As usual, time flies, and another month (and another year) has come and gone. It's hard to believe it's 2022 now. I have officially had my first birthday and my first holiday season here in Uganda, and while it was very different, it was very good. It seems all of my updates are very long these days, but there's some good stories in here you'll surely want to hear.
Just after my last update, we had to take a young man, Hakim, for surgery. His story is in the last update, but after a crazy first 24 hours post op, I'm happy to say that now he is doing very well and has had a full recovery, Praise God! Since his surgery I have had 4 other boys come to me with a similar problem. Very strange, but after talking to the doctor, the life they live on the streets can contribute to the issue. They've just never got checked before because they can't afford to and didn't know where to go. 3 of the 4 were treated with medicine and are recovered, and 1 may be facing a similar procedure as Hakim in the next couple of weeks. We have a follow up appointment on Monday to find out the next steps. I am so thankful for the many people who contribute when we have immediate medical needs arise. While medicine and hospital stays are much cheaper here than in America, the cost adds up quickly when you're working with so many boys who don't have regular medical care, and we greatly appreciate the love and support.
In the beginning of December I got to be a part of something that only God could orchestrate, much like my entire time here in Uganda. When my team was here in November we went to an area called Tongolo to do evangelism. While in Tongolo, one of the groups encountered a sweet little girl named Nakato and her Aunt who is raising her. Nakato was born a twin, who's mother passed away right after child birth. While the twin was meeting milestones on target, Nakato began showing signs of delay and her Auntie knew that something was not right. The thing about Uganda is, there's no free healthcare and when you're deep in a village, quality medical care is hard to come by, so you just do what you can do and do the best you can do with what you have. While we were taking a break for lunch, the group who had met her approached me about finding a wheelchair for Nakato to use. Once I went to meet her and her family, I knew we were working with something much more complex than just needing a chair. Before I came to Uganda I practiced Occupational Therapy, and spent a couple of years working with pediatrics. Everything that Nakato presented with pointed to Cerebral Palsy. Nakato needed therapy, she needed resources to help her continue to grow, she needed so much more than a chair, and at 7 years old had never had any of that. But she did have an Aunt who loved her and cared for her and did the best she could with what she had, and Nakato was a happy healthy girl with the best smile in the world! After leaving there I knew that God would need to intervene because I didn't know where to even begin looking for help for her, especially the kind of help that she really needed to thrive. On Thanksgiving day I got an email about a NGO meeting I needed to attend. I really didn't want to go, and knew it would be more of a waste of time than anything, but I went. After a few hours of nothingness, it came down to question and answer time. If someone had a question, they had to stand, give their name, their organization, and then their question. I was about 30 steps into dream land, bored out of my mind, when a lady stood up and said, "Hello, I am Juliette from Grace Cerebral Palsy and Special Needs." Let's just say I perked up real quick. I still don't know what the question was that she asked, or what else happened at that meeting, but as soon as it was over, I made a bee-line to her, got her number and told her briefly about Nakato. The following week I called her and we arranged to meet and go visit Nakato to see if her organization could help. During the meeting they were talking about having to stay within certain boundaries, and it just so happens that this organization and Nakato are within the same boundary. On the ride out to Tongolo, Juliette, her husband, and I had a great discussion about their organization and what could be done. Her husband is a Pastor, they used to have a daughter with CP, who passed away a few years ago, and Juliette was a special education administrator. She said God led them to start this organization because when they were trying to help their daughter they didn't know where to turn and they needed more resources, so they want to be the ones to help give direction and counseling so others don't have to suffer like they did. Praise be to God for allowing us to meet and them to begin working with Nakato. Just before Christmas I drove with them to deliver some supplies to Nakato and her family. The relief in the Aunt's eyes was beautiful. She has hope for once that she's not alone in this, all Glory to God! It's amazing how God just keeps putting connections and people in my path here to help where needed. Praise Him! (See below for the sweetest smile ever from Nakato!)
I celebrated my 37th birthday here as well. One of the traditions in Uganda is you get a bucket of water poured on you on your birthday, so I took the day off and had a massage and avoided a second shower for the day! Sweet Mary went around town looking for a cheesecake because I told her that was my favorite cake, and got me a juice for after my massage! The day after my birthday we had our first bible study of that week and she made me a cake and I got to celebrate with 30 of my boys singing happy birthday and sharing cake. Still managed to avoid the bucket of water, that's one tradition I don't want to be a part of!
Christmas didn't feel much like Christmas this year, although apparently it was just as hot in Tennessee as it was here. Even when it's hot in the states, you drive around and see Christmas lights and Christmas trees, hear Christmas carols, etc, but here it was just any other day, any other month. Not that those things are what Christmas is all about, it's just the external picture of Christmas we grow so used to in America. I have to say, while I missed my friends and family and watching all of my little kiddos open presents, I had one of the best Christmas's I've ever had. On Christmas Eve, we had a huge Christmas party for the street kids. Not just the 100 in the program, but around 250 came and went through the day. We started at 9am and had music, games, competitions, and prizes. We had multiple boys share their testimonies, powerful to say the least! We had several boys preach the Word of God to their fellow brothers. And, most importantly we had 24 boys who said they wanted to begin their journey with Jesus. After the fun and games and lunch we were able to give clothes and shoes to all who were present. Thank you all for helping to make things like this possible for this ministry. I was absolutely exhausted after our long day, but my heart was full and I saw so many smiles and laughter that day in boys who often lose hope in change.
I want to share one of the testimonies that was shared with all of us that day. It's not my story to tell, but I'm going to share it the best I can and just know all the glory goes to God in this beautiful redemptive story. Here's the story of Mutib Ashlaf, aka "Pastor". Let me start with the part I witnessed, and then I'll tell the detail that he shared on Christmas Eve. On August 3rd, I was getting ready to go for bible study at the boys house and I got a phone call that there was a very sick boy at the gate waiting on me. I rushed around and when I arrived at the house, I saw a boy laying on the ground. When I approached him I noticed a lot of blood, obvious deformities to his left arm and shoulder, and he was crying in pain. I asked what happened and he said the day before he had been beaten by mechanics, who used their tools to beat him. He said he was walking with another street kid and they got jumped by the mechanics because someone had stolen stuff from them, and they were beating whatever street kid they came into contact with. The other boy was beaten so badly he died on scene and the police took Ashlaf to one of the government hospitals here in town, but they refused to treat him because he couldn't pay. I gave him 2 options: 1. Let me clean him up, give him pain meds, stay for bible study and a filling lunch, then go to the hospital. 2. Go straight to the hospital. (Either way I was going to take him to the hospital, but if I can get the boys who come for medical care to hear the word of God, have a nice meal and then go, it's always the goal). Ashlaf chose option 1, mainly because he hadn't had food in 2 days, but it was that day, that the Lord began working in him. After bible study and food, we went to the hospital where we found out Ashlaf had a pelvic fracture, fractured hand, elbow, and dislocated shoulder. He had to have 6 stitches in the top of his head, and was covered in multiple abrasions on his back from the blows of metal tools. I sent Ashlaf "home" aka back to the street, that night with a full belly, pain medicine, and orders to come back to see me at the house on Thursday for wound care. (I also strategically make wound care days on bible study days. They come and get wound care, bible study and a meal. It may start with them just wanting the meal, but God works, always). One bible study led to another, led to another, and led to another, and before we knew it wound care was over, his stitches were out, and he was physically healed. I gave him the release and told him that he was welcome to keep coming to the program, but he was released from medical care. Ashlaf had been coming to bible study 2x/week for a month to get wound care, and in that moment he had the decision to walk away or keep coming, it was only a decision he could make. Ashlaf sat there for a moment and asked if he could keep coming to both studies. He said he had many questions and wanted to know more. From that moment on, I witnessed God work a miracle in the life of Ashlaf. He started walking different and talking different. He started asking amazing questions, leading worship, and volunteering to pray. I witnessed with my own eyes God wreck his life and I watched him surrender his new life to Christ. Praise God! .....Now let me tell you Ashlaf's side of the story.....On August 2, Ashlaf was walking down mechanic road (that's not what it's really called, but it's where all the mechanic shops are, so I call it that). He knew that the mechanics were mad at street kids because word had got out they would kill anyone they saw, since one of the street kids stole something of great value. That didn't stop him from walking down that road though, because in his mind he was rough and tough and no one could hurt him. (his words not mine) Ashlaf witnessed his friend get beaten to death and before he knew it he was being taken by police to the local government hospital. He arrived at the hospital on Aug 2 at 3pm, where he stayed until 6am on Aug 3, not being seen or treated at all. He said he laid in the bed bleeding and hurting all night and no one even came to talk to him. At 6am one of his friends came, they got together enough money to get a boda to the friend's house, and he left, "Knowing I was going to my friend's house to die". They got to the friends house, where he began hearing voices telling him "go see the Mzungu" (for those of you who are new here, Mzungu is the term for white person here). He said he just kept thinking he was dying because he didn't know a mzungu, especially one who would help him, and he was hearing a voice when no one was around. He said he kept falling asleep, but would wake up hearing the voice again "go see the mzungu at the yellow gate". He called to his friend who came inside and asked him who was talking and where he was supposed to go. The friend said he knew of a ministry with a yellow gate that he thought had a mzungu, but he didn't know if they would let him in. Again they asked for money for a boda, and the boda brought him to our boys house, with the yellow gate. He said when the boda got him there, they almost refused him, but saw how bad he was and let him in. They called me, and that's where I came in (the mzungu at the yellow gate). Here's where Ashlaf paused and gave a little back story to his life. Buckle up for this, it's about to get crazy. Ashlaf has been on the streets for 12 years. During his time on the streets he got the title "Rasta" and said he lived up to the name he was given. He said he did every drug possible, he killed people, he beat people, he lived a life of stealing, sleeping with anyone who would give him the chance, and didn't want anything to do with God or anyone who had anything to do with God. Ashlaf kneeled on the stage, with tears streaming down his face giving all praise glory and honor to God alone for the transformation in his life. He begged the boys to listen and know that no matter how bad they are, God is better. Ashlaf returned to his story where he talked about how no one has ever taken him to a real hospital before and he know's it was expensive. He talked about how the mzungu, now known as Auntie Tara, cared for him in a way that he didn't know existed. He talked about being forced to go to bible study, but then seeing Jesus first hand in his life. And as he knelt on that stage, crying, in front of 200 street kids, Ashlaf praised and prayed that they would find Jesus too. He said that he knows now the voice he heard when he was almost unconscious was the voice of God, that there's no other way he would be where he is now. Ashlaf now has a room we've rented for him, he now owns a chapati business and is doing amazing business, and he teaches at our bible studies frequently because of what God has done in his life. I asked him one day why he chose the place he did for his chapati stand, it's in a not so great part of town, where a lot of the street kids and druggies hang out. His response, "Auntie, they need to hear about Jesus too. What better way to show them Jesus than with chapati and them seeing the transformation in my life". Amen sweet boy! Praise God for the testimonies he's giving here in Uganda with these boys. This ministry can be tough and trying. I'm always busy and get frustrated sometimes with the antics of some of the boys. But God...God is changing them. God is growing them. My job is to lead them to Jesus and teach them the Word of God. God does the rest. Ashlaf is a prime example of disciples making disciples, and that's what this is all about. Glory to God!
For New Years I got invited to go on my first safari trip with one of the sweet families I've grown to know, here in Uganda. They have lived here for 3 1/2 years, and are from the same town I came here from in Tennessee. It was such a sweet and special time being with them, surrounded by the beauty of God's creation. I saw some of the most amazing animals up close and personal, witnessed beautifully painted sunrises and sunsets, and came home to a 5 day quarantine because we were all sick and exposed to COVID. A little more time to rest and work from home and more natural immunity boosters for me, I can't complain. I'm fine, other than a little cough. Happy New Year 2022!
On New Years Eve the president of Uganda spoke again, and while we were all dreading another lockdown to be put into place, he made the announcement that schools are opening back up January 10th, and 2 weeks later the curfew will be lifted and the country will resume normal activity! Praise God!!!! I have 4 boys who need to be back in primary school asap, and will be finding sponsors for them to begin again. We have about 15 boys ready to begin trade school, if they're older or never attended primary school as well. This year is going to be amazing and I can't wait to see how God continues to grow this ministry for his Glory! Most importantly we teach the boys about Jesus and then we rehab and reintegrate them back into functioning members of their community. God is moving.
I'm so thankful for the prayers and support from around the world. This ministry wouldn't be possible without the faithful givers at my church and those who feel led to give and support us each month. I always pray to be wise in being a faithful steward of what the Lord gives us. We have 1 boy having surgery tomorrow, another one probably having surgery next week, and always have medical cases arising beyond the projected budget. I've had many ask, so at the bottom I will attach a link for giving tax deductible through my church, or directly to me (to be used immediately) as needs arise. Thank you all for your prayers and support!
-Prayer requests
* Solomon having surgery tomorrow 1/7
*Hassan possibly having surgery next week
*Sponsorship for boys to return to school
*Wisdom as we grow in finding best suited land and guidance in progression
*Health for myself and my team as we minister to the boys and resume Following Jesus
Ways to give:
Link to give through my church, tax deductible: bit.ly/ugandaecc
Zelle to my email: thens1213@gmail.com
Venmo: @Tara-Henson-1 (last 4 of phone number is 3565)
Paypal: @TaraHenson (last 4 of phone number is 3565)
Wow. Just wow.
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