Category Archives: Updates from Uganda

Heading into Uganda to visit The Stream of Hope Home

We leave first thing in the morning tomorrow on an 8 to 10 hour road trip to the Uganda border at Malaba, through Jinja on Lake Victoria, then north to Nawantale.  We will arrive tomorrow evening, spend Saturday and Sunday there, then return on Monday.  We will not have internet access, so I will next report after we return.

While passing through Jinja, we will visit one of our kids, Diana, who is ill with Sickle Cell complications and in the hospital there.

Saturday we plan to help roof the new church structure, conduct eye exams, perform dental work, deliver supplies brought from the US and Kenya, and picking up needed items to improve the conditions at the home.

Sunday, we will worship at the church, share a message and encourage them, continue with eye exams and dental work, administer some medicine, and have some fun with the kids.  We have soccer balls, a tether ball, and a volleyball net.

Monday we will visit the kid’s school and head back to Kitale.

We are bringing all the supplies we can fit in our truck.  This includes 80 pounds of medicine, 50 pounds of clothing, 50 pounds of books, and lots of balls, book bags, underwear, and very importantly, a bundle of letters written from individual kids at The Lord’s Servants Home in Kenya directly to individual kids at The Stream of Hope Home in Uganda.  How cool is that?

Please pray that the weather is good and it doesn’t rain so that we  will have travel safety and successfully roof the church.

 

Places to Bath and Toilet make a good home…

The term “Home Improvement” means a project to improve the house to us but at the Stream of Hope orphanage, it literally means an improvement to make it more like a HOME.

I talked about the exciting gift of new beds for the kids in my last post….Just as exciting to the kids, and something we take for granted, new toilets and bath houses were built for the boys and girls dorms.  I personally used the old 3 foot tall, doorless latrine and the well ventilated 3 sided bath stall so I know how much it is a valued improvement.

The community is taking notice about the blessings that God is bringing to these kids.  Better floors, latrines, bath heigyne, beds, and mosquito nets, shoes, medicine, and a food budget are adding up to these kids feeling valued and being healthier.  Thank you for your prayers and support!!

New latrine and bath house for the girls

New latrine and bath house for the girls

Pastor at the new boys latrine and bath house

Pastor at the new boys latrine and bath house

Old doorless latrine and bath areas

Old doorless latrine and bath areas

 

Nothing says “Home” like a bed!

For the first 6 months since opening in December, 2012, the 40 kids in Nawantale, Uganda that were housed in the new Stream of Hope Home slept on the floor in crowded conditions.  They were safe, fed, and went to school but were on an unfinished floor with just a blanket.  Sickness spread easily among the children and Malaria was common because mosquito nets were not able to be used.

Recently the children were moved into two buildings and separated boys and girls.  We purchased 14 new triple-decker steel bunk beds for all the children and 2 double-decker beds for the caretakers as well as new mattresses, blankets, sheets, and towels.  Mosquito nets were then installed to protect the kids at night.

I can only imagine the feeling of warmth, peace, comfort, and security that these kids must have felt, sleeping for the very first time in their own bed.  It is a privilege to provide something so simple that we take for granted, beds will make these kids feel at home and valued as well as keep them healthy and rested.  Thank you all for your prayers and support….and praise God.

New Triple-decker beds and bedding

New Triple-decker beds and bedding

Mosquito nets to help prevent malaria

Mosquito nets to help prevent malaria

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Kids celebrating their beds

Kids celebrating their beds

Kids giving thanks to God

Kids giving thanks to God

Trip to LSH and SOH – August, 2013

Greg Perkins, frequent visitor, and the Thomas family, Dr Randall, his wife Cheryl, and daughter Susan, and I will leave on August 1st and return on August 17th.  We will all go to Kitale, Kenya and stay at the Lord’s Servants Home.  The children will be out of school on break during this time.  Cheryl and Susan will have lots of opportunity to love on and do activities with the kids and community.  Randall is an eye doctor and will use his skills among the children and community who likely have never had their eyes cared for.  We also have several projects planned around the home as well as work to prepare the new Lord’s Servants Academy for opening in September.

Greg, Randall, and I plan to take 3 days and travel to Uganda, visiting the Stream of Hope Home.  The kids will be out of school as well and we plan eye, teeth, and basic health checks.  Several facilities and operational improvements should be under way at this new orphanage and we will help facilitate them and plan for the next 6 months.

Of course our primary goal is to encourage the Pastors and Children and share the love of Jesus Christ in a real and practical way.  Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers for wisdom, stamina, and provisions as we prepare.  Thank you!

Stream of Hope Home-Uganda Update from April and May

Since this orphanage project began with our visit in February, we have seen it grow into the beginnings of a real orphanage home.  By “REAL”, I mean a home where each child has a chance to thrive through education, security, love, and care, to grow up and have hope to fulfill the purpose that God created them for.  20 boys and 20 girls are staying at the two SOHAC Homes.  Several people have helped partner with us and God is working mightily.  I love this!!!  Praise God!

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We have started a sponsorship program for each child to have one sponsor.  $40 per month.  100% of the donations will go towards funding the expenses for the children.   The greatest benefit is that each child will know that someone is praying for and caring about them.  See the www.missionservants.org website for more details.  Nearly all of the children still need sponsors.  Please pray about if this is something you and your family would be blessed with.

We have funneled funds to provide needed health care and medicine.  We have learned that 7 children have serious conditions with Sickle-cell anemia and HIV/AIDS.  Medicine is now made available for these kids.  Illnesses of malaria, worms, dental pain, and other widespread flu-like cases have been treated over the past few months.

We are providing regular food and supplies.

New kitchen for cooking for the children

New kitchen for cooking for the children

We have paid the school fees for all 46 children, purchased shoes, and provided school uniforms and general supplies.  Paying for a child’s education tells even the littlest ones that their future is important and they are valued!  All the children attend a very good  school.

New shoes for all.

New shoes for all.

We have supported Pastor Paul (Isabirye) and his team in moving to 2 different facilities, one for boys and one for girls.  These were unfinished homes and Pastor Paul and his team have worked to finish the concrete floors and erect an outside kitchen shelter.

Girls dorm before the floors were finished

Girls dorm before the floors were finished

Girls dorm with finished floors

Girls dorm with finished floors

Boys dorm with floors being finished.

Boys dorm with floors being finished.

The very next thing needed is to provide beds for each child so they can sleep up off the floor and be covered with mosquito nets.  This will improve the health and morale of the children immensely.  A photo of the steel beds we plan to buy is below.  The whole project includes 14 triple-decker beds, 2 double-decker beds for matrons, blankets, sheet, towels, mattresses, and mosquito nets all transported to the home.  The cost is $3,900.  I am trusting in God to provide this and praise Him in all He has done.

Triple decker steel bunk beds made in Jinja

Triple decker steel bunk beds made in Jinja