"And let us not loose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary."

                 Galatians 6:9                                

I want to tell you the story of one of our children. It is a true story, one that encourages me as I continue to serve our Lord here in Uganda. James and his brother, Jacob, lost both of their parents to AIDS when they were very young. They have been growing up with their Grandmother and Grandfather. They live in a mud house and share a room with each other and a couple of goats. The floor is made of dirt, the walls of sticks and dirt and the roof of grass which leaks when it rains. This means the floor becomes mud in the night when it rains! Because of the goats, the boys often have fleas in their room that bite them regularly! This is the only life, however, that the two boys have ever known.

James had no hope of going to school. He worked in the gardens and helped with the cows at home with his Grandfather. He attended the public school but was often sent home because he lacked a uniform or books, or even a pen and pencil. Then in the 3^rd grade he was blessed by God with a sponsor. He now had a uniform, shoes and more. The shoes hurt his feet at first since he had never worn them before. His English was not good, and his grades were not good since he was not consistently in school and rarely had food. The school did not serve lunches, so the mango tree was where he found his lunch. James had to look after his younger brother, Jacob, a lot because his Grandparents are very old. Jacob also has a sponsor now.

When James finished the last year of primary (elementary) school, we were all shocked that his grades were good. We sent him to a good high school but he was having a difficult time because of his English. We then found an adult high school that worked under the Uganda Red Cross and now James can carry on very good conversations in English, he is doing well in math, and seems that he is very bright. James wants to make something of himself and just needed that chance that he has found through the sponsorship program here at HUM. We are excited to see the change in him (and his brother). Pray for his continued growth as he is almost finished now with high school. He will branch to a vocational training institute when he finishes.

This is how it is for most of the children that have sponsors. Their homes are like James and Jacob's. Some live with Aunts and Uncles, Grandparents, some a widowed mother, others with their biological parents who are in bad condition. Sponsorship is important to the lives of these children. We are thankful to God for the faithful sponsors and pray that you continue to be faithful in sending in your funds and praying for the children and their homes.

The most important thing that we do for these children is share the gospel and the love of Christ with them. James has not yet come to know the Lord, he needs your prayers. Many children have come to Christ, and we give thanks to God for this, many others need your prayers. Education is important in shaping and changing their lives, but the most important is the influence of Christ in their heart and lives.

One of our children who left the ministry long ago went a wrong direction, as he never had accepted Christ. He even ended up in prison as a result of stealing. He even broke into our office at one time and stole some computer supplies and other things. We were very sad, not because of the things we lost, but because his soul was lost. We have never given up praying for him. Even talking to him when he would somehow show up out of the blue! Last month we were blessed as he came to church on a Sunday, though he is staying a long ways from us now, but he wanted to come and see us. He went forward at the end of the service and got on his knees and cried and asked us all to forgive him. He gave a testimony that I will never forget. I went up after the service and hugged him and cried with him and he asked me have you forgiven me and I said "A long time ago. I just kept praying for you." He cried more and told me about his wife and three children. What a blessing that day was. One never knows what will happen with the seeds that are planted.