Lydia in Uganda

We began corresponding with Lydia in March 2018. I will update this post as we hear from her.

We not have received any letters from Lydia, but we do have a country director's letter. Her birthday is May 15.

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Project Info and Activities:

Lydia attends UG-418 near Luwero
* Home to approximately 18,300 residents
* Most common work is work is subsistence farming, although majority is unemployed
* Average earning is $4 a month
* Regional Diet: maize, beans, bananas, cassava & potatoes
* Common Health Problems: malaria, intestinal worms, HIV/AIDS, skin infections
* Typical Houses: dirt floors, mud walls, corrugated iron roofs

Center Activities: Bible studies, health screenings, health education, first-aid training, de-worming, recreational activities, community service opportunities, skills training, counseling, school fees, a mattress and soap.

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Miscellaneous Info from Letters:

* Favorites: math, singing songs, snack/meal time, spending time with friends, art/drawing, ball games, bicycling, group games, hide-and-seek, jump rope, music, play house, reading, running, singing, story telling, walking


To read the other posts in this series, click here.

Country Director's Letter: Uganda

Today's letter is from Uganda, where we sponsor Cissy. The original letter and photo can be found here.

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Dear Friend,

I am Lenny Mugisha; I have been the country director of Compassion Uganda for two years, and I have worked with Compassion International for seven years. Compassion has operated in Uganda for the past 36 years. We currently have more than 340 child development centers serving 93,500 children in the most impoverished areas within our reach across the country.

Thank you for loving, praying and caring for your sponsored child. We appreciate your continued support.

These have been years of great achievement in the lives of children. Children have accepted Jesus as their Savior, acquired income-generating and life skills, studied, and graduated. They receive health care, education opportunities, and a safe environment to play in and relate to their peers.

Many children and families here lack food and clean water, decent shelter, clothing and health care. They face obstacles like child marriage, child trafficking, physical abuse, violence, HIV/AIDS, and more. In 2017, our plan is to work closely with church partners to register more children from highly impoverished areas in unreached communities, minister to them early enough, and help them finish well to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults.

One child suffered from malaria from the age of 3. Each time he fell sick, his grandmother carried him to a local government hospital. Sometimes there wasn’t even a doctor or nurse available to see the child. Often he was discharged with nothing but a prescription for the grandmother to buy medicine – but she couldn’t afford it. The malaria attacks intensified, and the boy contracted epilepsy. His grandmother stopped him from going to school because she feared what would happen. Her grandson lost weight and became weak.

Four months after registering with Compassion, the boy lost consciousness because of malaria. His grandmother rushed him to a different hospital, where the sponsorship program enabled him to go. The child received treatment, since the drugs were available, and he recovered faster than usual. In addition to medical intervention, he received food support that helped restore his health. This child could have been dead by now, but he isn’t. Instead, he plays and dreams and attends school without fear. Because of the Compassion center, his life was saved.

In addition to implementing Compassion’s programs, church partners respond to their communities’ needs through evangelism, discipleship, savings programs, vocational training, special events, and ministry to those in need. Other churches also mobilize community-development programs, such as building water sources and roads and health and parenting education. The church usually spearheads such ventures due to its good reputation in the community.

Children who receive letters from their sponsors know they have a friend who loves them and cares about them. They look forward to writing to their sponsors. Children who do not receive letters feel that their sponsors do not love them, and they go back home sad. Children value and believe each message their sponsor writes to them, and their attitude toward life is positively influenced by what their sponsors say. They feel valued, especially when their sponsor wishes them a happy birthday. They are encouraged to work hard at school. They look at their sponsors as role models. Please write to your child as often as you can.

Please pray for the children in the program in Uganda who have not yet got sponsors, and for each child in the program to be released from all forms of poverty. We love you and pray for you always.

Once again, thank you so much for investing in the life of your sponsored child. May the Lord bless you abundantly.

Faithfully,
Lenny Mugisha

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If you would like to sponsor a child from Uganda, please consider sponsoring

What $60 Buys...

Last year we were able to send a number of larger family gifts thanks to the Blogger Rewards Program. Since we knew that gifts of $60 or over receive thank you letters and photos, we made sure to send gifts of at least $60. Recently the gift photos have been coming in! It's such a blessing that Compassion sends these with the thank-you's!

I wanted to share them in one place so you can get an idea of what $60 will get in various countries.

Mary in Bolivia: groceries of oil, milk, eggs, some other food, detergent, and dolls for the girls!

Jhomary in Bolivia: t-shirt, oil, noodles and rice!

Dinesh in India: t-shirts, jeans, sheets and a steel box!

Jose in Mexico: food pantry gifts.

Julissa in Nicaragua: shoes, pants, shirt, towel and underwear.

Ndikubwimana in Rwanda said, "Thank you for your gift. I used it to buy a goat and I expect to have more goats because it will reproduce and provides me with other goats."

Cissy in Uganda said she bought the dress she's wearing in the photo, 2 dresses for mum, a bag of rice, a shirt and trouser, sports shoes, open shoes, a bag for her brother and she had a little pocket money left!

Estela in Brazil: her gift photo was lost in a computer crash, but she said, "I am writing to thank you for the present that you sent to me. With the money my mom bought things in the market: rice, beans and pasta, meat, milk, coockies and fruits. I am very happy." And the project took an extra photo for us to see Estela's pretty face, although we weren't able to see the gifts.

Gizelle in Brazil: She said she bought books for school, "The book is thick and there are seven subjects - Math, Science, History, English, Geography, English, Arts and others. The other one is for handwriting practice."

Jadson in Brazil: Nike sandals and school supplies

Compassion Experience

I am so excited because the Compassion Experience is coming to our area this spring! I have been interested in going every since Compassion said they were going to share Shamim's story! I really look forward to attending the Compassion Experience with my family (although I am a bit sad that Shamim's story isn't coming near us).

If you'd like to learn more about Shamim's story, here are some posts that the Compassion Experience Blog shared:

Full Potential

Destined Duo: Hannah and Shamim

Sign with Shamim

If you want to see all the post related to Shamim, click here.

And I highly encourage you to check out the Compassion Experience page to see if there is an event coming to your area!

Project Director's Letter: Uganda (UG-508)

Thanks to the Compassion App, I have discovered some additional project director and pastor letters! I'll be sharing them over the weeks! Enjoy!

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This letter is from Cissy's project! And the photos are from Compassion's Uganda Flickr Album.

Dear Sponsor,

I am Ndawula J., Center Director of Deliverance Church Makerere Hill located in central Uganda near the capital city of Kampala. Here we minister to your sponsored child at Makerere Kivulu Child Development Center.

I write to thank you very much for all the support you offer your child. The sponsorship support has enabled the church and center to minister to children and community members and build hope, especially among children and families who had lost hope.

Some of the support offered to sponsored children includes school fees payments, spiritual programs through Bible teaching, health education, socioemotional development programs, and medication in good hospitals. We also offer domestic support through distribution of beddings, mattresses, mosquito nets, soap, Vaseline, scholar materials, blankets, bed sheets and food among others.

I would like to share with you a testimony of a boy aged 11 years. He stays in a slum and had joined the company of street children. He used to fight and was aggressive to others. Children did not like him. His single mother gave up and disowned him at one point. Because of sponsorship support, the church and center team continuously followed him up, visited, counselled and prayed for him. He later got saved and today he is an exemplary child at the center, church and community. He is one of the model children in the community, mentoring others into good morals and leads them to Christ. He is referred to by the community leaders as a transformed child.

Another testimony I would like to share with you is another child is a girl aged 18 years. She stays with a sickly aunt who used to struggle to support them. From center day programs, children and caregivers were mobilized into livelihood skills training and encouraged to practice them. This girl learned and practiced hairdressing. She now plaits hair during her free time and earns some money to meet her basic needs and partly support her family. She shared her testimony and other peers have started doing some skills products for sale.

Through a grant from Compassion, the center is able to meet additional children needs. This year the center received a grant for assisting children in their registration fees they could register for final examinations and settle in class.

Sponsor letters make children happy and cement sponsor and child relationship. Children are happy to receive photos and read their letters. They are so encouraged by the messages from their sponsors. Those who often receive letters know their sponsors and families by name and pray more often for sponsors than those who don’t get letters. One child who is a total orphan often receives letters from the sponsors and has also referred to the sponsors as a parent. He has also been encouraged to read hard by the sponsors and has taken the first position in class for over 3 years now.

The sponsored children are ambassadors in their families and communities. Because of support, we have transformed lives and established a legacy. Praise God!

Please continue praying with us that the children and youths will know Christ and make it in life amidst the many challenges.

Thank you one again for sponsoring your child, and we pray for God’s blessings upon you.

Yours in Christ’s service,
Ndawula J.

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If you would like to sponsor a child from Uganda, please consider handsome Azizi who will be 5 on November 3. He attends UG-508 and has been waiting over 230 days for a sponsor!

In his home, Azizi helps by carrying water, gathering firewood and washing clothes. He lives with his father and his mother. His father is employed as a teacher and his mother is employed. There are 4 children in the family.

Playing with cars, singing and telling stories are Azizi's favorite activities. In kindergarten his performance is average and he also regularly attends church activities. To sponsor Azizi, click here.

Cissy in Uganda

We began sponsoring Cissy in January 2012 and I will continue to update this post as we hear from Cissy.

We have received 29 letters while corresponding with Cissy, one pastor's letter, two project director's letters (2014 and 2016), and one country director's letter. Her birthday is March 27. Cissy lives with her parents, Bulasio and Milisant, and one younger brother, Amos. Her father works as a security guard and her mother as a laborer.

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Project Info and Activities:

Cissy attends UG-508 in Makerere-Kivulu, Kampala

* Home to approximately 30,000 residents
* Most commonly spoken language is Egnglish
* Most common work is work is casual laboring, although majority are unemployed
* Average earning is $18 a month
* Regional Diet: maize, beans, bananas, fish, cassava, millet, greens, groundnuts, vegetables & potatoes
* Common Health Problems: malaria, dysentery, worms, coughs, HIV/AIDS
* Typical Houses: mud floors, cement walls, corrugated iron roofs

Center Activities: Bible studies, health screenings, nutritious food, recreational activities, community service opportunities, counseling, reading and writing classes, skills training and tuition.

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Miscellaneous Info from Letters:

* Favorites: dolls, group games, play house, rolling a hoop, walking, hide-and-seek, running, reading, art/drawing, ping pong, jump rope, singing, listening to music, other ball games, story telling, swimming, rice, red, “Baby Jesus I Love You”, Peter, religious studies

* Dreams: to visit Wonder World, to be a teacher

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Letter Highlights...

"I love the wedding pictures you such a given to me. I am looking forward to see the baby's picture. I am praying for you to deliver well."

"Last year your former sponsored child come and paid a visit home, bought me dolly and stickers I was so blessed."

"I was excited with all your encouraging words you such a blessing to me and I really value you. Shamim is fine, she has always visiting me. I love you all."

"I am so excited for everytime I receive a letter. Because I am blessed. I am the only Person who receives letters every month. And I seat home and I read all of them."

"Congratulations Juanito from our AWANA graduations. I am excited to hear that you memorized a verse and that you got a ribbon for it."

"The story of the penguins was also exciting because of the wonderful colors, black, white and yellow."

"[T]he message from Shamim I read. I am so excited because she is expecting a baby...I love the stickers and the picture of me and Shamim. I am so happy for the letters you wrote to me, I am trying to pray for Shamim's grandmother."

"We have got a second brother, now I have two brothers. Amos and Tistum Alexander. I love him so much."

"At home I have got a second brother who is now 3 months. I am very happy with my brother and all the family."

"At school, the school is going fine and secondary is not too hard, it is better but there is a lot of fun and I have got new friend, am very happy with my new friends."

"At school we have got our reports and I have bene promoted to senior two... At home our young brother is now 4 months old, Alexander is fine."

"At home everything is ok, my young brother Alexander is 6 months old and Amos is 11 years old so we are doing well...I and my family love you so much."

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Artwork

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Gifts & Visits

Since Shamim lives near Cissy, so she has visited Cissy a number of times! Their first visit was in 2012 and you can see photos here.

Shamim's next visit was in November 2013 and Shamim had a chance to meet two of Cissy's friends!

Then Shamim was able to visit Cissy's home in January 2015!

And most recently, Shamim took Cissy to her house to celebrate Easter of 2015.

The dress Cissy wearing in her 2016 photo update is the same one she bought with her gift money! Cissy shares that she bought a dress "that I am wearing," 2 dresses for mum, a bag of rice, a shirt and trouser, sports shoes, open shoes, a bag for her brother and she had a little pocket money left! Isn't this photo wonderful?

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To read the other posts in this series, click here.

Shamim in Uganda

I am starting a new series of posts on here where I will begin to introduce our Compassion family! I have really enjoyed reading Jill's posts at Compassion Family where she shares about their Compassion Kids. I think this will be a fun way to remember the letters and photos from the past, spend some dedicated time praying for each child, and will give me a record of each child on the blog.

Hence, I'm going to be re-vamping the Our Kids page so it'll link directly to all the blog posts, so we might be missing kids on there for a while. But ultimately these posts should keep that page more updated since I'm so bad about updating it with our kids!

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Shamim was my first sponsored child! I sponsored Shamim in 1999, I believe, when I was 11 and Shamim was 10, until she graduated Compassion's program in 2011! (If you would like to hear about how I sponsored Shamim when I was 11, click here.)

We received 48 letters while sponsoring Shamim! Her birthday is October 5. Shamim was hearing when I sponsored her, but in the second letter, in 2000, I received news that she had lost her hearing. Shamim has been an incredible example of persevering through difficulties! Shamim lived with her grandmother.

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Project Info and Activities:

Shamim originally attended UG-504, in a farming jungle area near Kampala.

After losing her hearing, Compassion helped Shamim attend a boarding school for the deaf and she switched to project UG-507 (you can see some photos here) in Wakayamba, near Mbarara.
* Home to approximately 10,000 residents
* Primary ethnic group is Bantu
* Most commonly spoken language is Luganda
* Most common work is farming
* Average earning is $5 a month
* Regional Diet: maize, beans, bananas, chicken, cassava, beef, rice & potatoes
* Common Health Problems: eye infections, malaria, skin diseases, measles, wounds
* Typical Houses: dirt floors, mud walls, corrugated iron roofs

Center activities: multiple trips visiting Lake Victoria! Bible teaching, health monitoring, games, educational tours, and life skills.

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Miscellaneous Info from Letters:

* Favorites: group games, walking, running, reading, singing, other ball games, round game, volleyball, net ball, football, cricket, choir, English, Acts, Maganda dance

* Dreams: to teach children, to study economic development among disabled people in Uganda, to be a primary school teacher, to go to the university, to promote awareness of the deaf

* Elected school head girl in 2010

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Letter Highlights...

"My teacher for English is very nice and she comes from Kenya country. I have three other friends at school. I like cricket and volleyball too! I'm not very good at volleyball though I like it."

"Thank you for loving me as a sister…I grow up I want to be a teacher."

"Grandmother got scared when she heard on the radio that you had a greater storm in Florida…At church I learnt how to be a good child. Our pastor told me to be a good child. One day I was at school during sports day and I met a blind man. He did not have money and some food to eat. He was standing by the road side and my friends suggested that we help him. I got five hundred shillings from my pocket and gave him. He thanked me for being a good girl and he also blessed me."

"Thanks to God also because I have you and a letter from you and it's very interesting letter to read. Oh! Your letters give me smiles and hopes…Please don't worry but just get a smile on your face because I myself besides my deafness does not mean that I cannot sing. I can do anything with God's help. I can sing and I love singing using my language."

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Artwork:

The flower on the right-hand-side was the art in Shamim's first letter!

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Final Letter:

"Miss Hannah Berry,

I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus. How have you been doing all over these days?

Back to me, I have been planting seeds in my garden at home and also I have been reading because we are expected to do pre-mock exams at the beginning of the term. The term will begin next week therefore am preparing for the beginning exams so be praying for me to pass them. But let me also know what I should pray for from that side of yours. Most of the time I have been praying that God helps you to do well in your studies also and get a job you hoped for long time.

In my Bible I have been reading Psalm 18:14. These reminds me that for those who have God's love they will succeed in all ways because God is with them. I am praying for you and your family.

Love your sister,
Shamim"

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It has been such a huge blessing to reman in touch with Shamim since her graduation! She has been so willing to share her beautiful story and I encourage you to read More Than Able, Full Potential and her story as shared on my blog. Shamim recently began a ministry for disabled kids in Uganda and I encourage you to check out Sherinah New Hope for Children with Disability Ministry's page.

And then in 2017, Compassion shared A Life Changed: Shamim Nakiyemba.

Pastor's Letter: Uganda

We received a pastor's letter from Cissy's pastor in Uganda! Cissy attends UG-508. All the photos are from Compassion's Uganda Central Region page.

Dear Eric and Hannah,

Greetings in Jesus' name! I am Pastor Charles O. of Deliverance Church Makerere Hill in central Uganda. We host the Makerere Kivulu Child Development Center attended by Cissy.

We are so grateful to God and to you for your love, care and support that you have continuously rendered to Cissy.

Our community has poor housing facilities constructed using mud. There is poor hygiene and sanitation. Most people are unemployed due to lack of skills. There is a lot of domestic violence. Most children don't attend school due to poverty. Drug abuse and crime are rampant, especially among the youth since they are idle. Most of the people have either been infected or affected by the HIV/AIDS scourge. And most of the people are non-Christians. We feel challenged to make interventions that will bring positive transformation in the community.

Our mission for the church and the Center is to see nations discipled. There is no better discipleship than that which starts with children because they give us entry to their families through Compassion and we are able to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We have observed tremendous transformation in the health and general wellbeing of the children. They have a literacy program that has empowered them with the skills of reading and writing. Many children living on the street have been reconciled with their parents.

The letters sponsors write to the children are a great inspiration on the children. They enjoy reading the letters and feel they have another family that cares for them. This communication creates a lasting impact on the life of the child. However, those who do not receive letters feel bad and desire to hear from their sponsors. They are concerned that their sponsors are alright. Please write to Cissy as much as you can.

Pray with us for a clean environment and safe water. Pray for our parents who struggle financially. And pray that these children will be world changers.

The future is bright. We earnestly thank you for your partnership and the support you give to Cissy for a better life. May God bless the work of your hands.

In His vineyard,

Pastor Charles O.

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If you would like to sponsor child from Uganda, please consider sponsoring handsome Martin who is 7. His birthday is October 12 and he has been waiting over 220 days for a sponsor! Isn't his smile great?

In his home, Martin helps by carrying water, gathering firewood and teaching others. He lives with his father and his mother. His father is sometimes employed as a laborer and his mother is sometimes employed as a laborer. There are 3 children in the family.

Martin is not presently attending school. Ping pong, soccer and playing with cars are his favorite activities. He also attends church activities regularly. To sponsor Martin, click here.

Book Review: Kisses from Katie

I love reading and I especially love books about God at work! I recently read Kisses from Katie. If you would like to see some of my other reviews, click here.

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Kisses from Katie, by Katie Davis, takes place in Uganda.

Katie is a "typical" Tennessee girl who traveled to Uganda for a year before starting college. What struck me was that Katie had perfect plans for her life and God "wrecked" her plans to use her for His plans! Katie began adopting children in her year there and ended up relocating to Uganda permanently.

I love how Katie's focus is on God's greatness and how God is the one who should receive the glory for all she has done. She emphasizes that this is the way she is following God's leading and encourages us to seek God's direction for our lives.

I wanted to share this quote from her introduction:

For as long as I can remember, one of my favorite Bible verses has been Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." I used to believe it meant that if I did what the Lord asked of me, followed His commandments, and was a "good girl," He would grant all of my desires and make my dreams come true. Today, this is still one of my favorite passages of Scripture, but I have learned to interpret it in a totally different way. It is not about God making my dreams come true but about God changing my dreams into His dreams for my life.

If you like reading books in this genera, or are interested in learning more about Uganda, I encourage you to take the time to read it!

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Please consider sponsoring a child from Uganda, please consider handsome Hamis, who will turn 18 on July 17th. Hamis attends UG-508, the same project as our Cissy, and is close enough to Sherinah that she could visit him!

Hamis lives with his mother. His mother is sometimes employed as a laborer. Hamis works at home carrying water, gathering firewood and teaching others. There are 4 children in the family.

Hamis is not presently attending school. Soccer, singing and telling stories are his favorite activities. He also attends church activities regularly. To sponsor Hamis, click here.

Book Reviews: Kirabo

I recently read a wonderful book about adoption and Uganda! Since I'm volunteering with Sherinah's New Hope Ministry, I expressed to Holly how I would like to learn more about Uganda. She loaned me Kirabo: A Journey of Faith, Love and Adoption!

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Kirabo: A Journey of Faith, Love and Adoption, by Kveta Rose, offers a glimpse into the struggles of Ugandan orphans.

If you are passionate about adoption or interested in learning more about Uganda, I recommend reading this book. The author does a wonderful job of taking us through Tandy's adoption of Mark. I was anxious with her about the upcoming paperwork and was just amazed at seeing God's hand in this process!

I just want to share this beautiful quote from the book with you:

"Children that have special needs are not defective, for God does not make mistakes. He chooses the who, the how, and the why. I may share the same genes as my parents, but this does not mean God played a greater role in creating me to be their daughter than he did in creating Mark to be my son. Mark is not a possession that I own; he is a gift from God that I am to steward as best I can with God's guidance, in sickness and in health."

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Please consider sponsoring Twaha from Uganda. He is four-years-old and so cute!

Twaha lives with his father and his mother. His duties at home include carrying water, gathering firewood and gardening. There are 4 children in the family. His father is sometimes employed as a laborer and his mother is sometimes employed as a laborer.

Twaha is not presently attending school. Ping pong, soccer and playing with cars are his favorite activities. He also attends church activities regularly.

Your prayers are especially appreciated for Twaha because he has partial hearing loss, is visually impaired and is receiving regular medical treatment. Your sponsorship helps provide the care and love he needs. To sponsor Twaha, click here.

Great Videos!

Compassion recently created some wonderful videos to share about communities where they work! I only know of three countries so far, Uganda, Bolivia and El Salvador, but I hope to see more of these soon! (And if you know of any others, please let me know!)

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This first video shows what life is like in urban Uganda.

Step into your child's world in Urban Uganda - New Sponsor from Compassion International on Vimeo.

I am advocating for two girls from this area of Uganda right now! You can read their profiles here or you can see a list of waiting children from Uganda on Compassion's website.

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Next, we have a video from Bolivia.

Step into your child's world in Urban Bolivia - New Sponsors from Compassion International on Vimeo.

I am also advocating for four kids from Bolivia and you can see their profiles here. Or you can check out a list of waiting children from Bolivia on Compassion's website!

Compassion's Blog also just shared this wonderful testimony from Oscar, who is from La Paz.


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Thirdly, there is a video of El Salvador.

Step into your child's world in Urban El Salvador - New Sponsors from Compassion International on Vimeo.

If you would like to see a list of waiting children from Compassion's website from El Salvador, click here.

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Finally, Compassion Canada created a video showing BR-417's surf school! I love BR-417, this is where our Gizelle and Estela attend, and was so excited to see a video highlighting one of their project's activities! You can check out Compassion Canada's video here.

I am also advocating for four kids from BR-417 and you can read about them here or you can view a list of waiting children from Brazil on Compassion's website.

And Compassion previously shared Jorge's story. Jorge is a young man who lives in Fortaleza, Brazil, where the project BR-417 is located. This is such an amazing testimony of God's work!

Freed From Poverty - Jorge Luis from Compassion International on Vimeo.

Compassion's Facebook page also shared this incredible video about Compassion Brazil's shift in focus from working in southeastern Brazil to northeastern Brazil:

Post by Compassion International.

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I hope you enjoyed learning more about Compassion's work! And if you have videos to recommend, please share them with me and I'll write another post soon!

Divine Soccer Ministry: Fundraising for the Hope Cup Tournament

Recently I shared about the Divine Soccer Ministry in Uganda. The ministry is trying to raise money to take the kids to a Hope Cup Tournament in Kampala! I want to share their support letter here! Please be praying for God to provide the funds for these kids to participate.

"Dear friend/partner,

We kindly extend our sincere greetings to you all and we cannot thank you enough for your continued support to our ministry to reach its mission of providing hope to the under privileged children and youths (Boys and girls) through the vehicles of education and soccer.

We are so glad to report to you that our work is showing a great impact to our community as of how children are able to access education and their soccer talent are being lifted, its non rather than the support we get from the friendship we have and our tireless working staff here in Uganda.

We are writing to seek your support as we were invited to be part of field of dreams Uganda’s Hope cup tournament that is due to place this December between 9th to 13th December.

It is a great opportunity for our children to see how far they have gone and on the other hand it’s going to expose them as they will compete with many teams from Uganda.
We are taking 3 teams for boys i.e. the under 13 age category, under 15 age category and the the under18 boys team, totaling to 45 boys and 5 coaches.

Masaka being over 100miles from Kampala Uganda’s capital city we are traveling by abus.

We look forward to at least win something from this tournament as the prizes are very many like trophies/cups, soccer uniforms, medals, balls bits, soccer cleats and many others, certificate of participation
We thank so much our dear friends and charity organizations like Fields of dreams Uganda(fodu) for the kind support to our ministry this year 2014 which included school dues, soccer materials like balls, soccer uniforms, bibs, bras for girls soccer and many other things.

Thanks so much continue the support.

Now we are seeking any contribution from you as we fundraise $750 which will help us in buying feeds (maize flour and beans), for 4 days, paying for transport costs (Bus) to transport us to Kampala Wakiso (to and from), Registration fee in the tournament, medicine and other needs.

Help share with your friends and family, tell them more about our ministry and let them join our story of making Hope happen.

Your Donation will reach us via our PayPal email: SoccerInMasaka(at)gmail.com.

Nothing is too small” together we make a difference.

May the Lord richly bless you"

Divine Soccer Ministry

Facebook can be such a blessing at times. Thanks to Facebook, I keep in regular contact with Sherinah and am updated on her ministry to disabled Ugandan children. I met Debora and learned about her leadership of Compassion Alumni in Brazil. I met Nowah and learned about his ministry to orphans in Uganda. And recently I met Sserunjoji Pius, another Ugandan, who has a soccer ministry! Sserunjoji Pius is the Executive Director of Divine Soccer Ministry. Being a soccer lover as well as passionate about caring for kids, especially underprivileged kids, I love what Divine Soccer Ministry is doing! So I wanted to share it with you all so that you can be praying.

Rather than paraphrasing what Sserunjoji Pius shared with me, I thought I'd share what he and the ministry staff wrote up in their official paperwork.

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Summary: "This is an educational development organization which mainly centres on primary and secondary education.
The ministry is located in Nyendo Masaka district. The ministry being proposed to benefit mainly orphans, street children and the vulnerable children from the community whose parents died of AIDS. These orphans and their guardians can’t raise funds for scholastic materials, Lack shelter, food, clothes and medical care.

Members proposed this ministry after realizing that children aged 7 -18 years were facing a lot of problems, in their grand parents’ homes and other care takers. Girls were/are becoming house girls, others are defiled and others including boys are becoming street children, posing a threat to the community and the nation at large.

The ministry seeks to achieve improved good standards of living of the beneficiaries by providing education, elite soccer training, food, shelter (accommodation) clothes, health care, basic practical skills and promoting spiritual education.

Therefore, the ministry is to cater for all the mentioned problems through services delivered by D.S.M-U experienced and friendly staff. These children are within Nyendo Masaka district, though the ministry will extend to include other communities when funds are raised. The ministry has overall aim of improving the quality of life of children."

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Background: "Divine soccer ministry-Uganda (DSM-U). is located in Nyendo, Masaka district.
HIV/ AIDS, infection rate is very high in this region especially among the youth between 15 – 24 years (UNICEF, BECCAD Programme, National AIDS Control programme, MOH, Surveillances reports). These teenage pregnancies and births have left so many orphans and homeless children. This therefore, calls for immediate remedy to address these problems associated with these children.

Young people have died of AIDS in the region leaving so many orphans to their grand parents. Factors contributing to these high death rates are lack of proper youth sensitization, and poor health situations in the area and therefore societal ones like culture norms and traditions. The ministry has a future plan of carrying out seminars and workshops to sensitize the youth how to avoid the pandemic scourge of AIDS.

This region is predominantly a Baganda Zone, sharing the norms and culture of Buganda. However, it is a region of low-income earners, who struggle very hard to get basic necessities of life. Unfortunately, these children are left with their grand parents who are low-income earners, who can’t provide all basic needs to these children.

The ministry, therefore, aims at bridging this gap and assists these children to achieve these basic needs and live a better life."

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Status: "The ministry started on 23rd February 2013, with a total population of 30 young boys. Now in 2014, the number has increased to more than 50boys and currently, the number has struck to 100 with girls being put into our programmes, of which 80 are boys and 20 are girls.
With above steady increase of children, the ministry has found it hard to cope up with them hence a need for financial assistance."

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Problem: "There has been a steady increase in the rate of orphans in Nyendo community due to high rate of adolescent’s un wanted pregnancies brought by early sexual activities. Young people in this age group between 15 – 24 years are infected with HIV/AIDS (Associated with young peoples’ Reproductive Health and Development). This prevalence of HIV /AIDS in the youths has left many dead, leaving very many orphans with their grand parents and other relatives.

Therefore, Divine soccer ministry-Uganda came in to rectify this impending situation hence a ministry proposal to seek for financial assistance to buy land where to construct a home, soccer Playing field, staff Quarters and provide basic needs to the community children."

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Conclusion: "This proposal outlines the main problems surrounding the life of orphans and vulnerable children, due to lack of financial support from their guardians. These children lack basic needs, education and health care. Despite these serious problems, there is inadequate access to these orphans in a friendly and parental attitude. This proposal therefore, identifies strategies to bridge such gaps through an innovative model that will offer these services to children."

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Aren't ministries like this so exciting? I loved seeing all the photos of the kids. To learn more about Divine Soccer Ministry (and to see more photos), check out their Facebook page here or email me at berry31(at)gmail.com for a copy of the ministry's goal and objectives documents.

Please be praying for their ministry. They are growing incredibly fast and can always use financial support. Should you feel led to give, you can donate via PayPal through soccerinmasaka(at)gmail.com.