Children who cheat death

Hello people,

I am writing my last note to you all from Uganda. We leave on Friday morning to drive to Athi River, Kenya. I have to tell you about the people I will remember the most from my time here in Soroti.

The YWAM base I stayed at has a ministry for children living with HIV/AIDS like I said. The minstry consists of two houses almost right next to each other. The first house is called Amacet n'ainapakin which means 'shelter of peace' in Ateso, the local dialect. It is a temporary home for young children who would often times die if they were not taken in. Some of them are postive for HIV while others have simpler health problems and some are just taken in as newborns because there mothers died giving birth and they have to be looked after. The goal of this ministry is to get the children healthy enough for them to be able to go back home to their families. This home is where I and some of the others from our team worked to help take care of these kids

Let me start with Esther. She is about a year and a half old although they don't know her exact age because her mother was a mentally unsound woman who lived on the street. When she was taken to the hospital she told everyone that her baby was dead. The policewoman who found Esther gave her her own name since they didn't know what to call her. Nobody knows who Esther's father is and her mother disappeared when she was released from the hospital. Esther's only chance for a home other than Amicet is to be adopted. She is such a joy to be around! She is almost walking know and she talks all the time. Her favorite word is Auntie which she calls everybody nonstop, even guys. Esther loves music and she will sing or dance to herself.

Probably the two sickest kids right now at Amicet are Dennis and David. They are both skin and bones although David at least will eat by himself and Dennis has to have a feeding tube. They are both over two years I think but it is hard to tell. David is wanting to be held all the time and he is a very good cuddler. Dennis, however, I am convinced could make any woman in the world fall in love with him. He has the most enormous brown eyes and you will find yourself just staring at him when all of a sudden this smile will spread across his face and...boom, you are done for. Please pray that both of these little men will be able to gain weight. Dennis also has a urinary tract infection and he has not been responding to any drugs.

I have to tell you about my favorite. The other girls think I am crazy for liking her but Silivia is my girl. We all have the kids that we dream about taking home with us and I would take Silivia home if I could. Silivia is about 16-months but she is close to the size of a 4-month old. She cannot talk, walk, or even sit up by herself until recently. She cries so easily; if the other kids just brush against her foot it startles her and sends her off into one of her screaming fits but they only last for five seconds. Surprisingly, she is not HIV-positive. Actually, the doctors don't know what is wrong with her. Silivia may seem to be rather irritating at first; even I thought so until one day when I was putting her to bed. I discovered that Silivia loves to reach up with her tiny little hand and touch peoples' faces. And if you kiss her hand her entire face is transformed by smiles. When I give her kisses on her cheek she becomes beautiful and she isn't the funny looking kid with a head too big for her body anymore. She also likes to look around the room and if anyone is smiling she immediately joins in. I'm telling you her face radiates joy when she smiles. My dream is to take her to America, find a doctor who knows what is wrong, and help her grow up to be the woman God intended her to be.

The second home is called Amacet n'amun which means 'shelter of hope'. It is a long-term home for kids living with HIV/AIDS. They are older; between the ages of ten and fourteen. It is more like a family than the first home. Our team was blessed to be able to spend most afternoons hanging out with these kids after school. The guys played football with the boys and the girls all played games together. These kids are awesome. They are the image of perseverance and hope in a situation that seems hopeless. They do not have easy lives and most are orphans but they smile and love and laugh. I know that God views these kids as His own priceless jewels on earth. They shine for Him.

I'm sorry for how long this post is and I know that I haven't shared much about myself but I had to tell you about the unforgettable people I met in Uganda. Chances are I will never see them again after I leave and the hard reality is that within a few years many of these children from both homes may be dead. I have nevertheless been blessed beyond description to have been given the chance to see them live. I am amazed that God continues to allow us to see His treasured things particularly when we seem to often mistreat what He so deeply cares about. Yet He stills shares more and more with us. I know it's an understatement but God is really brave to do that. I am so thankful that we have the God that we have.

OK, I will force myself to stop here since my time is running out:) I will see you all in the end of May. Bye! Ndagakunda cyane!

Isimbi Johanna