Africa is often known as the "dark continent." Not because of the color of the people, but because of the problems they face. I can only speak for Uganda, however, as I am not familiar with the other countries.
When I think of the word "Dark," I think of night, I think of evil, I think of the Devil, I think of all wrongdoing. Everyone has their own ideas of the what dark is. At night there are many things that go on that do not go on in the day, things that are just evil.
Witchcraft is a real problem all over the world, but particularly in Uganda and Africa. Evil things are done. I have really come to hate what the witchdoctors do. Most of them have AIDS, as they often take sex as payment for what they do. Performing evil deeds, that is what they do, in the name of Satan. I do not fear them, as I know God is with me and protects me. I often go to their homes to share the gospel and pray for them. I have seen a few of them give their lives to Christ, and it is not easy for them, as the demons always come back to taunt them and ridicule them.
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I like to think that the ministry is a light in all this darkness. Serving the children and people of the community of Kamonkoli to the glory of God. Raising up the children to be healthy, strong Christian adults that make a difference for their community and country to the glory of God. This is why we started a primary school. We call it Genesis Nursery/Primary School, because it is their beginning and the foundation in their lives. I know that the children get a lot of influence from their homes as they sleep there, etc., but to really influence them you need more than just AWANA Club and Sunday School. More than youth Bible studies that come later in their lives. In school they spend a lot of time - five days a week - eight hours a day. This is where they can be influenced. The Muslims have been doing this for a long time, why not the Christians. We have a curriculum that puts God in everything and builds a strong foundation in Christ from the time they are little.
The children in my home have devotions every night, short, but keeps them in the word at least once in a day and time to pray together before having dinner. I have watched most of my children grow into the kind of adults that make one very happy and give God glory. My daughter, Mary Nanyonga, recently finished her last year of high school and did very well. We are praying that she will get a scholarship to Makerere University, which would allow us to use her sponsorship for her boarding and feeding, and other needs (books, etc.). I ask you to pray with her.
More than just finishing high school with good grades, she loves Jesus. Mary has been working with us in the office and helping with many different things. She is hard working and always willing to help out. She is quiet and does not get involved in any gossip. She desires to give God glory. She is one of my little women of Africa. Next week she turns 20 on the 18th of this month, April. I give thanks to God for her each and every day. I have put a picture of Mary from Christmas day in 2013. It is wonderful to be bright and pretty at the same time.
This year I taught her how to make cakes and read recipes. She learns very fast and does an excellent job because she follows the recipes.
Mary came to live with me when she was 8 years of age. She had gone through a lot. She had two older brothers. Her mother abandoned her when she was a baby and she did not remember her much. Her father died and left her with her Grandfather and her two half brothers, whose mother and father are dead.
She was bitten by a dog when she was 7 years old that we thought had rabies, and she had to go through many injections for this. She overcame her fear of dogs, even still! We have two dogs and she does okay with them (Buster and Bella). The house that she and her brothers was living in collapsed so they came to stay with me. The Grandfather and the Uncles that lived in the home were brewing a liquor every day, kind of like what we call moonshine. It was not a good place for a young girl to grow up. I went to the courts and got a care order to keep her in the orphanage, as well as her two brothers. In 2010, her brother, Bonafice, who was 21 at the time, died in a motorcycle accident. It was really hard for Mary and Charles (the other brother). Her brother, Charles, is studying to be a Dentist at Kampala International University and like Mary, is very bright and loves the Lord.
The picture here on the left shows all my girls in the orphanage. The back row is my little women now and Mary is there, and the front row shows the young girls coming up.
I am proud and excited about all of my girls. In the back row is Brenda Nakku, Violet Namisi, Mary Nanyonga, Alpha Namuyanja, Iryn Nagaga, Sarah Sabano, Catherine Amuroni. In the front row is Sylvia Mugole, Annette Kayendeke, Norah Kaidu, Sabrina Musenero, Rachel Mudondo, Edith Biniki, Peace Namaja, and in the very front is Mary Naula and in the middle in front of Mary Nanyonga is Susan Nabirye. Missing from the picture is Beatrice Namuzungu, who was not at home. Below is a picture of some of my sons, they were not all around for the picture.
Not all the boys are pictures here and men. From left to right is Israel Mayasa Hines, David Kirya Lunguba, Elvis Tenywa, Ssemu Innocent, Charles Ongabba, Ssemu Isabirye and Goma Victor Hines. Missing from this picture is David Kisembo, Henry Olipotto, Benjamin Wytayabi, Keifer Tukkei, Julius Bumba and Nelson Duchu.
Elvis, Ssemu, Goma and Israel are all still in high school. David Kisembo and Ssemu Innocent are in primary school, David Kirya Lunguba finished at Makerere University in Information Systems and Computer Science and is currently looking for a job. Charles mentioned above is studying to be a Dentist at Kampala International Unversity in Mbarara. Henry is studying Project Management at Uganda Christian Unversity. Benjamin is studying to be a doctor at Makerere University. Keifer is studying to be a Lab Technician at Medicare Institute. Julius finished in Business Administration from Nkumba Unversity and currently works with an organization that is affiliated with the UN out of Dubai. Nelson finished with Business Administration from Makerere University and went on to do 1 1/2 years of Bible and is currently pastoring a church of around 75 members in Mbale, with plans to continue his Bible studies.
When I think of the word "Dark," I think of night, I think of evil, I think of the Devil, I think of all wrongdoing. Everyone has their own ideas of the what dark is. At night there are many things that go on that do not go on in the day, things that are just evil.
Witchcraft is a real problem all over the world, but particularly in Uganda and Africa. Evil things are done. I have really come to hate what the witchdoctors do. Most of them have AIDS, as they often take sex as payment for what they do. Performing evil deeds, that is what they do, in the name of Satan. I do not fear them, as I know God is with me and protects me. I often go to their homes to share the gospel and pray for them. I have seen a few of them give their lives to Christ, and it is not easy for them, as the demons always come back to taunt them and ridicule them.
_______________________________________________________________________
I like to think that the ministry is a light in all this darkness. Serving the children and people of the community of Kamonkoli to the glory of God. Raising up the children to be healthy, strong Christian adults that make a difference for their community and country to the glory of God. This is why we started a primary school. We call it Genesis Nursery/Primary School, because it is their beginning and the foundation in their lives. I know that the children get a lot of influence from their homes as they sleep there, etc., but to really influence them you need more than just AWANA Club and Sunday School. More than youth Bible studies that come later in their lives. In school they spend a lot of time - five days a week - eight hours a day. This is where they can be influenced. The Muslims have been doing this for a long time, why not the Christians. We have a curriculum that puts God in everything and builds a strong foundation in Christ from the time they are little.
The children in my home have devotions every night, short, but keeps them in the word at least once in a day and time to pray together before having dinner. I have watched most of my children grow into the kind of adults that make one very happy and give God glory. My daughter, Mary Nanyonga, recently finished her last year of high school and did very well. We are praying that she will get a scholarship to Makerere University, which would allow us to use her sponsorship for her boarding and feeding, and other needs (books, etc.). I ask you to pray with her.
This year I taught her how to make cakes and read recipes. She learns very fast and does an excellent job because she follows the recipes.
Mary came to live with me when she was 8 years of age. She had gone through a lot. She had two older brothers. Her mother abandoned her when she was a baby and she did not remember her much. Her father died and left her with her Grandfather and her two half brothers, whose mother and father are dead.
She was bitten by a dog when she was 7 years old that we thought had rabies, and she had to go through many injections for this. She overcame her fear of dogs, even still! We have two dogs and she does okay with them (Buster and Bella). The house that she and her brothers was living in collapsed so they came to stay with me. The Grandfather and the Uncles that lived in the home were brewing a liquor every day, kind of like what we call moonshine. It was not a good place for a young girl to grow up. I went to the courts and got a care order to keep her in the orphanage, as well as her two brothers. In 2010, her brother, Bonafice, who was 21 at the time, died in a motorcycle accident. It was really hard for Mary and Charles (the other brother). Her brother, Charles, is studying to be a Dentist at Kampala International University and like Mary, is very bright and loves the Lord.
The picture here on the left shows all my girls in the orphanage. The back row is my little women now and Mary is there, and the front row shows the young girls coming up.
I am proud and excited about all of my girls. In the back row is Brenda Nakku, Violet Namisi, Mary Nanyonga, Alpha Namuyanja, Iryn Nagaga, Sarah Sabano, Catherine Amuroni. In the front row is Sylvia Mugole, Annette Kayendeke, Norah Kaidu, Sabrina Musenero, Rachel Mudondo, Edith Biniki, Peace Namaja, and in the very front is Mary Naula and in the middle in front of Mary Nanyonga is Susan Nabirye. Missing from the picture is Beatrice Namuzungu, who was not at home. Below is a picture of some of my sons, they were not all around for the picture.
Not all the boys are pictures here and men. From left to right is Israel Mayasa Hines, David Kirya Lunguba, Elvis Tenywa, Ssemu Innocent, Charles Ongabba, Ssemu Isabirye and Goma Victor Hines. Missing from this picture is David Kisembo, Henry Olipotto, Benjamin Wytayabi, Keifer Tukkei, Julius Bumba and Nelson Duchu.
Elvis, Ssemu, Goma and Israel are all still in high school. David Kisembo and Ssemu Innocent are in primary school, David Kirya Lunguba finished at Makerere University in Information Systems and Computer Science and is currently looking for a job. Charles mentioned above is studying to be a Dentist at Kampala International Unversity in Mbarara. Henry is studying Project Management at Uganda Christian Unversity. Benjamin is studying to be a doctor at Makerere University. Keifer is studying to be a Lab Technician at Medicare Institute. Julius finished in Business Administration from Nkumba Unversity and currently works with an organization that is affiliated with the UN out of Dubai. Nelson finished with Business Administration from Makerere University and went on to do 1 1/2 years of Bible and is currently pastoring a church of around 75 members in Mbale, with plans to continue his Bible studies.
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