Mercy Uganda

We dedicate this page to stories from, and about our dear friends in Uganda.  We hope you will be inspired, touched, and moved by the stories we share with you

 Motherless Children.....

This precious family is one of so many in Uganda who suffer poverty and loss.  We had the privilege of meeting this family in June 2010. They live in a small rented home, and both the father and grandmother work in a stone quarry, making about 50 cents a day.  The mother of the children died shortly after the birth of the youngest child (seen being held by the grandmother). The mother had liver cancer and it was only discovered when she gave birth to that little girl.  Often, the children go with the grandmother into the quarries.  The children recently had to leave school because the family could not afford to pay.  Through the gift of another, we were able to return the oldest boy, Godfried, back into P-7, a critical year for education.  We have now added him, and his younger brother to our sponsorship list, praying that we will find sponsors to help them continue their education.  Godfried was told he had been given the opportunity to return to school so he washed his only clothes so they would be clean for his first day back at school.  The clothes did not dry in time so he missed that first day.  Thankfully, he is now back in P-7 and we are praying for Godfried and his family.

This is another precious little family of children who lost their mother.  Last year, the mother was killed working in the stone quarries.  She left behind these 4 beautiful children and their father, who also works at the stone quarry. He recently had the oldest child, Eseza, leave school to care for her 3 younger siblings while he goes to work.  They do not eat all day, and when he returns from work in the evenings he tries to find food for them.  Mercy Uganda is working with the headmistress of the school Eseza was attending in efforts to have the children board at the school so Eseza can return to school, and all three children can receive food.  We were able to provide financial assistance which purchased mattresses, mosquito nets, and food for the children.

 
******************************************************

***************************************************

 A story of rescue and hope....

Below is a picture of George with his wife Peace. They are in his small electrical supply store in Kampala.

George's Testimony...

Below is a very short version of the testimony my friend George Yawe shared with me during my last trip to Uganda. He is the gentleman who coordinated our visit to Kyamagemule in September, and who also coordinated the open air crusade there.

 George grew up in Kyamagemule. His family, like the others there, were extremely poor and he did not have access to an education. When George was about 12 years old a couple came to the village and offered to take him and provide shelter, food, and an education. His parents wanted more for George than what they could offer so they agreed. The couple ended up being witch doctors who severely abused, beat, bound, and burned George over the course of 2-3 years, finally leaving him for dead after a final burning of his legs over a fire. George was picked up and put in a hospital for several months. No one, not even his family knew where he was. He was not a Christian at the time, but missionaries came to the hospital and shared Christ with him. He accepted the Lord, and his first prayer was that his family could find him. This all happened around Christmas, how awesome.....his mother showed up at the hospital. George asked her how she found him and she said that someone in the village (Kyamagemule) had found a letter addressed to her on the ground, brought it to her and read it....it told her where to find George. He asked her where the letter was, and she said that no one has been able to find it since. George said that God wrote that letter and dropped it from heaven into Kyamagemule. The very first miracle God gave him. Years later George was asked to share his story on the radio in Uganda. The witch doctor couple was listening and called in. They wanted to contact George, not to continue the pain they had caused years before, but to let him know that they, too, had become Christians! Never think that a person's heart is too hard for God to change it. Never think that your life has been so bad that God cannot change it. George's testimony shows God's power in so many ways.....
his experience is what has led him back to Kyamagemule to help others.

***************************************************

Enock's Story

This is Bethel House, the orphanage where Enock lived.  It is tucked safely behind iron fencing for the protection of the children.

Though we do not have a picture of Enock to share with you, we want to share his story via this letter sent by our dear friend Rev Dr. Kefa Sempangi.  We pray that your heart will be touched by Enock's story......

Laura,
One of our children at the orphanage died last week 7th Nov and was buried yesterday.There was a huge gathering for burial. Enock Sebanga born 1988 became a national concern in 2000 through the media and was a among the first children to attract government intervention .Sebanga was almost starved to death by his own parents at Kalerwerwe in Kampala.
  
During Sebanga’s brutal torture his left collar bone was broken and exposed to the surface.It was restored to normal position at Mulago Hospital in 2000.It is two and a half years that Doctors at Mengo Hospital found out that this bone had generated cancer in Sebanga’s body-Leukemia.
  
In 2000 Sebanga’s parents stood trial and were charged and sentenced in the courts of law. From the beginning of 2009 Sebanga had been undergoing chemotherapy treatment at the Kampala international Hospital, until about a month ago when his blood count could no longer contain the tough chemo treatment. Sebanga was terminally ill and given 28 days to live, the exact time he died.
He died a born again strong Christian.
  
Yours in Christ.
  Rev. Dr . Kefa Sempangi