We would like to share with you an update on our Farmland... On May 17th I wrote that we had bought it and all the money was given to the former owners in the office of the lawyer. In the blog of May 17th,  I also posted a small (simple) map and there was a funny corner in our land. We were able to buy that little part as well, it was owned by an other person. And now the work has begun.....

It is always such a blessing to meet children again, after they have gone home or have been adopted. To see how good they do now and knowing that we have been involved in the beginning of that process!

It was a sunny Sunday morning today. Together we carried the coffin in to our car. The children all looked and it was a moment of saying goodbye... We prayed for the journey, for Betty's father and family and for the children, staying behind in Amecet...We left with 4 staff members, accompanying Betty to her last resting place. On the way we picked two staff members from the organization that helped Betty when she was in the village and we drove to her village. It was around 1 hour drive. When we came close to the home, driving on one of those small, little roads, people came running to the car, and they started to run in front of the car, a moment later, some were running behind the car. Elias drove slowly now, the little road was bumpy and very small. More people joined, running behind the car. It was so special, like if they joined Betty on her last trip home... When we arrived at the home, chairs were borrowed from several neighbours and we sat down. There was already quite a group of people sitting under the mango tree, waiting for the arrival of Betty's body. The coffin was brought into one of the huts and we all joined the people under the mango tree. After some welcome words, I started to explain what has happened in the 9 weeks that Betty had been with us. She had been sick for 7 weeks and the last 5 weeks was most of the time on bed. I also urged anybody, who was on ARV medicines, or cared for children who were on ARV medicines, to take them on time, every day and to go to the health centre when someone was sick. The family was very thankful for all that we had done for Betty, they all gave it back to God, they said. We left, so the family could mourn without us, they will bury her today......We drove back to Soroti, there was worship music playing in the car, 10.000 reasons to thank you Lord.. Sometimes you have to think about that, but yes, in spite of everything, we thank the Lord for the short life of Betty. We enjoyed her, she was a beautiful girl with a sweet spirit, another beautiful Morning Glory flower has withered.......

Last Saturday, we went on a study tour to a Cowsfarm in Kumi (around 45 minutes drive from Soroti). Now we have our 3 Frisian cows, we want to make sure that we do the right thing and that we get as much milk as we can. Via some friends in Holland, we got a contact in Kumi. It is a Dutch project and they have 85 Frisian cows. So they are much ahead of us!!? 

Even after so many years working with children, I am still asking myself, what world we live in, that people can do those things with children... Lately we have taken some older children in  Amecet and their stories make me so sad and angry at the same time....