Triplets--Update long overdue

Back in December 2010, I wrote a post about triplets born in the village and the dilemma we were in when the parents asks us to take them into GSF.  Read the post, tough decisions, now for background information.  

We ended up giving the father a job on the farm and moving the family closer to GSF.  All three girls were put on the feeding program, and we have been able to monitor the girls' health and growth.  There have been a few challenges when one of the girls would have to be put in the hospital because of being sick.  But overall, this family has been able to stay together and all three girls have grown to beautiful, cute little 2 year olds.  The mom is getting instructions and help on caring for these little girls at the feeding program, and their dad goes to Bible Study every week at work where he is learning to be a Godly leader in his home.  What a blessing from God!  Caralina captured these two pictures of them.   

Thank you for praying for them.  We're sorry for such a late update.  We would appreciate your continued prayers for them and their mom and dad.

Women's Day Celebrations

March 8th is Women's Day in Uganda.  Because it is a public holiday and all the staff are off today, we gave gifts to all the women staff on Wednesday during our weekly Bible Study.

We have 49 women staff; here's shot of a group of them.

It is customary to kneel out of respect and gratefulness.  The women  always think it is funny when I kneel to them.

Fellow missionary, Shelia helped give out the gifts as well.

My legs always hurt after I kneel especially when I do it as long as I did this time.  I started shaking my legs and told the ladies I don't know how they kneel for so long.  Notice the laughter.

Opening gifts

What a fun day it was!  The women of Uganda are incredible and I am so grateful to be able to work with so many of them.

A note: The missionary women were also honored as Mark made breakfast for all of us this morning.

Record Time-Charles and Inno update

I wrote last Thursday in this blog regarding two new little boys, Charles and Inno.

"Our hope and aim for these two boys are to nurse them back to health, help the family and return the boys to those in the village who love them."

Little did I know that the boys' mother would show up the very next day! She had left the family for a couple of months for personal reasons. We were skeptical at first but began counseling with her and her husband, invited her to come and spend time with the boys and invited the family to come to the local church. By Tuesday, it was obvious to all of us that it was better for all involved that the boys return home. The whole family came to church on Sunday, the mother spent a lot of time with the boys at GSF most days, and the boys and mom were distraught every time they had to leave one another.

So today, after the parents signed several agreements regarding the care of their boys, the family left GSF together. We believe this may be a record of the shortest time a child has been at GSF before returning to their home. We are helping with the education of the 5 older children, helping their father restart his garden (as he had lost much during a recent hospital stay), putting the two boys on our feeding program and facilitating counseling.

Please pray with us for this family that they will grow in their understanding of God, and that their lives will bring glory to Him.