I took a couple of days off after the marathon fund raising week last week. The Chateau on Tuesday and the dinner on Friday with the Craft Fair Saturday and Sunday. I do not know how much was raised yet but will do an inventory this coming week.
The children are back to school now in Uganda. The teachers have not been paid for 2 months and they are having a hard time purchasing even the watered down cream of wheat.
I tried a Dollar campaign because I believe a little money from a lot of people can make a difference. The Dollar campaign raise a $2.00 (from my sisters). I am not sure why people don't respond I sent it to all of my friends and family.
It is weird I have been back from Uganda 4 months and I still see the children's faces in my mind. I still hurt for them, I still feel very helpless.
Olivia one of the children at the school walked 56 miles to go home and see her mother. Her mother is a peasant (slave)working on someones farm, she worked on the farm with her mother then walk 56 miles back to the village of Baka to go to school she stays with her Aunt. Olivia has 1 outfit she wears every day, no shoes and most days she has no food. I remember Olivia because her hug touched me to my very soul.
I keep praying to God to help me find the resources to change these children's lives forever and give them a future with hope. I love these children.
I should sign off because this seems a little depressing which is not my usually style.
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Pastor Frank
Last Friday Pastor Frank, his wife Lydia their baby Todd Douglas and a couple of church members were in an accident when the where going to Rebecca's fathers funeral. (Rebecca is the women that was in labor for a week.) No one in the car was badly hurt just bang up. Pastor Franks car is badly damaged and he is found at fault because his tire blew out. The other driver is willing to settle if Frank pays him $450.00. Money Frank does not have. I am a firm believer in the power of pray, so I am asking for all of my readers to pray for a resolution to this problem. Pastor Frank is very stressed!
Sunday, September 7, 2008
September !
Hello All,
The Flat Bread Fund Raiser - $436.36 - wow plus the raffle $244.00 -$680.36 total
September 13th - (Saturday) Waltham Mayors picnic - I will be selling Beads for life jewelry with the Congregational Church from Waltham
September 16th (Tuesday)the Chateau Fund Raiser you need a coupon for the money to go towards the charity. S-gannon@hotmail.com if you would like a coupon.
September 19 (Friday)Mission Night at TCC $6.00 Lasagna, Salad, Rolls and desert. Come and hear about the trips to Camden NJ, Reynosa Mexico, and The Village of Makindai (JPC)and the Village of Baka (CMA)Uganda. Please let me know if you plan on coming so I can get a head count for the food.
Dinner is served from 6:00- 7:00 program starts at 7:00 and wraps up by 9:00
September 20th (Saturday)The Gifts from Around the World- Arts and Craft show at TCC. The money raise from this event will go to children living in poverty from around the world. Camden NJ, Boston MA, Reynosa Mexico, Uganda, India and more...
The goal is to raise $8,000 before the end of September so the school can be completed by the end of the year.
I will also be setting up a sponsorship program for the children from the Christian Mission Academy. The total monthly cost for each child is $20.00 I am hoping people will pledge $5.00 per month.
The Flat Bread Fund Raiser - $436.36 - wow plus the raffle $244.00 -$680.36 total
September 13th - (Saturday) Waltham Mayors picnic - I will be selling Beads for life jewelry with the Congregational Church from Waltham
September 16th (Tuesday)the Chateau Fund Raiser you need a coupon for the money to go towards the charity. S-gannon@hotmail.com if you would like a coupon.
September 19 (Friday)Mission Night at TCC $6.00 Lasagna, Salad, Rolls and desert. Come and hear about the trips to Camden NJ, Reynosa Mexico, and The Village of Makindai (JPC)and the Village of Baka (CMA)Uganda. Please let me know if you plan on coming so I can get a head count for the food.
Dinner is served from 6:00- 7:00 program starts at 7:00 and wraps up by 9:00
September 20th (Saturday)The Gifts from Around the World- Arts and Craft show at TCC. The money raise from this event will go to children living in poverty from around the world. Camden NJ, Boston MA, Reynosa Mexico, Uganda, India and more...
The goal is to raise $8,000 before the end of September so the school can be completed by the end of the year.
I will also be setting up a sponsorship program for the children from the Christian Mission Academy. The total monthly cost for each child is $20.00 I am hoping people will pledge $5.00 per month.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Flat Bread Pizza
The Flat Bread Pizza Fund Raiser was a hugh success! Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make it happen. I do not know how much we raised but will post as soon as I find out.
The 50/50 raffle raised $244.oo Scott Regan won and gave half of his winnings back.
THANK YOU SCOTT!
I am asking everyone I know to send $1.00 to Trinity Covenant Church. I am hoping to raise $8,000.00 to pay for the school by raising $1.00 at a time. Please ask your friends, family and coworkers to send $1.00 to
Trinity Covenant Church
Attention Sandy Gannon
7 Clematis Road
Lexington MA
02421
Uganda Orphanage update.
The children were provided 1 meal every week. The semester ended with the purchase of the land for their new school. These were wonderful gifts that brought hope to the children, the teachers and the community.
The challenges that were face during the month The Gospel Rally had to be cancelled because it rained; the plan is to hold it in September when the children come back to school. Eight of the children were very sick with malaria, they were provided medicine. To pay for the medicine for the children, Pastor Frank had to use the money that he would have paid the teachers with. The teachers monthly salary is $42.00. (No I did not forget a 0)
The plans to build the school have been started. The projected cost is $8,000.00 the completion date needs to be the end of December so the children can start their new school year there in January. I am asking everyone I know to mail $1.00 to TCC attention Sandy.
The Flat Bread Fund Raiser was a big success! Thank you to all that attended, I do not know how much was raised but the place was packed.
September 13th We will be selling the BeadsForLife Jewelry at the Waltham Mayors Picnic 10:00am – 3:00pm with the Covenant Congregational Church from Waltham.
September 16th Fund Raiser at the Chateau Restaurant – In Waltham 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm 25% of the money raised will go towards the school for the Orphans. You must present a coupon at the time of order. Coupons will be available in the narthex.
September 19th Will be a Summer Mission Team night come and have dinner and hear about the mission trips to Camden, Reynosa and Uganda. The cost is $6.00 and the meal will be Lasagna, Salad, rolls and desert. Please let Sandy know if you would be willing to make a lasagna for that evening. Tickets will be on sale after church for the next couple of weeks.
September 20th – Gifts from Around the World – Arts and Crafts sale from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Hand-made crafts from Uganda, India, Camden and Boston. If you have a craft you would be willing to donate for the sale it would be greatly appreciated. You may choose which charity the money raised would go to. We are also looking for Baked Goods for this day sign up is in the entrance way.
November 23rd –Burlington 7:00 – 10:00 Tickets are on sale for $10.00 now for the Simon Evening of Giving. This is an after hours charity event. The sales and giveaways are as good as the day after Thanksgiving. $7.00 of the cost of the ticket will go toward the school for the Orphans. $3.00 goes toward education and training for At Risk Youth. Please see Sandy for tickets and details.
The 50/50 raffle raised $244.oo Scott Regan won and gave half of his winnings back.
THANK YOU SCOTT!
I am asking everyone I know to send $1.00 to Trinity Covenant Church. I am hoping to raise $8,000.00 to pay for the school by raising $1.00 at a time. Please ask your friends, family and coworkers to send $1.00 to
Trinity Covenant Church
Attention Sandy Gannon
7 Clematis Road
Lexington MA
02421
Uganda Orphanage update.
The children were provided 1 meal every week. The semester ended with the purchase of the land for their new school. These were wonderful gifts that brought hope to the children, the teachers and the community.
The challenges that were face during the month The Gospel Rally had to be cancelled because it rained; the plan is to hold it in September when the children come back to school. Eight of the children were very sick with malaria, they were provided medicine. To pay for the medicine for the children, Pastor Frank had to use the money that he would have paid the teachers with. The teachers monthly salary is $42.00. (No I did not forget a 0)
The plans to build the school have been started. The projected cost is $8,000.00 the completion date needs to be the end of December so the children can start their new school year there in January. I am asking everyone I know to mail $1.00 to TCC attention Sandy.
The Flat Bread Fund Raiser was a big success! Thank you to all that attended, I do not know how much was raised but the place was packed.
September 13th We will be selling the BeadsForLife Jewelry at the Waltham Mayors Picnic 10:00am – 3:00pm with the Covenant Congregational Church from Waltham.
September 16th Fund Raiser at the Chateau Restaurant – In Waltham 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm 25% of the money raised will go towards the school for the Orphans. You must present a coupon at the time of order. Coupons will be available in the narthex.
September 19th Will be a Summer Mission Team night come and have dinner and hear about the mission trips to Camden, Reynosa and Uganda. The cost is $6.00 and the meal will be Lasagna, Salad, rolls and desert. Please let Sandy know if you would be willing to make a lasagna for that evening. Tickets will be on sale after church for the next couple of weeks.
September 20th – Gifts from Around the World – Arts and Crafts sale from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
Hand-made crafts from Uganda, India, Camden and Boston. If you have a craft you would be willing to donate for the sale it would be greatly appreciated. You may choose which charity the money raised would go to. We are also looking for Baked Goods for this day sign up is in the entrance way.
November 23rd –Burlington 7:00 – 10:00 Tickets are on sale for $10.00 now for the Simon Evening of Giving. This is an after hours charity event. The sales and giveaways are as good as the day after Thanksgiving. $7.00 of the cost of the ticket will go toward the school for the Orphans. $3.00 goes toward education and training for At Risk Youth. Please see Sandy for tickets and details.
Friday, August 15, 2008
Rebeccah from JPC
Rebeccah had her baby I can not imagine being in labor as long as she was. She started labor on Friday August 8th and she was transported to a larger hospital on Sunday August 10th because of complications. She had a baby girl on Thursday August 14th. I guess they do not do C-sections in Uganda. They also do NOT use pain medication. WOW.
Her husband Alex drives a Boda Boda in Uganda to provide for his family he rents the boda boda and after paying the rental fee and gas he makes .20 cents per hour about $2.00 a day. I have sent out an appeal to all motorcycle stores in the area to take up a collection of a $1.00 a peice from every employee to try to raise money for Alex to purchase a boda boda.
Friday was the Gospel Crusade in the village of Baka I can hardly wait to hear the details from Pastor Frank. I will share with you all as soon as I find out.
Her husband Alex drives a Boda Boda in Uganda to provide for his family he rents the boda boda and after paying the rental fee and gas he makes .20 cents per hour about $2.00 a day. I have sent out an appeal to all motorcycle stores in the area to take up a collection of a $1.00 a peice from every employee to try to raise money for Alex to purchase a boda boda.
Friday was the Gospel Crusade in the village of Baka I can hardly wait to hear the details from Pastor Frank. I will share with you all as soon as I find out.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Uganda Connection Overview
Many new Readers feel like they are reading in the middle of a book, so I am putting in a summary.
One Man’s Stubborn Faith!
Pastor Frank’s arrival in the US
Unknown to all of us in Lexington God’s plan was in action years before we knew about it. The Jesus Power Church in Uganda made a decision that they would send their Pastor to the United States to find a connection. They had to save for many years to purchase the ticket that cost more than most of them would earn in 3 years. They had to sacrifice far more than is imaginable to most Americans. The journey began when their Pastor got on a plane and headed to America with a phone number of a person to contact in the United States. He landed in New York and called the number (the person he was calling had no idea who he was). There was one small problem the contact person lived in California. They provided Pastor Frank with a number of a person in Billerica. He called her and she did not have a car or any way to pick him up in New York. He took a bus to Boston and had to wait in the bus station over night before the women in Billerica was able to pick him up and welcomed him to her home.
Pastor Frank surfed the net looking for Churches to connect with. He visited many churches and was received but found no support. When his visit was coming to an end a member of the Wayland church paid for him to extend his visit because he had not found the support that he needed. It is amazing how thin a thread held it altogether. During the next week Pastor Frank found his way to meet with Pastor Doug from Trinity Covenant Church in Lexington. They met for lunch and the connection began. Pastor Doug invited Pastor Frank to our church to meet the members of TCC. The connection was powerful between Pastor Frank and many of the people of TCC my self included.
Pastor Frank told us of the sacrifice his church members made to send him to the US. He told of his life struggles starting with being born in the bush on the side of the road. His mother was in labor and was being transported to the hospital on the back of a bicycle. He told how when he was older he became a street child. While living on the street he heard a group of people from Australia talking about Jesus. He liked the people and the way they lived so he listened to them and made the decision to accept Jesus as his Lord and savior. He began preaching the word of the Lord and became a Pastor respected by many people. He met and married his wife Lydia also a fascinating story. While he was a Pastor he still needed to support his family so he would dress in his suite and ride his bike to a cement factory where he would change into his work clothes and work moving cement. At the end of the day he would change back into his suit and go to Church and preach to the people. He had to do this so that he would be respected, if the people knew he was working he would loose their respect. One day while working at the cement factory the cement bags fell killing some of the workers. Pastor Frank ended up in the hospital for 6 months. He knew it was God’s message that he was to preach and God would make sure his family was provided for.
Pastor Frank then talked about the Orphans that his church was supporting by running a school for them. The children were not able to attend school because the school was 10 miles away and they did not have the money to pay to attend. He said many orphans were not able to attend the school they provided because the orphans did not have any clothes. These stories touched the hearts of many and action was taken.
The shipping dilemma
Pastor Frank identified the need for computers to set up training for the members of his church so they would be qualified for jobs. Education is the key to changing lives and helping people get out of poverty. We gathered up 6 computers and monitors and shipped them to Uganda. The shipping was a couple hundred dollars and it took 3 months for them to get their by slow boat.
We then did a clothing drive and shipped 7 large boxes of clothing to the Orphans this shipment took 3 months and cost $400 dollars. We were on a roll with clothing drives there was a goal to provide every child with the clothes they needed. We filled 23 boxes every child in the Orphanage program would be provided a blanket, t-shirt, sweat shirts, beanie baby and clothes. The cost to ship these boxes was $1,400. The fund raising efforts paid for the shipping was by selling beads and a bake sale, and by selling things that earned $1.00 a purchase. The beads we sold were from Beads For Life – women in Uganda roll beads out of recycled paper and make beautiful pieces of jewelry out of what we would throw away. So our fund raisers did double duty by raising money for the orphans and the widows from Uganda.
The shipment took 8 months to get to the Uganda; it was caught up in the turmoil in Kenya no ships were allowed to unload so they had to stay off the coast until they were allowed to unload the middle of June 2008. When they arrived in Uganda customs tried to charge Pastor Frank $300.00 to receive them. He had to prove that he was associated with a Church and provide documentation. A letter had been attached to every box indicating that they were donations for the Orphans so they charged him half.
The 3 wise men from Trinity
Pastor Doug, Todd and Dave from TCC decided to take Pastor Frank up on his offer to visit Pastor Frank and his church. In June of 2007 they made the first trip to Uganda. They came back with videos/ pictures and stories of the love they were surrounded with. They felt the Power of Jesus in the Jesus Power Church. The glow on their faces as they talked it was clear that they had experienced something very powerful.
It must have been addicting for they went back 6 months later in January and had the first annual Pastors conference. I did not see the videos but I know it was powerful, when I went to Uganda in June; Pastor Frank was approached by many other Pastors asking if there was going to be another conference.
JPC and The Christian Mission Academy
Pastor Frank is an inspiration to me; his daily life is filled with more challenges than most Americans encounter in a life time. He has a stubborn faith and is not stopped or even slowed down by adversity. While dealing with all of the challenges he has being a Pastor of a church attended by 600 plus people living in extreme poverty and disease. He still took the time to answer my unending stream of questions about the orphans. He provided me with pictures and details of the orphans, and the history behind the Christian Mission Academy.
How JPC and the Christian Mission Academy became connected. The Christian Mission Academy is located in the village of Baka about 27 miles from the village of Makindye where the Jesus Power Church is located. One of the members of the Jesus Power Church wanted the gospel preached in her home village. So Pastor Frank and other members of the church went to the village of Baka to preach the gospel of Jesus. While in the village they discovered that many children were orphans and did not attend school. JPC seeing this need started a school and orphanage in the village. The end of 2006 the Orphanage and the school program were shut down by the ministry of education because they were not teaching to the education standards. Many of the orphans died of malaria in the early years of the program. The orphans were scattered until the Jesus Power Church rebuilt the school in 2007.
Approximately 110 orphans attend the Christian Mission Academy, there are 6 classrooms 1 Pastor/Director 4 teachers,
1. Pastore Segawa Joseph and his wife Grace Segawa Nalwadda.
2. Nasolo Betty
3. Mugerwa Vincent.
4. Kaitesi Margret
5. Birungi Esther.
3 cooks and many widows that take care of the children. The children attend school from 8:00 am through 5:00 pm they start their day by attending a church service conducted by Pastor Joseph. The school provides one meal every day for the children. The meal is watered down cream of wheat. Twice a year JPC provides a full meal for the children, it consists of meat, rice and beans served with a soda. The cost of this meal is a little more than $20.00 it is served Easter and Christmas. The school is a brick building with no floors, windows or doors. The class rooms have a few benches and a black board. The orphans live in very primitive conditions there are no running water or electricity in the village. When they are not in school they are working for the family they live with. Digging and working in the gardens, carrying and fetching water, taking care of their younger siblings. Some are used as slaves and worse.
My call to Uganda
I am not sure when I realized that God had a plan for me to go to Uganda. I had never traveled overseas; I did not have a passport, I had never been on a Mission Trip before. It was Gods will that I go and there was nothing that would hold me back. I loved the orphans and felt that God wanted me to go to Uganda to tell them that he loves them and he has called me to be his hand, feet and heart to be an answer to their prayers. So the end of May, 4 of us went to Uganda, Todd (his 3rd visit ) Hillary (Todd’s daughter) Michael and myself.
When I visited the Orphanage, I was completely over whelmed by 2 things. God was present in the beauty of the children was absolutely glowing in their smiles and the joy they were showing. I felt his presence and his love very strongly. The second thing I was overwhelmed by was the conditions of their bodies. Many of them have skin disease, there stomachs were swollen. I was told many of them have worms in their stomachs and they needed to be dewormed. The cracks in their feet and skin were nests for insects. The signs of dehydration were apparent in their skin and lips. I was told many were being sexually abused and had syphilis. The 15 year old children are the size of an American 8 to 10 year old. Many of the children were wearing the same clothing they had on a year ago. The last full meal they had was at Easter. The conditions I saw were far worse then they anything I had seen on TV.
While we were there we brought them pens, notebooks, lollipops, crackers, soap, salt balls and a meal. The joy and happiness on their faces was like it was Christmas. The ball enabled them to play in the village tournament. Small gifts make a Huge difference. .
I made a promise to them that I will do everything in my power to keep. I promised them that they would have at least 1 meal every week. This was the easy one I send $100.00 per month myself for this but my real goal is for them to have a meal every day. I promised they would have uniforms, shoes, medical check ups and medical care and a safe school environment.
They were measured for shoes and uniforms, the school repairs started and then the next dilemma. The landlord where the school is located is selling the land so the school will have to relocate. We have purchased the land this will bring stability to the school and is important but the medical needs are not being met for the children, nor do they have shoes or uniforms. The only change they have that they can see in the 2 months I have been back is they have one meal a week. I am continuously moved to tears when I think about their needs and the hope they have in us to make a difference in their lives.
Any donation are welcomed
Please send to
Trinity Covenant Church
Attention Sandy Gannon
7 Clematis Road
Lexington Ma
02421
One Man’s Stubborn Faith!
Pastor Frank’s arrival in the US
Unknown to all of us in Lexington God’s plan was in action years before we knew about it. The Jesus Power Church in Uganda made a decision that they would send their Pastor to the United States to find a connection. They had to save for many years to purchase the ticket that cost more than most of them would earn in 3 years. They had to sacrifice far more than is imaginable to most Americans. The journey began when their Pastor got on a plane and headed to America with a phone number of a person to contact in the United States. He landed in New York and called the number (the person he was calling had no idea who he was). There was one small problem the contact person lived in California. They provided Pastor Frank with a number of a person in Billerica. He called her and she did not have a car or any way to pick him up in New York. He took a bus to Boston and had to wait in the bus station over night before the women in Billerica was able to pick him up and welcomed him to her home.
Pastor Frank surfed the net looking for Churches to connect with. He visited many churches and was received but found no support. When his visit was coming to an end a member of the Wayland church paid for him to extend his visit because he had not found the support that he needed. It is amazing how thin a thread held it altogether. During the next week Pastor Frank found his way to meet with Pastor Doug from Trinity Covenant Church in Lexington. They met for lunch and the connection began. Pastor Doug invited Pastor Frank to our church to meet the members of TCC. The connection was powerful between Pastor Frank and many of the people of TCC my self included.
Pastor Frank told us of the sacrifice his church members made to send him to the US. He told of his life struggles starting with being born in the bush on the side of the road. His mother was in labor and was being transported to the hospital on the back of a bicycle. He told how when he was older he became a street child. While living on the street he heard a group of people from Australia talking about Jesus. He liked the people and the way they lived so he listened to them and made the decision to accept Jesus as his Lord and savior. He began preaching the word of the Lord and became a Pastor respected by many people. He met and married his wife Lydia also a fascinating story. While he was a Pastor he still needed to support his family so he would dress in his suite and ride his bike to a cement factory where he would change into his work clothes and work moving cement. At the end of the day he would change back into his suit and go to Church and preach to the people. He had to do this so that he would be respected, if the people knew he was working he would loose their respect. One day while working at the cement factory the cement bags fell killing some of the workers. Pastor Frank ended up in the hospital for 6 months. He knew it was God’s message that he was to preach and God would make sure his family was provided for.
Pastor Frank then talked about the Orphans that his church was supporting by running a school for them. The children were not able to attend school because the school was 10 miles away and they did not have the money to pay to attend. He said many orphans were not able to attend the school they provided because the orphans did not have any clothes. These stories touched the hearts of many and action was taken.
The shipping dilemma
Pastor Frank identified the need for computers to set up training for the members of his church so they would be qualified for jobs. Education is the key to changing lives and helping people get out of poverty. We gathered up 6 computers and monitors and shipped them to Uganda. The shipping was a couple hundred dollars and it took 3 months for them to get their by slow boat.
We then did a clothing drive and shipped 7 large boxes of clothing to the Orphans this shipment took 3 months and cost $400 dollars. We were on a roll with clothing drives there was a goal to provide every child with the clothes they needed. We filled 23 boxes every child in the Orphanage program would be provided a blanket, t-shirt, sweat shirts, beanie baby and clothes. The cost to ship these boxes was $1,400. The fund raising efforts paid for the shipping was by selling beads and a bake sale, and by selling things that earned $1.00 a purchase. The beads we sold were from Beads For Life – women in Uganda roll beads out of recycled paper and make beautiful pieces of jewelry out of what we would throw away. So our fund raisers did double duty by raising money for the orphans and the widows from Uganda.
The shipment took 8 months to get to the Uganda; it was caught up in the turmoil in Kenya no ships were allowed to unload so they had to stay off the coast until they were allowed to unload the middle of June 2008. When they arrived in Uganda customs tried to charge Pastor Frank $300.00 to receive them. He had to prove that he was associated with a Church and provide documentation. A letter had been attached to every box indicating that they were donations for the Orphans so they charged him half.
The 3 wise men from Trinity
Pastor Doug, Todd and Dave from TCC decided to take Pastor Frank up on his offer to visit Pastor Frank and his church. In June of 2007 they made the first trip to Uganda. They came back with videos/ pictures and stories of the love they were surrounded with. They felt the Power of Jesus in the Jesus Power Church. The glow on their faces as they talked it was clear that they had experienced something very powerful.
It must have been addicting for they went back 6 months later in January and had the first annual Pastors conference. I did not see the videos but I know it was powerful, when I went to Uganda in June; Pastor Frank was approached by many other Pastors asking if there was going to be another conference.
JPC and The Christian Mission Academy
Pastor Frank is an inspiration to me; his daily life is filled with more challenges than most Americans encounter in a life time. He has a stubborn faith and is not stopped or even slowed down by adversity. While dealing with all of the challenges he has being a Pastor of a church attended by 600 plus people living in extreme poverty and disease. He still took the time to answer my unending stream of questions about the orphans. He provided me with pictures and details of the orphans, and the history behind the Christian Mission Academy.
How JPC and the Christian Mission Academy became connected. The Christian Mission Academy is located in the village of Baka about 27 miles from the village of Makindye where the Jesus Power Church is located. One of the members of the Jesus Power Church wanted the gospel preached in her home village. So Pastor Frank and other members of the church went to the village of Baka to preach the gospel of Jesus. While in the village they discovered that many children were orphans and did not attend school. JPC seeing this need started a school and orphanage in the village. The end of 2006 the Orphanage and the school program were shut down by the ministry of education because they were not teaching to the education standards. Many of the orphans died of malaria in the early years of the program. The orphans were scattered until the Jesus Power Church rebuilt the school in 2007.
Approximately 110 orphans attend the Christian Mission Academy, there are 6 classrooms 1 Pastor/Director 4 teachers,
1. Pastore Segawa Joseph and his wife Grace Segawa Nalwadda.
2. Nasolo Betty
3. Mugerwa Vincent.
4. Kaitesi Margret
5. Birungi Esther.
3 cooks and many widows that take care of the children. The children attend school from 8:00 am through 5:00 pm they start their day by attending a church service conducted by Pastor Joseph. The school provides one meal every day for the children. The meal is watered down cream of wheat. Twice a year JPC provides a full meal for the children, it consists of meat, rice and beans served with a soda. The cost of this meal is a little more than $20.00 it is served Easter and Christmas. The school is a brick building with no floors, windows or doors. The class rooms have a few benches and a black board. The orphans live in very primitive conditions there are no running water or electricity in the village. When they are not in school they are working for the family they live with. Digging and working in the gardens, carrying and fetching water, taking care of their younger siblings. Some are used as slaves and worse.
My call to Uganda
I am not sure when I realized that God had a plan for me to go to Uganda. I had never traveled overseas; I did not have a passport, I had never been on a Mission Trip before. It was Gods will that I go and there was nothing that would hold me back. I loved the orphans and felt that God wanted me to go to Uganda to tell them that he loves them and he has called me to be his hand, feet and heart to be an answer to their prayers. So the end of May, 4 of us went to Uganda, Todd (his 3rd visit ) Hillary (Todd’s daughter) Michael and myself.
When I visited the Orphanage, I was completely over whelmed by 2 things. God was present in the beauty of the children was absolutely glowing in their smiles and the joy they were showing. I felt his presence and his love very strongly. The second thing I was overwhelmed by was the conditions of their bodies. Many of them have skin disease, there stomachs were swollen. I was told many of them have worms in their stomachs and they needed to be dewormed. The cracks in their feet and skin were nests for insects. The signs of dehydration were apparent in their skin and lips. I was told many were being sexually abused and had syphilis. The 15 year old children are the size of an American 8 to 10 year old. Many of the children were wearing the same clothing they had on a year ago. The last full meal they had was at Easter. The conditions I saw were far worse then they anything I had seen on TV.
While we were there we brought them pens, notebooks, lollipops, crackers, soap, salt balls and a meal. The joy and happiness on their faces was like it was Christmas. The ball enabled them to play in the village tournament. Small gifts make a Huge difference. .
I made a promise to them that I will do everything in my power to keep. I promised them that they would have at least 1 meal every week. This was the easy one I send $100.00 per month myself for this but my real goal is for them to have a meal every day. I promised they would have uniforms, shoes, medical check ups and medical care and a safe school environment.
They were measured for shoes and uniforms, the school repairs started and then the next dilemma. The landlord where the school is located is selling the land so the school will have to relocate. We have purchased the land this will bring stability to the school and is important but the medical needs are not being met for the children, nor do they have shoes or uniforms. The only change they have that they can see in the 2 months I have been back is they have one meal a week. I am continuously moved to tears when I think about their needs and the hope they have in us to make a difference in their lives.
Any donation are welcomed
Please send to
Trinity Covenant Church
Attention Sandy Gannon
7 Clematis Road
Lexington Ma
02421
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Papa Gino's Fund Raiser
Thank you all to who supported this fund raiser by going to Papa Gino's today! We raise close to $70.00. Not bad when the only thing you need to do is eat pizza.
Through our fund raising efforts Pastor Frank (I pray) purchased land yesterday for the orphans. He put a down payment of a $1,000 dollars and I am hoping to pay off the difference of $1100.00 by the end of September.
The next fund raiser is at the Flat Bread Pizza in Bedford August 26, 2008.
$3.00 per large pizza and $1.75 per small pizza will be donated to the land/building for the orphans.
I will be there from 5:00 to closing so if you come I am sure to see you! We will be selling our paper dolls and having a 50/50 raffle (you don't have to be there to win) as well as showing a video of the trip. (Not the video that will be played at the Mission night)
September 16th we will be having a Fund Raiser at the Chateau in Waltham 5:00- 8:00 25% of the proceeds will go to the orphans.
September 19th at Trinity Covenant Church we will be hosting a Mission night. I will talk about the trip and show a video, we will also eat. What is a fund raiser without food. The cost for this has not been determined yet it depends on what we will be eating. (between 5 and 8 dollars per person would be my guess) If you attend this you will be able to get a sneak peak at the Gifts from around the world Arts and Craft sale. It will be opened for an hour before the dinner and and hour after the dinner.
September 20th at Trinity Covenant Church we will be hosting the Gifts from around the world Arts and Craft sale. (Including Lexington and Waltham etc....)
Through our fund raising efforts Pastor Frank (I pray) purchased land yesterday for the orphans. He put a down payment of a $1,000 dollars and I am hoping to pay off the difference of $1100.00 by the end of September.
The next fund raiser is at the Flat Bread Pizza in Bedford August 26, 2008.
$3.00 per large pizza and $1.75 per small pizza will be donated to the land/building for the orphans.
I will be there from 5:00 to closing so if you come I am sure to see you! We will be selling our paper dolls and having a 50/50 raffle (you don't have to be there to win) as well as showing a video of the trip. (Not the video that will be played at the Mission night)
September 16th we will be having a Fund Raiser at the Chateau in Waltham 5:00- 8:00 25% of the proceeds will go to the orphans.
September 19th at Trinity Covenant Church we will be hosting a Mission night. I will talk about the trip and show a video, we will also eat. What is a fund raiser without food. The cost for this has not been determined yet it depends on what we will be eating. (between 5 and 8 dollars per person would be my guess) If you attend this you will be able to get a sneak peak at the Gifts from around the world Arts and Craft sale. It will be opened for an hour before the dinner and and hour after the dinner.
September 20th at Trinity Covenant Church we will be hosting the Gifts from around the world Arts and Craft sale. (Including Lexington and Waltham etc....)
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