Restoration has been in the Amani family since we started. Amani’s birth was possible because a church was hit by a hurricane. First Assembly of God, New Iberia LA was destroyed by hurricane Lily in 2002. All Star Restoration was chosen to rebuild it.

The broken and damaged church was restored into a beautiful place for lives to be healed and for worshiping God. It was because of a storm and this restoration that All Star was able to provide the finances for Amani’s beginning.

A building was found, it seemed only right it was a house that was old and needed much TLC. A place that had sat for years deteriorating, that many had passed thinking it was too much work to be worthwhile, but our restoration cycle had begun.

Hard Rock Quarry Ltd. who helped find the property wanted to take part into making it a place Amani has called home for the last 8 years. It’s one of the most beautiful homes in Jinja (it’s true, just ask anyone who has been here).

Now it was Amani’s turn to continue the restoration work. Local authorities, social workers, and families of these children entrusted us to help restore them. The last eight years about 275 babies have passed through our doors. So many lives physically healed, so much joy shared. The best part has been watching the restoration to their souls that is only possible through God.

Daniel was one of these when he came to us. His body was like one of the churches that had been through a storm, his spirit broken. He had been through so much at the age of 1. We always said he looked like an old man and it was with much joy to all at Amani to witness his restoration inside and out. The face that was wrinkled in worries transformed into one of the happiest babies in the home. He captured everyone’s heart with his crooked eyes and teeth that went so well with his comical personality. There was nothing better than being greeted by Dan with his fist out to yours for a Bonga (Uganda high five) and his goofy smile. Dan like all the others was not ours to keep and last year he went back to his extended family, more like a child than when he had arrived. In October we received news that he passed away from Malaria. It’s so painful to get news like this, So much love from that boy to so many, so many who loved him. We are grateful that God allowed us to be part of Daniel’s life, as short as it was. Daniel’s restoration is now complete, and while we don’t understand it, we will still trust. It may sound cheesy but I think Dan and his Bonga will be the first sight I want to see after meeting out God and Savior.

The Restoration continues… We purchased property at the end of October and yes, it needs restoration. We are excited about the renovation and building a new place for more broken bodies and souls to find healing.

This is our new home and one of our most broken little bodies at the moment. It is so beautiful to witness both our property and Joram’s physical transformation. We can’t wait to share the end results of both with ya’ll in the near future.

Joram's arrival October

Joram in November

Not only are we renovating, but also building. While there is much to do we have complete faith and trust that it will be provided for and finished in God’s timing. With funds many have given in the last two years, we were able to purchase and start on the building project. The new home will consist of three cottages for 12-14 children in each which is currently being built. The existing home on the property will have the infant nursery, clinic, school room, play room, kitchen, and offices. A second story will connect the cottages which will have an apartment and housing for volunteers. As you can see it is a BIG project. I (Danyne) am blessed to have contractors in the family: my Husband, Father, and Uncle (who should be here soon). It’s like having the Dream Team for building and restoring a place of refuge for these beautiful babies.

Cottage walls December 19, 2011

Our home has been such a blessing over the years and so much of that was because of many of you. We are very thankful for the family, organizations, churches, school groups, volunteers, and individuals that have put prayers, finances, sweat, time, and tears into making Amani a place of healing. Thank you so much for investing in Amani’s children. Please be praying for our future home, the babies that will be entrusted in our care, the staff, mamas, and volunteers.
In Amani, RESTORATION is a family business and the cycle continues.

A few years ago at about the same time of night, loud cries came through our bedroom window. And I knew right away the cries came from our Mamas at Amani. Fearing the worst, Surj and I jumped out of bed – shaking and wondering what had happened that had brought the shouts and cries of the Mamas down the road into our bedroom. It was such a relief to find everyone safe and sound. Thieves ran through the baby home, grabbed a few cell phones and fled. But little did we know how their act of thievery would forever change our lives.

In Uganda, our lifestyle is very different than the place we used to call home. In ways that some may never think about. Roads full of pot holes, loss of power at times, street kids, poverty, and pit latrines are realities that you may not initially expect, but in retrospect they make sense. What surprised me the most on my first trip to Uganda twelve years ago was that there were men hired to assist in specific areas of the home. For a typical home in Uganda, there’s a man designated to open the gate of your compound. A compound that normally has a tall wall around it with a large metal gate, locked from the inside. He also is there to guard your home. He’s called an “Ascari.” There’s also a man to slash your grass which he does with a long piece of metal slightly bent and sharpened at the end. And he swings the slasher back and forth cutting as much length of the grass as he can. He also cares for the garden. He’s called a “Shamba.” Then you have help in your house, these men or woman help you with the cleaning, washing, shopping, cooking and mopping which is normally done with cloths, bent at the waist, bottom in the air and to entertain your children when you are working on the computer (although at the moment it sounds like the kids are entertaining them). He or she is called a “House Girl or Boy.” Your home is a place of employment to three, four or even five people. It is the normal way of life here whether you are an Ugandan or a westerner. And even normal for Mrs. Proverbs 31 – and also as mentioned in verse 15. Not sure how we have missed this in our culture. At first it is awkward to have these people in your home doing things that you are sure you should be doing yourself. Then a day comes and you realize you have not only gotten used to it, but you even like it. And you rely on them more than you ever dreamed you would have.

I have been blessed over the years to have had faithful women in my home and an Ascari who has been with my family for nine years. Our Ascari was with the girls and I before Amani started, and then he decided to come with us when we began Amani. And then he even stayed with the home when I married and moved out of Amani. He’s stopped thieves a few times when they tried to cut our fence or chased them out when they entered the compound.

Over the years we had had only a time or two of petty thievery. Amani is busy 24 hours a day and most of the time someone is moving around. On his day off we locked the gate and had never worried. Burglaries had picked up in our area more than usual. We had moved the volunteers to live upstairs above the babies home, which had been mine and the girls home for years before I was married. We had always felt safe in that location. After the specific night of thieves running through the baby home, we decided to hire a security company to work alongside our private guard. A security company sends a guard every night who carries a rifle. We made the decision to further security. A decision we thought would help protect the babies, Mamas and volunteers. But we’re wrong in our thinking.

After about a year of having added security, we found out the first man they sent to us – who was there for a few months before they moved him to another town – had sexually abused some of our boys. I will never forget the place I was standing when I received that phone call, telling me what had happened. And I will never forget how I felt at that moment. I now understood what people mean when they say, “It felt like being hit by a Mack truck.”

This was not like anything that we had been through in the past. We’ve lost three babies in less than two weeks and even learned while we were are at the grave sight for yet another burial that the premature boy we had buried the week before had been dug up for his body parts to be used for witch craft. We had two young missionary friends in less than 48 hours in our town pass away from malaria and a truck accident. All devastating and tragic events, but completely out of our control. But this experience was different. This was something that we should have been able to prevent, but somehow we had failed our children. I know that parents that have been through this understand. The overwhelming feeling of shock, grief, anger, frustration and betrayal, hitting you all at once.

Pure evil had invaded our home. Our place of peace.

Thankfully, Amani has Godly leadership who have wisdom and compassion for our children. I’m grateful to have a husband who has respect with the local police and discernment in dealing with situations where the law is concerned. It took a month of dealing with local police, the security company and detectives to find and arrest the perpetrator. I’m also grateful to work with a board that took an active role in helping in any way they possibly could during this crisis, including counseling praying and mediating. My Dad and Mom who also are the executive directors of Amani brought me up grounded in God’s Word to know I could trust Him in any and all circumstances. Family members and friends that the children love and trust to be there to work with them during this time. And prayers coming from all over the world.

Amani grew up a lot from this one act. We would love to be able to undo it but we can’t. What we chose to do though was to change, learn, and grow stronger. Ignorance is one thing but stupidity is not excusable when caring for children. This situation made us wiser and demand a higher level of excellence from ourselves. We learned that – though we had had peace while the river was calm – we also could have peace in the rushing waters. When rafting the Nile River level five rapids and you have been thrown from the raft, the crushing waves not allowing you to know which way is up, you remember the voice of your guide saying, “If you fall out this time, you will be down longer than all the rapids you have come through. But remember you will come up by your life jacket.” You can‘t save yourself – it‘s all up to your jacket. This particular set of rapids I am talking about is called “The Bad Place” yet you believe him even though you are more than terrified while submersed under the water. You believe him because all day he has spoken truth to you and you have learned to completely trust this man that you met only a few hours ago.

How can we not trust the One who has proven Himself over and over in His word, in our life and ministry through the years? Going through Level Five rapids with the Lord, trusting Him even when we don’t understand, clinging to His promises to pull us up for air when are struggling… There may be a Level Five crises in a bad place, but we choose to be in a place of peace.

We are so very thankful to all of you who have supported us over the years in many ways. Through prayer, love, time, finances, laughter and tears. You are part of the Amani family, family to 260 babies that have come through our doors, and family to our Mamas who are able to care for their families from salaries they receive because of your donations. There’s been children held and loved in so many arms from so many volunteers over the years. I wanted to share our growth with you… our extended family. You have made it possible to give these children a place of peace that they can call home. We are humbled by your trust in us. Blessed by your support over these last eight years. Please continue to keep us – your extended family – in your prayers.

Mama Danyne

Jan.26- Feb.5, 2011. For the last two weeks the Baby Cottage has been enjoying the company, stories and service of one young lady and mother of two, Sergeant Amanda Broome, and a young gentleman, Specialist Adam Patterson, who at the present time are deployed to another African country with the United States Army. The two made a decision to take their R and R (Rest and Recuperation) and serve beyond what they already have been doing for the past 9 months with the Army.
Adam discovered the Baby Cottage on a business venture and returned to volunteer so that he could seek out more of his future calling after his service in the Army. Amanda, who was invited by fellow soldier Adam, thought that working at the Baby Cottage would be a better option than returning home because of how brief the time would be with her husband and children in the States. Over the last two weeks, both of these US Army Soldiers have been impressed with the children’s daily activities. One of Amanda’s main undertakings has been practicing exercises with the Toddlers before she attempts to sit them down and teach them the Alphabet and colors using flash cards. On one occasion I could hear Amanda using her army commands to get the Toddlers to listen as Mama Georgina, one of our supervisor mamas, walked out of the room.
Adam on the other hand has assisted greatly on making sure the new laundry room has made progress as well as keeping tabs on Mweru , who is the most active boy we have. From past experiences at other orphanages, Amanda has been impressed with the amount of attention and love the children receive here. “They are truly taken care of and loved—something I have not observed at other orphanages,” said Sergeant Broome. Both Adam and Amanda are planning on future visits to serve.
Thank you for serving our country and at Amani. You are always in our prayers.

Written by Rachel Seigneur (volunteer February 2011)
Edited by Sarah Crane (volunteer February 2011)

Simona, Rakul, Breonna, Amanda, Adam, Sarah, Hallie, Maggie, Rachel,H.E.A.L Ministries, former and future volunteers, Thank you!!!

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Sarah, Helene and Hallie spent an evening making two cakes, one for the girls and one for the boys. The next afternoon all the children dressed in their swimsuits came up from water sliding to celebrate William’s (who turned 4), Nathan’s (who’s now 3), Elijah’s (who turned 3), Isabella’s (who’s now 3), Brian’s (who turned 2), Jason’s (who ‘s celebrating his 7th), and Alima’s (who’s now 2)birthdays. The seven of them had their birthdays in the months of November, December and January.

The Dora decoration was out, the birthday hats were on, the balloons were finally blown and hanging. We turned on the music to dance to the groove. The 24 children were loving the Disney themed songs we had chosen to play for the celebration. Standing outside on the sunlit grass the kids, the Aunties and the Mamas were all dancing to the beat. Isabella, who’s 3, was moving her hips while Matthew, who’s 3 and ½, was getting into the head bobbing moves. “Seeing Mathew move his little body to dance was my favorite,” exclaimed Auntie Helene.

During the songs Auntie Simon and Auntie Helene began splashing the children with water to cool them off from the afternoon sun. Their giggles and squeals could be heard throughout most of the compound. Many of the kids loved the refreshing cooling feeling but then there were those little ones, like Emily, 1 ½ , who would rather have stayed dry. After the water and dancing excitement all of the children gathered around to sing Happy Birthday to the seven birthday children. The seven stood up in front of the blue and bright pink birthday cakes, their birthday hats were on, and their faces lit with big grins. They knew that today was their special day. They had the attention all of it and they were basking in it. After the song closed the Aunties began to pass out the brightly colored pieces of cake the children’s eyes grew big with joy “sweeties” they proclaimed.

Written by: Rachel Seigneur (volunteer Jan.-Feb. 2011)

Ladies you’ve changed our world. 

“The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” — Frederick Buechner

We miss and love you all very much!

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“You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you.”
— Frederick Buechner