Gratitude and Farewells

Apologies to you faithful blog followers for not posting during our final few days in Uganda.  Technology didn't always work the same there as at home and blogging became complicated and time consuming. 

So here's a wrap-up...
As always, the final couple of days were busy with saying goodbyes, tying up loose ends with projects, getting packed, etc.

We also took time to spend some final special moments with the children.  We told the older ones that we would soon be going in an airplane and that meant we would be gone for a long time. There were a variety of reactions (some becoming very serious, some repeating the information to others) as they processed this, no doubt being reminded that this happens on a regular basis as new friends come and go.

We are so grateful for the dear mamas and other staff who steadfastly, though often weary and sometimes sick, love and care for these precious little ones day after day and night after night.

On Tuesday, the day before we left, as the children napped, we gathered in the hut (a large open shelter with a thatched roof) to sing, pray and be together and to express our appreciation to all the staff for the wonderful way they love and care for the children and for welcoming us into the Sanyu family.  Also, on behalf of our many supporters from home, we were able to provide each staff member with a small financial gift.

After each member of our team thanked the staff, one by one, many staff members stood to express their personal appreciation to us.  They mentioned things that seem so small in the run of a day...hanging and folding laundry, feeding babies, washing dishes... They were also grateful for the projects which were completed and were especially excited about the playground.  One mama asked "Why us?" Our only answer was "Because this is where God called us to go."

As our time of departure grew closer many staff came to us individually to thank us and some shared how they intend to make use of the cash they received...assisting with school fees for their children, helping to cover the cost of medication for a father, purchasing coffee plants to begin a source of supplementary income.

And as they thanked us they repeatedly and emphatically requested we pass on their greetings, blessings and gratitude to their brothers and sisters in Canada.  So thank you dear friends, from Cheryl, Jodi, Andrew and Muriel for allowing us the privilege of representing you in Uganda. Thanks also from the children and from the staff and board of Sanyu Babies' Home for your interest, prayers and financial support which help them do what they do each and every day.
God bless you!

 

We say a sad goodbye....

A sad day at Sanyu. We attended a funeral service here this morning for Baby Darius who went to Heaven last evening. We are not sad for this sweet boy who will endure no more pain or suffering, but for ourselves and the hurting Sanyu family.

Bye Bye Akampa...

As expected, Allan’s departure brought a mixture of emotions. It seemed the same was true for him. He is old enough to understand, to some extent, that this would mean a big change for him. He seemed both excited and nervous as the staff each said their goodbyes and as his friends sang a touching farewell song before he climbed into the truck taking him to the bus park where he would begin a long overnight journey with the wonderful Sanyu social worker who accompanied him. Then, to reach his new village their journey would end with a boda ride. The Sanyu staff has done a great job of preparing Allan as much as possible for this transition in his life. 

Just prior to departing Sanyu I was invited to also accompany Allan to the bus park. It was a privilege to sit beside this little boy, about to embark on a journey far bigger than riding a bus and a boda, and hopefully provide a small measure of love and reassurance and reminders of God’s love for him. I also boarded the bus and helped him get settled into his seat before a final farewell. 

Allan’s African name is Akampa. This is the song the children sang as he departed from Sanyu and it is our hope and prayer for him too.

Bye bye Akampa

Bye bye Akampa

Bye bye Akampa 

May God bless you

Allan

Today is a big day for a special boy at Sanyu.

Cheryl and I met Allan when we came to Uganda for the first time in 2015. He really captured our hearts when he had an asthmatic attack one morning and we helped with his treatment until the Sanyu nurse arrived to begin her shift. Later we visited him in hospital. Allan taught us that if you don’t have a stethoscope available, an ear to the chest can work just as well.

Each year we’ve come we’ve enjoyed seeing how he’s grown and developed - learning our names and delighting in using them, having a fascination with watches, overseeing the playground project...

He was part of the excitement over the crib project last year.

And this year he got to be one of the first kids to enjoy the new play equipment.

Over the past three weeks Allan and Andrew have become best buddies, with Allan always asking about him if Andrew wasn’t at the home for some reason and giving updates on his observations (eg. “Andrew has gum boots”)

Having arrived when he was just a few months old, Sanyu has been Allan’s home for the past 4-1/2 years. Today he will travel with a Sanyu social worker to another area of Uganda where members of his family have been located and are now able to care for him.

We trust, in the long run, that this will be in Allan’s best interest. However, we know initially he will face confusion and loneliness as he adjusts to his new environment. Please pray with us that those adjustments will go as smoothly as possible.

God bless you Allan. May you always know His great love for you.