REACH: Rescue African Children

REACHing Beyond the Classroom

     Sponsorship touches a child’s life in many ways:  it provides for books, school supplies, uniforms, a daily hot meal, and even a sense of being loved.   There are also times when REACH steps in to help meet medical needs of the students you sponsor.  Pastor Fred shares, “We have some bad news to bring to your attention for prayer about a sponsored child that was knocked down by a scooter on February 17, 2010 while returning home from Omega School. The boy is in the baby class and on his way home he branched off to go and greet his uncle along with his friends, he then crossed back to the other side to continue with his walk home but there he was knocked by a fast running scooter.

Kalamoya and Grandmother

Unfortunately the scooter man just took off leaving the boy bleeding with his head and eye wounded badly. Good Samaritans helped and rushed him to the hospital where he is still admitted but going through a lot of pain. His grandmother is with him at hospital.  The boy’s name is Kalamoya Spillane Benjamin – UG/1008. Please pray for his speedy recovery.”

     Through child sponsorship REACH is able to meet the need for medical expenses when the occasions arise.  Thank you for your part in taking care of young Benjamin in his time of need.  Pray that Benjamin’s eye does not suffer permanent damage.  An update on Benjamin’s condition will be updated in next month’s newsletter.

Acreage Ready for Planting

Project Updates:

     The Omega School Agriculture Project is underway.  Pastor Fred Tumwebaze has obtained a one-season lease for a 50-acre parcel of land as the project’s initial location.  Located near the Nile River, the land is prime real estate for growing maize (corn).  Pastor Fred reports, “We have finished tilling waiting now for the rain so we can plant which will be done by hand since we have no attachment for planting.” Maize harvested later this year will help provide a full meal for Omega students. Now that the leased parcel has been cleared and plowed the tractor is earning income for Omega School as it is leased to neighboring farms.  Thanks are sent from Uganda to all who helped provide the funds needed to purchase the tractor.  Your gift will continue to bless the children of Omega School for years to come.

    The new kitchen at Omega School is now fully operational. “We are witnessing the saving of firewood and the cooks are so happy to have a well built kitchen that is very convenient and easy to use.”  Under past conditions – outdoor cooking with open flames under a steel drum – the February 17 rain would have spoiled efforts to serve a warm meal for the Omega children.  However, due to the newly completed kitchen and purchase of new stoves, serving a hot meal to the children posed no problem.  “People from outside who used to see us cook from outdoors, passed and were heard talking to each other, ‘Today Omega has not cooked because of the rain,’ they did not know that we started using our new modern kitchen,” reports Pastor Fred. “Many thanks go to all of you that gave to this cause. May God bless all our supporters for their continued commitment and love.”

From the Director’s Pen

2009 Report

Dear Friends,

 I humbly bring you Uganda greetings and update you on how things are with the work and the ministry at large. Hope you had a Merry Christmas as did my family and Omega School children. We always pray for you as our ministry partners and supporters and we continue to pray that all may go well for you in 2010.  May the Lord’s power and favor be upon your family and the work of your hands.

My family has been well and doing fine. Jeremiah our son is growing so fast he can now run and is able to say “Dad” and “Aunt,” but he cannot say “Mom” which does not make his mother so happy. Thank you for praying my family, and for those that support us as a family financially, we say thank you so much for standing with us. Our desired need this year is to be able to build a house of our own, so please pray with us.

Omega School Buildings

The Lord has been so good in providing for the completion of the Library and the computer lab. The big building will house the library and two classes the library is in the middle 40ft long by 20ft width. The small building will house the computer lab and two offices.  An Examination Center has also been completed and has 150 single-seat desks in place; this was also funded by our friends in California.

School Kitchen

The school kitchen is finished with 3 energy-saving cooking stoves fully installed; each stove has a cooking pot of 200 litters of water. This is the best modern wood stoves and will save us a lot of wood.  Food will now be prepared on time and kept warm until served. All kids will eat at the same time since the stoves are enough to prepare the needed food for the over 500 students. Cooking has been made easy and I reach our thanks to all the friends that donated to the construction and the modern wood stoves for Omega school.

Agriculture Farm

In my 2009 visit to the USA I started sharing about the agriculture farm. I shared the need for a tractor to help in cultivating the soils for growing crops like corn, beans, sweet potatoes, and cassava. The goal is to be able to feed the students with a complete meal and to sell some of the produce in order to make income locally.  This income will help meet some of the needs locally and in the long run become self-supporting. Agriculture Farm is one the many income generating activities that we intend to do in our struggle to reach self-sustainability. We have now finalized the leasing of the land and now are clearing the stamps and trees to make it ready for tilling with a tractor. In the next update I will show in detail the tractor working in the farm.

Thank you for supporting this ministry and May the Lord continue to bless your in 2010.

Fred Tumwebaze

Director and Founder

Rescue African Children

Pastor Fred and Joan’s son Jeremiah

 

 

           New Omega School Library Building

 

Omega School Christmas

  “Am happy to report that it has been so joyful at Omega School today the 21^st Dec. 2009.  I have seen the happiness in eyes of each of the 400 kids singing, dancing and shouting for joy at the party.”  Rev. Fred Tumwebaze shares these words in hopes that readers catch a glimpse of how blessed the children felt as they shared a special meal of beef and rice, including a soda, prior to receiving a gift of new clothing – a dress for the girls, and a shirt with trousers or shorts for the boys.  One student happily exclaimed, “My father has never bought me clothes like this on Christmas!”

    “I would love to humbly reach my thanks to all of the sponsors and friends that contributed to the Christmas Fund which was introduced this year so that all children can share the joy of getting a Christmas gift.  Am glad to say that the party has happened and it is a blessing to see all kids happy at the same time,” shares Rev. Tumwebaze. 

   Each REACH sponsor and friend is asked to consider supporting the Christmas Fund 2010 by giving a little extra each month, or a one-time donation (see the remittance slip below).  Over $4,000 was donated in 2009 for this all-student celebration.  More lives can be touched in more ways in 2010 with your gracious gifts.

Special Delivery

  On December 11, after a four hour delivery, Pastor Fred announced the arrival of a new tractor.  Traveling from Kampala to Omega School in Buwenge, the tractor caught the eye of many passersby, and drew even more attention when it arrived at the school campus.  “It was a surprise to the community to see a new tractor.  People gathered in the morning to see and each of them was happy for this great accomplishment for the School. We shall be leasing land to use, but our prayer is that we get our own land in the near future.”

    The vision of The Omega School Agriculture Farm was first shared by Pastor Fred during his 2009 visit to the USA.  “Am so glad to report the good news about the achievement of the New Tractor that we now have.  We started to raise the funds during my trip to the USA this year.  By the time I returned home in June we had received $8,000, yet we needed over $30,000.  Glory be to God for the provision of all the needed money.  I would love to bring the joy and thanks from us and the Omega School to all churches and individuals giving towards this need.  Special thanks go to International Manufacturing Group for the ongoing support each time we have big and pressing needs. Together we are making a difference in the lives of Ugandan children.”

        Omega School has been undergoing planned expansion to meet the increasing needs of a growing student population. Rev. Fred Tumwebaze states, “The library and computer lab buildings are almost done.  We are now on finishes though they take some time. This has been a very long journey from 2007 when we started on it. I thank all the friends and families plus companies that have devoted themselves to the completion of this project.”     Donated books and computers will soon be housed in their newly completed homes.  As stated, the progress has been slow, but the dream is nearly realized due to the faithful prayers and financial support of sponsors and a few businesses dedicated to improving the life and education of the children of Uganda. 

   Another project that is underway is the construction of The Good Shepherd Farm. With governmental regulations slowing down the initial phases, (yes, there are building codes in Buwenge Town, Uganda) the project continues to show tremendous promise.     Pastor Fred reports that, “Chicken houses construction is in progress and now on window level. The block has 6 rooms each room is 30 ft width by 25 ft. Each room will house 300 chickens. Heartfelt hanks go out to all supporters that have given to this project. We still have a challenge to raise the remaining funds to finish the needed building for chickens. This chicken farm project will serve as an income generating project for the Omega School and also help improve the diet of the children as some eggs will be served on their meals. Our struggle in all this is to reach a level of self sufficiency but we need someone like you to help us get there.” 

Chicken Houses at Good Shepherd Farm

                  

     Together we can make a difference.  Perhaps this quote could serve as a call to all REACH sponsors and supporters.  If each gave a little, much could be accomplished.  Currently the lack of finances is all that is standing in the way of the provision of fresh eggs to help meet the nutritional needs of Omega School students.  As the project grows, eggs will be available for sale to raise money to sustain the chicken portion of the Farm and also provide for the expansion of the project to include the raising of other animals in the future. 

    Your generous support has provided the funds necessary to purchase the tractor and plow needed for  the Omega School Agricultural Project  (photo and story next month).

    As you take the opportunity to help with projects beyond your monthly child or pastor sponsorship, please remember to mark your remittance slip in the appropriate manner.  This will allow for proper and expedient allocation of your gifts.  Thank you all for your support in meeting the needs of Ugandan children sponsored through REACH.

Hadijja and her new bicycle

Gifts of Love 

My name is Hadijja Mukyeyaya.  My mother gave birth to three children , two boys and one girl, and it is me. But my mother died when I was 2 years old.   I did not even see her but I was just told that she died when I was still a baby. My father had two wives. Now I stay with my step mother.    Am happy with my sponsor for sponsoring me and giving me gifts. Am now in primary six at Omega School but going to school was a problem but now because of my sponsor am studying well. Some of my brothers do not go to school because my father  has many children and he has no school fees to pay for them.

    Am now 14 years old and am happy that on my birthday my sponsor sent $80 through REACH to buy me a bicycle. I will now be able to come to school early for classes. My bicycle will also help my family at home.

    Thank you so much, my sponsor, for helping me.  I love you.

   -  Mukyeyaya Hadijja -

    Sponsorship is a gift.  While receiving an extra gift on your birthday is indeed a special blessing—just as it is for us here in the USA— nothing compares to the ongoing  gift of child sponsorship.  Hadijja has just shared with you the added blessing of receiving a bicycle as a birthday gift.  It is indeed a gift that will bless her as well as her entire family.

    However, did you notice that Hadijjah’s father has children that he cannot afford to send to school?  This is a very common scenario—children unable to go to school due to the lack of family finances available for school fees.  For this reason child sponsorship is of prime importance to REACH. 

    You are invited to be an ambassador for REACH.  You are encouraged to share with your friends and family the opportunity to give the gift of sponsorship to a Ugandan child currently unable to receive an education due to the reality of poverty in the villages of this country.  Encourage others to take a look at the REACH website (rescueafricanchildren.org) and become informed in regards to opportunities to demonstrate love in a practical manner to a world in need.  Each gift makes a difference. 

 Christmas Gifts

     As reported in the past two newsletters, monetary gifts for individual children are allowed only for birthdays.  A General Christmas Fund has been established that will be shared by all students at Omega School.  Your gifts toward this fund are greatly encouraged and appreciated.  All sponsors are invited to participate in effort to touch the lives of the entire student population at Omega School.  Your gift of love will touch  the hearts of many in this cooperative effort.

   Christmas gifts must arrive in Fort Worth by November 10, 2009 in order to make the end of the month wire transfer to Uganda.  This will allow for REACH social workers to purchase gifts for the children at Omega School in time for Christmas.  Gifts arriving after this deadline will be applied towards Christmas 2010.

Thank You 

     Over the past several weeks efforts have been made to clarify the purpose of undesignated gifts by sponsors.  The responsiveness and cooperation of sponsors in dealing with these matters have been greatly appreciated.  Please remember to mark your monthly remittance coupon with the appropriate designation when sending extra gifts.  Thanks for doing your part in this process.

Edith with her individualized gifts

Gifts Touching Lives 

     Sponsorship is a coveted thing for the children of Omega School.  To be notified that “you now have a sponsor” is one of the greatest blessings a child can receive.  It is equivalent to the words “I love you.”    The impact of sponsorship flows deep into the souls of children at Omega.  The dramatic affects of a twenty dollar sponsorship are hard to see from a distance of 9000 miles.  For this reason the monthly REACH newsletters try to capture and portray the joy of children  and pastors touched by your generosity and commitment.

    This month two children share the joy stirred within their hearts as they received birthday gifts from their respective sponsors.  Each child had specific needs that REACH social workers identified and met, utilizing the birthday gifts.  Diverse gifts were received, but the same feeling of love was experienced by these children.

    My name is Edith Mbwali a sponsored child at Omega School. I got my sponsor this year. I stay with my father and step-mother since my mother left home, but she comes home to see us sometimes.    I feel very happy for the $100 I have got for my birthday from my sponsor.  I have bought a mattress because I did not have one. I also bought this dress, blanket, stockings, bed sheets, and nice shoes. I am now 9 years old, I thank my sponsor for my birthday gift. 

    My name is Jacob Kasaliro  and am in primary five at Omega School. Am now 14 years. I stay with my mother but my father died when I was very young. Am so happy because I received a bicycle a few months back and up to date I am still filled with joy.    This bicycle has been so helpful to me and my family because I use it while going to school this helps me to reach at school in time. Then I use this bicycle to help people at home in doing different activities like fetching water and sometimes carrying people at home to the hospital if any falls sick. So am grateful to my sponsor who sent me this gift and I pray that God gives him more blessings and fulfill the desires of his heart. Thank you once again. I wish you the very best.

    As reported in last month’s letter from REACH Founder/Director Fred Tumwebaze, monetary gifts for individual children are allowed only for birthdays.  A General Christmas Fund has been established that will be shared by all students at Omega School.  Your gifts toward this fund are greatly encouraged and appreciated.  All sponsors are invited to participate in effort to touch the lives of the entire student population at Omega School.  You gift of love will touch  the hearts of many in this cooperative effort..

    Options for touching your individual child’s life can be addressed with you personally upon your request.  A few suggested options are gifts towards The Good Shepherd Farm, the tractor purchase/Agricultural Project, or helping your child’s family start an income generating project.

    Opportunities to demonstrate love in practical ways are virtually endless through REACH.  Consider touching the lives of children with an expression of love by means of sponsorship or giving of an extra gift to one of the projects listed above.  Together we can touch their world.

Jacob and his new bicycle

 Dear Friends,

   Blessings to you in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Am so happy to bring to you Uganda greetings and to report that I returned home safe after a ten week visit to the USA from April 16 to June 29, 2009. I was so glad to see my family.

   My trip went well starting in California, then to Texas, Arkansas and New York. I would love to reach my thanks to all the friends and churches that hosted me homes and churches that allowed me to speak. To all those that helped to coordinate for me in each state please receive my humble thanks and may the Lord bless your hard work that was shown.

   Over 50 kids were sponsored and 3 pastors on this trip. One church in Texas sponsored ten kids. Donations for the completion of the School library and the kitchen were received and we are continuing with building work and hope to be ready at the end of September 2009. Many thanks go to the families and companies that have helped to this day to have the building of this great library for Omega School completed.

   During the trip I shared about the need to have a tractor bought for Omega School Agriculture Farm so that we are able to start growing our own food to feed the kids with a better meal. Now they only feed on one cup of porridge a day. $8,000 was raised; we are now remaining with a balance of $16,000 to meet the goal. I reach my thanks to every one that has given to this need and I still call on more people to help so that together we can get this need taken care of. A gift of any amount is highly appreciated.

   I introduced REACH in USA in 2004 on my first visit, many people got involved by becoming sponsors of children and the challenge I faced was to have donations tax deductible, but God worked it out through Bridgeport Christian Fellowship that voted to sponsor REACH with their Tax free number which makes all donations to REACH tax deductible. Am so happy to report that REACH is now incorporated in the State of California and soon we will have our own Tax Free number!

  Officially, I humbly introduce the following officials:  Pastor Rodney L. George has been appointed to serve as the Director of Operations for REACH USA, David Fast for Financial Records, Dana Eagan for Public Relations, Becky Schriber as the Mission Coordinator, Emily Rickard for Newsletter Publication, Sandy Eagan for Website.

New Omega School Library(left) and computer lab (right)

    It has become necessary to make a few changes in REACH policies in regards to extra monetary gifts.  We have been encouraging sponsors to give their sponsored children extra gifts for birthdays, Christmas, and Easter, but not all sponsors are able to send extra Christmas or Easter gifts.  The few kids that get gifts for Christmas are happy but the majority are unhappy. We are now introducing a general fund for Christmas so that all kids share the funds instead of only a few kids, and this will create joy amongst all kids. The Uganda office will decide what to buy for all children each year depending on how much funds would have come in. Christmas money gifts for individual children will not be accepted this year. All sponsors are encouraged to give to the general fund to serve all kids. Birthday money will not be shared. Money gifts for Easter are no longer allowed.  Sponsors that donated in advance for Christmas 2009 or Easter 2010 will be contacted by Pastor Rodney regarding the gifts.

   Thank you so much the love you have for your Ugandan children and we appreciate your continued support to the needs of REACH and Omega School. My prayers are with you in all that you do.

Yours in Christ,

Updates: Impacted Lives

In Their Own Words

  I am  Ruth Babirye and am so happy to write again about my life and how Jesus has helped me out. Last time I shared with you how I was helpless after losing my parents to Aids. I am very grateful for the success God has given me through Rescue African Children Sponsorship that has helped me to become somebody by now.  I finished my Secretarial Course and I was awarded a Certificate, am now employed in Omega School as a secretary and am doing good as am able to cater for myself and take care of my young sister, but the bad thing is that she has Aids.

    Great thanks go to my sponsor for giving me support through REACH when no one seemed to help. I also thank all that prayed for us for God to meet our needs. My heart feels to help those kids that are helpless, who have lost their parents, because life is so hard when your parents leave you without help.  I see many orphans that are suffering until now and I just pray for them that God can bring someone to sponsor them someday.

   My name is David Menya, am a co-pastor at Buwenge Christian Center Church. Am so grateful for what God has done for me through REACH. In 2005 my sponsor, together with their bible study group, donated money to buy a Scooter for me to be used as a taxi in order for me to make a living for myself and my future family.

   The scooter business has worked well since 2005 giving me $4.00 per day with which I am able to meet with most of my needs and planning for my family. In November 2007 I was able to buy another scooter from my savings and after selling the old scooter. Also on January 10, 2009 I opened up a shop in Buwenge selling food, sugar, salt, drinks like soda etc.  All this has been achieved from the scooter business.  I am now working on my plans to marry in December 2009.  Please pray for me that all may go well.

  Pastor Fred 

Back in Uganda

 After a long ten weeks Fred, Joan, and Jeremiah are reunited in Jinja, Uganda.

Sponsorship Brings Hope

Of Achieved Dream

  The stories of hardship in the lives of Ugandans are endless. It is possible to become callous to their troubles because as Americans we have no concept of such suffering. It is important for REACH readers to remember that no matter how far away from us, these are real people, with real sorrows that God has graciously given the means to overcome. We bring you these stories so that as supporters you will be reminded that your gifts and prayers are actively making a tremendous impact and to help you stay motivated to support this ministry, out of love for the people we are able to help.

   Our story this month is about Topista Nsekanabo, who lost her father to AIDS when she was only 6 years-old, followed by her mother when she was 8 years-old. Topista and her four siblings found themselves in a situation all too common in Uganda: orphaned and hardly surviving, certainly unable to pay for school. Topista’s aunt generously paid for her to complete primary school, but money ran short before she could finish her secondary education.

   “I was then taken to work as a house girl, taking care of a child and washing clothes plus cooking food for the family. Later I accepted Christ into my life and I started attending Buwenge Christian Prayer Center that meets at Omega School, I was able to join the worship team and served faithfully and prayed that I could go back to school and complete my secondary school,” Topista recalls.

   “With great joy I give thanks to God for REACH took me over and chose to give a hand of help and made my life hopeful when they took me back to school in 2005. I was so happy to learn that someone picked me and was sponsoring me to continue with my studies. In two years time I finished my secondary level and by God’s grace I passed with a first grade (A) and I performed well in science subjects.” To Topista, the opportunity to complete her education is no small thing; she has not taken her sponsor’s generosity for granted but is exceedingly grateful and making the most of it, even beyond her secondary education.

   Finding that she excelled in the sciences, Topista began to dream of being a nurse.  Now she is working hard to make that dream a reality. “As I write, I am happy to say that I am now undergoing training in Ngora – Enrolled in comprehensive School of Nursing in Kumi District- Uganda. The course will take me three years of training and I will be completing in 2011.”

  Topista is a fantastic example of what we hope for all REACH sponsored children; that they will be given the means to pursue a career that will enable them not only to survive, but to give back to their homeland, helping to eradicate the suffering of others. In her words, “I am proud of REACH for the effort they have put forward to make my life successful. May God bless all the sponsors that are supporting us to achieve our dreams in life! Thank you.” 

  Thanks to all of you who are giving one small part of your lives to impact these real children in such a powerful way.

Relief and Joy come to Bulama Pastor and Family

REACH sponsors have the unique opportunity to bless the lives of not only children, but also pastors who labor tirelessly to spread the gospel in their homeland. Pastor Robert Mukwaya from the village of Bulama is one such pastor whose life has been significantly altered by a generous REACH sponsor.

   Earning enough money for even one person to survive on is extremely difficult in this area of Uganda; providing for a family is even more difficult. Pastor Robert describes his family’s situation: “Our family life was just by miracle as our income was very bad and I could not even afford to pay school fees for my children… God blessed us with 10 children so life was hard to get food and other needs.”

   Needless to say, Pastor Robert was filled with relief and joy when he learned he had gained a sponsorship. “Am so happy to tell you what the Lord has done for me and my family since I started to receive support from my sponsor through REACH,” he shares, “from that time, life changed and I can pay school fees for my children and also when I get my support I put some in growing rice and through that we have been able to start building a house for our family.” In addition to wisely using his sponsorship money to pay for monthly needs, Pastor Robert is helping his local community by providing a place where others can purchase rice. Pastor Robert and his family were also given a cow through REACH, which provides them with milk that they share with others in their church family.

   Let God be praised for the many blessings he has given us all! May each of us continue to search our hearts and consider whether we can give more to help those like Pastor Robert, who benefit so greatly from so little. If any know of potential sponsors, please share this story with them as it demonstrates the impact of sponsorship on not just an individual, but an entire community.

URGENT NEED!

   Currently an urgent need is for the purchase of a tractor to help develop a large agricultural project to help feed children at Omega School, and also serve as an income generating project for school development.  Donations for the tractor may be added to your regular monthly giving or a special gift may be sent to help meet this need.  An additional posting regarding this need can be found on this website.