Parties and Paint.

Hi y`all! I am currently enjoying sometime ‘time out’ with my neighbours to be (the Britton family who are actually not British but Americans who are corrupting my English!!!!) We`ve come to Jinja for the weekend and have just got back from a very delicious meal at a lovely restaurant called ‘The Keep’ which was also showing a Premiership game. I was disappointed that my team (Spurs) weren`t playing but it was nice to see some footie and the chocolate mint milk shake I had for desert was definitely worth the bellyache I will probably have in the morning!

Last weekend was hectic as we celebrated Hassan`s 10<sup>th</sup> birthday along with his friend Honour`s 5^th birthday. It is hard to believe that Hassan has reached double figures. It is amazing that God has sustained him for so long and although physically he is perhaps deteriorating, he continues to smile and ‘shout’ to let us know he is still enjoying life. On the day of the party Hassan was having a bad cough and so had to lie down on the sofa cushions which we carried outside for him. We had a great time playing pass the parcel and musical bumps until the rain came......and we had to cram rather a large number of people into our little house for cake and sodas. The floor still doesn`t feel clean despite being swept and mopped multiple times!

Speaking of houses.....my new house is getting closer to being finished and is now painted inside except for the bathroom which is waiting to be plumbed in before it can then be plastered and painted. Unfortunately some of the painters who were working there decided to help themselves to some of the paint but Uncle Geoff caught them read handed after he felt prompted to ask them what they were carrying out the main gate in a plastic bag!

My new home and the pregnant neighbourhood goat.

The living/dining/kitchen area.

My bedroom.

I am so thankful for this amazing house which will soon be my home and I ask you to pray with me about who God wants to come and live with me. I have been praying seriously about fostering (and possibly adopting in the future,) a little girl who is currently in our baby house (Hope Family.) Please pray with me that I would know God`s will in this big decision.

And finally, I shall post some other photos from the last couple of weeks just because here I have a good internet connection so I CAN......



A Kampala day with Sarah and her two sons (Sam and Tom.)



Our poppet Carol practising sitting like a Baganda lady.
 

 

Hi ho, hi ho, it`s back to school we go!

 

Tomorrow we are going back to school. Are we ready? Probably not! I`m hoping things might slow down once we get back into the swing of things as the 4 week break has been non-stop.

Trips to Kampala to see paediatricians and neurologists, trips to the rehab centre, shopping, cleaning classrooms, home visits, staff envisioning, catching up on paper work, a visit to the police station to visit an abandoned child with special needs, Luganda lessons........and the very occasional afternoon nap!



I will upload some photos for you to see and ask that you pray for us all as we start the new term.

Visiting Allen`s family at home.

The family cat asleep in Dennis` shoe!

The siblings, Father and Grandmother of our dear baby Dissan.

It was really special to be able to go and check on baby Dissan`s family and see how they were coping since he passed away. Uncle Rogers was able to take Annet and I on his Boda one afternoon and we were pleased to find them all at home on the farm where they keep cattle and goats for a 'Mugaga' (rich man) who stays in Kampala. Dissan`s auntie prepared us HUGE mugs of milk tea and we were given lots of bread to eat. After a photo session with all the family they presented us with omuzigo (something like cheese,) some eggs and a chicken to say thank you for what we had done for Dissan. We were able to take a few gifts for his brothers and sisters including some colouring books and pencils. For me I wanted to thank them for allowing me to have known their precious baby brother who I still miss very much!

 

 

 



Carol with her cousin Sandra at her Grandmother`s home.

 



A local homestead where one of community children lives


 



Ivan at home with his siblings.

And last of all, a picture of dear Thomas Dendy (and his friend Genesis) who makes up for the nieces and nephews I have left behind in England. He has learnt to walk in the last couple of months and now there is NO STOPPING HIM!!!

All in a week`s work!

Our first week of the 4 week break from school has been a busy one......
We visited Kakulu at home in Kiryanongo.

We spent all day on Wednesday at Katalemwa Rehab Centre getting chairs, standing frames and splints for Ivan, Fatiya, Daniel and Hassan.....

We had our monthly community outreach session on Friday which went very well but a new child came along with his Father suffering either from a strange kind of epilepsy or perhaps even 'Nodding Disease' which has been in the news recently as there have been many cases of it in Northern Uganda. Doctor`s are not yet certain of the cause and as yet, there is no cure! We sent them to the local hospital and are trying to find out what happened but as is often the case here......Dad`s phone is off!
Hassan did not enjoy the community session so much as the Physio put Plaster Of Paris on his feet to keep them straight until we receive his splints from Katalemwa.

Sadly on wednesday we also said goodbye to Emma a trainee Physio from England who had been with us for just over a week. She helped us with writing up Physio Programmes (with photos too!) for all of our children.

A highlight this week for me has been re-starting Luganda lessons. A teacher from Kampala came and taught me for 2 hours on Thursday and I actually managed to focus for the whole time which is a bit miraculous! Since then I have been reading children`s Luganda books with my housemate Christine who is Ugandan and a very good teacher :)
Just as she chuckles at my Luganda, I sometimes have a giggle at her Ugandan English. Earlier she was telling me that she saw a friend at the hospital but she didn`t greet him because he was "visiting his handkerchief!" I love the Ugandan version of English that we speak here.
I must sign off here before my head starts "paining."

Plastered walls & Harvested Maize.

It`s been a busy week. A hard week at times as I have been missing Dissan.....but Hassan, Allen & co. have kept me smiling. I had a lovely time at the Brown`s in Kampala last weekend and was even treated to the luxury of a hot bath as a birthday treat!

Progress has been made on my new house; most of the walls are now plastered, I have windows and door frames.......this evening, Hannah and I went over with the colour charts to pick paint colours :)

We have all been harvesting maize this week both on the enterprise farm and in our family group.
On Tuesday, our class went over with the rest of the school to help on the farm. Thankfully we didn`t come across the Python who was apparently busy eating a Deer somewhere in the field (or so the kids told the trainee physio Emma who has been helping in our class this week!)

.On Saturday morning we did our David family field......

..........And by the evening we were all exhausted and ready to watch a good movie, eat popcorn and chocolate cake at my house which is definately too small for 20 + people (just as well the new one has a nice big living room!)

Ampulira Dissan

Ampulira Dissan 13/3/2012 - 24/7/2012

Several weeks ago, on one of our many trips to various hospitals with this precious little boy, I asked Taata Dissan what his son`s name (Ampulira) means and why they had chosen it. He explained that it means GOD HEARS OUR PRAYERS......and went on to add that during labour they thought that his wife would have to have a caesarean section but they prayed, and she was able to deliver normally. As I sat with Dissan in the back of the vehicle I wondered to myself, ‘I wonder if he still believes that God hears his prayers.’ A few weeks later his wife, the mother of Dissan and his 3 other children had passed away.........

Shortly after her death, Dissan`s Father came to New Hope to seek help for his son. He was accepted on the Hope Family (babies home) outreach programme and admitted into our local hospital as he was severely malnourished and not a well little boy.

After his 5 week stay in hospital, Dad did take his son back home for a short while, obviously with his medicines, formula milk and other things that Hope Family had given. However, it soon became clear that Dissan was going to need more regular medical attention as he had a large growth on his neck and at home, Dissan`s Father only had his elderly, visually impaired mother to help him.

So in early June, dear little Dissan came to stay with the Dendy`s who run Hope Family. I remember meeting him when he had just arrived; He was tiny, had a funny hair-do (they had shaved half of his head to get in an IV line,) and had a huge plaster on the left side of his face where they had taken a sample from his lump. A few days later, I had the privilege of having Dissan for the day whilst the Dendy`s had a day off in Kampala. A few smiles and gurgling conversations later and Dissan had well and truly won my heart.......

Over the coming weeks, I spent a lot of time with Dissan as the Dendy`s were very busy with transitioning the rest of the babies into their new home, preparing for a visit from the president`s wife and Stu also went down with Malaria leaving Sarah with their own two boys to look after, Hope Family to run, as well as Dissan who was demanding more and more medical attention.

I quickly grew very attached to our Dizzy and was sure that God wanted me to be involved in his life in some way......I even inquired about the possibility of fostering him until he was well enough to return to his family. However, that was not to be.

Almost two weeks ago, Dissan came to stay with me whilst the Dendy`s went to take some friends to Entebbe and have a rest. As the week progressed, Dissan`s breathing become more and more laboured and on Friday, he was admitted in Kiwoko hospital once again. On Saturday we were advised to take him back to Kampala as soon as possible for further tests.

Saturday was a special day as his Father came to visit with Dissan`s siblings. They all got to hold their baby brother and at this point he was still alert and smiling despite being on Oxygen!

On Sunday morning, I packed up Dissan`s things and sent him in the ambulance (with a nurse) and our nursing assistant from New Hope. Although at this point I had no idea how serious Dissan`s condition was, I felt awful just sending him on his way......but I knew that the Dendy`s would meet him at the other end. I needed to trust him into God`s hands and return to my other responsibilities.......

The next few days were a struggle for me as I tried to work whilst eagerly awaiting updates from the Dendy`s. I longed to go and be with him but by now he was in Intensive Care at International Hospital and he was not allowed visitors L All I could do, was pray for him from a far!

On Tuesday, I got the dreaded phone call from Sarah that I should come to Kampala quickly to say goodbye as Dissan was not doing well despite the Trachyostomy that they had done the previous day. They had found a very large growth which they suspected was a very aggressive form of cancer.  When I arrived at the hospital and entered the ICU, I found a very different Dissan. Bless him, he was in a huge bed covered in tubes and sensors, surrounded by machines. His face was so puffed up and swollen from the Steroids they had given him. As we spoke to him, he squeezed our hands. At one point, he opened his eyes and gave me enough of a smile as to make his little dimple appear J

When I was left alone with him, I began to talk to him about how much I loved him. I told him that he didn`t need to go on fighting.......and then I felt prompted to pray for his healing. As I was praying for God to come and heal him, HE ANSWERED.....I truly sensed God `s presence in the room........the monitors on Dissan started beeping and I could see that his breathing was changing. I called the nurses, who called the Doctor. The Dendy`s came in along with Dissan`s Daddy. We held his hands as we prayed and watched as God took him to be with Him in a place where there is no more pain or suffering or sorrow, only everlasting joy in the presence of his Father God. As Dissan`s body lay still and the monitors were turned off, I knew that God had indeed answered our prayers. He has healed Dissan!

Obviously the next few hours and days were not easy. Many of us were deeply affected by the loss of this baby boy and of course we have asked difficult questions such as ‘why does God allow little children to suffer?’ and ‘Why did he take Dissan from us after just a few months?’ At times I have felt a great emptiness as I have come to realise that Dissan truly is gone. I can`t imagine how painful it is for his Dad and siblings who have only recently lost their wife/mother.

We had a special time at his burial on Wednesday and were so thankful to learn that his Mum was a believer just as his Dad is. Now Dissan is back in the arms of his biological Mummy!

As we grieve his loss, we also give thanks for the very precious moments we shared with him. His smile could light up the darkest day and when he tried to talk he captured everyone`s attention. We are all amazed that this lickle chap kept smiling in the face of so much suffering!

Dissan, I am so thankful that I knew you and I can`t wait to see you again when my time comes.

But until then, I comforted by my Father God who HEARS MY PRAYERS and ANSWERS them! Although His ways are not our ways and I don`t understand why he works things out the way he does, I trust that He is good, He is loving and He is so much wiser than I am!

Thank you everyone for all your prayers; Know that God has heard them and answered them!

With much love from Kate x

P.S. Unfortunately, here in Uganda there is no NHS and in his last days Dissan ran up some rather large medical bills which we somehow now need to pay. If you are interested in helping with this, please contact the Dendy`s who run Hope Family on stusarahdendy@hotmail.com

NOW I REALLY HAVE A ROOF!

I do have a tendency to get a bit over excited about things sometimes and I guess last time I claimed to have a roof, I didn`t really.....just the rafters! But as Kakande informed me the other day, now my house REALLY has a roof.
Yesterday, Christine, Stephen, Kakande, Hassan, Dizzy and I went to have a look to see what progress had been made!

Sorry, not the best picture.....you can`t see the bright red iron sheets. But I didn`t want to get too close as the men at work get a bit embarassed by photos....

With Christine (my current house-mate) and Kakande.

Hannah came to have a look too.....hopefully she is going to help me choose the right colours to paint!

It is all very exciting and in the next week (if the kids allow me,) I will be off to Kampala to buy the bathroom fittings to be plumbed in!

The visit from the First Lady on Saturday and our thanksgiving ceremony was all very exciting. I`m afraid I have no pics to post yet as only official photographers were allowed cameras. Her security team seem to have watched too many episodes of 24 as they were very strict! Kakande enjoyed all the soldiers with their guns and managed not to ask Mrs Museveni for any money when she greeted him.

I have had the pleasure of having little baby Dissan to stay the last few days whilst the Dendy`s have gone to Entebbe to pick up some friends and get a little rest. Unfortunately I have to give him back later :(

Earlier I had to be very brave and do his wound dressing (including packing the hole in his face) as our nurses are both off sick. I managed not to faint and Dizzy didn`t complain too much so I will give myself a pat on the back and a reward of Marmite on freshly baked bread accompanied by a cup of tea made with my last Tetley tea bag (hint hint Mum!)

Sending much love to you all. I love my life here in Uganda and am so thankful for all of you who make it possible for me to be here!

Great news amidst a very busy schedule...

Hi again everyone,
Thank you for your prayers and encouragement.
So to cut a very long story FULL of FRUSTRATIONS but also much answered prayer, on sunday we received the great news that Dissan (who we have nicknamed Dizzy) does NOT have cancer but the swelling is due to TB and will be treated by the medicine he is already taking!
I have to confess here that I did faint last wednesday when I was required to hold the poor boy down whilst they dug out their biopsy tissue with over-sized forceps.......

Dizzy Dissan

I could write a whole book on our experiences at Mulago hospital where I am soon to return with Carol BUT I won`t as we are very busy this week, preparing for a visit from Mrs Janet Museveni (the first lady of Uganda.) She is going to be attending our Thanksgiving celebrations on saturday and is stopping first at the clinic to greet all of us in the Special Needs Department.
I am currently working on a display of photos and info but it seems the dust or cockroaches have been at work on my printer cable and it is not being very responsive.....
Thank you once again for your prayers. I am sure God has great plans for little Dizzy`s life whether it be continuing in his Father`s footsteps in a life of cattle keeping or something else.......we will have to wait and see!

Two of my other favourite boys :)