The Vision Expands in Uganda

I'm overwhelmed with gladness of God's mercy and grace. With each day that passes He pours out more and more of His blessings on this mission trip. You cannot read about what's been transpiring and not see His hand in it, it's just impossible. The glasses are coming in at an alarming rate, as well as toothbrushes and other needed supplies. The lessons that I'm learning are unmatchable anywhere else. When we are called by God and He instills a vision for His glory, He always makes a way for it to be completed no matter how impossible it may seem to us, His ways are far greater than our own understanding. Each day that passes, each new person added to the project, each new donation that arrives is all orchestrated by Him. I am in awe!
Today the screening in Tororo reached to the main village and pastor Ruth sent this message of hope and inspiration, dedication and love for those less fortunate. Dr. Ben Bwonya is a true man of God, who knows no boundries for showing his compassion and love for Uganda. I am honored to work with them both and Thank God for them daily.

My Dear sister Denise,
Today, we did the screening for the local community, the people kept time and by 8:00am we had over 100 people.Dr.Ben and the team did a great job. He will be sending you details. Thankyou so much for introducing Dr.Ben to Smile Africa, he has displayed a commitment that shows that he is not just a doctor, but a person with a heart for God's people.When he came today for the screening excercise, he brought his wife along, she was heavily pregnant and he had sensed signs of labour pain. After starting off the screening excercise,he then told me that he was taking his wife to a hospital in town for check up, she was retained in hospital and Dr.Ben came back and attended to the screening excercise while monitoring the situation of his wife by phone.By 5:00pm when they concluded the excercise, he told me he was going to check on his wife and would keep me informed of her condition.about two hours later he sent me a text message that God has blessed them with a beautiful daughter.I thanked God for the blessing of safe delivery and for enabling him meet the appointment with the local community.Isn't God so awesome?.

At the same time, i talked with Dr.Ben about the sick child, i explained to him the situation of getting a specialist to examine the child.All of a sudden he said "yes, i know of a Urologist who comes to Mbale once a week over the week end",he then dialled the number and talked with the specialist, he got an appointment for me to take the child this saturday.I am so thankful to God for making it easy for us to reach a knowledgeable person that is so close and i believe he will be able to guide us and i trust that God will put in place the rest that is needed for this child to get help. We have the money to make it to mbale as well as any minor expenses that may arise.Thankyou all of you for praying for this child and the work of God world wide.

I will be sending the pictures of the screening excercise of today.

Your sister in Christ,

Ruth

Medical Treatment Needed

I received an email from Pastor Ruth asking for prayer and help for this child. Her mother brought the baby to Pastor Ruth and told her that something wrong and that she was not able to take care of it. The baby is about 3 years old and has some type of infection, hernia or growth or all of the above in the groin area. These pictures are graphic and not for the faint of heart. I only post them to show the gravity of this issue. I sent a message and contacted Dr. Vikram to see if his team in Bumwalukani can help. He and his team are researching the possible cause and treatment. In the meantime, the mother has no way to pay for the baby's treatment or transportation to the hospital. This is a serious matter. Please take a moment and pray about helping this mother and her baby. I know that financially we are all in a bind (myself included), but when it comes to the life of a child I believe that there is somewhere in our own budget of latte's, pedicures, etc. that we can sacrifice for a day, for this baby.
If you can please go to Heart of God in Uganda and make a donation, or send a check to Heart of God in Uganda. P.O. Box 248. Willard, Ohio 44890 Please specify medical treatment for baby. All donations are tax deductible.

Vision Screening Begins

The vision screening process has begun and I can't tell you the joy that it brings to my heart. The tears of joy ran down my face as I looked at each of these photos. I pray that God would shower His blessings on Dr. Bwonya and his assistants for their sacrificial giving of time and expertise to this project and the children at Smile Africa Ministries. I pray the same blessings for Pastor Ruth Kahawa who gives so much of herself to these children. I confess to God for the sin in my heart as I take so much for granted that He gives to me each day. I am thankful that He has allowed me to be a part of something that has been directed by Him since day one. Thank you to all of you that are praying for this project, donating to the cause that God has ordained. May you be blessed as well. Pray for the facility that will allow us to read the prescription glasses before we leave, and that each one of the children that have a need will be matched up perfectly.



A word from Pastor Ruth Kahawa:

sister Denise,

I am so excited about what is going on, today we had the first screening excercise, you will see Dr.Ben and the other two volunteers who came with him and the children they screened, they will come again on wednesday.other children waited in the class rooms, we are using part of the clinic for classes because of the rains.
the Lord is good all the time.

your sister in Christ,

ruth

Vision Project Uganda

The time is nearly here for our trip to Uganda. There are so many things that have transpired and it only makes sense to get them written down before they are a mere memory. God has allowed me the opportunity to start a vision project in the midst of a very trying time in my life. As He set these wheels in motion I couldn't help but realize he was telling me to take my eyes off myself, not to let my mind stray and to focus on Him, and in doing so all other things will fall into place.
As I sat and looked at the faces of these children and wondered how my circumstance would affect my trip, I couldn't help but notice that not one of them was wearing a pair of glasses. "Could it be because they all have perfect eyesight?" I wondered. I hardly think so. And so the seed was planted. In a very short time there were people all over the United States asking to be involved in collecting glasses for the children. As I sat in awe and terror if I'm to be totally honest, I wondered how on earth I would match up these glasses to those in need, after all I am not a doctor and have no degree in such matters.
It was the next morning that I got an email from Dr. Vikram and another from Dr. Ben Bwonya telling me that they had heard of the project and were very interesting in joining the efforts. God had once again opened the doors to fullfill His purpose in this project.
Pastor Ruth Kahawa has informed us that they will be inviting government officials to flag off the vision project ceremony. How exciting to be a part of such a wonderful outpouring of Gods provisions.
This week marks the week that screening will begin for the children at Smile Africa Ministries. Photos will be coming shortly to witness this event as it transpires.
The outpouring of love and compassion for this project is overwhelming. There are approx. 250 pair of glasses at this time with 2 weeks left. We have also been collecting toothbrushes, our original plan, and have collected over 1000 of them!
We had a huge rummage sale this past weekend and were able to reach our goal and keep up with the ever increasing budget before us.
As for the devastion that came to my life, Gods promise is always present and life is back on track. All around circumstances are working out for His glory.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.