Before I even begin I want to thank everyone who purchased a shirt, made a donation, or has said a prayer over my trip. The outpouring of support that came from selling these shirts really filled my heart and I have felt so loved over the past few months. So thank you.
18 days from today I will begin my trip to Africa. Some 36 hours or so later I will literally be stepping into the journey that God has called me into. I am excited. I am nervous. I am blessed. My heart is already being challenged and stretched in so many ways and I just want to soak up the lessons that God has for me. I feel as if my heart is completely malleable and I want it to be forever changed.
Having my trip bump up to Christmas as it does Jason and I have really been challenged this year to think about what Christmas means, and how we are going to celebrate it within our family. So this year Jason and I decided that we would make Christmas gifts for everyone in our lives and we have really enjoyed the process, and dare say everyone that receives a gift is going to appreciate it as well.
If you are looking for some last minute, meaningful gift ideas for the people in your lives I have an idea! I have a list of 6 of the organizations that I will be visiting on my trip. I am going to attach the links to their websites as well as a little information about each place. If you would like to give money to one of these organizations in someones honor for Christmas you can either donate via the links on the ministries page or donate on my blog in the top right hand corner. When I return from my trip in January I will write a letter to the person you donated on behalf of, telling them about what that money is going toward, the people that I was blessed to meet there, and include a picture of the children at that place.
I have already been blessed by this experience and I know that those blessings are about to multiply abundantly. I believe that in giving your heart will also be blessed.
Uganda Ministries:
Return Children's Home exists to raise the next generation of Ugandan leaders as we bring the fatherhood of God to the Fatherless, by pursuing excellence in academic and practical skills, integrity in conduct and moral values, so each child becomes a responsible Christian and a productive citizen of Uganda through fostering alliances and partnerships between Christian leaders in Africa and the rest of the world. The model involves physical care, medical intervention including HIV/AIDS treatment, education - formal and vocational, counseling and emotional well being as well as moral and spiritual discipleship. we believe that the Church is the solution to every community problem and that GOD has called us to establish justice and righteousness in our world. The church is, therefore, central to all we do. 60 Feet: http://sixtyfeet.org/
60 Feet is a ministry that came out of a heartbreaking situation. Not long ago a woman was on her way out of Kampala and drove past a dilapidated old sign that read “M”: Rehabilitation Center for Children. She was drawn to learn more about the place so she turned down a long, winding dirt road until she came to the end. To her horror, she found rooms of children locked up, young kids chained to windows, and even a 10 day old, malnourished and living in her own urine. She saw hundreds of children with little food and no supervision. As horrific as this was, on that day God began a glorious story of redemption for these children. In response to what they learned about “M”, 60 Feet mobilized a team to help improve the conditions on the ground. The initial objectives were immediate relief for these children which included basic necessities such as water, food and medical care. Today it includes ministering to the children through teaching and in some cases release to their families.
Amazima Ministries: http://www.amazima.org/
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Amazima Ministries was founded by 19 year-old Katie Davis in 2008. The organization, based out of Brentwood, TN, feeds, educates, and encourages orphaned and vulnerable children and the poor in the country of Uganda. In the Lugandan language, Amazima (uh-mahz-i-muh) means "truth." Amazima desires to reveal the truth of God's unconditional love through Jesus Christ to the Ugandan people. Amazima minister to people through: education sponsorship, Masese outreach, community outreach, vocational projects, and discipleship.
Canaan Children's Home is a home ran by Pastor Isaac Wabaga that operates with the following goals and objectives in mind:
- Children are people too and Canaan Children’s Home’s main objective is to bring children out of the street and turn them into good Christians and responsible citizens. We desire that they come out of the life they are leading on the street (i.e. drug abuse and bad moral behaviors).
- It is our desire that the orphans get help, find meaning in life and to belong to the home.
- To help them not to think that life ended when they lost their parents. We desire to be the fathers of the fatherless as the Lord commissioned us.
- We desire that all these children get an education so that they may be self reliant in the future and we want to train them to help other orphans.
- To give these children good health services by building a clinic at the Home and have a doctor available of them.
- To give these children a good education by building primary and secondary schools.
Kenya Ministries:
In addition to the caring for and educating the orphans that the Fiwagoh Orphanage has gathered, the mission is also working to uplift the living standards and the educational and moral standards of the stricken poverty children from the surrounding neighbours and children of our fellow church members around the community are given the opportunity to learn along with our orphans. Right now, more than 20 pupils' lives have changed after joining our institution. Through their strong character influence, their parents have also been drawn to the church.
We are a small charity who support a community of children in Kampi Ya Moto in the Rift Valley, Kenya. There, many people are affected by Aids and HIV, none more so than the children, many of whom have been orphaned or who are themselves infected with the virus. Visoi Children's Centre International has been set up in conjunction with the local community to provide safe accommodation, health care and education opportunities for these orphaned children. It is important that the charity is working directly with the local community, with a view to enhancing and developing the skills of local people, with the plan that the orphanage will eventually become largely self sufficient.
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These are the ministries that I will be visiting that have websites. In addition we will likely be visiting: Haven of Hope Children's home, Grace Children's home, Church on the Rock Academy, and Kibera which is one of the largest slums in the world (all of which are in Kenya).
If you want to give, but don't know what to give toward feel free to just give and our team will apply it wherever it is needed most. If you give and want me to write a letter to someone or even to you about where your money went and how it was used just email me and I will be so happy to do so.
If you aren't able to or have already given your prayers are still needed and appreciated. Please prayer over these ministries, visit their websites and stay updated on what they are doing in the lives of these kids.
Thanks again for all of the support and I will keep everyone updated as I am able throughout my trip, and definitely upon returning from my trip.
