Our First Week Here

We arrived in Uganda last Friday and hit the ground running. On Saturday the COG ministry Center was filed with music and dance as over 100 students, representing 8 schools auditioned to see who would be performing at the Children of Grace Dedication Ceremony on October 4th. I'm just glad I was not one of the judges - because if you ask me they were all winners!

At lunch time we're often greeted by a family of "Capuchin" monkeys. They are quite entertaining and are gaining confidence as they come closer and closer to the crazy mzungu's with bananas. Cassidy is pushing hard for a pet monkey now. We'll see........

I wish I could tell you a story about all of the people we've met this week. Mzungu's, Ugandan's, kids and adults. There are so many amazing people here, doing really amazing things. For now, let me tell you about Samuel.  Samuel has been disabled since birth. When he first came to CoG he could only walk on his hands, because he had no crutches and he was afraid of everyone. Now, Sam is attending school, singing, dancing and even laughing. He is quite an inspiration.......

Solomon praises!

It's been almost exactly a month since baby Solomon was taken to Kijabe Hospital in Kenya for life sustaining surgery. Next week, he's coming home! The difficult surgical procedure worked, he's successfully shaken off a numerous infections post op and has gained enough weight that Dr. Mike has told the family he will be discharged on Monday. We've even found a cheap airfare, so Mom and baby Solomon will be taking their very first airplane ride. Blessings are everywhere, with a local missionary who manages the guest house next to the hospital offering to transport them to the Nairobi airport.

Solomon will face another surgery sometime in 2011, but for now he'll be able to go home and continue this life's journey from the comforts of home with his family.

The Lord is indeed good and worthy of our praise for all the blessings He's provided to this family in Solomon's short life.

Donations are still being accepted to help cover the month long stay in the hospital's baby nursery. Its been wonderful to witness many from the local community here in Jinja contribute to the baby Solomon fund, along with those in the 'muzungu' international community. The family and COG thank you!

Those Gibson girls!

ose

Janet, Cassidy and I are now all together in Uganda...yea!  Janet had a wonderful few days with Meagan in Atlanta and the mountains of North Carolina before departing the US. She and I then rendezvoused in Barcelona a few days before meeting with Cassidy who had spent a few weeks with a friend she met at camp. The 3 of us then had a couple days in a quaint old city called Girona (very high 'cuteness factor') north of Barcelona, followed by 24 hour 'layover' in London on the way to Uganda. The last 60 days has been a whirlwind. But one thing its been over everything else is to fully understand that I'm a very, very blessed man to have these 3 beautiful ladies in my life! Janet, Meagan and Cassidy.....I love each of you dearly. Dad