Introduction
Lulwanda recently brought in 25 new children, joining 45 already living here. The home to 70 children is stabilizing as all the children are now getting used to the home routines and seem to have got over the much sickness that we experienced in the first month of their admission.

Our hearts go out to all those individuals and organizations that have stood with us to this day. Thank you

Children Health
The medical team from Hospice visited the home and examined all the children. Majority of them had gained the body weights save for a few who had experienced some malaria and cough. We continue to monitor the health of the children of most concern and we respond wherever there is need to intervene.

The twin sisters Sarah and Esther continue to do well and have greatly improved their social interaction with the rest of the group.

Child focus of the month
Fatuma Sarah Mpakibi is 7 years old, born in Petete village Budaka District. She is an Orphan who has grown up under the care of Pastor Erica Mudungudi (Presbyterian Church Petete). She lost her dad due to HIV/AIDS and her mother is sick and in desperate situation as she has no known means through which she can care for the family of over 5 children. Even the church could not afford to support them as the Pastor is greatly constrained. Thus Fatuma the youngest was recommended and committed to the children's home for holistic care and support to redeem her future which was increasing at stake.

Staff Focus of the month
I am Florence Nekesa working as a kitchen staff at the children's home. I am married and have four children so far. Before I started working at the children's home sometime in November 2004 my husband had no job or means of earning an income. We labored day and night working the ground for our daily food, we could not have enough in addition taking our children to school was a real life challenge and believe me life was not all that rosy. It was a life full of uncertainty and undue pressures and stress. To make matters worse we lived nearby on the land of our in-laws in a small grass thatched house. Such a humble village life.

In December 1999 I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior who I believed could be a remedy for all my problems and burdens. Since that time my life has been transformed and His grace has been sufficient as much of the social challenges and burdens like poverty, famine and sickness have gradually reduced. I continued praying and trusting God for a job. Prayer was like a song wherever I went even while in the garden.

In December 2004 God answered my prayer and gave me a job in L.C.H. as a Kitchen staff/cook.

Work at Lulwanda Children's Home is going on well with the presence of the happy children and my fellow workers in L.C.H. I feel it was a miracle from God that this job was to change my life and the life of my family. My children are now attending school happily and I can take care of them well from my pay. I attribute all this to God's everlasting promises and grace. May His name be praised Amen

Meals
Meals continue to be provided as per the home program. A balanced diet is greatly emphasized since it has greater benefits. The costs of the food supplies continue to sky rocket but we continue to do all that we can to have value for money without compromising the nutritional requirement of the children. Special attention is given to those who seem to be weak, sick and young.

Education
The school reopened and the children continued with their studies. Even the new children seem to have settled in their respective classes and the school is now moving on. We are working towards its licensing and registration with the District and Ministry of Education and sports respectively.

Social interaction
The home environment continues to take shape. I believe all the children by participating in different home activities get along very well and we monitor their interaction and behaviors. So far we have not got any problem and the way they blend you cannot tell who came when. This we continue to encourage and the big ones continue to support the small ones like in any family.

The Good Neighbor Project
The children met their community friends at the last Saturday of the month for fellowship and social interaction. Earlier in the month a review of the project was carried out and a report submitted. Overall the project has had a positive impact of the community and greatly improved the children's home community relationship.

One of the TGN project children had a big wound on the leg which had not got proper medical attention, one of the LCH mothers identified and started treating her every evening. The leg within a week had got cured and the family is all praise for the home and the project. Another child came with a bad boil on the neck and in the course of playing it burst and it was dressed and is also healing. We have also encouraged the children to write about what they feel about this project, the letters will be posted to you soon.

House supplies
All the major house supplies have been bought and the work seems to be moving on well. Effort is being done to ensure that we furnish the sitting rooms for both dormitories so that the children may continue to enjoy the home.

Staff
At all their levels, they are recognized as the force behind every work we are doing and I continue to do my best to ensure that I address all their needs so as to maximize their out put for the good of the children under our holistic care

House Mothers
The mothers play a key role in the children's upbringing. They continue to do their best to ensure that the children receive the best and they are the key in monitoring and enforcing the discipline. We look forward to bringing up children in the way Lord has set for them that even when they come of age they will not depart from it.

Mother Nusura buys the house and food supplies for the home and manages the store. Mother Christine manages the internal kitchen and ensures that all the children have got their meals and at times their drugs. Mother Rita oversees all the children activities and children wellbeing at the home.

Teachers
The teachers are doing their best. And I hope our desire to have some of the children try the National Exams in 2009 may be realized. We have also started giving all the children story books for use in the groups in the evening under the supervision of the house mothers. Those in the upper classes have started doing night reviews and school home work in their dormitories after supper.

Teacher Eva and Helen who had babies earlier are back and teaching their respective classes. Teacher Rebecca's son got married on the last Saturday of the month.

In the month of October we expect to receive Teacher Natalie from Midland Bible Church, who will be volunteering at the children's home for one year.

Kitchen staff
The kitchen staff continue to be at the home's service in preparing the children meals. They don't do this alone but with the help of the mothers, the children and other staff members. The children also participate in serving the food. During supper / dinner they are the leaders. Today they know who can have which amount and ensure that they all satisfied.

Laundry Staff
The ladies are in charge of cleaning and washing the children's clothing. Many times because of power load shedding and having only one washer machine, they do the washing using their hands. But for sure they are doing a great job for the children

Garden work
We harvested over 150kg of maize grain and about 80kg of ground nuts so far. We have eaten our home grown cabbages for almost a month and we continue to plant more vegetables for the good of the home.

We sold our cow which was infertile and have since bought one and we shall soon buy another one so that instead of one we have two milk sources for the children. The chicken and turkeys are serving us with eggs and meat but not as I had anticipated. They are producing below the expected output.

Volunteers
Glen Sunday and Carol Kakai are the current volunteers at the home and I engage them to do different activities in line with improving our holistic care provided to the children. Both have just completed their University degrees in social works and Social administration.

Floods
We thank God that despite the heavy downpour for over a month now, we have not been affected in any way save for the road that had become terrible and sometimes impassible. But our hearts got to those people in the North and North east Uganda who are to date suffering because of the floods.

Audit Report 06
The audit report 2005 was presented to the management committee and adopted; consequently another meeting is scheduled for October 2007 to give a go ahead for the 2006 Audit.

My third Anniversary
September 1st marked my third anniversary as the administrator of the Children's home, consequently I wrote a comprehensive report to GICF board highlighting keys issues and suggesting how best we could continue building on the foundation already set.

Although we have made some significant steps a lot still remains to be done. However, personally and on behalf of my family I am very grateful to you all for the support you have accorded me during the formative years of LCH. Your trust, prayer and financial resources have contributed to what we are seeing today. In the process we have together and continue to improve the quality of life of once forgotten children of Uganda, giving them a second chance in life a life of hope where the sky in the limit for each child.

We continue to pray for you all, that God may continue to use you for the good of the children in Uganda.