Regular Skype talks with our house mom have proven to be a gift to both sides of the world. Choosing to follow the Lord, in taking on a house full of children, has been costly for Janet. Moving from Kakira to a neighboring area with the children, while protecting them all, has separated her from daily interaction with her friends and neighbors. She gladly accepts the change and loss, but the demands of 19 children and 3 staff members has been all consuming during the transition period and we are praying that the Lord brings along a woman friend that can support and encourage her in this great task. She is patient and rests in the Lord’s timing of all things, bolstered and entertained by her little tribe, and thrilled to spend late nights chatting it up with the board members here.
The children are thriving, praise God! Physically, everything the doctor treated them for has been healed. The debilitating Malaria reoccurrences that followed most of them the first month have become fewer and less severe. Adequate nutrition, rest, and strength have made a huge impact, including an increase in their appetites.
The first of three school terms is mid way through and Janet will be getting 18 progress reports soon. The standards of their new schools are much higher outside the village, so the ones that had any schooling at all are challenged to catch up. Struggles are met with extra lessons held at the school in the evenings, stretching the school day to 11 hours. There would be an outcry here, at such demands of them. But schooling is a privilege in Uganda and they welcome and enjoy it. Janet has been called to the school a few times to address some discipline issues and since she has requested that Chayah children not be caned (spanked with a stick of sugar cane) the administration has proven to be accommodating and substituted cleaning or weed pulling instead.
Sharon (big Sharon), has gotten official word that she has passed her exams completing her primary and secondary education. This is the equivalent of a high school diploma. She will be receiving her scores and applying for university entrance in the next few months. In the meantime, she is taking a computer class. For someone who has never sat in front of a computer or seen a mouse, she is doing so well and loving the new challenge. She is a bright girl both in mind and heart. I don’t think I have ever seen her without a smile and her huge dose of joy comes out with nearly every word she speaks. She is an amazing young woman and the children at Chayah will miss her terribly when she heads off to college.
Our household staff, Mary and Jennifer, serve the family well with meals and laundry during the school months. Bernard is our gate guard, protecting the property over night, rain or shine. Each is so very grateful to have a job and be able to support their own families.
Chayah’s daily schedule begins at 5:15am. All children, Mary, Jennifer, and Janet gather in the living room for prayer, worship and devotion. At 6am, they begin bathing, dressing, and have breakfast. School starts at 7am, so the high schoolers walk ½ mile to catch the bus at 6:30am, while the rest leave for their 15-minute walk to the elementary school about 6:45am. Mid-morning porridge is served at school, then lunch and a snack from home. The youngest ones head home at 1pm, the rest finish their day at 5pm. Homework, bathing, free time, and dinner wrap up about 9pm as they gather for prayer, praise and another bible lesson. Things don’t get quiet at the home until nearly 10pm when sleep brings a silence in the house that says “rest up, the Lord is bringing another busy day very soon”.
Hillo was added to the family last month. This tiny canine, just 2 weeks old, is being raised to help guard the property. How on earth with 19 children chasing him around will he survive the first year, only God knows. Whether he will know a stranger or not is yet to be seen, but for now he offers an adventure and adds just a bit more cause for squealing inside the echoing concrete walls at home. With 19 pairs of leather school shoes, surely he will think heaven has found him until he’s caught with black polish in his whiskers!
The tribe went back to Kakira to take extra socks and pencils and to visit an old woman we had prayed for while there. One of the goals of Chayah family is giving back, learning to reach out to others and not just be recipients of God’s love, but instead turning from self to serve.
Missing socks, electricity out, water supply failure, misbehavior, bribe required for driver’s license delivery, swindling by the charcoal supplier, stolen outdoor cookers… all part of family life anywhere.
Every child’s eyes tight shut, walking the floor twice a day praying to God for their every need and gratitude for all they have been given, and asking Him to bless their sponsors for sacrificing... priceless.
God is doing just as he said he would, and just as we knew he could. Please pray for Chayah’s children as they get stronger physically, that they would never doubt it is God who loves them and is providing. We could not give unless He first gave to us, both providing finances and then giving the Holy Spirit to show us how to bless others. There is just nothing better on this earth. Praise Him that we are able, that He was sovereign and generous in allowing us to be a part of a saving work in Uganda.
