Beds for Babes!

Our Beds for Babes project provides blankets for orphans!  Thank you donors for your gifts!  As you can see you are changing lives!

2009 Highlights from Pastor Francis

As we begin the 2^nd year of the BTCM both the Nursery and Primary School and the Orphanage project; we have had so many joys and successes and as in any program some heartaches. With now over 200 children at our new School and 64 orphans sponsored, the oversight of all of them is a daunting task.

Some highlights of the year…

1-BTCM Nursery and Primary School Mabaale started last year 2009 and the attendance was 200 grades baby class, top class, primary one to primary four. Both children were gathered from the surrounding villages of Mabaale. However, our board of trustees has added more two classes, primary/ grade five and six this year 2010.

2- 64 orphans were sponsored in their schools, books, school supplies, clothing, and soccer balls, medical supplies, personal hygiene, were distributed to them.

3- A special Christmas gift project enabled all the orphans of BTCM to receive new clothes, and a special feast including cakes and sodas.

4- Special medical treatment was also met in 2009 to supply basic medical needs to the children of the project and BTCM has continued to be a major blessing. Malaria has been and still a killer disease. The sponsored fund enables the students and orphans to receive medication and or hospital or clinic treatments that they would never be able to afford elsewhere.

5- Also through the sponsorship program of BTCM and the funds given to each child have also been helpful to aid orphans who are in need of housing and for the feeding of complete orphaned children.

6- A rain water tank for Harriet’s orphaned home was purchased and shipped all the 13 beds was also purchased.

A rain water tank of 10000 litters soon its arrival to Harriet’s orphaned home.

7- About the BTCM Nursery and Primary School.

 Next week we will start building the classes on the foundation block using the $ 4000USD you wired this week. And pictures for the new progress shall be forwarded to you. However, the school is lacking desks and 15 for each class is need before Feb 1. I am told each desk is at 90,000 UGX = to $ 50 USD. All together the school needs 60 desks. Each at $ 50 X 60 desks= $ 3000USD.

Last year the school had a few desks and children used to sit on Church benches but this disturbed them so much. Because of lacking enough furniture in classes, children soiled themselves. This happened on pupils who could write on benches while kneeling or seated on dust due to lack of enough desks in class.

8- Plans for 2010 include the constructions of the second school building with the $ 4000USD you wired recently. And the third block of three classrooms now lacking plus dormitories for children’s village. We urgently need at least two quick buildings; one for boys and one for girls.

9- Orphanage: We all feel need an orphanage buildings here at our premises in Mabaale so that we keep our orphans in one place.

We heard from the school reports that some of these children had severe irregular attendance, some hides in the bush, some fall sick most of the time, and they don’t report their sickness in time. All of this has greatly retarded their performance in class. So we hope by having a good plan of constructing an orphanage home will improve the well being of these children. As we keep them at school and provide them with basic needs, care their spiritual needs, and share our love with them.

Also plans for 2010 include the extension of power lines down to the Church and School premises. A cost of $ 2500USD will be needed to accomplish this project.

Beds and beddings:  Most children do not have beds and beddings. Only Harriet’s children are with the beds now the 13 we bought recently. The rest don’t have. So, we can continue to raise more funds for the beds so that we reach all the sponsored children of our program.

10- Also, 2010 all our eyes are on the Medical Clinic. The site plans and the pictures are

Out.

Feb is a good time to start the constructions.  We have ordered enough bricks for this and our engineer is very ready to start. And we believe you have funds to start with on the medical Clinic construction.

Also, Drew mentioned funds for the water well in Mabaale. And I have forwarded the quotations from Edward a water expert in our district. The quotations are not in dollars but that’s like $ 14000USD.

I will write more information about all these projects with more ideas soon.

Thank you all for your generous gifts of your prayers and support this year. When we are weak, He lifts us, up, up! He is our all in all!

In His everlasting mercies,

Francis

"I answer to Him!" A sponsor's love for her child

Well, today I wired funds to Africa to meet the needs of a young beautiful girl because one lady in the US made the decision to sponsor Beatrace, an orphan in the village,  and show her the love of Christ.  Her simple choice to say "yes" to get involved in this girls life changed her life today, and here is how.

A few months ago I received the picture above of Betrace and a brief letter informing me of how she was suffering because of this tumor on her back.  I was told that it was painful to her and that it bled easily, often when she bathed, dressed, or if anything rubbed up against it.  I was told that it needed to be removed soon, and was asked to pray for her.  I immediately forwarded the picture and letter to her US sponsor to inform her of the situation.  Not long after the email was sent, I received a message back stating that she wanted to pay for the surgery to remove the tumor with out even knowing the cost.  Wow!  I thanked her and told her that I would find out how much this would cost and let her know.  I later saw her at church and told her that she of course was under no obligation to pay for this even though she was her sponsor.  She quickly replied with tears, "yes, I know, but I have to answer to Him!"  I completely understood, and we hugged and both felt the love of God in us as we spoke about Beatace and the miracle that this distant connection was and how it would impact her life.

A few weeks passed and as I was still waiting for the cost of the surgery, her kind sponsor let me know that she had already sent in a check for $500.00 to use for Betrace somehow.  I thanked her and told her I would let her know when I got news of any medical details or specific costs for Betrace.  I did not share with the pastor that I had any funds and waited for his response.  A few days later I received and email stating that Betrace would have her surgery in Kampala, the capital city, and that it would cost $400.00 USD.  Once again God was specific and obviously in control of this plan!  I am sure with travel expenses,  it will end up totaling $500.00!

I am humbled again as God allows me to be the liaison between two worlds.  I am affirmed again that there is nothing that compares to choosing to love others, especially Gods precious orphans.

God is specific and faithful!

As we close out 2009 and bring in the new year, I have a story from 08 that I want to share with you about how "specific" God is.  A few months ago, Pastor Francis, in Uganda, sent me an email explaining that the orphans and family in the Orphan Home were getting terribly sick because they were drinking from a muddy puddle behind the house.  God quickly laid it on my heart to present this need to my home church, Fellowship Bible Church, to see if anyone would be interested in donating to purchase a Rain Water Collection Tank that could attach to their home and provide clean water.  The "Water for Wellness" project was quickly born, and I subtly presented the need the next Sunday in the Lobby with a home spun project board.

The total need, as I knew it, was $2,500.00 USD to buy the tank.  That Sunday I collected $200.00 from two individuals.  A little discouraged, I went home and later prayed and expressed my disappointment to the Lord, but also prayed that He would provide the funds, and expressed that I would keep trying.   I just knew he must want the Children to have clean water!  So, a week rolled by, and there I stood in the church lobby once again with my home made project board, trying to bring awareness of the need to the members.  Earlier that morning, I collected another $100.00 donation from a dear friend for the water.  First and second service came and went, and I began to pack up with a thankful heart, but slightly disappointed.  Did God not want the Tank?  Just as I was wrapping up and the lobby was nearly vacant, my husband walks up with a couple who was touched by the project and a check in his hand for $2,500.00 USD!  Wow!  What little faith I had!  I was so excited, to no surprise, God had done it!   But why the extra $300.00, I asked myself.  I quickly sent a text message to Pastor Francis in Uganda and explained to him that God provided "some" money today for the water, and that I would like to know EXACTLY how much it would cost to buy the tank.  Later that evening I received an email that said:
Rain Tank- $2,500 USD
Shipping, installation, gutters- $300.00
Total-  $2,800 USD

I about fell out of my chair!  God had provided EXACTLY what was needed for this project in two short Sundays.  I felt that the Lord and I were laughing together at how this all played out!  Well needless to say, I learned that not only would the Lord provide for His orphans, but that He is Specific in His provisions!  I also learned that it didn't even take much effort to present the need, and that all God is really looking for is someone to say "Yes"  when he speaks to our hearts!