It was a day like many I have had at Hope Children’s Home.I was surrounded by a lot of children! If all of the children at Hope Children’s home along with the students from Alpha Omega are present, there are nearly 300 kids.  Before we came to Uganda, I had determined in my heart to do whatever I could to remember as many of the children’s names as possible.

One afternoon, I saw a familiar face approach me and I bravely asked if her name was Teopista.  Her shy and happy smile told me yes! I was reminded of times when someone I looked up to actually remembered my name. Do you remember that feeling?

Ever since that special moment, Teopista seeks me out to find me! She now writes loving notes to me, shyly slips her hand into mine and looks up at me with her radiant smiling face. I know it meant the world to her that in the midst of all the children at Hope Children’s Home and Alpha Omega school, I remembered her name.  We all want to be remembered.  We all want to be significant.

After living here in Uganda for several months, I can see the importance of each sponsor to these children. When you sponsor a child, you are telling that one child they are significant, they are loved, and someone believes in them.  All of the team in Uganda wants to thank each one of you who are showing mercy to these amazing children.  You know them by name and have told them that they are not forgotten by your sponsorship! Because of you, they know they are significant and best of all LOVED!

Together we are reaching out in love,

 Heather Stirn
Show Mercy International
Team Uganda
www.showmercy.org

Danny, his oldest son Wesley and Paul, one of our local SMI staff, have begun meeting with the older boys from Hope Children’s Home weekly.  This group is focused on building closer relationship as well as training up the boys with wisdom and life! We are so excited for our older boys to begin organizing their very own outreaches into their village. We are passionate about training up these young men, because we know they will one day be the leaders in their own country! 

After one of the boys gatherings, Danny shared this story with us. ”A young man shared something with me today about his experience of coming to live at Hope Children’s Home.  He first shared his story of how he had only two sets of clothes to his name.  All of his belongings had been thrown out into the rain and destroyed by people who hated him.  He had no home, no family, and no shelter.  He did not know who God was, but he was desperately searching.  The villages would not accept him because he had no father and no relation to their clans.  This young man shared a picture he had of a small child running naked to a large person and then standing in his huge shadow.  He felt the large person represented God and the small child represented him.  He shared that when he came to Hope, he had nothing just like the little child, but was accepted and taken into the shadow of God’s provision.  He was so thankful for the help and love he has received through Show Mercy over the last five years.”

All of this would not be possible without each and every one of you who support Show Mercy.  Everything we are giving these children is because of our partnership together.  Together, we are Show Mercy. Together we are touching the lives of real people right now!

Mike and Lori Salley
Show Mercy International
www.showmercy.org