We at Mercy Uganda never cease to be amazed at the generosity of others who come alongside us and do incredibly generous things for the women and children in Uganda. We recently had the awesome privilege of becoming involved with a family who "happened" to come to the Mercy Uganda banquet this past October. From that "chance meeting" this family felt God leading them to do something out of the ordinary, something that took not just one person's obedience, but a whole family's obedience and tested it. The Donnelly family has been mightily used by God in providing an education for 5 children, a home for them and their grandmother, and a piggery to help her become self sustaining in such a way that she now will be able to provide for this precious family. Below are a series of correspondences that show the impact their obedience had, and the way God touched many lives through that simple act.
The message below is from our Director in Uganda, Henry Mello, thanking the family for their gift to this precious Ugandan family....
Dear Joseph,
Am so grateful to the Lord for the wonderful work you have done.
You have tremendously changed lives in this family. Though it has been a bit challenging, we thank God that the job is done. We have finished the house. We have put up the piggery shelter and I have already bought them 3 piglets which will be brought in two weeks time.
Am so pleased and thankful for this lifetime gift you have given this family. How I wish one day you come and see this by your own eyes but for now adhered are some of the photos.
God bless the Donnellys! Amen.
Henry.(You can see Henry working on the window of this new home in this picture)
Am so grateful to the Lord for the wonderful work you have done.
You have tremendously changed lives in this family. Though it has been a bit challenging, we thank God that the job is done. We have finished the house. We have put up the piggery shelter and I have already bought them 3 piglets which will be brought in two weeks time.
Am so pleased and thankful for this lifetime gift you have given this family. How I wish one day you come and see this by your own eyes but for now adhered are some of the photos.
God bless the Donnellys! Amen.
Henry.(You can see Henry working on the window of this new home in this picture)
This part is the Donnelly's response to our request to share their testimony...
Thank you for your message. Feel free to use our testimony. Anything that motivates others to do the same is heading in the right direction. The way God intended us to lead our lives.
I am very, very impressed at the quality of construction. Grandmother looked very proud in her photo standing in front of her new home.
This was a great experience in so many aspects. What other organization can you see such a direct benefit materialize in a very short period of time? Our children were able to see that yes, you truly can make a difference. We have yet to imagine how this experience may benefit their futures along with those of the five children in Uganda. In any case it has touched both sides of the globe!
We really would like to stay in touch with Henry on how we can remain a part of this family's future. While we can not yet commit to something on the scale of this recent project we certainly wish to continue in any way we can.
Regards,
Jeannie Donnelly
Thank you for your message. Feel free to use our testimony. Anything that motivates others to do the same is heading in the right direction. The way God intended us to lead our lives.
I am very, very impressed at the quality of construction. Grandmother looked very proud in her photo standing in front of her new home.
This was a great experience in so many aspects. What other organization can you see such a direct benefit materialize in a very short period of time? Our children were able to see that yes, you truly can make a difference. We have yet to imagine how this experience may benefit their futures along with those of the five children in Uganda. In any case it has touched both sides of the globe!
We really would like to stay in touch with Henry on how we can remain a part of this family's future. While we can not yet commit to something on the scale of this recent project we certainly wish to continue in any way we can.
Regards,
Jeannie Donnelly
The e-mail below is from the Donnelly's......
Dear Henry:
You have done beautiful, quality work! Your message and photos made our day! Thank you so much for overseeing this project and devoting your time to make sure it gets done.
There are not many organizations that provide such feedback.
While we can not control where we are born, we can however, control what we chose to do with the gifts God gives us. Your dedication is most admirable!
I do hope that one day we can travel to Uganda to meet this family.
While I did not recognize it at the time, I was involved in a project last year which enabled me to provide additional income for our family. This involved many hours away from my family, working two jobs, etc. During this ordeal I was wondering if it was all worth it, feeling discouraged, taken for granted, doubting God's path.
In October, we attended the benefit dinner at Covenant, saw the work being done by the Mercy Uganda organization, watched your group via satellite and the sacrifices you and others have made. At the time, we started to get a glimmer of what life must be like for Ugandans. A simple convenience we have of having water inside our homes, let alone, having a warm shower every day, while these people must walk sometimes for miles for a bucket of water.
This whole idea started from water and what others have to do just to get it. During the dinner in October, we signed up to provide educational assistance for two children on the spot. Later, Laura contacted us regarding the rare opportunity to provide for these five children. We were so moved by this and made a family decision to do everything we could to help this family. We were saving for a pool (water again). Our children wholeheartedly agreed to postpone the pool project in order to make this happen. Joe sold some stock we had and we emptied the savings account. It is truly amazing how God works!
We greatly appreciate your efforts in "stretching the budget" to complete the project.
Please let us know if there are other needs such as bedding, household items, etc. We would also like to get bicycles for the children to use for school.
Also is it possible for us to send "care packages" for the children? If so, how is this done?
God bless you for your heart and efforts!
With Regards,
Jeannie, Joe, Kevin and Kimberly Donnelly
You have done beautiful, quality work! Your message and photos made our day! Thank you so much for overseeing this project and devoting your time to make sure it gets done.
There are not many organizations that provide such feedback.
While we can not control where we are born, we can however, control what we chose to do with the gifts God gives us. Your dedication is most admirable!
I do hope that one day we can travel to Uganda to meet this family.
While I did not recognize it at the time, I was involved in a project last year which enabled me to provide additional income for our family. This involved many hours away from my family, working two jobs, etc. During this ordeal I was wondering if it was all worth it, feeling discouraged, taken for granted, doubting God's path.
In October, we attended the benefit dinner at Covenant, saw the work being done by the Mercy Uganda organization, watched your group via satellite and the sacrifices you and others have made. At the time, we started to get a glimmer of what life must be like for Ugandans. A simple convenience we have of having water inside our homes, let alone, having a warm shower every day, while these people must walk sometimes for miles for a bucket of water.
This whole idea started from water and what others have to do just to get it. During the dinner in October, we signed up to provide educational assistance for two children on the spot. Later, Laura contacted us regarding the rare opportunity to provide for these five children. We were so moved by this and made a family decision to do everything we could to help this family. We were saving for a pool (water again). Our children wholeheartedly agreed to postpone the pool project in order to make this happen. Joe sold some stock we had and we emptied the savings account. It is truly amazing how God works!
We greatly appreciate your efforts in "stretching the budget" to complete the project.
Please let us know if there are other needs such as bedding, household items, etc. We would also like to get bicycles for the children to use for school.
Also is it possible for us to send "care packages" for the children? If so, how is this done?
God bless you for your heart and efforts!
With Regards,
Jeannie, Joe, Kevin and Kimberly Donnelly
--------------------------(This is a picture of the piggery)
This gift of love, this step of obedience, this generosity of heart.....it has had an impact in ways that will be seen for generations, and will be rewarded in Heaven. This is one of many stories of generous givers following the voice of the Lord. Mercy Uganda thanks them....I thank them.
God is glorified!
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