3 exciting things to share with you today!
New Children
We received 14 new children this month! Every time a new child comes into our family it’s such a blessing. We know that the trajectory of their life is now changed, and that the stability that they crave is now a reality. It means that they will now be able to attend school on a regular basis, and they have an army of prayer warriors behind them. I wanted to share with you just one of their stories.
Victoria, Eliza, and Electra had a mother and father who loved them and cared for them. Their mother took in 3 cousins (Leslie, Lynn, & Elsa) just last year when both of their parents died of HIV. We came in to help with sponsorship for those three girls, since now the family consisted of six young girls! Earlier this year, Victoria, Eliza, & Electra’s father was murdered. Now their mom, who doesn’t have a job, is left to care for the six girls on her own. We are privileged to be able to help her by at least making sure those girls can get an education, and by helping with food through our rice and beans fund.
Welcome to our V127 family Eliabu, Sharon, Victoria, Eliza, Electra, Martha, Nicholas, Joshua, Rinah, Mellisa, Pearl, Francis, Hebran, and Ruth Treasure! The amazing thing is that God already had 10 sponsors waiting and 4 more quickly signed up, so all 14 children are already fully sponsored. Also amazing that five of our new sponsors are teenagers! It’s so great when young people are catching the vision and putting their love in action by working to make a difference in the lives of those who are less fortunate. If you know someone interested in sponsorship, encourage them to fill out the sponsor form on the website (v127.org/sponsor). The best possible scenario is to have sponsors waiting when we receive new children.
Construction Update
I shared with you in my last email that we recently completed construction on our new pavilion and staff room. This month we sent $8600 for the construction of tables and chairs for both of those facilities. The spaces are already in use, but it will be great to actually have tables and chairs for the kids to use for lunch time and for an outdoor learning space. Sending that money essentially emptied our construction fund, so if you are looking for a place to donate, the construction fund and the scholarship fund are great options! The scholarship fund is supporting 28 students in higher education as well as many of our secondary students who are boarding.
Beatrice’s New Job
Beatrice Nakabubi was in our first group of children and she and her sister Babra (our resident artist) were our first V127 students to graduate from college. Beatrice graduated with a degree in environmental science from Uganda Christian University several years ago. She was not able to find a job in her field for a few years and held several different jobs trying to make ends meet. Well, just earlier this year she was hired by the Ugandan Ministry of Water and Environment! She was the only applicant with a degree in environmental science and that is what gave her the advantage. She is now an environmental health officer who is working in rural communities to implement and promote water hygiene and sanitation. She is also working to supply water sources in villages where water is hard to find.
We are so proud of Beatrice! She has taken full advantage of the opportunity she was given and is now using her education to better the lives of her people and her country. She is one of our “Oaks of Righteousness, a planting of God for the display of his splendor.” Isaiah 61:1-3
We are so grateful for the way God is changing lives, one child at at time, and allowing us all to be a part of His work.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Much Love, Jan