THE JOY OF A CHILD WEEKEND

   A JOAC weekend day out at a public Swimming pool

Like all other weekends, last weekend was fun and a time of interaction with the kids and members of the Nyamitanga community. We always engage the kids in a time of relaxation and recreation to kick off their weekly stress of waking up very early and walking to and from school, and studying so hard. It is also vital to note that the kids always look forward to weekends, where they have so much time for themselves, their colleagues, family parents, the staff, and other members of the community. Here we bring you the weekend experience at the JOAC ministry:

Saturday

The excitement that fills up a JOAC weekend

Saturday is always the major day that ushers the kids into the weekend fun. The kids wake up to all sorts of curiosity of what will happen throughout their day. They of course have to do their house chores before anything else, they later have breakfast in which they engage conversations of how their week of school experiences. This Saturday the kids had a run with Aunt Esther, something they had taken quite long without. They jogged around the JOAC spacious compound for about 30 minutes before doing an athlete’s competition in which Emmy took the first lead. Later that evening the kids did their worshiping and dancing rehearsals for the next day`s Sunday service.

Sunday

Natukunda (2nd left)with her two boys and Cousin Sister after the service

Sunday is always a great day that the kids participate in. They lead the service, lead worship, do the dancing, and one of them shares in the Sunday school before the day`s preacher. Last Sunday some of the boys went to minister at Day-star cathedral in Mbarara town. Clad in their iconic ‘police’ T-shirts and blue jeans, they excitedly set off for ministry early morning before the JOAC service. It was quite hard for the service to go on without them as most of them that lead the service and worship had gone away to Day-star cathedral. But God filled the vacuum with Uncle David leading the service and also most of the worship. The church is steadily growing with mostly youthful members from the Nyamitanga Business and Secretarial Institute. The church also receives visitors every Sunday. Last Sunday we received a young woman who came with her two little boys. Natukunda as she is called shared with us her horrible story of how she was sexually abused by a man while in her teenage. She ended up having 3 children with him. The man has of recent left her alone with the kids. Amazingly, Natukunda has in God, she knows and acknowledges that it is God that is seeing her through these tough moments, and that God will take care of the rest.

Joseph Stressing a Point during his Sharing

Uncle Joseph shared in the main service about “compromise” which he blended with his testing moments at university. He shared through giving examples of the biblical Joseph and Daniel who never compromised their faith. He also cited people like Samson who compromised their faith and ended up badly. Joseph`s testimony focused on standing by his faith even where his fellow classmates couldn’t. For example, everyone in his class would cheat for an exam and he wouldn’t because of his faith, his classmates would in turn insult him and call him stupid for not engaging in the practice. Joseph was rewarded by God for not compromising his faith. He is graduating with an honor`s degree on Saturday. He scored very good grades topping his class. The Sunday message was inspiring and encouraging to mostly the youths who attend our church.

After the service, everyone went for lunch and came back to celebrate one of the church members` birthday. Clare turned 19 and the whole church was there to celebrate her day. Everyone wrote sweet words which were presented to her. A cake was made for her, and everyone got treated to a soda. Dancing was the peak of the moment before Clare and her friends went back to their college for further celebrations.

Birthday girl, Clare (left) with a friend from her college

Members attentively following the birthday program

Clare prepares to cut her cake with the help of Aunt Esther

Clare`s college friends dancing the day away

Blog by Joseph Ochwo

THE 5K RACE & WHAT GOD IS DOING AT JOAC

Dear friends,

On behalf of the Board Joy of a Child Uganda, we greet you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We wish to introduce to you the 5k race and also call for your contribution through participation. The aim of the race is to raise funds for the Joy of a Child ministry in Uganda. Your participation and contribution will provide food to a starving child in Uganda will educate a child, help save a generation from the ugly poverty and generally enhance a child`s spiritual, mental, physical, and social growth. Please register and read more about the 5k race by clicking here: http://joyofachild.net/5kevent.html 

You can also have a look at what the Lord is doing at JOAC in the details below:

About Joy of a Child Ministry:

Joy of a child (JOAC) is a Christ driven ministry based in the south western Uganda town of Mbarara, with over 83,000 people. The ministry is reaching out to some of the world`s poorest children through the love of Christ, by providing a home, education, love and care of the heavenly father to the down trodden kids of this society. Most of who have been victims to poverty, disease, violence, guilt, rape, and societal neglect.  JOAC strives to meet the holistic needs of these children; spiritually, socially, physically, and psychologically. Some other beneficiaries to this ministry are young girls who are currently involved (or recently left) commercially sexual exploitative situations that they have been forced to, by their own parents or the pressures of living.

Below is a description of some of the activities/departments that are involved in the JOAC ministry:

The Child Care Department

As mentioned in the above introduction, Joy of a Child is home to about 13 children living under one roof, 6 girls and 7 boys including Shiba who in spite of currently living with her Mum, is directly part of the home and comes in at anytime she wishes. The child care program does not only provide a bed, food, and shelter, but its paramount aim is to provide a constant flow of love and care to all the children in the house. This is instigated through the fatherly figure played by David and the motherly figure played by Esther. They are both figures that hold the kids’ behaviors, growth, and responsibilities accountable. They have over the time seen a connection of heart develop between them and the kids, giving them a security that they never had before. Through them, God is steadily blessing the kids with love, security, and care amidst the many challenges that come with parenting such a big number of kids. David and Esther thank God for the blessing that has come with the Uganda board, who have been their advisors, prayer partners, co-decision makers in the ministry and mostly in the challenging moments of ministry.  They testify that such challenges have been learning opportunities to them.

The Education department

We thank God for education, for it is the backbone to not only society, but also a child`s development. Almost all the JOAC kids attend school, except for a few. And this has come as a blessing to give the kids a future and hope. Two are in their middle class of Kindergarten, Shiba is in Tertiary doing a tailoring course, and the rest are in Primary school. Their academic performance has been fair as some are academically sounder than the others. They are all in their third term of school which determines whether they will be promoted to the next class or be demoted. We thank you our partners for your constant prayer and support towards the kids` education, and please continue praying for their academic excellence.

Outreach program

The JOAC outreaches are conducted during the kids` holidays from school and also weekends when they are all available. Last holiday we held a gospel crusade with the kids in a nearby trading centre, and a number of people gave their lives to Christ. The kids have been ministering in different churches, conferences, and seminars through music, dance, and drama.

Extension program

JOAC has seen God change lives through its extension program. This involves the beneficiaries to the ministry who leave outside the JOAC home mostly the young women who are always reached out to on weekends by Esther or sometimes come to the JOAC home for counseling. Brian is also on the extension where his education and spiritual life is being supported and monitored. 

The JOAC Church

The church is now about 3 months old and has seen a steady growth, with members from around the community. The church has impacted the community spiritually and also the lives of its members given the testimonies that come about every Sunday. There is generally something happening in the spiritual ream of this Muslim dominated community through the church. Below is a video of one of our earliest church Services:

God bless you,

The Board Joy of a Child Uganda

The JOAC weekend

A lot of activity went on this weekend!

On Saturday the kids did their house chores as usual, had their breakfast and later kicked for games in the spacious JOAC compound. This always helps them to put off the stress gained during a week of school. Later in the evening some of the boys under the “Hot Steppers” dancing group attended a conference at Nyamitanga Resort where they got an opportunity to do ministry, they did what they do best-danced. In their iconic T-shirts dubbed “Police”, the kids zealously trekked the 10 minutes` walk to the Resort where the conference was being held. They performed in the midst of the congregation that had filled the resort`s conference Hall to capacity, receiving cheers for their amazing dancing strokes. One thing that we thank God for is the confidence that the boys have gained towards ministry, they bravely face the crowd and do what they are meant to do-serve God in dancing, they passionately dancing.

In the night the kids rehearsed for Sunday`s worship, they did a couple of songs, identifying a worship leader for each song before retiring to sleep.

Sunday was tricky because it had rained a lot in the night. The rains had mudded the grounds of the mango tree that shelters the JOAC church. More still, a few members from outside the JOAC home attended the service, most probably because of the heavy down pour. This time around, only one outsider, who was attending the church for her very first time attended. Rains always disrupt many activities here because of poor roads. Though challenging, the rains (and this being a rainy season), Identifies a need for a tent that will provide shelter for the JOAC kids` church.

The worship was amazingly okay, with Joseph playing his acoustic guitar and Kanan playing the local drum, as the rest of the kids and the congregation joined in the worship. The kids enthusiastically testified about the good things that God has done for them throughout the week, and Conrad Junior one of the kids shared a sermon from Psalm 119:105 during the Sunday school session. Uncle David shared in the main service about “the power of the tongue” he took the congregation through the book of Genesis 1 and 3. He later announced a week of reading and studying the book of Genesis. All the kids and staff are expected to participate in this.

By Joseph Ochwo

The JOAC Report

Kids end their Month Long holiday

Some of the kids going for their first day of school

Last Monday marked the beginning of the third term of school for the JOAC kids this year. They for the last one month enjoyed their holiday with the JOAC holiday program. Though not fully executed due to some setbacks, the program served its purpose well. Its major purpose was to engage the kids in activities that would develop them physically, mentally, and spiritually. When asked about how his holiday went, Davin (one of the older kids) enthusiastically answered, “perfect!”  Not only did the kids have enough time for themselves but also for ministry, their colleagues, and the community at large. With the two days` open air evangelism held at Nsikye market, the kids danced, played games with kids from the community, testified about how God has changed their lives, danced, and sang praises to God.  They also attended a teens` conference at one of the churches in Mbarara where they ministered in dancing, and singing. Not only did they bless their teenage colleagues but they were also ministered to through the word of God that came from different guest speakers at the conference and the ministry from other teenagers from around Mbarara. During their holidays, the kids also got involved in doing African crafts; they made soccer balls out of banana fibers among other crafts. These are being sold at Esther`s crafts shop, the income from this is used to meet some of the needs at the JOAC home. Ruth one of the girls has been enrolled in Aloysius Primary School for Primary Five, her classes commenced on Monday and she is all excited about being in school again, making new friends, and pursuing her dream of becoming a Nurse.  

Kids` academic performance:

This time around we bring you the kids` performance, this is meant to give you an idea on how to best pray for each kid’s education and future. A number of them have got the privilege of going to school. Two are in Kindergarten, seven are in primary level, and one is in tertiary.

ALafat Turibamwe:

Alafat is 6 years old and in middle class at St Agnes School. In his last term school report, the teachers describe him as a social, loves sharing with others, and listening. He is a sports kid who enjoys climbing ladders, running around, and playing soccer.  He can read three letter words draw pictures and name them, and he has a great handwriting.

Afusa Kansangye:

Afusa is 5 years old; she is in middle class at St Agnes School. In her academic report, the teachers describe her performance as good. She is musical, loves singing, dancing, and teaching her colleagues how to dance. Afusa is also very artistic; she loves drawing, painting, and shading pictures.

Shivan Kamanzi:

Shivan is 6 years old; she is in primary one at St Agnes School. Her academic report describes her as disciplined, freely expresses herself, and loves cooperating with others. Shivan is very good at reading, English, art and craft, Music, and doing physical exercises. She took on a position of 28^th out of 44 pupils in her class.

Joseph Kwikiriza:

Joseph is 8 years old; he is in Primary two at St Agnes School. In his academic report, the teachers describe him as disciplined, good at expressing himself, cooperating with others, and personal responsibility. Joseph took a position of 10^th out of 58 pupils in his class.

Joshua Mpumwire:

Joshua is 10 years old; he is a Primary two pupil at St Agnes. His academic report describes him as a disciplined boy. He loves helping out others, and is good at playing Soccer. Joshua was the 37^th out of 58 pupils in his class, thus a concerned need from his teachers to improve on his academic progress.

Keith Akandwanaho:

Keith is 10 years old; he is a primary six pupil at St Lawrence Primary School. His academic report indicates that he is good at agriculture. With a position of 13^th out of 30 pupils in his class, Keith needs to improve his effort on weak subjects such as, English, Religious Studies, and Science which he performed poorly. He also needs to improve on his punctuality, because he reports for classes late (this is because Keith`s school is far from home, he has to always come back home for lunch, if he were to pay for lunch at school like his friends, he would be pretty punctual).

Davin Tinyefunza:

Davin is 14 years old; he is a primary four pupil at St Agnes. He is fairly good at Science and Social Studies. However, he needs to improve on his English, and Mathematics which have been cited as his weakest areas of performance according to his academic report.

Emmy Arinaitwe:

Emmy is 13 years old. He is a primary five pupil at St Lawrence Primary School. In his academic report, Emmy`s strength is shown in Mathematics, where he scores a fairly good mark. However, he needs to improve in the rest of the subjects. Emmy was in the 17^th position out of 48 pupils.

Patrick Rwendire:

Patrick is 14 years old. He is a primary six pupil at St Lawrence Primary School. In his academic report, his academic muscle is shown in science and social studies. However, he needs to improve in English and Mathematics. Patrick was the 10^th out of 34 pupils.

Naluyima Naswiba (Shiba):

Shiba is one of the girls on the JOAC extension program. She stays with her 2 year old baby boy at her drunken mother`s place, a few minutes’ walk from the JOAC home. She is now pursuing a course in tailoring. However, her education has suffered due to the hard differences she holds with her mother. She expects her to work for money to cater for the family food and rent. It is very challenging to her in that it has affected her studies a great deal. Her last term`s academic report indicates a general poor performance which needs improvement. The report indicates that she does not regularly attend classes. Shiba needs prayers from you (the reader). If she successfully pursues her education, it will definitely change the face of her living, and probably that of her family, it will bring hope.

Mbikize Conrad (Junior):

Conrad is 13 years old. He is a primary six pupil at St Aloysius primary school. His academic report indicates that he is a well behaved boy. However, his academic performance is poor and needs improvement. He only managed to do English fairly, but all the other subjects of his study were poorly performed.

P.S:

There are other girls like Molleen and Kakuru in the house who are not in school, but still believe God for an opportunity to get into school. We also believe God to provide for the schooling of other kids on our extension program. These stay with relatives or friends. If a door opens, they will be put into school.

By Joseph Ochwo

(JOAC Communication department)