Musings from the First Five Days

The past few days have felt somewhat surreal as it feels as though we never left Uganda, however, as we look around at the kids and some of the changes that have taken place we are reminded that indeed 10 months have passed.   The biggest change we have felt is the absence of 5 of the older kids who are now attending a Secondary School in Mpigi where they also live.  We were able to have them come visit for the weekend which was so great!!  They are all growing up quickly and doing well at their new school, but their presence is missed here, as seen by the excitement in the younger kids upon having them arrive to spend a few days.   We hope to see them again while we are here, but in case we don't get that chance the team took the opportunity to bless them with a few gifts that were brought over for them.  Each of the students received a new backpack that Bentley's so generously sold us for a fraction of the price, a quilt hand-made by my mom's quilting group in Victoria and a Bible.   It was a special time we shared sending them off, however bitter sweet it may have been.

Another change is the presence of Jovia, the 11yr old granddaughter of one of the Mama's.   Jovia lost her father to AIDS a few years ago and had been living with her mother until recently when her mom became very ill and  it was deemed that Jovia could no longer be the one to care for her dying mother.  A week ago she was brought to live with her grandmother here at the 10 Acres.   One would never have guessed the difficult circumstances of Jovia's life by the radiant joy she possesses!!  Jovia is a character, keeping all around her entertained at many points in the day.  I am so thankful that she is here for now, a place where she gets three meals a day and has friends to play with.  When she hugged me last night my heart broke as she just held on as though she hadn't been hugged in a long time.  It is difficult to comprehend the amount of suffering this child has had to endure and yet she lives each day with a joy most of us could only dream of.  When I look at her I can't help but think that this could be my child and therefore count it such a privilege to be able to love her for the next 6 weeks.

As far as our family goes, we are doing well and the kids have settled in with the same ease as last year.   Paisley has been the target of a biting creature during the night and Owen's bunk bed collapsed, fortunately not with Paisley underneath it.....but now she has a "princess bed" so all is well!!! Paisley is loving have the older girls on the team here and if she is not with one of them I usually find her up with the mama's sitting and visiting or helping with whatever task they are doing - so we barely see her.  Beckham is always on the soccer field looking for a willing componant, and Owen is out and about keeping busy with whatever he can find.  Today he has gone with the team to do some work on the church in Mpigi.   They are all content and happy to be here!!  And teachers, I am attempting to get them to do some school work:)

Now, COME ON CANUCKS - no more of that!!!