Computer Crash!!!

Actually I have a faulty hardrive. My computer is brand new and I have lost ALL my data, pictures, everything. I am adding this entry on someone elses computer so I cannot even add a picture. Please pray that I can get it taken care of quickly. It is under warrantly, but as I am in a third world country it will take some time and extra effort to accomplish getting the harddrive replaced. I am deeply saddened by the loss of not only my records but photos that I did not put on a disc yet. I know things will be OK in the end and none of it can go with me, but I look at family photos all the time and will sorely miss them. I had backed up a small amount of data on an Dell online back up thing that came with my computer but it will be only a small amount of it and I don't know when I will have it again. Fortunately, all your emails are stored online so at least I can communicate this way. I wont have Skype for awhile either. Bless you all dear ones and Happy New Year. May the Lord give you strength and Mercy and health for 2009. I miss you all and love you all
Siouxanne

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU

Hello Dear Friends;
Christmas is right around the corner and though it does not seem like Christmas weather here (HOT HOT HOT!!), the Spirit and Joy of the Season is all around us. We had a Christmas Party at the baby home for the kids, invited a few friends and gave them a few gifts our Executive Director brought for them. Judy and I are holding down the fort while Danyne is stateside visiting her family and feel very blessed to be here this holiday. Though we miss our families and friends, God is blessing in a very real and wonderful way.
The children are happy and for the most part, healthy, though a few have caught the bug going around. The joy on their faces just by being here is blessing enough.
Friday evening we will go over to a fellow missionaries house to see the MK's perform the Christmas Story. Then Saturday we will all go to Kampala for the Annual Christmas Contata at Kampala Pentecostal Church. On the 23rd we will go out nearly to Bujagali Falls to see a Christmas Light Show (hopefully there will be POWER).
Christmas Eve will find us making cookies with the toddlers and we are told that Momma Cook has planned to cook us Chicken for lunch. Hmmm!!!
Christmas Day we hope to be able to spend the afternoon just playing with the kids and NOT working.
I do have one of the small babies that is sick right now and I have him in the clinic so he can get one on one care. I am praying we can get him through this and doing better. Please pray for him.
Dear Ones, May you have a BLESSED CHRISTMAS this season, and may God's light (HIS ONLY SON), shine down upon you. As you gather with family and friends, please don't forget us over here. I know I will be thinking of all of you, and praying for you. I love you all and thank God for you and for your love for me and this ministry.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

PAINFUL

You probably don't really want to look at the bottom of my foot, but for those of you interested in my pain , here is a photo of the seriously painful and itchy spider bite on the bottom of my foot. Two full days now and it is just starting to shrink. This picture was taken today. Yesterday the Reddness was several centimeters larger and tracked partway up the top of my foot. The center of it is darker. We have looked it over carefully and it is not a Jigger (parasite). We can't seem to find a stinger. I put myself on some Prednisone and Benadryl. Tea tree Oil on the site too. Its very hard to walk on it. Feels like a stone under my foot. But it only serves to slow me a little. I still have to walk all over at the baby home. Sick kids, well kids, playing kids, sleeping kids, babies in my arms.

Recently, I added another hat to my responsibilities. Besides being the health/medical director I am now also the Volunteer Coordinator for the Uganda side. This is really up my alley since Hospitality, Helps, and Mentoring seem to be some of my spiritual gifts. I make sure their picked up at the airport, settled into the housing and welcome them. I also will be assigning them their duties and answer any questions they may have in regard to their time here. Watch for the next addition to my blog. It will be a "Christ"mas greeting.

Sunday Musings!

It is less than a week before Thanksgiving and I am forever grateful to God above for my life, my family, the call He placed on my life and my church family and my friends. As I sit here in my room in Uganda reflecting on the last year, which has flown by, I feel so blessed and priveledged. I am, TOMMORROW exactly 1 year from my 50th birthday. Hmmm!!! I guess I could look at it differently. But, truthfully it is overwhelming to me, I have been on this planet that long. Thank you God for loving me and giving me life. Thank you for your many blessings. Thank you for the children I help here, keep well and work cooperatively to find good homes. Thank you for strong, Christian leadership and fellow missionaries who all share the same boss. Bless you my dear ones and May He who gives life, give you grace and peace and abundant blessings from above.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!
By the way..... Happy Birthday to my Grandaughter Sabrina Harley Rose who today is 13.

Dog Day Afternoon

Today was an extremely hot day. We all felt it strongly. Even Ebony, who took advantage of a few moments when the kids were not using the wagons. She thought she would take a time out and rest. The kids were out on the front lawn playing and I was playing catch up on paper work in the clinic. Kids were having fun even without the wagons!!!!

He's Got the Power

Once again I am reminded of the power and Love of God Amighty. Amazingly, since I arrived back in Uganda, the electricity has been on pretty much the entire time. That is...until today. I was somewhat frustrated as everyone around me had power except two of Calvary Chapel's buildings on their compound. We share the same line between us.
After a frustrating several phone calls by me and the director of Calvary Chapel, the power was restored around 7:30 pm tonight.
I guess I seem to forget I am in a third world country serving the Master. Must I always need a reminder???? Anyway, I felt the power of His presence all day and that more than made up for it.

One Nation Under God

Dear Ones;
The election of the century is behind us by one day and even in Uganda, we are reeling from the results. But I want to encourage you as I feel encouraged. Remember..."For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armour of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to STAND FIRM!!!!! Ephesians 6:12,13
Our country has chosen, God has allowed our choices to dictate our nation. Now, more than ever we must stand for good under any circumstance. God will not be mocked. He is in control and He alone is our supreme authority. Remember to give HIM praise and give HIM the glory and honor due. He will see this through. I love you all so much and pray that God will reveal to all of us His plan and give us peace to endure the coming days. BLESS YOU ABUNDANTLY!!!!

I have been back in Uganda for several days now and recovering from another bad cold. It has been hard to get back into the swing of things. Jet lag on top of it sure takes the wind out of your sails.

I made it back safe and sound with the rotary lawn mower a very nice couple in my church back home donated. You can sort of see in the picture, by the smile on his face, that my yard boy, Philip, was very pleased to receive it here. He has already used it several times this week and says he is very happy.

What a blessing this gift has already become. Despite the difficulty in getting it here, I am so thankful to the Williams' for their giving of it. Bless you!!

It is the rainy season here and, though I did not take a picture, the storm we had last night took out my Papaya Tree in the back yard. This makes me very sad. There were many Papaya on the tree not mature yet. It fell completely over and uprooted. Well, it is a good thing Papaya (poh poh) is in abundance here.

A stray cat has taken up residence on my compound and I am terribly allergic to cats. Anyone want him??? He wont leave no matter how many times chased away.

God is good. I am back caring for the children of Amani Baby Cottage. The mamas and the children were so excited to see me back and said they missed me.

Blessings to all of you till the next update

I was given the priveledge of flying to San Diego and spending a few short days with the Amani Kids that live in around that area. It was a joyful reunion and Icannot tell you what a great blessing it is to see those precious little ones I have loved for so long look so happy and healthy. They are thriving and though I think we have the absolute best Children's home in all of Uganda it still can never take the place of a real home with their own family. Each had this very surprised look on their face when they saw me. I think they could not quite believe that I was there. Joseph & Duane and their wonderful family hosted my few days there and I felt like I was treated like royalty. WOW!! We traveled about 30 minutes away to Weiss and Savannah's house and had a picnic get together. Judah and Jay also came with their families. It was a quick trip and I am sorry I could not see the other kids, but so glad to see those I did. What a blessing!!!!!

Blessings

Tonight I received news from my roomates in Uganda that my home was burglarized in the middle of the night. While they slept in their rooms, several robbers broke into the house by using a long stick with a wire on it to reach through the window they broke and snag the keys hiding behind the water filter (which they could see apparently). They not only scared my poor roomates half to death but stole several things from my home (which were hard to come by in the first place).
I was blessed to view a magnificent sunset tonight. The colors were incredible. It reminded to not worry about those things you have no control over but to trust Him. I am completely thankful my roomates are safe and unharmed. The damage to my Ugandan home and the loss of my things pails in comparison to what could have happened to them. Praise God for His protection.
My time here stateside is swiftly drawing to a close and I will be traveling back to Uganda soon. I have had such a great time with my family. I am still working on drawing in funds for the next term in Uganda. I am again being asked where to send support funds. There was previously two sending agent churches for sending funds to that were being routed to me. Having both has made it confusing and difficult to track for me with my limited internet and communication abilities. So now to reduce that confusion and make it easier to keep track of, I am using only one source and I virtually just picked one and went with it. If you are desiring blessing Reaching Hands Ministries with a financial gift, please use the following sending agent. They will continue to route the funds to me in Uganda. Bless you all:

Send Checks to: CWWC (or Canyon West Worship Center)
P.O. Box 448
Fruita, Colorado 81521
Please make sure to write on the MEMO line: For Reaching Hands Mission/Siouxanne Mease

Thank you so much

Number 16 has arrived

Hello Dear Ones;

Just wanted to update you on my latest blessing. This morning at 9:57AM MST, my 16th Grand child arrived via C-Section at St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction, Colorado. After I might add a long, painful and unsuccessful labor of about 28 hours. My baby ( my 23 year old son, Phillip) became a father.

Nathan Ray Hester arrived weighing in at 7#12.8 oz and was 20 3/4 inches long. He has a head full of downy black/brown hair and is absolutely beautiful. Nathan is my son's middle name and Rae is mine. I am so proud and happy that he has arrived and pray God's blessing on this new addition to the family. Thank you so much dear prayer warriors and supporters and loved ones. I pray your day is just as glorious. I am fast approaching the middle mark of my furlough here at home and wonder how it has flown by so quickly.

July 11-13 found me back in my little hometown of Craig, Colorado for my 30th High School Reunion. It was a very nice weekend and great to see some of the old High School group. The local newspaper did a write up about us on Saturday morning, quoting one our group as "still the wild bunch". I am not so sure of that but we did enjoy seeing one another again. This time talk was of aches and pains, Grandchildren and what to do for our 4oth ( if we all are alive by then).

I felt very priveledged to have been able to travel so far and be a part of it. Being able to be home fundraising and able to go to this event was important to me.

Bound to Happen

Hi Everyone;
I have arrived safely in Colorado and will be staying at my daughter's house while stateside. I arrrived in Denver last Thursday evening "WITHOUT MY LUGGAGE". Yes, after traveling as much as I have, for the first time, my luggage (both of them) were lost. I was given a time frame of 24-38 hours. (NOT!!). Not only have I spent the first 4 days of my home coming sick (traveler's bug) and trying to recover not only from that but from the jetlag, I have been without my clothes and gifts for family.
Today, however, (nearly a week later) I finally received my luggage, via Federal Express. Hmmmm!! I am however, grateful to God Almighty for His tender mercies. Although, I have not been able to eat until yesterday, I am thankful. (The weight loss hasn't hurt me any).
I went to church here in Colorado and was asked to pray a blessing on the children as it was family day and Pastor Art spoke of Adoption and being a part of the family of God.
So, all you great people that have not seen me yet, I am here and you can call me. I am anxious to see everyone especially now that I feel so much better. Blessings to you all!!!

Wedding Bells for Lois

As some of you know, I was a bridesmaid this weekend. Two weeks ago (see first picture on left), we had what would be called the announcement, and were "required" to wear a "Gomas". It sort of looks like a Kimono and was not a little hot or a little uncomfortable but was fun to have. I went to church about 3 times that Sunday morning in order to hit all the needed churches to announce the upcoming wedding. As her friend, boss and maid she asked me to stand with her that weekend as well. Now I know I do not look like a maid, but alas I was this weekend. Lois Mwamula our Ugandan Supervisor at the baby home oversees the management of the everyday things at the baby home. She is in charge of the mommas that work for us as well as our short term volunteers we have. She has been with Danyne since before starting Amani.

Her life took a major change this weekend, when at 36 she walked down the ilse for the first time to marry Godfrey Kalulu. She was a radiant and beautiful bride and I was priveledged to stand by her and support her through her special day. Although it was raining (AND VERY COLD MIND YOU) it still turned out to be a very nice wedding. In Uganda everyone that comes to the wedding helps pay for it. We all scrimped to pay for our bridesmaid gowns, shoes and flowers. I did my own hair as well as the other two Mzungu (white girls) bridesmaids. You can see some of her day through my pictures. I pray she has a lifetime of happiness. I know God will bless her and Godfrey.

Yesterday, late, the first half of the BWO team arrived and I was at the airport to meet them. It was 3:30 before I got back home and into bed. It is a full busy week with the team. This organization holds a special place in my heart as they were the mission team I first came to Uganda with. Many returning faces and alot of new ones. They will be very busy over the next two weeks with all kinds of activities for missions, including medical.

Diana's Eggroll

During the Saturday part of the conference, we had a couple of hours free time and we wandered down the street to find something to eat besides a sack lunch. We found a small cafe that Debbie use to frequent years ago. Some of us ordered Chicken and Chips (fries) but Diana ordered an Egg roll (she wasnt very hungry). None of us (except Debbie who kept quiet) new what was coming. They set her "egg roll" down in front of her and we all kinda stared at it. It looked like the inside of a baseball. Round and golden brown we wondered at it, for none of us had ever seen a big round "egg roll" before. She sliced straight down into it, to find, lo and behold, one boiled egg. The round exterior was actually mashed potatoes formed around it and deep fat fried. We all kind of just stared at it with mouths hung open and then we all cracked up and laughed so hard, the Ugandans in the place could not figure out what was so funny!! Debbie meantime was sitting over in her chair smirking away for she knew what was coming.

Needless to say, it was a Kodak Moment as you can see by the photo.

It gave her a three day bellyache but at least she has a memory. We all got a good laugh out of it.

Passion Kampala Uganda

I cannot begin to describe the amazing weekend we just had here. 9 of us from the baby home. 3 long term vols and 6 short termers, volunteered our time away from the baby home to assist the Passion World Tour Conference that was held here. It was by far the biggest, Christian gathering Kampala, Uganda has ever seen.

What a true blessing to assist this wonderful organization to bring the gospel of Jesus Christ to the students here at Makarere University. During the 2 day conference there were over 22,000 students attending and MANY gave their lives to God and were able to participate in a far out Praise and Worship time together. I was asked to serve as "The medical" through the conference and was given a two-way radio to carry so they could reach me. Only twice during the entire weekend was I called to assist someone medically.

We were blessed to worship with Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, and Charlie Hall. Speakers Francis Chen and Louie Giglio. I had the priveledge of meeting and talking to all the singers.

When Louie got up to speak "Indescribable" (which I had heard before) I looked up into the night sky and saw the stars and the screen was showing what was beyond the stars. What he described took my breath away. God is truly "Indescribable". He is an amazing, all powerful mighty God and we are only a speck on the horizon compared to all he has created. What a phenomenal moment to experience. WOW!!

It was after 1am when Debbie and I finally left the field (after helping tear down and meet Chris Tomlin of course). Her and I stayed across town from the other volunteers who went back early. She and I attended Kampala Pentecostal Church the next morning (though we were half asleep).

What an added bonus and surprise when who should get up to lead us in a couple of praise and worship songs but Martin Smith from "Delirous".

Thank God for that time of refreshing and refueling with these great spiritual leaders of song and word. Though we were there to help them, I received a far greater blessing. PRAISE GOD!!

Baby Home Happenings for the week

Hi Everyone;
Hope and pray your all well. I stay very busy here as always. This week I had the Ugandan Health Department of Jinja come. They offer free immunizations in this country and all it takes is a phone call from me (usually) to get them over to the baby home. They usually bring all their own supplies ie., cotton balls, surgical spirits, syringes and a cooler full of the proper immunizations
We have had 11 new children since I had them here last and so we were very busy giving shots. This time all the kids received Vitamin A and some received injections per the standard schedule for Uganda.
They had given 5 kids injections before I realized they were using plain cotton balls instead of ones soaked in surgical spirits to sanitize the injection site. Once I corrected that, they were allowed to continue. I pray now that those 5 do not get infections at the injection site.
All of us are attending the Bill Gothard Seminar in Basic Life Principles, brought over especially for us. I attended this seminar the first time way back in 1977 and then the advance seminar a year or two later. As an alumni I am seeing a very different approach to the presentation. This time its by DVD instead of live, its a smaller notebook instead of a huge syllabus. Though the man is the same and the principles are the same. I especially enjoy the chalk talks. I am thoroughly enjoying these seminars. I think we have one more week until were finished. We are meeting on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Our executive director of the baby home is paying for all of us volunteers to attend. Thank You Corky very much!
I am working on new feeding charts and methods for the mommas. Perhaps it will help them be more accurate.
We have had some rain almost every morning for the last week or so. It has been nice for cooling off things.
I pray the blessings of the Lord, fill your heart and mind with joy. Remembering all of you in my prayers.
I have been reading in Chronicles this week. I am once again reading through the bible in Chronological order. Even though I have read them before the genealogies and names are still tough to get through.
Until next time
Blessings
Siouxanne

Jagpal Sing Bharj

Tuesday May 6, 2008 ended up being a very busy but very joyful day. Praise the Lord, all is well. I had the priveledge of CO-delivering our directors baby boy. Both the Dr. and I had our hands out catching that sweet new life and helping to bring him into the world.

All is well and he is a wonderful new addition to the Amani family. Jag weighed in at 8#8oz (nearly 4 kg) and was 22" (55.9cm) in length. He, as you can clearly see has lots of dark hair and has NO mustache. Mommy and Daddy are proud and happy as well as Danynee and Diana the new big sisters. They were somewhat dismayed that he was so white at birth ( I guess they thought he would be darker).

God is so good. Everyday I see His blessings pour forth here. The baby home is doing well and the children who dwell there are doing great.

I can't stop praising Him for his greatness. I don't have a family photo yet that is publishable but hope to soon. In the meantime, you can see Jag here with his new Jja Jja Auntie Siouxanne.

Furlough Plan

There is just under 2 months left until I fly into Grand Junction for the beginning of my furlough. I love my work here, but I am very excited to see my family, friends, church and my supporters. I will be again working on my support base and would love to visit with you. Please feel free to email me for scheduling time together. Cost of living here has doubled and in some instances tripled. I will try to work some while home to offset funding. I will spend lots of time with my family. My kids, grand kids, siblings, my mother and my dear church family. I love you all and Praise God for your prayers, love and support. Can you believe that nearly 3 years ago I came to this country intending only to be here for 2 weeks. It is amazing to me that the direction of my life so changed for the better. WOW!! If your interested, I will be flying into Walker Field (Grand Junction Airport) on June 27, at 9:30 AM. Would love to see you and hug you.

Life at Amani Baby Cottage and beyond...

Hi Dear Ones;
I pray your all well and safe. Praise God for His goodness. I am so blessed to be working and serving here in Uganda. I stay very busy all the time it seems. In fact, right now, I am busy acting as midwife again on the side. I delivered a beautiful baby girl for another missionary couple last Thursday morning and everything turned out great. Our Director Danyne Bharj is nearing her delivery. We are in Kampala the capitol city right now currently waiting it out. Were in Kampala because of the unreliable transportation and road conditions from Jinja to here. She is making progress but not currently in active labor yet.
The kids at the baby home are doing great. They are healthy and happy, or at least as much as possible for Uganda. People do not realize just how healthy and happy these kids really are. While it can never take the place of a real home with a mommie and daddie, it really is a great place. These kids get three nutritious meals everyday. I manage their health and they get medicines when needed and vitamin supplements every day. When they need something, it is usually there. Even though it is a third world country here, we are blessed to be able to provide a safe, loving haven for these precious children. I will admit that they do thrive and grow faster once they get to traditional homes (those that are fostered or adopted), but these children are not lacking.
We have received children that were severely malnourished or sick with malaria or something when they arrived, but given a few days or weeks we not only get them as healthy as possible but we fatten them up and give them really good nutrition. Lately, it has gotten even better. I spent many hours creating a nutritional plan for these kids that would provide them with as good a diet as they will ever get here. It truly provides from all the essential food groups. We recently were able to decrease the amount of posho (corn flour paste which has virtually NO nutrition) in their diet and replace it with Lentils (which is extremely nutritional).
The kids also spend time learning, playing, interacting and receiving lots of love and attention from the mommas, volunteers and the administrative staff. They truly enjoy their lives here. They laugh and play and interact like all children do. When they are disobedient or naughty they are disciplined properly.
We so love raising these kids while waiting for real families to claim them and make them a part of their family.
We have a few special needs kids that really need a good family as well. Amani Baby Cottage truly is a place of "PEACE".

Tax Day today, but... who will you touch for good

Well for those of you stateside, if you havent already done your taxes, today is the day!! It is the official day for TAX DA Y!! Just in case none of you don't already know this, your friendly foreign field missionary is letting you know!! HA HA. I really just wanted you to know that I love you all and I am praying always that God would bless you and that HE would enlarge your territories.

I think of all the people that have come through my life or been a part of it in some way. We all in some small way, are a part of the kingdom. NO ONE is greater than the next, yet we all can be blessed and can be a blessing.

We touch people in ways we don't even know. How we touch them is the important thing. How we act and use our words. What we do and say. What we publish online, which is read by many. I want to try and live out those words and pratice what I preach. I pray that my actions will always speak louder than my words.

When I sit before God one day, I want Him to say "Well Done, thou good and faithful Servant...You have been faithful in small things, now I will give you many".

I am a sinner saved by grace and I am humbled before God Almighty. Wow!! I know NO eloguent words to accurately describe what I feel about His presence in my life. I only know that He is here and that brings me great joy. I want that for everyone.

Today, I am going to do my best to love whoever I see. The loveable and the unloveable. Some people rub you the wrong way and some people you just cant wait to be around just another day. While accomplishing what I need to do for the day for me, I pray that I faithfully show the love of God in my actions. If I can be a help to someone, even if it seems to be in the smallest way, yet may help them tremendously, then I pray I can do that.

We have a man that does the majority of the driving or hired driving for us. If he himself is not the driver then at least he finds us someone who will. He is honest and reasonable and does everything he can to please us and protect us. He is a joy to be around. He is muslim but is very open to the gospel. He hears it fromALL OF US ALL THE TIME. I keep thinking that with all the christian souls he has had in the car of his, one of these days, he will just decide that he wants to be a part of it himself. Many seeds have been planted in him and I know they will one day, come to fruition. One of the parents that has already gone back stateside with their newly adopted child even gave him an Ugandan Bible. The driver surprised the parent by telling him, that he had one. (We all thought he did not have one). He has even read parts of it. He studied it some with the Koran.

Oh the rejoicing in Heaven, when one soul reaches out and says "Take me and save me"!!

So today, who will you love, who will you uplift and edify? Who's back will you pat and say, "Good Job" Even if you do not feel like it? YOU know that is what your suppose to do. Rejoice in one another and uplift one another. Be thankful to those, who have helped you and been there, even if you do not realize it or want to.

All of us have had someone that helped us along. Let us all be willing to share in a blessing!!

Today, I am thankful for my children and my home churches and those of you who support me financially. I love you all and am grateful to God for each of you. I love you all. I am thankful for Danyne, our director, who has worked tirelessly for the last nearly 5 years to keep a loving, safe, healthy haven for these children. For Debbie who works hard administrating all of it. For Ditte, who is working hard at Coordinating all the current fostering. I am thankful to each and every lady (Ugandan) that works for us at Amani. I pray for their homes an loved ones. I pray for all the volunteers and parents that are here working on adoptions. I pray they see the good we do and the love we have for these kids. I pray for their safety in traveling back with these kids we have nutured.

SO in saying, I will close saying GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU AND MAKE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU AND GIVE YOU PEACE!! I love you and Praise God for you!!

Gift Day at Amani for the Kids

I am blogging twice today to play "catch up" on events. We have a wonderful family, who was one of the first families ever to adopt from Amani Baby Cottage, bless us with some great gifts. Every year they have a fundraising Christmas Party with their friends and raise money for the baby home. This year we took part of that money and had some yard toys purchased and sent to us. Another missionary group had a container sent over and we were able to get those toys onto their container.

The day we presented them to the kids was so fun, and we totally enjoyed watching their faces and see them enjoy these toys. Thank God for this family. Every day since our kids have enjoyed these toys and we have enjoyed playing with them. Here are a few pictures for you to see our 'gifts'. Blessings to you all today.

Ressurection Sunday Sunrise Service

Hello Dear Ones;
It's been a couple of weeks since I blogged. I've not had much time for getting online much less blog. I pray your all well and safe. Blogging tends to be way down on my priority list. I apologize. Going back a couple of weeks, we had a wonderful Sunrise Service here on my front lawn on Resurrection Sunday. It was a rainy weekend, and in fact was cold enough that I actually put on long sleeves and socks.!! Perish the thought!! It had rained most of the night before and stopped only about 5 AM. Sunrise service was scheduled for 6:30AM. That gave us just enough time to clean up the chairs and benches we laid out the night before on the lawn before it started raining and get things set up. Most of it was set up and ready the day before. Unfortunately, it was load shutting and we did not have power so I had to make Canyon Coffee. You campers will know what that is. Everyone was scheduled to bring something for the potluck breakfast that would immediately follow the service.
The service was beautiful and the sky breathtaking. We had some Praise and Worship time lead by Ryan McCabe and I. He is a fellow missionary here with Calvary Chapel. Then we had a time of Communion led by another fellow missionary with IMB, Rob Davis. Then I sang a song for a special and then Jesse Chance, missionary with Global Outreach, gave a mini sermon. We closed with another Praise and Worship song. It was glorious and a beautiful time for us to come together and celebrate the risen saviour. We had about 30 people including the children who braved the early morning.
Not less than 45 minutes after we had everything cleaned up and we were on our way to church for service it started raining again. It rained hard and continuously for the rest of the day. I wish I had a picture to include with this, but I just didn't think about taking photos. I was so blessed just to be a part of this beautiful time together. I pray your Easter was blessed and that God blessed you. Debbie and Sonia and I took lunch at the Palm Tree with Danyne and a couple of other friends and then went home and just Vegged the rest of the day. As it was pouring down rain, it was a great day for reading, resting, and curling up with a blanket. I thought it felt so great to be cold.

Changes and saying Goodbye

The time has come and gone to say goodbye to part of my family here in Uganda. Stacy Buss and Anna. They have lived with me in my home since last July while Stacy worked on finalizing her fostering of Anna and ultimately adopt her stateside. She has worked tirelessly over the last several months, not only to finalize her own process, but to assist the current other parents with theirs, as the foster coordinator for the baby home.

It was difficult to say goodbye. Her and Anna have been an integral part of my life over the last 8 months. I have watched her and Anna grow together as Mother and Daughter and it has been a beautiful maturation. They love each other and depend on each other. I know with God's help, Stacy will be a great MOM. She has already shown that.

The trip to Kampala and then to Entebbe was long, arduous and nerve racking. This is a good time to ask you to pray for us as Christians and white people here in Uganda. Currently, Ghaddafi ( is he the leader of Lybia?) and 19 other leaders of African nations and some other Islamic nations are here to "celebrate" the opening of the largest Muslim mosque in the world ( or so I am told). A 4 day celebration that we ended up having to be in the middle of. Motorcade after motorcade and many police escorts all day long while in Kampala. These completely stopped traffic or drastically slowed it down, which does not help considering the fact that driving in Kampala is ALWAYS a long process and difficult. So far it has been peaceful, and no "christian" has been under attack, except in written form in the paper.

What normally would have taken a mere 40- 45 min at the most at 8pm took us over 2 hours. We left downtown Kampala at a few minutes before 8pm and arrived at Entebbe airport at 10:10 p.m. After a long long wait on Kampala Road and finally detouring way out of our way to get there in bumper to bumper traffic.

Her flight time was scheduled for right at 11:00 p.m. and we prayed all the way, that somehow she would be allowed to board and her flight would be delayed.

We arrived at the airport, unloaded her 4 checked bags and 2 carry-ons between them. They would not allow us to assist her with the luggage and Anna except to stand and hold Anna by the luggage X-ray machines while Stacy went in to speak to the Concierge. She came back out running and told us her flight was delayed "Praise God for Answered Prayer", until 2:30 AM and they were giving her a "special Pass" to go ahead and check in and board. That gave us NO time to properly say goodbye, because she had to get right back into the secured area.

So Debbie, Sonia and I stood outside and watched her at the ticket counter through the glass windows, rejoicing that we could see she was being processed. Then, hoping she would see us as she passed by the windows on her way to the security screening area, we waited. She did see us and came over to the windows, so we could waive and cry to each other through the glass. NOT a great goodbye, but we were thankful she was allowed to go through. Later she text us and told us, they told her she should make it in time for her connecting flight in Amsterdam. We are waiting to hear from her that she has arrived safe and sound to her mom's in Minnesota. She should have arrived about 3 hours ago.

God has been so faithful over the last few hours, for her, that despite the fact we will miss her terribly, we rejoice that she is now home (in America) with little Anna. What a great and mighty God he is!!! Blessings on them as they start their lives in America and become a permanent family.

I am amazed daily, by the many things God allows me to see and do while here. I have the privilege of overseeing the health care of all our children. While that is sometimes a big challenge, and not always easy, I KNOW that they are getting the best medical care that is possible while in this country and since medicine has never been an exact science, at least I perform with their very best interest at heart. What I know, is that I serve a mighty God and He has always shown me His Grace. Blessings on all who read this today!!

Uuuggghh

You never know when some creeping bug (bacterial or otherwise) is going to pounce on you. At any given moment. We are vulnerable to about 40-11 different things to get us sick. Right now 3 of us, including a 2 year old, a volunteer and I are suffering from an intestinal bug. At first, I thought I had food poisioning as well as the other volunteer but as we all seem to have the same symptoms, I have come to the conclusion that we all have the same Gastro-intestinal infection. ie...fever, nausea....you dont want me to continue. Checked for malaria and its negative, thank goodness, however, it sure is debilitating and I sure feel lousy. Could use a few prayers my way..
It has kept me home for the last 2 days. Grrrrr!!!
Printer went out in the office and I cant print any of my med sheets or feeding charts or anything. It is also hard to find a printer in town that is colored. That is a prayer need. I can't even read. I am so tired and sleepy that as soon as I do I fall asleep. Oh well, Im sure I can use the rest. Funds are running low so I don't drive the car much either. I try not to complain to much about the power outages that have been significantly increased lately. Gets old always being in the dark at night. Hmmm that sounds like a complaint. I should Praise God in the midst of it and Not worry. Now there's a novel idea. PRAISE GOD!!! I sure do and I sure am thankful for His presence. No snakes this week, that is a real good thing!!!!!!

donations

ThunderMt51 asked about donations. Please email me at drsoxxatamani@gmail.com with your name and repeat the interest. I have no way of contacting you this way. Thanks. By the way this sounds like my school district at home and a familiar middle school

Quiet Sunday

Just thought you would like to know, that today I led a peaceful, Non-snake invaded Sunday. I was blessed with a wonderful, beautiful not so hot day today. Praise God, how he watches over us. I have been working on updating and changing the nutritional plan and diet regime for the kids at the baby home. Mama Cook (Sarah) makes delicious meals but we need to tweak here and add there (as much as money and availability will allow) so that the kids have a better nutritional intake. It has taken me two weeks almost to get it finished and on paper. Tomorrow we start implementing. The kids are such sweet blessings here at the baby home. I enjoy them immensily. I feel like I have accomplished much over the last week and Thank God for it. I can't wait to see what this next week will bring (besides a trip to the dentist in Kampala). Blessings

Valentines Day Surprise

There are some ministry things I try to do outside the walls of the baby home. I like to refer to them as my outreach ministries. Some way to help some people that truly need the assistance. I think some may remember Amina the little girl with the birth defects who died last Spring 07. But currently, I have been assisting a Ugandan young women and her husband with pre-natal exams and agreed to act as midwife for the couple. Their very real fears of the lack of OB skill here at the local hospital terrified her. She works for a missionary couple in town. On Valentines Day I was priveledged to deliver their precious little girl who was born at 10:05 AM and weighed in at 3.05 kg (6#7oz). It was a great joy to participate in a field of nursing for which I am trained and have much experience. Little Valentine (who really still has no official name) decided to try and deliver with a loose cord around her neck and both her hands on her face. In so doing mom required some stitching despite the extra care for the contrary. At any rate, Praise God mom and baby are doing very well and just for you OB fanatics. Baby Valentine's Apgars were 8/9 and she came out to be 40 Weeks AGA. It was the best Valentines Day I have had for some time.

Amani Baby Cottage

Days roll into each other sometimes here in Uganda, so much sometimes its hard to tell what day it is. It is always busy and always there is something to do. The kids are a joy and a pain all at the same time, but then, so is every kid on the planet. Here at Amani, we try to provide as close to a real home setting as we can possibly achieve. With our limited funds we don't always get what we want or need, but we try so hard to provide as much as possible. In comparison to many Orphanages, we have a great place.

We, again, God be Praised, have a 8 more children who are nearing the tail end of their fostering/adoption process. This includes Danyne, Debbie and Stacie and 3 families stateside. It is difficult for those who have never been here and even those who have, to understand just what we go through to help these parents get their kids home. There is so so so so much footwork, endless phonecalls and endless "do overs" in regards to paperwork, trips to Kampala, headaches, heartaches and explanations to our local goverment. Costs keep rising and we have NO choice but to "charge" for those costs.

Amani suffered greatly last year with costs from the last group simply because there ended up being so much more to pay for than we ever dreamed. As we are a NGO we do not have a bank or money tree to draw from. How I wish we did. I wish it could be done cost free. Each and every schilling we ask the parents for goes into COST. Amani has NEVER pulled a profit from any parent, nor will we ever.

I cannot even begin to imagine what the stateside costs for these parents must be. I have heard that some have paid around 14,000 USD just for the stateside costs. Ours, we have figured, have roughly increased to about $3,000 USD and unfortunately that amount changes all the time. As this includes court costs and lawyer and other goverment fees, we never know when we will have to pay out some more schillings to achieve our ultimate goal. TO GET THESE PRECIOUS GIFTS FROM GOD INTO A LOVING CHRISTIAN HOME.

Today, Danyne is trying to finish her adoption that has been 5 years in the making. She has worked so hard to facillitate adoptions and fostership of all the other parents, she has had little time to try and complete her own adoption of Danyne and Diana whom, she has had for 5 years. Debbie has worked on finalizing hers for the last year and has had Sonia for going on 4 years now. Stacie while trying to facillitate the fostering of this latest american group is working on her own with Annabelle as well.

What a job these ladies have. What a joy it is to see it finally come to fruition. I am so blessed to be a part of it. As the medical director of ABC, I am a part of the greater good and I help wherever I can.

Blessings to these ladies and all we strive to do for these kids. Praise God things are going better so far in Kampala than they were in Jinja.

I pray that these children will one day know what their 'parents' went through, the many trips to Uganda, the money, the joys, the pain, the waiting, the changes, the agonies and all the unknowns. How could anyone love another child more!!!

Snakes, Bugs and other fowl creatures

Ok so I can live with the birds, because they are beautiful, exotic and down right facinating, the bugs though I dislike them immensily especially in my house are livable. What I can't stand is the snakes. For going on three years I have lived and worked here and have never had a live snake encounter until this last week. NOT only one snake but two encounters in one week. The first at my back door so close to it that when I stepped out, I stepped right on (thank God in Heaven) its head. It was smaller (about 12" long and as round as pencil). The second much bigger and much more frightening. It was on my window shelf in my living room and I nearly touched it before seeing it was a snake curled up on the shelf. 5ft from its head I screamed and flew off the chair I was standing on when I saw its slithering tongue come out at me. With me trying to talk through my hysteria, Stacie realized there was a true threat in our home called our night guard at the baby home and he came and killed it (with me safely esconsed in my bedroom) and took it away. It really served to dampen and ruin my beautiful Sunday. It was at least 2 1/2 ft long and about an inch to an inch and a half in diameter. VERY GREEN!!! Yes, both these snakes were Green Mamba's. Though deadly, Praise God they rarely strike. I am suffering physically both yesterday and today from that encounter. I truly abhor them and feel ill from it. Ok there's my second entry

The Beginning of this blog

I am attempting something new. Not sure if it will work for me but it is worth a try. So all you blog reading friends out there. Let me know if you like this or if you think it will work for my newsletter and ministry tool for updates and communication about the latest and greatest of Siouxanne in Uganda.
I am excited to tell you that I will be starting my furlough home on June 25. I will board a British Airlines flight to London and have a 24 hour layover there. What should I do this time?? Then I will fly directly to Denver the next day where I hope my kids will be to pick me up. If you desire a visit with me or a presentation at your church or civic group, contact me for appointments. If you just want to have a meal, I am always up for eating. Blessings