Musana Newsletter September 2017
Ordinary Saturday or a Day to Remember?
Happy Birthday, Musana!
“Do you know what today is?” It was a question repeated multiple times on Saturday, September 16 th . It wasn’t until they were asked, “Where were you nine years ago?” that the original Musana children’s faces lit up and they knew, “Today is Musana’s birthday!” What seemed like an average Saturday turned into appreciating a day nine years ago that was anything but average for them. Tuesday, September 16 th , 2008 was a day that completely transformed their lives. For many of them, it was the first time that they slept on a bed, or the first time that they fell asleep with full bellies knowing that they would be fed again in the morning. It was a day that would pave the way for a bright future. It was a day they would ALWAYS remember. Although we were not able to celebrate officially this year (just wait until 2018 when we make 10 YEARS!), we were able to reflect on how much has been accomplished. In nine years, it is incredible to think where Musana has come and where the children that day nine years ago would end up. At nine years, more than ever, we can see the fruits of our labor as the children are becoming adults and catalysts in their communities. Juliet is one of them!

We love to tell the story of Juliet’s family because each of them means SO much to Musana. Her and her three siblings were four of the original kiddos at Musana and each of them shines so bright. They are a dynamic group. They never knew their dad and when their mother became fatally ill from HIV/AIDS, their grandmother took all four of them in, along with many of her other grandchildren who had also lost their parents. With the hopes of better providing for her grandchildren, their grandmother sent them to live in the original orphanage that promised to care for them. However, instead of being well-fed, educated and loved, they endured hunger, idleness, and abuse. That is the condition we found Harriet, Juliet, Rachel and Solomon in during the summer of 2008.

This year, Juliet was the first Musana graduate to enter university to pursue a Bachelors degree… a HUGE accomplishment. To fully understand what this means and why it is such a big deal, we need to go back. When Musana first started, many of the children had never had a formal education. They lacked the foundations of education with very poor literacy and basic math skills. The idea of finishing primary education seemed impossible. The idea of going to high school or even one day a higher education institute was unthinkable. We have had about twenty of our original children graduate from their ordinary level of high school and all of them have sought vocational trainings that include nursing, teaching, tailoring, welding, etc. We are SO proud of them for their perseverance, hard work, and how far they have come! Juliet, on the other hand, is one of two of our graduates who has gone through the advanced level of high school (a more academic track in Ugandan education) and will be the first to pursue her Bachelors. Not only that, but Juliet took the initiative and applied for a scholarship at Uganda’s most competitive institute, Makerere University, and received a FULL ride scholarship. She is currently living in Kampala (the capital of Uganda) studying education. She dreams of being a professor in her future with the means to counsel and guide troubled youth to seek their full potential. More than anything she wants to give to others what she was given, opportunity.

Juliet is the first of many Musana children that will reach university and we are SO proud of her. She is already moving others to persevere and have faith through their greatest hardships. God has big plans for her. Musana is nine years strong, shining so much light in individual lives and acting as an anchor in the community. We cannot wait to see more sunrays of hope develop through our programs in the many many years to come! Happy Birthday, Musana!!!!
Volunteers WANTED
We have an AMAZING Fall planned and we need your HELP. (You do not need to be a member of a specific partner church in order to help, just a friend of Musana.)

Sign up by emailing Kelly , Stateside Volunteer and Merchandise Coordinator. Thank you!!
Choose one or more dates.

IF Gathering Events Flatirons Community Church
November 13th, 5:00 pm-9:00 pm | Lafayette campus 
November 14th, 5:00 pm-9:00 pm | Denver campus
November 15th, 5:00 pm-9:00 pm | West campus (Genessee)

World Gift Market First Plymouth Church, (3501 S Colorado Blvd, Englewood, CO)
November 18th | 8:00 am-12:00 pm or 12:00 pm-4:00 pm
November 19th | 8:00 am-11:00 pm or 11:00 pm-2:00 pm
       
Christmas Mission Market Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church
(1980 Dahlia St, Denver, CO)
December 3rd, 8:00 am-1:00 pm
         
Flatirons Community Church Christmas Sales
December 9th, 3:00 pm -8:00 pm | Lafayette campus
(you will be able to attend 4:00 or 6:00 service)  
         
December 10th, 8:15am-12:45 pm | Lafayette campus
                          8:15am-12:45 am | Denver campus
                          8:15am-12:45 am | West campus (Genessee)
                          8:15am-12:45 am | Aurora campus
(you will be able to attend 9:00 or 11:00 service at any location)
    
December 16th, 3:00pm-8:00pm | Lafayette campus
(you will be able to attend 4:00 or 6:00 service)
       
December 17th, 8:15 am -12:45 pm,| Lafayette campus
                          8:15 am -12:45 am | Denver campus
                          8:15 am -12:45 am | West campus (Genessee)
                          8:15am -12:45 am | Aurora campus
(you will be able to attend 9:00 or 11:00 service at any location)

Christmas Mailing & Appreciation Effort Flatirons Church Offices
(400 W. South Boulder Rd, Suite 1700, Lafayette, CO)
November 29th, December 6th, 13th, 20th, and/or January 3, 2018
10:00 am - noon