening rains came to check on the homes and we discovered that today, a Sunday, the power people had quietly put up our electrical wires.  We are thinking it was done as a surprise as no one called us.  People in Uganda wait months between the time the poles come and the electricity is hooked up.  When the poles came, they immediately put them into the ground and we had so many phone calls wanting to know how much we bribed them..  Less than 5 days later, we have power.  No bribes...just blessed.

The rains have come and with a vengeance.  Mud huts are ripped apart by the force of the wind and rain and so many have their iron sheets blow away leaving them exposed to the elements while they sleep.  As fast as they come, they leave and again, bright sunny hot days.  We had our own incident at the project.  The rain is certainly helping the grass grow but coming down so hard, we decided to get a 5000 litre tank, install gutters and provide water to the community.  Water is the most valuable commodity here and we need to be helping our neighbours.

We are moving along very well by Ugandan standards but we have a ways to go still.  The house is almost finished, the paving stones are made and 10,000 will be laid soon.  The grass hut is finished and has been put to the test for leakage.  We passed with flying colours with these rains.   Now comes the wall.  Everything here is escalating at a rapid rate and bricks are slipping out of reach with cost.  We have decided to build with concrete blocks instead as it is much cheaper and it still will be secure enough for safety.  There have been three white missionary families vandalized recently and all because their wall was not secure enough. Once the wall is finished.....we can open.  Please pray this will happen by the end of this year because some of our kids are really sick and we want to see them really enjoying a small part of their life.

Now this is man power....honestly, when I saw this happening, I was shocked.  No machines to
help, just muscle and singing in unison to raise it.  The holes were hand dug and no standing around.
They gave us one for free and we had to purchase the other two.  Again...no bribes.

Today, 5 days later we see this as we are walking up the hill.  The phone calls keep pouring
in to find out how we did this....Edwin never gave up calling and for 2 months he telephoned
every day.  Persistence paid off, plus they just love us anyway.   I like to believe that part.

The final stage...the power box.  Edwin ran home to get a sturdy lock so that no one would
take it during the night.  Perfect timing for the floors to be completed.

The first day of the rainy season.  I couldn't walk home because there was so much mud.
I ended up going by car on some horrendous roads that have been destroyed by all the large
trucks coming to bring our supplies.  We made it but many did not.

So, the only thing to do is install a 5000 litre tank, put up the gutters and build a stand for it to sit under.  All this done, we will wait for the wall to be built, sinking a line under it so that  the people will have access to water instead of walking so far each day.  It's the little one's who seem to do most of the fetching.

The rock is being painted and hopefully before I leave here next week, we can finish it.  I
was hesitant how this would work out but actually it is beautiful and many people comment
on the look.

The tile in the kitchens will be completed this next week.  The men are working very hard now
to complete the finishing touches and really doing a beautiful job.  They all deserve a metal for
the work they do and many of them do it out of love for the project.

The beginning stages of the floors in all rooms.  I wish I could explain this procedure but
I am surprised every time I see a new step.  All I know is, at the end, the floor will be well
constructed and the power is needed to cut the slate which will be laid on top.  Promise to
send pictures...

All of us here want to thank (Anonymous) for helping this family.  Grandpa is in his 90's.
His daughter died of HIV a while back and his wife recently passed away.  He is now
responsible for raising Hadeja and Maryanne plus their 3 year old sister.  They live in a mud
hut the size of our tool sheds with a huge hole in the roof that they battle the rains with.
Anonymous is sending both girls to school and out of all the kids we try and help, these two are
the most excited.  I already started teaching English and they seem to grasp it quite quickly.
Grandpa says that he never had anyone help him past Grade 2 and they have to go to school all day
and come home at night and read until dark.  No use telling him to ease up.....He will be a driving force  because he is so grateful.  Thank you Anonymous.

Before we left for Uganda, my wonderful cousin who started "The Dog's Ear" T-shirt company
donated 20 t-shirts with our new logo. We have given them out to the people involved over here and they wear them daily.  I am wondering if they are ever going to change.....joking if any of you are reading this.  Edwin and I are flattered you love them so much.

We have so many people to thank.  So many wonderful people who really give their hearts to this
project and when you walk on the grounds now, you see it forming.  The kids are coming just to
hang out with the workers wanting to do something to help.  Even pulling the weeds is a job they keep
up with and helping us to distribute the water to the people on Saturdays.  Amazing gratitude from everyone and throughout all this construction...we have passed with flying colours with inspections.

God bless all of you for helping to change these little lives.

Barb and Edwin