The van bounced down the two-lane road lined with small businesses and small homes plastered with giant commercials for cell phones, Coke and insurance. Circles of people enjoyed the night air and the good company. No televisions or air conditioning in these homes. The next day the travel continued down the road shared with taxis, wide load bikes, pedestrians, goats and giant busses that were not particular about which side of the road they used. The van sped past green coffee, tea and matoki fields as children excitedly waved, shouting "mazungu" (white people).
After 24 hours of air travel and 4 hours on the road, there it was, the welcoming sign of Hines Ugandan Ministries! Children came from all directions to greet the visitors. Girls respectfully kneeled as they shook our hands and all of the staff and orphanage kids offered warm smiles, handshakes and hugs. We quickly learned the series of words required for a proper greeting that would serve us well for the next two weeks.
Eight of us traveled to help Katherine and her national staff in their ministry to the children and widows of the community of Kamonkoli, East Uganda. It was a privilege to witness and share in the work that God is doing through them. We joined them on our first few days as they visited the homes of sponsored children and delivered mattresses to those who needed them. Extended families shared groups of small round huts or one-room brick and plaster homes w/ grass or metal roofs. Most families cooked outside or in a second small kitchen hut, some had outhouses. Many had large gardens where they worked daily to provide for their families. We sang songs with hand motions with the children and had some opportunities to share with the children and the sponsor families through interpreters. One group of Muslim children heard of Jesus and His sacrificial love for the first time. There was an obvious difference in the dress and countenance of the sponsored children – hope and joy. It was a joy to bring personal greetings to many of the sponsored children from their sponsors, members of our church.
We had chosen to visit in May to minister to the youth that are often away at boarding school during the summer months when many teams are able to travel. We hosted a two-day youth conference, focusing on the Purpose Driven Life themes. The kids loved the video of greetings from the youth group of our church and their favorite new song appeared to be Pharaoh-Pharaoh. It was amazing to see how so many of these kids had grown in their faith through their many years with Hines Ugandan Ministries. Many of the sponsored children are on their way to becoming the next leaders of the country through the numerous opportunities the ministry has provided. A large number of these youth will end the cycle of poverty for their families.
We had the opportunity to teach AWANA clubs and share in adult and children’s Sunday school classes. We also participated in a one-day women’s conference taught by our new friend, Karen Haught from Houston, Texas. Karen and several of our team members also visited the home of a known witch doctor, to whom previous short-term missionaries with Katherine had witnessed. It was a joyous surprise to discover that the woman had recently accepted Christ through other visitors, Katherine and the church were able to offer follow-up. We praised God when the former witch doctor joined us for church the following Sunday.
After seeing the small house that Katherine has lived in for 13 years, with up to a dozen children at a time, it was exciting to see the newly completed orphanage. Once the compound fencing is completed, and the remaining funds for the backup power system are secured, Katherine and the kids can move into their new home. Although it is still humble,the new orphanage will be much better suited to the needs of the home.
We pray that Katherine and her staff were as blessed by us as we were by them. They worked tirelessly to care for, interpret and transport us. We were able to share in a wedding of one of the national staff members. We will continue to pray for our new friends and ask that you do so as well as they continue their daily work to share Christ’s love with their community. Please also pray for our teammate, Andy, who stayed behind to continue on with the ministry for a full year. In a part of the world with so many overwhelming needs, we feel honored to have shared in the work and can attest to the amazing work that our Lord is doing through Hines Ugandan Ministries.
Bear Valley Team from Lakewood, Colorado (recently returned from Uganda)
It has been a good first half of the year for Hines Ugandan Ministries and we could not have done it without all of you who so faithfully give each year. Christmas giving for sponsorship, ministry funds and the orphanage building project started the year out well. The orphanage has been completed and is awaiting a few finishing touches on the fencing and funding for backup electricity. Katherine and the kids should be able to move in very soon. Katherine has 2 young men from Colorado who have joined her for up to a year. We have had two short-term teams visit already with four more scheduled for this year and several for the next.
Gifts frequently slow down in the summer and we ask that you all continue to remember us during this time. We are in particular need of funds for the sponsored youth in secondary school. School fees unexpectedly increased by 21% this year, making it difficult to cover with the current commitments. If you currently sponsor one of these older youth we ask that you consider increasing your monthly giving. We know that all of you will not be able to do this, but it will be a great help if many of you can. If you do not sponsor a child, but would like to give a special gift to this fund we would appreciate it. This will prevent us from having to continue to supplement these fees from our ministry funds. We strive to honor Him in all that we do and trust Him to provide for the needs of the ministry as He has done for 13 years. We thank you all for your continued faithfulness to this ministry.
Cindy Stutheit, Home Administrator
Please remember that except durring the months of September-November, all letters to Katherine or sponsored children should be mailed directly to the field address.
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Bear Valley Team, Lakewood, Colorado
Kristie meeting with Tina & Isaac; kids her family received for sponsorship from the waitlist
Youth Conference
Visitation to sponsored children's homes
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