Uganda Update

Dear all,  Although things have been quiet on blog front,  there has been lots happening here.  The family is doing well.  Abigail is preparing for her Grade 2 Piano Exam which she will sit here in Kampala in May.  She is also loving school and has been blessed with a new friend from another MAF family who just arrived late December (Parkers). She is also learning how to work our sewing machine and made her first cushion!

Matthew and Ben Parker and Eilidh 

 Matthew has also been blessed with a new buddy from the same family who is in his class at school. He is really enjoying school and also learning the piano for free (perks of having his mum as his teacher!) along with a bit of bass guitar!   Eilidh is growing fast and continues to amuse us with her "I'm four so I know how to do everything" mentality! She is learning the violin and loving it.  It's a musical house here in Kampala - I only hope my neighbours are enjoying the practising it as much as we are - it could be worse.....I haven't started them on the chanter yet!

Joyce's son Darius turned 1 year old in the beginning of December and we had a big party to celebrate this momentous occasion! He still continues to amaze us with his fighting spirit regardless of his heart/lungs medical issues.  He is able to move freely in the baby walker exploring my house and opening and closing my drawers!  He has mastered the "mum" sound,  only a few back teeth seem to be appearing.  I'm not sure if he will ever crawl but he is on the move on his tummy slowly. 

Malaina Levesque and her son Sammy (Eilidh's twin!) came to visit for three weeks in December also which was lovely! We enjoyed a trip to the USA over Christmas time to visit friends and supporters both in Ohio and in NC.  It was great for Eilidh to see where she was born (and meet Mimi again!) and explore her first "snow" experience that she might remember!

Scottish and Ohio Heathers!

Recently Heritage has had a basketball tournament where around 200 students and coaches fly to Uganda for a long weekend. We were hosting one of the coaches from an International school in Ghana.  She was an American called Heather o'Hara from Columbus Ohio - her grandparents used to live in Coshocton where we stayed for three years! Needless to say we had an awesome time hosting her and yesterday we went to support the senior students in the finals - Heritage won both Girls and Boys Championship games! 

Getting ready......

Andy has been busy painting planes to date and LOVING it!  He is sporting a whole new look with his new beard covered in white paint patches by the end of the day.  The hanger is very busy and the engineers are few so please pray for more engineers.

Andy's paint work!

My job is taking a little shift in direction also.  I am leaving Heritage International School at the end of this school year.  Currently I am preparing students for Beauty and the Beast Production at the end of April so it is a very busy time for me.    Due to all the after school hours I am working, I have been given a Monday morning off which is wonderful! I am able to meet up with some of the other MAF wives or others for a coffee and a chat and just have some time in the house. 

Joyce is still selling her doughnut balls weekly at the market.  This will help support her and Darius long term as Eilidh will be at school all day starting August.  She is also providing them for a different international school. She was having to get up at 3am to have enough time to make them all on a Wednesday morning for market.  She now makes them at my house where she has more room and can get more sleep the night before!     

Emmanuel who has worked for us part time for the last few years just graduated from College with a Diploma( HND).  He has another two years to do to be a qualified car mechanic.  The college fees are very expensive (Very cheap in UK terms)  and there are no night classes this time so he is unable to work much through the week while he studies.  He also needs money to support his family while he is studying.  I am making lots of raspberry jam which Joyce also sells at market which will help to part fund his future college.  Emmanuel is the one who waters and looks after my rare "Ugandan" Raspberry plants so it is only fitting that we should use these to contribute towards his college.  Please pray about whether you could help us to sponsor him through his studies for the next two years.  Email me at heatherswansonmaf@gmail.com if this is something that you would like to do. 

Our Flights are now booked for our Furlough Trip 2017.   Andy and Eilidh will be flying to the UK first at the end of May.  Myself and Abi and Matthew will fly on the 5th of June and stay till the 22nd of July.  Andy will return on July 8th himself.   We are again looking forward to catching up with you all.  We are still finalising our church dates/appointments and will let you know when we have specific dates confirmed.  

Thanks so much for all your prayer and support.  Last year was a very tough year but so far 2017 has been much better emotionally for us all as we strive to serve God where he places us. 

God Bless x

Heather (Andy, Abi,  Matthew and Eilidh)