Archive for November 7, 2007

Your Past Doesn’t Have to Dictate Your Future

7 Nov, 2007 

Reaching Out in Love….Truly, One Child at a Time

Christmas Box openingBelow is a testimony of what David Abrams experienced and saw first hand on our trip to Uganda back in September 2007.  I personally saw a transformation in the young boy he talks about - Amza.  Amza came into Hope Children’s Home back in July.  When I first met him, which was September, he was still very sad and shy, but by the time our team left, you could see in his eyes a desire to want to just be held and was so ready to receive LOVE!  The Operation Christmas Child that David refers to in his story was such a blessing to our kids.  A missionary in Uganda is a recipient of the Samaritan Purse Ministries’ Christmas Box program.  She had some boxes left over, so she donated over 100 to our ministry.  If you ever get an opportunity to participate in this program, please do.  Each shoe box was packed full of candy, socks, soap, tooth brushes, toys, etc.  Our children were on cloud nine as they opened their own personal box. One of our boys said he had been praying for a flashlight and guess what….his box had a flashlight in it!  I could tell that each box was packed with love, kindness and generosity! ~ Lori Salley

Your Past Doesn’t Have to DictateYour Future

The day we arrived to hand out the Operation Christmas Child boxes was one of my favorite, for two reasons. The first being that I have always thought that being able to hand out the boxes would be one of the best jobs in the world. The second reason is because I was introduced to Amza. This little boy who I would guess to be 4 or 5 years old was handed to me midway through the day and he immediately fell asleep. Without waking him, I was able to find his Christmas Child box and carry him and the box down to the church where all the children were waiting patiently to open their gifts. I had the privilege of waking up Amza to give him his box. He slowly woke and stirred to look at the box. I made certain through an interpreter that he knew all the gifts inside were for him.

He grew curious and very careDavid with Amzafully sifted through the box finding a truck and candy sucker that seemed to capture his interest the most.
As the trip continued it was great to see how Amza transitioned into his new life at the home. He made friends with some of David with Amzathe other little boys his age and I got to see him grow comfortable with his new surroundings. 
Throughout our trip, we were able to see various children come into Hope Children’s Home, and it struck me that this home was a place of safety and acceptance for these children. Almost immediately, children brought to Hope were joyful and comfortable with their new surroundings. The orphanage truly was a home for these children.

I felt that God’s protection was on these children at Hope and that the cares and hurts of the past didn’t have to dictate these children’s future. Meeting Amza and seeing how God has and will continue to change and grow him was a testimony to me of God’s love.    

David Abrams

Sponsor One of These Kids TODAY!

GO and SEE Uganda and Meet the Kids in June 2008

 We are organizing a short term trip for June 2008.  If you are interested in going, click here to find out more.   

Show Mercy International
P. O. Box 607
Albany, Oregon 97321

Is There Anyone With a Lap Big Enough for Over 100 Kids?

7 Nov, 2007 

It is hard to imagine that a house of over 100 kids could seem “empty”, but it has felt that way since Show Mercy’s short term team left a few Susan and Hope Childrenweeks back. It took a bit of effort to stir up the smiles among the kids after all of the “free hugs and football throwing arms” left the home. Is there anyone with a lap big enough for over 100 kids?? 

If you are an “organizer” or a “get something done”, you better get to Hope children’s home early in the day, and sneak in while the kids are in school, because once the “preschool” class gets out, your lap is no longer your own, and your full time job, should you choose it, is to sit and listen to funny songs, or play thumb wars, or just to stroke a little head until it bobs off to sleep.
 
It would be possible (and probably the most effective job around) for a person to sit in Hope 24/7 and hold children non-stop. When the healthy ones finally go off to play, do chores or go to class, the sick ones could be brought to your lap, and you could hold their heads to help them wait as their fevers go down, or pray in their ears as they rest against you.
 
Then there are the older ones, who are too big to sit in your lap, but when they come crashing in after their days in the “upper classes” off of the grounds of the Home, they are full of stories. Some of them just want to talk about what they just learned, or tell you about something they saw.
 
Brian w/ kidsIt’s the shy ones that get me. There will always be the bold outgoing children around us, but the perimeter holds the hearts that seem to be done “asking” for anybodies attention. It takes some effort to pull these ones in, and they are easily scared away, but when you get a smile and a word and a personal feeling or opinion out of these ones, you know you have a treasure.
 
We are setting up some couches at Hope this week, some big comfy chairs for you to come and sit in…….. if you want to. (There is a trip planned for June 2008 - click here to read more)
 
We will NEVER be the same after having lived here and held these little people.
Pray for more laps to hold these kids and to pour the love of Jesus over them. Pray for those who are here, for our family and for the wonderful Ugandan staff at Hope who pour UNBELIEVABLE amounts of time and love into these children. 

There are still more children that are in need of sponsorship.  Click here to see how you can help!

Brian and Susan Stubs
Ben, Luke, Bryce and Adam 

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