Sunday, June 22nd

We got up this morning and drove to Namyoya village to go to the Sunday church service. We were welcomed into the village by women and children holding tree branches, waving them around, singing, dancing and shouting. I was a pretty cool welcome. Church service was great as well. They sang a number of songs that we could not understand. We sang two songs to them as well (Amazing Grace and Down in my Heart). By the way, this is the church that not long ago did not have a roof, floor or windows. It now has a roof, windows (no glass, just decorative bars), and somewhat of a floor. The two wells in the village that were dry are now also up and running. That was awesome to see as before they were walking hours round trip to get dirty water. The village is really progressing. We ate lunch there at the church – bananas, jack fruit, pineapple, sugar cane, maze (corn), carrots, and watermelon (nice fruit lunch).

There are a number of families being sponsored in the area. We visited two of these families today. One of them is the family that our family just started sponsoring. His name is Robert. He is a widower. His wife died of AIDS this past December. Robert also has AIDS. He has five children, four daughters and one son. Robert sold all he had to help treat his wife. When his wife died, he went into a state of depression. I spoke with a man there that knows Robert well and he said he was completely in a hopeless state; essentially, just dying. We arrived at the house Robert was staying in with his family. They were staying at a family site with a couple different homes and some land to farm. Robert greeted us with his family. They rolled out mats for the children to sit on. Robert, Luke and I (and an interpreter) sat on small stools. We talked with Robert and his children for a while. He was doing much better now and was extremely happy to be sponsored. Robert’s story was a sad one and he was in deep need. We felt very privileged to be there with his family and able to help out. We gave him a suitcase full of clothes (for him and the children), a couple balls for the children, various bathroom products (toothbrushes, toothpaste, Neosporin, Band-Aids, breakfast bars, etc.). Robert was so happy. He must have stood up and shoot our hands and hugged us 10 different times during our conversations. The people around there were amazed at how Robert brightened up and seemed so happy. He thanked us over and over again. It was an amazing experience. Talk about really effecting a families life – it truly was an honor and privilege to be a part of this and to be able to help out this family.

Robert needed medical attention to help treat his AIDS condition. One of the other people on our team, Chris and his wife Debbie, were so moved by Robert’s story, they immediately gave me money with tears in their eyes to give to Robert to allow him to get transportation to the medical facility to get medicine to help with his AIDS. Luke and I also gave him some money to get the children tested for AIDS and to start providing treatment if necessary. There are really no words to explain this interaction we had with this family. It was moving for the entire team. We concluded our visit by praying for Robert and his family – for health, safety, and most importantly HOPE. Below are some pictures of our time with Robert and his family. Luke was right in there during this whole event and is just an awesome boy!!!

Luke and Gene giving clothes to Robert and his children. Joanne did an awesome job getting clothes for the children. They were perfect. The children and Robert were so happy and it was so great to be able to just sit with them and give them a suite case full of clothes, balls, and various toiletry items.




Robert thanking Luke for the gifts.


Robert's children looking at some of their new clothes and balls.


Luke, Gene, Robert and his children.


We are showing Robert and his family where Uganda is on the global and where we live in the US.


It felt great to be able to just hug this man who was so thankful to us for our sponsorship and gifts.




We prayed for Robert and his family.