2011 In Review...extended version =)

2011 has been an eventful year for much of Africa, including Uganda and the surrounding area. In Feb., Uganda had presidential elections. In July, South Sudan became an independent state, and in Nov., the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) also had elections. Each of these events had the potential for instability or violence. I’m so thankful for God’s protection in spite of various protests and instability in Uganda following our elections, and that things have now settled. Please remember South Sudan and the DRC in your prayers, as they are both still experiencing violence.

I have recently begun learning more about the DRC, because although I am in Uganda, many of the women and children that Zion Project works with are refugees from the DRC. It is the 12^th largest nation in the world, with many valuable resources such as gold. However, since obtaining independence in 1960, it has been a place of conflict and instability. For the last two decades, it has been the location of “the world’s deadliest conflict since World War II.” This is because of a number of things including conflict over resources, tribal conflicts stemming from the genocide in Rwanda (Hutus/Tutsis), and the presence of many rebel groups. Over 1 million Congolese have been displaced from their homes, and the DRC has been rated 2^nd on the list of the “world’s worst places to be a woman” (Afghanistan has first place). These are some of the reasons that brought the community of several hundred Congolese to Gulu, Uganda, where Zion Project has the opportunity to minister to them.

I have enjoyed my past year working with the Zion Project. I have several different roles, through which I have learned a lot about myself and my gifts. On a normal day, I begin the morning attending worship and devotions with the 10 Congolese women employed in our jewelry making program, Imani. It is always an encouraging time even though I can’t always understand the songs, since they are in Swahili. After that my mornings are spent helping out in the counseling center office or planning lessons for the girls in the children’s home, where I go for the afternoon. We have 16 girls, ages 4 to 14. The first thing I hear when I walk through the gate is several voices saying “Auntie, is it my turn today?” I take a small group of 2 or 3 of them each afternoon and we work on English, reading, or other subjects. We focus on English in the home because it is one of the official languages of Uganda. They will need it in the future for university and an advantage in the job market. Tutoring is important for the girls, as many of them had never attended school before entering the home at age 10 or 11. I also get to spend a lot of time just hanging out with them, playing games, reading books, or talking about Jesus! We had several fun events this year, including trying Pop Rocks for the first time and visiting a big park, complete with a playground and a boat ride.

I also got to help with the process of identifying new girls to come into the home. When I got there in Dec. we had 11 girls, and over the next few months we took in 5 more. It was a difficult process, as we heard a lot of hard stories. For every girl we were able to take in there were probably 4 or 5 that we had to turn away because we just don’t have the space. Many of them have similar stories, but I wanted to share one with you.

Anita is one of the girls we took in this past spring. She is 11 years old and had never been to school. Her father is dead and her mother is a commercial sex worker and HIV+. She abandoned Anita to move to Sudan for work. When we heard about Anita, she was moving from door to door trying to find work just so she could eat her next meal. She was at high risk of being exploited or abused, so we took her in. Anita was used to fending for herself and had a rough background, so it has been quite a process for her to learn how to live in a home with 15 other girls and how to get along with others. She also had quite a struggle with attending school for the first time ever, but she has made great progress in both areas. It has been amazing to see how much of a difference attention and love can make for girls with backgrounds like Anita.

In addition to my work with the Zion Project, I have continued spending Saturdays with Every Child Ministries out in the village of Tegot, where I was working in 2009. When I first got back to Uganda last December it was SO fun to see the kids I had taught the year before and to hear how they were doing in school. On Saturdays I go see them and help out with Saturday club for the 72 sponsored children. I was excited to be there when ECM received a shipment of books for their library in Tegot Primary School, and also to visit their summer team in the village when they were digging two new wells. The two communities that received the wells were truly blessed. It was amazing to see the joy on their faces, knowing they would no longer have to get their water from dirty creeks. One of my projects early in the year was to take updated photos for sponsors. I enjoyed trying to get the children to break the cultural norm of not smiling for pictures!

There have been many good moments over the past year but also many difficult ones. In July, one of our security guards (whom I considered a friend) stole $500 from my room while I was away from the house. As inconvenient as it was to lose the money, and as much as it hurt to be betrayed by a friend, I still had much to be thankful for! My laptop, camera, i-pod, and other things were all on the desk next to the money, but they didn’t get taken. Another difficult day was when one of the Congolese women in the community, Niclette, lost a baby a few minutes after it was born. I was there to represent Zion along with our Imani women, and although it was a difficult day, it was so encouraging to see how our women reached out to Niclette and her husband (who is a Muslim, but noticed the love of the Christians who surrounded him and his family!)

There were also many highlights during the past year! One was a week long retreat at Mto Moyoni, a counseling/retreat center on the River Nile. It was a wonderful week full of relaxation, time with the Lord, and learning a lot in some great seminars. I have also had the opportunity to meet a lot of great people who are in Uganda for various reasons, and we have enjoyed many evenings of food & fellowship. This is often by candle light when the power is out, and it makes me feel like we are having a similar experience to the early church! JAnother highlight has been getting to know my neighbor, Grace. She is in a unique place, as a Ugandan girl in her early 20’s who isn’t married or a mother yet, so I am thankful for many opportunities to hang out with her. Of course, every day that I spend with the Zion girls is also a highlight and such a blessing. They never cease to amaze me with their resilience, joy, and eagerness to learn!

I am so thankful for the opportunity God has given me to learn more about Him and His heart for vulnerable people, especially children! I also want to thank Him for His protection over the past year, as well as both the high moments and the low ones that remind me that I depend upon Him for everything. I want to thank Him for the chance to meet so many amazing people...Africans who are giving up everything to follow Him, and other missionaries who are such an example and encouragement to me.

The Future

As you may remember, I was supposed to be completing my time with Zion Project this past November when I came home. As the time drew near, however, I was not feeling like it was time to leave yet. Several things began to indicate that it might make sense for me to extend my time with Zion for a few months. Zion’s director, Sarita Hartz, announced that she would be taking a sabbatical in the U.S. from December to March, and that she wished she would have more help on the ground in Uganda. The second reason was that another volunteer is coming to help at the children’s home, but not until March. In addition to all of this, the day before I left to come home for the holidays, we received an important document that would allow us to move forward in applying for a license for the children’s home. The license application was supposed to be one of the major things that I accomplished while I was there, but we had gotten stuck due to circumstances beyond our control. Because of all of these reasons, I am returning to Uganda this Sunday, Jan 8^th, and will be continuing my work with Zion Project until sometime in March or April.

I am confident that God will continue to provide, as He always has, and have already been amazed by His provision since I’ve been home this trip. I want to be honest with you that I do not know what will be next after my time with Zion is finished. I intend to use the next three months to actively seek another ministry in Gulu, or somewhere else in the world, possibly even the United States. The people of Northern Uganda will always have a very large part of my heart, and I am certainly willing to remain there if God makes that clear. However, where I am is not as important to me as what I am doing. My passions are reducing child vulnerability, fighting human trafficking, and helping refugees, and I am aware that God may call me to any number of places in the world where there are opportunities to share Jesus with people affected by these issues.

Financial Needs

As I mentioned earlier, I became sick with pneumonia at the beginning of my break at home. This resulted in some unexpected medical expenses (still waiting to hear from my insurance about what they will cover). In addition to this, extending my stay in Uganda has brought some extra airfare and insurance costs. I also recently had to purchase contacts for this year. Many of you have given one time gifts in the past or even support me monthly right now, and any gift of any size is always appreciated. I would like to increase my monthly support base, but special needs or “future transition” gifts would also be a great blessing at this time. I have listed some of my current expenses below so you can see what your special needs gifts would go toward. If you are interested in becoming one of my monthly supporters, I would ask for a commitment through April at this point, while keeping in touch with you regarding my future plans after that. Please pray and ask the Lord if He would have you to join my team of supporters at this time. Thanks so much!

Contact lenses for 6 months…..... $88

Airfare...........……………..............$1500

Insurance………………....….…..…$500

Health Expenses…………...…..….$500

Visas…………………………......….$100

Travel to South Sudan to

visit a potential ministry option…...$200

I am still a missionary under Ripe for Harvest, and they offer several ways to donate to my account (#318), including by check or credit card. You can donate by credit card at their website by clicking here, or mail checks to:

Ripe for Harvest World Outreach

P.O. Box 487

Monument, CO 80132

(Make the check out to Ripe for Harvest. In the memo please write my name & account #318).

During the past year they became a member of the Evangelical Council of Financial Accountability, which is a great accomplishment! You can also view their page on the ECFA website by clicking here. Contributions are solicited with the understanding that Ripe for Harvest has complete discretion and control over the use of all donated funds.

Prayer Requests

-Praise for God's protection, guidance & provision over the last year!

-Safety & a good immune system as I return to Uganda this Sunday

-My grandmother, Evelyn Thomas, has been sick. Please pray for a quick & complete recovery

-Wisdom as I look at options for the future

Thanks for your continued interest in my ministry, and especially your prayers.

Happy New Year!

Much love,

Sarah

+If you would like to buy paper bead jewelry made by some beautiful Congolese women, click www.imanilove.com.

+To see a photo album of my time at the children’s home, click here.

+Check out my blog by clicking here.