Part 2: Remaining issues

Part 2: Remaining issues.

Teachers

The continuing challenges for these children are overwhelming. The mere fact they are alive is a miracle when considering most have traveled hundreds of miles through some very hostile environments just to be in a refugee camp in southern Uganda. Many have had to witness atrocities we cannot even imagine. With your help we can give them a chance for a better life, a way out of the abject poverty they now live in. 

Please pray for the children, for the teachers, and the staff, for continuing funding for the much needed projects yet to be accomplished. Please ask God if you should be a vital partner in financially helping these children. The book of James says that pure and undefiled religion is the caring for widows and orphans. 

Last post I said there were a number of remaining issues that need to be met.

Teachers is one of our main issues that remains to be funded. The water was definitely a blessing in helping them to stay healthy and the next issue of food will also help them to live a healthier life. But stable salaries for the teachers are desperately needed in order to give these 600 children a chance of a better life. Education is their only hope of breaking free of the abject poverty they are now living in. There are now 11 teachers and 2 nurses taking care of these 600 children. Their salaries are only $100 per month, we have no money coming in on a consistent basis to pay them. In the past 8 months there has been a couple of teachers that just had to leave to find a more stable pay check. (And who can blame them when some months they get 1/2 salaries and some months less than that). 

Wouldn’t it be great to see teachers taking care of teachers and nurses caring for nurses. Could it be that God is leading you in that direction? One hundred dollars a month, that’s about $3.33 a day, about the same as that latte you’re sipping. That latte will taste good for a few minutes, but a sponsorship for a teacher or nurse can give you a warm feeling all month as you pray for them. Maybe you just don’t think you can afford $100 every month, God has a way of multiplying your blessings if you give him a chance and trust him. But if you cannot, what about getting 2 or 3 others and go in together for a sponsorship.

The morning food or feeding program is another basic need that these children need. We are not speaking of what most of us would consider as a full breakfast. This is simply a cup of sorghum porridge. It is made with sorghum flour, sugar and water and cooked in a large kettle. Right now they get nothing in the mornings. We all know how important it is to start the day with some kind of nourishment, it gives us that jump start to get our brains in gear. That is even more important when your trying to concentrate on your lessons.

I do not have hard figures as yet and probably won’t until we can actually start this program. But in talking with the teachers and the school director, Pastor Lewi, we believe we could feed 600 children a cup of porridge in the mornings for about $100 a week. Again there may have to be some adjustments when the program is actually up and running and there are some start costs, buying a large cooking pot and cups for the children, but I believe we are in the ballpark.

Nurse Immaculee

The medical clinic they have now is a small dirt floor room with a few shelves for a very few basic first aid supplies. Pastor Lewi is in the process of building a separate building that would have a supply room, an exam room and a room with a bed for a sick child. He is building the clinic on faith, as they have no money to outfit or staff it. 

New projects: goats, chickens and cows.

Raising animals would help with funding the school as these would be a commercial ventures. The young calves and goats would be sold at market and eggs from the chickens could also be sold, as well as some of the chickens themselves.

You can be an vital part of this ministry. These children are so grateful for your help in getting them the water they desperately need, but as you can see there are a number of other on going issues that need to be addressed. The Bible tells us not to store up treasures houses here on earth. I know right now there are some of you that need to open your store houses and give to God’s work for these children in Uganda.

Remember that you cannot take it with you, but you can “SEND IT AHEAD”.

If you can help we have a way for you to donate to these children’s needs. Go to www.watchtherefore.tv click on the donate button at the top of the page and please make sure you designate your tax deductible donation to the “Send It Ahead” program. You can further designate your funds by adding; Water, Teachers, or Food. While you’re at the web site please click on the Send It Ahead button at the top of the page to look for more updates and photos from the school.

I am hoping to update these posts with photos very soon. So come back often and check for any updates. Thank you for praying for and financially supporting these children. Good health and a good education can be the step out of poverty needed for these children.