A Dolly for Ajallah from Laura

As the Superhero Undie Boys received their gifts, Ajallah looked on with patience. The children of the neighborhood were gathering to watch and some started clamoring for a gift for themselves. Little Ajallah just watched. And after all was said and done, and the children began to disperse, little Ajallah and her new-undie-brother continued to sit on their step together. I turned my back to go but felt a little tug in my heart, the one where I know I need to leave a dolly behind.

I crept up to Ajallah, knelt low to her height, and produced a dolly for her. A smile spread across her face in a way I’ve yet to see on a child receiving this gift. It was something like, wow…a gift for me? Oh thank you, I never expected that. The nearby maamas, not her maama though, thanked me for the gift and were so very pleased that someone like me (white) would come into their neighborhood and give gifts. Makes me want to come back and just sit and talk with them.

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Superhero Undies

Three older boys got some superhero undies
along the way to finding these younger boys.

Right across the street from a little local food restaurant in Kabalagala is the entrance to a slum. I’ve been into the mouth of this place for chapatti and rolex before but never alone and never too deep. As I turned the corner, people almost immediately started commenting about the lone muzungu meandering down the lane. How far do I go before I should really turn back? I wondered. One man realized I was giving things away and he demanded a gift for himself. He wouldn’t take my word that the gift was not fit for him, but instead for little boys. He said, “I’m a little boy.” Finally, I popped a size 2T pair of Superhero undies out of the bag and asked if they would fit him. He quit pestering me.

A nearby old man asked what I needed and I said, “lots of little boys.” After the words escaped my lips I realized how the comment sounded. Luckily, I wasn’t in America and the phrase had no ill meaning. I’ve met several moseas (old men) who truly have the best interests of their neighborhoods at heart so…off I went. He led me deeper into the slum and around a corner – being careful to remember where I was and not to go too far. There they were…10 little boys just waiting to see what I was going to pull out of my bag.

They gathered themselves onto the step in front of a closed business and the mosea excused himself for the errand he had been on before being interrupted. Two mothers sat behind a grass screen blocking the sun. They looked on with amusement. I handed each boy three pair of undies that seemed close to his size as each said thank you in his best English.  I told the children that there was a lady in America who gave this gift and that we want them to know that Jesus loves them. I told the boys about the armor of God, more specifically the belt of truth, and asked that when they put their new underwear on they should remember the story.

And to Joyce, the lady who gave me all her gift cards with just a few dollars left on each, I say thank you. You can make a difference with even the smallest gift too.

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A Dress for Rachel from Ayden

Rachel comes over almost every day
wearing her little dress.

You all remember Rachel, she is the youngest sister to Fahrid and Sharon. As a baby she was horrified of me, but since she got her little feet under her she is full of personality and quite happy to copy her sisters in all they do. I handed Fahrid a bag of pineapple, for her family for which she knelt to receive them as is the custom, and little Rachel squatted her little legs down too. When the children knock on the door asking for story time, little Rachel’s face is plastered on the glass looking inside. When I open the door the children pile at me for hugs and little Rachel is no exception. When Fahrid and Sharon repeat the lines of the Bible story after me, Rachel’s jibber jabber can be heard in the mix at just the right times. If the sisters run up the street to greet me with hugs, Rachel runs to me with hugs too. Just the other day the girls and their brother came for a Bible story on the front porch and left Rachel behind. She stood in her yard bellowing at the top of her lungs until I came and got her.

This tiny tot is often found in her birthday suit, in her sister’s oldest and holist shirts, or worse. It’s a bit like the value of clothing for a child who will simply wear those clothes out is nil. Fahrid and Sharon wear their little sponsored dresses constantly, although far from clean they’ve held up quite well. I started thinking…doesn’t Rachel need a little dress too?

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A Dolly for Zana from Sharon

Baby Zana was oblivious to the muzungu factor and quite content to rest in my arms…until he spit up. His cousin, however, was absolutely certain. No way was he even going to look at us without screaming with fear. We heard he had a fitful night after meeting us. Zana, however, is four months old and has yet to learn to be afraid of things. Yea for me! A few snuggles and off we headed. I just know God made babies just for me.

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Fun and Games at The Sanctuary

I knew all the juggling practice would pay off!

I promised the children of the Sanctuary Babies Home, the ones who memorized the numbers on the back of the Memory game cards rather than the pictures on the front, a new game the next time I came. I was surprised to find the number of children at the home had nearly doubled. It’s a good thing that this time I brought two new games.

Bean bag tossing.

For sewing practice, the ladies of Konoweka finished filling and sewing up some beanbags my mother made. With a handful of these heavy things, I wowed the children with my juggling skills (it doesn’t take much). From there, though, we played beanbag toss as well as a simple form of catch. The children came up with all kinds of creative ways to play with the beanbags.

Dennis, the leader of Shelemiah Orphan’s Home, gave me a bag of giant pictures with detailed Bible lessons printed on the back. I brought these lessons to Michael at the Sanctuary and started the children off with a lesson about the Bible as God’s word and as one way we can know who God is. The lessons are geared for children who are a bit older but with little effort they can easily be adapted for these younger children. I love when people share their resources for the benefit of others.

Time for the real new game…Chutes and Ladders. Only four players at a time can master this game so it was great to have a few new toys and games to keep the others busy. It took a while for the children to learn what to do at the top and bottom of chutes and ladders but the oldest finally caught on. He was tasked with ensuring he helped the other children understand too.

Just before we said good-bye, Heidi read the children a story and sang a song. They loved her fun activities and were quite happy to snuggle up and listen.  Bye-bye kids, see you next time, we love you.

Chutes and Ladders. Only the oldest boy here really understood the game.
I charged him with teaching the younger ones.

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Creativity at Shelemiah

Visiting the children of Shelemiah is always a joy. Running to me with hugs is about the best experience anywhere. Makes me miss my grandchildren. But the kids of Shelemiah never fail to greet me in the warmest way. I needed their help this day and they were quite happy to oblige, but we started with some fun first. Balloon animals. Thanks to Scott for leaving these behind, we had lots of fun making shapes akin to animals and other shapes too. What I really loved was seeing a few of the boys allow their creativity to take over and make some very crazy balloon art. Tying these things at the end is always the challenge. We found a few skilled balloon tiers which saved me a few slices on my fingers. Yea.

While the children monkeyed around with their balloons, Dennis took me to a young lady whose husband recently died unexpectedly. He has a way of doing that, Dennis, connecting people where they can be used best. I told her briefly about my story and shared the reality that God will bring joy back to her life. Although doubtful at the moment, she received prayer gratefully and I look forward to seeing her again. I’m so very thankful to people like Dennis who have compassion on ladies like this and offer them a place to stay while they figure out what to do next. Women have very few options in this culture, and even fewer when their husband dies.

We settled into the project at hand, coloring thank you cards. I have a huge pile of cards to use as thank yous for all of YOU and needed their help in applying their best artistic skills to make them beautiful. Some of the kids even took the initiative to fill in their own notes on the cards addressed to Heidi and I. So fun. The younger children colored in Bob the Builder coloring pages and did a magnificent job with their crayons. Such fun and creative children are never without songs. We wrapped up our time together with songs and a few dance moves. Praise God for the people who genuinely love the orphans.

Little Faith, who received a dress a while back,
was afraid of me this time (sniffle).

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Mohamed Repairs Shoes

Vocational training has been well received in the Bugembe and Kakira prisons and Carpenter John continues to facilitate their success. We visited one recent “graduate” who established a small shoe repair stand just near the road leading away from prison. Mohamed was a Muslim man who received Jesus as his Savior while in prison. He absolutely needs Jesus to help him change his eternal life in a supernatural way, but he also needs to see how God is in the every day things like work and relationships so that he can change his natural life too.

Prison ministry is so much more holistic than perhaps other ministry might be. For example, these me need to learn how to function in society in a way that keeps them out of prison and the ladies of Konoweka, for example, simply want to grow their faith and their skills. Because of Heidi, Mohamed received a startup kit for his new shoe repair business and while building a clientele is not always easy, he is evidencing the effort needed to succeed. I’m so thankful to be a small part of that ministry alongside the real pros like John.

Street boy stands next to Mohamed as does Carpenter John.
Please pray for the business/customers he needs to become successful.

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Iron Bars in Prison

Heidi delivered the Fragrance of the Lord message to the two women in Bugembe prison (12 had just been released). Those ladies were so blessed by Heidi’s tenderness with them. Thankful and sweet. Happy to get their new fragranced goodies and Bibles, they loved hearing that God loves women and that our sacrifices are a sweet fragrance to him. (Remember, no photos of the prisoners allowed.)

The Officer in Charge greeted us following that visit with the women and eagerly showed us the skills training he implemented in making chair/desks, which included some woodwork and welding. Ya, the prisoners are allowed to have iron bars, welders, electric saws and the like. I was surprised but there was much security and the mindset of the men had changed since we began our skills programs in that they loved being productive rather than idle and wanted to keep the program alive.

I was so pleased to see that he was aligning his vision for these men with what Carpenter John had dreamed of for so long and what we implemented just over a year ago. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen alignment of programs and I wonder about how good God is to affirm that we’re all doing the right thing by orchestrating our hearts in the same ideas and ways. Who was first, whose idea it was…doesn’t matter. What matters is loving these men enough to invest time, money, and talent so that they can walk in the way God has created them. Pray that I am able to gain audience with the Ministry of Prisons (or whatever it’s called) to have the prisoners begin making their own uniforms.

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A Dolly for Kisakye from Sally

This tiny little girl followed me around after introductions at Pastor Irene’s Nazarene Church. She blended in so well with all the other children except that she was small, and young, and quiet. She didn’t want to hold my hand…she wanted to be held. Who am I to refuse such a thing? I scooped her up and she joined us for the tour of the compound. Setting her down as we entered the house, she stayed close by.

As Heidi prepared to deliver her message to the older girls of the orphanage and to Pastor Irene, she asked me to bring in a few gifts left in the car. Upon reaching the boot (trunk), I found little Kisakye looking up at me with her adorable brown eyes. All I could hear was Sally’s teatime dolly calling out to little Kisakye. The dolly jumped into Kisakye’s arms and off she ran with her new charge. Wait, wait…I would like a picture.

Back in the house Kisakye perched on my lap while Heidi ministered to the girls…after each had a moment to awe over the adorable doll with teapots all over her dress. Heidi loves tea so it makes perfect sense that this was the dolly for Kisakye. We enjoyed a bite to eat and made our way to the car once more in an effort to keep time. As we did so, Kisakye helped herself to the house next door where a loud joyous shout went out…from her mother. Apparently Kisakye is not an orphan child but instead a neighbor child. Her mother poked her giant smile out the door and thanked me for the sweet gift. Bye-bye Kisakye.

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Wirika Nazarene Church

I have many memories of the First Church of the Nazarene on Kalamazoo Avenue in Grand Rapids. My family attended this church when I was young. I remember children’s church and the contest to memorize the beatitudes. I won, but only because it was a contest. I remember learning so many of the children’s songs there – songs I sing today with the children in villages. We’d been attending this church when I had Reyes Syndrome and friends came to pray at the hospital. Imagine my surprise when I planned to visit Grand Rapids International Fellowship church with Heidi and we turned into that very church formerly known as First Church of the Nazarene.

When Heidi’s pastor learned that she would be coming to Uganda they asked if we might be anywhere near Wirika Nazarene Church – a church Grand Rapids International Fellowship helped build. Near? Wirika is about five kilometers away Bugembe where I stay when I come to town. Most certainly a visit was in order and what a lovely visit we had with Pastor Irene and her two orphanages.

The children have grown over time and so many are now in senior level school. They help care for the younger ones and share in the responsibilities of the home. Heidi had a wonderful visit with the older girls and shared her Fragrance of the Lord message with them. How crucial is that message for these girls who grow to a point where men will begin shaping their view of themselves and where their life choices can have such a significant impact on so many people.

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Murchison Falls Safari

I always hesitate to show pictures from these kinds of wonderful African adventures. I want you to know how seriously I take the stewardship of your funds. I do not view safari time as anything other than a personal adventure and want you to know that personal money was used for this one. Many of you will say that you wouldn’t mind offering a small portion of your funds for such things, and this was most certainly a very inexpensive adventure, and I want to thank you for that generosity. For now, please enjoy a few pictures of this beautiful world God has created.

Independence Falls (left) and Murchison Falls (right)

Top of Murchison Falls. More power per liter than any other fall in the world,
so we're told.

Ferry across the Nile River to the national park.

Jackson's Hardebeest

Mr. Snuffleupagus

Hippo pond

Cape Buffalo

Lioness in the grass.

Small section of Karuma Falls

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My Ugandan Grandmothers

Oh the jajjas, such lovely old women. Life changes little on this remote island between visits. The pineapple is just as sweet, the wild passion fruit is just as tart. Yet these old women seem to creak just a little more. Just watching them rise and lower to the ground – something that must be done several dozen times a day – is painful for me. None the less they welcom

e us with joy and insist on preparing a meal. I just love these ladies, the only grandmothers I have. The white-haired Ida compares her light hairs to mine and insists I must be her own. My little island family.

Vickie spreads scented lotion on the oldest jajja's skin.

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Bibles for Bubembe

I love bringing Bibles to people of Uganda. I’m so thankful for all those who sacrifice to make it possible. Bubembe Island doesn’t have population turnover like the prison, but those who didn’t receive Bibles last time were eager to receive them this time. The headmaster joined that group of desirous readers just as the Bibles ran out. Sad. Somehow I’ll be sure that headmaster has a very good Bible from which he can easily share stories and lessons with the children.

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Children Love Leslie...And Leslie Loves Them

Red dust of Uganda hid the brightly colored clothing. Characteristic slime dripped from tiny brown noses. Children swarmed but failed to holler out “muzungu.” Something different was happening…something beyond curiosity, something beyond the bright factor. A small flock of young children from Bubembe Island seemed unusually drawn to me. They weren’t afraid, they weren’t clamoring to touch my different skin or run their fingers through my silky hair. They simply moved in. What was it? On reflecting about this unusual condition, the answer seemed to be that they wanted affection. They crowded around as if it were the Thanksgiving table and they were all vying for the seat next to their favorite aunt. They draped themselves across my lap, hung on my leg, held my hands…not making a sound. One might have thought they’d taken a lesson from me about how to be affectionate.

This behavior is definitely a shift away from being viewed as a circus attraction and toward being viewed as a welcomed and loved family member. I know I’m not explaining this shift well, but I treasured it no less.

First the girly in blue hunkered in next to me.
Then the girl in green scootched her out.
Thenk Kysakye showed up and trumped them all.

Little naked baby put on a show until I picked her up.

Little blue girl clung to my leg.

This girl first spotted me at the landing site and took off running.
Her reaction was so strange. Not screaming but halfway between trying
to be bold and trying not to get eaten. She finally touched me and then
wanted to be held. You can see she's still unsure but yet she wanted it
so badly.

Another one hung out at my skirt hem until her turn to be held.

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Sponsored Child Updates

I had the privilege of visiting the children on Bubembe Island. Vickie and I were surprised and happy to find an addition being made to the school structure. When Vickie and I first began ministry here, there was a school building but no teacher. A year later there was a teacher two days each week…now there is a full time teacher and they need to expand their space. We thank God for his work through VKids Trust Uganda and Surprised by Hope in helping the parents realize the value of education for their children.

We sang songs and danced for Jesus. We also delivered lots of clothing and shoes for all the children as well as books, and other games and supplies to the headmaster (principal teacher). These gifts will not only enrich the lives of the sponsored children, but they’ll bless all the children coming to school.

Here’s a brief update about the children who have sponsors.

Name: Dorothy Nanjemba

I found Dorothy in wonderful condition. She seems happy and healthy, full of smiles. She has been attending school in baby class (like pre-school) and scores among the first five children in her class. She really seems to like being in school. Her closest friend is called Matama.

Name: Patience Kisakye

She is among the first 10 in her class. She loves school. She loves different games. She interacts with people. She is always healthy, other than general cough. She eats well, she has a good appetite. She is closest friend with Dorothy.

Name: Justance Byetima

He comes to school in P1 (first grade), and is among the first seven in his class. He is healthy, loves friends, smiles a lot. His friend is called Martin, they come to school together. He is very social. Justance is constructive and very practical.

Name: Safina Nalwanga

Fina has joined baby class. She is healthy, she eats well. She stays with her jajja who cares for four children. She is among the first four in class. She has a friend called Maria who is also in baby class. She is seven years old.

Parents are doing their best to provide school requirements for their children – paper, pens, and such. This cooperative aspect of ministry is so important to us as we come alongside parents rather than take their responsibilities upon ourselves. Praise God for their faithfulness and ask that he continue to make provision for these parents.

Sponsoring an education through VKids Trust Uganda, costs $100 annually. Check out the children who are in need of sponsorship and send me a note if you’d like to learn more.

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Two Lonely Sweaters

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there lived a lovely woman with the talent of knitting. She lovingly made two beautiful sweaters with her own two hands and she generously offered these sweaters for two children in Uganda. Now every fairy tale must have a bad guy and I fear I may be the one. The number of gifts to bring grew with each trip and these lovely sweaters were often left behind…until one day when all those left behind gifts and toys finally made their way across that big, big pond.

Two children from Bubembe Island received your beautiful and lovingly made sweaters. The nights are cold there and I know these kids will enjoy them. The children at this island school have no uniforms as the children of all the other schools do. If I may be so bold, given my former behavior, would like to knit a vest for these small ones, all in the same color and style? They could have the start of some kind of uniform for school and be just like the other children in Uganda schools.

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Education Ministry on Bubembe Island

Making education available for the children of Bubembe Island has been Vickie’s dream for several years. Just two years ago we found the shell of a school room void of both teachers and students. We began bringing teaching and ministry to this island where no other NGO exists and soon the parents trusted us enough to ask for an education for their children. Formerly, these same parents desired only that their children learn to fish. While we’ll never know the extent of our role in changing their mindset, we like to think that we were small instruments in the hands of God.

About a year ago, a teacher came to that school just two days per week and parents organized themselves to establish fees. Today, we were shocked to find an additional building and staff quarters being added to that one lonely room. We praise God for moving the people and the government to value education for the children of the island.

The children in the school numbered about 25 until the community saw us pass by at which time that building filled with every child and parent near the Bubembe Island landing site. The children quickly warmed to Heidi and her giraffe puppet, and her storybooks with songs and motions. She was a fantastic teacher and knew just how to engage the children as well as to motivate them to stay in school and learn to read so that they could read the Word of God and have a personal relationship with him.

After the teaching she delivered the many, many gifts she and her sponsors provided about which the children were no less enthusiastic. Flip flops, toys, clothing and lots of gifts and supplies for the teacher. What a blessing Heidi was to the community and to the minds and hearts of these families.

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Fragrance of the Lord

I drove Heidi through the darkness away from the airport and toward my home. Very little light pierced that darkness except for headlights from the occasional vehicle, and yet her other senses were taking in so much. The smells of Uganda are sometimes overwhelming, burning trash and exhaust fumes are the most prevalent. This assault of the senses, one that all Ugandans can relate to, was the starting point for her teaching.

The Konoweka ladies gathered nearly on time for their guest speaker. Heidi started her story by relating her experience of arriving in Uganda with the 2 Corinthians Scripture about the fragrance of the Lord.

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. (2 Corinthians 2:14-16)

What kind of fragrance do you leave behind? Is it one that brings life? The next time you put on perfume, use scented hand soap, or shampoo your hair…the next time you bake a pot roast, chocolate chip cookies, or lasagna…be reminded that you are the aroma of Christ and that you can smell like fresh bread or burnt toast…it’s your choice.

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Shoes on Bubembe Island

A giant red duffle bag stuffed full of brightly colored flip flops made its way from the U.S. to tiny little Bubembe Island via three airplanes, a car, a ferry, a small motor boat, and the shoulders of Jonathon, Vickie’s nephew. Another bag of cute little plastic shoes joined this one on the ferry. Heidi and Vickie will never know the significance of such a gift to me (see the links below), but the children were certainly very excited about their new shoes.

Pink, blue, green, and yellow captured our attention…likely never to be so bright again. Lord protect these little feet in every place they trod.

Check out these links for a bit of history about why I love shoes:

http://lesliemosher.blogspot.com/2010/03/life-of-these-shoes.html

http://blog.surprisedbyhope.org/2012/03/sensible-shoes-walk-in-way-of-love.html

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