There has been an update absence for the last two weeks, however, lots of activities have been going on in the Joy of A Child Ministry and here we bring you the last two weeks and this week’s upcoming activities.
Arrival of new volunteer: On the 23rd June, David and Jen traveled to pick up Danelle from Entebbe Airport. Danelle is a new volunteer from USA who got to know about JOAC through her Father, Phil, who has been a JOAC partner for the last nine months when he visited. Danelle’s arrival at the Airport was 10: 15pm. Tired but excited, she was welcomed by the eagerly waiting Jen and David who later took her to the hotel where they would spend a night before the next day’s journey to Mbarara. With weather similar to that of Ecuador, where she has spent half of her life, Danelle experienced a few surprises like driving on the left side and reddish dirt on the road as they headed to Mbarara. As they arrived at the JOAC home, Danelle was welcomed by the sweet smiling faces of the kids. She has had to adjust to the food, family life here, bathrooms without running water and other things. Danelle optimistically says that as time goes on she will get more adjusted.
Rwanda trip: 28th June saw Jen, Danelle, young Daniel, David and Esther go to Rwanda. Rwanda is different from Uganda as far as the roads, traffic organization and neatness is concerned. David who was driving for the first time in Rwanda occasionally got in trouble with the Police over sometimes driving on the left side instead of the right, and also keeping his lights off because the roads were fully lit, but because of his negotiation and humor skills, he often got pardoned. In Rwanda they stayed with Esther`s cousin, her husband, and their baby. Rwanda had lots to offer, they among other things visited the genocide memorial site, visited the Youth with a Mission base where they had a free meal and internet. They also had an outreach to the widows whom Agnes (Esther’s cousin) reaches to through helping them start businesses, during the outreach, Jen shared with the over 20 widows from the book ‘Living in Love with Jesus’ and also gave her testimony. Another outreach was at a secondary school where David shared his testimony and Jen and Danelle shared with the students about “transforming the world and not letting the world transform you,” at the end of their sharing, 13 young men gave their lives to Christ.
The JOAC group also visited Esther’s siblings who now stay with her Uncle’s widowed wife, before Esther got married to David they were under her care. During the visit Esther shared with them the effects of the 1994 genocide which did not spare some of her family members, she even showed them some of the people that killed some of her family members. Rwandans are still healing from the genocide, as most of the people know and live around the people that harmed and killed their relatives and friends.
God miraculously intervened when Esther lost her passport and car documents. After lots of praying and searching for the documents someone called and gave back the documents.
2nd July was their return travel day, having missed the kids at the house so much; everyone looked forward to the time with the kids again. As they reached the gate Jen yelled “Family!” the kids were excited and showered them with hugs. To crown the comeback excitement, David took several rounds driving around the compound. Later in the night there was a dancing competition in which all the kids and staff participated. Excited by her dancing moves, the kids chose Danelle overall winner of the competition.
Sunday service: As described by David, this Sunday was a unique one. The numbers went further higher that all the chairs in the JOAC house made it to the compound (Church) and still weren’t enough for the congregation. As usual the boys led the service, led worship and Junior, a young boy of about 13 shared in the Sunday school service. His sharing was incredible; he was introduced by the service leader as ‘Pastor Junior’. With a smiling face he took it to the front holding his bible with both hands, seemingly timid. The soft spoken Junior started with his testimony. One time he witnessed a man killed by a speeding car, when he got back home and shared with his Mum about the fatal incident, she harshly replied saying, “I wish it were you that had been killed”. In tears Junior also shared about his economically struggling family that often got chased out of the house over defaulting rent. This is how David met him, they had been chased out of the house by the Landlord, and God miraculously brought David to his rescue. Since then he has been able to receive education through the JOAC ministry. His sharing and testimony drove some congregants into tears.
David announced Jen’s leaving the next Thursday, it was very sad for some of the members of church, mostly the JOAC kids and family. Jen has bonded with them in a very special way over the last two months of her volunteering. She shared in the main service, mostly highlighting what she has learned during her stay at the JOAC house. Towards the end of the service Jen was officially released and prayed for by the congregation.
Upcoming events:
Wednesday: Double birthday celebration for Junior and Joshua and Jen’s farewell party (she has purchased ice cream to mark the second time most of the kids have tasted it).
Thursday: Jen leaves for Kampala for a few days before leaving for the US.
Blog by: Joseph
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