Before we left we were asked to write something for the blog
about why were going on the Uganda mission trip. At that time we weren’t able
to put our thoughts into words. We had very little time and too much that
needed to be done before we were to leave, so writing has waited until now.
We felt that we were being called to go, but we weren’t sure
why. Now I know why. The letters from our kids in Uganda are not very informative
as too what their lives are like. They are more like form letters and leave many
questions unanswered. Their letters don’t let us get to know them like they are
family members, and we desired to know them and their families better. There
was only one way to get to know them, go as we were being called.
We sponsor 4 children in Uganda, 3 in Kachungwa and 1 who
attends Alex and Faith’s church in Luzira. I want to tell you about them and
what we experienced.
Starting with those
in Kachungwa:
Apolo, he is in primary school
level 6 and has now finished his final exams. He lives on a little knoll about
200 meters from the church. His home is in a traditional family circle cluster,
it is made of sticks and mud with a sheet metal roof. The first view I had of
it was like I have seen in a movie. I
was awe struck! It was such a beautiful setting. Down in a little draw on the
other side of the knoll was some tall grass with his family’s goats happily
eating. We went into his home where they had woven straw mats on the floor and they
had us sit on one of the benches they had. All of the family members that were
there came to us one at a time and shook our hands, the girls all bowed or
kneeled in front of us, it was a very humbling thing to sit there and receive
this honor from them. His father died several years ago. They are so very
grateful for our sponsoring Apolo because they don’t have a cash income to pay
for his schooling. They live off of the land. Apolo’s standing at his school is
near the top of his class, he has a dream of becoming a doctor. We hope that he
is able to archive his goal. Some of the Christmas and birthday gift money we
have sent to him he has used to buy goats, and other items of need.
The
goats provide meat and milk, and when his herd becomes big enough he will be
able to sell a few for a little cash income. This picture is a part of his
extended family.
Our 4th child is located in Luzira which is on the outskirts of Kampala her name is Linda. Her name is the only one that we can pronounce correctly, the other 3 are pronounced with a Uganda pronunciation with an accent on the first syllable.
After we returned
home Alex sent us a message saying that that day that we spent with her was
probably the best day of her life. We haven’t stopped thinking about the kids
and families there, and how we have had such an effect on their lives and
others around them. By going to Uganda we now have a personal knowledge of
these people; they are very much like family now. They are no longer just a
picture of one of their children, we are family. We have contacted Faith and
with Linda’s help they are going to help us pick another child to help.
Before leaving home we were told about some of our sponsors
that haven’t received a letter in over a year. I talked to the folks at ARM
while we were there about this. The answer is: During the rainy seasons the
roads are not passable because of the mud. Sometimes they don’t have contact
with the community for several months at a time because of the distance, roads
and conditions. Some of the families are considered mobile that is they will
move away for several months and then they will move back. When ARM finds out
that a family has been gone for 3 months then they will try to find out where they
went for the next 3 months. Letters are written 3 to 4 times a year and with
one of these mobile families it is possible to go a year without getting a
letter. At the present from the time a
letter is written to when we receive it 4 months may have lapsed. ARM is aware
of this problem and is trying to make changes to the processes. If you are in
the situation of not receiving a letter for this long of a time, please don’t
just stop sponsoring the child, go to Renee and ask her to contact ARM to find
out why. I think the number of children that are supported is around 8000, it’s
a big job for just a few people to track.