Don't Give Up On Children

Sometimes it is easy to turn our heads when we see a child in need.....when we see a child who needs more help than we, perhaps want to offer.  When I first saw Lawrence, he was a little boy with a crossed eye, naked, and very dirty.  I rode past him every day, not thinking about what is really going on in his little life.  Then one day, as I rode comfortably passed Lawrence, the Lord spoke to me.  It wasn't an audible voice, but I knew He was getting my attention.  I was suddenly drawn deeper into this little boy.  I really saw him for the first time that day.  I became burdened to know more, not because I am such a caring person, but because God cares, because God loves Lawrence He wanted me to love him too.  
Most of you know that over the past year we have been working with doctors to find out about Lawrence, to learn what his needs are, physically, emotionally, mentally.  Test after test was done on little Lawrence and they all came back saying that there was nothing neurologically wrong with him that would prevent him from eventually, with the help of therapists, to learn to eat and talk.
We also found out that his eye could be corrected with surgery.  What good news! What a blessing!
The day in February of this year that I left Uganda to come back to the U.S., our ministry liaison in medical and health, my dear friend Henry Mello travelled 6 hours to Mbarara with Lawrence and his grandmother for Lawrence to have eye surgery.  We were thrilled that this was going to become a reality for Lawrence.  He was taking a step forward in his journey for health.  

The other day I found out from Henry that the eye doctor did not do the surgery because Lawrence
is "mentally retarded".  Now, this doctor had never met Lawrence before, and did not know any of Lawrence's history.  How easy it was to label him as mentally retarded and then not provide the needed surgery.  This made me sad and angry.  First of all, who said that Lawrence is mentally retarded?  He is a 5 year old boy who had a fever from malaria at age 1 that left him unable to eat or talk, and then had a grandmother who lacks the knowledge or resources to find help for him from the start.  He had 4 years of no therapy, no teaching, no medical assistance, no one to help him or his grandmother get help.  That does not make a child mentally retarded.  And even if he were mentally retarded, does that make him less deserving of something in his life that will improve it?  God did not place Lawrence before us for him to be labeled, given up on, and then forgotten.  God loves Lawrence and has a wonderful plan for his life.  He is already responding to therapy, our ministry liaison is working on providing nutritious foods for Lawrence as well.  

Lawrence is a beautiful, precious child of God.  I will never give up on him.  I am convinced that God brought him before us to help him.  That is what we will do.  I serve a God of miracles, a God who loves His children.  Who knows.....Lawrence could one day become a great preacher!!
I want to be there to hear him preach.....

When God Opens Doors

                                                   A little girl in Uganda, going to get water.


I never cease to be amazed at how God provides for His children.  I am always in awe of how He opens doors for His work.  As you know, last September when I went to Uganda, I visited a small remote village called Kalangaalo/Kyamagemule.  They have no running water, and no electricity.  The poverty and extreme need in this village led me to prayerfully seek what God wants for the people there.  Water......a basic need, something they so desperately need..this seemed to overwhelm my thoughts. That was it!  This sweet village needs clean, accessible water.

When I got back to the U.S. I began to research and make contacts for a well to be drilled there.  I spoke to a number of individuals in Uganda and the U.S. Water Mission Uganda even did some survey work.  Their systems were found to be too large and expensive for this area.  We also learned that, due to the rocky terrain and the need to protect the aquifer, a well would need to be mechanically drilled.  We began getting quotes, with help from friends at Water Mission, and missionaries in Uganda.  For $10,000.00 we could have well drilled.

L toR..Nancy Jinks and Laura Knetzer receiving a check from Doug Merkle at the Kiwanis  Club of Panama City.
  Thus the challenge began....to raise $10,000.00.  We had the privilege of being invited to speak about the well project to the Kiwanis Club of Panama City, Florida this past December.  They were were very interested, supportive, and encouraging.  Upon my return from a trip to Uganda in January and part of February, I was contacted by the Kiwanis Club with news that they were donating $500.00 toward the project.  What makes this story so compelling is this: the day in December that I spoke, there was a young man who had just joined the Kiwanis, his name is Colin.  He brought his fiance' that day.  Her mother happened to be visiting her from California.  When this young lady got home, she told her mother about Mercy Uganda.  Her mother went to our website, e-mailed us, and is now one of our dear child sponsors.  She then went back to California and told her husband about Mercy Uganda.  He and his company have now offered us a $5,000.00 matching funds gift for the well project. So, for every dollar we receive, they match it, up to $5,000.00. What a blessing!  How awesome that God caused His blessings to flow in such a way!

During this same period of time we are invited to attend a missions conference at First Presbyterian Church in Demopolis, Alabama, February 26th-28th. It, too, was such a blessing.  During that conference, a kind gentleman, and member of that church donated $500.00 toward the well project.  The Lord continues to provide what is needed for Mercy Uganda as we seek to be used by Him to provide a well for Kalangaalo/Kyamagemule.  Every day I see God opening door after door.  Every day I have to say thank you Lord for Your love, Your provision, Your care for Your children in Uganda.  Isn't God amazing?

Karamoja

 Two children in Karamoja....you see many like this there.                     A young boy in Karamoja....what a precious smile he has!

Karamoja......what an experience it was to visit that very remote, impoverished area.  We were actually in the Nakapiripirit area, which, we have found out, is very unsafe.  Four days after I returned to the U.S. two vehicles were attacked by gunfire and people were killed.  Yes, it is scary to think about it, but I prayed that God would lead us where He wanted us to go.  The door to Karamoja was opened, we went, He protected us.  I can't help but think that perhaps those same Karamajong warriors could have been ready to shoot at us but that God had His angels surrounding us. I am convinced that God wanted us there.  He had something He wanted us to see, to learn, to experience.  I am still praying that He shows me what He wants me to do with all of that.  Perhaps it is getting the orphans out of there to a safe place where they can have safety, food to eat, an education, and most importantly, learn about God.  Maybe God has something else....I am praying for His wisdom, guidance, and direction.  As unsafe as that area in Karamoja is, I was able to get into a vehicle and leave.  I had a bed, water, food, and a safe place to return to.  The precious people in the villages we met have none of that.  They have had a drought for 5 years.  They have little or no food, little or no water.  The cattle of the two villages we visited have been stolen by raiders.  They fear for their lives and the lives of their children.  They are desperate.  My prayer is that God will work in my life in such a  way that where He led me will lead me to follow Him, to obey Him, to listen to what He is telling me.  Would I go back to Karamoja?  If God opens the door for me to do so, then yes.
It's easy to go into all the world when its a safe place, but difficult when it isn't.  The least of these....that's what the Karamajong are.....and God calls us to reach the least of these, to help the least of these......I would say that's a pretty clear message.  Please pray for us as we pursue God and what He wants us to do.  Please pray for the precious people of Karamoja. 

Update on Julius

I heard from my friend George Yawe today and he gave me a brief update on Julius with a couple of pictures.Julius has been transferred to what they call a Food Feed Ward at Mulago Hospital and is improving!He will be in the hospital for 2 or 3 months and we are working on raising funds to help pay for his medical needs during this extended hospital stay.  Please continue to pray for Julius and his grandmother.  Please pray that the Lord will provide the funds needed in order for Julius to continue to receive the necessary treatment.(You can see the improvement in Julius in just 2 weeks time, comparing these pictures to the ones on my recent blog...praise the Lord!)

Pictures of Julius

Here are pictures of Julius, the little boy I spoke of in my blog earlier today.  Please pray for him, he is a precious child of God.

Back Home

Well, we did it.....we had three intense and wonderful weeks in Uganda and then made it back home safely this past Monday evening.  I am still uploading the nearly 700 pictures I took during our trip so will be sharing some of those with you over the next weeks.  I must say that the Lord is good!  It is amazing how He places the people in front of you that He wants you to meet or help......we had instances of that on this trip, including a little baby boy named Julius whom we found "by accident" while looking for one of the sponsored children.  He was extremely malnourished, had worms, and had malaria for which he had not received treatment....he was 1 1/2 years old but looked 6 months old.....he would have died in a matter of days but is now, thanks to the good Lord for leading us through a woodsy path in a remote village to a little hut where we found Julius, he is in a hospital where he is slowly recovering.  He will be in the hospital for the next 2-3 months.  God wanted us to find that baby....He wanted that child helped and He allowed us to be a part of that plan....how awesome!  We are now working on getting more money over there for Julius' continued medical needs.  Please pray for him.  I will send you pictures very soon...they will break your heart and cause you to praise God for His intervention all at the same time.  This is one of several stories I'll be sharing over the next several weeks and months.....thank you for your prayers and for your support.  I'm glad to be home but miss Uganda too.
Laura

Quick update on the team

This is an update from Laura after a few days in Uganda! It's hard to believe, but they are headed home now.


Please pray for Lauren who stayed behind and will be living in Uganda for the next 18 months.


When Laura and the team are back, we will be posting pictures and many heart rending and Lord praising stories.


I Just wanted to give you an update on our trip.....We have been busy visiting some of our Ugandan friends, churches and had dinner with the Minister of Ethics, and the former Minister of Finance for Uganda.....pretty cool!

Saturday I was a "guest of honor" along with the Ugandan Minister of Education and some other dignitaries (I was definitely out of place)...we were at a football(soccer) tournament for youth which was held by Saved To Serve Ministries.....

Sunday Lauren and I attended a young and very poor church called Mustard Seed Presbyterian church which was located in the middle of a muslim slum area, many of the church members are converted from Islam. My friend Henry Mello was invited to preach.

Tomorrow Lauren and I head to Karamoja which is a very primitive area close to the Kenyan border and about 8 hours from home base. We are going with our 2 Ugandan friends and guides, Henry Mello and Gabriel Lubo to learn from the village and see what the specific needs are, particularly the orphans.

On Thursday we will be picked up by my friend Veronica who was at Covenant in October. We will visit her pregnancy center, and she will take us to visit Rahab house, where girls as young as 10 live who have been rescued from prostitution.

On Friday we hope to go with Bob and our medical team to visit hospitals and I have a couple of children I want the doctor to see. Saturday will be time to go Joy's maternity home, Return to Bethel, and do a little shopping before the medical team returns home.

Next Sunday, Lauren and I will go to Kalangaalo.

Next week we will be visiting schools and holding a ballet camp, as well as the finishing up of Lauren's living arrangements which are going well.

Our last Sunday we hope to go to the Bethel House Orphanage for church service and then we will be flying home that evening....leaving Lauren here for 18 months.

You probably won't hear from us again at least for a while as we will be away from the computer.

Thank you for your prayers for us and I look forward to telling you all about it when I return.