Family changes, the end of a work term at EMI, and a new
sponsorship campaign at Doors…these are just a few of the things that have kept
the Lammers family occupied July and thus far in August.
First and foremost, we are thrilled to announce the birth of
our daughter, Abigail Mirembe Lammers. She was born July 18th at
International Hospital Kampala. Both mom and daughter are healthy; mom has
recovered quickly, and daughter is thriving. We chose her name based on its
meaning. Abigail means “Father’s joy” and Mirembe is a popular Luganda name
meaning “peace”. Our prayer is that her life would bring joy to our Father in
heaven, and that she would grow to be a woman of peace to others around her.
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| Abigail Mirembe Lammers |
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| Abigail Mirembe Lammers |
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| Family Photo |
FAMILY
Joshua has adjusted well to having a baby sister. His new
favorite word is “baby” and he is always looking for opportunities to hold her,
give her kisses, and bring her the pacifier. We are thankful for this and how
he continues to adjust to sharing mom during the weekdays. He is not as ready to share dad in the evenings and weekends, though improving. Fortunately, we have
been able to keep him in his weekly schedule for the most part attending his
play groups and other weekly meet ups and traditions. Thankfully, Ashley’s mom
came for a week long visit recently. It was so great to have “Jja Jja” around
for help and support…and great company too! We look forward to Matt’s parents
visiting soon too.
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Joshua showing Abigail some love.
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He continues to be a very joyful little boy, and is loving practicing
new words everyday. We continue to enjoy the age and stage he is at.
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Our oldest boy has just completed his second school term and
continues to make improvements academically. We are very proud of him and his
deep desire to seek knowledge and learn. He has taken some practice end of year
exams which will determine what high school he can attend. He continues to
improve, but still has some catch up to do for the years of school he missed.
He has just begun a 4 week holiday. His request over the holiday?...study! He’s
asked for private tutoring to help him continue to improve for the end of year
exam. He will likely also spend some time playing on a soccer team that he has
found and joined, as well as playing his guitar and performing periodically at
our church’s youth group which he is involved in.
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Learning how to change a tire on our car with Matt (and their audience).
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Unfortunately, our younger foster son is no longer staying
with us. After an incident which occurred near the beginning of July, we were
advised by social workers and other professionals to resettle him with his
biological father and step-mother and continue to support him from afar. He has
been back with his biological family for over a month now and seems to be doing
well. We hope to help him enroll in a vocational training program at the
beginning of next year. This has been a hard transition for us as well as for
our older foster son and other members of our Doors community. It was
unexpected and sudden. However, we trust that God is sovereign and has him and
is caring for him even when we are unable to any more.
EMI
At EMI a new term of project is beginning tomorrow. The interns arrive tonight and have orientation this week, new projects will kick off in the coming weeks. Matt with have two structural engineering interns working with him from now to December. Although new projects are starting, there are still a few lingering projects that will hopefully be finished in the next couple of weeks.
Matt has a busy term ahead training new interns, hopefully orienting a new staff engineer, overseeing drawing production, and beginning to think more long term about the direction of the engineering department.
One of the main focuses at EMI Uganda this year is an expansion to our timber and metal fabrication workshop. We are planning to build a new structures beginning next year, Matt will be helping with the design and drawings this term. As a fundraising effort EMI is organizing some climbs of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, the highest point in Africa. If you are interested in climbing or giving please check out the Climb4HOPE -
Kilimanjaro Facebook event page or Climb4Hope – Kilimanjaro web page. Climbers need to be registered by the end of September to allow time for planning.
DOORS MINISTRIES
Since Doors has officially made its announcement of
transitioning to a solely Ugandan-organization, they have launched a new
sponsorship campaign and strategy. Instead of donors giving to a specific
ministry arm of Doors or to the general Doors budget, donors are now able to
partner one-on-one with a specific student or young adult within one of the
programs. Ashley has been highly involved in creating the sponsorship campaign
which was launched on Facebook and through the Doors blog (www.doorsministries.blogspot.com).
Current programs of Doors in need of monthly sponsors and partners are students
at Doors Primary School, students enrolled in Secondary School (high school)
who have graduated from Doors Primary School, and boys who were formerly in the
Doors Boys Home who are now in need of foster families for resettlement. Feel
free to contact Ashley (Ashley@doorsministries.org)
if you are interested with connecting with a child at Doors, or check out the
Doors blog to learn more about the happenings of Doors.
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One of the students at Doors Primary School in need of a monthly
partner.
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PRAISES
- Healthy delivery and healthy baby girl. We are thankful that the recovery has been smoother and quicker for Ashley, and that Abigail seems to be doing well and growing.
- Smooth and peaceful transitions in our family from our younger foster son being resettled to the addition of a newborn.
- Our older foster son continuing to pursue his education and even be passionate about it.
- New financial partners at Doors that have kept Doors Primary School open and children in school.
PRAYER REQUESTS
- Strength for us…life with a newborn is tiring, and we feel like we have a lot of other things going on and demanding our attention and time.
- For our younger foster son who has been resettled. That he would find God where he is and come to a place of peace and thriving.
- For our older foster son as he prepares for the stressful end of year exam, and for him to connect with a healthy group of friends at our church youth group.
