SHARON’S BLOG.

I know it has been a while since we last updated the blog. Arise and Shine Uganda has been going through a lot of changes. And it is still adjusting to these changes at the moment. Our web site and face book page had to be deleted due to some technical problems that were associated with their formation. But we are glad to announce that our web site will be coming on line very soon and the domain name is already purchased as www.ariseandshineug.org. We also have a new face book page as arise and shine Uganda. Feel free to join and like it, if you have been previously following us on there. I have to say that all is well. In this Blog we bring both good and bad news. Beginning with the bad news.

A few weeks ago, baby Brian came to live with us at A rise and Shine children’s home. He was sick with a terrible oral thrush and cough. On his first night with us, we took him to the hospital just to make sure he got some treatment as he was not breathing easily. The doctor gave us sad news after his check up. He said that little Brian would not make it as the thrush had spread all over his insides. We choose not to take his word and kept fighting for his dear life. Getting him on treatment and loving him as much as we could. A week after, baby Brian was gaining weight and looking so much better than before. The thrush was ALMOST gone! We were proud.

During his second week of his stay with us, baby Brian still seemed ok .It was not until Friday night when he started getting fevers which we controlled with paracetamol. First thing the next morning, baby Brian was rushed to the hospital. While in the hospital queue, he was noticeably changing every 30 minutes!

We finally made it to the doctor who examined him and suggested some drugs for him through an iv. Poor little one, his veins couldn’t not be found, he got pricked so many times! It was so sad watching him in pain. Struggling so hard to breath. 5 minutes after the injection, baby Brian passed. He passed away on the 9^th of July 2011.

The doctor then told me he died from severe pneumonia. It was so hard to take! Having so many thoughts like, if only I knew he had pneumonia a week ago, if only he was put on oxygen on time.

Too many thoughts were going through my mind. But then at the same time, I got the understanding that we had actually tried all we could and it was just time for him to go. He was in so much pain and now I believe he is in the safest place. With no more pain, he is our little angel. And he will always be a part of us. We miss him but he is in the loving arms of His Father
.



Looking on the brighter side, at AASU we received 8 new volunteers who are working with us for a time ranging from 6 to 8 weeks. They are working at the baby’s home and the village projects as well for the rest of their stay . They will be working in the community education, supporting and facilitating livelihoods, helping community members set up back yard gardens of fruits and vegetables as a follow-up of the nutrition session that our last volunteers delivered in kibuye village.

Other volunteers will be continuing with the literacy project teaching community members how to read and write. They will be working with community members who have never had a chance to go to school.

Other ongoing projects include   candle making, beads rolling and the livelihood project. All these projects are under community outreach, with the aim of helping people in Kibuye village make an income for sustainable living.

Community members in kibuye village also attend literacy sessions which   give older people a chance to learn how to read and write.

These projects are lead by our volunteers who have devoted five days every week to stay in the village and help make a difference in kibuye and the surrounding communities. Members of Arise and Shine Uganda are so proud of the Volunteers as they all just seem to be a natural in Uganda!

Coming up next week: volunteer experiences and their ongoing projects!