Hope for Children Update

Many families at Church of the Heartland support a child through Hope for Children, a ministry of Pastor Richard Kaaya in Uganda.  When we went to Uganda over the summer, several of us had the privilege of meeting the children we sponsor and bringing them gifts and greetings from the States.  It was so touching to meet Juliet, the girl I sponsor, and see her at New Life Center, where she goes to school.  It made me realize how much these children really love their sponsors.  By sponsoring these sweet children, we truly are giving them a future.

According to the last update from Pastor Kaaya, God is doing great work in the lives of the students at New Life Center, and they are making an impact on their city.  The soccer team at the primary (elementary) school won a national tournament.    In May, there was a camp with 640 kids in attendance, and 260 of them accepted Christ.

Pastor Richard’s ministry builds homes such as Abba Home, that provide love and protection for orphaned and vulnerable children.  This home currently looks after 36 children.  These children have a home and a reason to look to the future, as they concentrate on being KIDS and leave the worry of who will take care of them to Christ.  Praise God for people who are making a difference in kids’ lives, both   here and in Uganda.

Reminder to Sponsors:

There will be a kids and youth camp for these students and children from the city from December 6-12.  The theme is the life of Jesus.  The event is open to all kids in the community.  If you sponsor a child through Hope for Children and would like to give above your monthly sponsorship for your child to attend camp, the cost is $35 – which needs to be in before the last week of November.  You could also sponsor a child from the community to attend the event for the same amount.

Any other gifts – such as birthday or Christmas – for your sponsor children need to be in check form, as they cannot receive presents at the school without paying taxes on them.

Thank you for your generous support of these children!

God’s Plan for Barbara

I was not expecting to witness a miracle when I went to Uganda in June 2009.  Instead, I was expecting to go to Uganda, love and play with the children, and come home satisfied with the smiles that I brought to them and the many memories that they gave to me.  However, God wanted Barbara and me to meet and change each other’s lives.

The story begins when I came home to Williams and Peruth’s house one day.  There were many children in the yard playing which was a normal scene that happened every day, but there was a new girl playing in the yard.  Her name was Barbara.  We immediately connected and began to play.  We laughed and played carefree in the yard.  I did not see her that night, so I assumed she was a girl from a nearby house who just came to play for the day.  I thought nothing more about Barbara until the next day.

Pastor Michele and I were talking the next day when she mentioned Barbara.  Peruth had told Michele Barbara’s story, so Michele shared her story with me.  Barbara’s father had died and her stepfather did not want her to live in the house.  Her stepfather was abusive to her.  Barbara had never had the opportunity to go to school.  She was living around the neighborhood without a home.  Her mother had brought her to Grace Children’s Home to see if Peruth would be able to take her into the home.  I do not think that Peruth was able to take her in at that time because some of the children who were living in the home did not yet have sponsors.

When I heard Barbara’s story, my heart was filled with compassion.  I could not believe that yesterday I was playing and laughing with this beautiful girl and today I would live knowing she did not have a home to live in or a family that loves her.  I went to talk with Peruth to ask her some more details about Barbara.  My heart spoke and I told Peruth that I wanted to sponsor Barbara and that I wanted her to live in the children’s home.  Peruth was very happy to hear about this so she made plans right away for me to purchase some shoes for her to go to school with.

I was able to see the joy that was restored to her during her first night living in the children’s home.  She had already made several friends (Jovia, in particular) and was feeling loved and accepted by the children who lived in the home.

The team left to return to the US on a Monday morning.  Before I left the children’s home, I saw Barbara and the other children getting ready for school.  It was her first day of first grade and she looked very excited to be going.  Barbara changed the way that I view sponsorship and orphans.  In just a few days, I was able to see how sponsoring a child completely changes a child’s life.  Barbara went from a life of rejection, abandonment, and abuse to a life of joy, peace, and hope for the future.  I was not expecting to witness a miracle when I went to Uganda in June 2009, but I saw what I saw.

Ashley Loehmer

Music from Uganda

One of my favorite things about Uganda is the music…. especially this song!  Watch Peruth Beshiisha and the women of Word of Life – in all their traditional African finery – sing “A Woman.”  Let their passion for God inspire you!

Update from Uganda

The following is an update that we recently received from Williams and Peruth Beshiisha in Uganda.  Keep them in your prayers, and praise God for what he is doing for our brothers and sisters in Entebbe!

From the Beshiishas:

Thanks to let us have such a good facility unto the young ones through your prayers and financial support. We are done with all plastering finishing interior.  The last step will be painting. This is how far we have reached.

Next week on September 7, 09 the young ones will begin their 3rd term. It was good to have them together at home. Continue to pray for us to attain good health as to be done with this coming term.

Bless

Williams & Peruth Beshiisha

…… I love it when they send pictures!  Check out the awesome progress they’ve made on the children’s home and a picture of these beautiful kids!

If you would like to sponsor a child or pray specifically for a child who needs a sponsor, see our “Children Who Need Sponsors” pages – recently updated with pictures!