Letter from Sr. Julie
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Hello! Happy Lent!
When I wrote to you last week we were volunteerless here at Nyumbani other than myself. Now, 3 new volunteers have arrived. We have Lee from Spain, Bex from th UK and Julia from the USA. All have jumped right into their work here at Nyumbani. They worked hard this week with the Rotarians trying to complete the renovation of the Guest House. They continue to work on the house even through the Rotarians have left. Their goal is to finish it today. All 3 seem to be lovely people and are working well together. We'll have our first trip to the Rusty this evening.
Allison and JIm our 2 Scottish Rotarians left us on Thursday evening. Allison spent a lot of time completing her work on the Gift Shop and buying new stock for the store. She also shopped for the items she wanted for the Guest House. I drove her around to 5 stores trying to find 2 matching duvas for the bedroom. We easily got one for the new bedroom on the porch but finding 2 for the other bedroom was a real chore. So, we finally got 2 but only one was in the store but they are getting one from another store. I'll have to pick it up. Jim worked the entire time trying to complete the Guest House renovation. They completely gutted the bathroom taking out the tub, tolilet and sink and putting in a new shower, toilet and sink as well as wall tiles and floor tiles. With the new paint job and the new linens the place will really be beautiful and should be ready for our guests on the 26th.
I also got to attend a Rotarian meeting with Allison, Jim, Protus and S. Mary. The speaker for the meeting was S. Mary who gave a moving presentation on why we need to purchase a drug resistance testing machine for our Nyumbani lab. Allison is trying to raise money for this in Scotland and is trying to get a matching grant from the Karen Rotary Club. Please pray for Allison and Jim for all they are trying to do for Nyumbani and also pray that they get this matching grant. If we had had this machine when Sammy K got sick we might have been able to find out that he was drug resistant sooner and get him the drugs that might have saved his life. By the time we did get the results it was too late to help Sammy but it is not too late for the other children who are presently on 3rd line drugs. So, pray that Allison is able to raise the money for the machine and that S. Mary is successful in pushing Pepfar to give us the reagents we will need for this machine. We need these reagents for our children and S. Mary will not take no for answer. I think the spirit of Father D'ag is alive and well in S. Mary and together they will reach their goal. When he needed something for his children, Father D'ag took NO from no one and he moved mountains. So please ask God to help Allison and S. Mary to accomplish their goals so that we can do one more thing to help our children to be happy and healthy.
This week Protus and I have also been meeting with the Mums/Uncles to review our Homework Program, our Saturday Program and our April School Holiday Program. The Mums/Uncles have really been working to help our children to improve academically. Through the Homework and Saturday programs we hope that their marks will improve. We will soon find out since they will be taking their end of semester test this week. The Mums/Uncles assisted by the volunteers are going to be the primary teachers for the Holiday program. They will teach the first part of the day and they the volunteers will take over all for the clubs except computers. hopefully all will work out well nd we will have a successfu program that the kids will learn from and enjoy. It will run from April 13th to may 1st. The kids return to school on May 4th. We will also have 2 precious Bloodl Novices coming to help but they will missthe first week of the program. I'll do their part until lthey arrive. so, say a pray that all works out well for us and for theMums/Uncles for theri willingness to help.
I also attended our launching of SOP's manaul this week. SOP stands for Standard Operating Procedures which all of our departments and staff have been working on formaulating for the last year. Yesterday we had lunch followed by presentations on the SOP's and the distribution of the new SOP's book to S. Mary and the Nyumbani and Leatoto staffs. A lot of work was put into this project and I am sure it will result in better service to our children. Much has been accomplished but there is always more to do. Our staff will continue to monitor and update these SOP's so that the service to our children will always be updated and improved. Please pray for our staff for God's blessing on them for all they do to care for our chidlren. It is hard but very rewarding work that takes constant updating to be sure our children get what they need to not only survive but thrive.
We also had a Management Meeting this week. It is always good to hear the reports of all of the good work that is going on in the Village and the Leatoto Programs. S. Mary always keep you updated on this in her newsletter.
I also worked yesterday to be sure the room was ready for our guests from Holland, Kees and Maria. Since the Guest House is being renovated they are staying in Noel House for this visit. They have been visiting and supporting us for many years. They are old friends that are always warmly welcomed.
Today I'll work in the Library and then i'll decorate the cottages anddistribute the birthday gifts for the kids. I've already purchased the ice cream and candy for tomorrow and the kitchen has prepared all the cakes for the 14 celebrants. On Monday we'll have our staff celebration. next week I'll let you know which cottage has the best party.
The repairing of the roofs continues. I am sure it will take a while to complete since every roof has to be done and all solar panels have to be removed and replaced on each house.
All of our children are doing well. Canary gets better every day. he has such a beautiful smile. Eunice turns 2 this month so we have no more babies only toddlers now. Follow up is going on for our children who were identified with having ear problems. Veronica who has a mild hearing loss is using a pocketalker in school to see if this helps her to improve academically. Tomi left the pocketalker for her to try. Bernard and Edwin are both working on getting school placements. Bernard went yesterday to fill out admission papers to study IT and is now waiting to hear if he is accepted. Both continue their training at Tangerine. both also help us with the Homework Program for thechildren. Anytime I can't be there for my class, Bernard fills in for me. Purity is applying for attachment at the Rusty nail for the month of April. Hopefully she'll be accepted and do well.
So, let us continue to pray for one another as we continue our lenten journey. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Thank you so much for the many ways you support us. Hope everyone had a good St. Patty's Day. Couldn't find any green beer or Shamrock shakes down here. You are loved and missed. Julie
Bookmark :
Hello! Happy Lent!
When I wrote to you last week we were volunteerless here at Nyumbani other than myself. Now, 3 new volunteers have arrived. We have Lee from Spain, Bex from th UK and Julia from the USA. All have jumped right into their work here at Nyumbani. They worked hard this week with the Rotarians trying to complete the renovation of the Guest House. They continue to work on the house even through the Rotarians have left. Their goal is to finish it today. All 3 seem to be lovely people and are working well together. We'll have our first trip to the Rusty this evening.
Allison and JIm our 2 Scottish Rotarians left us on Thursday evening. Allison spent a lot of time completing her work on the Gift Shop and buying new stock for the store. She also shopped for the items she wanted for the Guest House. I drove her around to 5 stores trying to find 2 matching duvas for the bedroom. We easily got one for the new bedroom on the porch but finding 2 for the other bedroom was a real chore. So, we finally got 2 but only one was in the store but they are getting one from another store. I'll have to pick it up. Jim worked the entire time trying to complete the Guest House renovation. They completely gutted the bathroom taking out the tub, tolilet and sink and putting in a new shower, toilet and sink as well as wall tiles and floor tiles. With the new paint job and the new linens the place will really be beautiful and should be ready for our guests on the 26th.
I also got to attend a Rotarian meeting with Allison, Jim, Protus and S. Mary. The speaker for the meeting was S. Mary who gave a moving presentation on why we need to purchase a drug resistance testing machine for our Nyumbani lab. Allison is trying to raise money for this in Scotland and is trying to get a matching grant from the Karen Rotary Club. Please pray for Allison and Jim for all they are trying to do for Nyumbani and also pray that they get this matching grant. If we had had this machine when Sammy K got sick we might have been able to find out that he was drug resistant sooner and get him the drugs that might have saved his life. By the time we did get the results it was too late to help Sammy but it is not too late for the other children who are presently on 3rd line drugs. So, pray that Allison is able to raise the money for the machine and that S. Mary is successful in pushing Pepfar to give us the reagents we will need for this machine. We need these reagents for our children and S. Mary will not take no for answer. I think the spirit of Father D'ag is alive and well in S. Mary and together they will reach their goal. When he needed something for his children, Father D'ag took NO from no one and he moved mountains. So please ask God to help Allison and S. Mary to accomplish their goals so that we can do one more thing to help our children to be happy and healthy.
This week Protus and I have also been meeting with the Mums/Uncles to review our Homework Program, our Saturday Program and our April School Holiday Program. The Mums/Uncles have really been working to help our children to improve academically. Through the Homework and Saturday programs we hope that their marks will improve. We will soon find out since they will be taking their end of semester test this week. The Mums/Uncles assisted by the volunteers are going to be the primary teachers for the Holiday program. They will teach the first part of the day and they the volunteers will take over all for the clubs except computers. hopefully all will work out well nd we will have a successfu program that the kids will learn from and enjoy. It will run from April 13th to may 1st. The kids return to school on May 4th. We will also have 2 precious Bloodl Novices coming to help but they will missthe first week of the program. I'll do their part until lthey arrive. so, say a pray that all works out well for us and for theMums/Uncles for theri willingness to help.
I also attended our launching of SOP's manaul this week. SOP stands for Standard Operating Procedures which all of our departments and staff have been working on formaulating for the last year. Yesterday we had lunch followed by presentations on the SOP's and the distribution of the new SOP's book to S. Mary and the Nyumbani and Leatoto staffs. A lot of work was put into this project and I am sure it will result in better service to our children. Much has been accomplished but there is always more to do. Our staff will continue to monitor and update these SOP's so that the service to our children will always be updated and improved. Please pray for our staff for God's blessing on them for all they do to care for our chidlren. It is hard but very rewarding work that takes constant updating to be sure our children get what they need to not only survive but thrive.
We also had a Management Meeting this week. It is always good to hear the reports of all of the good work that is going on in the Village and the Leatoto Programs. S. Mary always keep you updated on this in her newsletter.
I also worked yesterday to be sure the room was ready for our guests from Holland, Kees and Maria. Since the Guest House is being renovated they are staying in Noel House for this visit. They have been visiting and supporting us for many years. They are old friends that are always warmly welcomed.
Today I'll work in the Library and then i'll decorate the cottages anddistribute the birthday gifts for the kids. I've already purchased the ice cream and candy for tomorrow and the kitchen has prepared all the cakes for the 14 celebrants. On Monday we'll have our staff celebration. next week I'll let you know which cottage has the best party.
The repairing of the roofs continues. I am sure it will take a while to complete since every roof has to be done and all solar panels have to be removed and replaced on each house.
All of our children are doing well. Canary gets better every day. he has such a beautiful smile. Eunice turns 2 this month so we have no more babies only toddlers now. Follow up is going on for our children who were identified with having ear problems. Veronica who has a mild hearing loss is using a pocketalker in school to see if this helps her to improve academically. Tomi left the pocketalker for her to try. Bernard and Edwin are both working on getting school placements. Bernard went yesterday to fill out admission papers to study IT and is now waiting to hear if he is accepted. Both continue their training at Tangerine. both also help us with the Homework Program for thechildren. Anytime I can't be there for my class, Bernard fills in for me. Purity is applying for attachment at the Rusty nail for the month of April. Hopefully she'll be accepted and do well.
So, let us continue to pray for one another as we continue our lenten journey. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Thank you so much for the many ways you support us. Hope everyone had a good St. Patty's Day. Couldn't find any green beer or Shamrock shakes down here. You are loved and missed. Julie
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