Preparing To Return To My Second Home.

As I enter my final weekend (or half of one) in England, I decided it was time I re-launched my blog which I hope to update regularly to keep you all up to date with what I am up to out in Uganda.

This last week has been a busy one as I have tried to see as many people as possible, done some last minute shopping and tried to squeeze as much as possible into my luggage. I now have 4 very full suitcases and a bike bag with lots of extra padding (cloth nappies etc.)

The last couple of months have gone very quickly and I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute. There have been times when I have longed to pop over to Hassan`s and give him a cuddle or to go and enjoy some maize porridge for breakfast with the David family children. I have missed Kakande` s knocks on the doors to see if I need my jerry cans filling with water at 7am and have been so happy when he has hijacked someone`s mobile phone to call and ask when I`m coming back J

However, there have also been times when I`ve thought to myself; ‘do I really want to go back to Uganda?’ The thought of leaving behind my precious nephews and nieces and being away from the rest of my family and friends for another 1 ½ years is not a pleasant one. I wish I didn`t have to leave them behind but I know that this is what God has called me to do and I know that if I remained here, I would not have that peace that comes when we are walking in His will for our lives.

With my brother Jonathan and nieces Emily and Holly.

Cuddling my newest nephew Joseph

The Tolhursts and The Kidners.

But it`s not like I will be family-less or friend-less in Uganda. God has blessed me with so many great relationships out there and I can`t say that I feel lonely very often! As is often the case with our great God, when we obey Him and make a sacrifice, he blesses us abundantly and he has certainly done this for me as I have made my 2^nd home in Uganda.

I fly back Sunday morning and will arrive in Entebbe (the airport in Uganda) at around 10pm where hopefully the Dendy`s will meet me! On Monday we will make the 3 hour (ish) trip to Kasana with a stop in Kampala to do some shopping.

I would like to say a VERY BIG thank you to the lovely Barrett`s for having me to stay with them in Alton and to all the lovely people (especially the reception/year 1 class at The King`s School in Basingstoke) who have given me lots of lovely presents, clothes, toys, travel cots, nappy liners and other things to take back for the children.

And to all my family and friends; Thank you for loving me and allowing me to be part of your lives! I`ve had some great times with you these last couple of months and those memories will keep me going until I next see you (Summer 2013.)

Your prayers for a safe journey (and generous, lovely staff at check-in!) would be much appreciated!

My first post and some sad news...

Hi everyone, I decided that it was about time for me to start a blog so that those of you who are interested can have a better idea about what I`m up to out here in Uganda. Life here is never dull and often very busy so I don`t suppose I will have the chance to post more than once a week but I guess the beauty of blogging is that posts can be short or long, with pictures  or without!
I`m posting this having come back from a brief weekend away to Entebbe with the Dendy`s and Lydia. It was a very much needed break and I`m glad we all went. We enjoyed a day by the pool, a couple of hot showers (each!) and a few games of 'Settlers of Catan' which got a bit heated.
One of the reason`s that I was so desperate to get away was because last week was even more busy than usual as Hassan`s Dad was seriously ill in hospital. Thankfully I got to take Hassan to visit him on Tuesday morning before he passed away on Friday. Sadly, two of Hassan`s siblings had been sent to care for their father in hospital and had no means of paying for the bills or transporting the body home and so on Friday I got a phone call and began my new job as funeral director.........thankfully the church here at Kasana agreed to help financially and as our special needs vehicle was already in use, they had to find another one and a driver (the thought of driving with a dead body in the back completely freaked me out and so thankfully they found someone else!) Hassan, and several other members of David family and our childcare department came along to the burial which was at 4pm at their home close to Luwero. Apparently Muslim`s have to be buried the same day that they die. Although it was of course a very sad occasion, it was also a chance for us to meet some relations (including step brothers and sisters) of Hassan. There were many there who had known Hassan as a baby and they were all suprised by how big and well he looked!
Please do pray for Hassan`s siblings especially Jesca and Twaha who were the ones attending their Father in the hospital. Their mother died several years ago and we are not quite sure who they will now stay with. Although I went away to rest this weekend, I couldn`t help thinking (and worrying!) about these children as well as my dear boy Hassan. Please also pray that I will be able to entrust them to their Father God who loves them far more than I ever could and is able to be with them at all times.