Compassion Graduates: Meet Sheleme from Ethiopia

Recently I shared about Divine Soccer Ministry in Uganda. Today, I'd like to share about a soccer ministry in Ethiopia! This soccer ministry is called Ethiopian Renaissance FC and Sheleme, a graduate from Compassion's program, is one of the guys heading up the ministry! Sheleme's passion for sharing the love of God with underprivileged children is inspiring! I have been so blessed by hearing his story!

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I asked Sheleme to first share about himself and then some about the ministry. Sheleme was a Compassion sponsored child and he shared the following about Compassion: "Always I'm happy when I think about Compassion because I am what I am today because compassion. For me compassion, is a Net of God to catch us and Release us from poverty and give hope to those who didn't have hope before."

Sheleme also shared this about his sponsor: "I don't have enough words for my Mom Allison Wylie from Scotland, Glasgow. She is the real Mom and Angel who God sent me to release me from Darkness and bring deepest of life healing.
Her seed is not dead now I'm the real testimony of Compassion and my mom."

"Church Activity:
1. Youth program leader of Leaders (15-20 members)
2. Secretary of Church Elders (Head of Church)
3. Leader of Teaching and Bible Study Department (7 Members)
4. Member of Youth Church Union Leaders (from 11 Churches)
5. Vice President of Compassion International Ethiopia graduates Alumni"

Education:
1. Mechanical Engineering (BA),
2. Leadership and Development( BA),
3. Theology (BA First year in Distance),
4. Leadership ( MA, on process ),
5. General Mechanic (Diploma) and different certificate.
6. I’m married three years ago and I have one daughter. Thanks God I have good family, my lovely wife support me in all direction.

7. I’m working one of the leading Automotive Company in Ethiopian KAKI PLC as Technical Supervisor and Sales Engineer.

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Now, let me share some of the soccer ministry! Ethiopian Renaissance FC works with 350 to 390 children and youth!

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Background: "The project is located in the central highlands of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa and Holeta city administration… The target groups are children and youth from poor families or relatively low income in the dense population area of the city. The common diseases of the project area are mainly waterborne and respiratory diseases. It is common to see children affected with diarrhea, TB, asthma, etc. Thus, parents and/or guardians cannot give enough attention to the medical care or regular medical checkups for their children. Moreover, insufficient water supply, the poor diet due to subsistence living, unsanitary environments, etc. exacerbate the health prelims of the children in the areas where we operate the most...

In general, due to poverty and destitution, parents and/or guardians are not in full capacity to feed, provide clothing and send their children to school. In such cases, children are exposed to delinquency, child labor, etc. "

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How It Workds: "Ethiopian Renaissance Football Club is a non-profit organization which was established in 2009 by two visionary Eng. Sheleme B., and Solomon W., and Licensed on April, 2014. It operates like Ethiopian premier clubs with special emphasis in coaching children and youth. It provides a stimulating and positive soccer experience for children and youth in Ethiopia so as to develop and enhance their skill and passion for the game. It tries to achieved successes both on and off the field. In the project, two site about 70-90 Addis Ababa and 240-255 Holeta players in age five to twenty-four years of age, will be included and take the appropriate capacity-builidng training schemes.

The model is uses involves building the capacity of children and youth by focusing on education, empowering, equipping and motivating soccer skills using Biblical references and seven traits of a true champion to teach these ten pillars: Excellence, Dream-Builiding, Selflessness (Mental Strength), Responsibility, Faith (Spiritually Grounded), Tactically Intelligent, Technically Genius, Physically Capable, Academically Equipped and Socially Integrated, with the ultimate goal of telling people about the LOVE of Christ and the Grace He freely offers."

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Please be in prayer for Ethiopian Renaissance FC. And if you would like to learn more about the ministry, check out their Facebook page here or email me at berry31(at)gmail.com and I'll send you their info! And if you would like to donate to this ministry, I will tell you how to get in touch with Sheleme!

Compassion Graduates: Meet Nowah from Uganda

Thanks to the internet and being able to connect with Compassion sponsors, advocates and former Compassion-sponsored graduates, I have had the pleasure of "meeting" Nowah K. from Uganda! He started a ministry to kids in Busia, Uganda, and I have been so encouraged by his story that I asked him to share on my blog. So without further ado, let me share what Nowah had to say.

My compassion testimony and Ministry
"My name is Nowah K., 29 years, husband to a beautiful wife, Sharon Sunday K. and God blessed us with a beautiful baby girl, Katrina Lori K. 7 weeks old.

I got enrolled in compassion international program at the age of 4 years.Country Director by then Jacque M. who had come to register new children in the program and he came with a car, and that was my first time to see a car, so I kept on running after a car and the car stopped at the church/compassion project and also stopped and I kept on looking at what was happening but that was not my interests, my interest was actually the car, I was dirty and with lots of mucus. After long while, this country director looked at me hungry, dirty with mucus all over my face, he came to me and asked me what is your name, where do you come from? I answered politely, he picked tissue and cleaned my nose, asked people who were there whether I was also a needy kid who would be enrolled, luckily enough they said yes. I was photographed and registered and this happened at last. Praise God that this happened. Of all the kids who were registered that day, I was the first child to get a sponsor, but my first sponsor dropped/ canceled the support and a few months I got another sponsor who supported me through the program.

Through compassion program at church/project, I benefited in all aspect of child development to mention, spiritual, cognitive, physical and social aspects. I knew Christ during devotional sessions at the project and I preached to my parents who eventually got saved, my Dad is enrolled to theological school and became a Pastor of our local church, my mom is one of the church leaders in the same church.

I have attained University education from Uganda Christian University, am the first person in our family to attain the highest level of education and in my community.

While in compassion program, the Spirit was convicting me to sponsor a child after attaining my education and getting a job, this basically was to say thank you to God for the opportunity given in life. In me I had a mind of helping needy child just like I was before getting in compassion program. Preach the gospel of Christ Jesus to children and communities.

During my university education, God continued to show me a ministry that will bring joy, peace, love, courage to needy, orphaned and vulnerable children. I had no idea of how this meant. After my university education God continued to send me to streets, schools, hospitals and communities where I saw there was need in areas of spiritual, physical, education and social.

In 2011, God Continued to give me a burden to minister to orphaned and needy children who have no opportunity to be enrolled in compassion international and these children would end up on streets, trafficked, sacrificed, defiled, forced into early marriage, child labour, raped, girl children forced into commercial sex and all these evils things, children would be forced into these things due to lack and ignorance, I would feel bad to see all these things happen to innocent children.

Therefore, this inspired me to establish a ministry called Triumph Children Ministries with a focus of bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to these children, establish child rehabilitation centre, Education support, cloth naked children, due to resources, I begun with 5 children, 2 boys and 3 girls, and started moving to churches mobilizing and collecting items like cloths, food, education supplies, christian literatures for the children, with God's provision the number of children in the ministry has grown to 55 kids, we also have sponsorship program and currently 5 kids are sponsored and the rest are supported through donations and gifts from well wishers with the love of Jesus Christ.

We currently don't have a website but God gave us the opportunity of sharing our burden through Facebook "Triumph Children's Ministry". We receive donation through western union and Money gram."

If you would like to learn more about Triumph Children's Ministry, check out the Facebook page! And you can learn more about donating to the ministry there. I would encourage you to be praying for Nowah and the ministry. (Also, all photos are from Nowah or TCM.)

Shamim Featured on Compassion Canada!

I have talked a lot about Shamim…she was my former sponsored child and now we are dear friends. She is currently working at starting up a ministry to disabled children in Uganda. And her story was featured on Compassion Canada's site!

Please check out her story More Than Able!

If you'd like to learn more about Shamim's story, click here. And if you'd like to learn more about her ministry, Sherinah's New Hope for Children with Disability Ministry, click here.

Sherinah's New Hope for Disabled Children: Sherinah's Story

If you've visited my blog often, you've probably heard of my first sponsored child, Shamim, or Sherinah, as she changed her name this spring when she was baptized. If you haven't had a chance to hear Sherinah's story, check out my posts here.

Sherinah is in the process of starting up a ministry towards disabled kids in Uganda! She is currently calling her ministry Sherinah's New Hope for Disabled Children. We would appreciate prayer for her ministry and so I am going to post a series about her new ministry during the month of December. Here is a photo of Sherinah visiting members of the Ugandan Parliament's Ministry of Persons with Disabilities.

I thought I would start this week by sharing her vision and story. It's so much better in her own words. Enjoy!

"I am called SHERINAH...I got to be named by this names, After being baptized early this year, but since past years was known as SHAMIM. I am born to the family of peasants, my father was Muslim and mum was any Anglican both worked at market vendors I was born hearing and grow up as normal child until 1998 when my ears got affected by mumps infection which resulted into loss of hearing sense.

At the age of one year old, mom took me to my grand mother to take care of me after the death of my father which had resulted into family destabilization I never got any opportunity to take a look on my mum from that time until I turned nine. My grand mother did great role, she took care me at that early age she taught me to be GOD fearing, and how to live positively to others! My grandmother was a peasant but she could do anything and either in one way or the other to raise us I and other children which my grand mom was taking care of.

In 1998 GOD brought any opportunity of COMPASSION and my grand mother took me there to get registered! Thanks to the Almighty, I was one of the successfully and the first registered children in compassion in my area hence I got enrolled to Compassion program in 1998. I was among the children from the poor families!

As Compassion enrolled children, we were always given distributions in terms of mosquito nets, mattress, bed sheets, soap, jericans all school expenses plus scholarships and given any opportunity to know GOD.....THERE BY LEARNING SCRIPTURES through bible studies. Compassion always paid 7% of scholarships and must of enrolled children especially those from poor families find it difficult to reach high learning institutions or upper classes hence was one of those who find such a challenge.

In 2003 I was advised by doctor to join a school for the deaf where I could get quality education because I could not perform well in mainstream schools because I could not hear. Imagine had to join a boarding section, financial was challenging, my mom could not help and my grand mother did not have a job to add on what Compassion had to give and take me to a boarding section…

My grandmother pleaded compassion staff to help me because there was no other way for her to get that money! GOD used Compassion staff to request for top up scholarship at the Compassion head office to make sure that i join a boarding section and in deed it was fulfilled! PRAISE GOD! I joined a boarding section under Compassion's support of everything including scholarships, and all school expenses.

I studied in the main stream school from primary three to primary six and made sure I always performed well in class, i.e. was always among with the best ten pupils in class despite the loss of hearing sense. I also tried my best to learn sign language to be able to communicate with other deaf children and find a lot of friends. In 2005,I was transferred to school for the deaf where I completed my primary leaving examination and become the best girl and the second best of the year in the whole school....remember without GOD and Compassion's support, plus my grand mother,I would not reach this level of learning.

In 2006, I joined a secondly school for ordinary level in 2009 in a boarding section under Compassion's support. I completed ordinary level successful, though I did not obtain the good grades I expected but I made it to advanced level in 2010 and studied history, geography, economics and divinity in a deaf school under Compassion's support in all everything.

I completed advanced level and successfully in 2011 and become the best girl, best art class student, and second best student in the whole school following the best who studied sciences in physics, economics, mathematics and fine art under compassions support. Although I did not obtain the good grades I expected, but I got the minimum points required for one to join university in Uganda.

I become so, so worried because my years in Compassion had came to the limit but did not forget that GOD was behind my success, instead prayed to GOD to show me the direction to the future ...surprisingly, I was invited for interviews for affirmative action of persons with disabilities that was to offer me a place at the university under government scholarships because I had performed well at the advanced level and was eligible to join university education! I did my interviews and pass them, hence given a place at Kyambogo University in Uganda to do bachelor's degree of science in accounting and finance.

It was so sad, that I had to leave compassion after graduating from it since I had reached the age limit...but I am glad because this journey was through GOD’S grace and mercy on me...imagine experienced hardships and many challengers where at school but I managed to pray and pass through them. I am now a second year at the university and looking forward to see how GOD is continuing to showing His grace towards my success.

My thanks goes to ms HANNAH for having a compassionate heart of sponsoring me up to the time of graduating from Compassion program, HANNAH did not only sponsor me financially, but also spiritually which strengthened my spiritual enrichment and hence it has encouraged me to have a kind heart of helping other suffering children. Thank you HANNAH.
Other thanks go to my compassion project staff for all the support they provided. My grand mother’s role is not let out; I thank her for raising me up and teaching me how to live positive morally and GOD fearing!

Therefore with Compassion’s support in terms of education, social, economic and spiritual benefits I received, motivated me to gain passion and built heart of compassionate to help the unfortunate, marginalized and vulnerable disabled children, and I wish them to to know that God can turn disability into ability as God done in my life."

I hope you enjoyed reading Sherinah's story! Next week I'll about her ministry and how you can be praying!

Compassion Graduates: Debora's Story

Thanks to Kim of Three Little Larks, I had the blessing of being connected to the two newest additions of our Compassion family: Gizelle and Estela. These precious girls live in Brazil, in the Recife/Fortaleza area. Also thanks to Kim, I had the blessing of getting to know Debora, a Leadership Development Program student, also from the same area of Brazil! Debora graciously wrote out her testimony and gave me permission to share it here. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did and are encouraged by her story!

"Hi there.

I’m Debora S. I would like to share with you what God can do through faith, love and support.

I believe in miracles. I had only 3 months when some medical exams told I could have only 3 days of life. The doctor said to my parents to take me home to die. They were recent Christians but my mom believed so God put me on this world for a great purpose and so she put me on the bed and made a circle with some people of my family, someone even were involved with occultism, then they prayed for me and mom said: “God, if you have a purpose for Debora in this earth, and I believe on this, I just believe you will make it since taking all the disease from her body now”. I slept for awhile and when I woke up I was completely fine. The three days the doctors gave to me was replaced for almost 25 years in a few days. I praise God for this!

I’m a miracle. There is nothing good in me if God, himself don’t put in me something to use only for His glory but I consider myself a miracle still because God has released me all days from the all poverty and I hope the next few lines make you to understand it better.

I grew up in a very poor community. My joy is that my parents already were Christians but even this don’t avoid we had and have troubles, by the way Christ said and advice us about it once, but I thank God for all we had and have to face every single day because I’ve seen there is a chance to learn with all happen to us or in our lives, or even just around us.

Yes, as the most of the children in Compassion I grew up in environment full of violence, drugs and prostitution. Problems with the access to the better education and health assistance were always a problem in my community and to my family. I started to attend the project when I was 3. And now starts my story with Compassion.

It is so exciting to me to speak about Compassion because God have done so great things in my life through them. I found Jesus every day I attended to the project. All the people there were and are Christians and it create a environment of confidence, peace and fun ☺

To get attend to the project gave me the opportunity to have better education because they had good teachers and material to support us beyond to be a Christian school so it was still better. I studied there between my 3 and 11 years old and it was great. I could to learn more about Jesus through the stories and songs the teachers was teaching us, some of them I couldn’t even forget and inspired me so to compose my own songs, two specially for Compassion that I’ll surely share with you.

I passed for CDSP program and during this time I had my personal meeting with Jesus, I receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit and the baptism in waters. The life was not easy and is not yet but the chorus of one my songs composed for Compassion can express what I felt to receive the support of Compassion through the project, the teachers and my dear sponsors what I am going to talk about, too.

“As I worship Christ I go and won’t give up. If the storms come to disturb me, firm I will be”.

I’ve saw many friends of mine, who grew up with me losing their lives for using drugs, to get pregnant very early, 12 for example. Many of them are getting involved with prostitution and violence even because drugs, too. Recently many have to be killed by the traffic very close to me. Some of them knew something about Jesus, but don’t get to be firm because in their homes and even on the streets the invitation for easy money to buy for things their parents couldn’t even buy them, made a bad movement in their lives and their chosen was to live by their way and wish. It teach me other thing. There is no life out Jesus. My pastor once told me: “The devil can give us now what God could give us in a while”. The pressures of life and society make us walk so far from God sometimes but my favorite verse in bible says I only can try the good, perfect and pleasant God’s will for me if I am not conforming with the world and I try to follow it every single day even with the voices who says me that I am small, limited and weak.

I’ve faced many challenges. I’ve got to participate of the first group of LDP in Brazil, after a long process – over 8 months – with almost 400 graduating at the same year and 80 applying with me. Everyone with their dreams, could be anyone to be chosen. I had no much trust that time because my father only told me that age I should be already working to help my family and that college could be a great losing of time. But I just put it in God’s hands and as my mom did I said Him: “Lord, you have all control. You’ve made me a miracle. I trust it could be a great way to achieve your purpose in my life even I can’t to understand it very well. But you gave me life. Could I be the one chosen to this? It was on December 31, some hours before to into in 2007. In may, the answer gave to me. My director called me. I was just in the bus thinking about my future backing at home after a class in a course to prepare to college that I got a few months before, and she said me: “Debora, are you seated down?” And I say yes so she told me: “Congratulations, you are a LDP now”. I shouted out “Halleluiah”. The girl besides me asked me If I was ok. I just said her I was more than ok ☺

When LDP started here, we have no a great idea it could be. We knew what about Compassion could offer us and what such great opportunities to grow in a new way we should have through it. But in LDP I’ve learned so much more. The experience made me a new person in many ways, personally, professionally and spiritually. I am a person more open to learn since the other people who are considerably so much more different than me. I always spoke much, but through the program I’ve learned to hear more than even speak. To say no when I can’t do something even I want to do this so much, because I recognize I can do better a few things if I concentrate my efforts on I have to do now.

I have acted badly, I thought, said and did things they should not and that I regret. Jumped phases should not be skipped or to learn that lives entirely dependent on God or life simply loses its meaning and significance. Burned bridges before I even go through them, which made everything difficult as bridges serve to shorten distances, either on the relationships personal, professional and even our relationship with God.

But I do not lose faith. A mistake is only a mistake. I stop, examine me, let me be confronted by those close to me and God, of course. I will not let me stand still forever. Learn from the mistake and follow, "a little less sleepy every day on the way home," as Brooke Fraser in her song, Shadowfeet.

I learned that we should always look forward. Ask for forgiveness and when you can not rebuild a bridge, not dwelling on and move forward to build new. Whether for a long time we stopped at the curve of shame and fear and can not see the wonderful way that we can still walk and is soon after this curve. This way is real and does not cease to exist just because we do not believe that it is there, waiting for us to continue to walk.

Indent no longer an option when, in fact, we feel forgiven and loved. God is like that father who is looking forward and hopefully the return of the child who asked the inheritance and left. He continues with arms wide open, ready to embrace us no matter what we did. All those old chains that imprison us can be undone with a simple decision to recognize change and start over. The love of Christ is the same unconditional. No charges, no comparisons. Only a love that forgives, restores and redeems like no other is able to live in freedom and peace that can not be expressed with words. John 3:16 makes sense when we realize if living this love that makes us forgive even though it is so hard, that makes us even though we did not give what seems to be not enough even for us, that makes us move even though the circumstances it is impossible to say.

Talk about me without talking about the love of God, is impossible. It is the pillar that supports the foundation of my heart, it is impossible to break the link. No he did not see myself doing anything significant, nor by me or by others.
Now, I am the Compassion Alumni Brazil’s president since March, 2012. This is a amazing opportunity. Another big challenge but a great privilege. It is like to start a new Compassion’s organization but since my country and provide actions what makes a difference in our society here. We are fighting for something really needed in Brazil, personal and professional development for our former students who had no a opportunity as LDP in their lives and for defense of the children.

There are a long way to make many of our projects a reality but we are on the way. Following the God’s will and direction and trusting him always.

I am graduated at Pedagogy (Education) and Christian Coaching what help me to support Alumni and some churches in poor areas, as my church with projects of development with their leadership teams and processes of learning. I really love it. I am still looking for a job in my area and waiting for the God’s will for me even in this area but resting in peace because I trust so in Him.

When we be loved by God and for someone else, as I felt through my Compassion’s sponsors, for example, we can understand the very and great sense that to give is so much more than receive, because when we give it means God has given us the enough and even more!!

I love to connect people for good and great purposes or even just to make them friends. I always loved English and American people because the movies, and especially by the music and I really have good friends there, even since facebook. I’ve not been there yet, but I hope so meet and encourage many of there to become a sponsor for Compassion, because one person believe and invest in other, beyond money, but even prayers and love she/he have no idea how mach it could be influence someone to change and grow and so good way. We can’t even see the tree by the seed. We have to plant and look after it until it grows and produce their fruits.I 'm in the process of producing fruit now but it would not be possible if people even if I still do not know them personally, had not invested their time, resources and love in my life and I am so thankful for this!

Faith,love and support are a decision to me. God has decided believe,love and support me since I was born and He use things like the people who works and are sponsors in Compassion to prove me it.

Do you want know how my community-where before we just had violence,drugs and prostitution- has been changing step by step? With faith,love and support. How? Jesus has put churches and social projects and people who cares of God's work and lives,incluinding mine, has changed.

I leave you a challenge today: Decide to believe,love and help a child and be and do a difference in his/her life through the Compassion's ministry! "So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up,for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time" Galatians 6:9

Debora S."

Debora also wrote two beautiful songs. I am unable to post them here, but if you want to hear them, find her on my Facebook and I'm sure she'll let you listen to them!

Shamim's Story

Shamim wrote out her story and gave me permission to share it here. I hope it inspires you to sponsor kids! And I hope it encourages those of you who are sponsoring.

THE COMPASSION TOWARDS MY WAY FORWARD

I am born to the family of late Mr. Sikaka K. and Mrs. Namayanja Robinah B. both who were Ndeeba market venders. Iam the third born together with five other siblings in the family. At the age of two years, I was brought to my grandmother at Kabubbu – Nakaseke to take care of me after the death of my father which had resulted into family distabilisations. That is where I got chance to be enrolled to compassion programme. I was enrolled to compassion in 1998 and this was a great opportunity and a blessing for me and my family because it indicated that God had opened the door and way forward to my future.

As Compassion registered children, we were always given essentials such as jerry cans, beddings, school expenses and above all Christian training through bible studies and scripture distribution. Therefore, my life absolutely free of change because by the time of registration, I was among the children from the poorest families since my grandmother was a peasant and that is what compelled me to say that God opened the door for my future through Compassion.

Under Compassion’s scholarships, I was able to attend St. Jude Kabubbu primary school from 1998 – 2000 but unfortunately at the end of 2000; I got mumps infections which resulted into loss of hearing sense “bilaterally” at the age of nine years!!!!
Life became hard as a result of hearing loss, my performance in class began to decline even though I was a bright pupil when I was still hearing and the worst of all was communication barrier.

In 2001, I was transferred to Luwero boys special needs school from 2001 – 2004 where I learnt abit how to communicate in sign language and my performance in class began improving. Then in 2005, I was again transferred to Uganda school for the deaf where I completed my primary leaving examinations and I was the second best and the best girl of the year in the entire school!!!

For secondary level, I joined Ngora High school for ordinary level from 2006 – 2009 where I completed Uganda certificate of education (UCE) and made it to advanced level. In 2010, I joined Wakiso secondary school for the deaf for advanced level and studied history, Economics, Geography and Divinity and I completed Uganda advanced certificate of education (UACE) in 2011. I was able to complete all these levels through compassion’s scholarship.

At the advanced level, I was the best art student and second best following the best who studied sciences in physics, Economics, Mathematics and fine art and we were only two in the whole class who made it to the university in the entire school. We are both on Government scholarship through Affirmative action scheme for students with disabilities.

I am doing Bachelor of Science in Accounting and finance where as my friend is doing Bachelor of art and Industrial Design both of us in Kyambogo University – Uganda. BRAVO!!! JOHN 14:14.

It would be a shame if I do not thank God who brought me to compassion and making me ascertain. I believe I was divinely appointed to compassion through God so I can not forget to thank God for this opportunity.

My gratitude also goes to Mrs. Hannah H. for having a compassionate heart to sponsor me at all levels up to the time of completing the programme (graduating from compassion). Thank you very much, may God bless you abundantly. Hannah H. did not only sponsor me financially but also spiritually which has strengthened my spiritual enrichment

Also I can not forget to thank compassion project staff for the tremendous role they did to help me during this journey in form of spiritually, morally and financially.
Also I thank my grandmother who restored hope in me, took me to New hope and got registered to compassion and above all taught me to be positive morally and God fearing.

I also thank my mother and other relatives in whatever they contributed towards this journey.

Further more, I want to thank my friends especially the fellows registered from Wakayamba child development center for their encouragement, guidance, advice and prayers which made me assertive and hence contributed towards this journey.
Thank you all God bless you abundantly.

Lastly, I am now on government sponsorship doing Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance - Kyambogo University BRAVO!!!

BY SHAMIM N.
2011 compassion graduate from wakayamba child development center UG 507.