Below is a letter from one of our team members, Ben Redd.  He took on the task of collecting books as well as funds to help us start a library at Hope Children’s Home.  Ben, Ben’s dad Justin, Greg, Mike, and many of the Hope boys have been busy working on the bookcases for the books. This is going to be a great way for the students at our home as well as our school to learn responsibility.  It is also going to help them learn! We are so excited to raise up a librarian and then begin to share this treasure with Gganda Village.

I’ll be posting the pictures of the finished product very soon!

My name is Ben Redd and I am 15 years old.  I helped to collect books and money to help start a library at Hope Children’s Home for my Eagle project in Boy Scouts. With the help of lots of other people I have collected over 500 books and over $1000. I got some people together and we covered more than 150 books with a protective material that will protect the books and make them last longer. We will be taking some of the books in boxes on the plane to Uganda. Some of the money that wasn’t used for the shipping will be used to buy books in the native language of the people in that area. Some more of the money will be used to build shelves to hold the books.  After organizing this project, I learned that people are a lot more generous and more willing to donate than I thought they would be. I also learned that it’s not as hard as it seems to make a difference in the lives of other people. ~ Ben Redd

We still need to purchase more books in the Luganda language.  If you would like to help with this or with school text books, please click here.

Making a difference together,

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

Have you had to make any difficult decisions today? We all face decisions and choices every day. For most of us those decision include deciding what we will wear, what to have for lunch, what television show to watch or what type of latte we will enjoy. It is wonderful that we have, for the most part, decisions to make that won’t really matter in the long run.

Unfortunately, we have been faced with some very difficult situations and decisions while here in Uganda. Yesterday we fed all of our Alpha Omega students ( 250 kids) a wonderful meal that included a special treat…a soda. We then had to look in the eyes of over 100 kids and tell them that we are praying with them to get a sponsor so they can begin to eat lunch every day with 150 of their friends that are already sponsored. This was one of the hardest things for us to do!  The look on the children’s faces was overwhelming.  We know some of their stories and life situations.  Some of those children left only to go ”home” and work as slaves for their abusive guardians. The look in their eyes as they left for home inspired us to write to you and ask for your help.   WE NEED TO RESCUE THESE KIDS!

Today, we are sharing this with you and giving you an opportunity to make a difference in a life.  You have another choice that might just determine the future of another human being. 

There are a few ways for you to take action.  First is to share our mission and vision with your friends who are not aware of the work that YOU are doing.  If you are donating finances/time and/or praying for SMI -You ARE Show Mercy. 

Secondly, if each Show Mercy sponsor got just one friend to sponsor ONE child, we would have ALL of our kids eating, receiving an education and rejoicing. Not only that, but each one of the children would know that someone really cares for them. It only costs around $1.15 per day, less than the price of a single cup of coffee.

Lastly, we are raising money to build new children’s cottages on our Field of Dreams (25 acres of land.)  Each cottage only costs approximately $25K.  Each cottage will house 12 children, so that is only $2000 to rescue ONE child! 

For those of you who have not yet sponsored a child or financially supported Show Mercy, today is your official invitation to answer the cry of injustice. You can make a lasting impact on the life of child who is praying for you to say “yes.”  All that we ask is that you listen to your heart and respond as you feel you should.  You can even come with us to Uganda as so many others have done and meet your sponsored kid and see first hand the impact that YOU are making.

We had many choices to make yesterday. Our final one was to decide whether we would speak out and be an advocate for the 100+ kids that have no way of communicating with you or to just hope for the best. We chose to be that advocate.  Now the next choice is up to you. 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW SOME OPPORTUNITIES TO GET INVOLVED

www.showmercy.org

Yesterday was a wonderful and joyous day for me!  We gathered all the children from Alpha Omega that are sponsored by all of you and gave them all brand new mosquito nets.  Also, thanks to those that donated towards our “New Mattress” campaign.  We were able to buy new mattresses for the Hope children.  The Hope kids then donated the mattresses that were still in good condition to the Alpha kids.

I personally had the privilege of going home with Esther to deliver her donated mattress.  As we started out, Esther had a huge smile on her face. She is 11 years old, but she physically only looks to be 8.  Patricia from Hope carried Esther’s new mattress on her head and Victoria took the mosquito net from Esther and placed it on her head too.  It was a site to see.   All of the children were total smiles as we walked down the dirt road. I am sure the villagers were looking and wondering what we were doing and where we were going. 

Esther led us all down the road with her head held high.  I looked down to find what was making a clapping sound with each of our steps and I discovered it was Esther.  She looked like she was playing dress up, because the shoes she was wearing were about 3 sizes too big.  They clapped and clopped with each step.  She didn’t care though.  The fact that she had shoes was probably enough to make her satisfied.   As I pondered those shoes, I began to imagine Esther actually fitting into those shoes one day.  I could see her in my imagination all grown up!  I could hear her sharing her personal story of how God stepped into her world one day and gave her a net as well as a new bed.  I could see her telling others that there are people that don’t even know her that actually spend their hard earned money to care for her.  I could see Esther paying it forward to small children that don’t have anyone, because LOVE had been put into action for her! I began to smile, because I was reminded that this is one of the many reasons we are doing what we do.

We finally arrived at Esther’s small one room “house”.   We weren’t able to go inside, but Esther’s mother brought out the thin mattress Esther had been sleeping on.  They were very excited for the new things.  I know Esther must have slept so well!  Thanks to all of you who made this possible.

Yesterday made me realize something.  When at home, the busyness of life and the hurry-up way I live doesn’t leave much room for my heart to really beat.  What do I mean by that?  Well, we all have things to do, people to see and errands to run. Living in the “day to day” routine can be comfortable, but then it doesn’t allow for those opportunities to really experience life.  I want to slow down and “take” the time that has been given to me, instead of wondering where the day went. I don’t want to live from my head only, but I desire to be moved by my heart. If you know me at all, you know that I am pretty compassionate and am quick to shed a tear, so I’m not saying my heart is stone!  What I am saying is that my experience yesterday, helped me to realize again what it means to live.  I found a part of my heart again on that dirt road yesterday.  Thanks Esther for helping me remember why it is so important to live on purpose and for which purpose I am to live.

Thank you for reaching out in LOVE, one child at a time with us.  There are many more “Esthers” that need our help.  Click here to step into a child’s life today.  You won’t regret it…I promise.

Lori Salley
Show Mercy International
www.showmercy.org
5417913566