Hope 4 Kids International Blog

Wednesday, February, 24th, 2010
by Andy Frank

Hey everyone….so just checked into our hotel about an hour ago here in Delhi. It’s currently just shy of 3am as I write this. I’m keeping it short….need to get some sleep.

Flights over here were interesting. Love how God puts people in our path to encourage us at the right time along the journey. On my first flight that left PHX Tuesday morning and went to Minneapolis I ended up having some guy ask if he could switch seats with me so he could sit by his wife. I, of course, made the switch. Ended up sitting next to a lady and her husband who were Christ followers. She is a teacher for Bible Study Fellowship and we ended up talking the whole flight about what God was doing in our lives. She was completely intrigued by the ministry and strategy of CCV, first to be intentional about reaching men, second about our strategy to reach the entire city of PHX through neighborhood ministry. Just a really uplifting and encouraging time for all 3 of us.

Got to Minneapolis and had a 3.5 hr layover. Turned on my iPhone and was bombarded with Facebook updates concerning a negative comment that a gal that Jobey and I know made on my FB page about my trip to India. Well, a ton of friends jumped on the bandwagon and went to bat. Pretty cool to see friends get your back like that and stand up for Jesus and most importantly ministry and mission to the poor and needy. Which by the way is the group of poeple that Jesus talked about more than anyone when it comes to serving others.

Eventually made it to Amsterdam for a 4.5 hour layover. Got to take a nap and also finish a book that I started on the first flight. Was feeling really great about things and was encouraged….Lord knows I was gonna need it. I got on the plane from Amsterdam to New Delhi and ended up bumping up to a roomier seat with no one sitting next to me. Cool, I thought….sleep and read. Perfect. THEN….

About an hour into the flight this middle aged Indian guy sitting across from me decides to come sit by me to gain a little more leg room since there were no rows in front of me. Dude, talked and talked and talked and drank, and laughed, and drank, and talked, and then starting talking really vulgar. Probably one of the most perverted guys I’ve ever heard open his mouth in front of me. Of course, those of you who know me well know that I have no problem being honest about my feelings. So, I told him….”Sir, I think you’re probably the most perverted dude I’ve ever met.” He got a huge laugh outta that one. Guy just went on and on, saying inappropriate things about the flight attendants, taking shots at the USA, Christianity, etc, etc… Just really surprised me especially since I had told him about what I do and what I was doing in India. Then it really struck me….

Those of us who carry the name of Jesus, also carry with us a huge bulls eye that the enemy, Satan, is taking aim at. The Bible says in Ephesians 6:12, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” That passage hit me and I got really fired up. We are truly fighting a war out there. Each day we are going to battle, like it or not. Some will come out victorious, some will lose. However, we have to make the choice each day as we go into this battle on whether or not we are going to put on the armor so that we can be victorious.. Ephesians 6 goes on to say….

“Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”

The enemy was using this dude to try and discourage, frustrate, take me off of focus and redirect my thinking. The battle rages on for all of us day after day. How are we going to respond as God’s warriors? Sure, I got frustrated at this guy and spoke my mind for a moment. Then it hit me, pray for him, pray for myself that I would not let these types of things distract from the “main thing”. He eventually shut up, and then disappeared for a couple of hours. Didn’t come back until right before we landed. Just long enough though for me to let him know that Christ can make a difference in his life.

For me, the take away from this day….man, be encouraged when the enemy tries to come against you and get you distracted off of what you’re doing for God. It just means that you’re a threat to him and his schemes. On the other hand, if you never face any opposition, maybe you should look at your life and ask yourself if you’re living dangerously for God. I’d much rather be perceived as a threat to the enemy than a pushover. I have a long way to go in this…but man, THIS IS WHERE THE ADVENTURE IS!!!!!

Oh yeah, I’m not gonna keep this short.   Haha! Gotta get some sleep, 3:30am here now.

BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER TODAY!!!

Bonnie, Leah, Pastor Ruth & Kathy

Bonnie and Leah are in Uganda for three months and Kathy is there for six weeks. Here is a report from Bonnie. Please keep these women in your prayers as they serve.
After a journey that started 8:30 Monday morning, Jan. 11, we arrived at our destination on Wednesday, 2:00 p.m. January 13. Needless to say we were exhausted. “We” is Leah, a 26 year old nurse from Minnesota, Kathy, a 66 year old nurse from Arizona and me.

We were met in Entebbe at the airport by Pastor Peter, the leader of Kingdom Preparation Ministries. He is a friend whom I first met in 2004 – a beautiful, strong compassionate Christian.

We have rented a 3 bedroom house with 2 bathrooms. That sounds luxurious, and by Ugandan standards, it is, BUT one of the showers doesn’t work, the floors are unpainted cement, one of the sinks is hanging off the wall, etc. Although the lease says fully furnished, there is one bath towel per person, no table knives in the kitchen and the kitchen is almost like camping out. There is running water which we must purify and a 2 burner butane “stove”. There is a refrigerator which is half freezer which takes the greater part of the “juice’ so that the refrigerator part is barely cool – a problem. Also the kitchen is poorly supplied – BUT the mattresses are comfortable. We spent Wednesday afternoon and part of Thursday unpacking and shopping for food stuffs and supplies.

Shopping: Half of the stores contain used articles – the stores with new things are all very poor quality but they do carry some packaged food stuffs. There is an interior central market with little stalls and fresh produce. They have quite a variety of fresh food, but most Ugandans cannot afford it.

Thursday afternoon we went to Smile Africa to meet with Pastor Ruth to discuss what she had in mind for us to do. Then to my surprise, I was scheduled to meet my first class at 2:00 p.m. the next day, Friday.

In the evening, our Ugandan friends, Andrew, his wife Frida and their new baby Rache, along with Andrew’s brother, Timothy came over. We served them chapati (a flat bread similar to tortillas which I purchased from a street vendor) and jackfruit which they taught us how to prepare, to serve with water and tea. The Ugandans are great tea drinkers.

Friday morning Leah and Kathy left for Smile Africa at 9:00. I cooked beans I had put to soak the night before. We must purify all the water we use for cooking and rinsing dishes by boiling or with purification tablets. It is a hassle. We clean all the vegetables with a veggie wash. It is obviously time-consuming. I went to Smile Africa at 11:00 – in time to “pick” rice (picking the pebbles and dirt out of the rice) and help to dish up the food (it was given by Feed My Starving Children) for the 400 hundred children fed daily at Smile Africa.

After lunch, I met with Janet, an assistant to Pastor Ruth, to discuss the coming students, class and agenda for this initial meeting. The women, (18) finally all arrived around 3:00 – typical African time. We prayed, we shared our personal stories and as the Ugandans come from an oral history tradition, their “sharing a little bit about themselves” can take 20 to 30 minutes. Thus the stories lasted so ong, we couldn’t get to the rest of the agenda but this was okay because it gave each woman some encouragement and gave me an opportunity to see them as individuals and not a class. Some of their stories were heartbreaking. The mothers of 2 of the woemn tried to kill them as children, all of them are either widows or have been abandoned by their husbands. Half of them had very little schooling, some none at all. Some of them, before coming to Smile Africa, felt so desparate they wanted to kill themselves and their children. One woman lived under a tree and one rescued her sons from being poisoned by her husband’s family. Pastor Ruth has helped all of these women to now beome self-supporting via micro-loans to set up small businessed. Widows in Uganda are subject to the whims of their dead husband’s families. Their land, home and children can all be taken from them. What these women struggle with daily to accomplish care of self and children shows their strength and courage. (Wendy, Janet is teaching the “Mission Principles” material to these same women following my classes.) After this initial meeting we determined to split the women into non-English speakers to concentrate on learning English, and for those who do speak English, we will work on enhancing reading, writing and math skills.

I am very excited about this challenge and I ask for the prayers of all of you who read this that God will lead and guide me in these efforts.

Today, Leah was managing the clinic by herself, while Kathy went out to a village with Pastor Ruth to take some pictures of a child in desparate need of surgery.

Love to all – Bonnie

By Catherine Spears:

A few weeks ago I had the privilege of participating in a humanitarian mission to Uganda with Hope 4 Kids International. This was an incredible experience. Although this is referred to as “vacationing” with a purpose, I must say for me it was “educating” with a purpose. I had heard that there was poverty; many orphans; no clean water; government corruption; and few resources, but the vastness of it all was overwhelming. To manage the emotions meant only letting in a little bit of the reality at a time and diverting the focus to the hope and joy that fills these beautiful people.

When I decided to go on this mission I felt strongly that I needed to take something with me that would be meaningful to their lives. I knew that my life would be changed forever, but I wanted them to receive something as well. So, after having a wonderful visit with Pastor Wilber from True Vine Ministries in Tororo, Uganda – our destination – he suggested I teach the widows to make soap so they would have an industry to generate income. I was thrilled and up for the challenge. And there were challenges; gathering equipment and ingredients was difficult. I took a big black box with everything to assure their success. I also work in pounds and ounces; they work in grams and kilos. I use Fahrenheit; they use Celsius. But we worked through it.

The first session was at True Vine where 53 eager, hopeful, and excited women gathered. Working with an interpreter, we went through the process. Later in the day I assisted them while they made their first batch. I was impressed with the thought that these ladies had given to the project. They had set a goal of 200 bars per week, which they would take out into various market places. I could feel their sense of empowerment.

On we went to Smile Africa where a group of 24 ladies went through the process with me. In the background, hundreds of curious and ragged little Karamajong orphan children played and waited for their meal. Could a little soap making business make a difference in the lives of these forgotten people? Obviously it will take many projects, big and small. The big picture is daunting, but when you see the joy and hope in their faces just knowing that we care enough to come and acknowledge them; to do one project at a time – you know the efforts will be blessed and multiplied. They will be encouraged and strengthened.

So, now I am home and thinking about what I can do next. Now that I have seen, I cannot forget.

Catherine Spears

Monday, Nov. 11, 2009
By Ken Jensen

Today most of the team traveled to visit the villages of Bupoto and Sibanga. Bupoto is one of my favorite villages far up in the mountains overlooking deep, lush, green valleys.

The village has been sponsored by Seaside Community Church in Newport Beach, California. Sponsorship of a Ugandan village includes funding the digging of a well, building a medical clinic, a church building, a house for the pastor and sanitary toilet facilities.

Bupoto is a personal favorite of mine because it is the home village of our sponsored daughter, Watera Bekka. As we were approaching Bupoto by bus I mentioned to Sam, one of the orphan program field workers, that I had been looking forward to this day because I was going to see our daughter, Bekka.

Sam informed me that Bekka wouldn’t be there. She had been sent to live with her auntie in Tororo, where the schools are better. Needless to say I was very disappointed and lost a little bit of enthusiasm about our visit.

As we emptied the bus and approached the church building, out of nowhere a child ran up from behind and hugged my waist. When I looked down, it was Bekka! My eyes welled up with tears of joy. (Not an unusual occurrence for those of you who know me.)

Apparently arrangements had been made for her to be at Bupoto for our visit and no one had told Sam. It was a wonderful surprise. Not only did I get to see her but I also had the opportunity to meet her mother, Jennifer and her sisters, Betty and Esther.

Her whole family lives in a mud hut that is probably no more than six feet by ten feet divided into two rooms by a curtain. One half is for receiving visitors and the other half for sleeping. This is quite typical for most families in a Ugandan village.

I cannot describe the overwhelming sense of humility that comes over you when invited into such a home and offered something to drink or to eat. Out of their extreme poverty these people are so generous. I am ashamed to accept such costly gifts yet it would be such an insult to refuse.

What also continues to impress me at the great level of authentic joy that is so often expressed by the people we meet. I don’t want to idealize things. I’m sure these people have bad days and feel overwhelmed by such challenging circumstance that they face throughout their lives. But when I think about how often I let such little irritations affect my attitude I certainly have a lot to learn about faith, trust and joy.

It was a great day and to top it all off, Bekka was able to ride back with us on the bus to Tororo. We had time to visit and talk about her new home and her new school. She is doing very well in her schooling and I am proud of the advancements she has made over the past three years. (By the way, I happen to think she is the most beautiful girl in Uganda.)

Sunday, November 8, 2009
by Dave M.

My first Sunday in Africa began at 5AM with the sound of church bells and the crowing of roosters on the outskirts of Tororo in Southeast Uganda.

Rising from my bed, I clothed and walked from my hotel room to the top of a nearby hill to watch the golden African sun rise over the African plain and valley below.

After breakfast, our group had our first “family” time meeting with Tom Eggum and his staff from Hope4 Kids International. Tom explained the “ruler of the road” and his staff summarized its many partnerships here in Uganda. The message I received was that, as ambassadors for Hope 4 Kids we are not missionaries. We are not here to “convert the heathen”. Hope 4 Kids is here to enable Ugandans to solve their own problems and help achieve their own dreams.

We then piled into the bus to attend church at the True Vine complex. Words cannot describe their joyous celebrations of dance, song, music and the word by Ken Jensen, a pastor from California and a member of our group.

After lunch some of us went to the local hospital, which is also indirectly supported by Hope 4 Kids. As joyous as our morning at the church, Pastor Eric Sabitti lead me through the men’s ward of the hospital which must resemble one of Mother Theresa’s hospitals in Calcutta. Emaciated bodies of just skin and bones lying on cots (or in one case, on the floor) partially covered by blankets, flies and filth. In most cases, these “patients” were attended by family members. I saw no doctor or nurse. Correction, there was one “doctor”, a witch doctor who was attending his patient and had placed a magical bracelet on his wrist. These men were dying of AIDS, T.B. diabetes, tumors or undiagnosed wasting diseases. Even if AIDS drugs were available, which they are not here , these men would die from simple lack of food. Here in Tororo, as in most of Africa, it is the responsibility of the patient or his family to bring to the hospital the patients’ food and medicine, if they have any.

Pastor Eric and I touched and prayed with each patient at his bed. I ended my day back a the hotel pool surrounded only by black Africans who could not help but notice my whiteness.

When asked what I wanted to see on my first trip to Africa, my #1 response was to see a water well being drilled. Our family business at home is water well drilling and I couldn’t wait to compare our drilling techniques.

What an amazing experience to walk up on the jobsite in Fort Portal and see so many differences in equipment & materials but yet learn that the technique is very similar. The hydraulic engineer spent an hour answering all of my questions. He was incredibly gracious as is every African I have met thus far.

There are so many things we have learned and seen so far. This is going to be an incredible two weeks. I hope it goes slow so I can soak in every experience!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Fort Portal, Uganda

By Amy Bolton

Today after I woke up, I went to the equator! The equator! But today was more about the journey than the destination, in many ways. Along the way to the equator and the safari – I met wonderful people in the bus who share my faith and my hope for Africa. Discussing this only made us more excited! Along the way, I was able to see the wonder in African children’s eyes as they joyously waved at our passing bus. Along the way, I saw the resourcefulness of the African people making a happy life from what we might throw away. I saw the kindness of the Ugandan people cheerfully greeting us and welcoming us to enjoy their beautiful country.

Today when I went to the equator, I took a journey of amazing grace. Coming to Africa was a dream come true for me and after just three days, I am truly amazed by the people and their ways. Proud, polite, and honorable – they have shown me so much today. Know that what Hope 4 Kids International does is life changing and life-saving in so many ways. Take your faith in a journey and you’ll see just what I am talking about. Today was life changing and life-saving - and I mean for me!

Today’s journey started with a wonderful tropical rain shower before dawn. Waking up at the beautiful Mountains of the Moon hotel is such a treat. After a breakfast that includes sweet bananas, we are off to take our journey to the equator and go on a safari in Queen Elizabeth National Game Park. We are met by our kind guide, Ven who tells many memorable tales of the animals in the park. The boat ride is amazing as we see hippos and a regal elephant is right away. We were treated to view of so many species of native animals and plants. The highlight of the safari was catching a glimpse of three lions in a cactus tree! To make the day even more perfect- we were treated to a beautiful rainbow from t he showers of the morning!

Reflecting on the day, I know why so many of the people (Americans) on the trip came back time and again to Uganda. The country has such a rich beauty that simply cannot be translated into film or video. The people are so kind, so genuine and so unique that you cannot help but fall in love with the Pearl of Africa!

What a day we had with the Pygmies! Thirteen women, their chief and four babies traveled from the Congo for a tea party with us in Fort Portal, Uganda!
We arrived at the school of Outreach to Africa where the Pygmies were waiting along with our many sponsored children who attend the school. After introductions and photos we all went inside the school for a wonderful lunch. The Pygmies asked for and received beef and rice while the others were served spaghetti.
We were then entertained by the children of OTA who sang and danced for us.
Then we had the Pygmy women sit in a circle and placed basins of soapy water before them. While they soaked their feet, they munched on banana cakes. Team members then knelt before them, washing and drying their feet–then slathering them with lotion. The women held out their hands and asked for lotion on their hands also. We adorned them in pillowcase dresses, necklaces and colorful scarves.
There are about three hundred families living within their group in the Cong0–they are a mixture of tribes. The forests in which they have lived for many years are being destroyed and the animals which the Pygmies hunt for food have been driven out as the forests are destroyed. Now the Pygmies have to find a new way to provide for themselves or they fear they will become extinct in that area.
Robert, who has promoted victory gardens in Uganda provided them with seeds and training so they can grow their food. Outreach for Africa has provided seeds previously to them. Tomorrow they be sent back to the Congo with their seeds and garden hoes so they can garden more effectively.
Kent Dirks, a seasoned Hope 4 Kids team member, met the chief last summer. The chief entertained the team by acting how how they hunt with their homemade bows and arrows. Kent sent him deer jerky to try. He loved it and was reluctant to share with his friends:)
It was a great time of celebration and the women were so joyful as we showered them with love and gifts.

Monday, July 27, 2009
by Claire McWilliams

This morning we went to True Vine and in true TIA style, the paint that was supposed to be delivered for our school painting project was not yet there. Instead we played Simon Says and Duck Duck Goose, and watched the kids delight in the bubbles and jump ropes that were brought for them. We also had the chance to sit in on classes in session. As we first walked into the classroom, all the children would stand up and welcome them to their class. The teacher was also quite amazing…she kept them engaged by asking “Are we all together?” to which they always responded. Once in a while they turned to get a look in at the strange visitors in the back of the class. They were learning measurement in a brick open building. Most had no shoes and only a newspaper-bound notebook which they kept in a plastic bag. The teacher used a primitive scale made of branches to show students how to measure mass and weight. When she called on a student and he or she got the answer correct, the class clapped for them. It was an amazing thing for this teacher from the land of plenty to see children still learning and gaining their education in the land of need. Andy put in the manual labor on a mud hut building project for the campus, go Andy!

Later we took a trip to Hope for Africa’s pre-school. 20+ children wearing lilac uniforms came running out to us. They touched our hair and faces, they inspected our hands and clothes out of sheer interest. They bounded up to us with big hugs, and of course, loved to see their faces on the camera display. We shopped for souvenirs from the widow’s outreach (teaches them to sew and make crafts for sale to provide income for themselves), and I met a young woman named “Clare!” She was excited to meet her “namesake” as she called me and I showed her my pictures of home and family. She was very interested in knowing more about me. Lauren commented on how nice it was to interact with the adult Ugandans since most of our contact has been with the kids.

We then went to feed the Karamajong children. A little background…every society has their labeled “low lifes” who are the butt of jokes and seen as dispensable and labeled unfairly. The Karamajong is that group in Uganda. The children normally live in the North, but due to draught and famine, they have been forced to this area. The children are sick, dirty, and wild. Since January, they’ve been given one meal a day and hold “school” under a large tin roofed patio through Hope For Africa/H4KI. Since receiving this nutrition and structure they’ve become visibly more healthy and well-behaved…a tiny dent made in meeting their needs, but change has begun. Tom warned us this would be the most “raw” of our experiences, but I had no idea just how raw it would be, and how I would react to 420 children in severe need.

When we pulled up we could hear them chanting and yelling, hooting and hollering. They were all seated in a big group. They sang a song as we approached, and all seemed quite cheerful. Then I began looking at them individually, and I felt something building inside me. Injury, distended bellies, naked and/or poorly clothed, some looking empty and forlorn…I could hardly believe my eyes. We were standing in one of those commercials on TV that most people flip the channel off right away. Their hunger, their desperation, their lack of everything…it was right there in front of us.

The food of rice and a nutritional supplement mix designed for malnourished people was distributed in an orderly fashion. I was very touched by our teen members of Team U and their smiles and encouragement as they handed out the meals. The food was consumed quickly, and at that point we began to interact with the lively kids. They were obsessed with the cameras and wanting to see themselves, and though this was fun, we saw disturbing sights around us. Many babies in Africa are watched by and/or cared for by older siblings (by older I mean 6-8) due to parent death, parents working the land, etc . After the meal, those siblings went off and left the babies on the cement. Sitting in their own urine, alone…Sharon and I watched them crying and were lost for words. Sharon reached down and scooped up the first baby and comforted her. We were both in tears by that point. A few minutes later I happened upon another baby, not crying but sitting all alone in his urine and with his eyes fluttering. I knew the look from when my own babies had full bellies and were ready for nap, but where would he nap in this concrete barrack? I sat down on the ground, picked him up into my lap, and he fell asleep immediately. I could not stop crying, and fairly soon a young group of Karamajong children put their arms around me to comfort me. Can you imagine that? They were living in a situation worthy of crying, and they were comforting me!??!

I will never be the same. I will never forget today. The suffering of children is no longer the stuff of commercials, it has been personalized for me thanks to these children. There is no such thing as “them” just “us.” We have got to find a way to meet the basic needs for all of the passengers on spaceship earth. No one deserves what is happening to these tiny humans…as our group member Bob says, “Our skin is different but our blood is the same…we are all family.”

Monday, July 27, 2009
by Chrissy Krum

I am so thankful to finally be here in Uganda with Team U! After leaving Phoenix Sky Harbor at 10:30 p.m, then having an 11.5 hour layover in Detroit, and onto a 5 hour layover in Amsterdam, and finally arriving in Uganda at 2 a.m. on Monday morning, I can honestly say I have never been more excited to see familiar faces. It was a very long journey but I can already say it has been far worth it. Today was simply amazing. We went to True Vine where it was my first encounter with the children. Their little faces are priceless. After playing with the kids there we went on to a preschool where the kids just ran up to us in the cutest purple uniforms just wanting to be loved. We got to shop a little in the Widows Outreach shop where I got a few gifts for friends and family who helped me make this dream a reality. Following this, we fed the Karamojong children. This was the most shocking moment of the day. There were hundreds of kids waiting to get their food. It was so depressing because these innocent children are suffering from starvation. I was so touched it was unbelievable. It was so hard to leave them. We then returned to True Vine after lunch to paint the school, but I just playing with the kids more. I made many new friends who will be in my heart forever. There was one thirteen year old girl who asked to go on a walk with me and the whole time she held my hand and just told me about her life and how both her parents passed away. It broke my heart. All of the kids’ frowns turned into smiles instantly when we would hold their hands or hug them. Who would ever think that such a small gesture could change someone’s day? It was such an amazing day, some parts were hard to handle, but I cannot wait for the rest of the trip, considering this is day one for me!