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Utterly Amazed!
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June 2012
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| If you are a Facebook, like us and get weekly updates on what is happening at Rock of Ages School.
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July 27-28 Summer Arts & Crafts Market Do you sell Crafts?
We are looking for Vendors For more information go to Our goal for 2012 is to raise $25,000 for land purchase for Rock of Ages preschool in Mbiiko, Uganda, Africa. These children, thru 3rd grade, await construction of their very own school. Currently occupying leased property places restrictions on expansion. Imagine turning children away because there is no room to provide a 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th or 8th grade classroom! Your vendor fees are directed towards this purpose.
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Greetings to our Friends and Sponsors!
Habakkuk 1:5 "Look at the nations and watch--and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."
I could barely hold back my tears as I stepped out of the van and saw for the first time in two years, Rock of Ages school. It wasn't the small, unimpressive, red, muddy school yard that moved me. It was the changes. A neglected, run down, dilapidated building had been restored; replaced by 4 new classrooms!
 | School in 2010.
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 | | School in 2012. The open door on the end hides the new classroom H4U built last December. |
In those new classrooms were Primary 1, 2 and 3 students as well the top class (kindergarten) and a large new baby class ( 3 & 4 year old preschoolers). The original small building, in which 3 preschool classes had been squeezed now held a "kitchen" , office/storage space and 1 preschool class. It was heart warming to see students who are now attending thanks to generous donors who have supported Betty's vision of growing her small preschool into a primary school. That dream is slowing being pieced together.
This was the beginning of a productive and rewarding week the short term outreach team spent at Rock of Ages School in late April. Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our friends, church families, families and sponsors we were able to bless the children in so many ways:
* Distributing Blessing bags filled with school supplies, toys, "sweeties" - their word for candy, new clothes, books, hygiene supplies
* Telling Bible stories and praying with them
* Playing games and singing songs
* Working on crafts
* Dispensing medicine for wounds and infections
* Giving them food for their bellies
* Loving them with hugs and attention
*Throwing a celebration for them and their families
In coming news letters, we will describe in more detail the wonderful events of the mission outreach, and the continuing progress being made at the school.
Be assured, your support is making a difference, not just to the kids, but the parents and the village of Mbiko. Betty told us a story of one mom who recently approached her belligerently demanding to know, "what are you doing to my kid?". Betty was afraid. She is small in stature and some of these women can be quite rough. She politely and quietly asked, "What do you mean?". The mom explained that her boy had been insisting on praying over their food before they ate. The mom had no idea how to proceed so she let her 5 year old pray. She wanted Betty to then teach her to pray. Relieved, Betty talked to her and then directed her to a local church. Today the mom has not only turned her life around, bit is also an active member in the church.
We cannot thank all of you enough for your love, prayers and support. We will make every effort to ensure that the gifts you have entrusted us with reach the people who are most in need. Thank you. The Hands4Uganda Team  | | Betty and Staff at ROA School |
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 | | Caroline |
Meet Caroline Nabwire
Caroline turned eight on May 4th. She is in the Primary two class at the Rock of ages School. Her parents are divorced and she lives with her mother. Caroline enjoys playing with dolls and wants to be a nurse when she grows up.
Your $20/month sponsorship guarantees a spot in the school for Caroline and enables her to continue receiving an education by qualified teachers, a meal each school day, and a school uniform. Please consider upgrading to a premium sponsorship of $40/month and a monthly food pack of rice and eggs will be provided to Caroline's family the first of each month during the school term.
Please prayerfully consider sponsoring Caroline or making a one-time donation in her name. A one-time donation in any amount will help offset her tuition or if you like, you can specify your funds in Caroline's name for support to her family. Learn how by visiting the Hands4Uganda website page now.
Update: Saida , the child we highlighted in April has been sponsored!
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Holiday Food Program The students were dismissed class by class and lined up to wash their hands and receive their bowls. As guests, we were served our daily meal of posho (corn based starch) or rice and beans in one of the quiet classrooms. These were a few moments of much-needed rest and refreshment. But we were always reminded of the empty stomachs just on the peripheral of the school and sometimes we found a secluded spot to share our bowl with a village child. This was the last week of the 3 month term and all the children of ROA would be on holiday for the following month. Naturally, we wondered where they would get this daily meal during the holiday. The director of the school, Betty Wasswa, informed us that the 1st week back each term (especially after the extended 6 week holiday in December/January) the children are "just bones". With this discussion "The Holiday Feeding Program" was conceived. Hands4Uganda received an initial donation of $700 to provide a meal for the approximately 150 students each weekday during the holiday (a cost of just under $5 per student). Over the next few days a partnership with the school pastor (Pastor Jimmy and his wife Helen have a huge heart for the families of this village) and the Jinja Rotary has added Bible lessons and career mentoring to the "Holiday Food Program". This month is a trial and we will wait for feedback from the school, teachers, and families to determine if this is a valuable on-going program. "So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." 1 Corinthians 3:7 Please pray for the health of the children and stay posted for updates and other ways you might be able to help in the future! Michelle Note: About 100 kids showed up each day for lunch. |
Corresponding with your Sponsored Child
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Betty and ROA kids
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All sponsors are encouraged to email their sponsored child on a regular basis and develop a personal relationship with the child and child's family. This bond will enhance the experience for both sponsor and child and change a financial relationship into a true Godly based friendship. Sponsors can correspond with their children by emailing a message to Hands4Uganda at: lovedifferently@hands4uganda.org and include the child's name in the subject line. Email messages are combined with other sponsored children's emails and forwarded to the child's location for distribution once every quarter. When writing your child, remember that their level of wealth is drastically different than yours. Select topics to write about that the child can relate to such as family, health, work, school and play. Material items and pleasure activities are few and far between, all of which the child would have a hard time relating to. It's also encouraged to include your children in the emails and photos so that your sponsored child can relate to other children and a mutual bond of friendship can be developed. Photos, when printed at Rock of Ages, will be in black and white. Please consider modest surroundings and clothing when included in these photos...again, these children do not own many material items.
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How Can You Help?
Hands4Uganda's success is dependent on people like you. No matter your skills, financial well being, or theological knowledge, God can use you to move mountains and change lives forever. 2012 brings opportunities for individuals of all ages to
"love differently..." by participating in fund raising efforts, local promotional events at your church, traveling to Africa on a mission trip, praying for the ministry, sponsoring a child or helping promote child sponsorship. How can you help make a difference in our world?
Email info@hands4Uganda.org for more ideas.
Child Sponsorship Update
We have over 150 students enrolled at Rock of Ages and approximately 50% of those students are still awaiting sponsorship. The need is so great and we are at a point that we are having to turn kids away as we stretch dollars to meet the needs. The ultimate goal of H4U is to build a new school for ROA. However, this goal will not be attainable until all the children are sponsored. Please consider sponsoring one of these beautiful children today! Visit the Hands4Uganda Sponsor a Child webpage to find out how.
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  Our Mission
The mission of Hands4Uganda is to make a positive difference in the lives of the children and youth of Uganda, primarily through a faith-based education, and to assist them in achieving their highest potential as they grow to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults, by providing compassion, love, economic, and spiritual support.
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