Blessing

Today I'll share about the smallest child here at Sanyu. His name is Waswa Blessing. He is 3 months old and weighs just a bit over 6 lbs. He is a twin. He and his brother were admitted to the government hospital along with their mother. A caregiver has to stay with whoever is admitted.  There was no care giver for the babies and they became malnourished. Sadly Blessing's twin did not survive. In the midst of all her troubles the mother abandoned Blessing.

He stayed in the hospital until he was brought to Sanyu 2 weeks ago. He is so tiny and thin you can count his ribs. He has very long fingers and they say he will be a tall man. His legs are about the circumference of my thumb. Blessing is very bright and alert. He looks around when he hears noises and will look you in the eye and sometimes give you a nice smile.

It took me a few feedings to figure out what he likes. The formula must be warm at all times or he won't drink it. We have to keep
warming it up. He likes to be cuddled close. That's not a problem!!! He is so curious that if anyone other than the person who is feeding him talks to him he stops sucking.  Currently he is fed every 2 hrs around the clock and it sometimes takes 30 mins. The Mama's appreciate our help because that frees them up to do other things.

Blessing is gaining weight. Yesterday he had his first haircut. His hair was pretty long and wild in the back.  Now it will grow in better.

I took a picture of him today and then I showed it to him.  He actually looked it all over with great interest.

Here is my new buddy, sucking his finger and holding onto his blankie! Isn't he handsome!

Vroom. Vroom.

Motorized vehicles are fascinating to children around the globe. Today the children of Sanyu were a captive audience as several of the guys, including Andrew, did some repair/maintenance work on the driveway in front of the guesthouse using the truck that belongs to the home. Then, as a bonus, a boda arrived to add to the entertainment. Vroom. Vroom.

Our trip to the Farm.

The internet has been unreliable so we haven't been able to make many blog posts.

We were up for 6am. It was raining when we left but it cleared off and became a very hot and sunny day. It was in the high 20's by the afternoon. The day was spent getting acquainted with the farm and doing some of the weekly tasks.

-looking after pigs
-water collection from a swamp 2km away   from the farm
-cultivating
-spraying fertilizer and insecticides
-trellising passion fruit vines
-thinning fields of corn

The farm is nothing like a farm we would have at home. Everything is so lush and green. The land seems to be very fertile and the crops seem to be doing well.  The farm is larger than we thought it would be. They have fields of sweet potato, maize, beans, irish potatoes.  Everything on the farm is done manually.

Andrew and I will do another post on the farm and our travels to and from the farm.

Kampala at 6am.

Passion Fruit Flower

Jackfruit

Inside the jackfruit eaten on a banana leaf.  We all had some of this delicious fruit for our lunch.

Our Day

This is a synopsis of our day. We didn’t all do all of these things but it gives you a general idea of what a day here is like. 

• Early morning meeting with the director to share developments on both sides of the world and discuss plans for the days ahead. 
• Meet with a local engineer about some structural issues.
• Have some one-on-one snuggle time with the smallest babies. 
• Hang some laundry on the clothes lines. 
• Do personal laundry. 
• Rescue personal laundry just before a downpour. 
• Help feed the children lunch. 
• Help clean the dining room after lunch. 
• Hold infants while they are given immunizations...some received 3-4 injections. 
• Spend the afternoon entertaining the children in the sandbox and the rest of the play area. 
• Wipe as much sand as possible from clothes, skin and hair. 
• Help feed the children supper. 
• Help with showering the children. 
• Sweep the dining room floor with a 2-foot African broom. 
• Wash dishes. 
• Eat a delicious meal prepared by Joel. 
• Communicate with folks at home. 
• Shower. 
• Drop into bed. 

Farmer's Day Out

Today Andrew and Jodi traveled with Barbara and some Sanyu staff to work at the farm. They left at the crack of dawn and returned late afternoon. They will have lots of stories to tell in the near future... stay tuned for their blogpost about the trip. They're too tired to share it here tonight.

Muriel and I have been busy reconnecting with the staff and children.  Some of the older children actually remember us from last year. When we asked Sam what our names are he looked at me and said "Allo bubbles!" That is what he associates us with. Allan, who is the presently the oldest child remembered that Muriel's name is Mama Maureen

We have some truly sad news about a Sanyu security guard named Bosco.  In 2016 he and his wife lost a baby. They were currently expecting another baby soon but last week Bosco lost his wife and their unborn baby due to complications from maternal hypertension. The Dr's tried to save the baby but it had died in utero. Bosco and his wife had 3 other children, 2 school aged girls and a boy in nursery school  The funeral for both mother and baby was last Friday.

Please keep Bosco, his children and their extended families in your prayers, that the God of all comfort would be their peace and provider and sustainer.

Thank you for praying for the team too.

We arrived at Sanyus Baby Home at midnight last night.  The drive from Entebbe to Kampala was quite an eye opener. Many times during the drive to Kampala I just had to close my eyes and pray for calm and that we would get there in one piece.

We were busy on our first day here. We unpacked and went shopping for groceries. Muriel and Cheryl warned us about walking and crossing the street.  Andrew and I didn't think much of it until we had to actually do it.  There are very little traffic rules here, no traffic lights and no road signs.  Combine that with a million bodabodas that drive on sidewalks and in ditches and you half a typical Kamala roadway.....chaos.

Andrew and I had a chance to get acquainted with the children and the massive amount of care and work that is needed each day. The children and staff are so welcoming and they all want to great you and know your name.

It is off to the farm with an early start at 6am.

Jodi

Plans, Partners and Projects

We're now in the midst of finalizing last minute details as we prepare to embark on our fourth trip to Sanyu Babies' Home...well, at least it will be the fourth trip for two of us.  Cheryl and I, once again, look forward to renewing friendships with staff, seeing if we can recognize those children who are almost a year older since we last saw them, and meeting the new people (children and staff) God puts in our path.

Speaking of new people, we are very excited to be able to introduce you blog-followers to two new members of our team (I guess you can call us a team since there are now four of us:).  Andrew and Jodi Giberson live in Kingston where they raise their three girls.  We have been blessed to have their interest and support since we first began this crazy journey.  We're so grateful for the commitment of this family and excited to see what plans God has to use and bless them.  We also look forward to having Andrew and Jodi post here in the days to come to share some of their thoughts and experiences.

There are other new and exciting changes that have transpired since our last trip.  With the help of many friends and supporters, after much prayer, discussion and collecting of information we are now able to offer tax receipts to anyone who wants to donate to the work as we partner with Sanyu in helping to meet the needs and improve the circumstances of the children in their care.  We are very grateful to the congregation of Bloomfield Baptist Church for their willingness to officially make this part of their ministry.  If you would like more information about making a donation please contact one of us directly or leave a comment here and we'll connect to provide you with details.

We have several projects in mind to consider as we meet with Sanyu's director to determine priorities and feasibility once we arrive.  One project that we have already discussed and plan to proceed with is providing new playground equipment. What they have/had has been well used and much of it in various states of disrepair.  Compounding that, it became further damaged during construction of a new security perimeter wall over the past year which also required removal of some large trees. We look forward to keeping you posted on the progress of this exciting project.

Thanks for following us once again here on the blog and for being part of the journey through your interest and prayers.