Hello and thank you for coming by to visit my blog. I am a photographer, mom and wife. I love my life and all the little details that surround it. The Lord has blessed me in so many ways and I am so thankful that I am able to do the things I love to do....be a photographer and a mommy. Please share your thoughts with me and throw some comments my way. They always brighten my day. Thanks again for coming by to visit and come back and see me. If I haven't met you, I look forward to meeting you someday. Have a great and blessed day!

-jamie

Monday, August 9, 2010

Meeting the orphans and Josephine

Yesterday we spent the day at Makindye orphanage which is run by Bishop Yusto, his wife Joy and their children. Our church has supported the Orphan Rescue Ministry for the past few years. There are currently a total of 60 children supported by the orphanage with 44 of the youth being put through school due to the generosity of so many in our church. There is also a feeding program that provides two meals a day to each child. This is my first year here, but for those who have visited before they are amazed at the visible change in each child - their attitudes, their smiles, their level of enthusiasm and so much more. As we arrived we were greeted with song which brought all of us to tears - I have never heard anything like it. Imagine forty something kids singing at the top of their lungs about the power of Jesus. This was not your typical Sunday morning hymn being sung because the song director asked them to; these were children exalting the God who removed them from the streets and feeds them twice a day. We had a worship service with the children singing, Bishop Yusto and my Dad sharing a message and the rest of us trying our best to contain our emotions. With the service ending, we shared a local meal prepared by Bishop Yusto's wife. We spent the rest of the day playing with the kids and watching them put on a prepared performance of song and dance. As with previous years, we brought clothes for the children. Most all of the kids were wearing the shirts the team brought last year. As I looked at their tattered clothes and worn shoes, my heart was broken as I thought about home. One of my pet peeves at home is when I run out of hangers for all of our clothes or when the closet is too tight to fit our clothes into. We are so blessed yet so materialistic. We argue about what to eat when those here worry if they will eat. We argue about what to wear when those here are thankful for the shirt on their back. Jamie and I also got to meet Josephine Nantango, who is an 11 year old orphan our family has supported over the past couple of years. When we gave her a picture of our daughters, Corrie and Jordan, she already knew them. We had sent a picture last year which she still had. It was an emotional experience as we held her, hugged her and spent a couple of hours with her. If no red tape existed in this world, I think she would be flying home with us. We have no clue how good we have it...absolutely no clue. The United States doesn't guarantee everyone success, but the foundation of opportunity exists for all. Here in Uganda that foundation needs to be poured one child at a time.


2 comments:

  1. Thrilled that you have had the opportunity to meet Josephine your sponsor child.You really put things into perspective with the messages you write. We are so blessed & yet take so much for granted. Can't imagine life there & the obsticles the men, women, & children face each day. May God's blessing be on each of the team as they minster in the name of Jesus. Praying for your safe return. Love to you, Jamie & my sweetheart.

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  2. I'm wiping tears from my eyes as I write this. I can't imagine how hard it is to live there and be so alone at such a young age. It's so amazing to see how much love and gratefulness they have in their hearts despite their hardships. I'm so glad you got to meet Josephine! I hope someday I can introduce my girls to Cynthia. See you guys soon!

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