Great News and Some Not So Great!

Well the first sponsorship donations are in Kampala! I am so excited about what will happen this week when the families open their bank accounts. It seems like forever since we saw them and with all of the sadness this month, I have been increasingly anxious to have everything in place. Every minute counts when the people are starving. I can't wait to see the photos we receive! Each bank day for new sponsors, we have pictures taken so that the donors know that their donation has made it to the needy family. I know everyone is waiting for that wonderful day... even myself!

On the down side I broke my foot yesterday! My foot twisted between the sidewalk and the sunken grass and snap! Well... at least it isn't the right one (I can still drive) and I am not in a lot of pain. Last night Nathan said, "Mom! You didn't even cry!" I guess I was too busy screaming! Today I go to the surgeon to see if I need an operation. I guess I will be limping around for a while!

I couldn't help but think about people in Africa who are disabled today as I tried to get ready. It was so hard for me to do anything... and I can't imagine how difficult it would be to NOT have crutches or rolling chairs. Again, I am thankful for living in the top 10% of the world... it means I can get help and be better soon. But what if I wasn't?

Fracture is on the left

Ambers Video

I am so proud of my daughter Amber. This Wednesday, she sang a song at her Community Christian Church Youth Group (STUCO) that she learned in Africa. The video is blurry... but you should check it out anyway. She learned a lot about herself in Uganda, and this song perfectly describes her willingness to be a more teachable, loving and merciful woman. As a side note, she learned this song from Jessica Mumford, her peer, who is a missionary living in Uganda. She taught Amber to lean on God when she felt alone. Obviously, it was a lesson she will never forget.

Amber and the girls Take 2

Add to My Profile | More Videos

The funeral

The dead are brought back to the house to prepare the body.
Here is Grace in her home on the floor covered by a bed sheet we had bought her when we were there.

Grace looks asleep.

Magdalene, 10 years old, and the head of the family.

The coffin being laid in the ground with a hole dug and bricks laid.
This funeral costs more than it would cost to repair the house they live in.

Cement is poured over the coffin.

I asked my friend to go to Grace's funeral and tell the family that I love them. It was a tough day for everyone there. Especially Magdalene. The 10 year old girl, now in charge of the family, cried her eyes out as the service was conducted. She is heart broken and feels alone. Magdalene now has to watch her own mother die as well. I was told that each night Magdalene barely sleeps while she holds up a candle to her mothers parched lips to see if she is still breathing. It is hard for me to believe that Nakalula who is age 50 and only 40 lbs. outlasted a vibrant 17 year old. I guess that is the difference between syphilis and AIDS.

I am attaching the pictures of the funeral. Please say a prayer for Nakalula and Magdalene and the whole family.

Terrible News

Grace one month ago in the hospital with with her baby Brenda

My desk is small. It sits in my house against a living room wall. I have a small lamp and a box for pens. But most of the focus is on my 4 lb. lap top. It is small and compact for field work.

I opened my laptop today, just like every other day; Windows popped up... Outlook popped up. I usually have a lot of email from Africa to look through, and I started looking at the subject lines on them to check for urgency. I froze when I saw, "bad news".

Bad news? My mind was racing to consider all the possible situations. Even though I braced myself, I couldn't conceive what this email was saying... "Grace died this morning".

Grace? Beautiful Grace? 17 year old rape victim Grace? Grace with AIDS and a HIV positive baby? NO! It can't be! Please God say it is not true. Tears stream down my face in frustration and pain. Anguish wells up inside of me. The scream is coming... I don't know how to deal with this.

Grace was the hope of her family. Her mother Nakalula is dying of advanced syphilis. She was the oldest child. But when I first saw her, I had found her so sick that I had to take her to the hospital myself. Now that she is gone, who will take care of the other children now? The ten year old girl named Magdelene? The oldest brother who is 12 and mentally sick. I guess this 10 year old is about to become the provider of her family. And what will become of her sick baby Brenda that the doctors suspect will die soon?

Magdalene (10 years old) on the right

How is this possible in todays world? How is it possible that children are left to watch their siblings and parents die right before their own eyes? How are they supposed to process the pain? How can this be?

I am broken in my spirit. I am crushed. I have lost too many of my African friends to this disease. These are good people -- who love their family and life. Why is this happening? God help us. I don't know what to do. I want to do more. I don't want to watch any other child suffer this kind of death.

Grace was a kind girl. Even exhausted from sickness, she smiled at me. She struggled to care for her baby Brenda. Baby Brenda will have to die without her mother to comfort her. My heart is heavy. I can't get a full breath. It is as if I have been punched in the stomach.

Baby Brenda... sick with AIDS and only 1 1/2 years

I just took a few minutes to look at the photos of Grace. She is so beautiful. I wish I would have memorized her face. I wish I would have said "I will see you in heaven, wait for me". I wish... I wish I could cure AIDS!

I want to personally thank Sarah and Elton Lin who made Grace's life the best possible for the last 2 months. You were the bright hope of her life.

Grace meeting Elton and finding out that he is her sponsor

If you want to do something... if you want to change this world, don't wait. Don't wish... consider donating to GFR today at donations@globalfamilyrescue.org

Broad's House

Broad standing in front of the foundation! He looks so small!

Today we received some photos from Uganda. When the team came in July, we all helped start building a house for a 14 year old orphan named Broad. He has since been sponsored by Nathan and Jaimie! They don't have any children of their own yet so they are getting a chance to parent a needy child anyway!

The house is still getting worked on. And I will attach the photos.

I am trying to imagine what it would feel like to be Broad... How would it feel to have both my mom and dad die at such a young age? What would I eat? Where would I sleep? Who will take care of me?

What an amazing gift Nathan and Jaimie are giving Broad. The opportunity to give him a piece of his childhood back... someone is looking out for him!

If you want to sponsor a family, contact GFR at sponsorship@globalfamilyrescue.org