Saturday was a wonderful day!  I think I keep saying that, but really it was!  We went back to The Field of Dreams, to the village of Kaliti.  We met up with the town chairperson and Pastor Fred (a local pastor).  Fred works fulltime at a university as a Vet Technician as well as pastoring a church.  I didn’t get a chance to inquire more about his job, but it sounds very interesting. 

We separated into two groups and my group was with Fred and Defense (the town chariman).  We were trying to decide if we should go house to house to hand out mosquito nets or if we should go to the poorest and neediest people.  We decided to go house to house, because we didn’t want anyone to feel left out.  Our heart behind this outreach was to show love to our neighbors.  Our moto is that Love Never Fails and this was our motivation.

Just a side note….we had some bracelets made for the children at Hope Children’s Home that say, Love Never Fails.  The point of the bracelets is to help identify those children who are currently living in the home and those that aren’t.  We brought some of the older children from Hope with us as we went door to door in Kaliti village.  One of the young men, Vincent, was wearing his bracelet.  I told him that today we are going to reach out in love, because love never fails.  He said he didn’t understand. How can Love never Fail?  I began trying to explain that if there is a hard situation, you can make the choice to extend love or hate.  When you give out love, you can trust that you have done what is right and good.  From this posture, you will never fail and I believe you will eventually see results from the love you are giving.  Personally, I know this is what is transforming the chidren at Hope as well as Gganda Village where Hope is located.  This is what has transformed Vincent.  He then said he began to understand some.  I knew then that what we were about to do was going to be a testimony not only for me, but for him (and all the others with us that day).

As we went to the first house, there were a ton of people.  Now you have to remember, this village has not been touched by a consistent hand of love.  You can see hardness and survival on their faces.  I wish you could have been with me, to see and feel this firsthand.  This village has been bound by the traditional idols and witchdoctors.  The people have been desperate for help, but a snake can not help you.  They worship snakes and other idols, but with no results.  Only death and poverty continue to reach out to them.  But this day, Love was walking down desperation lane!

So back to the first house.  The people began to yell and say they all wanted a net.  Our plan was to give only 1 net per house.  As I handed the net to the lady of the house, I told her that Jesus loved her.  Boy did that set off the fireworks.  The moment I said Jesus’ name, you would have thought I put hot coals into their pants (like that picture?)   One man began to yell and scream at us.  I thought I messed up then!  I then thought to myself and wondered if I shouldn’t even say Jesus’ name.  I had just stirred up a hornet’s nest.  It was a true statement, so I just prayed to myself and asked God to really show His Love.  The man was yelling that he would never take anything from Jesus. 

We continued walking down the road and stopped at another house.  This house was the home of a lady and four children.  Her "husband" lived part time at this house and part time at another house.  He has two wives.  This family looked terrible.  My heart hurt for this woman and these children.  We handed them a net and you could see the thankfulness in the ladies eyes.  We told her we loved her and moved on from there.  We encountered many old widows that were having to care for themselves as well as grandma’s who were left alone to care for infants.  It was hard to see on one hand but such a great chance to show that we care about them.  We have been handed a wonderful opportunity to come along side this area and help to bring Hope and Life!

We arrived at a ladies front porch and offered her a net.  She refused and told us that a man had run down the road yelling to everyone that would hear, that we were handing out nets and that we believed in Jesus.  They were instructed not to take the nets.  Better yet, he warned them to watch us as we just gave to those that already believed in Jesus only.  He said we only cared for "the born agains".  My heart was sad that this lady would not take our net, but all I could do was pray.  Fred said that now we know what we are up against!  I again wondered if I had messed up our opportunity this day by saying His name.  I prayed and asked the Lord to touch the heart of the people that we would meet at the next houses. The look on Vincent’s face was one of wonder.  I could see he was watching this entire event unfold.  I reminded him that love never fails and we will not stop showing love. 

We continued on to the next house.  As we approached the house, Fred informed us that we were at the house of the uncle to the boy who was running wild down the street.  My heart was hopeful that something would happen and it did.  Fred and Defense began to explain that we were going door to door to show love to the people.  They also explained what we are going to build at The Field of Dreams.  You could see that they were processing this all.  When we asked if they would take a net, they agreed.  They then began to share with us.  After the boy ran down the way telling all to reject our gift, they began to watch us.  They had decided in their heart that if we passed their house by, then they would truly know our motivation, but if we stopped, they would know that we were really in the area to help.  They were excited as we walked up to them.  They were so thankful and appreciative.  They said that if we were to build a school, they would take their children out of the islamic school and put their children into ours.  These people are desperate for help!  I was so relieved and excited as these things were unfolding before my eyes.  They welcomed us and were almost rejoicing that help had come. 

The rest of our door to door was much of the same.  I met many orphans along the way and saw many people that were living in hard situation.  AIDS has ravaged this area as well as war.  The area is so ripe for His Love and I was so excited to see the opportunities that lay ahead.

I could see the encouragement on Fred and Defense’s face.  Defense was the town drunk 1 1/2 years ago.  He had an encounter with Jesus and was changed suddenly.  What a testimony!  These two men were excited to see what happened that day.  Fred said he has gone to greet these people often, but they have slammed their doors in his face.  He said we accomplished more that day by showing Love than his congregation has been able to do.  He knows that something is going to happen in this area and soon!

After spending the afternoon in this village, I can really understand why we are calling our area The Field of Dreams, because when we build it He will come.  I should say, He has come and the building has already begun.

Brian, Susan and their boys (Show Mercy Uganda Missions Directors) will be organzing the construction of our guest house, children’s cottages and in the future a health facility and possibly a school.  Their heart is to move from the city of Kampala out onto this property.  We are excited to begin constructing these buildings, so if you would like to be apart of this project, please click here.  PLEASE help us spread the word!

Lori Salley
www.showmercy.org
P. O. Box 607
Albany, Oregon 97321
541-905-0791

Friday we had a wonderful day out at Hope Children’s Home.  We spent the morning preparing for an afternoon party.  Our team worked to sort out over 100 boxes donated to Show Mercy from Samaritan’s Purse.  Each box was marked as to the age and gender of the child that it would go to.  The preparation took many hours!  I was so thankful to Lia, Beckie, Katy and Rob.  Rob brought the trusty duct tape and we have used it so many times, including labeling all 100 boxes. The rest of the team kept the kids occupied until the special moment! 

While they were preparing for our children’s party, Brian, Ben, Jerry and Jess were working away on the gutter and water project.  They have been so faithful to work so hard.  You might think they would be done by now, but in Africa, things take alot longer to complete.  Not only that, they have been having the older boys by their side working away.  Of course the little guys want to help too and you know how that can be….sort of like help, right?

During this time, Prossy asked if I would walk into the village to meet four children that were in need of a place to stay.  Someone came to her and told her that the children were going to be put on the street that day.  I agreed, so we began to walk.  Prossy said it would not be far, so I thought I would ask Sarah (my daughter) to come along.  Well, far to an American and far to a Ugandan is not quite the same.  It was fine though, because I love going into the village and meeting new people and seeing new things. 

We were following a lady through the muddy streets. As we were walking, I was anticipating meeting these new children.  I was thinking of what Prossy shared with me concerning them.  They were originally from Congo Africa and both parents had died of AIDS.  The children were left in the village to care for themselves, until a neighbor finally had a heart and decided to take them in.  After a while, the husband decided he could no longer care for them and demanded that the lady send them to the street.  This is the day they were being thrown out  and abandoned once again.  I began thinking of my own daughters Sarah and Katelin.  What if something had happened to me?  I could never imagine my daughter being thrown on the street to fend for herself!  My heart was aching.

As we approached the small mud shack, I saw a little face appear in the doorway….and then another and then another, until all four children were there.  The oldest girl was 11 and the youngest was 3.  I could see that these children were not being bathed and their bellies were swollen.  The smallest boy had been eaten up by "bed bugs".  I couldn’t imagine all of the children plus the adults and their own baby sleeping in this place.  It was about the size of my hall bathroom (which isn’t big at all).  We asked these children if they would like to come live at Hope Children’s Home and oldest ones smiled from ear to ear.  The smallest child got onto Prossy’s back and one of the other girls onto Sarah’s.  The other two grabbed my hand and off we went. 

They were so sweet and gentle as we walked.  I was excited to think of their first day at Hope!  We were preparing for a party and they would get to participate.  I could just imagine what God must be doing right then.  I know what I would be doing if someone were rescuing my children.  I could see the huge smile on His face and I could hear a huge Thank You!  What a privilege we have all been given…..to rescue and care for orphans and widows!  Together, this day, we made a difference in the lives of these little ones. Thanks for doing that!

If you would like to sponsor one of these children, or make a donation to help us continue rescuing more children. click here. 

 Lori
www.showmercy.org
P. O. Box 607
Albany, Oregon 97321

Sorry I have not been updating you daily from Uganda.  The time seems to fly by so fast!  Yesterday, we had a very full day.  We went to a hospital that serves the area where we are currently working.  We first stopped at the maternity ward.  They introduced us to a baby that had been rescued from the road side.  She was only 1 day old.  My daughter Sarah was in shock.  She asked how someone could just throw their baby on the side of the road.  She didn’t understand why the mother would not have taken her child to a children’s home?  I didn’t really know what to say. Afterwards we began praying with the pregnant mothers that were in line awaiting their AIDS test.  I couldn’t even imagine what must be going through these ladies minds.  The more I visit Uganda, the more I am aware of how blessed our country is.  The obstacles these people face are overwhelming at times.  We prayed for peace and hope for them all.  Some of the ladies came to know Jesus that day!  That was SOOO WONDERFUL.

We then began walking on the grounds of the hospital.  The team shared with me many different stories.  One young boy said he goes to the hospital everyday hoping that he will receive a pair of eye glasses.  He said he can not see the blackboard at school.  Every day the hospital tells him that they do not have any free glasses for him.  The eye glasses are only 10,000 shillings, which is only $5.88.  After I heard this story from one of our team members, I decided to send one of our Ugandan friends back to the hospital to see if they can find this boy.  He will be getting some eye glasses! 

Also while at the hospital, we spoke with a young lady named Teresa.  She is only 14 years old.  She is caring for her sister Maria who is 3 months old.  Their mother died while in childbirth with Maria.  Teresa is living with her grandfather, but she is not able to feed her sister.  You could see in her face the heartache of having the responsibility for her sister.  My heart was so touched and I just knew we needed to do something!  We are planning to go and visit her and bring a carepackage of goodies.  Hopefully we can continue to check in on them and help!  If you would like to help Teresa and Maria, please click here.

Later in the afternoon, we broke up into pairs and headed out into Gganda Village to pass out mosquito nets.  It was suggested that we take the nets to the oldest people.  They can not care for themselves! We are so fortunate in the states to have different options for our elderly parents, but in Uganda, the elderly suffer and are basically abandoned.

One lady began to weep as she was given a mosquito net.  She is one of the oldest women in the village.  I don’t know her exact age but it is close to 90 (or above).  She was very weak and feeble. She was sitting in the dirt and she looked like she weighed only 65 lbs.  Can you imagine your grandmother spending the day sitting on the hard ground?  Life is so different here.  Last June our team took a basket full of salt, sugar and other items to this woman, so she was overwhelmed at the kindess we had shown her not only then, but again this day.  I was so happy that we were able to touch her heart!  Another lady gave 500 shillings to our team and asked that we go and buy some eggs for ourselves. That was such an awesome response!

There are many other stories to share about our outreach, but it could take days to type up!  Thanks to those who gave money towards the nets.  You just touched a village with love!   Saturday we will go to Kaliti Village and The Field of Dreams to hand out more nets of love.

Lori

Hi Dear Friends.  Thank you for your continued prayers.  The team is doing great and I have many things to share (like our time at the hospital - we saw a 1 day old baby that had been abandoned on the side of the road, time at a school and our experience handing out mosquito nets in the village), but for tonight, I wanted to share a story from our friend Jerry.  If you have been reading the blogs, you will remember that his family has been here in Uganda almost a month now and joined up with our team last week.  I wanted to share this story, because I believe it helps to understand the true miracles that are taking place at Hope Children’s Home. Your help has given Esther a second chance at life!  Thank you from the bottom of our heart.

Lori Salley
www.showmercy.org

Sweet Esther, an eleven year old girl, told me her story yesterday at the children’s home.

As I was playing with and entertaining some children, Esther was helping me to improve my Luganda language skills. I could tell the moment I met her she was special. She is quite intelligent, and at first I thought she was much older. I asked her how old she was, and she stated eleven years. I was taken back. Her self confident manner and her articulate speech put her, in my mind, many years older. However, if you were to see Esther, with her slight frame you may place her at eight or maybe nine years old.

After a morning of singing and dancing, we had lunch. We all ate and enjoyed some rice, beans, chapati, and tea. Following lunch, we played some more and sat down to learn about each other. All of the stories I heard that afternoon were sad, touching, and yet had a glimmer of hope. Esther’s story struck a chord, one of dissonance, that made me look inside my own heart.

We were sitting on the front steps of Hope Children’s Home, when I asked her to tell me her story. She was almost reluctant, yet something inside her also wanted to share, because I sensed that by telling someone… healing can come. Her voice suddenly became quiet. She was no longer speaking English, but fell back into her native tongue. Another young girl, Miriam, translated for me. A precious young boy, Frank, also assisted me as he was closely snuggled up to my side. Her first words were spoken to the side, so maybe we wouldn’t hear her. I asked her face me, and she obliged. She now spoke even more quietly, slowly, and introspectively. She was lost for several moments in her thoughts, probably recalling those days of pain and abandonment. Then she spoke. She told me that she doesn’t remember her mother. She doesn’t know if she is alive or dead. She does remember her father…she was six years old at the time. She remembers a conversation around money, and how he told her that he couldn’t afford to keep her, he had no money to pay for school, clothes, or even food for her. So her father took her on a journey… as Esther recalls… "He took me to the pit." I questioned her, "Esther I don’t understand, what is the pit?" "You know, it is where they put the rubbish. He left me there to die." Her eyes stared straight ahead, there was no expression on her face, no emotion. Hard and cold. I asked again in disbelief, "How old were you?" "Six years" she said. I continued my probing. "So how did you end up coming to Hope?" She stated that a neighbor came out looking for her when news of this came to her village. "She took me to the home and now that was 3 1/2 years ago." "How long were you in the pit?" I asked. Again her face went to stone. Speaking in her own tongue once again, Miriam said, "She doesn’t remember".

I held her, tears in my eyes, yet her eyes were dry. Then I reassured Esther that she is in a safe place now and that she is loved. I tried to communicate that good fathers would care for their children in any circumstance, and that they would never leave them. She shook her head in agreement and met my eyes in a stare, to confirm that I was telling her the truth.

Earlier in the morning, Esther told me how she has dreams of becoming a physician. She told me how she wants to help her people. I said that was just like the Esther in the Bible. She said she would love to study in America. She said when she is older she will visit me in Oregon. I would love that.

Jerry

Saturday we went out to the Field of Dreams in the Village of Kaliti.  This village is different than Gganda Village where we have Hope Children’s Home.  It seems much more somber and quiet with almost a strange kind of heaviness.  The village is 80% muslim.  Our team got off the bus and headed onto our property.  We were immediately surrounded by small children.  They followed us from a distance at first, but as we continued walking, they slowly began to get closer and closer.  Our land is so lush and full of life.  It is a wonderful picture of what is in store for the adults and children of this village - LIFE!  As I walked the property I was thanking God for allowing us to be in the midst of a people that are in darkness.  WE are the Light.  I was overwhelmed to think that God cares so much for these people, that He would make a way for us to share love with them every day.  Of course we are still in the beginning stages of preparing the land to begin building, but as you are all familiar with the movie The Field of Dreams - the famous words are IF YOU BUILD IT HE WILL COME!  If you haven’t seen the Field of Dreams lately, watch it again.  I cried when I watched it a couple of months ago, because the main character Kevin Costner is struck with the dilemma of following his heart and dreams vs doing what the world believes you should do with his field (remember the corn field - he should have harvested corn, but instead he used his property to help facilitate other peoples dreams and in essence fulfilled his own dreams).  So since he did what he felt in his heart he should do, His FATHER came.  Corn vs seeing your Father (which is a picture of God if you didn’t get the symbolism).  HMMMMM, seems pretty clear to me.  That is our promise too.  Would you join with us to bring The Father to this village?  Working together we will bring Hope and Life.  Jesus did it for us and now we can pass it on.

After we walked the property, we went to visit our newest friend Kate and her baby son.  They currently live on Field of Dreams.  You may remember back in June when the team was here.  Kate was muslim and accepted Jesus, because the team showed loved to her.  She just knew they had been sent that day just for her.  Her son is sick, so her husband abandoned them.  She was going to leave her son to die that day back in June, because she didn’t have the strength to continue caring for him, but at just the right moment, FAITH, HOPE & LOVE showed up at her door.  You can read the entire blog by clicking here and go to June 12, 2007. Our team prayed for her and her son again.  Two members of the June team are with us on this trip and they both have said that the little boys swollen head is smaller.

We then began heading down the road into the village.  We stopped at each house and introduced ourselves.  The people seemed receptive to us.  This was our first step in helping to prepare for our mosquito net outreach which will probably be next Saturday.

As we were ready to load the bus and head back to the hotel, we met a Pastor of one of the Christian churches in Kaliti Village.  His name is Fred.  He has been a Pastor in the village for 6 years.  He also works fulltime at the University in Kampala.  I am excited to get together with him.  We will try to partner with his church to hand out the nets.  We are excited to work with a local church!

Thanks for your support and prayers.  We are ready to begin building The Field of Dreams.  The first phase will entail a missions compound and a couple of children’s cottages.  From there, we will add more cottages and hopefully a medical clinic.  Our first project will be a water well. We will also be posting the architectural plans for the different phases of this project soon.  Would you consider sowing a seed into this FIELD?  I know there is going to be a great harvest and soon.  Click here to donate towards The Field of Dreams.

Lori Salley
www.showmercy.org