Hippo Africa has been able to build or renovate 23 homes so far, with lots of help from you guys of course. House number 24 and 25 went to Esther, our new school nurse and Solivia, a beautiful young widow with 3 children. They now live rent-free, side by side in a new semi-detached house built by Tim, Paulo and Wycliffe and funded by Canadians. 

 

On one side of the semi-detached house is Solivia, mother to Christine – 5 years old and Colin – 3 months old. She is also a loving mother to her niece, 9 year old Annette, whose parents have both died. Annette attends Rays of Hope School and Christine will begin kindergarten in the new school year.

 

Since Solivia’s husband died a few years ago, she had been living with her sister and brother-in-law. This brother-in-law abused Solivia and she now has baby Colin as a result of his selfish actions. When we heard her story from Pastor Hummer, we knew she couldn’t stay in that home.

 

Solivia has been teary many times as she tries to comprehend the love that Dianne and Ken have shown to her, not only by paying for her house but by praying for her and taking interest in her life. 

 

If you read the last edition of the Hippo Africa, you will remember meeting our new school nurse Esther. Esther grew up in Northern Uganda where there has been brutal rebel activity for 20 years. Esther earned her 5 year nursing degree near the city of Gulu. Three years ago, rebels entered the village where Esther lived with her mother and 2 year old daughter, Marion. The rebels set her house on fire and they fled on foot. Esther’s mother was caught and beaten and was blinded in one eye. The house of Esther’s brother was also attacked.   Both he and his wife were murdered in front of their two children. These children moved in with their Grandmother because until now, Esther could not afford to have them live here with her. 

 

Esther worked for an American medical NGO on 4 month contract in Northern Uganda, tending to the many victims of the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) before relocating to Kampala where she hoped to find a permanent position as a nurse and a more safe and stable life for herself, her two children (she also has a 2 month old baby boy – Gabriel). Her niece and nephew will join her shortly and those of school age will start attending Rays of Hope School where she works as our nurse.

 

Esther moved into her new house yesterday, she is so grateful to God and to Drew and Barb who paid for her new home. She has been our school nurse for 3 weeks now. She is friendly, confident, loving and always wears a big smile!

 

Well, we have donations in our Hippo account for house number 26, 27 and 28 with another two or three on the way. Yours is next Joyce and William!! Although we don’t do a story on every single house we build or fix up, you can see through Esther and Solivia how life-changing this project is for each family. Thanks Canada -  25 houses down and about 7 million to go.