Kelly's in Uganda!

Child Sponsorship Manager, Kelly Cudney, has arrived in Uganda and has already had a full five days.  In her words from a recent update:

At the Lira empowerment center, Doreen is far leftI got to spend a few days in Lira -- in Northern Uganda -- which was my first time in that region.  We have a gal named Doreen that is running AOET~Lira, and if I had been wearing socks, she would have knocked them right off.  We have 48 sponsored children up there, and Doreen & her staff love them so much.  Not only are they investing in their education & general welfare, but they sincerely want to make a positive & sustainable impact on the whole community.  They work together & hold each other accountable.  They teach vocational skills & have really great tailoring classes (the teacher is named Santa!).  They even educate our families about savings and investments.  Their loads are heavy, but they all care about one another, work hard, love Jesus, and laugh a lot.  They are shining the love of Christ in all things, and I was just so impressed to see a piece of what they do.

Jonathan & Andrea Dowell meeting sponsored childWe held an event for our children who are sponsored in Lira, but only half of them could attend, because the rest are too far away, attending boarding schools.  We interviewed them to make sure all of our info was current, we took updated photos, we helped them write letters to their sponsors, we shared worship & devotions, and then we ate a meal together.  It's very clear to me why God loves orphans so much, and I am overwhelmed with a sense of gratitude for all our AOET sponsors who are helping to create a brighter future.  Spending time with the children is my favorite part.

Kelly sharing with sponsored childrenToday I had the opportunity to meet with the AOET Child Welfare staff from Jinja, Lira and Kenya.  I got to share devotions with them, and then we all proceeded to tell how God brought us to the work of AOET, and why we continue to serve here.  Each region gave an overview of the programs in their area, and it was a great learning experience for all of us.  We shared our challenges with the various programs & roles, and ended our time together with highlights from the last year.  I am sincerely thankful for the dedication of our AOET child welfare staff in Uganda & Kenya ... these folks are incredible.  I don't understand how they can carry such heavy loads & full plates.  Their challenges are many, but their faith is great.  They each have the God-given capability to love so very deeply, and their hearts for the children & families we serve truly inspire me.  I'm looking forward to continuing to build relationships with them over the next few weeks.  

A Birthday to Remember

In the United States, “birthday” is usually synonymous with “party.”  Young children know their birthday and begin to count down months before its arrival because they know that it is going to include cake and presents.  This tradition has not quite made its way to Uganda, but last year we threw our first birthday bash for all of our sponsored children.  It was a wonderful day for them to feel special and celebrated, with each child receiving a personal birthday card and package of food.

We're doing another birthday bash this year, and want to make this one even more memorable for each of our sponsored children.  The hope is to raise enough funds for each child to receive a gift of food.  A $20 donation can feed a family for a week!  We also need help making cards for the 850 sponsored children.  Submit a card online, send one in to the office, or contact us about helping to make a number of cards!  

Joyful. Patient. Faithful.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Share with God’s people who are in need.  Practice hospitality.  Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn.  Live in harmony with one another.  ~Romans 12:12-15

Joyful.  Patient.  Faithful.  This passage strikes me as the perfect picture of what it means to stand firm in the midst of life’s circumstances; rooted in hope and prayer, bound together in harmony, rejoicing and mourning as needed.  Our hope is active and living, just as we believe that our God is active and living.  When confronted with the great needs and brokenness in our lives and communities, prayer is the anchor to that hope.  We invite you to join us in prayer for the work of AOET.  Here are a few current needs:

• A team of 15 from Mid America Nazarene Universityarrived in Uganda yesterday.  They will be working with the families in the Children’s Village and the teachers in our schools.  Pray for strong relationships to be built, wisdom for the counselors, encouragement for the staff, and fun for the kids participating in the VBS.

• Jaja, Margaret Kakaire, underwent eye surgery in Kenya this week and is still there in recovery.  Pray for her quick healing, as well as her large family that will be missing her during this time

• Child Sponsorship Manager, Kelly Cudney, departs for Uganda and Kenya next Tuesday.  She will be spending time with the Child Welfare staff, leading a team from Santiam Christian School, and connecting with many of our sponsored children.  Pray for strength and joy as she connects with the staff and children she has been working so hard to support in her role in child sponsorship.

• It is estimated that there are over 15 million AIDS orphans in sub-Saharan Africa.  The numbers are staggering, but remind us of the individual children we are working to support: Mercy, Rita, Andrew, Patricia, Davis, Zahara.  Pray for their comfort, protection, provision, and education.  Pray they would feel loved and see a hope for their future.