It’s 5 AM… Do you know where your kids are?
It was one of those nights when sleep came in restless segments; those nights when you probably get more sleep that it feels like, but the night seems endless. At one point I began to be aware that I had been listening to a sound that seemed far in the distance; the muffled sound as of a huge swarm of bees. As I listened, I realized it was the children praying – it was pitch black dark! When the children pray, they pray all at the same time in fairly low tones, creating a wonderfully sustained hum. I checked the time – it was 5 AM! The prayers, that I could not help but lay there and listen to, lasted for about 30 minutes.
Then, the low hum was replaced by a solitary voice that went on for another 30 minutes… it was the voice of “Mama Edith”, who (as I learned later in the day) first read scripture and then, as one child described it, gave a “flow of light” on what she had read. That was followed by words of encouragement and instruction regarding this last day before school starts, instructions regarding the chores of the day, and a final time of prayer. Then with a “not so quiet” shuffling, they all went about the routine of the day… and it was just breaking first light!
These are the dear deserving ones to whom we are called and for whom we are creating resources and opportunities, a future and a hope. Thank you, Lord, for this amazing privilege!
End of Week One and it has been a good, productive and very busy week. I landed Tuesday evening, met briefly with our lawyers to get an update, and then off to the village. While there I was able to finalize one of the land issues that will allow us to now move forward on at least one part of the development phase of our plans. (Unfortunately it is the smaller part, but some movement is better than no movement!)
I am currently (Monday) at the Cure Hospital in Mbale. We traveled here last evening, about 3 and a half hours northeast of Zziba. I am becoming a fairly seasoned Ugandan driver – stay left, my friend, stay left! Derek Johnson, the hospital administrator has been tremendous helpful in getting us oriented towards where to start and what it will take to establish the medical clinic in Zziba. He was very encouraging and gave me bottom line information that will help us jump start that program. I am going to take a quick run up the highway to a national park. Not one of the ones I had hoped to visit, but it will be fun to take a hike and see some of the wilderness area of Uganda.
Quick overview from here on: On the way back toward Kampala tomorrow, I plan to stop in and visit with the kids at Seroma School and also meet with the headmaster for a progress report. I will travel to Rwanda on Wednesday to be with Monique and see what progress she has made in her wonderful work there and to discover ways we can help. I will return to Uganda on Sunday or Monday. I have very important meetings with our law firm on Tuesday where I’m hoping to bring closure to the land issues. Then I am planning to spend some time with my friend Sam, who is the man I have mentioned before who is helping us think through and plan our chicken/egg operation in the village. Wednesday evening I start the long trip home. I should arrive early afternoon on Thursday.
On a very personal note… Judee and I have two grandbabies being born soon.
Shari, Travis’s wife, is scheduled for a C-section on Wednesday, and Jeremy’s wife, Sarah, is due to deliver later in June. Please keep these precious ones in your prayers!
All for now! Words miserably fail me to convey to you what an important work we are doing here. Each child will need $100.00 per month for an all inclusive education: tuition, room and board, books and supplies, and uniforms. This is higher than we have been doing in the past; but think about it, $100.00 for all that a child needs from soup to nuts for a whole month in a top notch private boarding school… man, you might want to think of sending your kids there! Please pray about a whole or partial sponsorship; lots of folks helping a little will make this happen.