Bosco's leg

This entire blog is at the request of Joseph, our country director for Uganda. He came across this boy and his family and really wants to see them receive help. He asked Vince and I last week if there were any way we could spread the word. Please read and be a part of HOPE.

"Bosco is a born of 1996, from Obule Ajet, Ngariam Sub County, Usuk County, Katakwi District in Eastern Uganda. Bosco is an Orphan with 05 siblings and a mother (Alinga Christine-29 years). He is in Primary/Grade Three in Obule Ajet Primary School . His performance at school is quite satisfactory. Bosco has horrific story, he was picked by his uncle who is a casual worker in one of the sugar estates in Eastern Uganda called Kakira. While with his uncle, Bosco developed wounds on his left leg which the uncle did not give much attention to treat. The condition grew worse and the wounds became septic. Bosco’s uncle decides to bring him back to the village, however, he did not hand him back to his other. Bosco was left with his relatives who later notified the Bosco’s mother to come and pick her son who was ailing. On responding to the call, the mother found Bosco with a very sick left leg with septic wounds. Bosco was overwhelmed with pain and the mother henceforth decided to seek medical attention from the nearby Health Centres. The condition was advanced so they referred them to Soroti Referral Hospital . On thorough examination, the doctors diagnosed that the condition could not be treated and therefore recommended Bosco’s leg be amputated. Having come up with the cost for the operation, Bosco needs 2,000,000/= Uganda Shillings (excluding upkeep in the hospital and transportation) to have a successful operation/ amputation on his left leg. However, this colossal sum of money is a real nightmare to Bosco’s family. The mother is requesting people of good will and charities to come to her rescue as she cannot meet this cost."

The total comes to $1200 with another $300 needed for his hospital stay and transportation. Joseph asked us to just raise the $1200 and he would cover the rest. Can you believe that? Joseph, my precious African Papa, offering to pay 20% of this need out of his own pocket. Pockets that aren't as deep as many of ours. Pockets that are already covering school fees and needs for more orphans than any of us can get an accurate count on :-) It challenged me and I hope it challenges you to really ask the question: how might God want to use ME in bringing HOPE to Bosco. We'd like to raise the full $1500, allowing Joseph to bless this family or the others he comes across instead. Since we don't get to see all the needs...let US respond to the ones we DO see, am I right?

Go to www.HopeChest.org to give!!!!

In the notes section write: Uganda / Bosco so that it's designated correctly!

I'll update you as funds come in... pray with me for $1500 to meet this precious boy's need.

LRA & our Redemptive God

from Amy Savage's Blog
Monday, September 14, 2009
Kapelabyong

So, today I'm letting Ben take over my blog and share his thoughts from church yesterday. I have so much to blog about but have had little time and in a way I feel like I still need to process it all. Anyway, here are Ben's thoughts:

Today we visited the village of Kapelabyong and participated in their worship service. This village was started as an Internally Displaced Persons camp (IDP camp) as the people fled from the brutal attacks from Joseph Koney and his “Lord’s Resistance Army”. The tactics of the LRA include capturing children age 12-16 and forcing them to commit acts of brutality while plying them the narcotics. Though Koney has been forced out of the region, the community continues to suffer from drought, poverty and attacks from the Karamojong. The Karamojong are a nomadic tribe that has frequent raids into the surrounding communities to steal cattle. These physical attacks by both the Karamojong and the LRA usually involve rape and the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Despite hunger and violence, the people of this village worshiped and praised God with a fervor and passion unlike any I had ever seen. As we pulled into the village the children surrounded the bus. Quickly we were escorted into a large hut. Crouching to enter the hut, I peered into the dark hot room at a myriad of faces. As my eyes adjusted to the room we were seated on a dirt stage in front of 125 people who had come to worship. The children’s choir sang with a purity of voice that I have not heard before and after a amazing message by Vince Giordano the members of the church came forward for prayer.

I have prayed for people many times and this was in no way a new thing for me, or at least I thought. I began to touch the shoulders and heads of children and widows and my tears began to flow. As they came forward I used the only Ateso word I knew, “yoga” which means “greetings”. I have never before prayed for so many people, or people in such dire circumstances. But it was the language barrier that most profoundly impacted me. As they pressed forward many times there were visible illnesses and injuries that needed prayer but most often it was just a person with their own private burdens and fears that they could not communicate to me. As I prayed, the impressions that God would put in my mind were completely foreign to me. I interceded on their behalf and after 45 minutes of constant prayers for over 35 different people, I was spent. My legs felt like jell-o and my heart was broken. I stepped back from the front of the stage.

It was then that Pastor Sam, the pastor of this congregation of hurting people pulled me aside. He directed me to a woman who appeared to be in her 60’s. I now know that is unlikely that she is that old; it is the wear of a very difficult life that prematurely aged her. As Pastor Sam translated for us, she began to tell the story of her two sons that cannot attend school because of lack of funds and her third son who has died. Her sons have gone four days without food and due to the drought it is unlikely that there will be much of a harvest. Without access to education her fear is that the boys will have no future to speak of. Her son that had died had been captured by the LRA and forced to be a boy solider. In the LRA, the children that cannot keep up as they trek through the bush are killed. The leaders don’t kill them, they have the stronger boy soldiers do it. This causes fear in the remaining boys and continues the dehumanization of the new murderers. I wish that it was a single bullet to the head, but sadly the leaders do not want to “waste” a bullet on them so they are latterly hacked apart by the other children. This is the type of inhumanity that has so often left me looking for God, lost and confused.

After years of forced soldiering on behalf of the LRA, her son received the same brutal death that he had likely inflicted on others. As her story ends, she looks at me with expectant eyes and says “will you pray for me?” I think they call this an “OH GOD moment”. How can I bring anything to this woman that can be of any help? I do not have the $1800 it will take to give her sons the future her other son was deprived of, and what possibly can I say to her that can be of any meaningful comfort. In that moment, God must show up because only He can intervene into her pain. We prayed. Pastor Sam translated. Our shared tears needed no translation though. I do not know if she experienced the presence of God in the same rich and satisfying way that I did, but I will have to trust him.

I am glad to tell you that the day also had a few stunning moments of hope. After we left Kapelabyong we visited the home of Joseph Eloto. Joseph works for Chidren’s HopeChest and is the on-the-ground contact to the communities that we have been visiting. Joseph has a large family and many extended family members who live with him. After a wonderful meal cooked by Anne, Joseph’s wife, we met John. John is Ann’s nephew. 4 years ago he had been captured by the LRA. He spent just under 2 years with the LRA before he escaped. Eventually he ended up living with Joseph in an amazing family and is currently getting an education in mechanical engineering.

One of the people on our team asked John “Do you know Jesus?” His initial reply was short, “yes indeed”. He later said that it is only the power of Jesus that can help people who have suffered and caused suffering like he has. As I sat in the room with this boy of 19 who is likely a mass murder, I was acutely aware of God’s redeeming power. With that hope in my heart, I think again of the woman who desperately wanted prayer. The power of a God who created the sky and took time to know my name is not to be doubted or trifled with.
Posted by Amy at 2:00 AM

Electronics?????

Greg and the team leave for Uganda in just 19 days!!!!

There are a few things that are needed in the field and I thought I'd ask you guys if you had them or knew a way to get them. . .every item we get donated means that much more $ that can be spent on kiddos! (you'll get a tax deduction too, of course :-)

We are looking for a laptop (or 2-3) for our sponsorship coordinators on the ground. This should be a new or fairly new/great condition computer.

We are looking for a scanner so they can scan and send letters from kiddos (and other important document. . .as if there were more important documents than letters from kids to their sponsors!)

2-3 Digital Cameras. I put this on FB and had some interest but haven't heard back. This will enable the sponsorship coordinator to take nice quality pictures of the kids and will enable us to get update pictures too!!!

If you or someone you know has these items and would like to be a part of what God is doing in Uganda, let me know! You can email me at Brandi @ Kidslake .Org (remove spaces) I'm sure HopeChest could use these items for the other countries too. actually. . so let's spread the word!

I just can't stop thinking about them. . . .

There are 680 children on my heart currently. I know. . .seems a little much, huh?! Want to know a little about them? They fall into 3 groups of children.

The kids of Bukedea Town Council: this was a potential carepoint site we visited on my last day. The girls and I refer to it as "the Crying Day". Seriously, these children ripped our hearts out. This is the day we ran out of food. This is the day we heard the stories of the Child Headed Households. This is the day we visited Pauline's run down home. This is the day we gave away mosquito nets to children clearly struggling with AIDS. This the day we had to choose. . .would they get underwear or toothbrushes. I wrote a post titled "It could have been him" that day, which has since made my parents weep every time they read it. . .yeah, I wept that day. .a lot.

The kids of Adecar in Katakwi. This was a day where the malnourishment was evident in every one of their faces. This was the day we heard the horror stories of what had happened to their villages. This was the village we sent Joseph back to with food and he got mobbed. This was a place full of intense beauty and immense pain. This place had the little girl who has stolen my heart. . .I use her picture for everything. This place had "the crying girl" who God has used to move people's hearts to give.

This one will surprise you. . but the next group of children are waiting in a mountain carepoint in Swaziland. I've never seen them. I haven't held their little hands. I've not seen the beauty of their surroundings or looked into their eyes and seen the depths of their pain. But, I've heard their stories. Tom and Vince (HopeChest guys and my friends) talk often of their time in this special place. I think reading "Scared" has moved me for Swaziland in a way I didn't think possible.
All 3 of the groups of children share 2 things. . .they are waiting for sponsors and they are hungry. like really hungry. starving to death actually. Wait, they share one more thing. . .they are never far from my thoughts. . .or God's!

HopeChest is getting ready to launch some online community sponsorships with RLC, like we did with Ethiopia! There is still a church considering Adecar, so pray for direction for them. . if they are supposed to take on this carepoint or be a part of a larger, internet community to take them on. Either way, if we could even get half of these kids sponsored, we could begin feeding them! Feeding these hungry kids!!!!! Then, we can grow those online communities of sponsorship over the next year to get all of them sponsored.

So, here's what I'm looking for. . .advocates! I'm looking for people who want to approach their peeps about taking a group of these kids. This may be your church, maybe it's smaller and can't take on a whole carepoint or orphanage but COULD take on 20-50 kids! Maybe it's your extended family. . .I talked to my Aunt Shannon last night and we are pitching it to our extended families to try and get a group of 50 kids sponsored. . .maybe it's your homeschool group or your neighborhood or your co-workers. . .any way you look at it. . .if you want to be involved. If you want to ADVOCATE for these precious orphans, will you let me know?

We are going to open this up to individuals fairly soon (still setting it all up. . it'll be a month or 2) for sponsorship, but right now I'm looking for 5-10 people who want to "sign up" for a specific group of kiddos from any of these carepoints. Then, you can take this next month to gather together YOUR group of sponsors so we are ready to go when we launch!

If you want to be part of this, just leave a comment and tell me how many kids you want and which carepoint has grabbed your heart! Or email me for more details brandi @ kidslake .org (remove spaces) We'll even have an online group for everyone who sponsors kids in that carepoint!

Crying while cutting coupons

My friend, Vince, from HopeChest sent me a link to this blogpost. This is from a pastor who ministers in Swaziland. He works with a HopeChest Carepoint on the ground there that serves some of the orphans in that area.

At the time I began reading it, I was on my way to print coupons and go to the grocery store. I was in a mood b/c I didn't want to take the hour necessary to print and sort coupons just to save money so I could give more. . . .I didn't want to go grocery shopping, in the rain, with a headache. . .I thought "maybe I should just drive through somewhere?" Then, I read this. I was weeping. I've shared the stories of hunger. . .I've written them. . I've prayed for them. . . it still hurts. . deeply.

"The Nsoko community once again is facing a challenge within a challenge. Most
people in this area depend on Government food grants to survive. What I do not
understand is why it takes so long for Goverment to replenish the food supply to
these people?

Yesterday I was sitting in my house doing administrative
work when I heard a timid knock at the door. At first I thought it was my puppy
now becoming big dog Max. I heard the gentle but desperate knock on the
accompanied by murmuring sounds. I reluctantly stood up and went to check this
unusual knock out. Guess what I found out there? God. Yes, I saw God. But this
time it is not as I expected to see God. He was represented by this old lady.
This lady was so frail and skiny you could have thought she was dead. I
enquired, "how can I help you gogo". She shyly gave a response, "I am hungry my
son, help I am dying." I immediately thought of what we had at the kitchen. I
wish Isabel was writing this blog as a third person because it is difficult to
say this. We had no food too except some bread that I was serving for my
daughter when she comes from school.

The Spirit within me said I you
going to spare food for your daughter and not give God right at your door. Joy
came upon my spirit right then and I went to the kitchen and began to make juice
and took all the slices of bread put it on a tray and went to give the old lady
outside. Her eyes immediatetly brightened at the sight of food. I watched her
eat as if she had not eaten in days. When she was done I cannot remember how
many times she said "God bless you my son", "Thank you so much" with that
shaking timid voice. I watched her as she stoop up to leave her body telling a
story of shame as she moved. As she disappeared she left me with a picture of a
miserable face that does not remember any joy. Here is someone that has lived a
life of shame most of her life.

She is just one out of so many. Scott
Borg has been to Nsoko this month with an Adult Team that happened to have
teenagers too. On Tuesday and Thursday we visited homes for ministry. This team
had bought basic food parcels to give out to the homes we visited. I went with a
team to a home that I know is a youth headed family. Father and mother are dead
only the children survive them. The World Racers would remember Mfan'thini. This
is his family. They have absolutely no means. This young girl, hard as it is to
admit, has to sometimes prostitute herself to feed the to young sisters, younger
brother and her own small child. On the secong visit we went to this gogo's
home.She is trying her best to raise her grandchildren that were left behind by
her dead children. The only surviving daughter destroyed her house and left
never to come back.

I must say, the people of Nsoko are still full of
hope. They hope in life, they hope in hope, and above all they have hope in
God.How people survive hear sometimes I do not know. But the fact is they do
survive. They hope against hope. As I write in my car there is an envelope full
if HIV results. The Luke Commission worker tells me that almost all of the
people who got tested, they tested positive. She mentioned a special case of a
fifteen year old who is in a critical position because her CD4 count is very
low. HIV and poverty somehow do assist one another. They are cousins. These
people are poor and they are also the most infected. In Swaziland the infection
rate is at 42%. Nsoko has a 49% infection rate. People are dying and in numbers.
Businesses are being affected.

The other day I was called upon to rescue
a young man of about 22 years. He was from hospital to collect his ARV's. He had
just enough money for transport and nothing for food. He fell next to the gate
because he could not walk any longer. We have hope though. We hope against hope.
The Real Life team is rounding up its ministry in Nsoko. Having these vibrant
young people minister to their counterparts does give a ray of hope. It makes me
think: God does care about Nsoko.

Do you? "

Please pray for the people of Swaziland who are hungry. . and for the 2
million on the brink of starvation in Uganda who haven't had rain since
May. Oh Jesus. . send your rain Oh Lord! In so many ways, shapes and
forms. . send your rain.

What counts as news today?

Seriously? One of the lead stories on the NBC TODAY SHOW this morning was about a group of children selling items by the pool and getting robbed of their $147 by a local cheerleader. Don't get me wrong, I'm very sorry these children got robbed. HOWEVER, I have 2 issues with this being a lead story. 1. They plastered this 17-year old cheerleaders face and name all over national media. Come on, people. She made a mistake. She doesn't have a record. She was stupid and did something wrong and is sorry. Now, because NBC thought it would make a cute story she will be ruined.

2. seriously? This is the NEWS? I just read this morning on AllAfrica.com (you can sign up to get email updates when stories are written about specific topics or countries) that another 15,000 sit on the brink of starvation. That brings the number to 100,000+ in just a few districts. Literally, over ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND people are on the brink of starving to death and NBC has to talk about a cheer leaders poor mistake and oh yeah. . .gotta throw a couple more Michael Jackson stories in there.

Why oh Why?!? ARGH!

Please continue to pray for Uganda's food situation: We were able to help some. . .but there are many left hungry. Thankfully, the Ugandan gov't as well as a few aid organizations are responding. . .but the situation is dire. My eyes continue to water as I consider these people who God has laid so heavily on my heart and the situation many find themselves in today. This was said about the Katakwi District in which HopeChest hopes to have several carepoints (let us know if YOUR church wants to be a part of long term, sustainable ministry to these precious ones of God):

"Ekongot (Katakwi chairperson) said the people had planted food, but the weather conditions like floods and prolonged drought let them down. "It is not that our people are lazy. People had planted food, but because of the unpredictable weather patterns, people lost all the crops in their gardens," he said.

Ekongot said hunger had affected education in the district as many schools were registering high drop-out rates because school children cannot concentrate on empty stomachs. "About 80% of our children now do not go to school because some of them have not eaten in the last four days," said Ekongot."

Let that move us to our knees.

How Feed Fed Me - Part 2

I thought I'd take a moment to share these 2 precious stories with you. I LOVE how God used "Feed the Forgotten" to absolutely change us. . I still have more writing to do on how He used it in my life. I feel like I've been drinking from a firehose lately with the Lord teaching me SO much!

The first story is from Amy Cook. I ADORE her. She is an amazing single mom to 4 kids who just came to know the Lord a few years ago. She follows so passionately and beautifully that I encourage you to read her blog. You will be challenged and encouraged by her. Besides what she wrote in this email, she donates parts of her earnings to the orphanage that our church sponsors, Rapha. No, she doesn't make a ton of money and can just toss some to those who need it. Actually, she is a single mom scraping by as a waitress at our local IHOP. However,

she believes PASSIONATELY that God has called us to minister to the orphan and widow and she lives it out. She has convinced the other waitresses to take one day a month and donate all their tips! In the months where the waitstaff isn't interested, Amy offers to do their grunt work for donations. It makes me cry just writing it. THIS is what it's all about. Thank you Amy for challenging me to live wholly and deeply

committed to our Jesus!

From Amy:

"I read my kids your first blog to kick off feed the forgotten. Aj really took it to heart. He got so excited. So we made a collection cup and started putting money in it. We made tally marks as we went....and we took advantage of the matching funds and the one girl who donated ten dollars if you donated ten dollars. We gathered $27, but added up it fed 400 meals. WOW! How easy was that? ...well, it was easy...thats the problem. We just basically used our spare change for the past two weeks. I think AJ learned that we can make a difference. But I imagine...what if I really sacrificed. I mean really sacrificed....what if a lot of people did? What if....we really shared what we had? What if..... we really believed that thats our family and friends dying of starvation? What if...? Amy

The next email is from my sweet friend, Cindy. I LOVE how God used "Feed" to not only feed others but show HIMSELF to Cindy!

From Cindy:

"I have been so touched by your Feed the Forgotten posts! My husband was laid off a few weeks ago, and our budget has been so tight, I’ve had to put a hold on some of our extra giving. It has been so hard to do! Today, as I sat here catching up on your blog, I realized there IS money to give!! I don’t know if you are familiar with ebates.com, but it is one of those site where if you shop through them, you earn a percentage of your purchase back as cash. At the end of the quarter, you receive either a check for the cash, or you can have them place the money in your "Fast cash" account, which is basically an online Visa gift card. I checked my balance and had $11.31 available. It seems like such a small amount, but then I thought, no..it will be matched to $22.62, and when you do the math, $22.62 divided by $0.14 per meal equals 161 people fed! THAT SO ROCKS!! :o) I love it! Yay for "found" money! "

God is SO good! I love how He's changing us in this process! If you have a "How Feed Fed Me" story, I'd love to hear it!

Update Video after sponsorship

This video is AWESOME!!! It's a church in Canada visiting their carepoint in Swaziland! Guys, this is the type of ministry YOUR CHURCH could have in Uganda (or Ethiopia, Swaziland or Russia). You guys could be the ones praying over children, planting gardens that will feed families and being changed in the process!

Please take the 2 minutes to watch. . you'll be inspired. Let it move you to PRAYER and to action! Maybe approach your church about being involved!!! Check out the post below this one for details on the Vision Trip!

Swaziland Update 2009 from Jesse Snipes on Vimeo.

Ugandan Paper Bead Necklaces . . .only a few left!

NOTE: I have updated the available necklaces.. have sold 13 today so far!

I haven't posted about our gorgeous paper bead necklaces handmade in Uganda in a while. . .you may have thought "she probably just got over that little idea" yeah, well, no I didn't! In fact, we've raised over $3,000 through these babies for HopeChest!

People LOVE them! Often, I end up selling the one I'm wearing that day right off my neck. . in fact, I've been known to sell them off friends' necks too (thanks Jess!).

Amy and Sarah took some home from NC and they have sold over 70! I only have 32 left. I'm still hoping that someone coming home from Uganda next week will be able to bring me back a whole slew of them (yes, I used the word slew).

Want to help me finish off these last few? I get excited EVERY TIME someone emails me with an order! I think I have a problem. . .I'm obsessed, obsessed with excitement when I watch God provide creatively for His people.

One more side note before pics of these great necklaces. . .I have been praying for months about the Uganda Launch Fund (the start up costs associated with HopeChest beginning a new program in Uganda. . .computers, office equipment, etc). The other day, I did a little inventory and realized that HE had provided $3,000 just in necklaces! There was over $3,000 of other donations we'd collected too! That's SO not how I had been praying for Him to provide. Isn't He creative??? I just LOVE it. . and HIM!

We have 15 more Long Multi's Left @ $10 each (shipping listed on the side based on # purchased)

2 long black / grey (these are adorable on) $10 each (GONE)



We have these ADORABLE short ones too: (You can pick your specific necklace by leaving me a comment or putting it in your comments section when you pay via paypal. I'll email you if it's already gone). . .you might need to click on the photo to enlarge it and get the great colors that are available! $10 each (torq. one on the left, green at the bottom, one red and the black are gone)

We also have this special crew. . .since they are special they will be going for $25 though (remember all money goes to HopeChest!)

Both Triple Strand Blues are gone. . so I removed their picture to not make anyone so sad that they didn't get it in time =)

Triple Strand Neutral. This brown triple strand could probably go with ANYTHING! Gotta love versatility when looking for jewelry=)
Isnt' this one cool? The green and red double strand thick is fun and unique!

Just leave me a comment or email me and I'll let you know if that one's available and then you can PayPal it! Happy SHOPPING THAT MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!

How "Feed" Fed Me ~ part 1

I learned so much from our "Feed the Forgotten" campaign over the last 2 weeks. I know others did too. . .I'm still working on my post, but sweet Amy is ahead of the game and started it off with a bang. I wanted to share her heart here

"How Feed the Forgotten Fed My Soul" by Amy Savage

"Many of you may know that in early June Children's Hope Chest held a campaign to raise money to feed people in a district of Uganda where they were literally eating termites and cow dung they were so hungry. The end result was that $20,000 was raised thanks to so many of you who participated and gave generously and sacrificially. At $.14 a meal that's a lot of people who are receiving much needed nourishment! Thank you to everyone who prayed and donated.

For me, this ended up being more than just a campaign to raise money to do something good and help people who needed it. I realized something huge - at least to me it was huge.

I learned the difference between giving out of my abundance and giving sacrificially. I don't think anyone would argue that when we give financially it feels good. I actually think it feels great! But what I realized during "Feed the Forgotten" was that I generally always give out of my abundance. Don't get me wrong - there's nothing wrong with giving out of our abundance! But when I give out of my abundance I generally don't miss out on anything that I have come to rely or count on in my lifestyle. I still have money to buy that something I've been eyeing for a while and I still eat out when I like etc. Realizing that $.14 could feed a person who is literally dying of starvation changed my perspective on things. I began to imagine what it would look like for me to really start sacrificing things in my own life so that others could literally LIVE. It was great that my $10 could provide 71 meals. I could have settled for that and felt really good. But $10 wasn't a sacrifice for me (for some people it is!). I felt compelled to give until I noticed that I was missing something - until it became hard.

So, I thought about trying the idea of swapping something and giving the money I would have spent to "Feed The Forgotten". I went to get my hair cut and instead of getting highlights like usual, I didn't. Um, yeah...I'm embarrassed to admit that the money I saved on my highlights fed 285 people a meal. I'm reminded every morning I do my hair and see my roots growing out that there's absolutely no reason I can't forgo highlights for the rest of my life if it means someone else gets to eat and not suffer. The money we saved on a babysitter fed 214 people meals. The money we saved by not going out to eat for dinner ONCE fed 321 people meals. That just floors me!! Hmm...wonder what might happen if I give up going out to eat more often? I don't say this in a "look what i did" sort of way - I say it in a "Oh my goodness why am I not doing this every month" sort of way.

Had I simply given out of my abundance and not given sacrificially I would have missed out on the reminder that I can make a difference by simply giving up something (in my case they were all small things - nothing huge). I am amazed by how much difference so little can make in someone's life. Honestly, I was already processing through how I spend money, why i spend money etc., but this period of two weeks helped confirm for me what I feel to be true - when I give sacrificially it not only does something good for someone else, but it feeds my soul. It connects me more fully to the God who sacrificed His own Son for me. There is truly a joy that flows out of putting other people's needs before my own. It's the same joy that my little six year old daughter felt when she emptied her piggy bank of her own accord to buy mosquito nets for kids in Africa (her ridiculous mom tried to get her to just keep a little of it for herself rather than giving it all away. When will I learn??). It's the same joy that Jesus must have had when He served "the least of these". Scripture says that for the JOY set before Him, He endured the cross - the ultimate sacrifice.

All I know is that if my heart is broken by the thought of these precious Ugandan children so hungry they don't even have energy to cry, how much more must God's heart be broken. What I saw over the two weeks we did "Feed The Forgotten" was that there are people who are in touch with this part of God's heart. There are people who are willing to give. There are people who are not ignoring the cries of the hungry. There are people SACRIFICING in very real ways so that their brothers and sisters can have something to eat. I am so encouraged. I am changed. And I am so thankful that God chooses to use us, His children to accomplish His purposes in this world. I am looking forward to seeing what God has in store for those of us who will press into giving more like our Savior - completely, with abandon and with great joy.

If you helped "Feed The Forgotten" I would love to hear how it impacted you. Please comment!"

War Dance

We just finished this amazing movie. (you can buy it here to keep, or we watched in on google video here)

It's about the children of N. Uganda who have suffered much under the rebel attacks of the LRA. The movie follows 4 children, telling their stories of how they came to live in this IDP (internally displaced people) Camp. It centers around their school's goal of competing in a nation wide song/dance competition.

Yes, it will make you weep (some of the rawest footage I've ever seen), but it will also make you laugh and want to shake your booty too! Greg and I have already decided that we want to go to that competition one day! =)

Please take the time to watch this. It is hard at times, but also hopeful. It will help you understand how to pray more effectively for people who have suffered much. I'd love to hear your comments after you watch it as well.

Our First Party!

My sister Brittani is AWESOME!!!! As many of you know, my MIL (mother-in-law) has a website called Aprons For Africa where she makes adorable aprons and sells them to raise money for Uganda. Well, my brilliant sister decided we should do a party! She invited everyone she knew and threw the best "show" I've ever been to (and let me tell you, I've been to all the candle/tupperware/pamperedchef, etc parties you can imagine!). Britt did a great job at making it VERY low pressure and also fun. . .even including a game that ended up spelling out HOPE, then introducing me to speak about HopeChest! She also had all of Ria's pictures playing in the background. It was very sweet.

Her girlfriends were all very sweet and excited about the opportunity to get involved like this. In fact, we already booked our next party! We were able to sell the aprons (for Feed the Forgotten) and the necklaces too (for the HopeChest Uganda launch fund)!!!
Here's what Brittani had to say. . . .

"OK, ladies... That was one successful Aprons for Africa Party!!! Thank you so much for taking the time to DO SOMETHING for these precious little kids in Uganda!

The Totals...

We raised $501 in Apron Sales

for the Orphan Care Ministry!

(That will serve a meal to 3,578 kids! Awesome!!!)

We also sold $525 worth of Necklaces

to raise Staff Support for Children's Hope Chest!

Last, but not least, we Collected 106 Pairs of Underwear & 896 Pencils!

WOW!!! You girls are amazing!

Praise God for doing amazing things through all of us ordinary people! I am so excited about the success of this first party. Let me know if any of you would like me to host a party at your house. For now, you can enjoy the pics of our very first Apron Party :)

Abbie & Kari... trying on necklaces

Jan... showing some fabric to Sheli

Kristy & her daughter... enjoying their Door Prize!

Again, I can't say enough how thankful I am for everyone who participated! You girls have such sweet hearts for God and all that He is doing... both HERE and in AFRICA. I love you all and am so very proud to call you my friends. To those of you who couldn't make it... I will see you at the next party :) "

Thanks again, Britt! You are such an encouragement to me!!!! Your friends rock too! If you live locally, consider hosting a party! In fact, I am working out the details with some friends in OHIO who may even host a party (with me sending samples and them buying fabric their friends will like!). It's SO cool to me to see people rise up and use the gifts God has given them (Britt and her amazing ability to host others. . and Jan and her awesome apron making skills =) for the kingdom!

Clap Your Hands, All Ye People! THE GOAL IS MET!!!!!

Psalm 47:1-2
" ¹ Come, everyone! Clap your hands!
Shout to God with joyful praise!
² For the Lord Most High is awesome.
He is the great King of all the earth."

Seriously, CLAP, SHOUT, JUMP, DANCE. . .. .I could keep going. You probably guessed it, but

WE MET THE GOAL!!!! Total as of this morning: $20,120.48 YEAH BABY!
Note: don't worry, we'll keep it up for the next 3 days if you still have money you've collected and still haven't gone online to donate. Just remember to note "Feed the Forgotten" in the notes

My heart is overwhelmed with gladness for our God. HE is actively meeting the needs and answering the prayers of precious Ugandan mamas through US! I can't believe that He'd choose to use me in their journey. His call to their hearts to say, "I know you and love you". . . He's letting me be a part of HIS wooing!! Are you standing in awe?

It's 7700 people who will eat. It's 558 hiv+ kiddos who will now be able to take ARV's because their bellies will be full (for 3 months!). It's people a world away hearing HIS voice in part because people HERE (and abroad, thanks friends from England!) heard HIS call to "feed the forgotten". . . .and you know what? We were changed in the process, weren't we?

Personally this has been a great time of intimacy with the Father. I can't wait to write more about what I've learned. In fact, I've gotten SUCH encouraging emails that I will probably KEEP writing about Feed the Forgotten next week in a series about how WE'VE been fed in the process. Will you email me your stories? What did you learn through this? How did you see your kids grow? It doesn't have to be long, but send me your stories!! brandi @ kidslake .org (erase spaces)

I can't believe it. . . .over 20k in less than 2 weeks. You guys rock! Let me just tell you. . .I typically have about 150 people read my blog so this certainly didn't happen because I wrote about it. It happened because God's People all across the world posted about it on their blogs, changed their FB status updates (continually!), twittered every time they thought of it (every few minutes for some sweet friends) and even emailed out to their friends and family. Wait, and that doesn't even count everyone who put the blog badge up (I can't figure out how to know who did that but I know a LOT of you did!)

Here is just a short list of people who BLOGGED about it over the past 2 weeks! 43 people! heck yeah! Would you visit them and say a BIG thank you? Add them to your google list too! (this is in no particular order, but the order in which google picked up posts!)

Anne Poulsen
Ria (who's photos made all the difference!)
Amy Savage
Amanda T
Jena Penner
Sarah Smoker
Andrea
Zabs
Darbi
Tom Davis
Matt Monberg
Bob Mudd
Melinda
Amber G
Erica S
Michelle Riggs
Matt
http://seekersjourney.com
Angel
Amy B
Missy
Wendy
Jody L
Cheryl
Jody V
KidsAgainstHunger
Kami
Jason and Shawnda
Melissa
Katie B
Maria
Emily
Morgan
Cassie
Jessica
Steffany
Abby
Erin
Taylor
MoziEsme
Debbie
Jeanette
Amy C
Deb

PS Yes, I LOVE that little girl, so I used all pictures of her! Guess what? SHE will get FOOD because you gave!!!!! Thank you!

New Update

We only have $972.17 to reach our goal!!!!!! This would bring us to $17,500 and would release our remaining $2,500 of matching funds which would bring our grand total to $20,000!!!!!

Come on you guys, we can see the finish line! We have churches lining up to sponsor these sweet, hungry villages. . .we have over 300 HIV+ kids waiting for food when they come for ARV's. . . .ARV's that they CAN"T GET without proper nutrition!!!

Will you be a part of the plan? GOD"S PLAN to rescue HIS people! We GET to be His hands and Feet. . .we get to FEED THE HUNGRY! How great is HE?

Give HERE and don't forget to write "feed the forgotten" in the notes section when you give!

A blogger challenge

Just came across this Sweet blog. . .She has challenged her readers to donate to Feed the Forgotten and she will donate $10 for every person who donates! What a great challenge and a fun way to encourage your friends / readers to give. . .

I'm just sayin' . . it's a great idea. . .you might want to give it a try!

AIDS HOSPICE NEEDS FOOD

$15,458 raised so far! ($345 toward our $2500 matching)
that's 110,414 meals or 5,521 people fed for 20 days!

Bob Mudd (the amazing COO or HopeChest) just got word from Joseph, our country director that he has an AIDS hospice that needs food for the kids. He said, "my heart is just so broken for them, can we please direct some funds there?"

I say HECK YEAH BABY! What do you say? Remember, we are matched dollar for dollar right now so your $5 becomes $10!

CLICK HERE TO GIVE (remember to write Feed the Forgotten in your notes)

Double It, Baby!

Our total for Feed the Forgotten as of this morning is $15,113.83!!!!!!

Yep, that's 107,956 meals!
YOU have provided over ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND meals!
Can you believe it?
It will provide for 5,398 people food for 20 meals!
This will literally be saving lives!! PRECIOUS lives!

Don't leave yet. . .it just keeps getting better. . .

We have received $2,500 in matching money. That means your next donation is automatically doubled! If we can get $2,500 in donations, we will get to double it with the matching money and bring our total to over $20,000!

Wait, this has MAJOR implications. . .remember our "details, details, details" post? In it, I told you about 3 villages we were hoping to feed with donations. Well, they are provided for with the money we have raised so far! As of this weekend, we are hoping to feed 3 more villages!!!!!! I'll get more details on the villages soon, but I will tell you this. . Joseph, our country director, was THRILLED with the opportunity to provide for 3 more villages and said that these sites are in desperate need and if we raise the rest, we can FEED THEM!

Yep, it's not over yet! We still need that remaining $2,500 (which will turn into $5,000 with those matching funds!) to help these 3 hungry villages. Will you help? I know you may be thinking, "I've already posted about this. I've already given some. Doesn't everyone already know?" The truth is that each person who writes a post about this, or puts this info in their facebook reaches a WHOLE NEW sphere of influence. If you don't have a blog, consider sharing in your small group this week and taking a collection or just continuing the "Swap It" challenge to see if your family can save money this week to make a difference! Only a couple of days left. Keep spreading the word that WE GET TO BE A PART OF GOD'S WORK IN UGANDA! This isn't a desperate plea for cash, though the need certainly is great. This is an opportunity to get involved in the work of the Almighty God and be changed in the process!

GIVE TO FEED THE FORGOTTEN CHILDREN!!!!!

(note: please write FEED THE FORGOTTEN in the notes section when you give)

To GET the blog badge, copy and paste this code into your post (remember to switch to the "edit html" mode in your post), or add as a "widget" on your blog. Spread the word!
<a href="http://www.brandisthoughts.com/2009/05/feed-forgotten.html" mce_href="http://www.brandisthoughts.com/2009/05/feed-forgotten.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://tomdavis.typepad.com/feedtheforgottenweb.jpg" width="160" title="Feed the Forgotten" /></a><br /><br />

This, I never knew

You've heard about Sodom and Gomorrah, those evil cities that God consumed with fire? I knew they were sinful and God couldn't find righteous people there. . . .I just didn't think we'd find ourselves there.

Ezekial 16:49, "Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy."

Ouch. Give to feed the starving. . "to help the poor and needy" and PRAY for God to change our hearts that we not be "arrogant, overfed and unconcerned". (make sure you note: feed the forgotten in the notes section when you give)

Swap It

Our Feed the Forgotten project passed the $8,000 mark around lunchtime yesterday--57,000 meals for starving Ugandan widows and orphans. Thank you! As we head into the weekend, I wanted to share a special challenge from one of my new friends, Amy Savage. Will you take the challenge? Leave a comment--What are you swapping this weekend to feed kids? Spread the word and thank you! (To spread the word more easily via FB and Twitter, we've made a "tiny url" that links directly to Amy's blogpost www.tinyurl.com/UGswap. . let's spread this like wildfire this morning!)

SWAP IT THIS WEEKEND TO FEED THE FORGOTTEN
Ok everyone...it's the weekend! We all know what that means - time for some fun, right? May I ask you to consider doing things a little bit differently this weekend? As you enjoy time with your friends and family please remember t hat there is an urgent food crisis in Uganda right now and that you can DO something about it this weekend!

This is not meant to be a guilt trip of any kind but an opportunity for us to creatively find ways to give food to these families who are hungry and weak as we begin our weekend full of energy and well-fed. Thanks to Children's Hope Chest we can all take part in bringing meals to people who desperately need them - what a great way to spend a weekend! We get to Feed The Forgotten.

I know...there may be many of you out there like me who have already given financially to this and other projects and are feeling like there might not be much left to give. But since we can provide a meal for only $.14 for someone in Uganda I suggest we swap something we have planned for this weekend in order to feed these precious, hungry people. Are you in? Here are some ideas:

Who has plans to go out for lunch or dinner this weekend? Would you consider swapping your meal to Feed The Forgotten? Get this: The $30 dinner that you swap can provide 214 meals for Ugandans! (When you swap your meal please remember to note "Feed The Forgotten" in the notes section.)

Who is planning on shopping for new summer clothes this weekend? Would you consider swapping one of your items to put food in the bellies of hungry people? Giving up that $25 shirt will provide 179 meals for people in Uganda!

Whose children are anxious to do their first lemonade stand of the year? How about talking to your kids about swapping their profits from the lemonade they sell to Feed The Forgotten? One $.75 lemonade can feed 5 children a meal. What a great way to show your children that they CAN do something too!!

Who is planning on paying a babysitter so you can go out this weekend? How about swapping babysitting services with a friend so that you both can donate the money you saved to Feed The Forgotten? A $40 savings in babysitting can provide 285 meals for Ugandans!!

Who is looking forward to that Saturday morning coffee at the coffee shop? How about swapping your $4.00 coffee drink for 29 meals for hungry people? It doesn't take much!

Who has plans to catch a movie this weekend? How about swapping one movie ticket (about $9.50) for 68 meals?? Hard to believe that sacrificing one movie can give so many people food!

Who is planning a trip to the local ice cream shop? How about swapping your $10 ice cream visit to fill up 71 people with a meal?

We CAN do something and we can do it together this weekend! As you give (being sure to identify "Feed the Forgotten" in the notes section) please pray for these people who are suffering and have such tangible needs. It's humbling that God chooses to use US to be His hands and feet. These people will NOT be forgotten this weekend!!

Pray. . .my neighbor is in danger

**updated Feed the Forgotten total: as of 11 am Thursday $8,024!!!!!!! that's 410 families of 7 fed for 20 days!!! Do the math. . God is using you to change the world. . keep going!

This sweet family had their entire business wiped out. Completely. In fact, it was so bad that they are going to have to work REALLY hard to have any money anytime soon. Unfortunately though, it's manual labor.

I say unfortunately because manual labor requires a lot of a person. And, like I said they have no money. Actually it's worse than that. They have no food. This means that manual labor is a bit difficult. Have you tried to do hard manual labor after not eating for 5 days? Did I mention that your neighbors have 5 kids? AND, they are taking care of another 5 b/c these kids parents recently passed away.

They haven't eaten in a week. There is no food in the house, there is none to be had. . .certainly the stores have them, but they don't have any money. There are no aid organizations providing food right now. And. . if they don't eat soon, they'll never be able to work and provide for themselves.

Picture it. Your next door neighbors living inside their home and dying. Going out into the backyard and eating your dog's poo. Grabbing leaves off the front bushes and telling the kids it's lunch.

Would you do something? God's word says, "Love the Lord you God with all you heart, soul, strength and mind and the second is like it, "love your neighbor as yourself."

I don't think any of us question whether or not Jesus was serious when he brought this up. However, do we question "who is my neighbor?" and "what does that love look like?"

I don't know if this is helpful at all but as I was praying today, I kept imagining what would I do if my actual next door neighbors were dying of starvation. What lengths would I go to? How long would I plead their case with others? How would I feel? Would my heart LONG to help them?

The people of Uganda ARE our neighbors. This isn't some "kids eat your veggies. . there are starving kids in Africa" conversation that is all in theory. These are actual starving kids in Africa. And, unlike when your mom used to tell you that and you would think "fine, send them my food!" this time you actually can. We have a country director in Uganda just waiting for funds to be sent. This means you can actually send your food. . in the form of money. You can use coupons, save $10 and donate that. You can choose to serve your family rice and water like Steffany did (please read her story!) and send the money. You can have a lemonade stand like Amber and the kiddos and raise the money. You can intentionally make daily decisions that might free up money to feed your neighbors like Jody is doing.

What would you do if your neighbors were starving to death in their own home. . .and you COULD act? Would you?

*NOTE: remember to write "feed the forgotten" in the notes section of your gift!