We have been very busy since we sent our last update out in August, so please forgive us for the delay. As many of you heard, we put together with the help of many other committed friends a fundraiser for Show Mercy International called "The Great Northwest Challenge".

The Great Northwest Challenge

Our great friend Tim Smith called us one morning and said he had an idea that he thought would help to raise money that would benefit the children in Uganda. He had an idea of a race competition similar to a cannonball run.

After tossing the idea around, we came up with the idea of putting together a competition that would be similar to the television shows "The Amazing Race", "Fear Factor" and "Survivor". We had a team of about 12 people that met every week for 2 1/2 months to plan out all the details. On October 8th, 2005, we held the first Great Northwest Challenge. We had a total of 92 people enter the competition. The teams were made up of 2 for a total of 46 teams!

The Great Northwest Challenge Teams

We had 10 different events that each team completed in order to gain points. The team with the highest point total at the end of the competition won a grand prize of $5,000. The winning team was named "Big n Rich" and was made up of Justin Tedrow and Jason Schaefer.

Through this benefit, we were able to raise enough money to build one new children’s home. We had many corporate sponsors support this competition and that covered the cost of the event. We were also able to make a donation of $3000 to the ABC House, "All Because of Children" located here in Albany, Oregon. They provide many services to children in the local Albany area who have been victims of sexual assault or abuse. For this particular fundraising event, we felt like we were to use the money raised to help not only the poor and neglected children in Uganda and other countries, but those who are living in our communities around us.

Trip Planned

We are so excited about our upcoming trip to Uganda scheduled for December 30 through January 14th. We have tentatively committed to build at least two more homes in Uganda . We will be meeting with two pastors who we have begun building personal relationship with. They both already have property picked out to build new homes. One is in Mubende, which as we said in our previous newsletter, does not currently have any children’s homes. The population of that community is over 70,000 and to think that there isn’t any type of home for the children is mind boggling! AIDS and disease is taking its toll on that community and the children are being left on the streets to fend for themselves. What an awesome opportunity to be one of the first homes in that area. It will be a spark of hope for the children as well as the community. The property in Mubende will cost approximately $5000 for 8 acres of land. Once that is purchased, we will need financial support to help complete this home. Please consider supporting us in this mission.

The other home is in Entebbe on the outskirts of the capital of Kampala. There are 10 acres that have already been purchased for the home in Entebbe and while we are there, we will get the estimates for the building project.

Our heart is to also travel to Northern Uganda, where terrorist rebels have been destroying the lives of many children and families for over 20 years. The children of that area have been so damaged from this war that we can’t help but be moved to do something to help them. We are not sure if we will be able to build a children’s home at this time due to logistical issues that are still a factor in Northern Uganda. However, we are definitely planning to go and love on the people in that area and possibly provide meals for some of the "night commuters". We will also attempt to show the Jesus film and give the people hope and strength.

You can read more and view some videos about the atrocities that are occurring everyday in Northern Uganda at this site:

http://hotzone.yahoo.com/uganda

We will also be planning a 12-14 day trip to Uganda in late May of 2006 which will be open to anyone that is interested. If you have had a desire to travel to Africa, this trip would be a good opportunity. You can plan for your total costs for this trip to be approximately $3000 per person which will include airfare, hotel, ground transportation, visas, and two meals per day. Now is the time to begin raising your support. More information to come…

Expansion into India

Show Mercy International has just made a commitment to partner with World Orphans to provide a children’s home in Tenali, India. We will be working with Pastor Ravi Varma. The home will be called "Home of Blessed Buds" We will send out more information on this project in the near future that will include pictures as well. We are very excited about "branching out" into other areas of the world.

New Project

Here are a few pictures that Pastor Hudson sent to us from Mubende Africa as well as a part of the email he sent concerning his visit there:

Dear Mike and Lori,
Hope you are all fine though very busy for the NW
Challenge, which is just at hand.
Well, i went back to Mubende Thursday this week as i
had told you.
I was able to meet Pastor Banabas together with other
Pastors and leaders in the unity Fellowship.
Every church is sending in two or three orphaned
children for a start and then other kids will be
helped as they continue to pray and believe God.
The town is Big with a population of 70,000 t0 80,000
people, many people have died of HIV/AIDS and other
death causes but with Zero children’s home.
The pastors and Leaders have expressed their
gratefulnes towards the plans of Show Mercy
International extending it’s services to their area.
I was not able to take many pictures as it rained
shortly after i had taken a few of them. However, i
have sent you a picture of some Pastors standing at the 8-acre
land. Iam also sending you a picture of some of the orphaned
kids standing with two ladies.

Love you and Blessings.
Pastor Hudson Suubi.

Pastor Barnubus on Potential Land Sight

Children Awaiting New Home in Mubende

Sponsorships

We are still in need of sponsorship for the children at Hope Children’s Home. Out of the 54 children living in the home we currently have 24 sponsored. CAN YOU HELP US? Our goal is to have all the children sponsored before we see them at the end of December. It would be so wonderful to tell them that they all have people that have decided to sponsor and pray for them. You can help us by getting the word out and sponsoring a child. For $30 a month or $360 for the year, you could give a sponsorship in honor of one of your loved ones for this Christmas season. This is truly a gift that will keep on giving! It is literally a gift of LIFE! If you want to give a donation or sponsorship as a gift for Christmas, we will send a Christmas card to your loved one with a picture of the children as well as their story along with a note telling about the gift you gave to not only them but to a child in need. These children are so precious and truly a beneficial investment.

Read some of the children’s testimonies that are currently living in Hope Children’s Home.

"My name is Muwanguzi Violet , I have nine years and in primary one. My father died and they just burnt him.. My mother is unemployed and I could not go to school. I thank the showmercy international , my mother used to force us drink water so that we may not die of hunger. Now we eat and drink and sleep well. Oh almighty God protect Mike and Lori."

"My name is Hakim Mukisa aged nine and in primary two. My father died and they just burnt him. I used not to eat and most people used to chase me thinking that I would spoil their children. I thought that no one could help me out. I wanted to study but no one could help, but now I study, I have my parents Mike and Lori. One time they even hugged me. We even eat well , meat . May the Lord bless show mercy and be victorious in all their endeavours."

"I’m Victoria aged thirteen and in primary three. I love ShowMercy because my father is a drunkard. He used to come back and beat me. I donot know where my mothert is , I was not studying but now I do. They no longer beat me and I was planning to go to the street to stay there. Thank you."

If you would like to sponsor one of these children please click here .

Christmas Gifts

We are so excited to be able to love on the children in Uganda. I don’t even think we can fathom the type of life some of these children have lived. Now that they have a new home, they are really getting an opportunity to live LIFE! We want to bless these kids by giving them presents for Christmas. This is something that they have NEVER experienced! Most of us have always had at least something at Christmas time. We are believing to get enough money to give the children a wonderful dinner, toys as well as school supplies. Unlike most kids here in the USA, the kids in Uganda love school. They would give anything for a new book, pencil and paper. If you would like to be a part of this, please click here.

Norah’s First Doll from Party 6/2005

Thank you again for all of your support and prayers. We cherish your heart for caring for these kids with us and especially because you care enough to say yes today and to something about it!

We will be sending another email out with details concerning the home in India. Because of your support, even more children will be off the streets and into a home where people can help them to become all that they were created to be!

Blessings to you all!

We mentioned in our last update, that we were planning to build a children’s home in the Northern part of Uganda. This week we have been doing alot of research online concerning the situation in that area. We really felt the Lord tugging on our hearts to begin pursuing this new project. Just lastnight at 11:40PM, our pastor Denny Cline called and said he thought we would be interested in the report that Nightline was airing. Then this morning, we wake up to an email from another friend concerning the story by MSNBC. We know in our hearts, we are on the right track………..

To give you a little more insight into what is actually going on in the Northern most parts of Uganda, we have listed a few websites for you to view with some videos that will really help you see first hand the help that is needed.

"Dateline" traveled to Northern Uganda to report on "night commuters:" tens of thousands of children forced to hide in the night to escape being killed or abducted by rebels. If captured by the rebels, these children of war are torn from their families and forced to become soldiers under the maniacal leadership of Joseph Kony. Who is he? And why is his reign of terror unknown to most people in the world?

You can watch a short video from Dateline as well as read more concerning the children of Northern Uganda. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9006024

Lastnight, ABC Nightline also showed a touching story of the children in Northern Uganda. We are not sure how long they will have the video posted on their site, so if you want to view it, you should do so as soon as possible. Here is the link: http://www.abcnews.go.com/Nightline/

As I type this up and I have tears rolling down my face. When you watch the videos and read what is going on there, you will understand why. These people don’t have peace, but only fear. Their day to day lives are motivated by fear. One person wrote about the thought of his own children going through these hardships. It can tear your heart apart. On one hand, it is so overwhelming to hear these stories of the kids and the atrocity they have been through. But, on the other hand, we have a great opportunity to step in and do our part. That is what Show Mercy International is all about! As you read in our previous newsletter, that is just what we intend to do. Our plan is to begin building up north by the end of this year. Below is a map of Uganda. The areas shaded in orange are the areas that are being most affected by the LRA rebel army. The green cirlced district in the north is Lira. The star is the area where we currently have Hope Children’s Home and Faith Chidren’s home. The green circled area to the left of the star is the District of Mubende. We are also planning to build a home there with Pastor Barnabus.

Map information from UNICEF as of June 2005

As we stated in our last update, we have an organization who has agreed to match funds with us for these homes. If we provide $6000 for a home, they will match the $6000! This is an incredible opportunity to partner and make an even bigger difference in the lives of children who really need some assistance. Please consider making a tax deductible donation for these projects. Donate Online with a credit card or mail a check to:

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

Testimonies from Hope Children’s Home

We just received an email from Pastor Sanyu, our Hope Children’s Home overseer, with some attached testimonies from the children in the home. We have posted a couple here for you to read. Later this week, we should have some of the other testimonies up on the website.

"My name is Message Sewankambo, I am 13 years. I thank the Lord for Show Mercy International. My father left us when we were still young. If I had studied earlier, I would have been in primary seven. But due to the shortage of school fees and even what to eat, we failed to study. We used to survive on jackfruit and water, we lost weight, and even got diseases because of malnourishment. Praise be to the almighty, the mercy, that has been showed to us, now we can study . Brethren may the Lord bless you so much for loving us, dressing us yet our parents deserted us. May you live longer and we love you so much"

"My name is Frank Sebuufu, I have nine years and study in primary three. My father died in the war in the Northern Uganda lead by the Kony rebels (LRA). It was a dream to me that I could one time have a chance of sleeping in such beds and have blankets and bed sheets. We even eat, drink. I thank the Show Mercy for paying for us and helping us. May the Lord bless you."

Thank you to those that responded by sponsoring some of the children in this home. Of the 54 children, we have received sponsors for 22. Both Message and Frank are still available for sponsorship. As you can see from these testimonies, these kids have really been touched by your help. Thanks again for all that you have done and continue to do! Click here to sponsor a child.

For those who have sponsored a child, you will be receiving some information in the near future with their photo and other details.

Take a Trip With Us

We are planning to take a team to Uganda in the first part of January 2006. You will never be the same after you go. You can take a look at our last team trip video and hear short testimonies from some of our previous team members.

Thank you so much for your generosity and support!

It has been a little over a month since our last update and we want to apologize for not keeping everyone updated a little more regularly. We had hoped to get this report out sooner, but so many great things have been going on. First, we have changed our name from Show Mercy Ministries to Show Mercy International. You will notice our new logo at the top of this page. We also have been in the process of setting up a secure payment site for those of you that are desiring to sponsor the above pictured children monthly. In the process, we ended up changing the look of our Website. Take a look when you get a chance.

Help Us Help Hope Children’s Home

One of our greatest desires is to see this new home become financially self sufficient. We believe that one way we can do this is by helping them to establish a business that will produce monthly income that can be used to support the needs of the 54 children who now call this house home. We are desiring to buy a minivan/taxi for this home. It will serve multiple purposes, but the main purpose will be to bring in a monthly income. Although we are raising monthly child sponsorships for this home, we are also desiring to purchase more land around our property that can be used to build a school for the children in the Gganda Village. We have been promised by the district official of the Wakiso District where we are located that if we will buy the land, he will build a school building for the village. Buying this van will bring in a steady income that will support the children in the home and allow us to focus on expanding into other areas and helping even more children. The cost of this project is only $5,000. If you have a heart to donate towards this project, just say the word.

Our Trip in June 2005

Mike with District Official Mr. Kyeyune

As most of you know,we took a team of 11 to Uganda to dedicate the new children’s home. The home looks wonderful. The people in the village have given it the nickname, "Paradise." It is the nicest building in the village. The day we arrived at the home, we were greeted by several hundred people as well as the District Official of the Wakiso district. The official’s name is Ian Kyeyune. He gave a wonderful speech to the community and was in awe at the great work that Show Mercy International and Bethel Church in Gganda Village had completed. He was so impressed that he pledged to help out by providing the labor and materials to build a new school for us as mentioned earlier. As soon as we acquire more property, he said he would begin building. He also promised to give our teachers at the Alpha and Omega school (which meets in the church) textbooks. His last promise included free immunizations for the children in the home! He also mentioned that he thought that the children’s home would be a great place for the people living in the local community to come to get their medical care. As we have stated before, this is a part of the heart of Show Mercy International. We desire that this children’s home would not only be a physical house for the orphaned and abandoned children, but it would be the beginning of helping to serve the surrounding community.

Sponsoring a Child

Esther needs a sponsor

We had a wonderful time loving on the kids that are living in the home as well as the children that attend the church and school. We also took the time to interview each one of them to hear a little about their story. We were very moved by the poor quality of life that these children have had to endure. It made us understand even more why we have pressed through many obstacles to build this home….We have now put up pictures of the children that are still in need of sponsorship. For as little as $30.00/month, you can sponsor one of these children. This money will ensure that they continue to have their daily needs met such as food, education, clothes, medicine as well as a loving family environment. Please visit our Website to view these children. We have received sponsors for 14 children as of now and we need another 40.

Thank You for Helping "Joy"

As some of you know, back in March of this year, we told you about a situation with a family in Uganda (if you aren’t familar with this request, please check the journal entry on our website for March). Joy asked us to say "thank you" to everyone that made it possible for Show Mercy International to provide the above pictured new home for her and her family. Because of your quick response, we were able to get them out of that terrible situation of abuse. She has emailed us many times that her life is so much better and she and her daughter now have peace. Thank you for your prayers, thank you….

Pastor Hudson Visiting

Pastor Hudson, who has been the Show Mercy International coordinator in Africa, is currently visiting with us in Oregon!. He is also the Pastor and overseer of Faith Children’s Home. This is his first trip to the United States. Everyone here loves him. He is a wonderful and caring man who has been sharing his life stories with us. We are so amazed and in awe of his life. You can check out our Website in the next few weeks and we should have one of his testimonies posted. We believe it will encourage you just as it has encouraged us.

The Great Northwest Challenge

We are so excited about The Great Northwest Challenge. One of our good friends came up with this brilliant and exciting idea to help raise money for our upcoming projects. We are in the process of putting together a challenge that will be similar to The Amazing Race, Survivor and Fear Factor. We are getting corporate sponsors that have a heart for this cause to contribute. The grand prize will be $5,000. Teams of 2 will complete a total of 10 challenges. The team with the highest score will win. Each team entry cost $400.00. Please visit our Website for more details. All of the proceeds go toward our next project. What is our next project you ask…well read on.

Mubende Project

We had the privilege of meeting with a Pastor from the Mubende area while he was visiting the United States. Mubende is located about 2 hours West of the capital city of Kampala. Hope Children’s Home is only about 20 minutes from Kampala, so this new home will be further out into the more remote and underdeveloped parts of Uganda. This Pastor, Barnabus Fred, was telling us that there are not any children’s homes in this area to his knowledge. There is also a tremendous need for homes to care for the many orphans who live in this area. Most people that come into Uganda tend to visit and set up their ministries in a more centralized area closer to Kampala. We are planning to build the first children’s home in Mubende! We are also planning to build in the town of Lira which is in northern Uganda, an area that has been greatly affected by the war between the Lord’s Resistance Army and the Ugandan military. We are so excited about these next projects! You should consider joining with us to make these projects a reality. It will only take around 12-15K per project to provide homes for around 50 children. We have an organization who has agreed to match funds with us for these homes. If we provide $6000 for a home, they will match the $6000! This is an incredible opportunity to partner and make an even bigger difference in the lives of children who really need some assistance. Please consider making a tax deductible donation for these projects.

Take a Trip With Us

We are planning to take a team to Uganda in the first part of January 2006. You will never be the same after you go. You can take a look at our last team trip video and hear short testimonies from some of our previous team members. If you desire to go on a trip with us, please let us know by sending an email to info@showmercy.org.

Thank you so much for your generosity and support!

Hope Children’s Home is finally complete! The children have all moved into their new home. They each have new beds, mattress and clean blankets. Our team of 11 are leaving on Saturday June 11th to head over to Kampala, Uganda. We will dedicate this home to the Lord with the Gganda District Officials attending. There will also be many other outreaches that we will be participating in with the ultimate goal of seeing many lives come into the kingdom and the love of Jesus being expressed through each member of the team.

We just received an email from Pastor Sanyu (Prossy Lunkuse -the overseer of this new home). As you can see, we still need to cover this home with prayer for the health of these kids, the ladies who are taking care of the children, as well as for the provision to continue to sustain this home with the everyday essentials:

"Praise be to the name of Jesus Christ. Thanks for fighting for us . We are so glad while awaiting for the 13th day which is drawing closer every now and then. We are in the midst of the ministry and its not an easy job. The kids are getting on well though somehow being attacked by cough, fever hence a need for the medicine and wormcid. After the kids had entered, we again got five other kids of whom three were being deserted by their father and they were about to die of hunger. I felt sympathetic to them . Another one I got him even we do not know his father or mother and the other one got saved the day you preached the gospel. She has two two children of which their father rejected them. Please I humbly request you to forgive me for having diverted from the number fifty to fifty five. Oh Lord please remember the big job your people have done and bless them, let them live longer. I really love you.
Again the nature of the work is so tiresome."

May God bless you
Pastor Prossy Lunkuse

We are glad that Pastor Sanyu took in these additional children! We originally planned to have 50 children move into this home, with the hope and belief that there would be even more kids that would move in. As you read, this has already happened. There is going to be alot of hard work involved in getting this home established, but we believe that God is going to do great things in the lives of everyone involved in this home and release a new hope for these children. We also believe that this new home will be a sign and wonder for those in the village and that God will use it to speak of His love and hope to all of those around!

More Good News

Back in March 2005 , we sent out an urgent request for help concerning a lady named Joy and her daughter. Thank you to all who responded. We are happy to report that Joy has been able to move into her own rental away from the abuse and her daughter is being taken care of by a close friend. We will find out more of the situation when we get there, but because of your contributions, we were able to help this family get out of this difficult situation!

Uganda Mission Team, June 2005

Please keep us all in your prayers! We are believing God for many salvations as we show "The Jesus Film" as well as "The Passion of the Christ". We are also believing for miracle healings of physical needs as well as wounds of the heart. We will try to send out an email while we are in Uganda with an update. Here are a few other prayer directives:

• Please pray for God to do "immeasurably more than all we can think or imagine!"
• Please pray for unity in our team, good health and safety for us all
• Please pray for God’s loving kindness and mercy to be poured out.
• Please pray that God would set up "God appointments" with people anywhere from Portland, Oregon all the way to Uganda.
• Please pray that our team will show His Love in any way He desires.
• Please pray for our luggage to arrive safely as well as for the electrical equipment to work while in Uganda
• Please pray also for protection, especially during the meetings when we will be showing the Jesus Film and Passion of the Christ. We expect many to give their lives to Jesus, and for many to be healed of infirmities and sickness!
• Please pray as well for the entire team : the pastors, choir members, support staff, drivers, and local organizers, and for Pastor Hudson and Pastor Sanyu.
• Please pray for Michael, our Ugandan driver. We are believing that God will touch his heart and he will receive Jesus!
• Please pray that the Lord will give our intercessors in Uganda (and here in the states) keen insight into the heart of God for our visit!
• And please pray that God would receive ALL the glory for everything, big or small, that happens on this trip and afterward! He alone is worthy to be praised!

  Thanks to all of you for your continued support and prayers. We appreciate everyone and can’t wait to share all the great and wonderful things He has done!