What He starts....He finishes

I hope the day never comes where I stop being surprised at the way God provides.  What appears to be too big is NEVER too big for God.  I can recall many times, laying on my bed literally feeling sick to my stomach telling Him why I couldn't do this, or couldn't do that.  If only I knew that He wasn't asking me to do THIS or THAT, He just wanted obedience from me.  Obedience to share the need.  He would provide the way.

In July 2012, while adopting our son Joseph, we visited a rural school in Bibbo, Uganda.  Because of extreme poverty, many young girls miss school during their cycles because they can't afford feminine products.  My Mom started a sweet ministry of making washable sanitary products and we were delivering them to this school.  I was told this was one of the neediest schools in the area.  I was overwhelmed when I saw the school.  The first picture is the principals office. They shared with me that it was a widow who was running the school.  They were in the process of building a new school and her husband was killed.  Fundraising stopped for the school but this precious woman of God pressed on and kept the school running.

Fast forward to April 2013 when a team of gentleman made their way to Uganda.  Two of the men were Pastor Tom Sanchez and his brother Steve.  Steve was extremely moved by the widow, Agnes who runs the school.  He felt God pressing it on his heart to fundraise to complete the school Agnes and her husband started.  Below is a photo of the uncompleted school.

On August 12th, I received an email from Steve and in the subject line it said "Celebrate".  He shared with us that the fundraising was COMPLETE and he had just placed in the mail the funds needed to complete the Bibbo school project!  How AWESOME is our God?

Something struck me as I looked at one of the pictures Steve sent.  Do you see what I see in this picture?

The VERY first thing I saw when I looked at this picture was the children's feet.  Most of them do not have shoes.  In Uganda, there is a horrible problem with jiggers.  It just so happens that I have dear friends who run a ministry called Sole Hope.  And....It also just so happens that in January of this year....they moved to Jinja which is about an hour away from this school.  AND it just so happens I had the pleasure of introducing Dru (founders husband) to Richard Kibirango in March 2012 when we both just happened to be in Uganda at the same time.  Even as I write this I am blown away at the "God"incidences here.  Sole Hope not only does jigger removal, but they are also are training Ugandans in the art of shoe making!  They have provided shoes to children at Victors Christian school.  Even as I write this I am blown away at the "God"incidences here. 

Aren't these shoes adorable?  So, what does it cost to construct a pair of shoes AND be able to employ Ugandan tailors to construct these awesome shoes?  $9.  Yup, just $9.  You can probably see where this is going, can't you?  Anxious to see what God does with this.

I believe God has plans for this little school in Bibbo.  Not to us, O LORD, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.  Psalm 115:1

Thank you for following along on this journey.  If you want to know more about Genda Uganda, please drop us an email, we'd LOVE to hear from you!

Sweet encouragement

Friends....I had to share this with you because this is OUR (not our as in John and I but our as in ALL YA'LL'S :o) work together in the Lord and it beautiful to see.  It is notes like this that God uses to encourage me and I hope it gives ALL of us the courage to press on.  We know NOTHING about international ministry or non profits.  We aren't strategic driven but we seek to be Spirit driven in all that God calls us to do.  Our global outreach pastor recently said in a sermon "You can't replace faith with a ministry strategy".  Boy, did I understand that!   We just have our faith mixed with a desire to be obedient that stems from a life of making really bad choices before knowing Christ.   Just this morning John was praying for "Genda Uganda" and his prayer was that the praise would go to God ALONE.  What Maggie wrote (and I received AFTER we prayed) is EXACTLY what we are praying for.  To GOD ALONE be the glory.  You can click on the picture to enlarge.

 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:16

Still in awe....

I'm continually amazed at what happens when we truly let go and let God have the wheel.  It's humbling and so very inspiring.  It's what fuels me in this ministry really.  Without God, none of this would be happening.  He is the Master craftsman and the tapestry He has woven simply wouldn't exist without His divine intervention.

In January while in Uganda, I found out my dear sister Maggie was pregnant.  Maggie is a social worker at Victors Christian school and she is also one of our staff for the HOPE+ sisterhood.  The clinic was not finished yet but I asked her where she would be giving birth.  She said "Lord willing, right here".  She was referring to the medical clinic.

In April, John was in Uganda for the grand opening celebration.  The clinic was open for business but we still needed a lot of medical equipment.  In June, we were blessed with donations for staff salaries, a gynecology bed and an ultrasound machine.

  

So, should I be even remotely surprised that beautiful Maggie was the first mama to give birth at the clinic just days after all the equipment arrived?  No.  Because God is so faithful.

I received an email on Friday from my brother Richard about an amazing opportunity to get some pressurized orthopedic beds.  A ministry in Jinja received a container shipment of medical supplies but they had to pay a substantial amount in taxes to the government.  They offered to give the clinic 5 beds if they would help pay the taxes.  We needed $705.  These beds would cost over $3000 easily if purchased from a medical supplier in Kampala.  I prayed and I knew God was leading me to fundraise so I told Richard I would work on raising funds.  In 2 days, the funds were raised and I had the privilege and honor...once again....to let my dear brother know that we had the funds!

I never know how and when God will show up and show off....be He always does.

2 of our HOPE+ mamas gave birth over the past few months and PRAISE BE TO GOD.....both babies are HIV negative!!!  These mamas have been working hard creating their businesses.  They are earning incomes which allows them to get adequate nutrition.  They receive FREE medical care from the clinic and are counseled regularly on the importance of their meds.  Did you know that when an HIV+ person takes their medication regularly and has adequate nutrition that their HIV levels can become undetectable which helps prevent transmission to their babies through birth and breast feeding?  Just look at these beautiful faces!!!

 

Pastor Tom Sanchez' brother Stephen also visited Uganda in April.  God put a school on his heart.  A husband and wife were raising funds to build a school in a very rural area.  Sadly, the husband died and his widow has not been able to complete the school.  Stephen has been fundraising and has raised over $5000 to complete this school.  How awesome is that?

John and I have been praying for some time now about what God has for us in Uganda.  The biggest question we have been praying about is "should we start a non profit".  God answered some pretty specific prayers through a good friend of ours who is an attorney.  She accomplished...in a matter of days....what would have literally taken John and I a year (or more) to do.  We are prayerfully taking this one day at a time and we are completely dependent on God for this to happen.  If it is His will...it will happen in His perfect time.  We are so thankful that Dr. Peter Hines (who traveled to Uganda with John in April) and our brother Richard have both agreed to be on the board.

Would you join us in praying?  Every bit of this has to be of God and we only want to follow Him.  Pray that Jesus is seen through the staff at the clinic.  Pray for wisdom as decisions are made.  Mostly pray for God to be glorified through everything that is done.  Pray for financial provision.  There is still approximately $8000 that needs to be raised for staff salaries and approximately $18,000 of medical equipment that is needed.  If you feel the Lord leading you to partner with us in Genda Uganda or to help raise these funds, please send us an email and let's talk!  All donations will be tax-deductible.

Thank you friends for all your continued love, prayer and support.

In Christ,
John & Dawn