Saying Good-bye

Those are some of my least favorite words to say – I mean, why do they call it ‘good’ bye anyways?  Why not bad bye?  Maybe because when we have hoped that we will see them again it is kind of good.  Anyways, I have said good bye to some people who are really special to me lately.  I know that in my last post I said I would be writing about stuff in February first but, I want to write about all the good-byes in the last few months.

In the last few months we have had four kids get adopted.  Here is the blog of the new mom of Edi Caleb and Hannah Zai www.sporesixgoingonseven.blogspot.com.  And here is a really cute video of Joann and Angel (Jojo) right before they went to their forever homes.  Coming at America if this doesn't work, let me know.

Patricia, Patience and Simon and Kabuzi Solomon and Abraham were resettled with their biological families.

Simon

Joy

This is the group I want to focus on.  Joy, Aidah, Betty and Gibson all had to leave GSF this year and go to boarding schools because of their age or school levels.  Watching these kids leave has broken my heart.  Betty, Joy and Gibson have had an extra long break.  During this time I have really gotten to know Joy really well. I have really enjoyed getting to know her and the others!

Telling the stories

Over the last few months I have not blogged very much.  I feel like now is the time for me to tell those stories that have not been written here.  And friends … there are lots of them.  I don’t know if I will even have time to catch up on all of these old things before new ones come up.  A few months ago I was talking with my parents about blogging and I said ‘I just do so many blog worthy things I don’t have time to write about them’.  That is kind of the story of my life right there.  Anyways, so many stories … so little time.  So, here is a little overview of my past 5 months.  I will hopefully write more in-depth stories later.

November brought with it a new face, little 2 year old Kenny who has Cerebral Palsy.  

 And, it brought an ‘old’ ‘brother’ back home.  Philip is still pressing on!  It brought Thanksgiving which for me was a wonderful time to look upon all I had to be thankful for.  Little did I know, two days later we would all be struggling with giving thanks.  The next day, our ‘brother’, Isaiah had his introduction (really big deal before a wedding).  And the next day Isaiah Mitteyeyiidet and Norah Namubiru were married in GSF chapel.  That same morning, another one of our ‘brothers’ lost his son.  Little Simeon will be forever missed at GSF.  In the same month we had a P7 party which is basically like a prayer

service for our P7s (7^th graders) before they start their big exams.

December brought with it 3 new faces.  Two year old Jeremiah along with his 4 month old sister, Miracle Ketty, as well as 4 year old Faziri are now happy members of our ‘family’.  It also brought with it (of course) Christmas and lots of parties.  It also brought the adoption of two of our members, Edi (now called Caleb) and his sister Zaituna (now called Hannah).

January was my birthday.  I enjoyed celebrating this time with some girls who I love so much.  It also saw two more of our members, Joann and her sister Angel, leaving with their forever family.

February was Valentine’s Day and we discovered that there was lots of love in the air at GSF.  We have several weddings coming soon!  We said ‘good-bye’ to several of our friends as they now live with their biological families.  We also said ‘good-bye’ to some who had to leave because of age and schooling to go to boarding school.

March … well; we’re only four days into March.  But, it has introduced us to a cute little face.  Daniela is the daughter of one of our ‘big sisters’ and will be staying with one of our staff members while her mama, Sarah, finishes school.  Please be praying for Daniela, Sarah and Judith (the woman taking care of her) as they go through this.

Hopefully later on today I will be able to post some stories and pictures of February.  Hopefully this won’t take long to get caught up.

  Sorry there aren't pictures.  The internet is really bad so, I didn't want to upload pictures.  I really wanted to get this out so, I won't wait till I get to town.  Plus, I am going to be writing more about all of this so, there will be pictures there.

Big brothers and sisters

I know it has been a long time since I have posted, sorry.  I have been trying to catch up on school and we have been busy with lots of other things.  I have a lot I could tell you about but, I think that I will start by telling you one of the most recent things.  Maybe I will write more things later.
Two weekends ago the kids who used to live at GSF (we like to call them the 'elders' or the 'big brothers and sisters') came home for a little reunion.  It was such a great time of hearing stories from the 'big kids' about what God has done for them.  There are even a few 2nd generation GSF kids in there.  I was having so much fun that I did not really want to take pictures.  My dad took a few and I took a few.  AND ... I took a whole bunch of big group pictures.  I was just snapping as fast as I could to try to get a good one.  Here are a few of my favorites (how good can it get with at least 90 people?)  Sorry there are not that many besides the group ones.

Love this one  - Jane and Auntie Amanda

Me with sweet Allison (or maybe it is Amanda - they are twins) - the daughter of one of the 'big sisters'

Setting up (and being crazy)

Everyone

Getting the 'Mzungus' in the picture

Just the 'elders'

Both babies in this picture are kids of 'big sisters'

Maggie, Big David, little Amanda and Liz

Of course, that cannot give you a very accurate picture of this 'family'.

One last thing, I have a quick little prayer request.  Tomorrow Sebastian will go in to see if they can do the other half of his surgery.  This has been a really long journey.  I don't really want to re-write his whole story but, I will hopefully have a link on the side of the blog where you can read/follow his story soon.  Faziri is four years old.  He looks like he is about one or two years old and has a huge belly.  This is because he has Hertzsprung.  On Tuesday he will go in two see when and if they can do a surgery for him.  Please join us in prayer for these two little boys.

An update on Philip + picture of Susan

Philip (right) with Benji

Many of you have been asking for 'Philip Updates'. I don't know if I have mentioned it before but the hospital that Philip is in, is not close to GSF. He is in Kampala, which is two hours away. So, my mom and several others were able to go when they were in Kampala and today some house moms went to visit. The other updates have all been from his auntie by phone. Those calls have been few. That is why updates have been few. The calls usually don't contain enough information to write full blog posts about. So, this is kind of a combination of those phone calls and visits. The latest news is, he is doing better but doesn't want to eat. He does want bananas, apples, and yoghurt however. He has been threatened with a feeding tube.
Hopefully he will start eating and will not have to go on a feeding tube so he can come home soon.

Philip soon after we came to GSF

Current Prayer Requests for Philip:

• That he will have an appetite.
• That he will be able to come soon.

Susan hasn't been at school much this week so I just got this picture today.

Little Cuties :)

Gabriel

Paul

Betty

Joanne, Jessica, & Joel - Could they possibly be cuter?

Uh, yes. But I think that is about as good as it gets.

I lied.

Micah

Angel

Lily

Zaitune - AKA Zai, Tuna, or Nana

Zai with her brother Edi

A reminder of God's Promise yesterday

I will put my rainbow in the clouds to be a sign of my promise to the earth. Whenever I form clouds over the earth, a rainbow will appear in the clouds. Then I will remember my promise to you and every living animal. Never again will water become a flood to destroy all life.
Genesis 9:13-15

Prayer

I am writing this post for several reasons, all of which involve prayer requests. Thank you everyone for your prayers!
This is a very special little boy ... Philip. He is very special to many ... all over the world. Many are praying for him everyday. On Wednesday he was diagnosed with a very serious type of Pneumonia. Every since Philip was little he has lived a very difficult life. The worst part is that no one can do anything to help him ... he will always have a hard life. Why? Because he has that awful disease called HIV. So, all that to say please pray for him.
As I said earlier Philip is special to very many people. Why? Well, because he can put on those puppy dog eyes and look sad and make you want to give him as many bananas and fruit snacks as he wants. Because of skinny little legs and that bandage that is on his ear a lot. Because he is silly and when he starts acting and dancing you can't help but laugh. (he is the one on the right in this picture the other boy is one of his good friends, Geoffrey.) And because he has an amazing smile.
And really just because he is special.

On Wednesday I went to devotions with the preschoolers. At the end one of the teachers brought a girl who is about 6. The teacher said 'We are going to pray for this girl. She is ever sick (she is sick a lot). Her name is Susan. Everyone hold out your hands and pray for her.' That is exactly what we did. I do not know exactly what is wrong with this little girl, how old she is, or where she lives but, I know her name and that she needs our prayers. I do not have a picture of her right now but I will post one of her as soon as I get one.


Well, that is all - thank you for praying!