Sacrifice...Thankfulness

This week as Thanksgiving approaches and it does not feel like its
coming at all because there are no reminders of it here, however, I
have thought a lot about the word sacrifice in the past couple of
days. Many people around the world know the meaning of this word. I
could go on and on with many examples of those who sacrifice their
lives daily. Today I think about one of our students who has been
working on the building project during his holiday. He sometimes
misses school so that he can earn money in order to pay school fees
for younger siblings in his household. That is sacrifice. I think
about all my friends and family who have sacrificially given of their
prayers and finances that enable me to be here where I know God has
called me to be for this season of my life. I want to thank all of my
friends and family for that sacrifice as well as for the sacrifice
that comes with trying to keep in contact with someone on another
continent. I miss everyone a lot but this sacrifice that I am making
by being here is completely worth it. And finally as I think of the
word sacrifice my mind goes to the cross and meditates on that for a
while. For, it is because of the cross that I am here in Uganda. I
will never be able to fully comprehend what Jesus did for me on that
cross. He became sin and in so doing was separated from the Father.
I can not imagine the agony and pain He went through in those moments,
physically, emotionally, spiritually, all at once. So thank you Lord
for the cross, that enables me to have eternal life, live life to the
full, and love others the way You do. Thank you for my friends and
family who love me because it's often times through their love that I
feel You loving me. Happy Thanksgiving family and friends! We will
be taking our holiday off and cooking up a great American Thanksgiving
meal for our family here (the Children of Grace staff).

Continually Learning New Things Here

Last Wednesday (after the building dedication) the COG staff was invited to attend a meeting at St. Francis Medical Clinic.  COG has a partnership with this clinic so all of our children who get sick go here to receive free medical care.  The clinic was holding a seminar on HIV/AIDS and the stigma attached to it.  Headmasters from all around the area were invited to come.  The director of the clinic shared about some of things that St. Francis does.  They have a grandmother's (Jaja) project in which they support grandmothers who are now caring for their grandchildren due to AIDS taking away their children.  They also now have about 25 children that live at the clinic who are in stage 3 and 4 of AIDS so that they can get around the clock care.  They have about 10,000 patients and about 790 people on ARV treatment.  The director went on to talk about the word stigma.  He said it is not a word that is found in their Ugandan language so let us define what it means in English.  His definition was "a spoiled identity."  He talked about the fact that there unfortunately is still a stigma attached to AIDS in Uganda, many people do not think that is still a problem here but it is.  This is because it is not talked about!  The director appealed to the teachers in the room that they must be teaching their students about HIV/AIDS.  One of the COG staff spoke out and talked about how there are signs posted all around the schools here that talk about HIV/AIDS and about abstaining from sex, but nobody ever talks about it in the classroom so the children after seeing these messages posted so many times simply just walk by them without noticing them anymore.  He asked the teachers to please make this apart of their curriculum.  Another one of our COG staff spoke up about a child who's teacher basically announced to the whole class that he is positive.  Needless to say that little boy never came back to that school!  Could you even imagine having that "label" put on you?  When that label is put on a child here other children will stop being friends with them or they will make fun of them.  This is just unacceptable.  The director pleaded with the teachers to educate our children.  The director told all who were present in the room that these are our children that we are talking about, they are not any one person's child.  We need to work together as people who love and care about children to really find out their backgrounds and get to know them so that we can best care for them at school or wherever they are.  He reminded the headmasters that teaching is a vocation, the root of vocation means calling.  He told them as teachers they are called to love and care for the children.  He said you have a responsibility to care for these children because we all know the government is not going to do it.

Overall it was just really eye opening to hear the discussion between the clinic, COG, and headmasters in the area.  Throughout the day I could not stop thinking about the words spoiled identity.  I am SO glad that the clinic hosted a seminar such as this as these issues definitely need to be addressed.  Thank the Lord for these people who care so much about the well being of children who are so near and dear to Jesus' heart!

Most recent building pics

The walls are coming up!

I walked through the building this afternoon, to try and capture a picture of how high the walls are now.

The front door of the new building.

Group picture of all the workers and COG staff at the dedication last wednesday.

Update on the new building

(These images posted in the wrong order but hopefully you can just work backwards when viewing them.) This is Rehema and Sue signing a brick at the dedication of the new building this past Wednesday morning.

MaryAnn reading a passage from Ephesians that talks about Jesus as our cornerstone. We prayed that many children will come through these walls and feel the love of Jesus Christ in the years to come!

The "cornerstone"

The building with its first layer of bricks laid out where all of the rooms will be.

The concret slab was completed on November 7th.

Lacking parental love

Last week as I walked through a village with Teo I asked her how her
cousins were doing since I know Annet had just lost her mother a
little less than a year ago. When Teo's two cousins are on break from
school they both come and stay with her. Her other living relatives,
an Aunt and her grandfather are up in Northern Uganda. It's quite
expensive and quite a trek to get there. Anyways, I asked her how
Annet was doing emotionally. She told me that there are some days
that Teo does certain things that remind Annet of her mother and she
thanks Teo for doing those things. And then there are other days
where she just misses the way her mother would do things. I started
to tear up in thankfulness of thinking about my own parents and how
much love they have shown me and continue to. I can not image not
having them in my life right now. My heart breaks for the parentless
children who have been orphaned in this world. I told Teo that she is
such a blessing to her two cousins. I know that while their parents
are no longer alive to love them, they are receiving a lot of love
from their older cousin who cares for them so much. They are blessed
to have Teo in their life. It made me sad to think of all the
children (over 2 million orphans) in Uganda who do not receive this
substitute parental love. There are countless stories of guardains,
whether they are Aunts or Uncles or Grandparents or just friends, that
take on the responsibility of raising an orphan who do not love them
like their own children.

We met a sponsored boy yesterday who was working during his holiday
break from school at St. Francis Clinic on a building project there.
When we found that out we immediately asked him to come and work at
COG's building site. So today Risa and I walked him to the house. We
told him how proud we are of him for showing such initiative and
getting a job over his holiday break! I asked him who he stays with
and he told me he used to stay with his cousins in a house but when he
came back from boarding school they had left the house and sold the
property and there are new people living in there!! So he is now
homeless! He now stays with a friend of his during the holidays. He
told me both of his parents passed away about 5 years ago (so sad!).

Violence=Violence

Today I had the privilege of going to Bosmo which is a primary school.  I went along with Teo as the Phonics teaching is coming to an end since the children are going to get out for summer break soon.  We were giving the students an exam today.  I walked up and down their desks to make sure no one was cheating.  After they had all finished Teo and started to grade all of the test on a bench outside of the classroom.  The teacher was no where to be found.  Half way through grading the exams we both heard the sound of someone being canned.  Immediately we jumped up and ran into the classroom to find a boy, Isaac, canning three of his classmates who are girls.  Immediately Teo took the sticks from him.  I pulled the three little girls out of the classroom and Teo addressed Isaac asking him if he would like to be canned himself.  She asked him if it pains him.  He said yes.  Then Isaac got his things and walked out of the room.  Outside the classroom I gave those three little girls big hugs and tried to wipe away their tears.  I asked them why Isaac had hit them and they said no reason.  I looked all of them in the eyes and I told them what Isaac did is wrong.  No one should ever cane you!  I am so sorry this has happened to you!  After they went back into the classroom Teo came out to look for Isaac.  She then found out that Isaac had run away.  The gatekeeper chased him for a little while and then fell down so he came back to the school.  As Teo was gone I took the opprotunity to again address the class.  I told them all that what Isaac did is wrong.  No one should ever be canned.  I told them they are all made in God's image and He loves them very much and does not want them to every be hit like that.  As Teo and I went back to grading the papers the teacher reappears.  Teo tells him what happened and he goes over and talks to the gatekeeper not Teo.  He then goes into his classroom to ask the kids what happened. Immediately Teo went into the classroom with him.  In front of the teacher she told the class again canning is wrong.   You should never be canned!  If you see someone being canned or if you are being canned you need to write a letter to Children of Grace with the teacher's name on the paper and we will come and put a stop to it because we do not believe in canning.  Teo also told the teacher do not cane Isaac when he returns to school tomorrow!  (I was so proud of Teo for how she handled that situation!  We will follow up with that school to make sure Isaac does not get canned.  We need to stop this by empowering the students to stand up against this as it is very wrong!  I feel bad for poor Isaac as he is a product of his environment.  He has grown up seeing others being canned and probably being canned himself and so he does it to others.)

Simon

Saturday night after taking the three kids around it was time for us to take Simon back to school.  He has been staying with us for about 2 weeks now and is such a joy to be around.  I very much enjoyed him having fun dancing to music (Ugandans are SUCH good dancers!).  He is HIV positive and has been staying with us because he had pneumonia.  Dr. Emma told me this past week that he was well enough to go back to school.  And let me tell you, Simon was SO excited to be able to go back to school.  As much as he enjoys being with us, he really just loves learning at school.  Before he left the house Mary Ann asked him a lot of questions about school.  She found out that he really does not like it there and wants to go to a new school next year.  Why she asked.  The reason he does not like the school is because he is in boarding and so everyone sees that he is taking the ARVs.  (When he comes back from the clinic the guard at the gate of the school has searched his bag before and pulls out the medicine and exclaims "Eh! AIDS, you shouldn't be here."  When all of these people know that he is positive some of them decide not to be friends with him.  COG will be looking into putting him into a day school possibly next year so that he can take his medicine at home and be treated no differently from other kids at school.  My heart just breaks for Simon.  I cannot even imagine being in his shoes.  I pray that he continues to get stronger and continues to do well in school.

I talked to Maria, the COG staff who takes care of all the positive kids, about what Simon had told Mary Ann about school.  She told me yes there is definitely still a stigma on AIDS here.  It has improved over the years as people used to think you could get it from eating lunch with someone.  But unfortunately a lot of kids do not get educated on AIDS.  A lot of the kids have probably been affected by AIDS if they are not infected.  Whether it's a parent, relative, or classmate, they most likely know someone who is positive and most likely know someone who has died prematurely due to the disease.  She told me that there are still people who think that you can get it through saliva.  Even though scientist a while ago came out and proved that it is nearly impossible to get it through saliva.  She said the problem is most people have not heard that information.  So there is clearly still a lack of understanding about HIV/AIDS and COG is determined to do all that they can do to make sure our sponsored kids are well educated about it and do treat someone who is positive like they would treat anyone else.

Meeting physical needs first

"…the whole gospel involves more than preaching; it also means caring
about the whole person and finding ways to meet that individual's
needs." (pg. 248 The Hole in our Gospel)

I was so blessed to be able to live this out Saturday afternoon. This
past Wednesday Mary Ann and I met two young girls, Gloria and Diana.
We decided to take them shopping Saturday so on Saturday Dennis, their
mentor, graciously came over to the guest house and off we went to
their house. We stopped the car on the side of the road and got out
to walk back into a neighborhood. We walked past many houses and
eventually got to their single room house. Diana was the only one
there at the time so Mary Ann left with her to go find her younger
sister Gloria. Meanwhile Richard, the older brother who is not
sponsored, came home and Dennis started asking him questions. Dennis
finds out that both their parents have passed away and they have an
older sister who is probably only 18 who works at a salon so sometimes
has enough money to give her younger siblings dinner but not every
night. He also finds out that Richard carries water for the neighbors
in order to earn money so that he can go to school. He is not able to
pay the full amount and normally that would mean the school would not
let him come but his teachers feel sorry for him so that let him
continue even though his debt is high. Eventually Mary Ann came back
and we took Diana, Gloria, and Richard into town to get some lunch
since it had started to rain. They filled their plates and were all
smiles. (What a change it was to see them now from this past
Wednesday when we first met them!) After lunch Dennis took them
shopping (if we went with them they would have been charged mzungu
prices, so we hung back and bought them some other necessities). Then
we made our way over to another store to buy them all mattresses and
blankets. We loaded everything in the car and drove them back to
their house where offloaded everything. We also got them a new
padlock so that all of their new things would not get stolen.

And now with their physical needs met we were able to tell them how
much God loves them. What a blessing it is to be His hands and
feet!!!! Thank you Mary Ann for your heart to take care of these
kids! (Children of Grace does not have the budget to be able to do
that for all the kids that they encounter.)

Friday and Saturday pictures

On Friday Godfrey was helping pull out 30 cups of Poscho and Beans for him and his sister to eat. He is on the food distribuition program. I went out with the truck that afternoon to deliver some more food to others who could not make it to St. Francis.

We took Simon back to school Saturday evening (more about him in the next blog). But here he is with Michelle (she is the 9 month yr old daughter of Bonnie who cleans and cooks at the house).

The cute little neighborhood kids that I got to take lots of pictures of while we waited for Diana to go and find her sister Gloria.

Gloria, Diana, and Richard with all of the new things that we bought for them on Saturday (the next blog will talk more about that).

Brian and I at his school (my best friend Karen sponsors him).

Marital Unfaithfulness

This is what Risa just posted on her blog and she told me all about
the conversation so I really wanted to post it as well because I
thought it was so interesting/sad.

"While in a meeting about camp on Friday we diverted and soon Samuel,
Vicky, and I were in a deep conversation about AIDS and marriage in
Uganda. I have noticed that many children still have mothers alive,
however their mothers are HIV positive, and their fathers have died. I
have assumed this is from infidelity; deducting that if not more
children would be HIV positive. Since many children are negative and
have mothers who are positive, I must assume that their mothers
contracted the virus post-birth and thus their husbands extracted it
first and have since died from it, leaving a tragic situation. In
Uganda it is basically assumed that the husband will be unfaithful to
his wife, and this is widely accepted. Many men still take multiple
wives. Thus, the spread of HIV is so rampant. I asked about Christians
and they both were quick to add that it simply doesn't matter. Samuel
said, "What are they thinking about God if it's not Sunday?" Implying
that men follow Jesus on Sundays only.

Samuel has risen above a hard situation in which his father took two
wives, and he grew up watching his father love his second wife more
than his mother, leaving heartache. Needless to say, he is very
against men having multiple wives. This hurt is the same hope that we
have in America for the next generation of marriages. Hopefully the
pain of people's childhoods will inspire them not to pass on the pain
to their children's.

My heart began to break as I sat asking further clarifying questions.
Obviously, some women are unfaithful too, but in Ugandan culture,
women are at home caring for the children most of the time, making it
much more difficult for them to be unfaithful. I asked Vicky how she
planned to deal with this, as she is a very beautiful, educated young
woman. She replied, "Risa, that is why I told you I want a mzungu
boyfriend." I assured her that mzungus can be unfaithful too, and her
response was, "Yes, but at least in a mzungu marriage, when a man is
not satisfied with his wife, he will leave her rather than sleeping
around and thus eventually infecting her with HIV."

This point that Vicky made was new to me. I have pondered it for the
past few days. Here it is culturally unacceptable to leave one's
husband or wife, and in the States it is too culturally acceptable to
do so. However, I am grateful for each time a spouse is honest about
his or her infidelity and leaves when unsatisfied, freeing up the
family from his or her double life. But, WOW!!! I have been deeply
burdened by this. Change is necessary. Children need to be educated to
be faithful, starting while they are young. This needs to be modeled
though actions. And, we need to pray that men and women alike will
have self-control in the moment to do what is right.

As Vicky walked out of the room she pointed to Samuel and me while
saying adamantly "You know what they say, the answer to HIV starts
with me, with you, and with you!!!" "