To my family, friends and all well-wishers. This newsletter is long overdue. There has been so much happening since I last wrote that I don't know where to begin.

In October last year I went on a three month leave from Uganda traveling through Germany, England and many states in the U.S. It was a wonderful break and I will always be grateful to the Gleasons who made it all possible for me.

I visited many friends and met many more while showing slides and telling about the miracles God has been working in the program.

While staying in Hawaii, I received the bad news of a rebel attack and huge numbers of displaced people crowding into Rev. Ezra's parish. I sent word out to many places in the world asking for prayers for the situation. On Christmas Eve I received a phone call from Rev. Ezra telling me that it was miraculous that most of the displaced had gone home and that the rebels were no longer around. That news allowed me to enjoy the last weeks in my home of Maui even more.

The trip resulted in greater awareness of the plight of the people here and even larger support than before. I returned to Uganda to a huge welcome and felt that I was truly coming "home".

There was not much time to rest when I returned, as there was much to catch up on. Rev. Ezra had done a remarkable job of running the program in my absence, especially considering the problems he was facing.

Norman and Isobelle Jackson had done a lot, also, keeping the email communication active.

Less than three weeks after my return a mission group from the St. John's Church in Oakland California came for a four-week working visit. It was a busy and wonderful time with the people, meeting many of the sponsored families and helping start the office complex for the diocese and childcare that they financed, as well as their putting in a ceiling in my home.

It felt good to have people from home seeing first hand the situations that exists here, and also meeting the folks here who I love so much. They were very impressed with the friendliness of everyone. I think that the bishop impressed the St. John folks with his sincerity; the way he went the extra mile to assist them. It was a rewarding visit that I will always remember... and I believe the St. John folks will also.

The St. John folks left and I was back to catching up on work and looking into ways of expanding. Rev. Rueben Kisembo worked as a field worker for me and Moses, who had finished his senior six exams, was also home and helping much on the program.

Anna, a visitor from England who is staying on for six months, also helped much in the office setting up databases on the computer and just getting the office more organized.

Rev. Rueben went back to his university studies but Moses has stayed on as a field worker.

I continued to keep up with the ongoing correspondences and attended many diocesan meetings.

Life was active and full, but in early May I received bad news that my sister was in critical condition in a hospital in Alaska. She has no family there and I felt that I needed to fly there to see her. By mid May I was there and spent the next ten days arranging for hospice care and a care home for her. It was a difficult time, but I thank God that he gave me a loving couple to stay with and a friend of my sister, who will be there and help with things. I left with the knowledge that Jean was being cared for and that I said my last goodbye.

I am now back home again and busy in many directions. The beautiful offices, built with donations from St. Johns of Oakland, California, are almost finished. I have moved into my childcare offices already. I am investigating the possibility of an orphanage that we would like to establish in a nearby village.

Moses has been incredibly busy working in the field and taking in many more families. He has been overseeing the building of several local houses for those who had places that were uninhabitable, and has had several latrines and kitchens built.

The needs are so overwhelming that it has been emotionally hard for Moses, at times. Seeing a twenty one-year old boy die a painful death with AIDS and knowing several other mothers are also in the last stages of AIDS has been hard for both of us.

We enjoyed a group of young people who visited from Youth With a Mission (YWAM) also. I think that they also enjoyed being here.

This program has continued to grow and I never cease to be amazed at the miracles that God is doing here. I am grateful that God has called me to be a part of this exciting time. The people here continue to teach me about faith and love. They accept me as part of the family now and I no longer feel like an outsider. I will always be a "muzungu" but I feel like an accepted muzungu!

The love and prayers from outside also flood me with joy as well as the ongoing support for so many needy people here. I can never find words that truly express my gratitude and love to everyone and to God.

May He bless every one of you.

My love to all,
Carol

From: Carol Adams orphans@africaonline.co.ug