So - it's not possible to keep up with the stories we are being part of!
Unbelievable! On this Sunday afternoon, we take a little break to reflect,
and recharge!
I was overwhelmed last Monday, as we continued to deliver school-fees, and
try to find out how we can develop 1moreChild... Where do we put your
focus... Education is important ... but MOST of our kids don't even eat more
than 1 meal a day ... and sometimes not even that... And if we're giving
them an Education, can that really change their lives, or do we need to look
deeper? What is they have a great education, but no motivation for
living...no hope... You see, I have no desire to let our kids go to hell
with a Collage degree... everything is relative, isn't it...
But God has really started steering us in specific directions. Not just
creating a charity, but forming something that can EMPOWER somebody to
TRANSFORM their community. We'll start sharing some of these ideas as they
become more 'tangible'.
To show you some of our students:
Meet Patrick, 13 years old, living ALONE with his 11 year old brother.
Mother died years ago - dad is working in Kampala, 80 km away from the
village were they live...He has only been home 3 times this year! Can you
imagine that. In the house next door from YOU live 2 boys, 13 and 11 years
old BY THEMSELVES! WITH NO SOCIAL SERVICES to feed them, except maybe a
mother down the street that feels bad, and brings them a meal once a day...
that's just SICK... yeah yeah - we give him some support by paying his
school-fees (so he has something to do during the day?) But does that really
solve the problem? No - it doesn't. But right now - it's all we can do...
Dorkas is also 13 years old. Her face GLOWS when she talks about her school
'career'! She finished 1st in her class last term! She's in a small school
(unlike most children here in Uganda). She told us that out of 17 children
there were only 10 that took the exams... 'Why?' you ask? 7 couldn't pay
their school-fees... therefore couldn't take the exams... therefore won't
pass this grade...therefore drop-out... 50% of Ugandan students don't make
it passed the 4th grade!
I loved Dorkas from the first moment - I'll be sure to tell you more about
her in the future!
Mary was SECOND in her class! Yes - it DOES make us proud to sponsor these
kids! You see that little pot next to her mother? It has eggplants from
their little garden... One portion of 4 eggplants sells for 4 cents
(serious!) Her mother can make 40 / 60 cents per DAY. That's ALL their
income! 40 or 60 cents per DAY to feed 5 children! (and pay rent for the hut
they are sitting in front of). So when we decided to step-in and pay Mary's
school fees, it DID make all the difference... But man - it feels so dumb to
just do that...
As you can see, there are many children here! I have no illusion that we'll
be able to help all of them... we just can't... But our deepest desire it to
start helping some of them to TRANSFORM their communities... And YES - we
can use YOUR help. Pray for Wisdom. Pray for Favor. Help us financially in
the future. Spread the word... get involved with 1moreChild, or any other
organization caring for the needs of the most vulnerable children in this
world. Thanks for caring.
Ferdi
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