Zaina

There is so much I can say about Zaina.  This woman is amazing.  The first time I met her, ther was a distrust in her eyes.  You could see that she couldn't possibly understand why we wanted to help her.  She was also Muslim.

Fast forward 9 months.  We are driving through Mukono town and we park on the street.  As we got out of the car, I could see the the excitement in her eyes.  As we crossed the street, she literally wrapped her arms around me and picked me up off the ground!

She was so proud to share with us all her projects.  She is selling roasted corn, roasted plantains and rearing goats.  She as so excite to tell us hat she is making a profit and is saving money.

She shared with us that she has accepted Christ and "loves Him with her whole heart".

Then she told us about Veronica.  One day she found this precious 13 year old girl sleeping on the roof of a house.  She had been abandoned and would sleep there to keep herself safe from animals.  She proudly told us that she is her foster mom and raced in the house to show us the "official" paperwork.

  

We are so proud of Zaina!  From a place of despair to opening her home to an abandoned child....Gods redemption is a beautiful thing.  

We want to help Zaina help Veronica so if you If would be interested in sponsoring Veronica, please email dawn@projecthopeful.org.  Sponsorship is $35 per month and covers school fees, iniforms and school supplies.

In Christ,

Dawn

Jesca

We met Jesca the first time in January 2013.   She was just 23 years old and a mother of 2, with her 3^rd on the way.  She wasn’t sure whether or not she could trust us and you could see the hurt and anger in her eyes.

As we spoke with Jesca, we began to understand her hurt.  She was born with HIV. Then, when she was a child…both her parents died of AIDS.  She felt so much hurt and anger that her parents gave her a disease and as she put it “left her”.  Her life was extremely difficult and those who were supposed to take care of her….hurt her and she conceived her first child at just 17 years old.

She met a man and married.  She was forced to send her son to the village because her new husband did not want him.  After they conceived their first child together, he became abusive.  By the time we met Jesca, she was pregnant with their second child and just broken.  She feared for her life.

In January 2014, we saw Jesca again.  She came running to me with the biggest smile on her face.  There was a joy in her eyes that wasn’t there before.  With funds from the HOPE+ sisterhood, she opened a store.  She shared that every week, she would try to save 1000 to 2000 (30 to 90 cents) per week so she could take care of her children.  She said she was still with her husband but now that she was making money, it had gotten a little better.

We visited Jesca this week.  This young woman is amazing.  She is determined and strong.  She has opened a saving account at the bank.  She shared with us that she tithes to the church.  She shared with us that she is profiting 130,000 to 150,000 shillings per month.  To put that into context, that is between $52 – 60 USD per month.  The average Ugandan lives on $1 per day.   Jesca has plans to expand her business and we can’t wait to see the story God writes for her life.

Jesca shared with us that she is concerned for her child who is living in the village.  We are making arrangements for Jesca to travel and get her son and bring him to Victors Christian school where he can board there.  He will be safe, well loved get a proper education but most importantly,  Jesca will be able to visit her son.  

Joel will need a sponsor.  If you feel led to sponsor this sweet boy, please emaildawn@projecthopeful.org

UPDATE!  Jesca got Joel and he is officially enrolled in Victors Christian school!

 

Please pray for Jesca as she continues to work toward her independence.

Hajara

January 2014

Age 11.  When I was 11 my mother began pursuing her dream of becoming a college graduate.  She dropped out the first time to have me.  My baby brother was just one year old and her studies required much of her time.  I was so excited for her that I didn’t hesitate to learn how to cook and swooped up my brother each night from his crib to sleep in my bed.  In fact, today my brother would say I am his second mom. 

This is why Hajara’s story struck me and pierced my heart.  At 11, she was having her first baby.  The first of 7.  She was cooking and coddling at the same tender age but in a much different role and in a much different environment.  As her family grew, so did her responsibility.  And at the age I was able to let go of family responsibilities to pursue my own college degree with never ending tests, she was taking a test of her own.  One that said she was HIV+.  While my whole life was ahead of me, hers was looking more and more bleak.  And not only was SHE given this diagnosis, so was her husband and infant son, her seventh child.

Her story broke me.  As I wrestle with stateside comments about how on earth I get through my days being the mother of three boys, she is just trying to live.  Trying to feed her family and stay healthy despite HIV and TB.  God had me on the best collision course I could have ever asked for.  This woman, my HOPE + sister, has changed my life despite living an ocean away.  I could tell you that I no longer take my amazing health for granted or the fact that I can choose between Italian food or Mexican food on any given day.  But what she has offered me is a new perspective on my own Hope.  I think I mostly took for granted that my Savoir offered me the only hope I will ever need in this life.  Every day is a gift from Him.  Every day that I get to have relationship with Him and others is now more purposeful.   And I am humbled that I get to pray for and write to my HOPE+ sister about THIS hope I have.  This HOPE is the anchor for my soul and I desperately want Hajara to have this anchor too for she is muslim.

March 2014

The latest update on my sweet sister is that she purchased goats.  I am pretty sure this is my first time to cry over goats but whatever.  She looked healthy, healed from the TB, and her smile in the photo makes me happy x10! 

April 2014

My husband just phoned the best news to me today.  He is on his first trip to Uganda and what a trip he has had!  As he left I told him he would likely not meet my sister.  She lived far from the house he was building a pit latrine at.  However, a great new collision would happen.  As the men finished their building they arrived at the village church to see the new building that was recently built.  The whole village was there.  Including Hajara!  He wept as he relayed the meeting.  He was moved that she would walk the 40 minutes to get to the church.  And then she presented him with about 20 avocados.  What a sacrifice on her part.  A mother who said she didn’t always get enough food!  What a day to rejoice!

Yesterday, June 22 2014

I can barely hold back the tears today.   I arrived in Uganda 4 days ago with the anxious excitement of seeing my Hope + sister.  However, the news I received 2 days ago has me more excited than ever to get to this day.  You see I received the news that Hajara had accepted Christ as the Savior of her life.  And today I worshipped OUR Savoir with my sister!  She arrived late and I ran to her, tears streaming down my face to embrace her neck and meet her beautiful 5 year old son.  Her son held my hand and slept on my lap.    And my sister sat next to me radiating the hope she has found.  To celebrate my sister receiving her HOPE, her Anchor, is an overwhelming feeling.  A feeling that kept me from eloquent words at her home.  A feeling that had me crying once more over goats and sheep and cows.  A feeling that will undoubtedly change me once again as I return home. 

 

You will not regret your decision to give a hand up to a HOPE + sister.  And I guarantee God has something to give you too!  Become a sister and change a life.  Change YOUR life!

In Christ,

Sarah

We have 20 new sisters entering the program!  If you are interested in becoming a sister, please visit:  http://www.projecthopeful.org/mom-sponsorships-hope

The Kigongo boys....

Last January when we visited, we found out about a family of 6....a widowed man with 5 boys.  He was very sick and was having difficulties caring for his boys.  The boys feet were covered in jiggers and they were not attending school.

True Vine did not hesitate to scoop these boys up and enroll them in school.  Many people donated to their care and we were able to get the boys new clothes, mattresses, school uniforms and food.  The father was so relieved to have his sons being cared for.

Yesterday, we visited the boys.  They were delightful.  They are doing so well in school and their behavior is so good.  Several woman at the school love on the boys as if they were there own.  It is beautiful to watch the interaction and see the affection between the "mamas" and the boys.

Today, as we were visiting a sister, Richard got a phone call.  The boys father passed away.  We were heart broken.  5 boys...now orphans.

But for Christ......

God is in the details.  One of the "matrons" and the school adores these boys and loves children.  We are fairly sure that she will come their foster mom.  When we have more information, we will be sharing details but for now we know that someone has committed to paying their school fees for as long as the boys are in school.  But the boys will need more than school fees so we want to create a savings account for them.  

If you feel led to donate, please use the following link:  https://www.egsnetwork.com/gift/gift.php?giftid=47F85C3195BC42A and select "urgent needs" and put "Kigongo boys" in notes.

Most importantly....please pray for these boys.  Their hearts are just broken.  Pray that God would meet their every need.

In Christ,

Dawn