Watermark in Africa

While hanging out at the quarry in Kampala, we spent time with some of the kids we sponsor.  Two girls caught my eye – Lydia and Ruth.  They are best friends, and they were so sweet.  As I was speaking with them, it became clear to me that with the new orphan care sponsorship Watermark and ALARM are collaborating to develop I can begin directly sponsoring these girls.  I could also write them notes and pray for them specifically.

I wanted to share a little bit about Ruth, so you have a better feel for what a child in the program looks like.  As I reviewed her file managed by ALARM, I learned the following.

She is Acholi, and she was born in Gulu in January 2000.  She later moved to Kampala, to the rock quarry.  She is in the 4^th grade and in good health.  Her father is deceased, and her mother, while alive, is disabled.  She spends some time living with her mother and some time living with her aunt.  She attends Creamland Nursery & Primary School where she is in the top 10 percent of her class.  Her strongest subjects are English and Science.

I had the privilege of hugging on these sweet girls and telling them about the love that Christ has for them and what Christ did for them.  I look forward to visiting them again the next time I am in Kampala, and I hope to send letters and pictures to them the next time a Watermark team is in Uganda.  I am also praying for their relationship with Christ, that they would acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior and follow Him all the days of their lives.  I pray for their mentors, for the pastor at their church, and their teachers.  I pray the Lord would continue to provide for me so my abundance now could meet their needs (2 Corinthians 8:13-14).

We hope to roll out the orphan sponsorship program to all of you in early 2010.

That is it for an overview of our trip in November.  Next week I will share some exciting news about launching a water well program in Burundi.

Picture of Ruth and me.