Only a week left before departure!

Hello everyone!

Wow! These last two weeks have been filled with busyness! Sarah and I completed our year at Ecola Bible School on May 2nd. Graduation day was a time filled with reflection at all God had taught and done for us this past year. He is so good! Sarah and I were both leaking facets most of the day as we said goodbye to all of our brothers and sisters in Christ that we had come to love and cherish so deeply! But with every end there is a beginning and we are both so excited about the beginning that awaits us in Africa. :)

We have been so blessed by the support of so many! NorthCoast Family Fellowship in Seaside, Oregon, held a clothing drive for the kids at the orphanage. Sarah and I were blown away at the generous giving of clothing!! We are hoping to fit as much of the clothes in our luggage as possible.

Also, a little girl back here at home felt that God laid it on her heart to bless all of the orphans with new tank tops or T-shirts. She was able to collect about 70-80 shirts! Praise the Lord for this little girl who listened and obeyed. I know that the kids will love their new shirts!

Ken, the New Hope director, has asked Sarah and I if we would be willing to share with fellow believers at some of the local churches in Uganda. We are both so excited to be able to encourage fellow believers in other church bodies. Our goal is to be able to bring love and encouragement as we share the things that God has been teaching and laying on our hearts lately. Please pray for us to be used as the Lord's mouthpieces.

Thanks again for all your prayers! We really do appreciate them. It is so important for the body of Christ to hold each other up in prayer. Prayer works!

May the Lord bless you and keep you!
Laura

John's Story...

Name: John Mukisa
Gender: Male
Age: 8
Birthday: Unknown
Nationality: Ugandan
District: Busia
Grade in School: Primary two
Favorite Hobbies: Football
Religious Background: Christian
Status: Orphan, resident
Current caregiver: New Hope
Former caregiver: Grandmother

Father: Dead
Occupation: NA
Year died: 2001
Cause of Death: AIDS
Mother: Status Unknown
Occupation: Unknown
Year died: Unknown
Cause of death: Unknown
Number of Brothers: 4
Number of Sisters: 6


My Story
John’s father contracted HIV while John was still very young. After learning that her husband was HIV+, John’s mother abandoned the family for fear of being infected herself. After his father died, John was placed under the care of his elderly grandmother. A widowed peasant farmer, John’s grandmother could barely provide enough food for the four children under her care. Poverty forced John to stop going to school and to work with his grandmother in the family garden instead.

Just a quick update...

God has been providing in so many ways! He is so faithful! It has been amazing to be on this faithwalk and see God at work. It seems so surreal that we are leaving for Africa in 20 days! So much to do, so little time. :)

Sarah and I have been attending Northcoast Family Fellowship while we have been here at school. The church body had been so supportive of our trip. They are allowing us to do a clothing drive at the church as well has lifting us and our trip in prayer.

Sarah and I were both able to purchase our plane tickets a couple of weeks ago. We will be flying into Dubai for the night. Dubai is the richest city in the world. There are more cranes being used there to build than anywhere else in the world combined!

The next morning we will be flying into Entebbe, Uganda! There the directors at New Hope will meet us and take us back to the orphanage.

Sarah and I are so excited! We can hardly believe that our dream is soon to become a reality!

Joan's Story...

Name: Joan Nambubi
Gender: Female
Age: 7
Birthday: April 5, 2000
Nationality: Ugandan
District: Budaka
Grade in School: Primary One
Favorite Hobbies: Hide-and-go-Seek
Religious Background: Christian
Status: Orphan, Resident
Current caregiver: New Hope
Former caregiver: Grandfather

Father: Dead
Occupation: NA
Year died: 2002
Cause of Death: AIDS
Mother: Dead
Occupation: NA
Year died: 2002
Cause of death: AIDS
Number of Brothers: 5
Number of Sisters: 4

My Story
Joan’s parents died of AIDS in 2002, when she was only two years old. Joan was left under the care of a feeble, elderly grandfather earning less than 50 cents a day as a peasant farmer. Joan was not going to school regularly, had no access to healthcare and was sleeping in a dilapidated grass-thatched hut. She spent most days fetching water and working with her grandfather in the family garden.

Florence's Story...

Name: Florence Namwebya
Gender: Female
Age: 6
Birthday: Unknown
Nationality: Ugandan
District: Jinja
Grade in School: Primary One
Favorite Hobbies: Playing
Religious Background: Christian
Status: Vulnerable, Resident
Current caregiver: New Hope
Former caregiver: Grandparents

Father: Alive, HIV Positive
Occupation: None
Year died: NA
Cause of Death: NA
Mother: Alive, HIV Positive
Occupation: None
Year died: NA
Cause of death: NA
Number of Brothers: 6
Number of Sisters: 3

My Story
Both of Florence’s parents became bedridden with AIDS while she was still an infant. Florence was sent to live with an aunt in Busia Town. However, when Florence’s aunt separated from her husband, she was no longer able to care for Florence. At high risk of being abandoned to street life, Florence was brought to New Hope.

Sumaya's Story...

Name: Sumaya Kagoya
Gender: Female
Age: 6
Birthday: Unknown
Nationality: Ugandan
District: Busia
Grade in School: P1
Favorite Hobbies: Playing
Religious Background: Muslim
Status: Vulnerable, resident
Current caregiver: New Hope
Former caregiver: Grandmother

Father: Alive, remarried
HIV: Unknown
Occupation:
Year died: NA
Cause of Death: NA
Mother: Alive
HIV: Positive
Occupation: Sex Worker
Year died: NA
Cause of death: NA
Number of Brothers: 4
Number of Sisters: 3

My Story
Sumaya’s parents divorced when she was still an infant. Soon thereafter, Sumaya was abandoned by her mother, an HIV-positive prostitute in Busia Town Council. Although Sumaya’s father is still alive, he has remarried, moved to a different district and is unable to care for Sumaya. Sumaya’s aunt tried to support her but could not provide the most basic necessities of life.
Sumaya and her brother, Ashiraf, are now under the full care of New Hope.

Annet's Story...

Name: Annet Baiza
Gender: Female
Age: 16
Birthday: April 7, 1991
Nationality: Ugandan
District: Pallisa
Grade in School: S2
Favorite Hobby: Netball, Read Bible
Religious Background:
Christian
Status: Orphan, Resident
Current caregiver: New Hope
Former caregiver: Aunts and local charity

Father: Deceased
Occupation: NA
Year died: 2001
Cause of Death: AIDS
Mother: Deceased
Occupation: NA
Year died: 2001
Cause of death: AIDS
Number of Brothers: 4
Number of Sisters:0

My Story

Before the death of her parents, Annet had a relatively comfortable childhood in Uganda’s capital city, Kampala. She had sufficient food, attended school regularly and did not have to work beyond normal household chores. However, after losing both her parents to AIDS in 2001, life became very difficult. Annet and her siblings were taken to live with an aunt, who eventually mistreated them and denied them educational support and sufficient food. Annet was forced to stay at home where she was treated “like a slave” and forced to work all day instead of attending school. After around a year, another aunt took Annet into her home and sent her to school. However, when this aunt’s financial situation deteriorated, Annet had to work in a neighbor’s garden instead of attending school. Annet often went hungry and was increasingly neglected by her aunt.
Annet was then brought to a newly founded charitable project in Busia serving orphaned children. However, in yet another disappointing twist, the project director began abusing Annet and the other orphans at the project. Having fled the project, Annet was found by a local pastor and brought to New Hope.
Annet is now under our full care. She dreams of finishing school and becoming a nurse.