In the last blog, I wrote about Francis, a little premature baby. Francis went to be with Jesus... It was sad to let him go, we have fought for his life till the end, but we couldn't safe him. He was 2 weeks with us and also 2 weeks old. His mother had died after the delivery, which had happened in the village. We bought a small coffin and drove to the village of the grandparents. They received the coffin and we gave a report from aal that had happened. They had not been to Amecet to visit Francis, because they live far, deep in the village. They were grateful for the help we gave and would bury Francis next to his mother. When we drove back to Soroti, I was thinking about all the children who had died in Amecet, during the last 24 years... There have been many... and quite a number died in my arms. I have cried over all the children we had to let go. We always wanted life for them and we did everything to help them, but for those children we were a doorway to Heaven. We knew that they would be safe in His arms, no more pain, no more rejection, no more medicines or injections. Francis is with Jesus now.
We also have good news.... You see here 2 pictures of Mary. They make me so happy, the first one was in September and the second one 5 weeks later... Mary came in Amecet at the end of August. I don't want to show the picture of that time, it was much worse... Mary was abused by her father and because of that HIV+. She was started on the ARV medicines in Amecet. With feeding, medicines and love she is able to smile now. She was depressed in the beginning, not doing much, but now we are happy to see her more active and healthy. She will have to take ger ARV's everyday, for life! but they will help her to function as any 11 year old girl . She will go back to her mother (parents were separated) next week. We will keep an eye on her, but she can go back to school. This encouraged us, when we see a child pick up and is physically and emotionally doing so much better.
For a while, in the beginning of the year, we didn't have so many children in Amecet. Also we don't see so many HIV+ children, I was really thinking and asking myself, if Amecet still needed in this region? I think God answered , since several months we have a lot of children in Amecet. At the moment we have 27 children. Most of them are baby's. Then also a number of toddlers. and some bigger girls like Mary and another one of 5 years, Prisca. All the children who are brought to Amecet are in need of help. Sometimes there is someone who wants to bring her child in Amecet so she can find a job. But we do not take those children. There must be an urgent need to be able to come in Amecet.
There is still a need for Amecet to be in Teso, If I see the 27 children we have in our Home at the moment, then I be happy that Amecet is there, some of those children might not have survived otherwise. This will be my last blog that I write for Amecet, but Amecet will go on, will not stop. I hope that you will be coming back to this website and to this blog, someone else will take this over, to tell you the stories in and around Amecet. Please do not stop visiting our website and do not stop praying for us and the children. We need your support!! Keep asking questions and keep giving reactions.. You can do it on this blog, but also via email: info@amecet.org.
I am leaving Uganda on November 23rd, it is very difficult to leave everything behind and go back to the Netherlands where I have not lived for 28 years.. But I feel it is the right time and God will do new things in and with Amecet. Thank you for your support and your kind reactions from time to time, may God bless you and keep you!!
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Reacties
Dear Els,
Your last blog has now been written. It is filled with emotion, which is understandable. For so many years, you have been able to work at Amecet and care for the young children there in Uganda. As the United Hope Foundation (www.VerenigdeHoop.nl), we will continue to support Amecet, even in the new situation with Mark and Janneke. We wish you strength in the coming period as you say goodbye and make your journey back to the Netherlands. We hope to see you here. Warm regards, Board of the VerenigdeHoop Foundation