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