I've been thinking and thinking of how to raise funds for this project and one of my ideas was to make donation jugs. I have been shopping for just the right size jug - a clear one with a big enough opening for people to drop in their pocket change. My local grocery store had just what I needed and wouldn't you know it, they were on sale at 10 for $10.00 - only one dollar for a 3L jug of WATER! I wouldn't have met Nelson if he hadn't come to my church to express the needs of his community for a water well. The label will read: Turn Small Change Into BIG Change It will have the pictures of Nelson and I as well as the children receiving their toothbrushes along with the request: PLEASE HELP ME ESTABLISH THE AGAPE DENTAL CLINIC IN JINJA, UGANDA. It will also include the STAO website and my blog info.
I already have people that are excited to help me by displaying a jug in their office or business. Thank you for your prayers as I drink my daily jug of water and turn it into a Jug for Jinja.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Me, a Blogger?
Well, I never thought I'd see the day that I would be a Blogger, but here it is. My inspiration came from 3 gals that are visiting the AGAPE Children's Home in Jinja, Uganda. They are from Oklahoma and I have been following their blog. Since I will be there at the same time next year, I want to share my journey too.
I met Nelson Lufafa on January 31, 2010, when he spoke at Capistrano Community Church. Nelson is a pastor and came to the U.S. to speak at churches in order to raise money to drill a well in his community. Water is a precious and expensive commodity where he lives. At the present time, his family has to walk a mile to get it and haul it back home. Nelson started the Agape Children’s Home - when he was only 18 - for children whose parents had died of HIV/AIDS. He is 31 now and is married to his wife, Grace, and has 2 children of his own. He and Grace are also the “parents” to 72 orphans. He spoke about the needs of the children and the widows that he serves. Being from a dental family - my dad was a dentist, my mom was a hygienist and so is my sister - all I could think about while I listened to him, was how to get toothbrushes to those kids! Back in the sixties, my mom would give out toothbrushes for Halloween. It was incredibly embarrassing but it obviously left quite an impression on me. To make a wonderfully long story short, Nelson went back to Uganda with a suitcase full of toothbrushes and toothpaste that my dentist gave to him. As you can see, the children were very excited to receive them.
Nelson and I became very close in the 3 weeks that he was in California and he started calling me “Mama”. We called my Mini Cooper his "office”. He and I did a lot of driving around, mostly to the dentist, but we had other errands to do as well. We sang and prayed while we drove and we saw many miracles together. Towards the end of his stay, I asked him, "What could I do if I came to Uganda?" Being a 50+ single lady, I couldn't see myself digging ditches for water pipes or building a house. But Nelson told me that I could pray and play with the children, I could pray with the widows and teach them how to knit and crochet and I could help him organize his office. WELL!! That did it. My bookkeeping background kicked in and I got really excited. OH, to organize an office! OH, to sit and knit! OH, to paint little toenails and play tag!
When I told my pastor of my plans, he told me to start a list of the things that I want to take with me. So I decided to THINK BIG. Since there has NEVER been any type of dental care in Jinja, I want to help Nelson build a Dental Clinic for his “daughter”, Irene. She is currently in Dental School in Kampala,the capital of Uganda. She will graduate this November. Nelson has purchased a building for her to live in and practice dentistry. I am in the process of contacting dentists that I know in order to gather all the necessary supplies and equipment for the clinic.
I can't make my airline reservations yet but I've received my new passport. Nelson and his family can hardly wait for me to come.
Please pray for this wonderful journey - that God will touch the hearts of the suppliers for the Dental Clinic, for the funds that will be needed to get everything to Uganda and for the all of the children at Agape. Please pray for God's Will as I make their story known and as I plan my trip.
I met Nelson Lufafa on January 31, 2010, when he spoke at Capistrano Community Church. Nelson is a pastor and came to the U.S. to speak at churches in order to raise money to drill a well in his community. Water is a precious and expensive commodity where he lives. At the present time, his family has to walk a mile to get it and haul it back home. Nelson started the Agape Children’s Home - when he was only 18 - for children whose parents had died of HIV/AIDS. He is 31 now and is married to his wife, Grace, and has 2 children of his own. He and Grace are also the “parents” to 72 orphans. He spoke about the needs of the children and the widows that he serves. Being from a dental family - my dad was a dentist, my mom was a hygienist and so is my sister - all I could think about while I listened to him, was how to get toothbrushes to those kids! Back in the sixties, my mom would give out toothbrushes for Halloween. It was incredibly embarrassing but it obviously left quite an impression on me. To make a wonderfully long story short, Nelson went back to Uganda with a suitcase full of toothbrushes and toothpaste that my dentist gave to him. As you can see, the children were very excited to receive them.
Nelson and I became very close in the 3 weeks that he was in California and he started calling me “Mama”. We called my Mini Cooper his "office”. He and I did a lot of driving around, mostly to the dentist, but we had other errands to do as well. We sang and prayed while we drove and we saw many miracles together. Towards the end of his stay, I asked him, "What could I do if I came to Uganda?" Being a 50+ single lady, I couldn't see myself digging ditches for water pipes or building a house. But Nelson told me that I could pray and play with the children, I could pray with the widows and teach them how to knit and crochet and I could help him organize his office. WELL!! That did it. My bookkeeping background kicked in and I got really excited. OH, to organize an office! OH, to sit and knit! OH, to paint little toenails and play tag!
When I told my pastor of my plans, he told me to start a list of the things that I want to take with me. So I decided to THINK BIG. Since there has NEVER been any type of dental care in Jinja, I want to help Nelson build a Dental Clinic for his “daughter”, Irene. She is currently in Dental School in Kampala,the capital of Uganda. She will graduate this November. Nelson has purchased a building for her to live in and practice dentistry. I am in the process of contacting dentists that I know in order to gather all the necessary supplies and equipment for the clinic.
I can't make my airline reservations yet but I've received my new passport. Nelson and his family can hardly wait for me to come.
Please pray for this wonderful journey - that God will touch the hearts of the suppliers for the Dental Clinic, for the funds that will be needed to get everything to Uganda and for the all of the children at Agape. Please pray for God's Will as I make their story known and as I plan my trip.
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