From Banks of the Nile to Jaffie Style!

We’ve been out and about this month, and thoroughly enjoyed a week in Jinja at a retreat at Mto Moyoni.  Set on the banks of the Nile, it is a beautiful, tranquil setting, with delicious food and wonderful teaching.  We went for the “Transformation of the Heart” week, and felt so refreshed by it. 

 

We departed relaxed and ready to face the coming months, and spent a lovely weekend in Kamapala with the Wooding family (we even had a pain au chocolat that REALLY tasted like a pain au chocolat!).  However, this state of calm and relaxation was soon to be well and truly over, as Sarah embarked on an unexpectedly stressful week of teaching family planning on the East African Diploma of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene in Kampala, whilst Tim returned to Masaka for a busy week of football fixtures and training with Synergy.

Synergy’s start to division 1 continues to go well, with now 4 wins and 1 draw, and also qualifying for the semi finals of the Army Brigade Cup in Masaka. Tim is braced for a busy holiday season with Synergy over December and January which will include Division 1 matches, the Synergy Cup, The Christmas Cup, and continuation of the Army Brigade Cup as well as the training and discipleship of Synergy players.

After months of waiting and hoping and praying, it looks like the Kitovu Baby Unit is truly going to be opened!  The delay came as some of the money donated by a group in Ireland had been accidentally sent to the wrong charity, and after a couple of months, we are still waiting for it to be transferred over to us.  

However, we’ve now been told that, if we have 3 months of nurses salaries upfront, we can hire and get started with training.  Due to kind donations, both one-off and on-going, from our friends and family in the UK, we have enough to get started, so (albeit in faith that we will find the funds to support the unit in a longer-term way) we are advertising for staff, and anticipate starting training in early December.  Sarah is DELIGHTED!

The HDU room is open as well, although we do have a tiny problem: the inverter is broken.  What this means is that if the power is off, the oxygen concentrators cannot be used, regardless of how much breathing distress a child is experiencing.  That is hugely frustrating, but the cost to fix it is huge (in the region of 2750 pounds).  So any bright ideas about cheaper alternatives are very very welcome!

From poorly babies to the baby Crowlett, who seems to be growing well, as is its transportation device/incubator (Sarah), who is also enjoying frequent kicks.  Tim is therefore already lining him or her up for a future football career with Synergy!  And as for our other youngster, Jaffie, she is providing endless trouble. She has recently taken a particular fancy to Mr. Magoo, and can regularly be found either chewing her fluffy behind or else mounting it! She is a rather confused young pup!

Jaffie giving Mr. Magoo some special attention!