George

George Wilson is now at the orphanage and adjusting to his new home. He was at chruch this morning and we took some pictures soon to be posted. We went to get him last Thursday only to find out that he had run away from his uncles house. But he showed up on Friday, unfortunately I was sick so didn't get a chance to see him until church this morning. I will be taking him for a check up this week. He definately needs some new clothes so we will be working on that too.
Thanks again to all that took a month of support for him. Pam

Coming home

Just wanted to let you all know that we're headed home soon. We will be back in Iowa May 15th. We'll meet up our kids and brother, rest up a few days, and then set up house at our little place by lake Rathbun.

We will be leaving Tarime May 1st, but figured since we were already here on this side of the world, we would go ahead and celebrate our 35th anniversary with a cruise. We'll be leaving Barcelona, Spain for a 7 night cruise, hitting Monaco, and places in Italy, including Rome, and then over to Tunisa before heading home through Nairobi.

I usually would also share some more photos with you all, but two things are going on. The regular internet is down again, and there is no dial tone on the phone. Last time that happened some of the phone line for our area was stolen. Meaning it could be fixed quickly, or like last time, a few weeks. Also, my computer I use for photos and most of the email and blogging is acting up and keeps shutting down. It has all the photos on it and so I can't share them with you at this time. I am typing this on our small notebook/internet computer that is connected by a USB stick, and boy is the connection slow. It has a very small keyboard and is not much fun for me to type on, so hopefully the internet will come back and my computer starts working.

Pam is off to Mwanza with Edward to have his tonsils out. I don't expect her home before Thursday and depending on how things go, maybe later. Also, she decided to take Rhobi with her. That's the girl with the leg bone problem (see earlier blog)). Her leg is bothering her and is somewhat swollen so Pam thought she would go ahead and see if she couldn't get a doctor to see her.

I'm here at the house waiting for wood to be delivered. I have 6 bunkbeds to build before I leave so need to get at that project. Keep Pam and the kids in your prayers. TIA Mark

Successful days!

Shante, shante, shante sana, (Thank you, thank you, thank you very much) Maxwell Methodist Church for sponsoring George Wilson! (Gotta love that name not African sounding at all!) We still have a couple of hoops to jump threw. Anna, our supervisor, will be talking to the doctor (my connection to George) on April 15 to find out exactly where George Wilson is from. George is actually from Bohemba but it is a village that is very spread out and big. Anna will take another Angel House member with her and talk to the neighbors to find out if his story is indeed true. It seems in the past people have lied to try to get children into Angle House because the children are educated and fed there. I promise to send a picture as soon as I can. Unfortunately my contact to George is a doctor who is now out of town for a funeral, so I can't get a picture to you this time.

I just want everyone to know how grateful I am for George to have this opportunity! Usually the girls get sponsor ship before the boys. I think it because girls have less opportunity here in this male driven society (plus they are so cute you can't resist them). So, thank you again for giving George the opportunity to grow in a healthy, educated, loving and nurturing environment. When George came to visit Angel House he said, "This is a good place, a place that I want to live!". He was very hopeful about his future for the first time in a long time!

I have other news of success too. Derrick who has had diarrhea sense I have been here and not growing, and Edward who has had tonsillitis sense I have been here, were seen at the government teaching hospital in Mwanza (4 hours away) on Tuesday and Derrick is being treated correctly now and Edward is going to have his very rotten tonsils out on April 13. So prayers that Derrick's treatment works and that the surgery goes well. A very special thank you to the person who sponsored $250 for the tonsillectomy. I think they will probably take adenoids with the tonsils because he snores so LOUDLY. Edward is currently the second in his class so he has worked very hard at school this year even though he has not felt well and has been getting huge shots of penicillin. I am very proud of him. I do not feel bad that he will miss a couple weeks of school because I know he can make up the work and be successful.

God is good all the time. All the time God is good!

TIA Pam