Deno September 2024 Prayer Letter
Everything was up in the air—at least Verna’s flight to Uganda was! It was no magic Carpet flight on Turkish Airlines: Spokane to Seattle; then to Istanbul, a milk stop at Tanzania, and finally Entebbe, Uganda! Verna logged in 25 hours of travel time. The exhaustion was worth it!
We receive many photos and texts from Blessed Hope Children’s Home, but they do not compare to being there! Watching them play, preparing food, doing their daily routines, it’s just impossible to wrap your arms around a digital photo. I love looking at the memories and get teary-eyed every time I do!
For this trip, we prepared a three day lesson plan on Noah and the Ark. Ian Kakembo interpreted Verna’s teaching, and the children enjoyed interacting when questions were given about the story.
Karen Howington, Joseph’s Mom in Christ, joined Verna on this trip to see and hug Joseph for the very first time! It was a very special time for her. Karen treated Ian, Joseph, and me to an African safari — an amazing once in a lifetime blessing! The tour guide was a friend that Joseph had recently led to the Lord. He accompanied us in a rented vehicle guiding us to prime locations. The Lord showed off His creation glory in Uganda! A small cruise boat on the Uganda Nile River showed many hippos and crocodiles! The Murchison Falls on the Nile is the most powerful waterfall in the entire world and left us absolutely amazed!
Verna discussed the plans for the well with Ian, and all are excited for this near future blessing. We had hoped the project would already be in progress, but sickness of the contractor and other complications delayed the work. The contractor has promised work will start soon.
Karen was alarmed to see the older children drinking contaminated tap water when nobody was looking. She sent Joseph to buy two large containers of purified water. It isn’t cheap, and the entire two large jugs were consumed by all the children that afternoon. The kids are provided boiled tea for their evening meal. We are so very grateful for the $5000 that we have raised through you friends and sponsors to this life and health giving well! But it is becoming apparent to us that this will probably only cover the actual well dig and components. We will need to tear out a portion of the brick fence wall, and additional plumbing from the well into the house incurring more expense.
Bob and I are extremely blessed to see the kids housed in a nice, clean and safe home situation with outdoor play areas! These kids, however, are not spoiled by any means! By God’s amazing grace, they receive simple but good food, shelter in a cheerful environment, in a good church, and Lord willing with schooling as the Lord allows us funds. But little things like toys, toiletries, medicine, clothing, beds, blankets, heaters and coats for cold weather, raincoats, shoes, and even individual attention (especially for children traumatized by previous lives) is hard to provide for with so many children!! Pray for Ian and Nagawa’s stamina and spiritual strength as they love and care for so many!🙏💞