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.  

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.  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.

Kelly hammin' it up in Uganda

On May 15^th Kelly heads to Africa for two months, planning to spend most of her time working with our staff; deepening relationships, meeting many of our sponsored children, and dreaming together of how to enhance our sponsorship program.  You can be sure to expect great updates from Africa over the next few months! 

Sponsor Summer Baird visiting her Natasha

One of the greatest challenges is maintaining a personal relationship between sponsored children and their sponsors as the numbers continue to grow.  We have service teams visit children while they are in Africa, volunteers who consistently help out with the data entry details, as well as offering the opportunity for sponsors to join a team and meet their child in person.  We can’t emphasize enough how valuable and important the relationship is to the sponsored child.  Andrea Dowell recently wrote from Kenya: It is so powerful to be here and see what a connection these kids have to their sponsors.  They have pictures of the families of the sponsors, talk about the children in the family that they write to; they treasure the letters they get from their sponsor. 

But it is not just our sponsored children who are benefiting from the sponsorship relationship.  Staff member Cherie Rainwater says, I love seeing how sponsorship not only changes the life of a child in Africa, but also changes the life of the sponsor.  When you recognize your own wealth and realize you have an opportunity to share it in a way that makes a very tangible difference in someone else’s life, it humbles you and transforms your heart.  The beauty of child sponsorship is that while it may begin as a simple transaction, it has the ability to become a deep and meaningful relationship that has a lasting impact in both the sponsored child and the sponsor.  We want to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of our sponsors and the incredible generosity and commitment they show to the children of Africa!

Miriam & Tinah

Everyone loves pizza!

We've been planning a Chosen tour in the US for the past six months; with plans to cross the entire country visiting 10 regions, performing in over 120 churches and schools, and driving over 5,000 miles.  On the other side of the preparation we've had seven kids learning (and writing!) new songs, months of working to get passports for the children, and a lot of anticipation for a tour which we hope will fund the construction of a much needed dormitory at our primary school.  

Milly & MercyWe were finally able to secure an appointment at the embassy for 7am on March 15th, meaning we would need to leave Bugembe at 4am.  The children decided to stay at the clinic the night before, and Miriam (who is 11) consulted me on the plans for her group.  "I am going to polish all of their shoes, take them for a haircut, and we have new uniforms.  I'll get them up at 3am and make sure they have washed and are looking very smart!"  When I showed up at four o'clock in the morning I could see the group huddled together in the darkness, and they were in fact looking very smart.  

Mercy & JeniferWe all piled into the van, and set off for Kampala.  Not one mile down the road a terrible sound started clanking in the engine- we had broken the fan belt, which is apparently not a necessity in the cool early morning hours.  Upon reaching the embassy we found out that the passport photos were the wrong size so a photo shop had to be located, and a worker called to kindly come and open up for us.  We then waited all day for our turn to be interviewed while the kids nervously practiced their answers for the consular.  I told Jenifer if she just smiled her beautiful smile she should be fine.  Each of the kids walked in nervous and came out full of smiles.  With great animation they told how they had confidently given their answers to the questions.  Those who had been before boasted about all the pizza they had eaten and friends they had made.

MosesWhen all was said and done we were informed that the group could no longer come on a visitor visa, but would need to apply for a special performer visa.  We sadly piled in the van and made the long drive home.  When we reached the clinic Mercy climbed out of the van and turned to me and asked, "So, did we not get the visas?"  When the reality of a postponement sank in the kids were disappointed, but we discovered that pizza could be found in Jinja and their excitement came back as they thought of how much fun it will be to see the US in the fall.  The children are continuing to prepare, working hard to finish their school work early, and we look forward to the tour beginning in September!

Remember to join our community that is all about Chosen, to get even more great pics, videos and news!

Ernest being welcomed to his post by JamesWe are happy to announce that Ernest Masaaba is the new acting Country Director of AOET~Uganda!  Ernest brings a deep passion for children and a history of program excellence.  In his previous position as Principal at Rehaboth Integrated Primary School (RIPS), Ernest has been a pivotal force behind the continued success of RIPS making it to one of the 10 best performing schools in national exams in Jinja District. 

Ernest loves the children we serve and his eyes light up when he describes them, “They have high hospitality and above all are disciplined. Most of them are very eager to learn and have a lot of ambitions. With their broad smiles, you can’t know that they had a single meal coupled with a chain of problems until you talk to them at length.”

Coming from humble beginnings himself, Ernest understands the value of education.  He was born in eastern Uganda, seventh in a family of 10 children.  (Which he says was, “too big!”) His father was a primary school teacher and his mother a house wife.  Ernest describes growing up in “a humble background where my parents’ meager earnings were not enough to support the entire family. Fortunately, out of hardship, all my sisters and brothers were able to acquire education.  My mother used to sell ripe bananas and homemade products to supplement the family income.  As a child, my main duty at home was to graze cattle and goats with my little brother and sometimes I would go to work in the garden with my parents. I had very little time to play. At first I wanted to become a Reverend in the protestant church because my parents are devoted protestant Christians who were regularly visited by the church leaders, who were always smartly dressed in their black attire with a white collar.”  But once he started secondary school, that changed and his, “ambition changed to becoming one of the best secondary school teachers.”  Which he accomplished and then some!

Ernest is married to Norah Masaaba and they have 5 children: 1 girl and 4 boys. The eldest daughter is 15 years old and the youngest is 4 years. They live in Katende West near the primary school. 

We welcome Ernest to this position of leadership and are expectant that he will help guide AOET to new levels of success.  Although it seems that his favorite Bible verse from Jeremiah 29:11 speaks even more to our expectations for what God will do in and through Ernest:  “For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Amen!  Please join us in praying for Ernest during this transition.

Here is a quick video of James praying for Ernest:

Thank You to James Luwaga.

James being prayed for by the AOET staff

We would like to offer a heartfelt thank you to James for serving as Country Director of AOET~Uganda for over 3 years.  With his memorable sense of humor, James helped AOET transition through major periods of growth, provided structure for the leadership & staff and offered a sense of stability amidst it all.  Moving forward, James will be working with the church that he planted in Njeru and seeking the next adventure God has ahead.  We are confident that God will bless this next chapter in James’ life.

--33.4 million people are still living with HIV--and two-thirds of them live in sub-Saharan Africa.

--15 million people living with HIV in low- and middle-income countries still need treatment today.

--Mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS still needs attention and additional services offered to mothers.

Over the last few years, agencies have noticed a decline in public interest and funding in the HIV/AIDS epidemic, yet there are over 1.2 million AIDS orphans in Uganda. At AOET, we are thankful to have supporters and friends like you that remain aware and vigilant in the fight against HIV/AIDS. We stand together with AOET-Uganda—on the frontlines every day—fighting against AIDS by educating mothers & youth, caring for AIDS orphan, empowering widows & guardians and providing medical education, prevention training and support for treatment.

"We are so privileged here [in the States].  And half a world away, there's a little boy who doesn't get enough to eat.  I'm blessed to be able to help him."

And so we wonder:  What's your story?  Why do you sponsor a child?  Why do you contribute to the work of AOET?  Send your story (500 words or less) to info@aoetusa.com and we'll feature you here on our blog!

Thanks to all of the team members for their amazing attitudes and willing hearts to serve the children and families that AOET serves.  We thank God for ALL of your support and look forward to seeing you all again soon in Uganda!  ;)

Meet Mouvin Lenge Chabunga!  Mouvin, born in 2001, lives in Kenya.  He has lost both his mother and father to HIV/AIDS.  His grandmother, Mmbone Loice, is now his guardian, but she can't afford the cost of school fees and medical care.  He lives with her and his younger sister on a half-acre plot of land where his parents are buried.

Mouvin hopes to be a teacher someday.  His favorite hobby is reading stories.  He enjoys playing volleyball and his best subject in school is math.  To help with chores at home, he digs and fetches water.  He is a fun-loving boy who enjoys playing with friends and being social.  

Mouvin's younger sister is HIV+ and she is receiving medication at this time, but the family often goes hungry so they can afford her treatment.  Mouvin himself has generally good health.

A sponsor could change his life forever...for only $35/month!  
To sponsor Mouvin, call the AOET~USA office at 503-954-3711.