The Reason Why I was Sent To Africa . . . .

As I mentioned before . . . . "For 7 plus years, I have had the strongest feeling that I was destined to help children in Africa."

June 30th was a Sunday afternoon. I had some free time and I wanted to visit the school Christian Life Ministries was building for the orphans.

That afternoon I met a girl named Erina in the school hallway. She had a quick smile and showed me with great pride her classroom and where she sat. She told me that every Sunday afternoon she came to the school to study. 

I asked her what her story was . . . She said, she and her little sister had been living at the orphanage since 2009. They came to the orphanage because first her father died, then her mother and then her Grandmother . . . she turned to me and said sadly  "I have a sponsor but I have never received a letter or a gift from him. I am all alone." 

I gave her a hug and I felt God saying through me- "I am her Father". I told her that truth, that He is to her a good Father who will never leave her, get sick or die. He is with her always- He is her Mother and Father. She smiled ear to ear and even laughed a little. It was so sweet and wonderful. We said our good-byes and I left her classroom . . . and I had to cover my mouth because of the deep realisation that hit me hard- I knew, I Knew she was the reason God called me to Africa.  

Out of all the intensely powerful and good experiences on this trip this was the moment I was sent here for-- to remind this beautiful 14 year old girl she is not alone. She is deeply loved by the One who made the Heavens and the Earth.

Making Faces- Erina and Suzanne
Seeta Uganda 6/2013

Fast forward to April 29th 2014 . . . I received an unexpected call from Christian Life Ministries (CLM is the sponsorship ministry that runs the two orphanages I visited). The woman- Jennifer, told me  although they had my bank information somehow they had never made a withdrawal for my sponsored child. I was confused . . . I was sure I had been sponsoring Pricilla (another orphan living in Lira) for almost a year now. I had noticed an occasional $30 withdrawal from my account  and had assumed it was to CML. . . it was puzzling and I told Jennifer I would call her back. My Credit Union confirmed that no payments had been made to CLM. This was so strange . . . in the meantime I received an email from this same Jennifer thanking me for sponsoring Erina!  I called Jennifer back and explained that I am Pricilla's sponsor, not Erina's. Because I had written letters to Erina CLM had thought I was her sponsor. (Why they never took any money out will remain a mystery). Jennifer looked up the stats on Pricilla and found out she had enough sponsors! Erina on the other hand didn't. 

So now . . . We are Erina's sponsors!!

It was my delight to write to Erina a few days ago and tell her the good news . . . I also reminded her, no matter what happens in life- she is not alone. She has a Father who will never get sick, leave or die. He loves her so.

And who ever you are my friend, He loves you just as much.

-Suzanne

The Shoe Shack

My roommate and buddy Catherine and I had the blessing of sorting and organizing hundreds and hundreds of shoes . . .

The shoes came in huge duffle bags that sailed over on the Container from Portland OR.

Mum Grace and Mum Domalie helped us sort the shoes into piles of flip flops and school shoes . . . 

Mum Grace, Catherine & Mum Domalie

Then we separated the flip flops into small, med and large. 

The school shoes needed to be sorted into piles of boys and girls and then by size (smallest against the South wall, largest by the North wall).

Piles of flip flops

Ruth helping out in our Shoe Shack

Some of the children's shoes were in horrible condition . . . 

 New shoes for school!!!

Happy faces!!

Notes From My Journal and Memories- Part 4 Meeting with the Secondary School Students

Saturday June 29th
Crown City Secondary School-

From Seeta our team took the hour bus ride to Crown City Secondary School where we met up with around 135 students (ages 14-18) who grew up in the Seeta and Lira Orphanges. These children now attend and board at one of 3 secondary schools in Kampala.

We started out with lunch-

Chicken, brown rice, Irish potatoes, greens, sauerkraut,         cooked banana (matokee) . . . YUM! 

Sweet Sharon

  

After lunch Dr. Bruce, Adam, Amy, Debbie and Jackie shared . . .

* 2 Corinthians 6:18 "I will be a Father to you and you will be my sons and daughters."

*God is listening to you . . . are you listening to God? 

Jeremiah 29:11-13 "I know the plans I have for you . . . "

* Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your way straight."  

* Some of us do not have a father or mother. Our hearts are broken . . . God can heal a broken heart. 

Psalm 147:3 "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Each student received a Memory Book.

Then we broke up into small groups.  

Joan was in my small group. 

Lastly, they were able to pick out some new clothing . . .

Goooo Ducks!!

Notes From My Journal and Memories- Part 3: The Container Arrives!

Right away on our first day in Seeta (Tuesday June 25th) we noticed that something was missing- the massive Container we sent over from Portland months ago! 

Dr. Bruce got word that it had arrived in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda, but that it was in limbo. This Container held all of their new clothing, shoes, backpacks and Memory Books (see my blog post on June 12th). 
We needed it now! 


I was able to zip off this email on Wednesday night:  

Please pray that we will be able to get the large boat Container to the orphanage soon. It's Wed here and we need it very soon so we can work with the secondary school kids on Sat . . . plus it has all our stuff for Lira!!!

Sending this off right now. 

OXOXO to Everyone!

Suz

On Thursday June 27 around 5 PM Dr Bruce heard that The Container was coming!!! Everyone was so excited and overjoyed. It took a little over an hour but it finally made it to the orphanage! 

Check it out:

Is it coming?

First the crane!

Then The Container!

I was praying that no one would get run over . . . the children were so excited.

Lifting The Container off of the truck bed . . .

Stay back!

"YES!!"

June 28th -Friday morning . . .

The whole school came out for the celebration, dedication and opening of The Container.  

Even the Preschoolers . . .

Everyone was Praising God . . . they know He is their Provider.

 

Notes From My Journal and Memories- Part 2: Ministry to the Mums

6-26-13

Orphan Village Seeta, Uganda

2:30 PM

Today we arrived at the orphanage at 9:15 AM and right away the ladies on our team begun to set up in Mum Graces' house Tea and Cookies for 20 or so Mums and women team members. 

Oh by the way- before you enter a house you remove your shoes and walk on the concrete in your bare feet. The floor is very cool and helps regulate your body temp . . . also flapping my skirt around, (discreetly) helps too.

Beginning with Praises (in the Luganda language), very loud clapping, dancing and even some jumping (not me) the first Mums to gather encouraged the others in the village to stop what they were doing and come to our gathering. Today and tomorrow and then on Monday we will repeat our "Tea Party" for the Mums, each meeting we'll gather with a new third of the Mums.

Our goal is to encourage the Mums . . . some of whom have 15 to 18 children in their homes. What they do for these orphans is a high calling; they are changing lives and through God giving hope to these children.

 Each Mum dressed up and had a well loved Bible in their hands.

We shared what we felt like when we got up in the morning, our favorite Bible verse, color and activity.

Mum Ester and Mum Sarah

 Amy, Bri'Anne and Stephanie put on a little skit about God providing for the widow through the prophet Elisha

The Mums enjoyed it.

Then Debbie shared a true store about a little girl who lost her father and her mother was unable to take care of her, so she became an orphan . . .

 

and who did that little girl grow up to be? 

She became Debbies' mother. A women who cared for forgotten children- taking in many children to feed, cloth and encourage.  

 

 

 

 

Notes From My Journal and Memories Part 1

Row 27 seats F & E

6-24-13

Portland to Africa...

Somewhere over the good ol' USA

12:32 PM

In the AIR . . . going to O'Hare! I still feel like it's a dream- sleep deprivation over the last 2 days may be contributing to that feeling.

Sitting in row 27, seat F -window seat- a great view of the wing. If I look straight down I can see bits of clouds floating above the green mountain sides . . . even some snow.

Everything is going great . . . my seatbelt fits and my tray table is fully extended. I am reading a book called " 7- An Experimental Muting Against Excess" (Hey if you are going to work with orphans in Africa - why not go all the way and become radical in your world view?)

Catherine is in seat 27 E- the middle seat, and Bri'Anne is on the aisle seat. About 3 minutes after take off Catherine whipped out her Bible and asked if I'd like to hear a verse, "Of course". 

She leaned over and spoke right into my ear: 

"Hebrews 13:5-6 

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said "Never will I leave you: never will I forsake you." So we say with confidence The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

What a powerful and comforting verse to take to heart as we begin this journey. Thank you Father for never leaving me . . . I will not be afraid.

Got the coveted wing seat going from Brussels to Uganda too.

+++++

6-25-13 Tuesday

Rider Hotel- Seeta, Uganda

2:20 AM

We are in Uganda!!!

Writing from my bed . . . under the mosquito net. I feel unhappy that I can't tell my loved ones that I'm safe- the internet is down and there are no phones to be used yet. I just hope my family and friends don't worry too much. I think Paul won't  . . . God please help them to be at Peace.

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Adventure Village Orphanage

A ministry of Christian Life Ministries- Seeta, Uganda

Population 750 children

6-25-13 Tuesday

Rider Hotel- Seeta, Uganda

6:25 PM

Just got back from Day One at the orphanage . . . I am wiped out! We didn't even unload the Container today, it's still in Kampala . . . we just played with the kids- they are so full of life . . . asking questions, singing and dancing.

Our first Bus ride to the Orphanage! 

Jackie "There it is!!"

We arrived before lunch time. The children each have their own bowl that they bring to a central kitchen where it is filled with maze (local type corn) and beans. I think they have a little free time to run around, then they go back to the school which is located on the grounds of the orphanage. 

Someone brought out the drums . . . happy faces.

After the school children went back to their classrooms for the afternoon we walked around the orphanage and found these two best friends chatting on a porch. Mum Bett and Mum Harriet. 

 Oh yes! 

The preschoolers only have a half-day of school . . . time to play!

Catherine stealing my Preschooler . . . 

Ha Ha . . . got her back.

After school:

Laughing at my funny photos from Trailside Preschool.

Marylin & Edgar's wedding

Me in Alaska with the Biggest Snowman ever . . . what is snow?

 My family and . . .

bff Laura Lyon.

After school a boy named Isaac asked me if I would take him with me when I leave. His dad has died and his mother lives in another village -unable to care for him. He said he has a brother, but hasn't seen him in years (his brother was a very sick baby when they came to the orphanage and they were separated).  I wonder what happened to his brother, if he is even alive.

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