Auntie Charity Wants to Serve Children in Uganda as a Social Worker

Charity was my roommate in Uganda. She is a kind hearted, hard working gal and I am blessed to call her a friend. Charity loves the Lord and loves His children. Most mornings I would awaken early to the sound of her prayers. She would pray for me, the children, and just praise and thank God for who He is.

 @ Watoto Church

Charity works 6 days a week cooking, cleaning, doing laundry and helping care for the 17 children living at My Father’s House. She is literally the first one up every morning and is hard at work until after dinner. One of my favorite times with Charity, though, was when the kids left for school and she would say, “Do you want to take chai now?” Taking chai was like breakfast time. I enjoyed this time of rest and fellowship with her (and sometimes Michael, Rebecca, and Martin).

Charity preparing meals for 19+ people

On Sundays, her day off, she serves in the children’s ministry at Watoto Church. Her daily commitment to love and care for children really challenged me.  

Celebrating Joyce's birthday! 

Charity wants to go to school to be a Social Worker.  She recently applied to a few different schools. She plans to continue to work at My Father’s House and begin taking evening classes starting in September.  I believe that God will use this sweet lady in great ways in her community as a Social Worker.

I would really love for someone to come along side her and say, “Hey you’re not alone in this. I want to help you get an education.” Someone that will mentor, encourage, and pray for her (she’s on Facebook so this should be easy to do).  In addition, it would be great for someone to help her with up to half of her tuition, books and fees (maybe about $600 total per year). 

Well of course I had to include the picture with precious Ruthie!

Financially I anticipate this sponsorship lasting about three years, as she should complete her classes by then. However, I pray that the friendship will last a lifetime. I know there are a couple hundred kids that need sponsors, but I believe God has just the right person picked out for this role.  All we have to do is tell her story so the perfect sponsor will know about her! 

Enjoying Miranda sodas @ Joyce's birthday party. 

Charity & Rebecca

If you would like more information on mentoring and sponsoring Charity please contact Rebecca at Rebecca@myfathershouseintl.org.

Uncle Michael, Auntie Charity, Auntie Becky and Auntie Miranda 

Faith List Spotlight: Medical Clinic

As you may have already read, while I was in Uganda we had to take two girls to the doctor. This was practically an all day affair. Traffic is so unpredictable so it can take hours to get to a good clinic in town which is located 45 minutes away (without traffic). Even with an appointment you can spend hours in the waiting room, as well. 

Generally both Michael and Rebecca go because Michael usually drives since the driving there is so crazy and Rebecca is usually the one caring for the child. On one hand this is hardly a good use of their time (both having to be away from the school for so many hours), on the other hand, praise God they are able to meet the medical needs of these children. I can't imagine how difficult it was for them to go before they had a vehicle! 

There's a much better way for them to meet the medical needs of these children, though: Build a clinic at the school! 

So here's what it would take to make that happen:

1. $500 (approximately) to build a clinic. I think it would look similar to the kitchen pictured below. (one time gift)

2. $200 per month to pay a nurse's salary (1 sponsor @ $200 a month, 2 sponsors at $100 a month or 4 sponsors @ $50 a month each) 

3. $200 per month to stock medicine for the clinic 

By having a clinic on site they will be able to meet almost all of the medical needs of the children more efficiently, freeing up Michael and Rebecca to handle other needs of the ministry. This will also provide a job for a indigenous nurse. 

It would be neat to see a doctor, nurse or an entire medical practice support this project and build a relationship with the nurse that is hired. 

If you are interested in helping with this project please email Rebecca at Rebecca@myfathershouseintl.org or you can email me at manda2839@aol.com and I will facilitate communication with her. 

Rebecca and the new kitchen - I envision the clinic would be similar to this. 

Another view of the new kitchen. 

Royal Hope Academy

Royal Hope Academy

The clinic would be built on this property where the school is located

Another view of the school

Princess Winnie: A Servant Leader

Winnie is one of the first kids I met in Africa. She was at the airport with Rebecca, Michael and two other girls from My Father’s House. Winnie is about 13 years old and she is one of the most amazing servant leaders I have ever met. She is such a joy to be around. Winnie is an orphan. Her mother died from bad headaches.

While I was visiting, Rebecca asked her to give an impromptu testimony in front of the whole school. With tears in her eyes she shared with everyone about being an orphan and how thankful she is that Rebecca and Michael take care of her. She shared that she wants to be a doctor when she grows up and she believes in and is trusting God that her dreams will come true.

Winnie is a strong leader and role model to all the students at Royal Hope Academy. She really has a great head on her shoulders. While the younger children are in line for their meals at Royal Hope Academy you will find Winnie and some other young ladies in the school church interceding on behalf of her classmates and village. She honors and respects her teachers by making sure they have lunch before she eats, too. She does well in her classes and sings and leads worship at school, too. Winnie is in Primary Class 7 so this is her last year at Royal Hope Academy.

One morning I was getting ready to iron my clothes and she asked if she could do it for me. A big part of me did not want to let her serve me because I was there to serve them but I knew her heart and I knew that she finds great joy in serving others so I let her. How encouraging it is to see someone her age having such strong leadership qualities. The whole time I was visiting she was so helpful and loving to me. I adore this girl!

Each child living at My Father’s House needs two sponsors at $35 per month to care for their basic needs. Having sponsors will allow her to move on to Secondary School and continue her journey to become a doctor. Winnie would be SOOO excited to have a sponsor. Oh, and she writes great letters, too!

I would love for someone to sponsor, pray for her, and help her reach her goal of becoming a doctor! If God is calling you to help this precious princess of God reach her goal of becoming a doctor, let me know!

Joy Over Skype

I’ve been meaning to post more information from my trip for some time now but I’ve been pretty busy helping with the sponsorship program and getting ready to head back to Guatemala in just two weeks. However I have to share with you about last night. My parents came to visit this weekend for the 4^th of July since it’s a long weekend. My mom asked if we could try to Skype with Rebecca and the kids while they were here. For a few days we were trying to coordinate a time when we could do it. With the 8 hour time difference, Africa power outages, insane traffic delays, etc I just didn’t think it was going to happen before they left.

Last night it finally happened! Rebecca needed to give me some information that didn’t need to be given over email so she called on Skype. It was early in the morning there (like 5:30 AM) and the kids were just about to get up for school. Rebecca, my mom and I talked for a few minutes and then she took the phone/camera in the main area for the kids to talk to us. Ruthie was of course the first one! We talked for a few minutes while others popped their heads in here and there. It was such a special moment to get to see her on video. Last week a Visiting Orphans team was there and she cried and kept saying, “I want to go to America to see Auntie Manda.” My heart was breaking because she was sad and there was nothing I could do about it so I was really glad that we were able to interact over Skype.

Skyping with sweet Ruthie

Then Joyce got on and Rebecca told me to introduce her to my mom and tell her she was her sponsor. Words cannot describe the joy on Joyce’s face when I told her she had a sponsor. Her sisters are sponsored but she wasn't. She is the most beautiful 14 year old I’ve ever seen and she just lit up. She screamed, jumped for joy, smiled big, wide eyed. She thanked my mom and I, told us she loved us, and asked if my mom was coming to visit, too. After we finished Skyping Rebecca said Joyce told her, “Tell Auntie Amanda thank you and thank you for taking care of my sister, too.” Can you believe how much joy $35 a month can bring to a 14 year old???  

Skyping with Joyce-y. At 6 AM she was SOO happy to find out she has a sponsor AND meet her sponsor! What a great way to start your day!

                                                                       Joyce on her 14th birthday (May 2011)

My dad is going to sponsor Brian, one of the boys in the house. He’s a little more shy and reserved but he got on the video and I told him he had a sponsor, too. I introduced him to my dad and he was excited, too. Apparently he had an extra skip in his step after we finished talking to him! 

Brian May 2011

If you sponsor a child somewhere please know that this is a SUPER BIG deal to them. It brings them so much joy to know that someone cares enough about them from the other side of the world to be their sponsor. If you don’t sponsor a child, sign up today!