"Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can't lose."

"Look around the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it." Habakkuk 1:5

First day on the job! Sozo Women’s Ministry begins! 28 beautiful women showed up consisting of a mix of women who had heard about the bible study directly from our efforts last week but also many who had just heard through word of mouth. This apparently was the talk of the village with the women saying over and over again that this day they had prayed for far too long.  

The bible study was to begin today in the village at 2pm on Gorret’s land. Gorret is a woman we came across on our first day of walking the village last week, while spreading the word about the Sozo Women’s Ministry. Gorret immediately jumped in eager to get involved and ended up voluntarily walking the village with us, sharing the news with each woman we encountered. She selflessly volunteered her land as a gathering spot each week and as we arrived today welcomed us with a huge smile saying she could not be happier that this day was here. We are so thankful for Gorret and the way she has stepped up to help organize. Remember how I said it was to begin at 2pm? Well, an hour and a half later most of the women had arrived. We work off “Ugandan time” here meaning promptness is not a big thing for them. One grandmother, Rosemary, was the first to arrive around 2:15 and for that she received a hand of applause for “being on time.” Of course we waited knowing many more would arrive much later. At 3:30pm we decided it was go time.

Some very feable grandmothers walked miles and miles to reach the meeting spot… with armies of grandchildren in tote. Some women came dressed in their best garment worn only for special guests. During the time of singing a girl jumped in and started drumming on a jerrycan which made us all smile and added a great beat. Some came with gifts of Ugandan food (that they grow) for us as a thank you. Some women brought their youngest children not hesitating to breastfeed at any moment throughout the gathering. But all came with open hearts ready to worship as evident in this video below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWm06ygkmTo

Our meeting time each week is now going to be 3pm (requested by the women) on Mondays and Thursdays. By 3pm most of them have finished lunch. We are going to continue to meet on Gorret’s land each time. Auntie Dorah, our fearless Ugandan leader (one of the Sozo house moms), has been such a blessing translating our words and leading the women in Luganda song. She will be with us each visit as our partner in this mission. Thursday we expect many more in attendance as these women are anxious to bring more friends and neighbors.

We cannot thank you enough for all of the heartfelt prayers and encouragement leading up to this day. We have prayed for this day for almost one year and are overwhelmed by God’s presence today! To God be the glory for all that took place today!

MADE for MORE,

Chelsie & Amanda

Mukwano Gwange (our friend) Auntie Dorah 

It's only the beginning

The kind of change we need to make in life is going to stir up fear. Don’t let the unknown stop you.

Romans 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

Family home visits

Annually the kids of Sozo Children take a weekly home visit prior to school starting again in January. Last Sunday Amanda & I were given the opportunity to drop off our brother “sponsor sons” Clinton and Ambrose at their jajja’s (grandmother) home. She was such a joy to meet! She had a permanent smile on her face and thanked us time and time again for sponsoring her grandsons and for bringing them “home” for a few days. Jajja is too weak and feeble to care for all of her grandchildren and their mother and father are not in the picture. Amanda has developed into a motherly figure for Ambrose and he honors the relationship they have. As far as my relationship with 8- year old Clinton he looks at me as a fun auntie that loves him dearly and will save him if I see the other children messing with him. One day when we were playing cards on the floor a younger child stepped on my angle twisting it and I grimaced in pain and Clinton (in his broken English) did the almighty… he stopped playing cards and started rubbing my arm saying “auntie Chelsie, are you okay?” followed by an aggressive chase after the child who stepped on me. Of course, my heart melted. Below are pictures of us with our “sons.”

Momma Andrew

Sozo Children has a sweet, quiet boy named Andrew in their care and has for a few years. When Andrew was younger he was badly burned during the night, while he slept, when his mosquito net caught on fire. The majority of Andrew’s upper body was burned and he progressively lost mobility in his joints. By the grace of God Andrew recently received a Visa to go to the US and a North Carolina Sozo board member and her family has taken him in… indefinitely. It will take years for Wake Forest Hospital (which is donating surgeries free of charge) to complete the surgeries needed for Andrew to regain full mobility in his joints. About a week ago Andrew left his sweet mom and 2 sisters to head to the US. I have built a friendship with Momma Andrew since January 2014 and absolutely adore her sweet spirit. On Saturday I went to Momma Andrew’s house to see how she is holding up with her son on the other side of the world. She could not have been more excited for the visit and warmly welcomed us with open arms. We loved on her and the sisters, Joan and Teresa, as  well as prayed over them. Momma Andrew’s eyes filled with tears when we were leaving but we promised her future visits asap. To know this visit provided comfort and hope, it was a major highlight of the week!

Women’s ministry in the Village

BIG news! Yesterday and today Amanda & I happily spent hours walking countless miles around Nongolo Village to spread the word about the Sozo Children women’s ministry we will be starting on Monday. As previously mentioned the plan is to start with a bible study for the widows, single mothers, and jajja’s around the village. The schedule for now is Monday and Thursdays 2-4pm in the village every week. Amanda, myself, and Auntie Dora (translator) are humbled that so far 40 women have signed up for the bible study through this week’s recruitment efforts around the village.  This week we are planning out details and purchasing Ugandan drums for praise and worship, Lugandan bibles, grass mats, notebooks, eye glasses, etc for the women. Once the bible study is established the plan is to begin the self-sustainable “fairtrade project” for these women so they can make money to afford their children’s school fees. Education is so important here in Uganda and only the educated rise to the top as leaders. Because the Village is so remote and poverty-stricken many do not have the chance to attend school as it is. This cycle must stop in order for these children to be given a future of hope. We are expectant and more than excited of what’s to come from these happenings in Nongolo. (At the bottom a video is posted of what village life looks like. In order to view you must have Adobe Flash installed).

Please keep the preparations for the big day Monday in your prayers this week.  We are praising God for every life and heart that we will touch with the light of Jesus through these events to come.

Much love! Chelsie & Amanda

Joy running deep

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

Acts 20:24

 We had another incredible and amazing week! Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday we spent most of the day doing education and the helping the kids write letters for their sponsors at each of the houses.  Sometimes getting these teenagers and younger kids to sit down and learn on their holiday break can be a struggle but once you get them going they do so well and are so smart!

Chelsie and I can both say our highlights of the week came the day we went into the slums and passed out the life essentials bags and shared Christ to families in need.  There were many moments that day which will forever be in our hearts….

George!

I first met George last year in Kabalagala and knew there was something special about him. George’s spirit is unlike any other child that I have met here. After playing ball with him for over an hour I was told he was deaf. Needless to say there was no barrier with communication, we understood each other….we were having the best time and it was pure joy.  When we arrived at George and his sister Eva’s house this past Thursday I was so excited to see them! I immediately showed George the pictures we had taken last year. Seeing his smile and knowing he recognized me was such an amazing feeling.  George and Eva also both had their teddy bear on the bed, which Chelsie and her sister had given to them back in August.  So sweet! Once we gave his family an essentials bag, George sat in the middle of our group and started to pray!!! Even though we didn’t understand his signing, we could feel the presence of God in that room.  God was alive in him! Chelsie and I had a hard time holding it together : ) It was truly a moment we will remember forever.

Joan

Joan is a 16 year old girl we met in the slums. As we entered her home, we were immediately welcomed with a huge smile. Joan said she went to church on occasion but wanted to learn more.  She read along with me as I read her passages from the Bible on God’s love, forgiveness and hope.  Daudi, our Ugandan leader, asked her if she had accepted Christ as her Lord and Savior, she said no but was ready to! To witness this 16 year girl so thirsty for Christ and accepting him that day brought tears to all of our eyes. We will be going back to visit Joan soon to give her her very own and first Bible.  

The Children

Chelsie and I were led to a group of houses where 7 women and about 15 children were gathered. We gave them a couple of essentials bag and asked them how we could pray for them. They were all new believers and were so excited to have us there to pray over them. Chelsie and I immediately laid hands and prayed for each of these beautiful women’s individual needs. One woman needed prayer for her business of making clothes. She wanted customers in order to be able to send her children to school. Another needed healing in her stomach. It’s amazing how God can work through you and give you the exact words when needed.  The next thing we knew, all the kids had lined up to receive prayer. Kneeling down and holding these children’s hands and praying over their precious bodies was a moment where I know the Holy Spirit was so alive in us. Most of the kids could not understand us, but I have no doubt they also felt the presence of God.  As we finished the women started dancing, shouted Hallelujah and started singing as loud as they could. “I’m so glad that Jesus set me free” What an amazing song! We are all free indeed!!

God made it known to us that day, we belong here and made it so evident that we are a vessel for His good works!

Beach day fun

On Friday we got to experience a joyous day at the beach! A generous Sozo supporter wanted the kids to be able to get out and play so they donated for all the Sozo children to be able to go to a local beach on Lake Victoria for the day.  We don’t think the kids stopped laughing and smiling all day long! The day started with the kids getting all dressed up for the van ride (because it’s such a day to celebrate!) followed by a fun day in the sun with devotion, games, swimming, dancing, eating and then more swimming.  Seeing our kids so happy makes us happy! God is so great!

Another busy week ahead with some adventures we are really looking forward to experiencing and updating you on soon! Thanks for the prayers!

Much Love,

-Amanda & Chelsie

a labor of love.

First week on ground in Kitende, Uganda and it has been nothing short of incredible!!! Actually, we flew in Monday evening, so we are on our 4th day and our time has already been so full of adventures that it feels like day 44.

House 1 Education/tutoring, House 4, Family-to-Family in the village, New Years Eve, House 2, CoRSU Hospital meeting.........

December/January our 115 Sozo Children kids are out of school on holiday break for 8 weeks. Holiday breaks occur 3 times a year but this is the longest break for them now. During "holiday" the kids receive almost daily education classes, by our Sozo staff and volunteers, to stay on top of their studies. In addition to tutoring, the kids participate in a daily morning devotion at 7am each morning they are on holiday. The day goes like this: devotion, chores until around 10am, breakfast, education until around 12pm, play time, night devotion at 6:30pm, dinner, dishes, bed. 

So we woke up Tuesday and after the morning routine the "muzungus" (white people) each took a different age group based on their grade in school and executed an educational course. I took P3 students (comparable to 2nd grade) and Amanda took P7 (comparable to 6th grade). Let's just say I was better in corporate America than teaching and keeping 2nd graders in line while teaching through group activities. But it is a fun task and we have much more tutoring to come over the next few weeks so we're looking forward to working with other age groups as well. 

Wednesday! I would sum it up by saying it was pretty much the best day ever! It was "Family to Family" day in the village, mentioned in the last blog post. It was a day that our orphaned children whom Sozo cares for went to the village to share the Gospel and hand out bags of food and essentials to 150 families. Powerful experience!! Sozo kids have learned we don't need a reason to serve others. We are to just reach out and give, love, and serve. This is how Jesus lived. To see these women and children, grandmothers and (few) men graciously welcome us with handmade benches and straw mats to sit on the dirt ground outside their hut it is overwhelming as you see in once glance what they own to their name. We split into groups and walked 5 miles over three hours to share with as many as we possibly could. We all shared, loved, and played with the babies we would encounter every few feet along the way. Children FLOCK to us upon every arrival in the village wanting the muzungus to hold them, love on them, and play with them. They don't let go of your fingers until you make them. And it's heart breaking when they beg for a drink of water or a bite of a snack. None of us can help everyone but all of us can help someone and this what we have to constantly remind ourselves. On a more uplifting note MANY came to accept Christ!... and another praise is that so many told us they had already become Christians through Sozo Children praying with them over the last 2 years of Sozo occasionally visiting their village. Many asked for us to bring back bibles and the women were very excited to hear we will start working with them twice a week! Praise God!  It is impossible for us not  to have been touched and blessed by this experience and by the hearts we encountered. We saw some of the poorest conditions (pictures below) but even so these people give God all the glory for life and were so thankful for our visit. Family to Family occurs every December 31, so until next year we'll reminisce on the priceless memories from this day. 

New Years Eve is quite a celebration in Uganda. We stayed on the Sozo compound in our houses watching the clock waiting for our 82 in-house Sozo kids to loudly celebrate with screams, whistles, balloon popping, and pure chaos. But before midnight much time was spent worshipping and in prayer in preparation for the new year!

We are staying at House 1 so spend a lot of time with the younger kids here but have been able to spend time with the kids at House 4 and 2 already, too. We look forward to spending the day at House 3 with our older boys tomorrow. There's always a game to be played with them whether volleyball, basketball, or soccer. 

And this morning's meeting.... At CoRSU Hospital went great! We plan to start volunteering at this burn and orthopedic hospital at least once a week during our team here. We met with the CEO, head surgeon, medical director, head of administration and others. We love the mission behind CoRSU, a local non-profit facility providing free surgeries to children across Uganda. One of Sozo's kids had a surgery here in August for his severe burns from his childhood and this started the partnership. We are open to fulfilling whatever needs they have whether it may be in the rehab area helping these children learn how to walk or bend their burnt arms again, or teaching the children education during their stay in the hospital. We will certainly be sharing more on this experience as it unfolds and we literally cannot wait! 

Giving thanks for our short time here so far and it couldn't be happening without all of our donor support and friends' prayers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Overwhelmed, to say the least, by all the last minute 2014 contributions along with everyone else's along this journey. We pray for you every day and are thankful you're in this with us! 

Mark 9:41 

"We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." Winston Churchill

Giving thanks and to Him all the glory,

Chelsie & Amanda