August news - last one

Well here we are in our last three weeks and reeling from unimaginable scenes of suffering in the burns ward yesterday. We arrived to water and urine flooding out from the broken, mouldy toilets mixing with the smell of rotten black bandages. Carers sleeping on the floor and new acid attack victims were packed into the ward. One young man returning from buying hardware items was attacked in an alley with a full bucket of acid onto his face and upper body - never mind the motives – this is the ultimate cruelty – an irreversible life consequence of blindness and loss of upper body functions – an imprisonment not many can bear especially in a culture where you must work to survive!!! The parents were sitting by his bed in utter, speechless despair wiping the blood and pus pouring from his eyes and facial wounds. What can you say or offer in this situation of complete darkness and hopelessness? I asked Joseph our team member to speak into the parents lives about his own healing and restoration from a terrible acid attack. Joseph came back from the dead twice (we fed him a whole fish nearly every week!) for 1 year! Then we fed the young man high protein foods and finished with a cry to Jesus for healing mercy over his body. I took his black hands and swept his body with the hand of Jesus – he started crying – tears coming out of eye sockets with no eyes – this hit me hard but was also a good sign that something was living down in those eye holes. When we began worship in the middle of the suffering he sat up and raised his hands with Sharon holding one – there is nothing more moving on this planet to see some hope breathing into a person’s solitary darkness. He did not want to move from his praise – Jesus filled him and so I saw the glory of God spilled into his destruction – I tell him – “hold on mate this life is only a short, tiny journey so treasure your faith until we meet with Jesus – keep up the fight for your healing – for I have seen many healed by their sheer courage, faith and determination to see again and walk.” The woman’s section was overflowing with tragedy – Sharon fighting for a young lady with an undiagnosed, broken leg swelling to balloon size – why the fight? The family could not afford the Xray charges to have the leg examined and fixed so the nurses and doctor were refusing her treatment – unbelievable in a public hospital – signals a complete breakdown in funding. One lady endured extraordinary upper body burns so much so that because the doctors failed to put her burnt arms and hands in a cast one hand is bent backwards and the burnt skin and muscles have fixed it in place. So she can only use one hand! Do I go on and tell you about the children’s section! To horrific to even mention details – all boiling porridge, water or fire victims – a whole family there who were trapped in their burning house – the doors padlocked while the parents were out working all hours!! Most cases come from unsupervised children near cooking facilities. The burns ward is very close to our hearts – we know the presence of Jesus there like nowhere else – perhaps because Jesus prefers to be in a place where people are crying out and desperate to receive comfort from Him – they want HIM! What does this say to me personally – as high as the heavens are above the earth so great is his loving-kindness towards those that fear Him – Ps 103. Forget not all his benefits – who redeems your life from the pit, heals all your diseases, crowns you with loving-kindness and compassion - this becomes real for the extremely burned acid attack patient who hangs in there with a faith not bothered about revenge but just staying close until the end! Yes we have seen many pass into Jesus hands – some doing well then they collapsed because of secondary infections caught in the hospital – children who were too burned and weak – unable to fight – I have held there burned hands - some no hands - as they prepare to meet Jesus. Herein lies the greatest treasure – they are actually going to meet their creator – a little earlier than most!! What else is there in this short life of ours? Sharon and I are working hard to consolidate a team to take over and slowly this is happening. A long term project to renovate the hospital is underway but whether this reaches the burns ward is another story! Our five years are nearly over as our children need to incorporate back into NZ and enjoy the opportunities which are simply not available here. God has worked through our hands to bring comfort and salvation to many. Thanks to all you supporters – we gave out bibles yesterday that were absolutely treasured by the patients holding them – I cannot count the amount of bibles that have gone into lives – but those receiving them were so hungry for the comfort to their soul. I have witnessed such amazing miracles – not just in extreme suffering but inside the complexities of adoption (plus getting NZ citizenship and passports in 12 days), our physical protection here and inside relationships with the poor. NZ presents a whole new set of challenges – setting up house, education, jobs, income, fellowship groups and coping with a totally different culture – which means seeking his presence and guidance. We may have to move into temporary accommodation until the end of September which we have arranged if needed – I had forgotten I had signed a fixed term contract with our tenants!! Our tenants are trying to move out by the end of August but so far they have not found a 4 bedroom house – please pray they can - I would love to be travelling back to our own house!!! Let Raewyn Mortensen our rental manager know if you hear of a house for our current tenants. Sharon needs to complete a refresher course at Waikato Uni to regain her provisional teaching registration which lapsed last year. It is a 12 week course with two practicums costing – wait for it - $4000 – there goes our mortgage advances – but it is simply the price one has to pay to get back into teaching after being away. Sharon has developed into a fantastic teacher so prayerfully she can find an opportunity to get a job back in NZ. Our plan is that I homeschool and get a little part time work. Our kids are like 4 different classrooms and levels on there own!!! Sharon is busy with the weigh scales trying to get our baggage below 180 kgs (6 people times 30kg) – oh dear – what a task – I will be wearing my only clothes to keep weight down and these will not be OK for NZ – I have worn a warm jacket/jersey twice in 5 years! – short sleeves and shorts the rest of the time!! So I am out getting more jeans – they cost between $5 - $10 here!!

The Burns Ward and our Ken

Steve and I arrived in Uganda August 2010. 23 year old Ken lived next door looking after some children for his foster parents while they worked. One December morning 2010 ken came banging on our gate asking for help as his younger foster sister was in severe pain. After examining her it was apparent that she had a strangulated hernia that required immediate attention. Half an hour later we arrived at Mulago hospital emergency department. Young and old lay strewn along the entrance way waiting to be seen. There were not enough beds and bottles were used for pillows. Most lay on mats and some had relatives next to them to attend to their needs. Some men who were unconscious lying on ambulance stretches and unattended. It reminded me of a war zone even though I have only seen those images on the screen. Ken's foster mother was able to stay with her daughter while waiting to be seen by the medical staff. Ken and I helped an elderly man who had no carer. He was lying in his excrement on a bare tattered mattress. This is where our hospital ministry began. Ken's sister was taken to the children's surgical ward. Across from that ward lay the burns unit. We were dumbfounded as we saw patients lying on old rusty beds and on mats outside the ward as there was not enough room inside the ward that was already crammed with 12 men's beds, 20 babies and children's cots and 12 ladies beds. Ken with his compassionate heart wanted to help in some way. So we started to visit the ward on Sundays on a fortnightly basis and we having been doing this now for 4 and a half years. We both can see Gods providence in all of this as we were both able to minister in physical ways by helping mothers blinded by acid to care for their babies and I was able to offer some nursing help, although limited. Rarely was there a nurse in attendance that first year and we would have to search the hospital for help if we came across a patient that was deteriorating. Our visits were on a Sunday morning and we gave out fruit, chapatis and eggs and prayed for those who asked. Sometimes we provided bed linen, pillows and we would pay another carer to look after another patient nearby who didnt have a carer. The nurses do not do the day to day caring of patients. Bibles that we give out bring the most comfort and joy to our friends. A year later Steve joined our team along with our neighbour Monica and we began our first worship service where we sang after giving out provisions and praying for men women and children. Over the last 3 years the team has grown by Gods hand bringing people who care about the suffering. Steve, Denis and Richard pray over the men individually, I feed and tend to medical needs then Steve leads on guitar and Ken drums. Denis preaches and Julliette prays for the ladies. Richard has recently joined our team and he preaches as well. Joseph an acid victim has been a faithful prayer warrior praying and offering his testimony to the grace of God for his own healing. I am the one who nags at the one nurse if she has arrived or I search out the hospital for a Doctor if I find a patient in need of urgent medical treatment. I have learnt diplomacy instead of losing my cool. Hundreds of bibles have found homes in the charred hands and hurting hearts of burnt people giving them hope and comfort. Over the last few months we have realised why God brought the people he did to our team. Worship is now in Luganda not English and it rocks. The atmosphere is that of humility, joy and comfort as these burnt people and their carers dance and cry out their love for their God even though they are suffering immensely. We have said our farewells to many who have gone to meet Jesus, a release from suffering and an eternity with our precious lord. Ken will be an integral part of the team driving it forward along with Denis, Richard, Joseph and Juliette. Ken who has been living with us these past three years after his foster family moved away has helped us home school Nicholas and Pauline. He is now embarking on a journalism degree. Ken is humble, hard working, runs a 2 hour 17 minute marathon and loves Jesus. His vision is to be a voice for those who don't have one. He is brave to be embarking on such a mission but is trusting in Jesus. We already have 50 percent of sponsorship for Ken. If you are able to contribute a one off or monthly amount please e-mail us or facebook a message. Thankyou for reading our blog and may you be blessed for helping us put hundreds of Bibles into charred hands and hurting hearts.

May - June 2015

Just a quick note from the Caldwell's. We are nearly finished our 5 years at Ambrosoli International - one week to go. We have some very close relationships there and it is time to move to the next chapter of our lives. Yes we will miss Uganda and its vibrant community, the climate, the ups and downs and the sheer challenge many have of simply surviving. One is thrown at the feet of Jesus to cry out for help and strength - he becomes more real here inside the darkness and despair of many. Please - if you have a moment - pray for our applications for citizenship for the children - they are winging there way right now into Wellington and Internal Affairs for processing! Already I am facing bureaucratic issues in London NZ Immigration - Nicholas application for residency is queued for as they say up to 4 weeks in order to find a person to process it - then 8-12 weeks processing - this is too hard for us and holds us in Africa without income for months. I have emailed them and I am told my special requests for quick processing have been filed!!! God have mercy on this processing! Sharron and I are keen to get back to our house in Tauranga and set up camp - a few things need fixing! The pool pump and pool have been damaged and are out of use, the fence is falling down etc - all part of renting. Our manager Raewyn has done a great job in difficult circumstances managing tenants!! We would love to recover our stolen Kayak - the last tenants must have been responsible probably selling it for drugs. The police cannot get enough evidence and yes I should have locked it into a room but it was too big!! So no insurance!!. The guys name is Bevan Smythe who was living with Rachel Cole. He can be found on Facebook showing off his new car so if you happen to see our big orange kayak let me know!! Shama is applying to start a degree in teaching at Bethlehem Teaching Institute and we find out this week whether she is going to be accepted. She has been volunteering as an assistant teacher at my school and wow she fits the role well. If she is successful she will return early July to attend a headsup course at Bethlehem. Jesus is doing an awesome work in her life! Sharron is a great teacher and she has touched many young lives. She is going to do a refresher course at Waikato later this year in order to regain her provisional registration and be able to apply for jobs. I will make sure she has a huge rest in the coming weeks as we are both exhausted after 5 years non stop teaching. We would not have it any other way because the extra income has enabled our sponsorship of Ugandan individuals into careers of choice and a better future. The hospital ministry will finish as far as our involvement once we leave in September. I need to be here to manage funds so it is too difficult for me to manage from NZ. God has moved into many peoples lives there and brought hope in the middle of pain. The conditions there are no better which is tragic - although there is a glimmer of light as the hospital in general is being renovated - hopefully the renovation will reach the burns ward. Two weeks ago it was flooded from the toilets and washroom overflowing!!! Our boda/taxi driver - Ken’s step brother - was killed 2 weeks ago - a tragic case of speed, possibly drugs and night time antics. The bereaved family are good friends of ours - they were our neighbours for two years. I found it hard standing with the father - I cannot imagine losing one of my children in an accident!! We are looking around for a suitable University course for our precious Ken. I tried hard to get him into NZ but I am afraid that unless you have a professional career and specific field of work wanted by NZ, or are a world renowned sportsperson or have relatives in NZ or have been invited by an accepted organisation to work in a job that NZ requires - it is extremely difficult for a Ugandan unqualified man to enter NZ. So Jesus has another plan and we need to help Ken find that path here in Uganda. Ken has close networks of friends here so he will not be alone. Our boys are doing well and go to a regular basketball camp on Saturdays. They made TV last weekend. I am so looking forward to getting them into the surf and tasting that sea water! Brrrrrrr!!! we will need good wetsuits after living here in a continuous 25 - 30 degrees although at the moment it is cooler with rain. Moses is the top mathematician in the school and will get a prize this week, Dennis is the grand tall sportsman that shows no mercy on the field or court - I think he is line for a prize too if not for fair aggression! Please continue to pray for our protection here. Gods mercy shone all around us last weekend as we were the first witnesses in an unpleasant car accident. I only just - a split second - managed to get our car off the road to avoid a spinning car. Then I walked into the middle of an angry crowd taking the side of the male driver who was obviously in the wrong - they were accusing the other woman driver of being at fault!! I told them in clear terms who was at fault - the guy - carrying 8 people without seatbelts, mostly children and driving on the wrong side of the road!!. I shut him up quickly and the crowd got the message and dispersed. Amazing how a crowd of ignorant abusive people can be so swayed!!! Praise the Lord nobody was killed but the cars were a mess!! Oh God here our prayer! Many thanks for your support and prayer as we plan to return. We have a few challenges to face! Re entry into another world!!

Feb to April 2015

Psalm 27 Wait for the Lord, be strong and let your heart take courage” Our God came through for us and gave us victory in the courts for the final adoption step for the boys after the judge demanded DNA tests. Eventually after much prayer (thanks too many) the judge softened and realised it was impossible to get a DNA link between the boys and such a distant paternal Aunt. She then asked us to track down a sister of the Aunt but after finding her she was from a different father so that was a dead end - eventually the judge approved. The countdown has begun in our house to our departure - only 2 and half teaching months to go then we will spend time slowly getting ready to return - aiming at early September when it is a little warmer - this will be our greater challenge - acclimatising!!!. The temperature here is so lovely and relaxing - it is always between 25 and 30. Yet every journey has its chapters and we are about to embark on the next chapter - resettling in NZ with a bigger family. We had an inspiring time with the Higgins from Tauranga. All the boys were sleeping in our tent first night and they received the full fury of a heavy downpour which dismantled their tent and so at 4.00am we had a whole bunch of wet teens in the lounge crowded round our table tennis table. All part of a tropical night in Uganda. Their safari was awesome - they got close to a female lion and her cubs and the carcass of an antelope. Wow the Higgins sure packed it in during their stay - we are so thankful for their support in our ministry. We visited the burns ward together and although it was a bit sad we were able to minister to many needs. We also went for a prayer walk down to our closest slum and blessed Emmanuel’s family. Emmanuel has finally found a job and has already been promoted - a 4 year journey through a lot of physical pain with his bone surgery and job hunting and 3 years of anti biotics!! A testimony of endurance. Security has been tightened here in Uganda (again!) following the Kenyan massacre of 147 students in a University - totally barbaric and cowardly. I take George with me as I lead my class to the swimming pool. George is a highly trained commando with a big AK 47 machine gun - he was drilling me on what to do if a pack of terrorists attempt a kidnapping of my children while walking to the pool. He told me - and showed me - he would be “the blazing wall” between me and the kids and the terrorists!! We have had drills in school if a problem did arise with unwanted armed idiots. We have a full lock down procedure - but the challenge is not knowing where the attack might come from. I have been over and over in my mind all the alternatives and replayed them to get our escape or hiding right - we have a very strong barbed 4 metre wall right round the school with the main entrances well guarded and a small escape route into the swamp at the back. Imagine this happening in NZ!! I am heavily involved in paper work for getting our adopted children into NZ. Plenty of surprises - Nicholas at 15 is classed as an adult in NZ Immigration eyes - therefore he must be a resident before he can apply for citizenship and a passport. So I am busy applying to the London office for a residence visa (820 pounds!) - but he needs a full medical report which can only be done at the IOM clinic for refugees - a nightmare of a place and costing already 600,000 ugx -(NZ era are charged differently - they will not fill in my forms because they say the results are on line - but NZ wants forms so I am in the middle of tracking radiologists to get a signature for the chest xray - and so it goes on - still trying to find a registered doctor there to sign forms - am I going mad? - not yet! all part of getting ready! Dennis reached the finals of the under 11 football championship - we deserved to win - we were the best team but somehow everything did not go our way - all our shots hit the top bar, penalties skimmed the bar so both teams ended up after extra time 1 - 1 - hence the dreaded penalty shoot out - one of our best penalty guys hit the ground before the ball and gave it the goalie - we lost and we were devastated after an outstanding build up. The boys moved on quickly but coach Steve found it hard after so much skill building and hard fought wins. Still a visit to the hospital next day put it all into perspective!!! Nicholas plays basketball on Saturday and is doing really well. Pauline goes to swim training twice a week and is a very powerful swimmer which is great for the NZ beach scene. Please pray for the children’s citizenship applications to NZ and Nicholas’ residence visa and medical reports. There are some seriously burned people in the ward who do not have carers which is challenging our financial resources. We are supporting an orphan from Kyazanga called John who is finishing his second year of an Engineering degree. This has soaked up a lot of finance. Please pray for our ability to meet the needs of the above and see people healed and successful in this very challenging environment.

Feb 2015 Valentines party

Well here we are just to show you we are still normal and have a bit of play and fun! We were gifted a ticket to a wild Indian party - we were the only white faces among 150!!

December January 2015

Welcome from Uganda. Thankyou for your prayer, thoughts and support. Just back from our school principals house after a stomach turning home invasion. They must have been watching her as she left to watch the soccer Sat morning - the guard had the morning off - they bust through windows and security bars to steal everything electronic and the most annoying - her passport and jewelery - she is shattered after only 5 months in Uganda. We have had US embassy warnings to be very careful - a gang of 100 moved down the main road Jinja Rd, last week robbing and assaulting people who were innocent bypassers. People are becoming - as predicted - more desperate as their is no work. We are well (had all the normal stomach issues - poor Nicholas went down badly with belhausier and amoeba but has recovered fully) and blessed - the dry season has settled in - you know this when my neighbours (rarely do they ask) request some small money to get essentials. The old Jaja’s who own the very poor properties next door had their water cut off and pipes removed because the men who live in her mud brick houses secretly disconnected her metre so they would not have to pay for water! What fools - so now they are getting young children to lift 20 litre jerry cans up the hill from a tap to fill their drum!! We are all hiding inside today - it is Sunday and 35 - 40 degrees outside with no breeze so we are recovering from a football tournament yesterday in which the boys excelled - their team (I am the coach) won both games with an incredible turn around in one game being 2 nil down at half time and coming back to win 3 - 2. They won their next game 6 nil.

Here we are at Kyazanga during Christmas inside the luscious garden maintained by the orphan girls at the orphanage. The size of their maize was enormous due to a good rainfall - and just in time as now the drought has hit. They have a big stock of dry foods from a successful harvest and the girls are doing well although there is quite a big issue around where to find funds for secondary school - the next step. Sharron and I feel to keep our current projects going without taking on anymore!!! Christmas holiday vanished in a puff of smoke but we had a great time with our village family. I then took Shama on a safari at Murchison Park and we were treated to some amazing animal sitings (minus the lions - they had fled a massive burn off. I have just finished a powerful lesson on Genesis 3 with the children, Shama and Ken - a window into what is really going on in the spiritual realm with the forces of evil and how it is hard to face up to God at times - instead we run into making excuses. We do a lot of art with our bible studies but always God makes his presence felt in joy and peace - must be His favour as his word does its work in our hearts and minds!! We visited the burns ward last week only to be greeted by the smell of death - 5 patients succumbed to their wounds and infections. I still cannot fathom how the three men passed - they were doing well but must have contracted infections. The two ladies who passed had been there over 6 months with full body acid burns and no faces - they both loved Jesus so are now celebrating their new bodies and peace at last. I had another close time with the muslim family caught in a horrific acid attack while stopping to help someone on the road. The husband - who was a large man has lost half his body weight and has arm infections. He will owe his eyes. The lovely muslim cleric man continues doggedly to serve his injured friend day and night while sleeping under his hospital bed and helping with toilet duties. I have given the cleric an mp3 player with all the hill song albums and he is happy!! Please pray for a team who can continue this burns ward work. We have seen some incredible changes over the years - they have new bed bases!! The toilets are still flooded and unclean, brown stained and doorless!!! Sometimes the burns ward is a place of hope and victories but at other times it is very challenging - even hard to sing a song. Praise God another church group were there ministering the word - first time in 4 years we have struck another group. Shama my eldest daughter is doing really well. We had a safari together - here are the photos which say it all!! She is enjoying a voluntary teacher aid job my school. It is in a year one class of little beauties and cheekies which is consolidating her desire to look at a teaching profession. Amazing how God works his purposes in our lives and the lives of our children as we pray for them. Ephesians 6:18 ….pray at all times….. Nicholas and Dennis have their final court appearance next Monday the 9th - please pray for this final stage of the adoption and then begins the applications to NZ Internal Affairs for applications for their citizenship followed by passport applications. Also I am going to apply for a work visa for Ken as we prepare to sponsor him into NZ. There is simply no work here as the unemployed workforce explodes without the corresponding development of jobs. We are all looking forward to our return in September - our children have outgrown Kampala - there are few outdoor activities that we can access easily - the lake is polluted and there are no beaches or parks to explore that are clean. We go biking but that is limited to our area. So we long for a bit Kiwi outdoor life. Moses and Dennis will have finished primary end of June. I am considering homeschooling all the children and getting into outdoor stuff together. God has a plan so we will try to hear what is best for everybody. Just settling into the NZ way of life and getting used to the climate will be enough!!