NEW FELLOWSHIP AND BLESSINGS

DEAR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, ANOTHER WEEK OF NEW ADVENTURES AND GOD'S HANDS AT WORK. I CONTINUE TO FEEL GOD'S HANDS HELPING ME AT THE CLINICS AS I DIAGNOSE AND TREAT MANY NEW CASES. I AM GETTING CLOSER TO THE CHILDREN AND VOLUNTEERS , AND MAKING EVEN MORE FRIENDS THRU THE CONTACTS AT CHURCH AND WITH THE AFRICAN PEOPLE AT THE CLINICS. THE CHILDREN AT SMILE AFRICA NOW CALL ME KATHY(NOT MAZUNGO WHITE WOMAN)THIS IS A BIG STEP IN OUR FRIENDSHIP. EVERYDAY MY LIFE IS TOUCHED IN DIFFERENT AND WONDERFUL WAYS BY THESE PEOPLE , WHO HAVE SO LITTLE BUT ARE SO THANKFUL AND HAPPY . I PLAY NEW GAMES WITH THE KIDS ON MY BREAKS, THE GIRLS CAME TO GET ME TO PLAY SOCCER WITH THEM AGAINST THE BOYS , GUESS WHO WON. THIS GIVES ME A CONNECTION WITH THE OLDER GIRLS WHEN WE ARE DOING SOME EDUCATION ON SAFE H2O, PERSONAL HYGIENE , EVEN RELATIONSHIPS WITH FRIENDS ,ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO HAVE NO FAMILY . I HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED TO A RACE BY SOME OF THE OLDER BOYS.
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
I ALSO HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET TO HELP OUR NURSE MIDWIFE , SHE IS STRUGGLING WITH A BROTHER WHO HAS AIDS, HE IS WELL ADUCATED, BUT MADE A BAD CHOICE OF A GIRLFRIEND. SHE CONFIDED IN ME THAT HE HAS BECOME VERY DEPRESSED, AND KNOW IS REFUSING TREATMENT , SHE IS HIS PRIMARY CAREGIVER. I WAS ABLE TO PRAY WITH HER FOR HER BROTHER WHICH I BELIEVE GOD BROUGHT US TOGETHER FOR THIS PURPOSE, NOT JUST AS FELLOW NURSES, FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES ,BUT AS CHRISTIANS . MY PURPOSE FOR COMING TO UGANDA IS EVOLVING WITH GOD'S PLAN NEW EVERYDAY, I THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED PRAYERS. HOPE TO HEAR FROM YOU BY EMAIL, KJFASTTRACJ@JUNO.C.
LOVE IN CHRIST, KATHY