I was pretty proud of myself for recognizing the proper stage from which to alight in this place called Gayaza, to which I’d been only one time before. The bodas took Charlie and me a few kilometers off the main road as I watched for milestones by which to remember where exactly to get off and close the distance on foot. The ladies of Namavundu, and their new teacher, were waiting at Charlie’s house...
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Black Friday Dollies
“Pick me, pick me,” shouts this little dolly from his lookout. The retail store shelves are jammed with toys and other gifts just waiting to be tasted, tested, tried, and otherwise touched with hopes of going home in your shopping bag. Remember Woody and Buzz Light Year as they anxiously hoped for some child to pick him off the shelf? Well, these dollies long to be picked off the shelf too....
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Faith for 100 Christmas Dollies
When Charlie’s wife and two other ladies came to our introductory meeting on the simple clay and brick veranda of his home, they could not understand that they would not have to pay for the learning or the supplies. They kept doubting until we told them that we believe Jesus loves them and that there are lots of people in America who believe the same thing. Because we believe in Jesus, we want...
Friday, November 9, 2012
100 Christmas Dollies Adoption Night Event
You could hear them calling your name, couldn’t you? Each dolly was excitedly waiting for his or her new family amidst a crowd of other dollies and I can bet each was shouting over the other to get your attention. I’d even bet lots of you had a moment when one particular dolly really did speak to your heart. I’d even bet that either you snatched him or her up before the official adoption began or...
The Dolly Story from the Eyes of Their Maker
You all know how Leslie became a missionary in Uganda. Not long after she began her ministry, she asked if I could make something to give the children there. They were playing with sticks and stones, empty water bottles, paper cups and trash.
Doll lover that I am (I still have a few myself) I worked on a pattern for a cloth doll that was simple yet sturdy. After several attempts, the dollies...
Boy Dollies and Girl Dollies of the Bible
Each time a dolly is delivered, a child-sized Bible story is delivered too. Many times the children don’t understand English so we’ll ask a nearby maama to translate if she can…but they get a little story and a prayer none-the-less.
Eve
Eve was the first woman God created to live in this world.
Eve gave birth to the fist children in God’s world.
Here is your first little dolly to remind you that God created you too.
And that He loves you so much that He sent His son, Jesus, for you.
Mary
Mary...
Dollies at My Maama's House
Step through the doorway at my maama’s house and it takes but a minute to recognize
the smiling dolly faces staring through the plate rack
(why there’s a plate rack in the laundry room, we’ll just not ask).
...
The Making of the Dollies
Finding just the right fabric for the tiny brown bodies is important to be sure they withstand the harsh conditions in which East African children live. And even then, there’s no guarantee.
The shiny machine must zigzag its way
through the various fabric thicknesses
including the four layers of dress fabric that crosses over the shoulder.
I’ve been told that even my father helps stuff...
The Dolly Making Committee
A sweet letter from my maama.
Hi Leslie,
The ladies from my Sunday school have been so generous in providing everything needed to make the dollies for little girls and boys in Uganda. They have given fabrics and trims, yarn and stuffing, even money to help with shipping.
Carol and her quilting class, and Norma have sewn dozens of little dresses and shorts to clothe the dollies....
100 Christmas Dollies Project
Giant green trees covered with twinkly lights, bright presents wrapped in sparkling bows, and yummy smells wafting from the kitchen. A Christmas celebration of Jesus’ birth, for so many families, looks and smells just like this. One place in particular, though, will have none of these things. But why?
People living in the slums of Uganda are not afforded the privilege of even a basic schooling let alone Christmas trees and wrapped presents. At most, some parents have a third to sixth grade education....
Monday, November 5, 2012
A Dolly for Maria from Anonymous
Eyes closed. This special boy dolly is given anonymously in memory of Jeremy Droge who went to be with Jesus on July 24…way too early. Maria’s daddy went to be with Jesus too early too. Tiny Maria told me that she's about nine years old and her daddy went when she was about five. Maria stays with a nearby friend because she has no biological family who will take her. A very common life for children...
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Charlie's Story Part III
Charlie’s story is almost identical to more than half the population of Uganda. How is a young boy supposed to earn a living with no parents and a jjaja who is too old to care for him? He made his home Nakasero Market where people have known him for more than 20 years.
Before leaving Nakasero today, Charlie carefully disconnected the raw wires that powered his land line phone and wrapped it carefully...
Charlie's Story Part II
Today Charlie sold 5,000 UGX in airtime during the one hour I sat with him waiting for our time to go visit his home. He gets 5% of that as income. That means Charlie earned 250 UGX in one hour…not even enough for a penny gumball. The economy isn’t the only thing that’s keeping Charlie from prospering. The increasing use of the internet and other electronic tools means people don’t need scratch off airtime cards like they used to.
I challenged Charlie to think about how he would expand his airtime...
Charlie's Story
The street corner across from Nakasero market where I buy my fresh food boasts several men working in various fashions at all hours of the day every day of the week. Alongside the more official businesses, these men are boda-boda drivers, airtime sellers, guides, and an assortment of other neighborly professions. Charlie is no exception.
So this wasn't the best shot I could have gotten...
Charlie...
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