A Good News Blogpost

I am excited to have some great news to pass on...

 1. Andrew has accepted a post as a MAF pilot for the Uganda programme!

 This means that we are now planning to move to Uganda as soon as possible. We are delighted to be able to continue in the exciting work of MAF!

 It is a huge relief to know what we are going to next, after a period of uncertainty since we felt unable to return to South Sudan as a family. We are starting to make plans for our move from our temporary base in Nairobi. We hope that this can happen before the end of the year... We are looking forward to our next MAF assignment and to discovering a different African country!

2. Our house-lady, Grace, in Juba, has delivered a healthy baby boy! I am thrilled by this news and so thankful for the safe delivery.
Grace has stayed well. despite all the upset and troubles of July when she literally had to run for her life with her 2 other small children. She took refuge in a UN camp in Juba during the worst of the fighting. When gun-fire broke out near the camp, her feet were badly cut and injured as she ran for shelter with her 3 year old and 7 year old.
Late last month, Grace went into labour in the middle of a dark Juba night. It is far too dangerous to venture out across town to a clinic or hospital at night in Juba, so she just got on with delivering the baby at home all by herself! Thankfully, a nearby neighbour realised what was happening and came to help her out- and all went well.
A friend in Juba has since been to visit and sent me some photos...

Introducing Moses Lado:

Grace and baby at home:

It feels strange that I haven't been able to see Grace yet, but it is very much my hope that I can see her in the not too distant future. We really hope to be able to get up to Juba as a family to say goodbye to our South Sudanese friends, our home and the Juba MAF team... if it is safe enough...

 In the meantime, I sent up a bag of baby clothes and gifts via Andrew when he was in Juba last week for work. He dropped these off with a MAF neighbour for Grace to collect when she is able to send someone. Andrew was able to speak with Grace on the phone, She was her usual cheerful self, which is heartening to hear.

3. Since my blogpost last week on home-schooling in Nairobi, something wonderful happened. A new neighbour in our block of flats, who is here for a temporary MAF assignment in Kenya, approached me and offered her teaching services to help me out with home-schooling! It didn't take me long to answer her generous offer with an enthusiastic, "Yes please!!"

Over the past week, it has been simply fantastic to have Ruth's help. She has worked as a teacher for many years and has raised 5 children, so is a great source of help to me. I am able to send one or 2 of the children over to her flat, just along the corridor from us: they get extra support and teaching while I am able to focus more on the other child or children at home. If this is for an hour a day or even for just an hour 3 mornings each week, I cannot express what a massive, positive help this is! A real bonus.

It has been a good week for good news!