Uganda Day 2

Today was another amazing day in Uganda.  After breakfast we headed to one of the villages of the Karamajong Tribe.  In a nut shell, hundreds of women and children are outcasts with little source of income.  A wonderful ministry, Home Again Ministries, is committed to help provide education, vocational and spiritual training to the least of these. I haven’t had the time to process in my head all I want to share about these special people.  So I will have to wait for another post to share with you the stories behind this

and this

But also this

And this

 

But I do have a special story to share about the blessing we received today getting to know Demily (Pronounced Emily with a D).  Demily is the founder of the Sangaalo baby cottage in Uganda.  She knew at age 9 she wanted to be able to love on lots of children.  She got pregnant at an early age and had to drop out of school.   To provide for her son she moved in to a baby cottage to take care of orphaned children in exchange for food, shelter and schooling for her son.  I could tell by the way she told her story she loved being there.  Demily spoke of Mama Jackie, a woman from California who for years spent all but one or two months out of the year taking care of the babies with Demily in Uganda.  Before one of Mama Jackie’s trips back to the States she told Demily to make sure to take care of the babies in the case she doesn’t return.  Demily was very confused by Mama Jackie’s statement until she stopped received emails from Mama Jackie and learned that Mama Jackie had passed away from cancer.  Demily had us all in tears as we could all see how much she loved Mama Jackie and the inspriate she was to Demily. 

Demily spoke to us at length on her trying to ignore God’s calling for her to care of the many babies she kept dreaming of.  Demily adopted a daughter from Uganda, got married and had two other children thinking that would be sufficient to God.  But, Demily cleared noted several times, she was in fact blatantly ignoring God’s constant motions for her to go back to loving and caring for the many children He needed her to.  Eventually Demily’s husband felt called to help Demily fulfill God’s plan for her.  He sold some land to get the money to rent on a home to take care of Ugandan babies who are abandoned or in need of care.  Thus, Sangaalo Baby Cottage came to be.  Sangaalo means joy in Uganda.  Beautiful isn’t it?



Outside Sangallo Baby Cottage





One of the baby rooms at Sangaalo Baby Cottage




This is sweet Demily sharing her testimony with us.


 

So, today we went to love on the babies Demily cares for.  Right now she has 10 babies—3 sets of twins, an HIV positive little boy (who is sick and was taken to the hospital last night) and other precious little ones who need Demily to love and take care for them.    
WARNING:  PICTURE OVERLOAD!



Me holding 4 month old twin girls Semily and Sara



Chaning diapers




Some of the babies we got to love on today



Semily got passed around quite often.  Praying she and her sister find a loving family!




This little one slept quite a bit while we were there.  He eventually woke up and got some lovin' too. (Although we all through he was a she and put him in a headband :) )




Me and little Semily




This sweet babe took a liking to Sandra.  I don't think she left Sandra's arms the entire time.




I'm kicking myself for not remembering this one's name.  She was sick and fussy.  She loved watching all the kids playing from the front porch though.  She has a twin brother who is also being cared for by Demily.




Look at that face.  L-O-V-E



 

 

Please pray for Jennifer, Julia and Aaron who are sick and in the hospital (one of the set of twins and the little boy with HIV).

Please pray for these other babies to stay healthy and be adopted in to loving families they deserve, either domestic or internationally.  I think of my daughters when I look in to their eyes.  Leah and Julia have a mommy and daddy to run to when they fall down and scrape their knee, when they have a bad dream or when they need a hug.  These precious children need the same.  Someone to love them, protect them, guide them, raise them and support them. 

Please pray for Sangaalo’s needs to be met.  They need formula.  Without it she has to give the children local milk that does not have the nutrients formula does.  We were able to bring her some but they need more.  They are currently in need of another house to rent to care for these babies.  The current house does not have running water, a stove to cook, or a refrigerator.  It also does not have a gate around the property and is in an area where child sacrifice is prevalent.  The main source of income for the cottage is the chickens she keeps in the garage.  The Ugandan government equivalent to Child Services came and told her she can no longer keep the chickens in the garage as it is a health risk to the babies.  Through all of this Demiy knows God will provide.  Demily repeatedly told us how she asks the Lord to forgive her for not having enough faith and trusting in Him.  She wanted all of us to know that if the Lord is calling for us to do something, do not turn a deaf hear to Him.  Do it!  He will always provide. Period. 

With the help of YOUR donations (THANK YOU!), our team here is looking to meet some of these needs.  We are looking at using some of the funds to buy her a refrigerator (to keep Aaron’s HIV medicine, etc) and possibly a chicken coop.

I'm not some awesome/amazing/special person because I came here.  I am simply honored God chose me to see, love and bless His people He loves so much.  This is His story that I want to share, not mine.  His plan, not mine.  All for His glory, not mine. 
 
Hope you enjoy these!  Tomorrow (well this morning) we are visiting Amazina Ministries and also a little fun trip out to King Fisher for a Nile boat tour and dinner.