April 09, 2009
An Evening at the Door of Hope
I was thinking it would be fun to share with all of you what a typical night is like here at the Door of Hope. I say typical because we try and stay on a nightly schedule and have a consistency with the children. As you may know with 15 children there is always bound to be a hiccup!
The primary children, Rock, Rob, Maddy, Winnie, Imelda, John Jr., Moses all get home from school about 6:00. It is so great hear the energy in voices and spirits when they come in the gate! One of the first things they do after changing from their school uniforms to “play clothes” is to come into the main house and greet all of us. We get and give BIG hugs to them and welcome them home. Then they are off to do their nightly duties of washing their uniforms, socks, bathing and napping before dinner.
About a half hour later, as we are preparing our dinner in the mzungu kitchen, we hear the secondary children coming through the gate. Shadia, Sarah, Barbra, John Travis, Priscilla, David, and Jennifer immediately head to their dorms to change and rush to do their washing and bathing before dinner at 7:00pm.
Mummy Eunice is busy in the other kitchen putting the finishing touches on children’s African style dinner. Imelda and Winnie usually help Mummy by carrying in the large serving bowls of posho or rice and groundnut paste or beans, and cabbage to the dinning room tables. The girls also help cut up the fruit, as Mummy is portioning out the food on the 20 dinner plates in front of her!
All the children, adults and the two little toddlers file into the dinning room, it is 7:00pm and time for dinner! After blessing the food, we all dig in….yummy! There is a buzz of voices about the room as we ask how there day was and what they learned in school today. Of course it is a mix of English and Luganda as the children share with each other about their day or the day’s football (soccer) match between their mates at school or Arsenal and Manchester United! As the clanging of plates and utensils and chatter of voices subside, we break out the Bibles for our nightly Bible Study.
Bible Study is always a fun part of our evening! One child an evening has been leading the nightly study groups, but this week we started a new study. We are going through a study book nightly for the next 16 weeks. At the end of the study the children are all going to be able to get Bibles from the Masaka Bible League at half price. This is a fantastic program that the League offers, as most of the children don’t have their own Bibles.
This is a great way for them to learn about the Lord and earn a Bible for their very own! They are very excited about this study! Last night we were learning about abiding in the Lord, John 15:1-8. They had some great insight, as we worked through the questions and filled out the work books. About 8:30 we whined the study down and pick a girl to lead a worship song and then one of the children to do the final prayer. As the room is filled with the beautiful sounds of song and praises to the Lord I can’t help but to be filled with joy and the Spirit of the Lord. It is amazing!!
After worship we all start to pray out loud! There are voices of prayer in English, Luganda, Rwanda, Swahili….I think it sounds just like what Heaven will be like! Then the person for final pray starts. These children have such a marvelous gift of prayer and thanksgiving. As everyone starts to head out of the room we give hugs and talk. Most nights a few children stick around to talk about the study, ask questions that have about things they have encountered during their day, or read the Bible more. The rest head to their dorm and prepare for the next day and for bed. As I work on the computer or read on my bed, I can hear murmuring of the children’s voices and laughter until lights are out 10:00pm.
I hope you have enjoyed an evening at the Door of Hope!!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Saturday at the Lake!
March 28, 09
Saturday at the Lake!
Well I had a much needed mental and physical day off on Saturday….1st one in a month. I spent the day at Lake Nabugabo with my friends from Kampala, Christian, Lidia and their family. They were camping at the lake for the weekend with a group of friends from the embassy, so it was a perfect day to visit them. The lake is only about 45 minutes from my house on a Boda Boda (small motorcycle). We had a great day, talking, playing with the kids, playing volleyball and backgammon. We even had a monkey raid….those little sneaks stole a loaf of bread and a fork. Yes, we have sophisticated monkeys here in Uganda…they use forks!
Of course the mazungo (white person) got burnt....I didn't put on sun screen until it was too late! :) I sure have been paying for it since! :) I so love what I’m doing here but it sure was great to have a day away at the Lake!
Saturday at the Lake!
Well I had a much needed mental and physical day off on Saturday….1st one in a month. I spent the day at Lake Nabugabo with my friends from Kampala, Christian, Lidia and their family. They were camping at the lake for the weekend with a group of friends from the embassy, so it was a perfect day to visit them. The lake is only about 45 minutes from my house on a Boda Boda (small motorcycle). We had a great day, talking, playing with the kids, playing volleyball and backgammon. We even had a monkey raid….those little sneaks stole a loaf of bread and a fork. Yes, we have sophisticated monkeys here in Uganda…they use forks!
Of course the mazungo (white person) got burnt....I didn't put on sun screen until it was too late! :) I sure have been paying for it since! :) I so love what I’m doing here but it sure was great to have a day away at the Lake!
We Now Have 15....Oh My!!!
March 31, 2009
We Now Have 15…oh my!
We now have 15 children at the He Will Provide- Door of Hope home!!! The kids run the gamete of personalities! With the boys John Travis is quite and reserved and Rock is always smiling and joking around. With the girls we have Winnie that is smiley, and always talking and Imelda who is quite because she is shy about speaking English. But when she is asked to lead a Bible study she is bold and has an evangelism, pastor heart. All the kids are amazing! I can write a little about each of them sometime soon.
Here are all their names and ages:
Maddy, 16
John Travis, 18
Rock, 17
Winnie, 13
Jennifer, 14
Barbra, 16
Sarah, 15
Priscilla, 14
Shadia, 16
Imelda, 15
Moses, 11 (we think—don’t have a year he was born)
John Jr. 10 (we think—don’t have a year he was born)
David, 16
Robert, 17
Rob, 12
Until I write a bit on each child please continue to check out my Blog for the stories or the He Will Provide site at http://hewillprovide.blogspot.com/
We Now Have 15…oh my!
We now have 15 children at the He Will Provide- Door of Hope home!!! The kids run the gamete of personalities! With the boys John Travis is quite and reserved and Rock is always smiling and joking around. With the girls we have Winnie that is smiley, and always talking and Imelda who is quite because she is shy about speaking English. But when she is asked to lead a Bible study she is bold and has an evangelism, pastor heart. All the kids are amazing! I can write a little about each of them sometime soon.
Here are all their names and ages:
Maddy, 16
John Travis, 18
Rock, 17
Winnie, 13
Jennifer, 14
Barbra, 16
Sarah, 15
Priscilla, 14
Shadia, 16
Imelda, 15
Moses, 11 (we think—don’t have a year he was born)
John Jr. 10 (we think—don’t have a year he was born)
David, 16
Robert, 17
Rob, 12
Until I write a bit on each child please continue to check out my Blog for the stories or the He Will Provide site at http://hewillprovide.blogspot.com/
Only Monkeys in Trees Please!
March 31, 09
Only Monkeys in Trees Please
Well we had our first accident at the house last Friday afternoon! Friday was the Masaka Primary Schools Athletic competition. One of our older boys, Rock, was not participating in any of the events so he stayed home. As boys do, he thought it would be fun to climb the guava tree in the back yard and eat a few fruits. He was at the top of the tree when the branch broke and he went tumbling out, landing on the cement. Thank God he wasn't seriously hurt but we immediately took him to the clinic.
After waiting in the clinic the doctor sent him to the x-ray & ultra sound department. Of course this department is in another building that has a flight of stairs down to reach the department entrance...hum isn’t that crazy. Only in Uganda! Thank God Uncle Sam was with us and he was able to carry Rock down the stairs because he couldn’t walk! We did get right in and got x-rays of his head, pelvis and arm. After the x-rays were complete it was back up stairs to see the doc again. He referred us to an orthopedic surgeon, which surprised me that Masaka had one. So we were on our way again. The ortho doc was great!! He said that Rock only had a broken wrist in 2 spots and there was no need for pins! Praise the Lord!! He put on a temporary cast and we were off.
Rock is doing good now!! We went to the orthopedic surgeon again yesterday and he put on his permanent cast. As always Rock is in good spirits and was able to go back to school today. Boys will be boys huh!! I told him only monkeys are allowed in trees! :)
Only Monkeys in Trees Please
Well we had our first accident at the house last Friday afternoon! Friday was the Masaka Primary Schools Athletic competition. One of our older boys, Rock, was not participating in any of the events so he stayed home. As boys do, he thought it would be fun to climb the guava tree in the back yard and eat a few fruits. He was at the top of the tree when the branch broke and he went tumbling out, landing on the cement. Thank God he wasn't seriously hurt but we immediately took him to the clinic.
After waiting in the clinic the doctor sent him to the x-ray & ultra sound department. Of course this department is in another building that has a flight of stairs down to reach the department entrance...hum isn’t that crazy. Only in Uganda! Thank God Uncle Sam was with us and he was able to carry Rock down the stairs because he couldn’t walk! We did get right in and got x-rays of his head, pelvis and arm. After the x-rays were complete it was back up stairs to see the doc again. He referred us to an orthopedic surgeon, which surprised me that Masaka had one. So we were on our way again. The ortho doc was great!! He said that Rock only had a broken wrist in 2 spots and there was no need for pins! Praise the Lord!! He put on a temporary cast and we were off.
Rock is doing good now!! We went to the orthopedic surgeon again yesterday and he put on his permanent cast. As always Rock is in good spirits and was able to go back to school today. Boys will be boys huh!! I told him only monkeys are allowed in trees! :)
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Worker Bees
March 16 and 17
Worker Bees
By God’s grace the owner of the house came by last week to see the house that He Will Provide is renting. It’s God’s grace because Robyn had dropped off a letter of house improvements and pictures to the property manager that morning and before he had even seen the letter the owner dropped by the house to talk to Jim. This is the first time that the owner had came to the house since Robyn and Jim had moved in, as he lives in Geneva, Switzerland. As he took a “tour” of the Door of Hope house he realized what was being done here for the children. Within an hour of the owner leaving the property manager phoned and gave permission to have all of the improvements to the house done. I love how God works!!
We started with the most essential repair projects, the leaking water tank, plumbing issues and the holes in the window screens. This started the flurry of worker bees coming into the compound! :) On Monday the plumbers showed up. Not just two but four and five at a time. They were running around the compound in their blue overhauls busy checking pipes and toilets working on the leak in the water tank. The next thing we knew there was another knock on the main gate, yes another worker. This time it was Godfrey, the window screen repairman. He comes walking in with a big roll of screen and all his tools. As he started pulling off the old screens and hammering on the new the BUZZ in the compound grew. Then before we knew it evening was upon us the BUZZ had subsided and the children were knocking on the gate, they were home from school. The day had slipped away but it was wonderful to see all of the new things being done!!
Romans 8:28
And we know that God caused everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Worker Bees
By God’s grace the owner of the house came by last week to see the house that He Will Provide is renting. It’s God’s grace because Robyn had dropped off a letter of house improvements and pictures to the property manager that morning and before he had even seen the letter the owner dropped by the house to talk to Jim. This is the first time that the owner had came to the house since Robyn and Jim had moved in, as he lives in Geneva, Switzerland. As he took a “tour” of the Door of Hope house he realized what was being done here for the children. Within an hour of the owner leaving the property manager phoned and gave permission to have all of the improvements to the house done. I love how God works!!
We started with the most essential repair projects, the leaking water tank, plumbing issues and the holes in the window screens. This started the flurry of worker bees coming into the compound! :) On Monday the plumbers showed up. Not just two but four and five at a time. They were running around the compound in their blue overhauls busy checking pipes and toilets working on the leak in the water tank. The next thing we knew there was another knock on the main gate, yes another worker. This time it was Godfrey, the window screen repairman. He comes walking in with a big roll of screen and all his tools. As he started pulling off the old screens and hammering on the new the BUZZ in the compound grew. Then before we knew it evening was upon us the BUZZ had subsided and the children were knocking on the gate, they were home from school. The day had slipped away but it was wonderful to see all of the new things being done!!
Romans 8:28
And we know that God caused everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Top Chef Jackie Chan Visits Masaka, Uganda!
Top Chef Jackie Chan Visits Uganda!
(This is a on going Blog--this ones for you Cory)
What did he eat on his visit to the He Will Provide- Door of Hope compound? Well being a Mazungu he loves to eat a variety of foods. Unlike his Ugandan friends who rarely like variety. His Ugandan friends really only like beans, rice, matooka and poshu, but Jackie has been able to introduce some new fruits and vegetables into their diet. Foods like green beans, eggplant, bitters, avocado, bananas, pineapple, watermelon, and sweet potatoes. His new friends really enjoying the variety in their menus and they are all feeling healthier too! Jackie is very pleased to see his friends happy and healthier!!!
But what has Jackie eaten this week?
Mazungu Menu
Monday:
Breakfast
Eggs, french toast, bananas, and passion fruit juice
Lunch
soda and ice cream
Dinner
chapati, taco meat, spanish rice, guacamola and tomatoes
Tuesday:
Breakfast
rosemary eggs, avocado, toast, jam and tea
Lunch
left over spanish rice and bananas
Dinner
beans and rice
Wednesday:
Breakfast
breakfast burrito; chapati, scrambeled eggs, avocado and tomatoes
Lunch
rice with chili sauce
Dinner
meat samosas and veggie pizza
Thursday:
Breakfast
pancakes, scrambled eggs, and banana
Lunch
rice
SO DON'T FEEL BAD FOR JACKIE OR HIS FRIENDS THEY ARE ALL EATING VERY WELL!!!
(This is a on going Blog--this ones for you Cory)
What did he eat on his visit to the He Will Provide- Door of Hope compound? Well being a Mazungu he loves to eat a variety of foods. Unlike his Ugandan friends who rarely like variety. His Ugandan friends really only like beans, rice, matooka and poshu, but Jackie has been able to introduce some new fruits and vegetables into their diet. Foods like green beans, eggplant, bitters, avocado, bananas, pineapple, watermelon, and sweet potatoes. His new friends really enjoying the variety in their menus and they are all feeling healthier too! Jackie is very pleased to see his friends happy and healthier!!!
But what has Jackie eaten this week?
Mazungu Menu
Monday:
Breakfast
Eggs, french toast, bananas, and passion fruit juice
Lunch
soda and ice cream
Dinner
chapati, taco meat, spanish rice, guacamola and tomatoes
Tuesday:
Breakfast
rosemary eggs, avocado, toast, jam and tea
Lunch
left over spanish rice and bananas
Dinner
beans and rice
Wednesday:
Breakfast
breakfast burrito; chapati, scrambeled eggs, avocado and tomatoes
Lunch
rice with chili sauce
Dinner
meat samosas and veggie pizza
Thursday:
Breakfast
pancakes, scrambled eggs, and banana
Lunch
rice
SO DON'T FEEL BAD FOR JACKIE OR HIS FRIENDS THEY ARE ALL EATING VERY WELL!!!
3 Day catchup!
March 9-11
3 Day Catchup!
What's been going on at He Will Provide:
Sorry I haven't written in a while we have been busy but also the power has been up and down the last 3 or 4 days and then that plays havoc with the internet! :( Anyway, things are great here! Monday was a rest day and a de-brief with the 2 guy volunteers, Sam and Rob, since they were leaving on Tuesday to go back to the states. It has been quieter around here since they left and a bit sad because they are really great guys and the kids loved them so much!
Yesterday was meeting day here! We had a 3 hour staff meeting and then Pastor Tom, the youth pastor from Masaka Pentecostal, came over to talk about a crusade with Youth Country Missionaries Club, another branch of the ministry here. Both were great meetings and we accomplished a lot in both! I can't wait to see what the Lord does with the ministries in the months to come!!
Also a girl from Holland, Catherina, that we meet on our family outing to Lake Nabugabo, has volunteered to paint a mural in the girl's dorm. Catherina and her art teacher friend, Martin, came over yesterday and started painting the mural drawings that "Daddy" Bryan had drawn. It is so beautiful!!! Lots of flowers and butterflies! :) The girls were so excited to see the beautiful, colorful pictures when they came home from school last night!
I hope all is wonderful with all of you and I hope to hear from many of you in the coming days!!
Love you!
3 Day Catchup!
What's been going on at He Will Provide:
Sorry I haven't written in a while we have been busy but also the power has been up and down the last 3 or 4 days and then that plays havoc with the internet! :( Anyway, things are great here! Monday was a rest day and a de-brief with the 2 guy volunteers, Sam and Rob, since they were leaving on Tuesday to go back to the states. It has been quieter around here since they left and a bit sad because they are really great guys and the kids loved them so much!
Yesterday was meeting day here! We had a 3 hour staff meeting and then Pastor Tom, the youth pastor from Masaka Pentecostal, came over to talk about a crusade with Youth Country Missionaries Club, another branch of the ministry here. Both were great meetings and we accomplished a lot in both! I can't wait to see what the Lord does with the ministries in the months to come!!
Also a girl from Holland, Catherina, that we meet on our family outing to Lake Nabugabo, has volunteered to paint a mural in the girl's dorm. Catherina and her art teacher friend, Martin, came over yesterday and started painting the mural drawings that "Daddy" Bryan had drawn. It is so beautiful!!! Lots of flowers and butterflies! :) The girls were so excited to see the beautiful, colorful pictures when they came home from school last night!
I hope all is wonderful with all of you and I hope to hear from many of you in the coming days!!
Love you!
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