Dear Family, friends and supporters,
As we head into another year we look back on the one we are leaving. For me it has been a very full year with travels and with visitors here in Fort Portal. I returned home to Fort Portal from overseas visits to Europe and U.S.A. in January. On May 20th to June 1st I went to Alaska to visit and help my sister get established in a hospice home after learning that she had advanced cancer. She died this November 23 and I pray that she accepted our Lord before her death.
I have enjoyed the many visitors who have also been such a huge help to the program. The St. John's California Mission team was here first for several weeks in February. They visited many families of orphans while Rev. Scott Denman and Roland Stirrup installed a ceiling in my home. They also started the building of offices for the Childcare and the Bishop. Those offices opened in August with a grand celebration of thanksgiving. Anna Shilvock also came in February and stayed here for 6 months, helping me very much in organizing my office and making a database for the computer with the orphans. Doug Straub from Hawaii visited for 10 days and was touched by the poverty and needs here. Ross Duffy from Ireland stayed with me for 2 months and wrote two important documents for the program, the policy and profile of the Child Care Outreach. His friend Phillis also spent several weeks helping in my office. Moses Magezi stayed very active during all these visits, showing visitors around and working as field worker, overseeing construction of 14 houses for orphans. He has now left for studies in medicine in the Ukraine. He is missed very much but it is wonderful that his sponsors are giving him this chance of a lifetime. I am grateful for the visitors who have come and I hope that others may decide to spend some time here in the future.
The program itself continues to grow in miraculous ways. I have been told that I need a projected income and expenditure to run an organization 'properly.' I do understand what these people are saying, but this program was started by God with no known resources and it continues to grow with donations coming at unexpected times and from people I have not even met! My expenditures depend on income and I never know from email to email who will be responding. When God sends a serious situation to our attention we assist as much as possible and the funding has always come. I see His hand in all of this and I am confident that He has plans to continue to build things in His way and time. What that will be I do not know but I pray to stay listening to His directions. In practical directions I am planning on having an outside audit of the accounts for the year and want to be as transparent as possible for all donors. I also am praying and always on the lookout for Ugandan people who will become more involved and who will be able to help the program continue long after I am gone from this world. I have a 24-year-old Ugandan lady, Susan Kabajweki, who has been hired as a field worker. She has just graduated from Makerere University where she studied advanced education, social and development work and psychology. She is excellent with our young people with guiding and counseling them and is very dedicated to her work. I am also grateful for those on the ChildCare committee who volunteer their time and training to advise on all issues that arise in this program. On that committee we have (1) the youth and mission coordinator of the diocese, (2) a doctor, (3) a social worker, and (4) a secondary teacher as well as (5) a retired teacher. I feel confident with our strong team as we work together for the orphans of our area.
I am working hard to try to make sure all donors hear about their children. I am trying to develop a system that will help me keep track of those I write to. If I have left any one out or if you have any questions about your family please never hesitate to email or write to me. We are now assisting 109 families and have additionally given scholarships to 89 secondary students. There are no words that can express the gratitude I have for all of you who make this all possible. I am in the enviable position of seeing first hand the benefit of your generosity. I also ask for continued prayer and I thank you all for the many prayers you have lifted up for me and the children here during this last year. I also pray for all of you especially, in America with the terrible terrorism and fear that you have had to live with since September 11. Let us all pray for a lasting peace in this entire world. I think that the Christmas carols will have a deeper meaning for many people this year and I pray that all of you have a very special and blessed Christmas season.
With all my love, Carol
orphans@africaonline.co.ugPlease note: I am so happy that we now have this email for communication. I always love hearing from you all, but the technology here is not high and it is very difficult to receive attachments. It becomes expensive and the phone often goes down before the attachment can download. I therefore request that you do not send photos or other things that are difficult to download. Perhaps on the future things will become easier.
Thank you!
