Dear Family and Friends

Some of you may recall the song "Please don't send me to Africa, I don't have what it takes, please don't send me into the bush....."  often sung in churches.  Well, I would be sitting in the back of the church and my heart would be crying out TAKE ME..... I will go!!  God answers prayers and I have had the privilege to come three separate times for a total of two months.  I will be departing in two days, and while anxious to return home to my husband, puppy, and even "Morrie" the parrot, I am also, God willing, planning to return in 2017 praying someone will come with me to experience first hand the joy of this mission.

Every day I praise God for His wisdom, strength, and blessing for this mission. My heart is full of gratitude for the support of my family, my community, Leland Comets, and KFU Michigan Board of Directors, as well as for Aggie, Joshua, and Gertrude for all the work we have accomplished during these past three weeks.  

I have so many more stories to share and would welcome invitations to speak to local groups, churches, and schools.  One last time, thank you for coming on this journey, for your continued prayers for this work and for safe travels.  I look forward to seeing you all.

Love and blessings,  Mary

PS.  Kids First is now a recognized nonprofit corporation in America with 501(c)3 IRS status as of January 2015.  Educational sponsorships and donations are tax deductible. 100% donations received go directly into KF programs.  My travel expenses are paid personally. Donations payable to Kids First Uganda, 777 N. Sunset Shores, Lake Leelanau, Mi  49653  Webale!  

Monday was a very long day, thankfully beginning with a large vanilla latte coffee (my little hotel only serves instant coffee).  Aggie, Josh, and I departed at 9:00 am, returning to the hotel at 9:00 pm. 

It is both humbling and an honor to be invited into these homes which often sleep many. Yesterday one Uncle thanked us for educating his nephew (cared for by his mother, the boy's jjajja/grandmother) and he said "educating these children is the future of Uganda". Sponsorship goes far beyond helping a child, it supports the entire family in so many ways

Billington is an 11 year old boy living with his mum and little sister. His mother has been encouraged to join the women of KF to learn crafts with no success, preferring to work as a prostitute.  She told Joshua that she is sick with AIDS and will not be "of this place much longer".  She pleaded with Joshua and Aggie to look after her son, expressing gratitude for his educational sponsorship, with hopes that someday he will be able to look after his little sister. {Update from Joshua: Billington's mum would leave the two kids at home alone at night, and was eventually kicked out of her house (you may remember it from this video) for not paying rent.} It was apparent this boy needed to be placed in boarding school. He is a smart little boy who wants to be a football player and a lawyer when he grows up. {Also from Josh: We are currently looking for other family members to care for his little sister. It was a very upsetting visit, with Billington's mum asking Josh to "take my son as your son"} 

Ronald and Harriet: Ronald's mother, Sauda, is a Christian woman and a strong member of KFU. Her home was severely damaged earlier this year, yet it was much larger and nicer than most homes visited.  Ronald is 11 years old, and lives at home with two sisters, two brothers, a cousin and his little adopted sister, Harriet. He is completing his primary education this year and will test for secondary school. He is smart and wishes to be a lawyer when he grows up so he can protect abused children like Harriet.  Harriet is now 7 years old and was found by KF women about two years ago, living with her mother in a tiny place without a door, donated by a good samaritan.  Her mother is a drunk and would leave Harriet at night, working the streets; Harriet was at high risk for sexual abuse. Harriet was born with twisted legs and her father left when he realized that it would cost money to support her.  She has been placed in boarding school and her medical and therapy expenses are paid by her wonderful sponsor.  Everyone loves this happy child and she is called an angel by many. She excels in school. With proper treatment she is expected to be able to walk normally some day. 

Rodney:  Rodney is 7 years old, lives with both Jjajjas (grandma and grandpa), as well as his Uncle and other grandchildren ranging from 2.5 years to 16, a total of 8 in this home.  We walked through a small path passing many small homes surrounded by mounds of smelly garbage and trash.  It was one of the worst environments we visited yet they were so happy to greet us and welcomed us with soda and food. Rodney lost both parents to AIDS.  He is doing well in school, wishes to be a teacher, and loves football.  He is involved in our soccer program.  Jjajja told me over and over again how thankful they were for his sponsorship and sends her blessings to his sponsor. 

Mesach: Mesach is 7 years old and also cared for by his Jjajja, Margaret, after his mother died when he was six months old of AIDS and his father abandoned him. Jjajja Margaret cares for 8 orphans (five boys, three girls) and is about 60 years old.  Mesach is HIV+, and loves football.  Jjajja's husband died a few years ago while building their home (they actually own a little property and house) but he never was able to finish the floor, so they lived with a dirt floor.  With Christmas money from his sponsor sent to jjajja from Mesach's sponsor she was able to get her floor (Please see this post). She was ecstatic in her greetings to us. It was a delightful visit. 

My visit and work here with Kids First is coming to an end within a few days.  I am ready to return home and continue this work.  On the long trip here three weeks ago, a missionary gentleman said to me "it is important to return every now and then in order to reignite the passion in your heart".  During the three weeks here I have learned the truth of these words.

Mukama akuwe omukisa.

Today Mary had a great time with the women of Kids First. You may remember our post last year where 200 Lugandan Bibles were donated, with money from generous donations in the US. 

Since then Mary has noticed many people requesting reading glasses. When she questioned this, Joshua explained that when they were young they had no light in their homes and used kerosene lanterns, giving off smoke and dim light, thus stressing their eyes.

Definitely in Sarah and Sunny's experience working in another organisation within Uganda, we realised that with no option for regular testing of eyesight, lots of vision problems go under the radar for a long time. When we helped screen vision there were so many people who needed glasses!

What a blessing when Mary arrived with donated reading glasses! She says, "It was a celebration when we presented these glasses." 

She includes some quotes from the women about the glasses...

Gertrude:  Thank you for the Bibles, we are so grateful, they have encouraged my sisters in faith and I have been able to teach women in different villages offering workshops.  People come running from everywhere when they see us giving Bibles out, even workers on the street! And when we give Bibles people never remain the same. We would like to receive more!  
Joyce:  I am happy because our kids are proud of us because we have money in our pockets.
Madrine:  Thank you for the Bibles.
Sylvia:  May God bless the women for the Bibles and thank you for the glasses so we can see.

4 months late, but they did eventually arrive!! The latest installment of sanitary products for our young women has arrived! We will be sending another package asap so that they won't wait too long for the next lot.

A MASSIVE thank you again to everyone who has donated items and money for our women and girls.

PS - We hope to call India this weekend to speak with the company making machines that women can use to make pads...I will keep you posted with what we find out! 

Mary has been to visit our football teams, under the direction of Coach Lameck. Check out her photos and info about the football programme :)

Olioyta dear family and friends:

Today I would like to share with you some photos and stories about the soccer program that is offered to 'disadvantaged children' in the village of Bbunga (a suburb of Kampala). Before I begin, however, I feel the need to explain my use of the word 'poverty/disadvantaged'.  I am very sensitive when using these words because I was severely chastised some years ago describing a family living in what we would consider poverty.  My first update this week to you described Aggie as living in poverty...and before sending to you I asked her to read the update and tell me if this description is offensive. This is what she said to me..."I learned from a teacher many years ago that if you want to improve your life, you must accept the situation you are in, whether it is good or bad.  That is how you can overcome and improve.  This word does not offend those of us who are striving to better the lives of our children". I greatly value these women who support each other and seek solutions to improve the lives of their children....there is no room for pity in our work.

I would like to talk about Coach Lameck, whom I met two years ago where he was working with the children in the Bbunga community (many of them Kids First children). At that time there were 25 children in our program and they met every Saturday afternoon.  They had no equipment, no nets, no shoes and only one soccer ball.  I returned to Leland to share these stories with Judy Yoder's class whom had been raising money for me since they were 7th graders (now soon to be seniors!). Immediately these Leland Comets took this soccer program to heart and began raising money. The soccer programme is also sponsored by Cambridge Foot Clinic in New Zealand. 

With the help of these two branches of sponsorship, the program has increased from 25 to 84 (which includes two girls) with three registered teams, and are now winning tournaments!  In June 54 of the boys had the opportunity to attend a soccer camp away from home for two nights and returned with a treasured trophy....one that is taken with them everywhere and held by the boys at all times.  Several sponsored Kids First boys play on these teams including Kenneth, Billington, Regan, and Moses. Kenneth recently won most valuable player and an educational academy is paying for his eduction. 

From Sarah: We are so blessed to have had so many fantastic sponsors for our soccer programme. However, we do need to start having a focus on self sufficiency, so that our football programme does not need to depend on sponsors. We have had many ideas already as a group, and would welcome any from our sponsors and blog readers!

I am adding one more photo of shoes .... or I should say "lack of". Two years ago the youth in Leland sent Lameck money to purchase equipment, soccer balls, uniforms and shoes. Now they have 84 children participating and everyone needs soccer shoes!  The ground on which they play is uneven and rocky and shoes wear out fast.  We will be doing some shopping before tournaments which are scheduled to begin next week.

These children have been blessed under the guidance of Lameck. He has a compassionate heart and his interest goes far beyond just teaching soccer. He instills in these boys and girls the desire to succeed, teaching them life skills, discipline, and all about God's love for each of them. He turns no child away from his program....including Sudanese refugees who are usually shunned.  Most of these children have no father with unstable home lives.  One example is Kenneth (please see the blog post on him). Kenneth was on the streets and Kids First family took him to the Coach. My friend Patt began sponsoring his education with boarding. Kenneth became so skilled in soccer with Coach Lameck's instruction that an academy has undertaken his entire educational sponsorship! Imagine the inspiration this has given to each child in the soccer program.

I ask that when you see our Leland students who will begin their senior year next year....thank them for their compassionate hearts and tell them they are doing great work here in Uganda!

Mukama akuwe omukisa!  (God Bless You All)

Mary