Following His leading...

I am constantly amazed by the complexities and simplicities that are always tied together in this country. They are interwoven so tightly that sometimes you cannot tell the difference. Daily I feel that God is constantly speaking to me and bringing about a message my heart can barely contain.

One of the most amazing things I have ever experienced in my life is being called to this country. A little over 5 years ago, I stepped on an airplane for a two week trip that forever changed my life. You may have never experienced such life changing, mountain top events, but I pray that through my words, my eyes and my heart, you can see from this blog that I truly have.

The children at Amani Baby Cottage never cease to amaze me. I am daily confronted with different issues and yet sometimes the same issues repeatedly. Sometimes I have to stop myself from being complacent. Oh that I would never forget the primary objective to my being here. I try to always be ready for the Lord's leading. I never know when or where He will do that, and I try always to be prepared for the unexpected.

I have had a small 4 month old baby that has been sick without knowing the etiology (source).

Fevers, and at first cold like symptoms. I treated him for them, tested him for Malaria two times with both showing negative. The little guy started having focal seizures and was a sick little guy.

At one point the volunteers brought him to me thinking he was near death. I treated him as best as I could, took him to the local hospital for testing. They didn't find anything either. But nevertheless, I treated him for infection and went ahead and treated for Malaria. The fevers and cold symptoms left but he continued to have seizures. I bumped my prayers for this little guy and started an Odyssey of phone calling to find a neurologists and an EEG. Phone numbers I had were no longer working, doctors no longer available, I was going crazy trying to find some help for this little guy.

The hospital in Kampala we use for testing like that had one tech that performed them and this person was on "leave". I finally after 4 days of phone calls and pleading found a doctor, but he would not answer his phone. Meanwhile, my prayers continued and I am sure all the volunteers were praying as well. Amazingly, the seizures STOPPED and he started smiling and acting like a normal 4 month old baby. I cannot explain it except to say the POWER OF PRAYER WORKS MIRACLES.

I don't have an ending to this story yet. Today, I have sent him to Kampala for testing finally and evaluation, even though the seizures stopped. We found somewhere else to test him. I pray though the medical is limited, that if there is something going on with this little one it will be found out. I will continue to treat and observe and do whatever it takes if possible to keep him well. Oh and By the way..... He is HIV negative!!!!!

From stories like this little guy to another child at the home who is Autistic. He is like the wind. It is hard to contain him. He is a free spirit. This week he threw gravel on my car seat. I had to spend 15 minutes cleaning it out so I could go home for the day. That same day he had thrown gravel in Mama Cook's outdoor kitchen so that had to be cleaned up so she could cook. You have to laugh at this, though, it means closer watch on him as he gets to big to manage. We wait for another special home to open this September so they can take him and love on him too.

'God, so move in my life and my heart, that I remain open to your leading and direction. I am your servant Lord, and ready to follow you to ends of the earth.' AMEN AND AMEN

Catepillars

Ok, so I have a total and complete aversion to snakes. I can barely stand to say the word "Snake". I would rather the world existed without them, for many reasons. But, I also know they are a part of God's Kingdom.

Caterpillars are a different story however. I will admit, I did refuse to touch this one. It was pretty large. I did take pictures and look at it for awhile. It had a rather large stinger on its rear but was amazingly vivid green with brown/gray geometric stripes on it's topside.

Amazing!! That's what I said. God is amazing!!! He has created so many amazing and incredible things. It's hard to capture on a camera.

These children here at Amani are amazing. Their resilient and precious, funny and obnoxious, loving and truly God's own. I love my work here, and even though I sometimes get mired down in the immensity of it all, I still am so thankful that I am called here for now.

We meet the needs of these children, and God gives us the grace and wisdom to do it. Like this Green Caterpillar they each have their own unique way about them and their beautiful in God's sight.

Thank you all dear ones for your continued support, your prayers and your kind messages. Receiving hello's from you are like precious jewels for me to put on a chain. I link them together to form a beautiful piece of quality jewelry. Bless you all abundantly. I love you all.

Bold as a Lion

Recently, my brother Sam came to Uganda to visit me. He took us both on Safari, which was absolutely wonderful and thrilling. It was so great to be able to spend time with my oldest brother. We were blessed and priveledged to see all the animals you could possibly see in this part of Uganda, East Africa.

One of those creatures was the Male African Lion. We had been driving around the game park looking and looking when the decision was made to try and go off road a bit. We drove around in the bush for a bit and were just about to give up and get back on the road and out of the game park before dark, when we went around a large cluster of bushes and there under them was the big Daddie himself. The grass was so tall that at first we didnt see him as he was down lower than the grass tops. But as you can see, he sat up. We were about 20-25 feet away from him, and with the windows of the bus thrown open wide we started shooting pictures as quickly as we could.

Fortunately, he sat there and watched and allowed us our photo op. It was amazing to be that close to this wild animal knowing at any moment (if he wanted) he could have leaped through one of the windows of the bus and had a royal feast.

This King of the Jungle was breathtaking...

There is however, another King that we must picture in our minds while walking this earth doing His will. That is the King of Kings, The Lion of Judah.. One more breathtaking, miraculous, amazing and thrilling than any other we will ever experience. As long as we are obedient and trust in Him, He will be our Protector and Saviour.

The Bible tells us in Proverbs 28:1, "The wicked flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are bold as a Lion." This is a warning and instruction on how to live, because if we are bold and heed these warnings, we as Christians and children of God will dwell with Him in eternity and we will be able to take many there with us.

Living a righteous life is not an easy road.. I Peter 5:8,9 says, "Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring Lion, seeking someone to devour. BUT, resist him, stand firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your bretheren who are in the world."

As you face the Roaring Lions of this World, remember the Lion of Judah who saved you and be bold as a Lion and face the devil head on.

In the final Sunrise of life, when you stand before the King of Kings he will say to you, Well done thou good and faithful Servant...enter into the Joy of the Lord"..... That Sunrise will be better than any you or I have ever experienced.

This is the sunrise we experienced in the game park at Murchison Falls, Uganda, East Africa in the North

Spring into Destruction

Well by now you are all settling in to face the Springtime. For you last Sunday was Daylight Savings Time 'Spring Forward Day'. We do not change time here at the equator and I nearly forgot that it was that time of year.

The rains have brought much lush greenery and the flowers are blooming riotously. Well lots of mud too, but that is to be expected.

I am sure most of you have heard about the complete destruction of the Buganda Kingdoms Tombs of the Traditional Kings. This was a UNESCO world heritage site located on Kasubi Hill near the capitol city Kampala. The Buganda is Uganda's largest ethnic group based in the central part of the country. The site is a symbol of the Spiritual, Political and Social State of the Buganda Nation. 4 kings bodies were housed there in the domed mausoleum.

Tensions between the government and Buganda is high anyway from the recent clashes over assigning a second king by the government. Presidential elections are a year away and Bugandan's are fearing that these are retaliations by the government. I do not believe the government is involved but someone bent on causing serious trouble between the two. Someone cruel and with evil intent. It is a sad thing that a historic place like Kasubi Tombs could fall prey to people with their own private agenda. This loss for Uganda would be like America losing Arlington National Cemetery.

The raging fire destroyed everything except the concrete walls that formed its backbone, as well as the metallic pillars that supported the dome. Stripped of the wooden poles, reeds and grass, the structure now seems like the cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde or other ancient dwellings.

My heart goes out to the Buganda Nation. Despite any political agenda's or Religious connotation, it is a sad loss.

I am praying that the people will act rationally and forgive and remember that God alone is sovereign and the remembrance of these kings in their hearts will not soon be forgotten.

Pray for Uganda, its people and its government and for us who occasionally get caught in the middle.

Things are good here at Amani Baby Cottage. We have 58 children right now and for the most part they are doing well and healthy. I hosted the local governmental Health Department Immunizations section. I am able to call them and set it up. I pick them up with their supplies and they come and give all the immunizations needed for our home for free. It's a whole lot easier to go and get them and bring them to us rather than try to take 58 children to them. After we finish with all the immunizations, I treat the team to soda's and Mandazi (fried sweet bread). It is a wonderful thing that they will do this for us. I am very appreciative of their assistance. They give things like Measles, DPT, Flu shots, Polio, Tetanus, etc. No MMR or Varicella, though those can be obtained in the country for cost. Although they cost less than what you would pay in America the cost is prohibitive for our facility. When children are adopted or fostered to the USA it is part of their immigration physical.

We had the whole house down with Chicken pox a couple of months ago and it took a long time to clear the facility. Thankfully no problems or repercussions from it.

I continue to plug away at my work here and am thankful that I can.

God bless you all there as you enter Spring and Planting Season. I think of you all so fondly and pray God's greatest blessings upon you. Drop me a line now and then, I would love to hear from each and every one of you.