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Rwenzori Diocese Child Care Outreach Newsletter September 6, 2003 |
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This has been an active 8 months for the Child Care program with many visitors and many activities. I thank God that He has enabled us to do so many things. We have built four houses for different families as we have received donations that allowed it. One house was built with a lot of help from four Canadian students who came here to volunteer their time to help in a third world. That house was for four children who were living alone in a very delapadated place that was in danger of falling down. Unfortunately the youngest member of that family, who was 6, died in July of malaria. That was a heartbreaking time. We built another home for a very old lady who is caring for five orphans from her late sons and daughters. Her last daughter just died last month. Another home was for a lady who is raising 8 children. Four are her children and the other four are her late sister’s. The house we are now working on is for a family of seven children and a very sick mom. The AIDS situation is terrible, and there are more children being orphaned daily. Many families are now child-headed. The death and disease here is at times overwhelming. Malaria has also become epidemic with the parasite becoming drug resistant. Cerebral malaria is deadly and if it does not kill a person it can leave them with permanent brain damage. We now have four children who have regular convulsions after suffering severe malaria. I pray that there will be a medical breakthrough with this deadly disease. There is a belief among many villagers that sickness has increased because of helicopter and plane traffic that has come to our area due to wars.
On a more cheerful note, we have had the privilege of being able to give many beds, blankets, mattresses and mosquito nets to families. They now are sleeping in comfortable and dry conditions. We are so grateful to the many visitors who come and are touched by the plight of the kids. These visitors have assisted in many different ways. The local telephone company, MTN, has also recognized us. They donated scholastic materials, small kerosene stoves, and mosquito nets. We have applied for a grant from World Bank HIV/AIDS Fund for assistance with school fees for many secondary children who have lost both parents from AIDS. We are in peace here in Western Uganda but there are wars on all sides. The war in Congo has been bad. There are thousands of refugees who have escaped and are now in Uganda with no proper shelter, food or medical care. The United Nations (UN) has been active with huge helicopters that fly directly over us several times daily and we have seen huge trucks with all sorts of equipment, vehicles and fuel carriers from UN driving through town. In Northern Uganda the rebels of Kony, who are called the LRA, continue the atrocities and the slaughter of thousands of innocent people. There is hardly a day that goes by that we do not hear of more horrible things going on. I wish that there could be some type of international involvement to help stop this senseless killing. The future holds many challenges and opportunities. Some of them include alternatives for students who struggle academically. We are investigating possibilities for vocational studies and for apprenticed positions for students as they learn trades. We are also looking into ways to teach and counsel young people in proper sexual behaviors to prevent pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases including AIDS. We are also identifying families who can benefit with a project of chickens, goats or pigs to help raise family income. With a project, the children will also learn management of finances and entrepreneurship. If a family can become strong enough to continue on their own, they can be weaned from the program and another family who is waiting for assistance can be taken in. I am planning to travel to Europe in October to visit with different donors in England, Ireland and Germany and to talk about the animal projects we hope to initiate. I also will try to take some quiet time of rest and relaxation. I need to have that time for prayer and to just relax where there are no decisions to make and no grief nearby. I love being in Uganda and doing God’s work and some time away will help me to come back stronger. I pray that God blesses each of you, and I thank Him for you. Your prayers, assistance and friendship are very appreciated by me and all of the staff here in Fort Portal. Webale muno (thank you very much), Carol Adams |
