Blogs

Dirty and Deserted

July 27, 2008 - Read all blogs

Dear Friends,

The last you heard from our friend, Clay, was that he hoped that our boxes would arrive safely. We did have particular concerns over the one box that I had labeled the contents with the bolded words computer, DVD player, and printer on the side of the box. When we inquired about the boxes by phone the next afternoon, we were told that 13 of the 31 had arrived. We continued to pray and left for the airport, which is 2 ½ hours away. We picked up our friend Joyce who works at the airport and her ministry is to help missionaries get through customs without a hassle or unnecessary duty. Thirty of the boxes had arrived including the one containing the computer. The boxes had been sent to Kenya, Brussels, and South Africa! Talk about an adventure. The 31st box arrived on the third day. God watches over that which concerns His children.

Clay and his lovely bride, Kristen are the sponsors of three children at Hope Children’s Home in the village of Seya. We wanted him to see the home that each of his children came from and have a chance to meet any family. We were at the previous home of his Ugandan daughter, Linda. She had a Muslim name which had a meaning of an ungodly connection to her ancestors. The staff decided to get rid of her Muslim name when she moved into Hope and chose to name her after me.

DIRTY and DESERTRD
We learned that Linda’s uncle who had been caring for her two brothers deserted them leaving them to live alone in a single room house deep in the bush. The boys woke up every morning with hunger gnawing at their stomachs. They spent the entirety of each day trying to find some food to eat. They were dirty and in ragged clothes. Tears began to flow down my cheeks as my heart broke for them. I thought about how dangerous the village is at night for a child alone. I know the Lord has sent angels to watch over them. I told Mama Christine that we need to start feeding them at Hope Children’s Home that very day. Bill and I are discussing the best place to put the children, but they will need sponsors. Please email us if you are interested in rescuing one or both of them.

NO LIMBS to NO LIMITS
Just before leaving the U.S., I send out a picture of a little boy with no arms or legs. We recently found out that the child’s name is Job. He is thought to be about 6-8. We have not met him yet but will probably do so in the next week or two.

We found a group from America that has been working here in Lugazi for the past several months doing small projects to help the people. One of the things that they have done is to start a wonderful support group for children and parents of handicapped children. The group somehow discovered a home where there was a 17 year old child that had never been out of the back room where the parents were hiding him! The parents were afraid of the stigma of having a child with a physical disability. The American group was shocked. They started inquiring if there were other children who were physically handicapped. They found about twenty other. The American team started a support group for the families teaching about love, caring for them as any other child, socialization, etc. They invited us to bring Job and his family to the group. They also found a clinic in Kampala that makes wheelchairs specifically to fit the child’s special needs for about 300,000 Ugandan Shillings which is about $175.

A friend sent me a DVD of an American man with no arms or legs. God put it on her heart to send it to me. This man’s testimony is phenomenal. We have already shown it at one of our children’s homes and they were impacted by it. I plan to ask if I can show it at one of the support group meetings. I would like to invite the community and talk to them about honoring the weaker parts of the body of Christ. The body is only as strong as its weakest member. 

SONG and DANCE
Today I attended Lugazi Progressive School’s special song and dance day. I was a very proud mom as I watched several of our high school children from Faith Children’s Home perform. They were dressed in native costumes and did some East African dancing. Now I know why they are so skinny here. I was exhausted watching them! Even though we arrived after the program had been going for about 7 or 8 hours, they sat me by the head master and the pastor of the students, who is one of our good friends. The people here enjoy celebrating and they don’t live under the constant time pressure that Americans live under. I usually need to be here about three days to stop looking at my watch.

FAITH CHILDREN’S HOME
Yesterday, I spent the whole day with the children at Faith. I received so many hugs. Many of the children had tears in their eyes. It hurt me to see how sad they were. They had missed their mama so much. I was so happy to be back with them. I know they really need Bill and me at this time in their lives. One of the older girls cried and held me for a very long time.

The day was a holiday. We walked to the field. They boys were delighted to received new soccer balls. All of theirs had worn out from all the use. The girls played games. By the end of the day, everyone was happy and laughing.

I was surprised to see how much all of the children had grown. I guess because I wasn’t able to make the trip in March, they had all snuck a few inches in on me. All of their clothes were getting short. That will soon be remedied. I have 31 boxes of clothes, shoes, and gifts with 12 more arriving later this week. They will soon look beautiful again.

It was fun to tell them all the news about their American families that sponsor them, pay their school fees…The children love to hear how much they are loved by their “parents” and receive their letters. The children are so blessed because they all have strong Christian families that consider them to be their sons and daughters. The children’s pictures are in their homes. Bill and I do our best to keep the bond between the children and their American family strong and solid.

In the evening the children and I gathered in the large hall. Worship was led by one of the children. Everyone started to pray from the depth of their hearts. The same child preached using Jeremiah 29:11 as her text. I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, to prosper you and not harm you, and plans to give you a hope and a future. She preached that in any trial, God would deliver them out of them all.

Bill is up in Gulu this weekend. He is trying to plant a church in one of the sub-camps where there are many Christians but the officials of the camp refuse a church. Although they have continued to refuse, God has given Bill some new strategies. Please pray for a new church to be born so the believers can assemble and worship God.

Please pray for Clay as he departs for the U.S. on Wednesday. We will be picking up our next team of eight on the same evening.