Here comes the good news!
Joan
Nakidde had her hip replacement surgery at CorSU Hospital in Entebbe,
Uganda, Africa on Tuesday January 28!!!! It was delayed for a week
because they didn't have her
blood type (O+) and had to search for it. However, thanks to our
nurses, Lydia and Brigitte (Canadian nurse whom we all love and adore),
everything worked out OK!
She
will be on crutches for a while but when it heals she won't need any
crutches any more! She is entering Secondary-1 and should have a
normal childhood. Thank you all
for caring about her and keeping her in your hearts and minds.
Children in school
We
now have over 1,000 children in the primary school, of which 250 are
orphans, and 91 orphans in secondary school (S-1 to S-6) plus three in
college and one who has graduated!
:) And all the secondary school students are in the same school so
they are able to continue with their friendships that they started at
the Mbiriizi Advanced Primary School.
As always, we need sponsorship
for these children ... $360/year for primary, $500/year
for secondary, and $1,250/year for college. You can easily do this by
going to our website ....
www.sylviaschildren.org ... and clicking on the donate now button in
the top right hand corner.
The site is safe and secure and payments
can be done through PayPal. If that isn't comfortable, just call us and
we will process your credit card over the
phone or you can send a check. Just remember that investment in a
child is for tuition, housing, food, clothing and health care ... best
deal in the world!
Medical trip
We
originally had six people signed up for the medical trip March 13 to 25
but it has now dwindled to two ... Dr. Jenna Fine and me. And,
although only two, it is important
that we get over there and do as many physicals as possible and update
existing records. We will have Lydia, our school nurse, and we are
trying to find a local nurse to work with us as well.
Farewell to Bruce and Brigitte
This
is the saddest part of the newsletter. Mid-March Bruce and Brigitte
... our wonderful friends and associates ... are returning to Canada
permanently. They have been
so supportive and helpful we will all miss them. The only good news?
They will be on our side of the world and much closer!
Lastly, Summer 2014 trip
In
spite of snow and ice and yucky weather, it is time to think summer.
This year's trip will be June 12-24 and I need to know if you are
planning on joining us! This is
the trip where we all work together ... repairing uniforms, sitting in
classes, helping nurse Lydia ... it is a working trip followed by an
exciting three day safari.
The June trip is when we celebrate the
orphan's birthdays (since many of them don't know
their dates so we officially made June their birthday!). Wonderful
food, the kindness and loving of children, fantastic singing and dancing
... in short, a great trip. Let me know if you are planning on coming
this year.
As always, thanks for caring about these children and helping us make a difference in their lives.
Sylvia Allen
732-946-2711
