Christmas Surprise Becomes a Reality- New Classrooms in Uganda

We are so excited to let you know that we have completed our first brand new classrooms for the Alpha Omega school located at Hope Children’s Home in Uganda! Because of those of you who supported the “Christmas Surprise” project, many children will now have a clean, well constructed classroom to learn in. The photos do not do justice to the size or the quality these buildings. They are truly beautiful and excellently done. Each one will accomodate up to 50 children. They are 600 square feet each and meet or exceed the requirements of the Ugandan government for a school to be registered in the country.

Children will now be able to attend class without worrying about torrential rainfall and mud pouring into their classrooms from the door opening. They will not have to huddle in a corner while rain pours through the roof.  They will be able to learn on cement floors. These are simple things for most of us, but to them, they have a luxury classroom now!

We were blessed to have Dr. Nsaba Buturo, our friend and Uganda’s Minister of Ethics and Integrity, join us and officially dedicate these new classrooms. Many people came from the village and rejoiced in the results of this project as you can see in the photograph below. Pastor Prossy shared that never in her wildest dreams did she believe that this place would be so nice and visited by a member of Parliament and the President’s cabinet. Dr. Buturo shared that he is fully supporting Show Mercy in Uganda because he believes that the work that we are doing is so vital to the people of Uganda.

You have been a part of changing lives.

Thanks again for making this project a reality. We still have a long ways to go, but we are making progress on providing our kids with a great educational opportunity in Uganda.

Now that we have a secure and clean classroom, we will be working to purchase text books for the children to share.  At this time, we have no text books. Pastor Prossy has given us her “wish list’ for textbooks for the kids. If you would like to be a part of providing these books, please feel free to make a tax deductible donation by clicking here. If each person receiving this email would even donate $10 for one book, we would be able to reach our goal. Will you help us continue to increase the provision for these children in Uganda?

Blessings and favor!
Show Mercy International
www.showmercy.org
541-791-3566

Here is another blog by one of our team members, Lia Horton.  She has been volunteering back in the USA and helping to answer the cry of injustice.  Some of you may have read her posts called 29-29-29.  She has been an awesome addition to the SMI team.  Here is one of her stories:

When I came to Uganda in September of 2007, Ruth was one of the children I met at Hope Children’s Home. She was really chubby from being very malnourished by the people she lived with before coming to Hope. Her body was nearly starved and then fed high fat content food, so that it would store everything as fat. This way, no one would ask questions about how she was cared for. She liked to sing but was very shy about it and would hang her bald little head, shaved to keep the lice at bay. She always looked at the floor and whispered when she spoke. Not like the culturally appropriate diminutive female nature, but the behavior of a girl who does not feel worthy or fears ridicule. We had asked her to translate for us to speak to the Sunday School and no one could hear her. I couldn’t hear her and I was standing right next to her, but we pressed on. You could get her to smile on rare occasions, and you sort of had to stand on your head to see it, but it was so worth the headstand when it happened! She had a beautiful smile.

When I came to Uganda in 2009… I was the first team member ushered into the house by the excited children and told to sit. I wasn’t sure if it was her or not. Here was a woman with braided hair and curvey yet active and healthy looking figure. This gal had her head high and was leading little girls in a dance. She was fearlessly engaged in worship no matter who saw her. And then it happened… she spun my direction and smiled and I knew! Ruth! She smiled huge and showed with her eyes and nod that she recognized me, but she would come to me later, confident this was not her only chance to speak with me. As the rest of the group was ushered in to their seats the performance began. Ruth either led, or wrote or both, each of the song/dance numbers performed for us. This one was my favorite, so when I finished hugging and kissing her, she wrote it down for me. I did not change the way she wrote it for me.
How can I thank you Lord
for you’ve done me well
The caring parents indeed have showed me love.
They washed away the tears I used to shed
Thank you Lord indeed thanks a lot

(Bridge)
Solo: I was crying
All: and the Lord was planning for me
Solo: I lacked what to eat
All: Now the Lord provides to me.

(Chorus)
How can I thank Him?
He who saw me suffering
and gave me lovely parents
who settled my heart.

The Lord has brought me from far.
He has overcome my problems,
when I think the further He brought me from.
I feel unconscious
I had even lost the hope of going to school,
[I was among these children who loitered around the streets](2x)

Repeat bridge and chorus

Clothings to me was a serious problem,
I wore only rags as my clothings,
I was undesirable even in the appearance
but the Lord is great
I’m now considerable

Repeat Chorus and Bridge.

Our lovely parents we thank U for your obedience,
When the Lord talked to you,
You accepted to help us
You washed away the sorrows of our hearts
[You're the parents where you are we don't regret] x2

Repeat Bridge and Chorus

The Lord is great! And oh yeah, Ruth helped to translate the children’s life stories into English. The one who would not speak, now helps others to have a voice. We could write a song of thanks for her recovery and involvement in the lives of others.

With a Thankful heart,
Lia

There are still so many children that are in need of sponsorship!  Help us spread the word about these precious kids, because there are still so many to help.

Mike and Lori Salley
Show Mercy International
www.showmercy.org
541-791-3566

It is always good to get other people’s perspectives on our trips, so we are happy that we can share this blog with you.  It was written by one of our team members, Kimberly Hathaway.

What do you say about a trip like this. Where you see such dire circumstance, pain and suffering, hand in hand with great compassion, transformed lives, and hope for a new future?

We went to a hospital today. We visited several wings one of which was a children’s cancer ward. Growths that would be removed in the states when they are first found, grow here to great deformities. I saw a boy who was probably only 7 with a baseball protruding from his upper lip. It was so large it had displaced teeth and you could see the soft ball of tissue inside his mouth as well because he was unable to close it completely. The only thing I could do was give him a free blanket and sit for awhile with my hand in his. I prayed for him but since the miraculous did not occur it felt…..empty.

That said, in another wing we met a couple, the man very ill, his wife sitting by his side. We found out that their children attend the Alpha Omega school run by Show Mercy. Lori, one of the founders got directions to the house. When we returned to Hope Children’s home she went out to the house to check on the kids. The oldest 12, is watching after the other two with an aunt next door but they have no money for food. Show Mercy is on the case to make sure they will be looked after now.

Yesterday we heard testimonies from many of the Hope children. Stories of abuse, abandonment, the word torture was used on several occasions. I found out later that torture in Uganda often involves cutting the webbing between fingers and/or toes and then forcing them to continue working. Every kid finished with “then I came to Show Mercy.” They are excited to eat every day, to have a mattress to sleep on, and an education. After working at a residential group home in the states it amazes me the healthy attachment these kids have with each other and with adults after all they have been through. There is a young girl, Lynette who is probably 2 ½. I was told this time last year she would scream constantly and had to have her older sister with her at all times. She didn’t trust anyone. When we got here she climbed in the lap of one of our team members and fell asleep. She runs, and laughs, and plays, and cuddles. She trusts. Vincent a 22 year old is taking computer engineering courses. I asked him if he was going to be a computer genius, he laughed and blushed but the reality is he will be able to get a better job than most Ugandans. Peter is 18 and a great artist. I spoke with him about his dreams and aspirations. He loves painting and enjoys the thought of doing clothing design internationally. He is also has more wisdom and insight into relationships than most people I know. How he got that living in a culture where women are subservient to men is a testament to the Lord. On top of the kids you also have to count the great number of Ugandan men and women that work with and for Show Mercy. Tara, our translator is 22 and has a stable job, income, home, etc.

It is crazy to see what God is doing in the lives of all these people. And He continues to inspire others to help. There are 2 couples on the team who are planning to move here in the near future, and another single woman who is considering the option.

Kimberly Hathaway

This is a blog written by Randy and Alisa Varga.  They are currently planning to move to Uganda and work with Show Mercy International.  More updates are coming soon as well as a picture gallery blog! (we are playing catch up)

(Pic. 1: Boy with his new blanket)  We gathered in the morning to go to the village of Kaliti to hand out blankets and mosquito nets. It’s about an hour drive from our hotel, but with extra traffic it seemed to take a bit longer. The last several miles are on red dirt roads, but today we had a bit of rain which turned the roads into a very slick surface. At times we all wondered if the old bus would make it or get stuck. We arrived to see a crowd of children screaming and shrills of excitement! They all knew we were coming to distribute blankets and nets. The recipients of the gifts were a group of disabled villager, some blind or deaf, some with birth defects, some with sever injuries; but all with hearts are all full of love and appreciation for what they were receiving. I am amazed each and every time with the graciousness and honest gratitude people show for our actions. The smiles and the hugs are priceless. (Pic. 2: Alisa handing out blanket and net)

Afterwards we drove another mile or so to the property we call “The Field of Dreams”. We walked the area dreaming and trying to visualize the homes, the dormitories, the social hall, the kids’ cottages, and everything else that will make this area a home to so many. I looked over the area and imagined the 100 or maybe 200 kids running around and the short term missionaries playing with them. I imagined the sound of life in a new community where kids will be raised up knowing and loving the Lord, where they are raised up to know they are safe, knowing they will eat every day, where they will receive a good education. The dream keeps going…..and will soon begin! (Pic. 3: Field of Dreams)

The hard part of the day came when we returned to Hope Children’s Home, it was later than we had planned and everyone was waiting for us. They were ready for something, but we did not know what. We gathered in the social area and were told that the children had testimonies to give; testimonies of their lives before Hope. The children, one by one, told their stories. Their stories were filled with horrific things, unspeakable things. They shared how their days had been full of torture and neglect at the hands of those who should have loved and cared for them. They seemed to just recite their stories, one more time; but then the oldest girl at the home, Ruth, would translate them into English. When they heard their stories retold, it appeared the reality hit them, that this was their life. The pain was great. Their tears rolled down their cheeks, some would have to stop, and they tried to be strong. They wiped the tears away, only to have more tears flow. One by one our team member’s went to hug, hold and comfort them as they finished. For a long while they came and sat on our laps. One girl was only two chairs away, and I could see her crying for the next 20 minutes. It was true raw grief. I spoke with Pastor Prossy afterwards and she thanked us for listening to the children. She said it was part of their healing process. I know she is right, but it was heart wrenching. I praise the Lord we were all there to love and hug these kids. When I see these things, I know why we send teams to Uganda; to simply love these children and help them heal. (Pic. 4: Prossy crying as she shares her life story)

(Pic. 5: Lori thanking Pastor Prossy for all the love she gives the Hope children)

We finished the day celebrating Lori Salley’s birthday, not sure which one, but we went to a nice Chinese dinner at Fang Fang’s. A must when you visit Kampala.

Alisa Varga
Show Mercy International
www.showmercy.org
541-791-3566

Today was another eventful day in Uganda.  We headed out early to visit the children’s Cancer hospital.  It was very hard to see all the children who are suffering from this terrible disease. (In the photo to the left, you can see a child with a very large tumor growing from his groin.)  It was especially hard for us to visit, because this is where our own Grace passed away in December.

We opened up the visit with prayer and singing from the “Show Mercy Choir!” Ha ha…It was good!  We then went bed to bed to pray for the sick children as well as encourage the family members.  We also passed out the nicest blankets ever.  A lady from Michigan spent precious hours sewing many many blankets.  The patients and parents were so thankful.  The blankets were bright and lively colors and really brought out many smiles for the kids that are in so much pain! (You can see one of them in the photo on the right.)

We also had the opportunity to visit the adult section of the hospital as well.  Randy and Alisa Varga along with their son Eli and his class at Lake Oswego High School (plus so many others from the facebook group, Socks of Love from Oregon) collected many pairs of socks to share with Uganda.  We used these socks along with the soaps many of you have donated to hand out to the sick patients.  This too brought many smiles!

While we were praying for the adults, we came across a man who has bone cancer.  He already has had his arm amputated!  We found out that his children currently attend our Alpha Omega school.  It is really a “small world”.  The way God orchestrates meetings like that amazes me!  His wife, Daphne, has been staying with her husband day and night as you can see from the photo on the left. In Uganda, you don’t get anything you need while in the hospital except a mattress, medicine (if you can afford it) and doctor visits.  You have to bring your own bed sheets, food, drinks and anything else that you need.  Your loved ones have to bathe you as well.  We have heard horror stories of people dying because they did not receive food!

I asked Daphne who was caring for her children while she is at the hospital and she said they were staying at home by themselves.  She said they were struggling to get money for food, so I told her that we would visit her home and check on the children.

When we did arrive back to the village, we made a visit to the home. A photo of the happy couple was before the hard times was hanging on the wall. (Photo above) I was shocked to find the 3 children staying alone in their house.  It is still the holiday time for the Alpha Omega children, so we have not been able to visit with very many of them.  I was excited to tell them that we had gift packages (thanks to the many students at Santiam Christian School donated over 100 gift bags) at Hope and invited them to come and see us!

We sat in their living room and talked for a bit.  The living area looked ok enough, but I asked to see where they were sleeping.   The minute I walked into their sleeping area, I was devastated.  As you can see from the pictures, the three children are sleeping on the ground in a very dirty area.  All three children are currently sleeping on a soiled mattress!  We want to purchase 3 beds for these children.  The cost will be $250 and this will include a wooden bed frame, mattress, and bed linens as well as a blanket.  We also need to help this family out with food.  I got a quote for $100 to buy everything necessary to feed these children.  If you would like to help with these items, please click here and make a note in the comment section.  Of the three children, two are also in need of a sponsor.  The sponsorship for our Alpha Omega children allows them to eat their lunch while at school as well providing the fees necessary for their education.  I think the most important thing their sponsorship helps with is that these children will know they are loved and not forgotten.  If you are interested in sponsoring these kids, please email me at lori@showmercy.org. Many of you have mentioned to us that you would like to sponsor a child. This would be a great way to get involved.   We also have 27 Hope children that are still needing their education sponsors.   Help us spread the word!  This is one of the best investments anyone can make and the returns are so enormous you won’t be able to contain them all!

Thank you so much for all the love and encouragement you give to us personally as well as to all the people we are serving here in Uganda.  Your emails have really spurred us on.

Working to answer the cry of injustice together,

Lori Salley
Show Mercy International
www.showmercy.org
541-791-3566