Here are some of the babies in their new donated diapers.

Betty and Aunty Tracy on the day she went home.

A very thin Theresa suffering from the after effects of Cerebral Malaria and malnutrition. She is improving day by day. A very fat and happy baby Carol about to go home and her twin sister Josephine happy to be headed home with her new set of straight eyes. Thanks for all your prayers.

pictures and prayer

Hi everyone,

So today is Sunday and it is a good day so far. A little quieter than most so I have an extra few minutes to blog. I am posting some random pictures from the trip so far and have a pray request.

The prayer request is that you would pray for my back. For about a month now I have had a very hard time with my back. It is on the oposite side as usual, so I am not sure what is going on. The MD thinks it is sciatica, the chiropracter which I have seen a couple of times thinks it is muscular. I think it might be more spiritual. Whatever it is the pain is very real and at times it is hard to even get out of bed. I am doing exercises, taking more medicine than I would like and have seen little improvement. So I am asking you to really pray. It is hard to continue to do what I have been called here to do, working with this pain. It is hard to sit, especially on a motorcycle which is the main transport here and I have not slept through the night in over a month. I thank you in advance for joining me in prayer in this and believing for a full recovery.

Now for the pictures.

There is a picture of the view of Lake Victoria just a few steps from my house. It is basically the same view I have from my balcony.

Me holding the puppy that Renee picked out of the road on her way home. It was only two days old and had to be bottle fed. Is now in a good home.

One is Andrew mopping the veranda African style, which he did well.

One is the neighborhood kids helping move furniture when the night guard moved into his new house. Gotta love it!

And last but not least is a photo of a very happy Carol holding her new English Bible.

Tired

So it is late and I am tired, so I wont write much. But I wanted to post a few pics so you can see some of the faces that you have been praying for. God has several of them through dark valleys, and we are trusting the rest to him to do so yet. Thank you for your continued prayers and support as I labor through this calling and this season. These babies are so precious and I so desire for each one to live so that they may have the opportunity to come to know my Lord and Savior. In the end that is all that truly matters. You can probably figure out who is a current resident and who has gone already, but the one with the two fancy teeth is Jeremiah, current. The big eyes and dazzling white smile is Harriet, currently recovering from severe pneumonia. The finger chewer is my special little Mazafalu. He has been her almost as long as me. He arrived the week after I did. I LOVE this baby and got to watch him leave for home yesterday fat and happy and healthy! Praise the Lord! The bouncy sisters are not really sisters but both wanted to be the cutest baby in the bouncer. Carol on the left and Maria on the right have both gone home in the last month and are doing well. And last but certainly not least is my sweet little boy Waiswa driving in his cardboard motorcar! He loved it and had so much fun. This is the one who stole my heart most of all. He went home a few weeks ago which was hard for both of us, but a joyful thing since he had been so sick when he came. Thanks again for all your prayers! God is so Faithful!!

January 16th

It has been a challenging week. We have had several new arrivals and they are sick! One sweet young girl had severe pneumonia and was in the hospital most of the week.  Renee and I took turns spending the day and night with her. Here in Africa when someone is in the hospital a family member or friend needs to be there to shut the IV off when necessary and to provide food. If you’re not there, it does not happen. So it was a long week of little sleep for both of us. Renee had it twice as bad as me because on top of everything else her daughter Selah ended up with what we think was a spider bite that turned into cellulitis. The good news is everyone is home now, and on the mend. We have one more child on a drip at home but he too is showing signs of improvement. I am hopeful that all of these new little ones have turned the corner on the hard part of the fight. They still have a long way to go to get healthy, but I am hopeful that the worst is over.

On a lighter note, I have moved into a new house. It is just a few doors down from where I was before. We are in the process of making room for more babies at SHC. So I am living with another missionary which opens up more space at the house. It is really nice and I have been enjoying some sweet fellowship and prayer with my friends and new roomies. Tonya and her 4 year old son are from Arizona and have been here for 6 months. They have welcomed me with open arms, lots of prayer, and some yummy meals. Oh ya, and HOT SHOWERS!!  I know it makes me a wussy missionary but I hate cold showers and I am so thankful to now have access to a hot shower! I cannot believe how dirty I manage to get in one day! Especially my feet! Ucky!

The best part of moving is quiet time. My room is upstairs with a view of the lake and it is very quiet. My mornings now begin with the sun streaming in my big windows as the sounds of Africa awaken me. I usually am able to have at least an hour of quiet before I head to the business of my day. I grab a cup of coffee and head back to my lovely room and spend time talking to my Father as he readies me for my day. It is by far the most important part of my day. Pray I stay consistent with it!

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support. It means so much to me that I have so many going before the throne for me and these children as I try to walk this path that he has carved for me.  I love you and miss you all.

A new Year and a new house

So a new year has come and I am half way through my assignment in Uganda. It has been a tale of two cities the whole time. The best of times and the worst of times. Anyone reading my updates knows. Well I am hoping with the new year the worst of times has left and the best of times remains.

I am starting the new year in a new home. My friend Tonya who lives just a few houses a way from us has given me space in her home and I am loving it! This is freeing up space at the SHC house for more babies. In fact we have gotten 3 new kids in the last 3 days.

What can I say about my new place. It is AMAZING! I am so spoiled. I am living upstairs and have my own room. An incredible view of Lake Victoria, a scorching hot shower, and a lovely breeze that comes through my room most of the time.

The best part is my new roomy Tonya and I spend a good deal of time praying, worshiping and just sitting around talking about the things of the Lord. It is really wonderful. She is helping to fill a large void in my life that had been left in the absence of my friends in the burg and Radford.

This morning I woke up before my alarm, to the sound of birds and roosters. A cool breeze blowing through the window, and streams of golden Ugandan sun coming through the window. It was lovely. I stumbled down the stairs got my coffee and got back in bed with my coffee and bible for at least a half an hour. It was a great way to start the day!

Thanks to everyone for the prayers this week. I love and miss you more than you know.I am praying for you too!

Andrew

Below is the what Renee posted on her blog. I really dont have words. So with her permission I am sharing her post here.


FRIDAY, JANUARY 7, 2011

“I want my Mom”. Those were the last words that came out of Andrew’s month right before he met Jesus...
At approximately 4 years old, Andrew was left on his Grandmother’s doorstep. Abandoned and starving to death. With little hope of a recovery they made their way to our house; seeking refuge and healing. Though, the kind of healing that we all desired to take place was not achievable here on this earth.


On Wednesday, after being with us for 3 days, Andrew passed away. Trying to breathe life back into a 7 kilo baby is an experience I never want to repeat…ever.


Still today, I do not believe it was an accident that Andrew ended up on my porch… Just like Nabakoza, God had a plan. He still does! Even though I don’t know what it is, I will choose to say “Blessed be the name of the Lord.” When He gives, and when He takes away. I will praise. I will pray. I will follow. I will love. For that is what I am called to do...

If the photos dont come through you can see them on Renee's blog at

www.servinghischildreninuganda.blogspot.com