At the end of October, we sat on the porch of the new Arrows + Hope Ministry Center, surrounded by orange, avocado, and jackfruit trees, listening to Dennis (AH Project Manager) read from John 15: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
It was a great reminder of Who is authoring the story of each child Arrows + Hope has the privilege of working with.
When discussing the verse, Deborah (AH Discipleship Coordinator) spoke about the passionfruit vine and how it needs to cling to something to grow – just as we need to cling to Jesus in order to grow. It is our prayer that each and every child and caregiver of Arrows + Hope will cling to Him and bear fruit!
During our recent trip to Uganda, we visited Rhoda, an Arrows + Hope graduate, who was at her church helping another tailor sew outfits for the choir. Rhoda shared how she is now working at a school teaching young women the skill of tailoring, while still running her own business of creating beautiful clothes for her customers. She is now able to help her father with food and her sibling with school fees.
This is such a beautiful testimony, as Rhoda and her father did not have a relationship when we first met her. There was a time in her life when she had no place to live, and had to sleep on the porch of a church. Today, she praises God with her beautiful voice at this very church!
We also visited the hair salon of Susan, another graduate of Arrows + Hope. When we arrived, Susan shared that she had just returned from paying her daughter’s school fees. She gave glory to God for helping her become someone she never dreamed she could be. Susan not only does hair as a stylist herself, but she also trains other young girls in the art of hairdressing – because she sees the potential in them, just as someone saw potential in her.
We praise God for the fruit we see in the lives of these two young ladies and many others who have graduated from Arrows + Hope!
It was a treat to visit the 11 sponsored children who attend St. Ursula (a school for children with disabilities). When we arrived at the school, the students were busy doing hands-on activities. They were so proud to show off their weaving and shoe-making skills! These children come from rural villages, where a disability is often looked at as a curse – or the children are simply neglected. This mindset is beginning to change, and we give God all the glory!
We were also blessed to visit with Paul and Ernest at Ngora School for the Deaf. They are now fully fluent in sign language and have dreams for the future! Ernest had the opportunity to play soccer on a national team for his age group! He lost his father last year to diabetes, and we know he would have been so proud.
New Life!
The most beautiful redemption stories unfolded during our time in Uganda. Dennis is the Arrows + Hope Project Manager of both the Entebbe and Soroti Centers, and also a pastor at Emmanuel Church in Entebbe. The Lord moved in the hearts of two caregivers during our home visits, and Dennis had the opportunity to lead these two women to faith in Jesus! One of these caregivers had a history of prostituting herself to survive, and now walks in freedom and newness of life. (Her photo is not shown here.)
Another caregiver to a recently sponsored child with disabilities gave her life to Christ! Immediately following this, a sister who sat a few yards away said, “I am so moved. I am a born-again Christian and I have not spoken with my sister in over two years. We do not even greet each other.” She walked over, got on her knees, and asked her sister for forgiveness. These two sisters embraced, while their 90-year-old grandmother was praying in her local language. God is re-writing the stories of these beautiful sisters in Christ, and we give Him all the glory!
New Home!
This month marked the opening of the new Arrows + Hope Ministry Center! This new ministry center has a large yard which will allow us to hold discipleship gatherings, trainings, and workshops onsite!