Belonging!

April 2023

Belonging!

Rainy season is finally upon us and it is wonderful. It is good to see the crops growing and to know that in about two months we should start harvesting some food. Most of the families in the community do not have running water or nearby natural water sources for irrigation and depend on the rain to water their gardens. The dry season was hotter than usual, but we were glad to get the renovations of the Holmes Medical Clinic finished during this time. The clinic is looking like new again and this time we added more personality on the inside! Here are a few of the pictures to show some of the improvements.

Off to School

The year is going fast and it is hard to believe that we are already a third of the way into it. Most importantly, children are hearing the Gospel and learning a Biblical world view through Awana Club, Sunday School and at our Genesis Primary School. It is hard to believe that the first of 3 school terms is almost over and those that are in secondary boarding schools and schools of higher education will be returning for a short break in May.

We have found that tuition and boarding costs at the secondary schools have gone up this year, primarily because of food and energy increases. A gift of $50 will cover the extra costs for the term if you would like to help with a special gift to cushion these costs for us. Please note “High School” with your check or select it on our online giving form:

The Children’s Home has one of our long-time sponsored children staying with us for a few months! Some of you may have seen the “Donate A Plate” video for Genesis Nursery/Primary School or you can see it now at our website. The young boy that was in the video is Andrew. He is 15 years of age now and finishing his last year at our Genesis Primary School. Some of you may not know Andrew’s story. Andrew and his sister were growing up with their very ill grandmother who was unable to care of them properly, or even care for herself. Andrew’s older sister was sent to boarding school, leaving young Andrew to do much of the work in the home and garden. Their grandmother passed away about 3 years ago and Andrew was moved around among extended family a bit and finally ended up with an aunt. She, however, does not have the means beyond what we are able to offer through sponsorship to care for him as he needs.

Andrew studies hard and a little over a year ago he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. He is growing in the Lord and has improved even more in his studies dispite his living circumstances. However, his health has suffered due to a lack of good feeding and care. He recently required very serious surgery for a double hernia. The operation went well and he is healing. He needed a place to stay where he could be looked after, not carrying water or doing hard work, and eating well. We invited Andrew into the Children’s Home to recover from the surgery. We were happy to take him in for a bit to nourish him and make him feel like family! He is enjoying the love and community and says that “he feels like he is in a real home and really belongs” for the first time in his life. I ask for your prayers as he missed a week of school and is in one of the toughest years of school here is in Uganda. This is the last year of primary school and determines a child’s future for going to secondary school. Please continue to pray for his full recovery.

Also, Andrew will begin secondary boarding school next year and will need additional sponsorship of $100/month from one or between two new sponsors. Please contact Cindy at homeoffice@hineskids.org if you would like to bless Andrew and join with us to make a significant difference in his life to the glory of God.

Thank you to all of you who sponsor a child or help in other ways. I thank God for each and everyone of you and ask Him to bless you all and return to you a hundred-fold. You are all a part of the work we do.

We love you all!

Katherine