As I look around at all the shining Christmas decorations and the colorful wrapped presents sitting under the tree I smile with anticipation of spending time with family.
It is very difficult during this time to be frugal. I see all the wonderful gifts available and all the great prices and want to buy everything and give everyone I know a present so they will feel special and loved.
I made it a rule a long time ago to only buy one present for each of my kids from me and from their dad. That was the most difficult decision because I wanted to fill their room with new things to show them how much I loved them. I had to control myself because I wanted them to remember whose birthday it really was and why we celebrate.
It was during this season I would try and teach them to think of others and give to those who have nothing. We use to pick a charity or a family we knew that needed help and would go shopping to buy them Christmas presents. I would even make my girls use some of their own money. One time we took the presents and left them at family’s home, rang the door bell, and drove away before they came out. My kids felt like they had participated in a secret Santa spy ring.
Yet through all this fun holiday time, my mind also thinks about the children in Uganda I love so much. I can think of each of their precious smiling faces and pray for them but I want to do more. Giving a donation to Friends of TOUCH is the most beneficial way I can help them. These funds provide food, clothing, and the most valuable gift of all, education. This is a true birthday gift for Christ.
I can see in my mind the future as these children, now grown, and celebrating their own Christmas with their family, can look back and say it was all possible because someone in America took the time to give of themselves during Christ’s birthday and all year round. From all of these children and from all of us, the staff and Board of FOT, thank you and have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
- D
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Letters from Uganda
I thought it would be nice to let you hear how much the children appreciate what you do for them - in their own words:
I am fine and now living a very happy life because of the Grace of God he has put upon me through you . . . I truly appreciate your support, love and care towards me and may the good Lord reward you abundantly. - Margaret
I am doing fun, schooling enjoying each day I step at school. Thank you for the love you have showed me and my sister . . . If it wasn't you I wouldn't be where I am now. - Sarah
In Matthew 5:14 you are like a ray of sunshine that makes the world warmer and brighter wherever you are. it's easy to see God's love working through you. Thank you for being one of those rare people who are willing to go that extra mile for others and for giving so much of yourself. I hope you know how much I appreciate you. - Mariam
I am fine and now living a very happy life because of the Grace of God he has put upon me through you . . . I truly appreciate your support, love and care towards me and may the good Lord reward you abundantly. - Margaret
I am doing fun, schooling enjoying each day I step at school. Thank you for the love you have showed me and my sister . . . If it wasn't you I wouldn't be where I am now. - Sarah
In Matthew 5:14 you are like a ray of sunshine that makes the world warmer and brighter wherever you are. it's easy to see God's love working through you. Thank you for being one of those rare people who are willing to go that extra mile for others and for giving so much of yourself. I hope you know how much I appreciate you. - Mariam
"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden." - Matthew 5:14
THANK YOU!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
World AIDS Day
Today is World AIDS Day - a reminder that AIDS is still killing people and devestating lives. Since AIDS first emerged in the 1980s, it has taken the lives of over 25 MILLION people. Most of these people were between 20 - 40 years old, the age of workers and parents. The result is that millions of children are orphaned, and family and national economies are tragically scarred.
In 2007, 2.1 MILLION men, women, and children lost their lives to AIDS-related illness. Also in 2007, UNAIDS and WHO estimates that 2.5 MILLION people were newly infected with HIV, with 70% of those new infections in Africa.
There are now 33 MILLION people living with HIV around the world. To give you an idea of how many people that is, the population of Texas is only 24 million.
Most of these 33 million people are expected to die within the next ten years, leaving their children as orphans.
In Uganda alone (where we work), there are 2.5 million orphans from all causes (15% of all children). 1.2 MILLION of those were orphaned because of AIDS. There are an estimated 130,000 children in Uganda living with HIV, with only 8,532 of them receiving antiretroviral treatments.
James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." The number of orphans will continue to rise, and we must rise to the challenge by making orphan care a part of our daily lives.
We must do all that we can to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. We must encourage and help those already infected. We must seek better and more reliable treatment for those who need it. We must pray for families and health care systems overwhelmed by the need.
Please do not let this day pass without doing something.
In 2007, 2.1 MILLION men, women, and children lost their lives to AIDS-related illness. Also in 2007, UNAIDS and WHO estimates that 2.5 MILLION people were newly infected with HIV, with 70% of those new infections in Africa.
There are now 33 MILLION people living with HIV around the world. To give you an idea of how many people that is, the population of Texas is only 24 million.
Most of these 33 million people are expected to die within the next ten years, leaving their children as orphans.
In Uganda alone (where we work), there are 2.5 million orphans from all causes (15% of all children). 1.2 MILLION of those were orphaned because of AIDS. There are an estimated 130,000 children in Uganda living with HIV, with only 8,532 of them receiving antiretroviral treatments.
James 1:27 says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." The number of orphans will continue to rise, and we must rise to the challenge by making orphan care a part of our daily lives.
We must do all that we can to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. We must encourage and help those already infected. We must seek better and more reliable treatment for those who need it. We must pray for families and health care systems overwhelmed by the need.
Please do not let this day pass without doing something.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Let's Let the Children Know They are Loved!
One of the things I enjoy is hearing sponsors share how they are making their sponsored child a part of the family. There is so much excitement as they plan what to send to Africa, and small, simple gifts and letters become great treasures as they go to children who have never receieved anything of their own.
Today is the shared birthday of so many of our children at TOUCH. Uganda has not kept birth records, so children who have been displaced or who have lost family have no one to remember their birth. One of our students told us he was born "on a Tuesday in 1992."
One of the dedicated staff at TOUCH, Margaret, has "donated" her birthday - November 30th - to the children at TOUCH who do not know when they were born. It's a busy time to have a birthday - just at the end of the final school term, and just before Christmas. Even in the best of circumstances, it's easy to feel forgotten.
The shipping of items is expensive and a bit awkward, but letters travel easily and electronic messages cost nearly nothing for us to deliver - and a word of encouragement means so much! So, between today's "birthday" and the coming Christmas celebration, we'd like to see all of the children at TOUCH receiving messages of love and hope.
Would you take a few moments to write an encouraging message to a child? You can use the comments section below and we will send it to the children.
Don't know what to say?
Today is the shared birthday of so many of our children at TOUCH. Uganda has not kept birth records, so children who have been displaced or who have lost family have no one to remember their birth. One of our students told us he was born "on a Tuesday in 1992."
One of the dedicated staff at TOUCH, Margaret, has "donated" her birthday - November 30th - to the children at TOUCH who do not know when they were born. It's a busy time to have a birthday - just at the end of the final school term, and just before Christmas. Even in the best of circumstances, it's easy to feel forgotten.
The shipping of items is expensive and a bit awkward, but letters travel easily and electronic messages cost nearly nothing for us to deliver - and a word of encouragement means so much! So, between today's "birthday" and the coming Christmas celebration, we'd like to see all of the children at TOUCH receiving messages of love and hope.
Would you take a few moments to write an encouraging message to a child? You can use the comments section below and we will send it to the children.
Don't know what to say?
- Pray and ask God to help you say what a child needs to hear.
- Include your favorite scripture or quote.
- Be friendly and offer hope, but don't point out their poverty.
- Sign with just your first name
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Beads for Christmas!
The necklaces are hand-made from discarded magazine pages. Women in the community have created this recycled wearable art to provide a source of income for their families, and when you purchase from Friends of TOUCH you help the women as well as the children!
Photographs and more information are available here: www.friendsoftouch.org/necklaces/
Friday, November 20, 2009
Letters from Home
It's the time of year when we think a little more about family and friends. Today I am reading through a stack of letters just received from Uganda, written by the children we support there.
The letters all express thanks for school fees and food, but then there are the hopes and dreams, fears and testimonies that really stand out. Over the next few weeks, I'll share some of these with you here.
Don't take your life for granted. You have a life of purpose ahead of you - and someone is praying for you. Be blessed.
The letters all express thanks for school fees and food, but then there are the hopes and dreams, fears and testimonies that really stand out. Over the next few weeks, I'll share some of these with you here.
I thank the Almighty God for keeping you alive. As I am going for my holidays I am going to pray for you and your family and I hope that you pray for me also.Do you hear it? This orphaned child is saying she thanks God for keeping you alive. Her parents died and now you are paying her school fees and seeing that she has two meals a day. She is thankful for your life and is praying for you. She hopes that you are praying for her as well.
Don't take your life for granted. You have a life of purpose ahead of you - and someone is praying for you. Be blessed.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Orphan Sunday
November 8th is Orphan Sunday - a day when Christians stand unified for the cause of the orphaned child. We are called to defend the fatherless, and to visit orphans in their distress.
There are Orphan Sunday events all across the world - so wherever you are you can find a body of believers to stand with.
Friends of TOUCH will be at the following locations during this week:
- Wednesday, November 4th - with Sara Sebyala
Forum on World Hunger at Bethel Temple, Hampton, VA - Saturday, November 7th
Ladies Retreat at Crosswalk Community Church, Williamsburg, VA - Sunday, November 8th
Morning Service, Lighthouse Worship Center, Hayes, VA
Find an Orphan Sunday event near you.
Friday, October 30, 2009
How Many Are Hungry?
Did you know that every five seconds, a child dies from hunger-related diseases?
Next week, on November 4th, we'll be at the Forum on World Hunger hosted by Bethel Temple in Hampton, VA.
Next week, on November 4th, we'll be at the Forum on World Hunger hosted by Bethel Temple in Hampton, VA.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
A Mother's Influence
When we talk about TOUCH in Uganda, the program is synonymous with its founder, Sara Sebyala. The children there call her "Mama TOUCH" or "Mummy Sara". In the United States, Sara represents the children, sharing their stories and inspiring us to help with the task of raising so many hurting little ones.
After all, Sara has been doing this - caring for children orphaned or trapped by poverty and sickness and war - for over 13 years. The TOUCH program, you might say, is her "baby".
In a recent phone conversation, we talked about faith. She said to me, "Kay, the children are already here. They are hungry, They aren't eating at home. I have to have faith to feed them."
400 children x 2 meals a day = 800 meals a day
That's 24,000 meals a month
and 288,000 meals a year.
Every day, the children return to school. Education, they know, is important, but it is the food that keeps them coming. The food is vital to sustain them, but there is still one more important thing being dispensed at TOUCH - faith.
We have seen the children comforting one another after parents die. We have seen them as eager helpers in school and in the community around them. They share the gospel. They tell what God has done for them. They pray like warriors.
This is the influence of Mama Sara and so many other women of faith. Let's take a moment today to look at our lives and see the people God has placed within our sphere of influence. Are we showing them Christ?
After all, Sara has been doing this - caring for children orphaned or trapped by poverty and sickness and war - for over 13 years. The TOUCH program, you might say, is her "baby".
In a recent phone conversation, we talked about faith. She said to me, "Kay, the children are already here. They are hungry, They aren't eating at home. I have to have faith to feed them."
400 children x 2 meals a day = 800 meals a day
That's 24,000 meals a month
and 288,000 meals a year.
Every day, the children return to school. Education, they know, is important, but it is the food that keeps them coming. The food is vital to sustain them, but there is still one more important thing being dispensed at TOUCH - faith.
- Because Sara believes that God has placed these children into her care, she cannot turn them away.
- Because she cannot turn them away, she has to have faith that God will provide the food.
- Because she has faith that God will provide, she is able to love the children, instead of seeing them as a problem.
- Because she loves the children and does not see them as a problem, the children can see that God loves them, too.
- Because they see that God loves them, the children know that they have hope and a future.
- Because they know that they have hope and a future, the children's lives are changed from a mere daily existence to extending their own faith and love back into those around them.
We have seen the children comforting one another after parents die. We have seen them as eager helpers in school and in the community around them. They share the gospel. They tell what God has done for them. They pray like warriors.
This is the influence of Mama Sara and so many other women of faith. Let's take a moment today to look at our lives and see the people God has placed within our sphere of influence. Are we showing them Christ?
-Kay
I stole my blog title today from the post that inspired it - you can read Richele's post at the Internet Cafe - Richele wrote about another way our moms influence us, and she has a great prayer for all of us today as well.
Monday, October 19, 2009
America's Giving Challenge
Friends of TOUCH has entered in America's Giving Challenge, which gives us a chance to win $50,000! Please donate today!To win, between now and November 7th we have to get the most donations to our cause (every person can donate once per day and have it count as a unique donation). We can also win daily awards of $1,000 and $500 if we can get the most people to donate in any 24-hour period. The great thing about this Challenge is that it doesn't matter how much you give, but instead how much you do to encourage friends and family to get involved in our cause. We all need to come together and start promoting the cause if we want to win.
Each of us has tons of friends on Facebook who we can ask to donate to our cause. But let's think big too—can you put our cause in your email signature, can you throw a party and get people to donate through the cause when they enter, can you organize other people to go out and fundraise from all of their friends? As you reach out to your friends be sure to tell them why this cause matters to you. The possibilities are endless so let's talk about what we can do to win on the Facebook Wall or by replying to this bulletin.
Even if you don't have a Facebook account, you can still do this! Just choose the "Donate without Facebook" option.
I think we can do it! But it's going to take all of us. Check out the Giving Challenge ( www.causes.com ), then visit our cause to see how we're doing so far and get involved.
What can $50,000 do?
- Food for a year for 400 children
- Build a dorm building or a school building
- Send 1000 children to school
We'd really appreciate it if you'll donate right now by going to http://www.causes.com/donations/...
Remember - any amount counts toward the prize! Let's win $50,000 for the children!
Remember - any amount counts toward the prize! Let's win $50,000 for the children!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Upside Down Stamp
The pile of envelopes around my feet was growing. In front of me was a pile of thank you letters, newsletters, and addressed envelopes waiting for me to stuff. This is an all day event I thought to myself.
Just then my husband looked over my shoulder and said “Stop! You can’t do that!”
“What?” I muttered.
“You can’t send a letter with an upside down flag on it,” he remarked as he pointed to the stamp on the envelope in my hand.
There it was plain as day, the American flag on the stamp was upside down. In my haste to finish this job, I accidentally placed the stamp upside down.
“Why is this a problem?” I asked my husband.
“The United States Flag Code says the flag should never be displayed with the union down, except as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property,” he remarked.
I stared at the stamp and then it occurred to me that all the stamps with the flag on them on all these envelopes needed to be pasted on upside down so that the children of Uganda can get the message to the American people that they are in distress, danger, and in need of immediate assistance.
Lack of food, shelter, and parental care has devastated a war torn country where AIDS has killed off the working adults. What’s left are starving children. The TOUCH ministry was born out of this great need and Friends of TOUCH was created to help them meet the needs of these children.
A mere $35.00 a month provides food, clothing, medical care, and an education to these kids. That breaks down to one family meal at McDonalds. Even $10.00 will feed them a whole month. Surely American can go with out two Starbucks coffee’s a week to feed a child in Uganda!
Won’t you open your heart today and make a monthly commitment. Visit our web site www.friendsoftouch.org and click the ‘Donate’ button at the bottom of the screen or mail a donation to Friends of TOUCH, PO Box 510, Gloucester, VA 23061
D
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
New Look for Friends of TOUCH Online
We have made some changes to our web site and we hope that you like what we've done. The new site is much easier for us to manage, and we think it will be easier for you to find what you need. Come have a look around and let us know what you think!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
What the world needs is more Ja-Ja's
The baby was fussy, I could tell it was time for his nap but he refused to lie quiet and sleep. I saw his mother was busy preparing a meal for me and her other foreign guests so being the grandmother of the group I got up and began my famous ‘Nana rock’ on him. I cradled him in my arms and swayed gentle back and forth looking intently into his face smiling and speaking quietly to him. I would make wide yawns with my mouth and let my eyes droop until he began to mimic me and soon was fast asleep. It worked every time.
The others in the group looked up at me amazed as I lay him back in his bassinet and asked how I was able to get him to sleep so quickly. Before I could explain my ‘Nana rock’ my Ugandan hostess spoke up and said, “She is the ja-ja.” That was the day I became the grandmother to the children of Uganda (ja-ja means grandmother).
I can remember a time when I didn’t want kids. I wanted to be an important scientist making a lasting mark on humankind that would live on past me. Then life got in my way as I found I was pregnant. So I adapted by expanding my dream of conquering the world to include my child. We delved into the world of science, history, music, and art through reading and trips to many museums. We hunted artifacts like seashells and rocks. I found that making my mark on the world was my kids. They would live after me my testament to my existence and I was thrilled.
Then came the day I became a grandmother. I insisted that everyone call me Nana instead of grandma because it didn’t sound so old. I was much too young to be a grandmother. But oh what a thrill to be able to hold a baby again and bond with them and love them as my own. Now I was ‘ja-ja’, grandmother to a nation. Truly God has blessed me beyond measure.
What many people do not understand is that kids are kids are kids no matter where they are born or what society they grow up in. No matter whether they live in war or peace, whether they are rich or poor, all kids have the same needs. Babies need to be cuddled and rocked to sleep. Preschoolers want to put their new skills to work and use the words ‘I can do it by myself’. School age kids need friends. Teenagers need to stretch their boundaries. All kids need the basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, and an education but above all else they need to know someone loves them. Yet these are the very things many of the children of Uganda are missing.
People further believe that children of poverty have no hope, no future, and exist only day by day not thinking of tomorrow. But they are very wrong. I have seen their expected faces and listen to them describe their dreams of the future. Like any other kid they want to be a doctor, a teacher, a lawyer, even a famous athlete. Even in the midst of poverty and hopelessness their children hearts are open to a better tomorrow.
Many have been faced with the burden of becoming the head of their household after all the adults have died of AIDs. Many of these children are themselves kids some younger then 10 years of age. They now have to find food, shelter, and all the other basic needs for themselves and their siblings at 10 years old! What were you doing at the age of ten? I was riding my bike without a care in the world never once did I think about having to feed my brothers or live without my parents.
Sometimes they are taken in by relatives or neighbors but their life is no better as these adults struggle to feed the extra mouths on incomes levels that average $1500 US dollars a year.
Sometimes they are cared for by their own ja-ja, one who watched her own children die a horrible death, who can no longer work, who has no income, and now she has the responsibility for grandchildren she cannot feed.
It is time for new ja-jas to step forward to begin to rock the Ugandan children in their loving arms. I know you are out there and are looking for a way to love one more child. The Friends of TOUCH organization has ways for you to reach out and love these kids through monthly donations, prayer, and volunteer work. I challenge you to show them you care. Leave your mark on the planet by caring for these kids. Show them they are loved by becoming a ja-ja!
What can Ja-Ja’s do:
- Hold a fund raiser: bake sale, yard sale, spaghetti dinner
- Spend a hour in prayer for these kids per day
- Sponsor a child
- Hold a Sponsorship party at your home
- Get your pastor or civic group leader to allow FOT to present the needs of these kids as a special speaker.
- Get FOT corporate sponsors
- Introduce FOT to other organizations who help kids to partner with
- Conduct other fundraiser events as big or as small as you desire
Thanks to all of you who have some along side us and who love these precious souls as much as we do.
D
Technorati Tags: children, grandparents, Ugana, Africa, poverty, child sponsorship
The others in the group looked up at me amazed as I lay him back in his bassinet and asked how I was able to get him to sleep so quickly. Before I could explain my ‘Nana rock’ my Ugandan hostess spoke up and said, “She is the ja-ja.” That was the day I became the grandmother to the children of Uganda (ja-ja means grandmother).
I can remember a time when I didn’t want kids. I wanted to be an important scientist making a lasting mark on humankind that would live on past me. Then life got in my way as I found I was pregnant. So I adapted by expanding my dream of conquering the world to include my child. We delved into the world of science, history, music, and art through reading and trips to many museums. We hunted artifacts like seashells and rocks. I found that making my mark on the world was my kids. They would live after me my testament to my existence and I was thrilled.
Then came the day I became a grandmother. I insisted that everyone call me Nana instead of grandma because it didn’t sound so old. I was much too young to be a grandmother. But oh what a thrill to be able to hold a baby again and bond with them and love them as my own. Now I was ‘ja-ja’, grandmother to a nation. Truly God has blessed me beyond measure.
What many people do not understand is that kids are kids are kids no matter where they are born or what society they grow up in. No matter whether they live in war or peace, whether they are rich or poor, all kids have the same needs. Babies need to be cuddled and rocked to sleep. Preschoolers want to put their new skills to work and use the words ‘I can do it by myself’. School age kids need friends. Teenagers need to stretch their boundaries. All kids need the basic necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, and an education but above all else they need to know someone loves them. Yet these are the very things many of the children of Uganda are missing.
People further believe that children of poverty have no hope, no future, and exist only day by day not thinking of tomorrow. But they are very wrong. I have seen their expected faces and listen to them describe their dreams of the future. Like any other kid they want to be a doctor, a teacher, a lawyer, even a famous athlete. Even in the midst of poverty and hopelessness their children hearts are open to a better tomorrow.
Many have been faced with the burden of becoming the head of their household after all the adults have died of AIDs. Many of these children are themselves kids some younger then 10 years of age. They now have to find food, shelter, and all the other basic needs for themselves and their siblings at 10 years old! What were you doing at the age of ten? I was riding my bike without a care in the world never once did I think about having to feed my brothers or live without my parents.
Sometimes they are taken in by relatives or neighbors but their life is no better as these adults struggle to feed the extra mouths on incomes levels that average $1500 US dollars a year.
Sometimes they are cared for by their own ja-ja, one who watched her own children die a horrible death, who can no longer work, who has no income, and now she has the responsibility for grandchildren she cannot feed.
It is time for new ja-jas to step forward to begin to rock the Ugandan children in their loving arms. I know you are out there and are looking for a way to love one more child. The Friends of TOUCH organization has ways for you to reach out and love these kids through monthly donations, prayer, and volunteer work. I challenge you to show them you care. Leave your mark on the planet by caring for these kids. Show them they are loved by becoming a ja-ja!
What can Ja-Ja’s do:
- Hold a fund raiser: bake sale, yard sale, spaghetti dinner
- Spend a hour in prayer for these kids per day
- Sponsor a child
- Hold a Sponsorship party at your home
- Get your pastor or civic group leader to allow FOT to present the needs of these kids as a special speaker.
- Get FOT corporate sponsors
- Introduce FOT to other organizations who help kids to partner with
- Conduct other fundraiser events as big or as small as you desire
Thanks to all of you who have some along side us and who love these precious souls as much as we do.
D
Technorati Tags: children, grandparents, Ugana, Africa, poverty, child sponsorship
Sunday, September 6, 2009
How to Make a Difference in 3 Hours or Less
A big "THANK YOU!" goes out to the Royal Rangers at Lighthouse Worship Center in Hayes, VA. This group of young men sponsor a boy named Elvis, and they have made Elvis an honorary member of their troop.They held a car wash recently to raise money so that Elvis can go to school and have some of the basic things he needs, like clothes and shoes and food. In just a few hours, they had raised enough for the full year of sponsorship ($420)!
The car wash was held at the church, just before services on a Wednesday night. The rangers sold hot dog dinners for $2 and accepted donations for the car wash. They washed cars for free to bless people who didn't have money or who hadn't heard about the fund raiser.
The boys feel good about it, the people at church were blessed, and Elvis knows that his school fees are paid for a full year!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Helping Together in Prayer
"You are helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many." (2 Corinthians 1:11)Paul is writing to the Corinthian church. While he traveled on those early missionary journeys, those who stayed behind and those in the church helped by praying. Paul and his companions were thankful for the prayer covering, as they faced hardship and death many times. The people they reached were thankful, because they heard the good news of Christ and believed. Even those who prayed were thankful, as Paul reported back to them what God was doing.
God never intends for us to work in isolation. Throughout Paul's journeys, you can see many people participating in the mission through giving, community, and prayer.
Prayer is the thing that really runs and empowers ministry. Prayer affects real change in all of us. That's why we pray over every child by name. That's why we ask that you join us in prayer for the children, the ministry, the teachers, staff, and for the community.
Friday, August 7, 2009
A Gardener’s Work: Nurturing Young Hearts
Tony told us, "After my parents died, I didn't have any gardeners."
We smile at this ten-year-old's mixing up of English words. Surely he meant to say, "guardians," but in front of a handful of western visitors, as he tells how he came to TOUCH, "gardener" escapes his lips more readily.
He's searching for the words. How can he tell us what it was like when his parents died? Will we grasp all that is entailed when a child travels to Kampala from the village and lives on the streets? What was it like to be "picked" from the trenches?
Then we realized how right he is.
Uprooted, unprotected, exposed. With no one to nurture him, no one to feed him, no one to show him which way to grow. Without a "gardener," Tony lived in the filth that ran off from the streets near the soccer stadium - a mixture of plastic bags, sewage, and trash. He took his dinner from trash bins. For safety, he tried to go unnoticed - but then he was "picked."
In Uganda, people say "picked" when they mean "picked up" more than "chosen," as we would use the term. But again, Tony is right. He was "picked," like a flower from the refuse, and given a new life.
He was transplanted from the treacherous streets and day-to-day survival, to a community of children with hope for the future - a beautiful bouquet of potential.
A guardian is “a defender, a protector, or a keeper; in particular, someone who looks after and is legally responsible for another person who cannot manage his own affairs.”
Yes, Tony needs a guardian, but he also needs a gardener. A gardener, “tends or cultivates, promoting or improving growth by labor and attention.” A gardener nurtures, supports and encourages development.
Man was created in a garden, created to live in a garden, and nurtured by the Master Gardener Himself. Then, man fell in the garden, and was separated from his Protection, his Defender, the One who sustained growth.
Jesus taught His disciples in the garden. He prayed in a garden, and He was betrayed in a garden. Jesus was buried in a garden - and He rose in the garden.
For Christ on the cross, separation from the Gardener was heart-rending and excruciating. "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" He knows how an orphan feels.
Tony, and children like him, are finding hope at TOUCH (The Outreach to Unfortunate Children’s Hurts). With contributions made through Friends of TOUCH, "Mama Sara" pays their school fees and provides at least one meal a day.
Teachers take nurturing roles in the children's lives, seeking them out when they are absent from class, taking children to a local clinic when they fall ill, and tending to their overall development.
This is a community garden, where we all play a part.
Please pray and ask the Lord what He would have you do to nurture these young lives. Whether it is through giving, prayers, or encouragement - know that you are making a difference.
Tony, who once lived in the shadows by the soccer stadium, now plays on the TOUCH soccer team. He hopes to play professionally when he is grown, and if not, says he will be a bank manager.
Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all. - Jeremiah 31:12b
We smile at this ten-year-old's mixing up of English words. Surely he meant to say, "guardians," but in front of a handful of western visitors, as he tells how he came to TOUCH, "gardener" escapes his lips more readily.
He's searching for the words. How can he tell us what it was like when his parents died? Will we grasp all that is entailed when a child travels to Kampala from the village and lives on the streets? What was it like to be "picked" from the trenches?
Then we realized how right he is.
Uprooted, unprotected, exposed. With no one to nurture him, no one to feed him, no one to show him which way to grow. Without a "gardener," Tony lived in the filth that ran off from the streets near the soccer stadium - a mixture of plastic bags, sewage, and trash. He took his dinner from trash bins. For safety, he tried to go unnoticed - but then he was "picked."
In Uganda, people say "picked" when they mean "picked up" more than "chosen," as we would use the term. But again, Tony is right. He was "picked," like a flower from the refuse, and given a new life.
He was transplanted from the treacherous streets and day-to-day survival, to a community of children with hope for the future - a beautiful bouquet of potential.
A guardian is “a defender, a protector, or a keeper; in particular, someone who looks after and is legally responsible for another person who cannot manage his own affairs.”
Yes, Tony needs a guardian, but he also needs a gardener. A gardener, “tends or cultivates, promoting or improving growth by labor and attention.” A gardener nurtures, supports and encourages development.
Man was created in a garden, created to live in a garden, and nurtured by the Master Gardener Himself. Then, man fell in the garden, and was separated from his Protection, his Defender, the One who sustained growth.
Jesus taught His disciples in the garden. He prayed in a garden, and He was betrayed in a garden. Jesus was buried in a garden - and He rose in the garden.
For Christ on the cross, separation from the Gardener was heart-rending and excruciating. "My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?" He knows how an orphan feels.
Tony, and children like him, are finding hope at TOUCH (The Outreach to Unfortunate Children’s Hurts). With contributions made through Friends of TOUCH, "Mama Sara" pays their school fees and provides at least one meal a day.
Teachers take nurturing roles in the children's lives, seeking them out when they are absent from class, taking children to a local clinic when they fall ill, and tending to their overall development.
This is a community garden, where we all play a part.
Please pray and ask the Lord what He would have you do to nurture these young lives. Whether it is through giving, prayers, or encouragement - know that you are making a difference.
Tony, who once lived in the shadows by the soccer stadium, now plays on the TOUCH soccer team. He hopes to play professionally when he is grown, and if not, says he will be a bank manager.
Their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all. - Jeremiah 31:12b
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Response to "Orphan" Horror Movie
Warner Brothers new horror movie Orphan proclaims that it must be hard to love an adopted child as much as your own. But what does Warner Brothers know about love? What do they know about orphans?
Any of us who spend time with real orphans can tell you that the rewards of loving an orphan are great. This is where the lessons of faith and love are learned.
There's Stella, who held on to my arm for two full weeks last fall. Her smile and her laughter were infectious. Betty taught us to dance and to sing. Mariam patiently showed us how to make chapatti. John, now grown, works tirelessly to help others. I love the children we're serving in Uganda.
So often we think about orphans in terms of what they need from us, but I would not be who I am without the influence of one orphan in particular - my grandmother.
She was orphaned by the time she was five. Both of her parents died of Tuberculosis in the early 1900's. She lived with extended family, and dropped out of school with a 4th grade education. When she married and had children, she completed her own education by reading and teaching herself from her children's school books.
She labored on the farm, at church, and at home, and when her husband died in a mining accident, she moved the family to Virginia. She worked at department stores and managed ice cream shops and taught her eleven boys to be hardworking, responsible, thoughtful men.
These men fought in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. They've pastored churches, managed businesses, and raised strong families. Now their children are doing the same. Her room was next to mine, and I heard her prayers for her children and her children's children and for the generations to come.
Grandma's story gives me hope for the children of Uganda. I see their future, and it is bright - full of family and friends and love. These children will grow, with God's help and ours, to move the mountains of poverty and injustice.
If you've got an orphan story, share it with us - let the voice of love be heard over the rattle of cliche story lines and cheap thrill film making.
Any of us who spend time with real orphans can tell you that the rewards of loving an orphan are great. This is where the lessons of faith and love are learned.
There's Stella, who held on to my arm for two full weeks last fall. Her smile and her laughter were infectious. Betty taught us to dance and to sing. Mariam patiently showed us how to make chapatti. John, now grown, works tirelessly to help others. I love the children we're serving in Uganda.
So often we think about orphans in terms of what they need from us, but I would not be who I am without the influence of one orphan in particular - my grandmother.
She was orphaned by the time she was five. Both of her parents died of Tuberculosis in the early 1900's. She lived with extended family, and dropped out of school with a 4th grade education. When she married and had children, she completed her own education by reading and teaching herself from her children's school books.
She labored on the farm, at church, and at home, and when her husband died in a mining accident, she moved the family to Virginia. She worked at department stores and managed ice cream shops and taught her eleven boys to be hardworking, responsible, thoughtful men.
These men fought in WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. They've pastored churches, managed businesses, and raised strong families. Now their children are doing the same. Her room was next to mine, and I heard her prayers for her children and her children's children and for the generations to come.
Grandma's story gives me hope for the children of Uganda. I see their future, and it is bright - full of family and friends and love. These children will grow, with God's help and ours, to move the mountains of poverty and injustice.
If you've got an orphan story, share it with us - let the voice of love be heard over the rattle of cliche story lines and cheap thrill film making.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Thank You for the New Roof!
As promised, here are some photos of the new classroom block, with its shiny new roof! THANK YOU to everyone who gave and prayed for its completion!
For more information and more pictures, see out web site www.friendsoftouch.org.
For more information and more pictures, see out web site www.friendsoftouch.org.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Listening to Children
We sat down with some of the children over the course of two days and listened to what they had to say about school, life, prayer, sponsorship, and hope. All of the children here are in the TOUCH program and attend Calvary Temple School.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
V.I.P. in Training
This picture caught my eye last week, and now it hangs by the door of my office, where I am greeted by it as I go out to find support for the children.
Tina’s picture is one of 200 new photos that we recently received of children we hope to sponsor from the TOUCH program in Kampala, Uganda.
Every one of these children is a V.I.P. – VERY IMPORTANT PERSON, and Tina’s faded shirt reminds me of that.
V.I.P. is actually a designation started by the Royal Air Force in the 1940s, referring to a person of high rank, a government official, or visiting dignitary. Today, a V.I.P. can be anyone who receives special treatment for some reason.
Look at Tina – that’s a V.I.P. smile if I’ve ever seen one!
Jesus told His disciples that children are V.I.P.’s, represented in the very front row in front of the throne:
"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven."
– Matthew 18:10, NKJV
I pray that we can impact Tina’s world in such a way as to see these little ones treated as the V.I.P.’s that they really are; that we place their well being above our own comfort; that we care enough to stand up for them, to see them fed and cared for and loved; that we step in to stop abuse and injustice, and that we, like their angels, continually look to the face of the Father, to see His heart for them.
About Tina:
Tina's father died, and now her mother is sick and helpless. She and her two brothers, a sister, and two cousins try to help at home. Tina does not currently go to school because there is no way for her mother to pay the fees, but one day Tina would like to be a teacher. She needs a sponsor.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
What do You Hope For? What do You Dream?
Remember when you were a child, and anything was possible? You had plans to fly to the moon, to score the winning goal, to travel far, to be heard.
Most of us did not go to the moon or score the winning goal, but we never feared that we would lack anything we really needed. Somehow we knew there would be food, shelter, and some way to make it through. But for many children in Uganda, this is not the case.
These children find shelter where they can, wonder where their next meal will come from, and hope desperately for school fees. The search for school fees is so intense that children sometimes put themselves at risk for them. They know an education is essential if they are to escape poverty.
The Outreach to Unfortunate Children’s Hurts (TOUCH) was founded to provide hope - in the form of food, education, love, and eventually, shelter as well. The children here receive a meal each day. They attend classes at the temporary facilities located at Calvary Temple Worship Centre in Kampala.
They have hopes and dreams - to be doctors, accountants, soccer stars, singers, pastors, teachers, artists, pilots, and even President of Uganda!
Who gave you the idea that you could do great things? Who encouraged you on the way? Who prayed for you?
Sara Sebyala and the teachers at TOUCH teach, feed, clothe and encourage these children daily. They pray with them and over them; but caring for nearly 400 children is no small task. Friends are needed to partner with Sara so the children’s needs can be met.
My dream is to see every TOUCH child sponsored. This means there will be food enough for three meals a day. There will be clothes and shoes. There will be teachers and books and pencils and paper. The children will know someone cares enough to see that they get the education they need. They will be encouraged and strengthened through your letters, financial support and prayers.
Will you be a Friend of TOUCH? Will you offer hope for a child to reach for his or her dream?
Most of us did not go to the moon or score the winning goal, but we never feared that we would lack anything we really needed. Somehow we knew there would be food, shelter, and some way to make it through. But for many children in Uganda, this is not the case.
These children find shelter where they can, wonder where their next meal will come from, and hope desperately for school fees. The search for school fees is so intense that children sometimes put themselves at risk for them. They know an education is essential if they are to escape poverty.
The Outreach to Unfortunate Children’s Hurts (TOUCH) was founded to provide hope - in the form of food, education, love, and eventually, shelter as well. The children here receive a meal each day. They attend classes at the temporary facilities located at Calvary Temple Worship Centre in Kampala.
They have hopes and dreams - to be doctors, accountants, soccer stars, singers, pastors, teachers, artists, pilots, and even President of Uganda!
Who gave you the idea that you could do great things? Who encouraged you on the way? Who prayed for you?
Sara Sebyala and the teachers at TOUCH teach, feed, clothe and encourage these children daily. They pray with them and over them; but caring for nearly 400 children is no small task. Friends are needed to partner with Sara so the children’s needs can be met.
My dream is to see every TOUCH child sponsored. This means there will be food enough for three meals a day. There will be clothes and shoes. There will be teachers and books and pencils and paper. The children will know someone cares enough to see that they get the education they need. They will be encouraged and strengthened through your letters, financial support and prayers.
Will you be a Friend of TOUCH? Will you offer hope for a child to reach for his or her dream?
Friday, June 5, 2009
Food Crisis - Please Help!
Today I spoke with Sara Sebyala, director of the TOUCH program in Uganda. Sara has just finished a series of home visits throughout the Kitintale area of Kampala. The slum of Kitintale is home to over 17,000 people.
Families in Kitintale have typically only been able to afford one meal a day. Some of the children at Calvary Temple School there have told us that meal was often only a cup of tea.
Now, because the cost of food has continued to rise, families are cutting back to just one meal every two days. Can you imagine eating just one meager meal every two days? And that so-called meal is just a cup of tea, or thin porridge.
Even the school has had to cut back. Where students once had two meals each day, now there is only enough money to provide a lunch of posho and beans.
Sara's desire is to provide that second meal again, but she can't do it without your help! Can you skip one meal a month - or how about skipping a gourmet coffee now and then? We need people to commit to monthly gifts - any amount will help! You can make a monthly recurring gift from our main site - www.friendsoftouch.org.
You can also make a one-time gift to feed children here:
Families in Kitintale have typically only been able to afford one meal a day. Some of the children at Calvary Temple School there have told us that meal was often only a cup of tea.
Now, because the cost of food has continued to rise, families are cutting back to just one meal every two days. Can you imagine eating just one meager meal every two days? And that so-called meal is just a cup of tea, or thin porridge.
Even the school has had to cut back. Where students once had two meals each day, now there is only enough money to provide a lunch of posho and beans.
Sara's desire is to provide that second meal again, but she can't do it without your help! Can you skip one meal a month - or how about skipping a gourmet coffee now and then? We need people to commit to monthly gifts - any amount will help! You can make a monthly recurring gift from our main site - www.friendsoftouch.org.
You can also make a one-time gift to feed children here:
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Call for Volunteers
We need 5 -10 volunteers to help as Sara Sebyala comes in June. Sara will be bringing about 200 fresh child profiles, but before we can find sponsors for these kids, we need to process the profiles and get them into our system.
We also need people to PRAY with us - as we process the profiles, we pray for each child by name. If typing isn't your thing, and you want to help - this is a powerful way to do that!
Location & Time:
The Friends of TOUCH office at Lighthouse Worship Center
4299 George Washington Memorial Hwy., Hayes, VA 23072
Wednesday, June 10 & Thursday, June 11, from 9am - 4pm
You wouldn't have to be there the whole time - but please do call me as soon as you can to let me know your availability: 757-272-0979
Some of the work will be via online forms, but because of privacy concerns we need the data to stay in our offices. We have three computers available, so if you have a laptop, bring it.
We want to get several people working on this each day. That way we can rotate through the process, and give folks a break. Reading the children's stories takes an emotional toll, and we need a team of people who will work diligently and prayerfully over this two-day period to give us the profiles we need to get these children sponsored.
Sponsorship funds pay for tuition, and provide food at the school. Inflation has caused the price of pasho - the staple food at school - to double since January. What that means is that the school has reduced meals from two to just one meal a day. If we can get an additional 200 children sponsored, food will not be an issue. The children will be more likely to stay healthy, they will attend school more frequently, and they will perform better in school. Some of the TOUCH kids are HIV positive, and proper nutrition is a life or death issue for them. They can't keep their medicines down without food. By helping us prepare these profiles, you will literally be saving lives.
Skills needed:
An eye for detail, patience, good typing skills, ability to take information and write a clear, concise, and compelling story. DETAIL oriented people needed. Use MS Word, fill out forms accurately, experience with database needed for some tasks. Did I mention we need attention to detail?
- Type child details into the computer
- Write public narratives
- Process Photos & match with profiles
- Create a profile for each child
- Enter each profile into Bento database
- Print profiles
- Print tracking sheet for each child
Thank you for helping!
-Kay
We also need people to PRAY with us - as we process the profiles, we pray for each child by name. If typing isn't your thing, and you want to help - this is a powerful way to do that!
Location & Time:
The Friends of TOUCH office at Lighthouse Worship Center
4299 George Washington Memorial Hwy., Hayes, VA 23072
Wednesday, June 10 & Thursday, June 11, from 9am - 4pm
You wouldn't have to be there the whole time - but please do call me as soon as you can to let me know your availability: 757-272-0979
Some of the work will be via online forms, but because of privacy concerns we need the data to stay in our offices. We have three computers available, so if you have a laptop, bring it.
We want to get several people working on this each day. That way we can rotate through the process, and give folks a break. Reading the children's stories takes an emotional toll, and we need a team of people who will work diligently and prayerfully over this two-day period to give us the profiles we need to get these children sponsored.
Sponsorship funds pay for tuition, and provide food at the school. Inflation has caused the price of pasho - the staple food at school - to double since January. What that means is that the school has reduced meals from two to just one meal a day. If we can get an additional 200 children sponsored, food will not be an issue. The children will be more likely to stay healthy, they will attend school more frequently, and they will perform better in school. Some of the TOUCH kids are HIV positive, and proper nutrition is a life or death issue for them. They can't keep their medicines down without food. By helping us prepare these profiles, you will literally be saving lives.
Skills needed:
An eye for detail, patience, good typing skills, ability to take information and write a clear, concise, and compelling story. DETAIL oriented people needed. Use MS Word, fill out forms accurately, experience with database needed for some tasks. Did I mention we need attention to detail?
- Type child details into the computer
- Write public narratives
- Process Photos & match with profiles
- Create a profile for each child
- Enter each profile into Bento database
- Print profiles
- Print tracking sheet for each child
Thank you for helping!
-Kay
Friday, May 1, 2009
Loosed for the Lord's Service
I know that we've passed Easter, but won't you revisit it with me today?
As He neared Jerusalem that final time, Jesus told two of His disciples, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’” ( Luke 19:31)
When they went, of course, they found things exactly as He had said:
But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” Then they brought him to Jesus. (Luke 19:33-35a)
At first glance, the colt is just a form of transportation. But then the "Hosannas" start. People are laying their clothes on the ground for the animal to walk on, and a proclamation is made:
“‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38)
Loosed for the Lord's service, the simple colt becomes the King's vehicle. Like the manger, the King's presence takes something menial and crowns it with royal purpose and eternal significance.
Isn't it like that with us?
I think that it's significant that the disciples were called on by Jesus to loose the colt. It was a simple act that required two things from them. It required them to act boldly on a word from the Lord, and it required them to make a declaration of who He is.
If Jesus called on His disciples to loose the lowly colt for His eternal purpose, how much more shall we obey His call to us to loose the children?
Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? (Isaiah 58:6)
Let us act boldly to deliver children from poverty and oppression. Let us declare God's Word over them. And if anyone asks, ‘Why are you loosing them?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of them.’ And let us bring them to Jesus.
As He neared Jerusalem that final time, Jesus told two of His disciples, “Go into the village opposite you, where as you enter you will find a colt tied, on which no one has ever sat. Loose it and bring it here. And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’” ( Luke 19:31)
When they went, of course, they found things exactly as He had said:
But as they were loosing the colt, the owners of it said to them, “Why are you loosing the colt?” And they said, “The Lord has need of him.” Then they brought him to Jesus. (Luke 19:33-35a)
At first glance, the colt is just a form of transportation. But then the "Hosannas" start. People are laying their clothes on the ground for the animal to walk on, and a proclamation is made:
“‘Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the LORD!’ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38)
Loosed for the Lord's service, the simple colt becomes the King's vehicle. Like the manger, the King's presence takes something menial and crowns it with royal purpose and eternal significance.
Isn't it like that with us?
I think that it's significant that the disciples were called on by Jesus to loose the colt. It was a simple act that required two things from them. It required them to act boldly on a word from the Lord, and it required them to make a declaration of who He is.
If Jesus called on His disciples to loose the lowly colt for His eternal purpose, how much more shall we obey His call to us to loose the children?
Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? (Isaiah 58:6)
Let us act boldly to deliver children from poverty and oppression. Let us declare God's Word over them. And if anyone asks, ‘Why are you loosing them?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of them.’ And let us bring them to Jesus.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Current Prayer Concerns: Updated April 3
Care Givers: The children at TOUCH have asked us to pray for those who care for them. Parents, Grandparents, Brothers, and Sisters - all are overwhelmed with trying to meet the needs of a family, a down turned economy, inflation of over 15%, and very little income. They need strength to work and hope for the future. They need encouragement to love through the exhaustion. Pray that God will provide for their families, and that they will be sheltered from the turmoil around them. Think of all that you desire for your own family - all that is truly important - that’s what to pray.
Child Safety: In such crowded conditions, children are easy prey for those who would harm them. This is why the school stays open for them from early morning until just before dark, when their guardians are more likely to be home. Still, many have no one to look after them outside of school. As in any city, children can be victims of abuse and rape, and they can be drawn into crime or gangs.
Child Safety: In such crowded conditions, children are easy prey for those who would harm them. This is why the school stays open for them from early morning until just before dark, when their guardians are more likely to be home. Still, many have no one to look after them outside of school. As in any city, children can be victims of abuse and rape, and they can be drawn into crime or gangs.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Friends of TOUCH Dinner Invitation
Calvary Temple School in Kampala, Uganda, serves up two meals a day for 400 children. Porridge for breakfast, and pasho and beans for lunch.
Gloucester High School, on the other hand, boasts an award-winning culinary arts program. On Friday, March 27th, GHS culinary arts students will serve up a feast to raise money for the kids in Uganda.
GHS Senior Janae Bayford is organizing the event at the Hampton Inn, Gloucester VA. Cost is just $15 a person. Reservations can be made by calling the Friends of TOUCH office at 757-272-0979.
By attending the dinner, you'll fund programs to benefit the children in Uganda, and you'll give valuable experience to local high school students!
Thank You!
Friends of TOUCH Benefit Dinner
http://www.facebook.com/event.ph...
Gloucester High School, on the other hand, boasts an award-winning culinary arts program. On Friday, March 27th, GHS culinary arts students will serve up a feast to raise money for the kids in Uganda.
GHS Senior Janae Bayford is organizing the event at the Hampton Inn, Gloucester VA. Cost is just $15 a person. Reservations can be made by calling the Friends of TOUCH office at 757-272-0979.
By attending the dinner, you'll fund programs to benefit the children in Uganda, and you'll give valuable experience to local high school students!
Thank You!
Friends of TOUCH Benefit Dinner
http://www.facebook.com/event.ph...
Friday, February 13, 2009
A Sea of Brown Faces
I was standing in front of a sea of little brown faces at a children’s crusade in Uganda, Africa. The mission’s team and I were ending the evening with a prayer line. We asked the children who wanted prayer to come forward and at first only a few brave ones came, not sure what to expect. As they received prayer, the other children were encouraged and soon all 300 hundred of them were in the prayer lines waiting patiently.
I had no interpreter but it didn’t matter, I just wanted to lay my hands on these kids and bless them. Their needs were so great and my physical resources were so small but my spiritual resources through my Great God were not small but plentiful and powerful.
I had been praying for a way to help these kids. I was already sponsoring an entire family monthly. I had come from America at my own expense to see them. I was a member of the FOT Board and an active volunteer. The only thing I had left of any value was prayer.
What I really wanted to do was pack them all in my suitcase and take them home with me. Instead, I laid my hands on each precious one and prayed an Abrahamic blessing over them. I prayed for what I knew they needed like food, clothing, medical care, education, then I prayed for their family, and then their future.
When I finished each prayer they would bow their heads or curtsy in respect to me and walk away. I was surprised to see them go to the next prayer line and then the next. I smiled as I realized, they wanted all God had for them and wound up being prayed for a dozen times each.
If you could see their beautiful faces so full of hope and curiosity, if you could know each of their stories and the things they had already survived, if you could only meet them, you would love them and do everything in your power to help nurture and protect them.
Please consider making a monthly donation of any amount. $35.00 a month will sponsor a child but even $10.00 a month will go a long way to feed, clothe and educate these precious children. See our website at http://www.friendsoftouch.org/ for more information.
Thank you,
Denise Ouellette
Vice President, FOT, Inc.
I was standing in front of a sea of little brown faces at a children’s crusade in Uganda, Africa. The mission’s team and I were ending the evening with a prayer line. We asked the children who wanted prayer to come forward and at first only a few brave ones came, not sure what to expect. As they received prayer, the other children were encouraged and soon all 300 hundred of them were in the prayer lines waiting patiently.
I had no interpreter but it didn’t matter, I just wanted to lay my hands on these kids and bless them. Their needs were so great and my physical resources were so small but my spiritual resources through my Great God were not small but plentiful and powerful.
I had been praying for a way to help these kids. I was already sponsoring an entire family monthly. I had come from America at my own expense to see them. I was a member of the FOT Board and an active volunteer. The only thing I had left of any value was prayer.
What I really wanted to do was pack them all in my suitcase and take them home with me. Instead, I laid my hands on each precious one and prayed an Abrahamic blessing over them. I prayed for what I knew they needed like food, clothing, medical care, education, then I prayed for their family, and then their future.
When I finished each prayer they would bow their heads or curtsy in respect to me and walk away. I was surprised to see them go to the next prayer line and then the next. I smiled as I realized, they wanted all God had for them and wound up being prayed for a dozen times each.
If you could see their beautiful faces so full of hope and curiosity, if you could know each of their stories and the things they had already survived, if you could only meet them, you would love them and do everything in your power to help nurture and protect them.
Please consider making a monthly donation of any amount. $35.00 a month will sponsor a child but even $10.00 a month will go a long way to feed, clothe and educate these precious children. See our website at http://www.friendsoftouch.org/ for more information.
Thank you,
Denise Ouellette
Vice President, FOT, Inc.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Friends of TOUCH on FaceBook!
Friends of TOUCH now has a FaceBook page! Tell all of your friends, and encourage them to help spread the word. It will take all of us working together to keep these kids in school!
Become a fan, and be the first to know about events and activities, new YouTube videos, and other Friends of TOUCH news. You can also join in on discussions, and do all that fun FaceBook stuff that you like to do - but now, you can do it with purpose!
Become a fan, and be the first to know about events and activities, new YouTube videos, and other Friends of TOUCH news. You can also join in on discussions, and do all that fun FaceBook stuff that you like to do - but now, you can do it with purpose!
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Sara is Not Sick!
Dear Friends,
Some of you may have received an email this morning claiming that Sara Sebyala, founder and director of TOUCH children's ministry in Kampala, Uganda, had fallen ill and was in dire need of surgery. The email asks for donations to cover the cost of the operation.
At first glance, the message appears to be from Sara's husband Steven. However, the message is not from Steven Sebyala, and Sara is not sick.
ALL CLAIMS IN THE MESSAGE ARE FALSE.
Someone has sent out the message in an attempt to fraudulently collect funds for their own purposes. We are working with Steven and Sara to find out who has sent the message so that we can take appropriate action.
My guess is that very few of you actually received the message. It appears to have been directed to individuals that are known to work with Steven and Sara. We are sending this warning as a precaution to all partners from Friends of TOUCH and Africa Harvest Mission.
If you did receive the message, please forward it to us - in doing so, you will be providing us with evidence we need to track down the responsible party.
I am sorry for any inconvenience or worry that the message may have caused.
Blessings,
Kay Helm
Executive Director
Friends of TOUCH
Some of you may have received an email this morning claiming that Sara Sebyala, founder and director of TOUCH children's ministry in Kampala, Uganda, had fallen ill and was in dire need of surgery. The email asks for donations to cover the cost of the operation.
At first glance, the message appears to be from Sara's husband Steven. However, the message is not from Steven Sebyala, and Sara is not sick.
ALL CLAIMS IN THE MESSAGE ARE FALSE.
Someone has sent out the message in an attempt to fraudulently collect funds for their own purposes. We are working with Steven and Sara to find out who has sent the message so that we can take appropriate action.
My guess is that very few of you actually received the message. It appears to have been directed to individuals that are known to work with Steven and Sara. We are sending this warning as a precaution to all partners from Friends of TOUCH and Africa Harvest Mission.
If you did receive the message, please forward it to us - in doing so, you will be providing us with evidence we need to track down the responsible party.
I am sorry for any inconvenience or worry that the message may have caused.
Blessings,
Kay Helm
Executive Director
Friends of TOUCH
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Learning to Move
I thought I'd share some moments from our trip to Uganda. This is one of our favorite - just an evening at the house with these wonderful young ladies teaching us how to move...
Several of the kids at TOUCH are involved in the church dance group. They practice all the time, and I love it - because they are using music that reaffirms God's love for them.
One of the greatest things about this trip was seeing the difference in these young lives. There is still a long way to go, but hope is now evident on nearly every face.
Show me your ways, O LORD,teach me your paths;guide me in your truth and teach me,for you are my God my Savior,and my hope is in you all day long.
-- Psalm 25:4-5 (NIV)
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