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I hope none of you have been feeling sorry for us, stuck out here in the bush, working with beautiful children, right on the edge of Lake Victoria, in the dry season. If you were, just put all of your sorry thoughts out of your head. You’ll wish you were here, too!

All of the kids have been working hard on digging out a water slide in the rocks above the Tanner’s house. They finished it in time for the grand opening on Saturday (after Dan put the tarps on and filled it all up!), and everyone was invited. The water slide ended in a decent sized pool, and the parents had a temporary shade shelter right nearby.

Most of the kids just jumped right in, and they didn’t get out for the better part of the afternoon! The big kids all lugged the little ones up the hill and then slithered down again on the tarp. A little soap kept those bodies slightly more slippery, and a little bleach cleaned everyone off nicely. We considered doing it every three months or so, just for hygiene’s sake!

Our trip to town, by Hannah

At the moment we are driving into town to do some errands. I am glad I brought this piece of paper with me, for we have had a very interesting ride so far, and we are not even ½ hour into the trip.


About half way to Lugeye from Mavuno (on the dirt road), we saw a lady on the road who wanted a “lifty” to Mwanza. We picked her up. I must say that I never knew someone could have so much air in them. Nearly as soon as we began driving, our passenger began letting out very loud belches from behind us. Lauren and Megan were seated in the middle with Kate and our guest. Surprisingly, they paid no attention to the loud noises beside them. Mom and I, however, were nearly dying of laughter. We were trying to suppress it nicely while mom also tried not to drive off the road. Pretty soon, the little girls took notice of the incessant burping noises and Lauren said, quite loudly, “Hannah, is that you?” I was laughing too hard to answer so mom replied, “No, Lauren, it isn’t.” Lauren, puzzled, then asked, “Who is it then?” I buried my face in my arm to stifle my humor and mom, after a few moments of regaining composure, said, “Lauren, it is our guest.” It is a good thing “our guest” did not understand English. Well, after a particularly loud belch (they were happening about every two minutes), Megan tried to imitate it with her own loud fake burp. Mom and I began cracking up again. Mom barely managed to say, “Meggy, no, don’t do that.” A moment later, our guest let out the loudest one yet. Megan quickly said, “Mom, that wasn’t me!”

After a long, humorous trip, we have arrived in Mwanza. I only hope I don’t ever come across what that lady ate for breakfast!

A Growing Family!

Aika, Michael, Jonathan, Helena, Mariam, Manyashi (Esther at school)

Yesterday was an exciting one for us as we welcomed two new children onto our campus and into the Mbugua family. I don’t think I will EVER get tired of watching the end results of this ministry! It is so amazing to watch children who have no one come into a family and know they will be there for the rest of their lives! Michael and Aika came to us from Forever Angels, a baby home in Mwanza. You can read the day from Amy, the director’s perspective here for the date of Aug. 4, Wednesday. Amy does a terrific job with all her children, and it is a privilege to work with her for the children. Michael and Aika are two of the several we will be receiving from Amy’s home in the near future, as they are too old now for her place.


This morning we had our Thursday morning singing time with all the kids. It was such a blessing afterwards, to hear Michael talk about his mommy and what she had made him for breakfast, what his daddy was doing at work, “Did you see my big house?”

Thank you for your continued prayers. Milka and John have been parents now for about nine months, and have seven children under their roof! They have a big responsibility, lots of love to pour out, and they are doing an amazing job! It is awesome to see once again the power of the family to disciple little ones.

New sisters!

The Baby?

How she got from this

to this is hard to imagine!

Happy Birthday to Kate last Friday!  I always feel kind of sorry for the little people when they get a birthday.  I think they think their families have finally figured out the treatment they really deserve--balloons, streamers, cake, presents.  They are just getting used to it by the end of the day, and then the next day is back to normal!  She did learn a couple things--"Cake," how to make two on her fingers (more like 2 1/2 or 3), and she said "Meggy" for the first time, instead of calling both the girls "Looey."  It was a big day in the life of the 2-year-old.  Thank you, God, for this amazing little piece of creation!