Moving On ...

We wrote this message from Kampala, Uganda last Monday, after we left Maama Victoria’s school/orphanage.  We didn’t have internet access to send it then and so we send it to you now that we do have WiFi …

We left the orphanage/school Monday morning.  Sunday night the children had a farewell for us just before dinner.  We met in the usual place outside where the evening singing and prayers were held.  All of the children were there — some were sitting on their benches — others were up front ready to sing for us.  Maama Victoria’s family was there too.  Steve and I were so touched by all of the love that was showered on us.  

We had a surprise for the children too — a large drum for them to use for their evening praise music.  The boys were using pails turned upside down for drumming.  We were amazed at what music they could get out of the pails, but decided a real drum was needed.  They loved it!  When they played it Steve and I danced with the children.  They loved that too.

It was so difficult to say goodbye.  One of Maama’s son’s started to sing the song from Sound of Music — “So long, farewell … good bye … good bye …”  Perfect.  We left the children in tears.

We will carry each one of these children home with us in our Hearts and find ways to support them from our home in America.  

We’ve been gone less than 24 hours and already there is a powerful calling taking shape to return with a group.  We feel like we’ve been called to bring a group of people into this beautiful vision of how these children’s lives can be improved.  We are inspired by Maama Victoria and want to share this inspiration.

This is an ideal place to bring a group because of the comfortable guest house set up for westerners and because of the pervasiveness of English as their second language.  

It is our vision to support the efforts toward a self-sustaining operation, which is already under way.  Fostering children’s education to maximize their potential is less an act of charity but more a wise use of resources.  But, most of all, we keep seeing these children’s faces, their eagerness to learn, their willingness to work, and their joy in singing praises.

In ten days we entered so fully into the rhythms of life there, that after leaving Monday morning, it is hard to know how to be here — where we are now.  So, our energy is already beginning to focus on our returning with a group sometime in the next year.

We are now in Kigali, Rwanda in our endeavor to assist Veronique, Suavis’s mother, who is in a refugee camp and needs to have a medical visa to America, to be cared for by her daughter.  We will go to the US Embassy and just take it step-by-step.  More on this as we move forward.

Much Love,

Elizabeth & Steve

P.S. The pictures in this message were taken by Carol, one of the students in the graduating class.  She wanted me to show her how to work the camera.  And, then her first time using a camera, she proceeded to take these awesome pictures.  She is a natural.  We are going to make cards with her pictures and give all the proceeds to help her pay for tuition for secondary school.  Here is Carol with one of the children …