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

Odds & Ends

ok...some 'lighter' fare for a change....here is Paul getting first haircut in Africa....ouch....hasn't been that short since he was 14!

and....you  thought a "Rolex" is a watch...au contrare.....it's actually what you eat for breakfast in Uganda.

And to let you in on a little secret...I don't always spend my time on 'heavy' stuff.....here's Joe, a member of our staff during his first EVER golf lesson....the start of a serious obsession (yea!) and the first member of my golf ministry in Africa.

And...while taking some 'time off' while in Kijabe, we took a little side trip to Nairobi for a few hours and found this wonderful ice cream shop (Solomon's dad on the right and our missionary 'guest house' mgr turned tour guide on the left.

And now finally....if you miss us for a few days....we'll...I'm headed to Barcelona, Spain to rendevous with Janet for a few days before picking up Cassidy whose been visiting a friend near Barcelona.....no updates from Spain :-)...but then we're ALL headed back to Jinja for more adventures with our CoG kids!

PTL.....Progress has arrived!

Not to make light of the situation, but a HUGE 'God moment' today. We got word from Mom and Dad that little baby Solomon's 'poopie' has arrived! This means the dr's surgical procedure was successful and mama can start feeding him again. For all the mom's and dad's reading this note, you know the joy the parents felt today hearing this news. Now he needs to start adding some weight every day so his little body can handle the next phase of surgical procedures coming within the next month or two. We'll be accepting donations to cover medical cost for a while, so your support of this family is a blessing to them. Though medical costs are so much less expensive than the US, the family's total medical expenses to date is $2,000....a lot in this part of the world! Go to http://www.childrenofgrace.com/ to donate.

Pray for Progress

Africa certainly has presented many life time 'firsts' since arriving here 5 weeks ago. This one's definitely right up there in the 'top 10'. Since Baby Solomon's surgery last Monday, his body has been trying to heal and recover. The key test on whether all the 'plumbing work' has been successful, according to Dr. Mike, is seeing evidence coming out the 'pipe'....yes, as the modern, revised, 21st century translation of the Old Testiment describes it....poop....or as the local Kenyans in Kijabe pronounce it..."poopie". As of today, this key evidence hasn't appeared. He's still  only on IV feeding until this happens. Meaning, mama can't do what she does best! Doc had to take baby Solomon back to surgery yesterday to insert a feeding tube into his chest so he could start getting more nutrition. Once he passes this key event, mama can start feeding him again and medical team can begin to plan for the next phase. Until then, we just need to pray for "poopie". Here's a pic of baby Solomon taken a few days ago. He had to make it through many, many needle pricks trying to find veins, as well as his first few hair cuts/shaves. But he's a strong little boy and a real fighter. So is his Mom and Dad! It has been amazing and a blessing to witness their strength of heart and courage. We love you David and Mary.

Baby Solomon update: Monday's God Moments

This is one credible story in the making, no matter what happens from this point on. Its Monday night here in Kijabe and today was one awesome day for baby Solomon. His little body (all of about 5-6 lbs) endured and survived today's 4 hour surgery. The next 2-3 days for him are still critical. He's not 'out of the woods' yet and he's most probably here for many weeks to come.

But its important to stop and reflect on the incrediable things that happened today, ones that I call "God moments". Let me list a few.....
-though we didn't want to come days before we knew surgery could be scheduled, God knew differently.
He knew Solomon's body needed to gain some strength with healing of the skin in/around his abdomen area to improve chances to survive surgery....which did happen in a way that even surprised the dr when he first saw Solomon early this morning.
-the father and I had tender moments of prayer and scripture reading while waiting outside the doors leading into the surgery 'theatre' area. Watching the Lord calm the father through the scripture were moments I will always remember
-we were outside surgery the entire 4 hours, watching the 'parade' of patients going and coming. When a gurney rushed by with a baby totally covered, the father instantly knew it was Solomon in a way that only a father (or mother) can...and was encouraged by the speed of movement that baby Solomon must be alive....with a sigh and a smile that was totally a God moment at a time when 'worry' had started to settle in.
-we are blessed with finding one of the best pediatric surgeons in the world, who is humble, God-loving man. As he told the father in his 'post-op' report, he is simply using the gifts and skills God gave him to bring glory and honor to the heavenly Father. Watching his abilities to clearly, simply communicate a very complicated series of procedures on the operating table while deflecting all the praises to our Lord was another God moment. Not your usual surgeon's demeanor!
-meeting the surgeon's wife as I was walking from hospital to guest house and learning the dr. spent the last couple days praying, communicating with colleagues around the world and further reading/studying as he prepared for today's procedure...marks of a humble man for sure.
-as I entered the maternity ward early this morning hearing the sweet sound of hymns coming from the nurse station during what I assume was their normal daily or weekly staff meeting...confirming the Holy Spirit was alive and well among us.
-witnessing the power of the Holy Spirit comforting the father and mother throughout the day.
-tonight, as we left the hospital we got report that Solomon had no bleeding and abnormal drainage since surgery. After an exhausting day for the father, that unsolicated report from the nursery attendent was yet another comforting moment.

Thank you for your petitions and prayers for baby Solomon. He still has mountains to climb in his journey to live, but today was one monumental step that we give thanks and praise to our very loving Lord.

Goodnight from Kijabe