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