And at the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair messy, and your eyes sparkling. - Shanti
I decided to join the mission trip almost immediately afterthe opportunity was announced during a church service. I grabbed my dear friend, Wendy, and said, “let’s do it!”. Little did I know that spur of the moment decision would be one of the best of my life… As a pediatric physical therapist and director of a multi-disciplinary pediatric clinic, I am used to working with children with differences and committed to helping them stretch and grow to their fullest potential. One of the ways I connect with children is through art activities. When we decided to join this trip I thought that one way for me to participate would be to lead children in art experiences. What I didn’t really think about until I stepped into a group of 70 kids in the first village, was that they really had no access to basic art exploration and because of this most of the children really don’t have opportunities to create and let their imaginations soar. The “self-portrait” project – where children look in a mirror to discover what they look like and then paint a picture of themselves was a way to connect with kids. I was overwhelmed by the number of kids in each village squeezed together on benches or the floor, all ready to paint – something they have never done before! At first the kids seemed a little shy and had a hard time getting started. But, as we passed around mirrors their drawings began to emerge. Children were amazed by their reflections in the mirror and giggled when they saw a friend with them. It was beautiful to watch each child try and capture their own unique look and fascinating to see how deliberate they were in their approach to get it “just right”. It was fun to see the reactions of the kids as they looked at each other’s drawings – smiling, pointing things out and re-checking in the mirror. It was immediately apparent that if given the opportunity, children will create and imagine and this is an essential element for child development. It was remarkable to be able to give over 700 children an opportunity to play, create and dream – something that happens every day for kids in the U.S. The smiles on the kids’ faces as they decorated a butterfly with paint and jewels or looked in the mirror to see what they looked like was such a joy! It was amazing to be a part of something like this – giving a “first-time” experience for children and watching them express themselves and really take off. It was hot and dirty, we were crowded together and kids had to share all supplies but you would have thought they were being given Christmas gifts. I was overwhelmed by the sheer happiness of the shared experience. In village after village, the children all responded with excitement and they were so proud of their art! One of the boys finished his painting and held it up and asked his friends, “does it look like me?” and they giggled and said, “yes!!”. He hugged me and said, “thank you!” and in that moment, I realized that this trip was going to bring me so much more than I could ever give. These children who have so little and who work so hard every day to help their families, are just children. They have the same desire to imagine and create. What a blessing it was to be able to give them an opportunity to just be a kid, even if it was only for one day. Becky
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Last time I came here I didn't know what to expect, I just knew I had to come, even though i was by myself going to a far away land with a group of complete strangers. I believe in life you have things you have to push yourself to do (such as every night when I walk into the hospital for a long 12 hour shift) and some things pull you towards doing them. Uganda is a puller. The people in this country touch my soul in a way that God knows I need. It's the ultimate reset button which takes me out my bubble where dreams of dollar signs and worthless nothings overpower my life. This hot, dusty place reminds me that it is absolutely not material things that make people truly happy. These people have so little but the smiles and palpable joy is abundant. In a land of such material poverty there is a bounty of spiritual richness, it has to be seen to be believed.
When I cry and feel pity for these kids I immediately remind myself that while it is undeniably sad to see a child in tattered clothes and hungry, God himself sent his son to earth born in a dirty stable, not a fancy birth center, lain with wild animals, none of which were stuffed. He was poor and spent all his time with the outcasts of society. Loving the least of us, what better example could there be to follow? Uganda also reminds me of how humans are all so similar. We are connected on a level that supercedes even language, I can go all day playing with a child, holding and laughing with them only to realize that we havent said a word to eachother. Sometimes words aren't needed. Once we sweep away all of our perceived differences our divided world has ingrained in us, we realize that we belong to one another. It doesn't matter what race, sex, religion, or nationality we are. God has entrusted us to each other and it is our resonsibility to share not only our outside goods but our inside gifts as well. I may provide some material needs for my 4 beautiful kids in Uganda, but what they give to me in return is far more significant. ---Kelly Sent from my iPhone The Hearts & Hope mission team has returned from Uganda! We had uneventful flights coming home; some team members were even able to get an earlier flight from Detroit and catch some family functions last night! We are thankful for safe travels and pray for rest in the next few days.
Kelly Turntine, a two-time team member, shared these words with us during one of our devotion times this week. They are a beautiful capture of what so many of us were feeling! Thank you, Kelly!! I step off the plane, I breathe in the thick, fresh air I embrace the dark night of Africa, not a sense of mine impaired. Riding through the towns and villages, the smells change with each mile. As I think of the days to come, my face can’t help but smile. The sights I will see, dances I’ll enjoy and hands I will hold secure. Faces of friends, dances of dreamers Hands of angels, of that I’m sure. Yet all at once my heart is troubled; pings of sadness depress my mood. When I witness houses built with mud, inside families without food. Uganda is a contradiction, in the most devastating way For a moment you feel utter bliss, but turn your head and it's dismay. How natural it seems, dazzling fruit stands and hills of passing farms. Yet unnatural when you see the small-child tending it with body builder arms. People with wealth beyond their awareness ponder why I come to such a land; The danger, the dirt, the damage, they just don’t understand. . These words do not affect me though, my heart follows a different decree. From the mouth of Jesus who said, “what you do to the least of my brethren, you do to me.” Unfortunately, I am having trouble accessing our blog editing software and I’ve been unable to post on it for several days. My apologies!
The second half of our week has been no less busy than the first. As always, the days are long, but fulfilling. On Thursday, we began our day in Mbulamuti, where we delivered packets to 100 sponsored students. They were so excited about our visit! We helped them paint self-portraits and work on a message to their sponsors. The teaching staff and students there are ready to begin school on Monday! Our next stop was the village of Namwendwa. There is no Hearts & Hope partner for this village, but thanks to generous donations from Party With a Purpose attendees, we have put in a borehole well! This changes the lives of these people in so many ways – clean water means healthier bodies, kidss can go to school instead of hauling water long distances, and girls are safer when they don’t have to fetch water when it’s dark. We will officially dedicate the well this coming week. We played games with the kids and let the women (and a few teenage boys) make cross necklaces and then we were on our way. Such beautiful people! Pastor Paul, Beth, Pastor Scott Rische, and I attended a banquet in honor of all the pastors and their wives on Thursday evening at the City Hotel in Jinja. It was a wonderful affair and gave me a great chance to catch up with some people that I don’t get to see too often! I appreciated the invitation. Becky, Wendy, and Mariah spent a quiet evening at the hotel and caught up on some sleep. On Friday, we were able to visit the village of Butangala, where Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wentzville, Missouri partners. They started their school, which is housed in a temporary structure, a week early so we got to see a lot of the kids. There is a huge disparity in kids who go to school and those who don’t. We spent a full day there and loved being able to let their creative juices flow through painting and some other crafts. Dental hygiene was a hit and you couldn’t help but believe that this was brand new info for many of the kids. On Saturday, we headed down Iganga Road, which runs east out of Jinja. We stopped at the new seminary and enjoyed a tour given by Pastor Peter Maganda. It is quite a campus and will be fantastic when it is complete! They have been holding classes there since August. The best part of the seminary for me was pulling onto the land and seeing three faces I had not seen in about 2 years. Three boys who lived on the streets of Jinja most of their lives. Messiah Lutheran Church had attempted several things over the years, hoping to give the boys food, shelter, an education and mostly some love. Each time, the boys left to live on the streets again. We came to realize that they needed more than what we were able to give. They needed someone who understood the allure of no rules and exactly what kind of environment they needed. Over the next couple of years, one boy in particular, Abraham, would appear every now and then. Sometimes it would be while I was eating at the Source Café or shopping in Jinja. Sometimes it would be at one of the schools we were visiting. But in 2016, I never saw him. I really thought I would not see him again; honestly, I kind of gave up. And then, there he was. Tall, strong, truly a young man! He could look me in the eye and when he spoke, a deep voice had replaced the soft whispers I used to hear. They are working on construction at the seminary. They have beds (that were neatly made!) in one of the unused classrooms. They were making African tea when we got there. Violet and Pastor Charles both told me the boys are “reformed”. I felt that, too. They talked about their goals and how they are using the small amount of money they are making. My prayers will continue to be with them as we look at ways to get them into vocational schools so they can learn a skill that will support them for the rest of their lives. After the seminary stop, we headed east to Busia and then south to Nalwire. This village is very near the Kenya border. It was very dry and there was a lot of dust; you could see the impact on the crops. We were entertained through song, dance, and drama by the Sunday School kids. Their music is so joyous! You can’t help but smile the entire time! Nalwire has no partner through Hearts & Hope. The land where the temporary school and church structures sits is only borrowed; it and 2 adjoining pieces are available for sale. We toured the land and talked about the cost. Afterwards, we had a short amount of time to visit with the women and kids. We had lunch at Margaret’s home – she is the women’s leader in Nalwire and a wonderful hostess. The skies darkened during lunch and we had to say a hurried good-bye before getting on the bus, but not until we presented goats to four of the women. A donation from a member of Redeemer Lutheran in Redwood City, California allowed us to give this generous gift. We made our way home and made a quick run to our hotel rooms before we gathered back at the reception area to head to the All Friends Restaurant for dinner. Several of our Ugandan friends joined us and it was a wonderful night of laughter. We got back to the hotel and most of us went straight to our rooms. We are tired! It has been a fabulous week. We look forward to the second team of 17 people arriving this evening! Praying for safe travels for them! Ahhhh, we are back at our beloved Sunset Hotel International. All is right with the world! We made the beautiful journey from Kampala to Jinja, stopped at the market for water, and headed to Kaingagoga. The school structure in Kainagoga was dedicated one year ago this weekend and it’s a thrill to see all those kids and how happy they are. Almost every sponsored student was there, even though school doesn’t begin until Monday. The kids got to paint self portraits and enjoyed some more dental hygiene lessons, including crafts! We have some precious pictures to share. We presented 2 goats to 2 women, purchased with funds from St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Peoria. We also presented 1 offspring goat to another women; this is the how the program is supposed to work! She had received a goat in 2016 and was “paying it forward”. In the fall, we presented 5 sewing machines to the women’s group, another project funded by St. Peter’s. Today, they took us to the staff room in the school where they had the machines all set up and had some of their creations on display! One woman is teaching the others and they have made great progress. They were so excited to share their progress with us. We met with them and watched them decorate small fabric pencil bags. They are such a fun group! We passed out candy and were on our way. It was fun to finally be back with Pastor Paul and Beth and Pastor Scott Rische at dinner tonight. Lots of laughs – and some whole tilapia. Everyone is tired though and it was an early night for most. We are thankful for safe travels and for the friendships made because of these trips! A long day in the southwest region of Uganda today! It was our joy to get to visit two villages where we had never been before. A two hour bus ride north of Ibanda took us to the village of Miyooraa. The local congregation meet in a small mud structure, where they welcomed us. It was obvious they don’t receive many visitors from the US! We had the opportunity to do some projects and visit with the women and children. Bubbles were the hit of the day! Wendy and Becky are doing a great job with the kids and have quickly moved from rookie to experienced Hearts & Hope team members! After another two-hour bus ride, we arrived in the village of Mish. Set high on a hillside, it is a beautiful location. More fun with the kids and we were on our way back to Kampala. It was a 6-hour ride home and we were happy to get back to the Hotel Africana around 10:00pm. It’s always good to see places we have never seen before. It’s a great reminder where all of our partner villages began. I hope to get back to both of these places again. We will pray for their ministries and the people they serve! Monday, January 31st
Today was our first day in Uganda. We arrived safely last night, minus two of our supply bags. Seems they never left Atlanta, so we hope to see them delivered on Tuesday to the Hotel Africana in Kampala! Pastor Paul and Beth went to Jinja today. They begin leading training for pastors and their wives, with Pastor Scott Rische, on Tuesday. Wendy, Becky (members of Redeemer Lutheran in Redwood City, California, where Paul and Beth now serve) and I left around 9:30 am for the 6-hour journey to Ibanda. Most of the Hearts & Hope staff joined us and it was an uneventful trip. We stopped briefly at our hotel and then made the 20-minute trek to Ishongororo where the new primary school is being constructed. Ishongororo partners with Immanuel Lutheran Church & School in Brookfield, Wisconsin. There are 60+ kids sponsored there and this would be our first visit with them. The southwest region of Uganda is hilly and so beautiful. It took my breath as we made the turn off the highway and could almost immediately see the new building on the hillside. As we drove up the road to the school, I was reminded that just 4 short months ago, there was no road here; we walked up the hill to view the land, which was later purchased. The road leads past a recently-leveled parcel of land that will serve as the playground area (soccer and netball field) for the school. It was already in full use by children in the community. We toured the area, including the offices, staff room, and three classrooms. The new latrine was being plastered; glass was being put in windows, paint was being rolled out both inside and outside. It was busy! Everyone is working towards the first day of school on February 6th! It was a thrill to walk into a classroom that was filled with the sponsorship students and another where all of their parents had gathered! The excitement in both rooms was palpable. We spent time with the parents and then moved on to work on some crafts with the kids. They made some special cards for their sponsors and got to take home their very own Polaroid photo of themselves. Wendy did a great job of teaching the kids about dental hygiene; her props were a huge hit! All of the students in the sponsorship program received their Hearts & Hope backpack and a toothbrush/toothpaste kit to take home. We took a great group photo and passed out candy before it was time to leave. During all of this, it is hard not to notice the kids who are OUTSIDE the classrooms. Some will be in school next week; their parents can pay school fees and we are thrilled they are choosing to send their kids to this school. But others won’t be there on the first day. Those are the ones that tear at your heart. We hope that the school grows so that those kids will be able to be a part of the first year of classes here. Pray for them and their families. Many thanks to the Hearts & Hope staff and everything they have done to make the school a reality. Tonight, we are tired. Jet lag is taking its toll and we all look forward to a good night’s sleep. Tomorrow we head to two new villages; adventure is in the air! During our visits to Uganda, we constantly hear "thank you" - from children, parents, teachers, church leaders - everyone impacted by a Hearts & Hope partnership. Enjoy these sweet words from a young boy who is in the sponsorship program in the village of Kainagoga! We never stop learning at Hearts & Hope! Recently, we were introduced to an organization dedicated to supporting girls around the world in a unique way. Their vision is to provide every girl and woman in the world with ready feasible access to quality sustainable hygiene and health education by 2022. Check out their website here.
It is something we occasionally hear about - girls missing a week of school because they don't have feminine hygience products that will allow them to leave home. Missing 25% of your school days is a lot and understandably can have a huge impact on the quality of the education a girl can receive in a third-world country. I recently asked our Assistant Primary Sponsorship Coordinator in Uganda about the need for this kind of support and the education that comes along with it. I specifically asked her about the great detail that Day for Girls encourages trainers to share with the girls. Her response, in her words: Yes Ma'am, it is okay because by the end of the day what we will teach them is exactly what they will experience in the end so, it's better for them to have someone explain it to them in details. Most girls in the villages are tricked by boys and men into having sexual relations with just buying them a chapati, a candy, etc. These girls don't just have sexual relations because they love those boys, it's because they've bought them something cool or, something they've never had in their lives and some get lucky and don't get pregnant but some end up getting pregnant. There is one example of a girl who was on sponsorship; she got pregnant at a very tender age not just because she was in love, it's because she was tricked into it. Who knows how long the boy who got her pregnant sweet talked her into having sexual relations with him. Nobody knows. He might have started sweet talking her at the age of eleven or twelve until she gave in and got pregnant . So, it is very much okay for us to go into more details with these girls because I believe and know that it will benefit them in the end. Staggering. I appreciate Mariah's candor and passion for helping these girls. Hearts & Hope will be taking 100 hygiene kits with us to Uganda in late January. The kits were sewn and assembled by a group in Rolla, Missouri. (Follow them on Facebook: Days for Girls Rolla MO Team) . We will be taking advantage of the skills of an OB/GYN, nurse practitioner and a PE/Health teacher on the next mission team! It will be an awesome opportunity to do some training with the girls and young women. We look forward to addressing another issue experienced by girls in Uganda and providing one more way for them to obtain a quality education. If you would like to help, you can make a donation here and include "Days for Girls Project" in the Comments. The following is a story sent to us by our Assistant Sponsorship Coordinator, Mariah. Lydia Bugonzi is a 12 year old girl in primary five who enjoys netball and wants to be a teacher after her studies. Lydia was inspired to become a teacher in the future by her class teacher she loves so much. She wants to thank Lynn Sheerin for sponsoring her and sending with Julie Stroder a pack for her each time she visits Uganda.
Lydia is very happy to be on the sponsorship program because of the privileges she now gets; her tuition is paid in time, she gets a school uniform, socks and shoes every year with lunch everyday at school. She used to go back home for lunch before she got sponsored but now she doesn’t have to, all thanks to Lynn. She would also walk from home to school bare foot but she now has shoes “Thank you very much Lynn, may God bless you and your family”, said Lydia. Aisha is a 14yrs old girl in P.6 who has 7 siblings (3 girls and 4 boys) staying with both parents in a single room house.
She wants to thank her sponsor for sponsoring her and for their good kind heart. Aisha says that that she feels happy to be sponsored because she now gets a better education which she used not to get before. Aisha says that she now has a uniform, socks and shoes that she didn’t have before getting a sponsor. She also says that she used to go to school in open shoes and didn’t have a uniform; she used to go to school in casual clothes but now she is always smart in shoes, socks and a school uniform. Aisha says that ever since she got sponsored, her grades have improved in class; she used to miss a lot of classes/lessons due to lack of school fees resulting into poor performance but now she has improved. Aisha’s parents would always worry about where they would get their child’s School fees to send her to school to fulfill her dream of becoming a nurse whenever she would get sent home for school fees but now they don’t worry anymore, thanks to Aisha’s Sponsor. Aisha prays for her Sponsor to have a long life. A mission trip for 15- to 17-year-olds with a parent!
June 5-16, 2017 This trip and its activities will be tailored toward teens who are 15, 16, or 17 by the beginning of the trip. Each teen must be accompanied by a parent. Cost will be approximately $3200 per person, which includes a 3-day, 2-night safari trip to Murchison Falls National Park. This trip requires a minimum of 8 team members. Deposits of $250 are required by December 15th; if we do not have 8 people interested, deposits will be refunded. Contact our Missions Coordinator, Julie Stroder, at [email protected] if you are interested! The possibility of offering this trip in 2018 will be evaluated after the 2017 trip. There will also be a typical Hearts & Hope mission trip June 14th - 24th for anyone 18 and over. These dates may be adjusted, depending upon the response to the teen/parent trip. Sumaya says that being sponsored by Mark & Trisha Oppeau is the best thing that has ever happened to her in her life. It feels great to be sponsored because she now gets a better education; she doesn’t miss out on class lessons like she used to at her previous school. It is through this sponsorship program that she got Mark as a sponsor and that now provides her with, school fees, a uniform, socks and shoes she didn’t have before. She used to go to school barefoot but now she has school shoes. All thanks to Mark, she is always looking smart in her shoes, socks and a school uniform. Sumaya says that her mother doesn’t worry much about sending her to school now since her school fee is always paid in time. She now only has to work hard for Sumaya’s siblings. Sumaya said that she prays for Mark and his family every day to have a long happy life and they also thank Mark for that beautiful giving heart that he has. Cyrus is a 16 year old boy in P.7 who has 4 siblings (2 girls and 2 boys) staying with a single parent (mother) and Grandmother.
He wants to thank his sponsor for choosing him out of all the children at Kainagoga village. Cyrus says that it feels good to be sponsored because he now gets a better education which he wasn’t getting before. It is through this sponsorship program that he now has a uniform, socks and shoes he didn’t have before getting a sponsor. He says that he used to go to school barefoot and wore a torn uniform but now he is always smart in his shoes, socks and a school uniform. He is now getting lunch at school unlike before when he used to go back home for lunch and most time don’t find lunch there and end eating sugarcane for lunch. He prays for his sponsor to get more blessings and achieve their family goals in life. It was great shiny day with limited cloud cover at Muguluka Primary School where the zonal primary music competitions were held. Muguluka Primary School is located 200meters off the main road to Kamuli town. It’s about 27kilometers (17 miles) from Jinja town and roughly 5 kilometers from our school Butangala Lutheran Primary. The school choir arrived at the scene for the competitions at 9:15am and oh, yes, to be part of the zonal primary schools’ music competitions.
The music competitions are organized once every year within particular zones in every district in the country, and these zones are demarcated according to the geographical locations of particular schools and for this case, we were competing in Muguluka zone with 11 Schools. The winners in the particular zonal competitions represent those said zones at the district level and winner among those zones represents the district at the national level where the winner represents the country at the East African Level which as for now is the highest ranked primary schools’ music competitions in East Africa. The HH4U local staff on arrival, found the participants from different schools inclusive of our very own Butangala Lutheran Primary School rehearsing and warming up for the day’s performances. Many activities were done including singing the western piece, traditional folk song, drummer, site singing, instrumental and dance. School after school was getting on stage to perform the same item in each category as parents, teachers, and well wisher were cheering in support for their particular schools. The school competitions began with site singing, then western choral set piece, Poem, original composition African style traditional folk song, instrumental drummer and finally close with the dance in that order. As one school leaves the stage, one could wonder what other schools would do; I mean every school came fully prepared. I kept asking our music teacher if we could get the first three slots looking at the size and age our young girls and boys. For sure I was scared!!!!!!! No sooner had we waited for the last item of the day, the dance… to be present than the music invigilators called our very own team, the Butangala Lutheran Primary School to present a dance, the boys and girls went on stage with confidence amidst cheers to perform the popular kisoga dance called bakisimba. Honestly we were overwhelmed by this performance; the crowds couldn’t help shouting and cheering for the team because for sure no one expected us to have such great talent with such young boys and girls. The dance was so very well performed. Every member of the team played their part but I can’t fail to say a one Rachael who was the smallest, shortest and the youngest of all the day’s performers and no doubt the best performer of the day. Short, small and young, but so flexible and accurate in all the dance strokes. She danced leaving every one speechless and wondering if she still has her feet attached since her knees were almost touching the ground. It was wow, wow…. she nailed it, that even the invigilators were seen shaking their heads, as the crowd and well-wishers couldn’t help but kept cheering; all of us wondered how this little girl does it. Pricilla, who is smaller and young but slightly taller than Rachael, was also a breath taking dancer who made the crowd cheer with loud shouts. They nailed it, they made us proud and recognized. The young boys who drummed also played their part perfectly well, not forgetting the back -up singers. Ooh, how great the atmosphere was with tears of joy flowing down my checks seeing our very own young children performed their best and expressing their talent to this crowd. Who might have not been able to attain education or even explore their great gift if it wasn’t help of the Lutheran Church through Heart and Hope For Uganda to sponsor them through school. Most of these pupils come from families that are unable to send their children to school. The team was so amazing. The dance ended in screams and jubilation from all of us in Butangala Lutheran primary school. For sure we knew we had won even before the official announcement, at least in that item and for sure we won in this category. Shortly after the results were ready and once again we sat in the hall to hear how we had performed, first were a few remarks from the officials and some invited guests and later the chief invigilator read the results and we were surprised to have been placed in the 2nd position but of course everyone was discontented with the result as we thought we would be the first but we had to accept the results. It was great to take the 2nd position being our first appearance in the competition felt the best. It was already past 8pm and the team was ready to leave but there was no means of transport to take them back home, remember the team had walked to the venue in the morning and after the long day and all the performances, it’s evident that the boys and girls were very tired and couldn’t walk back. We tried all we could and managed to secure a truck to bring our children back to school and where their parents and guardians picked them and took them home. Good news later came that the school that had won was disqualified after it was found out that they used non pupils thus hired mercenaries for their school. That automatically made us the first runners up take the lead and we are set to represent the zone at the District level. God is good and all the time he is good. Our first time in the Music festival competitions Butangala Lutheran school is representing all the schools in our zone on the district level wow. It’s awesome indeed. Thanks for all the support. Most of us have secret questions that we must answer to gain access to our bank account or a credit card. One of the questions that I have answered in the past is “where would you most like to go on a vacation”. Wow. I could say Costa Rica or Bora Bora, or some other exotic location and I probably have. But one day recently I was thinking of this question and “Uganda” popped into my mind. Some people might look at me funny and say Uganda? As a matter of fact when I told people that I was going to Uganda this summer they did the exact same thing and added “why”?
Well, here is why. One of the first villages we went to was Kainagoga. Based on where I was sitting on the bus I was the very first person to hit the ground. All at once I was surrounded by a group of maybe 50 children shouting “welcome”! They pushed against me so hard that I literally lost my balance and if it weren’t for so many of them I would have certainly fallen. I have never before in my entire life experienced such a feeling. I was overwhelmed with their love and joy at seeing me. My heart and soul leapt and it felt like my brain exploded. This is the only way I can describe it. I thought then and now “who am I that I would receive such undeserved and unearned love”? This is a feeling that everyone should experience. There is no way to describe it. The only way to feel it is to experience it in person. I could go on to talk about all the wonderful days that were spent in the villages. I could talk about the precious and beautiful children that hugged me and that I held. I could talk about the camaraderie I felt with the women and the special bond that was developed with them. I could do this because it was all there, but then again I can’t. Sometimes you read a book and then Hollywood turns it into a movie and those of us who read the book say, “the movie just didn’t do justice to the book”. Well it is kind of like that. The words cannot do justice to the experience. You just must experience it on your own. It has taken me numerous attempts and a month to write my story. Sometimes I wake up in the night to a beautiful “Ugandan” memory and smile. I love the country of Uganda and I love the people who work there for Hearts and Hope. But most of all I love the people of the villages. Every single one of them. The thoughts of them always bring a smile to my face. I love to talk about them. I miss them. I will go back to Uganda again and again. It is in my blood. As I eagerly prepared for this latest mission trip to Uganda, I began to notice a series of articles and blog posts circulating on social media criticizing short-term mission trips. These posts made the claim that the short amount of time that “Westerners” spent with people in impoverished countries, such as Uganda, really did more harm than good. If we’re honest with ourselves, we are exploiting the people we visited to make ourselves feel better without really putting in the work. We would be better off sending the money to the countries for resources and really doing something that mattered. We are kidding ourselves if we think that six days spent with hundreds of women and children would actually make any difference. Of course I was offended and defensive and immediately thought of a million reasons why they were wrong and I was right and why I really was making a difference. And then I remembered, it’s not about me. And it’s definitely not about what the blogosphere thinks. It’s about the tangible, the noticeable, and the incredible differences I’ve seen in the health, happiness, and overall well-being of five villages as the result of partnerships built by mission trips. It’s about the Holy Spirit working in incredible ways to create lasting relationships and transform lives for the glory of God. On this latest trip to Uganda I was keeping this idea in the back of my mind. Were we really making a difference? Does making soap with 100 women under a tree really make a difference? Does holding this extraordinarily heavy child on my back for two hours really make a difference? Does playing soccer with a bunch of kids while I’m on the EQUATOR really make a difference? Does listening to this report and program from the leaders really make a difference? The answer is and always will be a hundred times over: YES! When three women spend half a day teaching other women how to make a product that will generate income for themselves, their families, and their communities, it matters. When a child gets to be singled out and special for a couple hours so he can go home feeling loved, it matters. When men interact with other young men and show them how they can use their talents and skills to benefit their community, it matters. When a group of people from the other side of the world sit and listen to you share the experiences, achievements, and challenges of your one village, it matters. It is difficult to really explain the impact that the partnership between the U.S. and Uganda through Hearts and Hope for Uganda truly has. This partnership is not only strengthened through mission trips. It’s because of sponsoring a student, attending a fundraiser, collecting donations, and just talking about Hearts and Hope and Uganda that there are people in Uganda whose lives are truly being touched. It is always amazing how God works on these trips. Each member was affected in a unique and significant way. It is humbling to think how He had a plan for each of us coming together on the trip and for us to meet each and every child we came across. I felt so lucky to get to see nine new people fall in love with Uganda the same way I did and many others have before us. God’s ways are perfect, and it is a privilege to be His hands and feet in Uganda. Thank you to all of the senders – your job is the most difficult, and the most essential. Thank you for being a part of why mission trips matter. God has His hand on this place and these people, and all glory belongs to Him. Today, we continue our series of posts from Hearts and Hope mission team members. Thank you to Michelle Larkin for sharing her thoughts on the progress she witnessed during her latest visit! This trip was my second trip to the beautiful country of Uganda. I was able to go four years ago, in February of 2012. I was anxious to go back and not only see familiar faces, but also to see the progress that had been made through donors & organizations that have partnered with Hearts & Hope.
What a true blessing it was to see the difference after such a short time – the improvements in the lives of so many. Four years ago, I can recall with great detail the makeshift building made from branches and mud that Kainagoga used for a school. The throngs of kids that were packed into this makeshift structure – each in need of a quality education – would make any teacher nervous, especially with no supplies, no pay, no staff training, no food, and no clean water. What a difference 4 years makes! This past winter, a permanent structure was constructed from funds raised at the 2015 Party with a Purpose and from generous donations from donors in Vestavia Hills, AL. What a beautiful structure it is!! It sits on a gorgeous piece of land and the school building looks like it goes on forever. You could see the joy and pride that the teachers and students had in their new school building – so many of them had sacrificed for years, teaching without pay and learning in something that barely resembled a structure. We had the pleasure of handing out packets to the sponsored students in the school. This was our first of many days handing out priceless communication from US sponsors to each of their sponsored students across various villages. However, Kainagoga has so many more to students in need of sponsorship! Each classroom in Kainagoga’s school has a magnificent breeze that flows across the land and through the big windows. The classrooms are adorned with chalkboards, alphabet banners, and hand-made teaching posters. I was lucky enough to put an extra loving touch on one of the classrooms by helping to create a mural on the wall. Kainagoga was a picture of health, education and joy that simply did not exist 4 years ago. (Please join us this August 20th for this year’s Party with a Purpose to fund wells) I also remember visiting Butangala the first time 4 years ago - the tree and small tarp we sat under to worship and hear from the village leaders. Now there is a well that supplies the children and families with clean, healthy water. There are now structures for the classrooms – although they aren’t permanent, they are functional for now. Butangala is such a joyful place. The teachers and school staff are happy to show you their newly purchased land, where some day they’ll have a permanent school structure. They are proud to show you the gardens they have planted together as a community to feed the teaching staff and children. And the music… the village is literally full of music. The headmaster for Butangala has a passion for music, so these children learn many songs; songs for learning, songs for rejoicing and songs to fill the air. They encourage and teach the children traditional dances and how to make & play handmade instruments. We were privileged to see these skills in action. It quickly became apparent that the community there is full of self-starters. Community members and parents were in attendance at every village we visited, but this village impressed me as to how much involvement there is from the village and surrounding community. They are all invested in the success of the school and the community as a whole – and this is what Hearts & Hope clearly seeks to establish, a self-sustaining village. The spirit within Butangala’s people will carry it forward over the coming years. Butangala’s children look so much healthier and happier since I visited in 2012 and the transformation – while in its infancy – is clearly evident and progressing quickly. Both of these villages had no US partner church or sponsored students in 2012. While Kainagoga still does not have a partner, both villages are shining a light that everyone can see. These villages have clean well water that improves the health of the community, have education provided by certified, professional teachers, and sponsored children that are fed each day and have uniforms to wear. Glory be to God!!! Matthew 25:40 - “…Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” This verse was a theme of several devotions during our trip. It weighed on my heart over and over as we’d visit each village and look into the eyes of the children. When we did simple acts like painting the nails of the women and girls, this verse came to mind. When we helped to make liquid soap with the women of the villages, so they might reproduce to earn money for their families, this verse weighed on my heart. When we played simple patty-cake games on the grass or showed the children pictures of themselves on our phones, this verse rang true. When we visited a school for the disabled, the verse screamed at me. When we stopped, took the time, paid attention to each person, we can visualize this verse in action. Jason and Cornelius Let me start by saying that this was my first trip to Uganda. In my mind, I knew my reasons for going were to spread God's Word, to show His Love, and hopefully touch a person or two. But I was not entirely sure how I was going to accomplish this. I thought I was fairly well informed about what to expect during our trip there. I had many discussions with those who have had the privilege of going previously... my wife, various friends, pastors and took every opportunity to read numerous blog postings about past trips. But none of that actually can prepare you for the experience of being there. I feel like now I truly get it!! From the first few moments upon arrival there I noticed the very different and unique smells, sounds, and visuals. None of these can be explained or even translate without really actually having the experience. I feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to experience this wonderful trip and visit a beautiful place and meet extraordinary people.
Every day of the trip was different and remarkable, each village was unique and special in its own way. But the experience that I want to personally share was from the day we spent in Butangala. This was the day that I was most excited about and eagerly waiting forward to experience. Butangala is the village my congregation from Immanuel Lutheran Church in Wentzville sponsors. And I was very anxious to meet in person the two boys our family sponsors, Martin and Sanon. Our arrival into the village was absolutely incredible!! As our bus drove down the narrow road to pull into the village, before anyone was visible, you could hear children joyously singing "You are most welcome!" You could feel the excitement in the air. As we got closer, we were greeted by the children cheerfully waving Eucalyptus branches, delightfully smiling, all while continuing to sing. It was an amazing scene. As we departed the bus, we were greeted by children and adults alike, with warm embraces and smiling faces. After our friendly hellos, we were invited by the village leaders to tour the perimeter of their land. It is beautiful village surrounded by breath taking views of green hills, their various crops and Eucalyptus trees. I immediately noticed the difference from past pictures I had viewed of the village, the new structures that had been erected, the grass that had been planted, and the vast amount of hand crafted musical instruments. The people of Butangala are very proud and have achieved lots of growth and prosperity in a short amount of time with their extreme hard work. After the tour, we sat down with the village leaders and members for an opening ceremony and an incredible concert of sorts. This is where Butangala genuinely stands out. Their dedication to the arts is astonishing. It's hard to put into words, but we observed a wide array for the senses. We witnessed magnificent singing, graceful and rhythmic dancing, and outstanding musical instrumentation. I could not help but to feel proud of their accomplishments. Shortly after a few more speeches, another moment stands out for me....we were actually gifted a goat!! How often can you actually say you were given a goat?!! As the day progressed, it was everyone's favorite part of the day, the chance to spend time with the children. In Butangala, I was able to help with the opening of the sponsored kids packets. After some time distributing packets, I located my family's sponsored kids, Sanon and Martin. Their English is limited, so with Nicholas and Maj's help, we made our introductions. The immediate smiles that came across both of their faces when they realized who I was is something that will stick with me forever. Sanon is very shy, and it took him a few minutes to warm up. Martin, on the other hand, is extremely outgoing and was taking my hand and putting it around himself instantly. They were both so grateful for every little thing we were able to give them. The next hour or so, just hanging out with them, playing and showing them love is something I will forever cherish. I'm getting emotional just thinking and writing about that experience. They loved playing catch with a Frisbee, were fascinated with taking pictures and selfies on my phone, and had a blast with their new Cardinals hats (even though they had no idea how wrong it was to take a picture with Pastor Chuck and his dreaded Cubs hat, lol). I also met a few more very special kids that day. Cornelius was a special needs boy with an absolutely tattered shirt on, held up by just a few strings. He had the biggest smile when I was able to give him a brand new, bright orange shirt to wear. And then there was Moses, who was forced to drop out of school because of the pain caused by a growth on his neck. Moses also received a new, bright orange shirt, but even better and more importantly he is now sponsored and will hopefully get treatment soon!! Later that day, Violet and Mariah helped me find Brenda, and amazing girl who is sponsored by my wife's parents....she has an infectious smile and a kind soul. Every single day in Uganda was unique and special. God is evident everywhere you look. Not enough can be said about the Hearts and Hope staff, from the wonderful team in the US to the inspiring team in Uganda. Every single person has been a true gift!! I sincerely thank all the staff of Hearts and Hope for their dedication to spreading God's love. I look forward to returning to Uganda , and I look forward witnessing the growth and prosperity of the villages, especially Butangala! If you are interested in going, do not hesitate, this is a life changing, inspiring, heart breaking and hear warming trip!! Charlie and Sharon, his family's sponsored student in Nakabango, and their kitty cat shirts. It is funny how God works in your life. Uganda was really never a place that I thought I would go, or really wanted to go. I love living in my little world and I don’t like expanding my little circle. My wife Carrie has been to Uganda three times and loves everything about it. In my head, I always felt that if one of us was going to go it would always be her; I wanted this to be her thing. Carrie never felt the same way. She has always wanted Uganda to be something that we shared and loved together. Wow was she right. Julie had given us a CD to listen to before we went on the trip and the first song on the CD stood out to me, Live Like That by the Sidewalk Prophets. I have this obsession with my funeral. I always ask myself - "Will anyone show up?" or "Did I really make a difference in someone’s life?", so the lyrics really hit home with me. Sometimes I think What will people say of me When I'm only just a memory When I'm home where my soul belongs Was I love When no one else would show up Was I Jesus to the least of those Was my worship more than just a song I want to live like that And give it all I have So that everything I say and do Points to You If love is who I am Then this is where I'll stand Recklessly abandoned Never holding back I want to live like that Am I proof That You are who you say You are T hat grace can really change a heart Do I live like Your love is true People pass And even if they don't know my name Is there evidence that I've been changed When they see me, do they see You I thought that if I did one thing while I was on this trip I could show the people of Uganda a little bit of Jesus through me. Little did I know that it would be the Ugandans showing me Jesus through them. As a teacher I think that there is more to teaching than just the subject that you teach. This is why I love religion time. This is a time that I get to talk to students about life, their relationships with others, and most importantly their relationship with God. Uganda taught me great lessons about life. My job as part of this team was to put on a soccer camp for the older kids in the villages. Most of the time this consisted of throwing a ball out and playing with the kids: that I can do. In Nakabango they have a soccer team that is coached by Eric Waiswa. I was going to show Eric new drills and talk about soccer strategy…I was going to teach Eric something. Eric and his boys did not need my help! They were awesome! It’s funny how God works...Eric and his boys showed me a few things about life. I saw Jesus through Eric. I coached basketball for a number of years at Messiah and many times complained about the time that it takes up, freaked out about winning and losing, yelled at kids, yelled at refs…really important stuff. I hate losing. and winning often takes precedence over everything. While I was standing by Eric, one of his players came off the field and said he could not play anymore, he was too hungry. Wow, that never came up when I was coaching. Some things get lost in translation for me, but I believe that Eric gave the kid some money for food or sent someone to get him food. Messiah helps pay for some of the travel and tournament fees, but I believe that Eric pays for some of this out of his own pocket. Eric preaches the importance of staying in school and getting an education. Pastor Schlie talks a lot about how the trip to Uganda is like hitting the reset button on life. This was a reset moment for me. I could see Jesus in love that Eric has for those boys. I got to meet our family's sponsored child, Sharon. As l looked at the kids during the church service I wondered which one she was! During packet handouts, my job was to put the name tags on the kids. It seemed like forever, but I was so excited when her name was called, to see her walk up and be able to introduce myself. I will never forget the smile she had while she was opening her packet. She looks great in a kitty cat shirt too. I was so thankful that we got to go back to Nakabango a second day where I got to spend more time with her I saw Jesus in so many people. I saw Jesus in the smiles of the kids, the giggle that every kid in Uganda seems to have. I saw Jesus in the joy that the packets brought the kids. I saw Jesus in the songs and dances and welcomes in each village. I saw Jesus in the people that work for Hearts and Hope. I have to be honest, I am very jealous of the people that work for Hearts and Hope. To see the difference they are making in people’s lives, to have the relationships they have with the kids. I said it many times and will say it many more, they have a heart for kids and a heart for Jesus. To me life does not get better than that! One final story. I met this girl named Sharifa in the first village that we visited, Kainagoga. I was helping two boys open their packets when a young lady asked me to take her picture. I took her picture, had my picture taken with her, talked and joked around with her. We played netball and she even tricked me into throwing the ball to her. When I got home I told Carrie that we had to sponsor another kid. I saw a picture of Todd and Sharifa that was posted on Facebook and a comment from Julie - she was not sponsored. Our family now sponsors her! Funny how God works! This is my life verse - For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. – Jeremiah 29:11 I thought I knew what God’s plan for me was. Now I hope there is more to it. Charlie and Sharifa Charlie doing one of the things he does best - teaching.
Hearts and Hope continues to share stories from our mission trip, as told by team members. We are grateful for their willingness to let us see their view of our time in Uganda. Today's post is by Chrissy Nixon. Good Gifts
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father…” James 1:17 This past Christmas, I unwrapped one of the best gifts my husband and children gave me. They strategized the ‘revealing’ perfectly and made sure I opened this very large box last. When it came time to open it, my son handed me the gift while my daughter grabbed my phone to record my reaction. A little uneasy and nervous, I slowly unwrapped the box and thought to myself, “ How am I going to show my excitement and thankfulness if I get another kitchen appliance or pair of slippers?” No matter what, I knew my children and husband were giddy with excitement and anticipation. I opened the box and pulled out a gray stuffed elephant along with a few notes written by my children. My son -- then a 4th grader, age 9 -- wrote: Mom, We have heard you several times say you want to go to a place called Uganda on a mission trip. We got this present for you as we hope you see an elephant when you go on this trip! We will miss you a lot, but we know this will be a life-changing experience, not just for you, but for the families you will help. This note is to encourage you to go on this trip. But before you decide, there are two things we want you to remember: 1) Take pictures...LOTS of pictures. And...2) Have fun helping kids and spread God’s love. Because we love you! Love, Ian Wow! My family ‘gets it!’ I couldn’t believe I would have the opportunity to share the love of Jesus to so many in need; in ways unimaginable, but I would also be able to meet Fazila, the sweet girl our family sponsors. I saw Jesus’ love in the eyes of my family that Christmas morning. It truly was a ‘good gift from above.’ In Uganda, gifts were presented daily as our team visited villages and worked together with the Hearts and Hope staff. I was overwhelmed with emotions (and goosebumps) by our welcomes in the villages. Big smiles, loud cheering and laughing, and beautiful songs and dances were presented to us. What did we do to deserve any of this? We got off the bus and joined in on the celebration. I couldn’t help but wonder if God was showing me a small glimpse of what our time in heaven will be like when we’re rejoicing together! I looked around at God’s people and thanked Him for giving me this warm and heartfelt welcome. I saw Jesus’ love in the eyes of His children each day. It truly was a ‘good gift from above.’ "Fazila." Julie and the Hearts and Hope staff began to call out names of sponsored children in the Kainagoga village. Fazila’s name was called and I watched her quietly make her way to the front to get her picture taken and pick up her package from us. She did not know I was there and I was excited to introduce myself. I sat down next to her and we exchanged smiles. She was very shy. As Fazila began to open our family’s sponsorship package, Violet, our Ugandan friend and guide, made her way over to help translate our letters and anything else I wanted to say. The moment I’ll cherish most was when Fazila got to hear and read how much our family LOVES and PRAYS for her everyday. She covered her eyes to hold back the tears and said, “Thank you.” As I looked around the room at the rest of the children opening their packets, I witnessed Jesus’ care through the many who pray for and sponsor these children. It simply was another ‘good gift from above.’ I continue to reflect on the many ways I can share God’s gifts. Not all villages have sponsors or clean water. Not all children are in good health or have decent clothing. Not all communities have adequate structures for their church or school. The gift that I saw present though, was hope. Hope in a God who loves them in ways we might not understand. Hope in a community who trusts in Him and works together to strive to become better and stronger. And for a team who constantly puts its faith into action. Because of this, I see the hope of a loving God as ‘a good gift from above.’ The trip to Uganda with Hearts and Hope showed me that, in truth, the good gifts from above are the ones that are most unexpected. Whether opening a present, or being welcomed with great energy and love while entering a village, or bringing joy to someone thousands of miles from our home, what God gives with these gifts cannot be described monetarily … or even with words. They’re simply good gifts from above. And for that, I am ever thankful. Today, our series of posts by mission team members continues with some thoughts from Shelby Schlie. Since coming home from Uganda, I have been constantly reflecting over the time that I had spent there. Friends and family have asked me how it was, and my simple response is always “amazing.”
The energizing spirit of the Hearts and Hope staff that we had worked with was amazing. They were so passionate about their work. They were so willing to help or answer questions. They were compassionate and empathetic and kind. Although they were strangers at the beginning of the week, I now consider them great friends! The characteristics of the people who lived in the villages were amazing. One of my favorite parts of the trip was Margaret: a women in Nalwire who invited us into her home. Her house was made of mud and timbers. There was no electricity and there were only curtains used to partition the single room. However, what immediately stuck out to me was the images of Jesus that she had hung all around her house. Despite all problems that she faced, her pride, strength, and joy came from the Lord. It was an amazing picture of a God who provides, and of a women who put her trust in her God. Working in the villages was amazing. I loved seeing the joy of the children when they would open their sponsorship packets. One of my favorite moments happened in Kainagoga as I was sitting next to a girl (around 7 years old) as she was opening her packet. What really struck me was when she started to cry (tears of joy) as she was opening the school supplies. At first I was surprised. Like what 7-year-old cries at school supplies?! That’s when it really hit me that it is a HUGE deal to sponsor a child. Although it seems like a simple gesture, sponsorship gives so much joy and so much hope. It really changes lives. Being able to see that first hand was amazing. Finally, our God is amazing. I think it is easy to go to a place, like Uganda, and see so much poverty and curse our God because of it. However, this is not the case at all. We can do nothing to earn his favor, however he gives us his favor anyway. God’s hand is in Uganda. He cares so much for his people. He provides for his people. He put his only son on the cross to die for his people. He loves his people. I was constantly in awe of his love and in awe of his beauty. He gives us what we truly need: his grace. Ephesians 2:4-5 says: “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” This is the promise that we get to live in every day! I am so thankful for that! My trip to Uganda is one that I will remember for the rest of my life. It was truly amazing. Members of the latest Hearts and Hope mission trip to Uganda have been sharing some of their experiences with us. Enjoy some of Kelly's story... Meeting my kids
Uganda. When I told the typical person I was going to Uganda some didn’t even know where that was, but the vast majority hit me with one question, why? I myself did not know exactly how to give them an answer they would find acceptable, yet the answer I did give them was always, “I gotta go see my kids.” That is- the 3 children I sponsor through Hearts and Hope, but they are undoubtedly, mine. Uganda as a country is beautiful all on its own. The always “70 something” “Southern California-like” temperature, the green mountainous landscape, the spicy and flavorful food, it all has a beauty to it that can’t be reproduced in the states, like many other cultures. The main source of Ugandan splendor, however, comes from the huge, white, sparkling smiles on the faces of children who have nothing, yet give you everything. I had the absolute pleasure of meeting face to face 3 of those children. The first 2 were the kids in the pictures that were sent to me. The kids I pray for daily. They were adorable and sweet and so thankful for the little gifts I had brought them. They warmed my heart and gave me purpose. The third child I met, though it seemed impossible, was even more special. The circumstances through which I met this child were not usual. In the village of Butangala, I had my third and final “kid” to meet. Unfortunately, I was told the little girl had moved 2 days prior. My heart sank as I wondered where she was, and how she’d get to go to school, if at all. I also had a bag full of gifts and I certainly was not leaving that village with them. Then I was given a gift myself. I had the chance to go and find a young girl in that village who I thought would most appreciate the contents of my gift bag. It took me about 3 milliseconds and I saw her. Small girl, tattered clothes, no shoes, with a baby brother on her hip…bingo. I remembered her from earlier that day, how she kept walking past me smiling ever so slightly, like we had a secret. I immediately took her hand and rushed her to Julie for approval ; ). It turns out her name is Prossy, she is 10 years old (not as little at I thought), and goes to a government school. The way her face changed when she was able to choose between the 2 dresses in the bag is an image I will never forget. We both came to the village that day expecting different things. She probably just imagined some muzungus to look at and maybe a sweetie or two. However, we both left that day with a new friend and me hopefully with a new “kid” : ). Uganda has numerous problems: many kids without a meal or access to medical care, many adults without income or the hope of job. But this trip taught me that I cannot fix those problems. I can only love, pray and never lose hope. “People who really want to make a difference in the world usually do it, in one way or another. And I’ve noticed something about people who make a difference in the world: They hold the unshakable conviction that individuals are extremely important, that every life matters. They get excited over one smile. They are willing to feed one stomach, educate one mind, and treat one wound. They aren’t determined to revolutionize the world all at once; they’re satisfied with small changes. Over time, though, the small changes add up. Sometimes they even transform cities and nations, and yes, the world.” ― Beth Clark, Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption In the coming weeks, we will be sharing some thoughts from team members who recently made the trip to Uganda. Today's contributor is Mary Schlie; this was the first time she had been to Uganda. When I was in Uganda, I couldn't help but think about the beautiful Starfish story. It goes like this... A young man is walking along the ocean and sees a beach on which thousands and thousands of starfish have washed ashore. Further along he sees an old man, walking slowly and stooping often, picking up one starfish after another and tossing each one gently into the ocean. “Why are you throwing starfish into the ocean?,” he asks. “Because the sun is up and the tide is going out and if I don’t throw them further in they will die." “But, old man, don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and starfish all along it! You can’t possibly save them all, you can’t even save one-tenth of them. In fact, even if you work all day, your efforts won’t make any difference at all.” The old man listened calmly and then bent down to pick up another starfish and threw it into the sea. “It made a difference to that one.” That last line of the story..."It made a difference to that one" really is true with the sponsorship program through Hearts and Hope. In each village on our trip, I was able to meet children whose lives have been changed because of being sponsored. I met a young woman who used to be sponsored and she is now a teacher in one of the villages. I met a young man who walks with a crutch but has a huge smile on his face because he has been sponsored and now has a wife, beautiful child, and owns his own small business. I met an older boy who is in secondary school and asked for special permission from his school to miss classes for the day so that he could come and thank our group personally for the sponsorship that he is receiving. I was also given the special opportunity to meet my own sponsored child named Doreen and her mother. I would guess that Doreen is about 12 years old, the age of my own son, Will. Doreen is a beautiful girl, with a lovely smile. She doesn't speak much English yet, but Violet was able to translate for me and explain to her and her mother who I was. While spending time with Doreen, I couldn't help but put myself in her mother's shoes...thinking about my own son being about Doreen's age. In my own little world, I so often take for granted the fact that Will is able to go to school, has enough food to eat, and fresh water to drink. My prayer is that Doreen and her mother are blessed through the sponsorship program and that it will truly makes a difference for them. One other moment that sticks in my mind from our trip, was visiting a village where the families do not yet have a well. The children and parents were so happy to welcome us to their village just the same as all of the other villages that we had been to...but this village was different in that so many of the children showed signs of sickness...runny noses and coughs. Fresh clean water is so important for overall health and I am confident that a well installed in that village will truly make a difference for the children who live there. In the movie, It's a Wonderful Life, Clarence says to George Bailey... "Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?" I am so thankful for everyone at Hearts and Hope...for all of the people who "choose to be around" by being the sponsor of a child, because by doing so, they are touching so many other lives and they are making a big difference. Mary, Doreen, and Doreen's mother in Nakabango.
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About USHearts & Hope is a nonprofit organization focused on unlocking the potential of people in Uganda through relationships with people in the US. Archives
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