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!!

October November 2014

Merry Christmas and welcome to the Caldwell news for October November. Main lesson for these months is Jesus words “I am the light of the world and he who follows me will not walk in darkness.” I have to cry out for wisdom daily and Jesus comes through the murkiness with a still quite voice saying, hold on, wait, be still, don’t react, swallow hard, get from A to B and be satisfied with small victories - above all enjoy the moment - in his presence is fullness of joy! We are winding up or down - I am not sure - as we creep closer to the end of term one - a massive 18 weeks!! We have a two week break shortly so we will head down to Kyazanga for time with our Ugandan family and the orphanage - they usually kill a goat and roast it on a big spit in their courtyard. We have purchased nice dresses and tops for the girls from the local market - second hand clothes are only two or three dollars here. It will be our last Christmas here so quite an emotional time as our adopted children say goodbye to their caregivers. What will be difficult is leaving our precious neighbourhood which we have grown close to - we are going to leave all the local kids our trampoline, climbing gym, some clothes etc ! A new chapter is looming in our lives as we prepare for our return to New Zealand around August September next year. We have a lot of paperwork ahead getting citizenship and passports for the children after the 9 of February. Please pray for our last court case for full adoption of the boys on the 9th of February. Our house is a full house at present with 8 people around our table. Ken our “adult” child is planning on returning with us to NZ but he is having a lot of trouble getting a passport because we are refusing to pay bribes. His Immigration consultant disappeared with Ken’s deposit so we had to start the whole application process again 6 months ago and we have been battling ever since - still no passport. It may come to paying off an insider as the whole structure there is corrupt - we need a miracle for his passport. Shama has settled in well - she has a few hours work teaching english each day and is making good friends and enjoying the local music scene. Shama is learning how to slow down and wait as we all have learned here - it is a powerful spiritual lesson. She has also been given an opportunity at my school to get in class work experience because she is keen on teaching. The profession suits all her interests - she is sporty and arty! She is off to the finals of the adult basketball championships tonight - Nicholas going with her - he goes to basketball training on Saturdays with some real pros. Sharon and her are out right now searching for bargains at the markets for Christmas presents - Shama is very good at bargaining!! Sharon and I had a stressful and traumatic time at the hospital last Saturday night as we tried to get care for our team member Joseph. He had a terrible contagious skin disease which had consumed his body - I hardly recognised him - but we managed to get a bed for him. That particular night was beyond description. Boda (motorbike taxis) drivers were piling into emergency with broken legs, arms, heads and some unconscious. One such driver had both legs broken but had casts, was bandaged up and trying to get a ride home - guess it - on another boda - both legs sticking out and unable to balance himself. We got him into a car taxi. Unfortunately the burns ward had the husband and wife who had been held up on the motorway and sloshed with acid while sitting in their car after winding down the windows. Horrifically they had stopped to help a motorist who was simply fooling them. Both parents have lost their sight and all skin on the top half of their bodies - it is beyond imagination and the most vicious violence inflicted on a lovely family. We are also ministering to them tomorrow and hope to see Jesus move powerfully for them. I do not understand this level of violence and evil! I have been making the props for our school production - the Wizard of Oz - really enjoyed seeing the production come together. We have new head teacher who is leading wisely. Our prayer group at school have been hard out praying for a teacher’s girl who fell off her horse and entered a coma and did not wake up for a while - she has recovered and is on the road to full recovery slowly gaining strength and her body functions - wow what a testimony to the power of Jesus! Sharon lead the invention convention - a primary competition for new inventions - our school got 4 prizes including the top prize - she did a fantastic job organising the event inside our school and representing our school at the finals. Just home from the burns ward and yes God moved in power bringing refreshing hope to the injured. The husband and wife mentioned above are in a terrible state - the wife is completely blind and the husband has lost one eye. Both have 60% of their bodies burned. They are muslim but they accepted our prayer, food and worship - they were so broken and I sensed - angry - all their family were present, even a muslim cleric. I am getting some mp3 players for them - their ears are burned badly but they can hear. Once again the children’s part was overflowing - all babies and some twins falling into boiling porridge or into hot large kettles. I feel a bit strange singing “if you're happy and you know it clap your hands” - but for some reason the beat and song lifts their spirits and some hands!! I have learned Matt Redmans “Bless the Lord Oh my soul” which changes hearts. God breathed his presence into the ward and changed the smell and level of hope. Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the level of suffering but somehow the light enters my soul and empowers our worship and courage to speak into horror John 8.12 I have told my school we will not be returning next new year - starts Sept 2015 - it felt strange making that decision and then confirming to our close Ugandan friends we will not be here soon. Sharron and I have close relationships with the ground staff - we have picked some up in the morning on the way to school for 4 years! They are heart broken we are leaving - but I explain to them that life is full of chapters and our next chapter is our return to NZ!

July August September 2014

July August September 2014 Wow there goes our holiday and we are back at work! Many many thanks for the blokes group at City Church Tauranga who ran a social night and raised money for our ministry to the hospital burns ward. Times are hard here as the rainy season has hit and people become more desperate and disease sets in - we have been inundated with requests recently and sadly cannot meet all the demands. We confine our giving to those we are associated with and have established a relationship. One of our team was kicked out of their little mud brick house yesterday because the landlord wants to sell it - unfortunately our friend does not have a job so it is tricky to rehouse her and take on the 3 month deposit - one of many dilemmas - might try and find a room in an existing house nearby! We saw Josiah return 2 weekends ago heaving two bags of African drums and hand made musical instruments onto the plane - I was praying he would not be pinged for being overweight (he was) and the kind check in lady slipped him through - he made it through Dubai - China - Auckland and is now setting up again in Kerikeri. Josiah played some real healing music during our hospital ministry. I am missing his presence and peaceful character and may Jesus bless his setting up in Kerikeri. The Sunday before he left was a dramatic and powerful time of healing in the burns ward. We are singing and dancing to more African songs now so the patients are elated and lifted off their beds by the beat!! When it is raining the smell is quite bad and it was very thick this time - but god breathed a beautiful freshness through the whole ward and cleansed bringing a real rejoicing. Epilepsy is very common with patients who have been burned badly - they are not diagnosed or medicated properly at the early stages so many are chronic and fall into pots and fires. This particular Sunday there were many children severely burned from crawling into hot porridge or water - it continues to amaze me this happens but parents/nannies are so preoccupied finding food and digging they fail to watch the babies!! We have finally set up Joseph - a long term acid attack victim - in a candle making business - there is much business acumen training needed because his family is so poor they will be tempted to spend all the candle sale money on food with nothing left to buy the next lot of wax. I am purchasing his first lot of wax and accessories today - two years ago we found him nearly dead on his hospital bed with huge blown up legs and 70% of his body skin torn off and extremely malnourished - amazing the power of prayer mixed with cooked fish and eggs and then burns suits to hold his new flesh in place!!! After two years he is part of our team bringing his story to patients and he is also a miracle result because of support from friends and the blokes in New Zealand. It is so crucial to the saving of peoples lives that we also minister to their physical or social needs - somehow a powerful change takes place when both elements are together. We all watched Ben Hur the other night - the images of Jesus bending down to give a drink to the slave Ben Hur are the most powerful and then the healing of Ben’s family are inspiring pictures for us as we serve the desperate poor. Miracles occur in the middle of suffering! I have been greatly tested recently but through it all Jesus led me inside his Psalms especially Psalms 91, 30, 34, and 27. Jesus led me to stand in between and bring the healing needed no matter what or how difficult it may be personally - at times I shy away from dealing with important deep issues but God has taught me in Africa - deal with it and sort it out now, persevere despite what appears to be the impossible! - well Jesus always comes through inside forgiveness and reconciliation - we are all on a journey to meet with Jesus and it can get a bit rough and bumpy on the way up the mountain!! We had an awesome safari with Josiah before he left - at Lake Mburo national park. It is a sublime experience - living in quarters amidst the animals, walking in morning mist with zebra, all types of antelope and keeping a watchful eye for stray buffalos (called losers). We had fires at night and cooked on them under the clearest stars. There is only one lion there and some leopards but these are difficult to see. We are so blessed to have been given the opportunity to be there by the owners of Mahingo Lodge. They do a lot to support the local community. We all witnessed a rather alarming and sad event after we returned from a short holiday in a friends Bach on an Island situated on Lake Victoria just offshore from where the Gordon’s live. We had parked our car beside a small fishing village and many long boats surrounded by mats of tiny fish drying in the sun. We enjoyed our stay and loved seeing all the huge monitor lizards scurrying into the undergrowth bordering the lake. As we returned to our guarded car we were in shock to see all the village in smoke and the shanty houses smashed and burning. It was a complete miracle to see our old tank of a land cruiser standing in the middle of smoking ruins untouched but covered in ash and surrounded by some angry folk. The occupants were milling around trying to come to grips with their predicament and find a place to relocate. The lake side land and Islands has been purchased by wealthy businessmen and certain Government officials who want to create a large exclusive marina therefore all occupants are evicted without alternatives. These are mostly fishermen and women who survive day by day selling fish. The Gordons are working with some of these people to establish some in business in order to become independent providers for their families. They are doing a powerful work among the disenfranchised. These fishing people are not the only people being evicted. Thousands living along the railway lines in town have been bulldozed and shifted who knows where! Sharron found a group of young mothers sitting on their smashed house not knowing what to do and holding crying babies. No money, no food no location. Sharron sponsored these women onto a bus and back to their original villages - a long trip but a lot better environment than the harshness of the city where there is little employment. What is it about this huge, polluted smoggy unemployed city that attracts young people in their thousands. The drift to the city is obvious in our neighbourhood - mostly young men aged 15 - 30 wandering around looking for the promised pot of money and electric atmosphere filled with music and clubs and fun!!! Why stay on the farm or in the village where there no farming incentives, proper health care is poor or non existent, all your friends have moved to the big one, there is no “excitement" and schools are just concrete and blackboards, many missing teachers!!! To move from the village and farm - where one can at least work and plant and eat, to the great city of promise (a complete delusion) is in my opinion, a mistake. The treasure of Uganda belongs in its capacity to grow horticultural products throughout the year and young people need to stop running away from the “hard work” of producing - at least they have a roof and food. Josiah befriended a man last year and finally convinced him recently (after turning up at our door with all his belongings) to return to the village - so we put him on a bus and sent him back to his fathers land and village (and unbeknown to us - his two children!). There are huge social and economic issues around this influx of young people to the city which will greatly challenge this country. Graduates are pouring out to few jobs and there is little large scale industrial investment to employ people. Sure there is a building boom but these are shopping malls, expensive accommodation and office retail spaces. None of this is accessible to the majority. So what will happen to the majority or more important what will they be forced to do? Shama my daughter has now joined us and taken over from where Josiah left off - helping with homeschooling and around the house. She is a joy to have and is fitting into the African scene very fast. The Lord is moving in her life. She is a real artist and has already made Josiah’s room her room and filled it with painted African images. Some of Josiah’s friends have befriended her and are giving her a few insights into local life!! She has been invited to a true African wedding as one of the bridesmaids - and has already been involved in a strenuous day looking for high shoes at one of our intense markets in 30 degrees! She came home exhausted - welcome to shopping in Africa! A huge thanks to those who prayed and interceded for Pauline - 2 weeks ago she had a good dose of Amoeba but we did not realise a more sinister disease was lurking in the background. Then one morning she woke with eyes closed over and forehead puffed out and high fever - back to the Surgery to find a high count - 26.5 - (5 is normal) of Balharzia - a lake born disease from snails (pollution related). During the holidays she was the only one to have dived in head under at our island retreat! The poor girl had to go on a double dose of balharzia tablets and pregnazone for 4 days. Praise God she has come out of it!! Dad had 6 trips to the surgery as Moses went down with gastro/amoeba infections so at 1 in the morning I had Moses on a drip trying to stop his vomiting and stomach pain - got home at 4 am and he took two days to recover. Now I need to recover from lack of sleep!!!! At least this doesn’t need antibiotics. Please pray for: Wisdom, Power and strength daily Protection from disease Patients in the burns ward - recovery, earning opportunities Joseph as he sets up his candle business Our finances to cope with daily and weekly demands

May June 2014

May June 2014 Welcome supporters and prayer warriors - The school year has finished as we slide into our “summer holiday” - strange term considering it is always over 25 temp here - it comes from the British school system! Sharron and I are trying to “come down” off a hectic timetable and let our bodies recover. I have organised a bit of academic work for the mornings and the afternoons are taken up with biking, swimming, football, online games, art, music, drums and reading - plenty to keep 4 high energy children happy! Pauline attends a local preschool to help with the children 2 hours a day for 3 days - she is good with little ones. Sharon is taking all the school kitchen and cleaning staff (8) on safari on the 6th to bless them for their hard work and long hours. They could never afford a safari so all them have never seen a national park or the big five animals. We have hired a mini bus and driver and Sharon has also organised a boat cruise into hippo and croc country up the nile to Murchison falls. The girls are very humble faithful ladies who love Jesus and also live in poor houses with very little - so they are over the moon about their trip!! God has blessed us with access to a house for a few days break from Kampala on a nearby island on Lake Victoria compliments of a generous friend at school - we are also looking forward to a family safari at Lake Mburo (hopefully with Shama) - again we are honoured to have access to the lodge owners quarters in the park - we go walking among the animals and avoid lonely buffalo - it is surreal!! Josiah and I have been planning a hike up Mt Elgon but the park entry fees for all the family are too high (50 USus a day for anybody!). Anyhow, hovering over all of these plans are problems with our old land cruiser’s electronic system - it is right now being diagnosed by Toyota - I have already replaced the ECU computer system 6 months ago but we are still having issues. We had a remarkable time last Sunday at the burns ward - even though we were tired somehow God came through and filled the ward with his presence. Sharon ministered to a frightful situation - a once beautiful lady with a young child and also expecting opened her house door to a madman with a bucket of acid - he threw it directly into her face blinding her and destroying her facial features and upper body skin - she has a lovely husband and they have not caught the offender!! - such a high level of suffering. Before our coming she had not lifted her head or moved out of sheer grief and pain but during worship she sat up and opened herself to Jesus for healing - what a sight and may God honour her with deep healing in and out!! A guy was attaching a tv antennae and it connected with 240 volts which completely burned his upper torso and face - he was crying out for Jesus as we spoke with him. I am heading back there tomorrow with an mp3 player for a young 11 year old boy who has a mental disability. He has regular fit type behaviour and was shaking while I was there - last week he fell head first into a large boiling pot of porridge which burned all his face and head skin and upper body. While we were worshipping I watched him calm and the fits go as his face lit up and they could feed him. God told me he needed the music of worship so I have filled the mp3 with all of Hillsong’s albums and Chris Tomlin. Even more ridiculous were the two twins - 1 year old - who both crawled into a boiling pot of water - where was mum? This is so common here - little children playing in the cooking area unsupervised! oh Jesus have mercy on these burned people and children and forgive me for complaining about anything!! Please intercede continually for the outpouring of healing power and his presence in our ministry - we are mere vehicles or carriers of his love - it is jesus power that is needed to transform the inner and outer. I am learning this as we bring our children together around the word of God and let it examine all of us - Josiah my son has been leading some powerful times in devotions during homeschooling and I have been getting the children to memorise Psalms - we did Psalm 1 and now we are working on Psalm 34. There is something eerie, powerful, joyful and settling about coming around the word as a family and getting it into our souls. Peace pours down over us and enables us all to see more clearly. Sharon and I have been toiling with teen issues, many of them deep seated problems from way back in the village. These issues can be met with strong love and boundaries/expectations but in the end the inner person is only changed by constant and regular referral to Jesus and his word and good music. Music is such a cool way of finding Jesus and family harmony. We now have an old drum kit in our guard house so most of us are learning using youtube tutorials. Josiah and I are jamming away on guitars. We also have a mixture of African drums which fill in the spaces. Josiah and Ken have joined Percussion Discussion a major drum group who perform at the National Theatre. Josiah is currently away in the Congo - a huge trip across three countries - Uganda, Rwanda and Congo - with friends from the drumming group. It is such a dangerous trip we pray constantly for his protection! Josiah is returning to NZ on 30th August and boy shall we mis him. I am trying to get my daughter Shama over to take over from him in the homeschooling. We enter our last year next month being 4 years since we arrived. We never thought we would be here more than 2 or 3 years! We have come to realise that to integrate adopted children into a new family takes plenty of time let alone the social, legal issues and paper work. My next biggish challenge is to convince NZ Internal affairs that the adoptions comply with International Adoption law and also NZ Adoption Act Section 17 - more paper work. Please pray that I can get approvals for NZ Citizenship before we come back and then the kids can get NZ passports. This will require getting the right NZ people connected to our applications who can work with us. We are aiming at returning about September next year - Oh dear I am not sure how we will cope with a colder climate - plenty of woolies and beanies!! Many thanks for your financial support for our projects and other orphans - our John (orphan from Kyazanga) who we have supported right through college has now finished his first year at university doing civil engineering and on practicum now - this is a huge step of faith for us financially as there are no uni loans in Uganda until last month the government announced a new scheme - whether we see it is another story! We also continue to supply the burns ward food, mp3s, bandages and at times bedding. Bless you all Steve

Kidepo pics

March April

Hi there friends - we are just back from a refreshing safari in Kidepo National park which is located in the north eastern most part of Uganda near the Sudanese border. I decided to hire a driver in order to save our car from being wrecked on the most destroyed hazardous roads in Uganda and give me a break from the stress of driving 1400 km. We camped in tents with a park ranger right inside the panoramic park surrounded by wild life - mainly herds of elephant, antelope, giraffe, and buffalo. While on our safari drives we saw our first lions since being in Uganda - 3 cute cubs and two females cruising in the first rays of sunlight - a slightly eerie and awesome feeling watching those powerful cats looking for a good tree to sleep under after a night of feeding. Northern Uganda is a war torn under serviced region trying desperately to emerge from 20 years of war and devastation. Many of the people are Karamajon who are extremely poor and have not received much help to encourage redevelopment. Great news - we have finalised Pauline’s adoption - she is now our daughter (turned 13 yesterday) - sister to Shama 20 and 4 other high powered growing boys - Josiah 23, Nicholas 14, Dennis 10 and Moses 10!! Her adoption journey has been one interesting trip - securing correct documents, getting the correct names of parents and when they died, finding relatives, establishing her correct age, enduring attempts to bribe us, reorganising court dates because relatives forgot to bring documents and ID, obtaining Local Area chairman letters of consent, obtaining proper social welfare reports - it goes no and on - but here we are at the end of the long misty tunnel - sometimes I felt quite discouraged but Jesus voice always prompted me to keep going and get it right - one just had to keep digging. We are blessed to have a good thorough lawyer who did not allow me to take short cuts even when I was ready to kick the relatives to the moon!!!! The remaining distant relatives have very little interest in Pauline as a person with a future - they merely wanted to use her which became quite apparent in court - the judge saw this and gave them no favour! Homeschooling of Pauline is a challenge because she is behind in her literacy and numeracy. She missed out severely in the Ugandan system in her village. She has reached a reading and numeracy stage of year 3 - 4 - which is 2 years ahead of when she first came to us - so one must look at the progress and not too much at where she should be!!! Josiah and Ken run the homeschooling program which is filled with practical projects. They are doing a business study at present - interviewing local businesses to see how they are run and they are building a large vege garden on the hill above us - so far they have a big crop of NZ sweetcorn coming on and they are trying to get root crops going. Clearing the land is a major task because of layers of rubbish!! They have a swimming program twice a week and wow they are now powerful swimmers in all the strokes which is great for NZ. Pauline is a strong triathlete - biking is a daily part of the program so they are fitter than dad! Based on a ladder built by the Gordons they have built a huge ladder and gym type equipment (chin ups for dad) for exercising which we leave with the locals. Onwards to the final adoption application for the boys which will be in August. Praise God their Aunt is a kind and supportive person - she lives in very humble circumstances. She houses a number of orphans arising from HIV deaths in her family. What a powerful women - she ploughs the garden, grows, washes, cleans and provides enough for 6 children. The men in the local area spend most of their time drinking walagi (a dangerous beer) and having sex - a product of mass unemployment, discouragement, poor education, lack of agricultural incentives, zero diversification, little guidance and boredom. Not a brilliant mix for the future! Good news from the burns ward - the patients have new beds a welcome sight but the bathroom facilities are atrocious - always wet and smelly. The incidents of acid attacks are increasing and sadly women are the victims. Usually it is relationship or land issues sparking violent responses. The effects of acid violence is staggering and horrific - people are maimed for life, stripped of their ability to earn and function normally. We come to them in the name of jesus to encourage and give hope in a very dark place - a little protein, some music players, bandages - sustain for a short while but nothing compares to the peace that Jesus gives - “peace be to you” said the risen Jesus - he stands in the midst of suffering and extreme discouragement to offer the only hope worth living for!! Two weeks ago we had the most incredible time of worship and free praise and dance - patients were released from their depression and sadness to magnify the Lord. Josiah my son and I played guitar and did a little improvisation - God moved in souls to dance!! What a sight - bandaged head to toe lifting hands to praise Jesus - God our friend in the middle of horror! Kyazanga and the orphanage have received an abundant rainfall to bless their environment. John our sponsored university student has completed one year successfully and other sponsored students are doing well. Betty has completed her hairdressing vocational training which we sponsored and is looking for a job. Many thanks to our NZ sponsors. We are now entering our final term of teaching which finishes end of June. Time is flying as we contemplate our final year and return to NZ in August/Sept 2015. It seems a frightening jump - back into a totally different culture from Uganda. This the next chapter in our lives as God has planned - life is full of challenges and some dramatic changes so we will take this as it comes and keep close to Jesus.

LMburo Latest photos

July photos

Se below this album for an update on life in July 2012.

June Hospital, School events, new shop

June has been so exciting to see God at work in our hospital ministry and a shop set up for a neighbour. The children participated in a triathlon and swim events. Sharron runs a netball team. Here a few photos relating to June life. We want to thank those who organised and contributed at the mens night at City Church.

NZ Pics April 2012

Here is an assortment of photos from different times in our trip - what a trip we will never forget - thanks to our Lord for arranging the best time to see my Dad before he passed, time with mum and Sharron's parents, our families, great hosts, perfect weather and surf and most of all your loving support!!

February 2012

Heres our super men, Kens birthday and fun.

Josiah bye Glen Monique arrive Jan 2012

We were sad to see Josiah go we had such a good time. Our friends Glen and Monique arrived on their honeymoon.

Christmas 2011 with Josiah

Wow - what a great time we had with Josiah - camping at Nabugabo, visiting our sponsored orphanage and school at Kyazanga and on Safari at Murchison Falls and National Park.

November Life 2011

A few photos of Paulines birthday, cooking grasshoppers with friends, champion Basketball team, Dennis drumming at school, singing and guitars, our road washed out and Sharron directing the workers!! a Uganda broccoli, face painting, family football day and Sharron teaching at school.

Life in October 2011

School events, Hospital visits, trips to Speke park, my vege garden, Dennis and Moses in class assembly playing drums, Nicholas first certificate, Pauline, Nicky and Steve - life is very colourful!!