Survival of the Sweetest!

Do you remember baby Survivor? You might not, as she was born over two years ago. If you want to read about her, click here: http://rabuinuganda.blogspot.ug/2013/10/beating-odds.html

 

In a nutshell, she made it by the skin of her teeth (or gums??) as her labouring mother was told the unborn baby couldn’t possibly survive, since she was below the official “survival gestation” for Uganda. She nearly headed off home to deliver and bury her baby… after all, what’s the point of staying in hospital if the baby will die anyway? But our baby unit nurses persuaded her to give the baby a chance. What happened? Well, the clue’s in the name!
 

And this year, we got to meet her mother again, as Gertrude delivered a little boy this time, in poor condition, with “birth asphyxia”.
 

It’s such a privilege to be able to help her build a healthy family, as this little fella went home the other day on fine form, and now has come back for review looking fantastic!

Majestic Marathon Maniacs!

26.2 miles. Nyendo to Lake Nabugabo and back. No small feat! The day finally arrived, and frankly most of our runners were filled with dread, as the challenge seemed unsurmountable. It’s never going to be a good day when you meet in pitch dark (5:50am) – or so they thought.
 

Yet the first runners were at the lake gate by just 7:30am (whilst we were munching our porridge and rubbing sleep from our eyes – shaaaame on us!!). A brief rest, and a welcome to the slower runners, and they were off again!
 

Thing is, many of us may have lacked faith in the fortitude of our colleagues, as we were astounded at their performances – Nalongo Juliet (our secretary) very nearly making it to the lake, whilst Elder Emily, cook Esther and general manager Paul plowed through the lake gates with triumph.
 

Of the 30 participants, SEVENTEEN completed the full run: staff, leadership academy, and even some of our teenage White Eaglettes (= female White Eagles!) – you know what, let’s give them some individual RESPECT… Julius, Joseph, Martin, Gerald, James, Ernest, Kellen, Maria, Baker, Ronald, Muyanja, Keneth, William, Peter, Mujjuzi, Kevin, Waiswa… we applaud you sincerely (and with some sheepishness, since we admit we weren’t sure any would make it the whole way). TONS of respect to you, not just for your stamina, but also your willingness to lend your own efforts to help raise money for our kids’ school fees.

Well, if you’d been at church when our heros hobbled in, you would have heard screams and crunches, as they were all treated to a hearty muscle rub…. But then… no pain, no gain, as they say!
 

Please do reward their efforts, and sponsor them – show them that you’re as proud of them as we are! Go to: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/backtoschool

We’ll leave you with Isaiah 40:31…. “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like [White] Eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint”
  

Please sponsor our valiant runners and send our kids and young people back to school!

What a difference three weeks makes! We’re relieved to report that our runners are starting to look like… well, runners! It’s been early morning runs and aching muscles all around, and this is just as well, since the run is a week today!! 25 scorching, sweaty, arduous miles. Whew.
 


Novices to Pros in just a few weeks - our lads are starting to look the part!

And as for the chauvinists amongst you who wonder how the girls will manage, we’d like to inform you that the men have been seriously challenged by their persistence and tenacity. Boom! Every day, the gang are upping the ante, pushing themselves more, in order to prepare.
 

We asked Esther (seen here in blue) about the marathon. She’s a chef down at church and a mum of four little ones.
 

She told us “I am happy to be part of the fundraising team. I didn’t go to school myself, and I know only too well the difficulties that a lack of education can bring. But if the young men and women in the Leadership Academy can go to school with your donations, I will be so full of joy to have helped them get there! If you can, please donate, so that they can make it to school and really be productive members of our society, helping to bring about an improved Uganda. Thank you so much!”

Well, we couldn’t have put it better ourselves. We reckon Esther’s setting a stonking example to her kids (and the rest of us!). Thanks Esther, and good luck to all runners.

Please reward their efforts, and visit: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/backtoschool