First, I want to thank everyone for your prayers and support while the team was in Uganda.  There were so many different experiences I wish I could share with you, but I know you are already receiving millions of emails, so over the next few months, I will be sharing a little here and there.

Most of the team has returned to the USA.  It was so exciting to see each person that went on this short term trip share a part of themselves with the people of Uganda.  It was like each person represented a color of the rainbow.  Individually, their color was wonderful and brilliant, but by working together as a team, side by side, it was as though we were together forming a rainbow.  For some in Uganda, this rainbow was just what they needed….a sign of hope and beauty after a long storm.

On a side note, we are already organizing our next trip for the middle of June 2008. If you are interested in joining the team, please let us know.  You can find some more information on our short term trips by clicking here.

Since I have been home for about 2 weeks, I have finally had some down time to reflect on all that happened during this trip.  It is amazing to me that even though I have been to Uganda many times over the past several years, I am never used to the broken hearts and extreme poverty that I see.  There are so many children in the area where we are working that are just waiting for their chance at life. These kids are struggling to survive, but our heart and dream is that ALL these children will THRIVE.  The word "all" is a huge word.  The definition of ALL according to Webster’s dictionary is "the whole amount" or "as much as possible".  So what is possible with God?

After spending time with our kids at Hope Children’s Home, their passion for Jesus and their belief that ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE really begins to rub off on you.  I know you have heard a few times about one of my heroes, Robert.  He just moved into Hope back in June along with his 4 siblings.  I was able to sit down with him and hear more firsthand of what his life was like before moving into Hope.  We have shared before his story of survival and how he took on the role as father of his other 4 siblings after their parents deserted them.  That in itself is remarkable.  Robert is only 12 years old. I could stop right there and praise Robert for the role he took on, but there is something more that really makes Robert one of my heroes.  I asked Robert why he continued to care for his siblings after his parents deserted him.  His response brought me to tears.

To refresh your memory, Robert (12), Betty (10), Samuel (8), Alice (6) and Vanessa (3) were rescued back in June. They were living by themselves in a mud hut in the village.   The 4 older children attended our school occasionally. They also always left 3 year old Vanessa back in the village to care for herself while they were at school.  Every night Robert would go to the streets to work and beg for food.  There was an entire month when they didn’t have anything to eat, so they filled their little bellies up with only water.  Betty told me there was a night when Robert was gone and she was taking care of the others.  They didn’t have any oil for their lamp (remember, they don’t have electricity hooked up to their mud hut), so as the darkness began to come, they huddled together waiting for their oldest brother to return.  All of a sudden, Vanessa began to scream.  She felt a snake enter into the hut, but because there wasn’t any light, they weren’t sure if they should run out or sit still.  The image of this hit me to the core.  Four young children sitting in the darkest of the dark all alone, but worse than that, now a snake had entered their "home".  Betty shared with me how she processed through what she should do.  She decided they should wait and pray.  Just then, Robert returned.  He killed the snake and they were safe.  Big brother to the rescue! 

I asked Robert why his parents left.  He said, "They didn’t love me". He didn’t say this with any bitterness or hatred in his voice.  That totally amazed me. When I asked Robert why his parents didn’t love him, he looked away for a second, as though to swallow back the tears.  He then said, "I would tell them to stop fighting.  They were supposed to love.  That is what Jesus has taught us."  I then asked him why he didn’t just abandon his siblings. His mother and father had left him.  I knew it must have been very hard to go to school and work every night and weekend.  I couldn’t comprehend what kept him going.  Why didn’t he quit just like his parents and just fend for himself?  His answer to me will ring in heaven forever!  Robert said, "I do not have my earthly father’s heart. The Bible tells us to care for our brothers and sisters so that is what I did."

Needless to say, Robert is one of the many heroes who live at Hope Children’s Home.  I told Robert that he is an inspiration to me and to so many others.  When life seems to get hard and circumstances don’t seem to be going your way, just remember Robert and his heart to never give up and continue pressing on.  He didn’t let his circumstances dictate who he was and how he responded, but rather he pressed on in faith and did what he knew was the right thing to do!

Again I want to thank all of you for your prayers and financial support.  We are very excited about all the incredible possibilities and opportunities that are before us.  We are excited about continuing to rescue and love on more heroes just like Robert.  Will you continue to join with us as we reach out in love, one child at a time? Together, we can make a difference. Our plan has and will continue to be about  partnering with people that have a desire to express God’s love to the poor in word and deed. Here are some different ways you can get involved:

• Volunteer for 6 months to 100 years in Uganda. :)  We are currently in the process of building a committed and full-time Show Mercy team that will live on The Field of Dreams and be the hands on expression of love to the children we are and will continue to serve.
• Go on a short term missions trip of  approximately two weeks. (next trip is June 2008)
• Tell your friends and family about the values of Show Mercy and how they can get involved. 
• Donate toward the "House of Love" on the Field of Dreams.  Help us to build a House of Love to facilitate the dreams of full time missionaries as well as help to reach out in love to our unsaved neighbors in Kaliti Village.
• Donate toward building a children’s cottage to house between 12-15 orphans.
• Pray for our ministry

• Sponsor a child (click here)

  Our Newest Rescued Children
  

More blogs coming soon.

Lori Salley
Show Mercy International
P. O. Box 607
Albany, OR  97321
541-905-791

www.showmercy.org