Friday, November 18, 2011
Beautiful photos from the village
Alicia posted some pictures on facebook, and I'm putting them on here! Love it!
*** Also: Stay tuned for a post about the Apples for Africa fundraiser! This weekend the Bodine girls are hunkering down to get all the orders done for all of you wonderful people! We're anxious to tell everyone the final count of caramel apples sold, how much money was made for the Suubi Childrens Center, and what the money is going to help with! Thanks again to all who ordered apples, and for every prayer warrior out there!
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
One little boy
Yesterday I got another blog update from Alicia. Needless to say, this was hard to read. I was humbled and brought crashing back to reality of how blessed I have been. I have an almost 5 year old boy, and reading this brought tears to my eyes. Lets be prayer warriors for this little guy, and continue to keep Alicia and Global Hands of Hope in your prayers!
Here is her blog she sent:
Blog November 14.....
I want to tell you a story. But to understand this story, you need to understand a little bit of background from the village. Yes, there are some Christians here. There are also many many Muslims. But among the different religions, there is something in the village that many people not only SEEK out, but they also FEAR. The thing I am talking about is witchcraft. I used to watch its on shows or read about it and laugh at the idea that people could actually believe this. But it is no longer something that I see on the discovery channel or in National Geographic magazine. These are REAL people that I interact with on a daily basis. People just like you and me who go to work in the morning, laugh with friends, spend time with their families and go about their life as always.
Some people don’t go visit a witch-doctor, but they still believe that those doctors have “Powers”. If someone in the village gets sick, they think someone has bewitched them. If someone dies, people believe a curse was put upon them. If they are unlucky with crops, money, health, etc. it is blamed on witchcraft. I know that for many of these situations, there are other alternative answers for what might have happened. But many of these people believe in it so much that you would not be able to change their minds.
So now, I want you to imagine a little boy about 5 years old. A happy, fun and energetic little boy who has lived a healthy life. But, he is growing up in a village where many people believe in witchcraft. One of his older relatives is a witch-doctor and is looking for someone to pass on the “Powers” to. None of the men in the family want to be responsible for the “Powers”, so the man finally decides to pick someone. He chooses the little boy’s dad. Then a problem arises. The dad does NOT want to be chosen, so he runs away from the Village. The witch-doctor is unhappy and decides that someone should be punished for the man refusing to receive the “Powers”. His eyes fall upon the little 5 year old boy whose life was once normal until this day. Even though his dad eventually came back to the village, it was too late. A “curse” had been put on the boy and he has never been the same.
He is now about 9 years old. He is considered mentally handicapped. He walks around the village either in a t-shirt or completely naked. Some people mistreat him, make fun of him and sometimes hit him. His family does not know how to take care of him with his mental disability, but they allow him to eat and sleep at home. The kids in the village do not play with him because he is considered to be possessed. So, day by day goes by for this little boy with no friends, no love, no clothes, and hardly any food. All of this because people believe in witchcraft.
This little boy is Beautiful! When he smiles there is still a twinkle in his eye. He might not understand what people say anymore, but maybe he does. I want to believe that behind the blank look on his face, that maybe he is still in there somewhere. He is a child of God and there is a purpose for his life! Please pray for us that we can figure out a way to help him out of this situation!
Some other news and a few pictures:
Pastor Robert and some kids watching a DVD Sermon from my church back Home... Thanks Pastor Jerry!
I Love this picture of Mawazi and Mugwanya running through the grass to school with a little cow! Lol Oh life in the village! Ha Ha Ha
Some of the kids showing me how high they can jump... I love my Job! :o)
I recently went with Doreen again to the Slums of Katanga where she has started up a Women’s Bible Study. We are working on trying to get a mentor/pen-pal program started between her group in Katanga and the MOPS group that my Sister Crystal, helps with in Lincoln City, Oregon. The women are so excited to start sending and receiving letters and emails. These women have been through so many hardships. Some have had children or spouses pass away, live in complete poverty, Can’t feed their children or pay for school fees, and some are very sick themselves.
They just had one of the women pass away last month, and I found out that another lady in the group has AIDS and is not doing very well. Her 20 year old son is now in charge at home, helping raise the other kids, taking care of the mom, and driving a boda-boda to make money for their family (a boda is a motorcycle taxi). Please pray for the Katanga women and the MOPS Ladies as they all prepare their minds and hearts to grow in new friendships, new emotions, new heartaches, more knowledge of a different culture, and most of all for them to Grow spiritually with their new sisters in Christ as they all seek to spread God’s Word and make this world a little smaller! We are all very excited!
Well, I will write more soon. But for now it is time for me to go to bed. It’s another big day Tomorrow at school. We are taking photos and getting the student profiles in order for us to start our Sponsorship program! (see information below!) Some awesome things are starting to Happen here in this little village, and I’m so excited to see what God has Planned for us! If anyone would like information about sponsoring a child, please either email me on Facebook or email me at she_she55@yahoo.com We will have their profiles ready in the next week or two if people are interested, let me know and then when we are done, you can choose which child you would like to sponsor from the pictures and photos we will have available! The sponsorship information will be listed below.
Thanks so much for your continued prayers and support! I really appreciate it! You guys are amazing! I Pray that you have a wonderful Day! May God Bless You this week!
Love in Christ,
Alicia
******Child Sponsor Information:*******
$10 per month and $35 start up for their uniform, books, school supplies and shoes.
Or a one-time donation of $155 to cover the whole school year.
We will send you a photo and profile of your child.
You will receive updated reports and a letter from your sponsor child every 3-4 months.
Please consider praying about this opportunity that you have to help educate, befriend and Bless a little child all the way over here in the little village of Bukeka, Uganda.
Here is her blog she sent:
I want to tell you a story. But to understand this story, you need to understand a little bit of background from the village. Yes, there are some Christians here. There are also many many Muslims. But among the different religions, there is something in the village that many people not only SEEK out, but they also FEAR. The thing I am talking about is witchcraft. I used to watch its on shows or read about it and laugh at the idea that people could actually believe this. But it is no longer something that I see on the discovery channel or in National Geographic magazine. These are REAL people that I interact with on a daily basis. People just like you and me who go to work in the morning, laugh with friends, spend time with their families and go about their life as always.
Some people don’t go visit a witch-doctor, but they still believe that those doctors have “Powers”. If someone in the village gets sick, they think someone has bewitched them. If someone dies, people believe a curse was put upon them. If they are unlucky with crops, money, health, etc. it is blamed on witchcraft. I know that for many of these situations, there are other alternative answers for what might have happened. But many of these people believe in it so much that you would not be able to change their minds.
So now, I want you to imagine a little boy about 5 years old. A happy, fun and energetic little boy who has lived a healthy life. But, he is growing up in a village where many people believe in witchcraft. One of his older relatives is a witch-doctor and is looking for someone to pass on the “Powers” to. None of the men in the family want to be responsible for the “Powers”, so the man finally decides to pick someone. He chooses the little boy’s dad. Then a problem arises. The dad does NOT want to be chosen, so he runs away from the Village. The witch-doctor is unhappy and decides that someone should be punished for the man refusing to receive the “Powers”. His eyes fall upon the little 5 year old boy whose life was once normal until this day. Even though his dad eventually came back to the village, it was too late. A “curse” had been put on the boy and he has never been the same.
He is now about 9 years old. He is considered mentally handicapped. He walks around the village either in a t-shirt or completely naked. Some people mistreat him, make fun of him and sometimes hit him. His family does not know how to take care of him with his mental disability, but they allow him to eat and sleep at home. The kids in the village do not play with him because he is considered to be possessed. So, day by day goes by for this little boy with no friends, no love, no clothes, and hardly any food. All of this because people believe in witchcraft.
This little boy is Beautiful! When he smiles there is still a twinkle in his eye. He might not understand what people say anymore, but maybe he does. I want to believe that behind the blank look on his face, that maybe he is still in there somewhere. He is a child of God and there is a purpose for his life! Please pray for us that we can figure out a way to help him out of this situation!
Some other news and a few pictures:
I recently went with Doreen again to the Slums of Katanga where she has started up a Women’s Bible Study. We are working on trying to get a mentor/pen-pal program started between her group in Katanga and the MOPS group that my Sister Crystal, helps with in Lincoln City, Oregon. The women are so excited to start sending and receiving letters and emails. These women have been through so many hardships. Some have had children or spouses pass away, live in complete poverty, Can’t feed their children or pay for school fees, and some are very sick themselves.
They just had one of the women pass away last month, and I found out that another lady in the group has AIDS and is not doing very well. Her 20 year old son is now in charge at home, helping raise the other kids, taking care of the mom, and driving a boda-boda to make money for their family (a boda is a motorcycle taxi). Please pray for the Katanga women and the MOPS Ladies as they all prepare their minds and hearts to grow in new friendships, new emotions, new heartaches, more knowledge of a different culture, and most of all for them to Grow spiritually with their new sisters in Christ as they all seek to spread God’s Word and make this world a little smaller! We are all very excited!
Well, I will write more soon. But for now it is time for me to go to bed. It’s another big day Tomorrow at school. We are taking photos and getting the student profiles in order for us to start our Sponsorship program! (see information below!) Some awesome things are starting to Happen here in this little village, and I’m so excited to see what God has Planned for us! If anyone would like information about sponsoring a child, please either email me on Facebook or email me at she_she55@yahoo.com We will have their profiles ready in the next week or two if people are interested, let me know and then when we are done, you can choose which child you would like to sponsor from the pictures and photos we will have available! The sponsorship information will be listed below.
Thanks so much for your continued prayers and support! I really appreciate it! You guys are amazing! I Pray that you have a wonderful Day! May God Bless You this week!
Love in Christ,
Alicia
******Child Sponsor Information:*******
$10 per month and $35 start up for their uniform, books, school supplies and shoes.
Or a one-time donation of $155 to cover the whole school year.
We will send you a photo and profile of your child.
You will receive updated reports and a letter from your sponsor child every 3-4 months.
Please consider praying about this opportunity that you have to help educate, befriend and Bless a little child all the way over here in the little village of Bukeka, Uganda.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
The last two weeks...
Sorry it has been so long since I last wrote. A big Thank you goes out to my amazing Sisters and Mom who keep my blog up to date for me even when I don’t have the ability to get online to write. I would be lost without them!
As I write this, I am sitting in the dark. Once again, the power has gone out. I’m getting used to it because it is on a schedule of one day on then one day off… But every time we have power and I know it is about to go off, I still find myself praying that it will stay on. So, lets just hope that my laptop battery stays good!
Well, a lot has happened in the past couple weeks. Some good and some bad. I will start off with the good stuff!
Two weekends ago, I was at my host Mum’s house. Her daughter Doreen is getting married in January, and the families are starting to go through the traditional steps before the wedding. This meeting meant that the women cooked a BIG meal for the men in Issac’s Family and the men in Doreen’s Family. While the food was being prepared, the men all sat in the Sitting room discussing “The Bride Price”… The Dowry the Isaac will give… How many cows, sugar, rice, fabric, vegetables, etc. We were not told what they settled on, but we DO know that the meeting went really well and both sides were in agreement. Yay :o) In December, is their “Introduction”. The families and some friends get all dressed up in traditional clothing, and get together like an engagement party, but before eating or celebrating, the groom and his family have to give the dowry and other gifts to the Bride’s Side. Then the Bride’s family has to officially give the blessing saying that it is ok for the man to marry their daughter. It is far different from what I’m used to, but it is fun to be able to experience all of this!
I went with my host sister Doreen to the ministry that she is starting with a group of ladies in the Slums of Katanga. There are 5,000 people and only about 6 outhouses in the whole slum. The shacks are so close together with small walkways in between them. The walkways are thinner than a hallway back in the States. There is no pavement, and because of the rain, the walkways are being washed away and turning into gutters… The ladies in Doreen’s Bible study are anxious to learn about God, the Bible and have started getting the desire to learn English.
We are meeting with a lady this week who we are hoping can take care of the cow that will be purchased from the money donated by a friend in the U.S.
We are hoping that she will agree with the terms, and that we can keep the cow at her small farm and transfer the milk to the school every day from there. Please pray that she will say yes! If she does, then we will start contacting the person we know who we can buy the cow from. It is all very exciting! (This is not the real cow, but you get the picture, right??)
And now for some hard stuff:
Last week on Wednesday, we received the sad news that the father of one of our students passed away. Annette is 5 years old and is in one of our baby Classes. Her dad died in a town 30 minutes from the Village from a sudden problem with his intestines. It was very unexpected. Africa does not have the abilities to preserve a body like we do back home. Here, a body must be buried that day or the next day. Annette’s family had to come up with the money to transport his body home that day so the funeral could be on Thursday. I immediately called my Mom to ask people to pray for the family. Within about an hour after we heard the news, we had a donation of money to help pay for some of the funeral costs, and to help with some school fees for the kids. Teacher Madena and I walked from the school to the other side of the village to Annette’s House. I tried to prepare myself on the way there, but nothing could have prepared me for that experience.
The men were all sitting outside the small house, and were very grateful to know that people were praying for their family. Then we took our shoes off and went into the house. The Father was laid out on a mattress on the floor in the sitting room covered in a blanket so only his face was visible. His wife, and other women in the family were surrounding him on the floor screaming and crying. Her mother has lost her husband, she does not know how to survive since her husband was the only one with a job. Where will they live, what will they eat, and how will they continue to have the kids go to school without being able to pay the school fees? These questions had been racing in my mind on the walk over, but all of that was forgotten when Madena pointed to where little Annette was, and what I saw broke my heart… a 5 year old little girl kneeling on the concrete floor next to her dad’s body screaming and sobbing her little heart out… not only has she lost her father, but her whole world has been turned upside down. Madena and I were crying because all we could do to comfort her was to hold her tight and and pray that God would send them comfort. Please pray for Annette’s Family as they work through the grieving process and come to terms with their dad no longer being here.
And now for some prayers requests!
* Annette’s Family!
* This week is when we give the kids their 3rd term Exams. Yes, even preschoolers here are given a test every sememster to see their progress. Each teacher gave me an example test, and I wrote them out on my computer and we printed them off this weekend. I think they turned out really good. Now I just pray that the kids will do well on them!
* Please pray for Teacher Jennifer. 2 weeks ago, someone came to their house and stole her husband’s bicycle. It was his main transportation to work. Then a week later, someone broke into their house while they were sleeping. Thankfully he ran away when they woke up, but she is still pretty shaken up about it
* Continued safety traveling to and from the school.
Thank you for your continued prayers for me and for Global Hands of Hope. I can feel your prayers and I appreciate them so much! You are all wonderful and I pray that you have a great Day! May God Bless You this week!
Love,
Alicia
We will leave you with this thought:
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