She Said YES - Gaining Perspective ( Part 2)

Ok for real?  I am actually on time posting Part 2, is anyone else but myself impressed?  Don't you just love this picture? FYI - did you know that both boys and girls in Uganda shave their head...so sometimes it's tricky to tell what gender they are unless you know them!.

Ughhh...I wish I could dance!  Why is it us white folk just don't have the same skill when it comes to dancin'! This is what I look like when I dance and leap for the Lord...ummmm...in my dreams!

Here is a picture for anyone who is struggling with their day here in America...including myself. I hope it helps give you some perspective as it did me!

"One family in particular stands out as a true expression of being “children” of God. Philip (the husband) and his family are refugees from Northern Uganda, where the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) is prevalent. The LRA displaces families, kills many, and kidnaps children to become soldiers. Philip did not want his family to go through this so he took his family through the bush and walked a very dangerous and long way to Bugembe (where they now reside).

Had they been caught, they all would have been killed. They did lose two children (to malaria) but have also taken in orphans that they care for as their own. Philip recounts several instances when he knew the Lord's angels were looking out for him and his family during this treacherous journey.

 Philip always welcomed us into his home with warm hugs and the brightest smile. He told us how blessed he was to spend time with us, but I was the one being blessed as I witnessed his amazing faith in God. As I said goodbye to his family, he looked at me and told me that even though our skin is different, we are brothers and sisters because we have the blood of Jesus in us. He also said that even though we would no longer be together in flesh, we would always be together in spirit. He promised to pray for the Foot family, and I know that he is a man of his word and will pray for us."


Ok, seriously?  I can't imagine losing two children (to a curable disease), risking my family's life to give them a BETTER life and still being able to smile? I'm thinking I could learn a bit from Philip and his family. 

While Shaena was in Uganda she formed a special relationship with this young girl.  She now sponsors her as a result of the trip!

Did you know that for just $35 a month you could provide the following:

• School fees for the entire year (plus uniforms and supplies)

• Medical expenses for the ENTIRE family

• Food

• Empowerment training for the parent(s) or caregivers

AND my personal favorite is that 100% of your sponsor dollars (if you sponsor through AOET) go directly to your child.  I can tell you first hand that with the bigger organizations only a small portion of your sponsorship money goes to the child. The rest is for administration fees for the national office here in the States.  And that doesn't make them a bad organization by any stretch, I just appreciate the fact that ALL money go towards the child with AOET!( www.aoet.org) 

And if YOU would like to sponsor a child, to make a life-altering difference half way across the world, just contact my sister! (her email is shaenafoot@mac.com) They are trying to get 60 new sponsors this year!

I just loved this picture...not so much for the chicken but for the child! ha ha!

While in Uganda, Shaena (and her team) led a teacher workshop on classroom management.Yep, that is my sister...classroom management is her specialty!

Shaena said that the teachers have a difficult time managing 80 children at once. (really? I have no idea why?) Shaena's team of teachers were able to share with the Ugandan teachers some specific strategies that might help them manage the classroom better.

Shaena hopes that one day the teacher's from Uganda can travel to the States for a visit.

Did I already show this picture in the last post?  I just love it!

Shaena's team also able spent time painting the “Grace” house in the Children’s Village. AOET has a village where families can apply to live rent -free for five years. They must take in four AIDS orphans and save their money to purchase a home of their own after the five years have passed.

The homes only cost $20,000 to build and Grace Community Church (Shaena's home church in Columbia, Maryland)  built one of the homes. And since it was almost ready when Shaena's team arrived, they were able to help paint some of the rooms.

Except Shaena started to get sick from the paint fumes so she decided to spend most of her day getting  to know some of the women in the village.(since I don't do manual labor...that is what I would have chosen to do as well! hehe)

Two women, Agnes and Edith, became very special to my sister and I think you will see why!

"Agnes had a one-week old baby girl, Comfort, that I held the entire time we were talking. She is a teacher by trade but was home on maternity leave. She has four children of her own and two orphans at the moment. She is an incredible woman of faith and it was a pleasure to hear the story of her faith journey. Near the end of our conversation she asked me if it would be okay if she changed her daughter’s name. I loved the name Comfort and I asked her why she wanted to do this. She responded that she wanted to name her daughter Shaena. I was brought to tears at this gesture and told her that I’d be honored to have her name her daughter after me. We decided Comfort Shaena would fit perfectly. It still brings me to tears when I think about that beautiful little girl and her incredibly gracious mother."

Ughhh...there are so many more stories to tell!  Stay tuned because I will add at least one more post with lots more pics.  For now, it is 2:51 in the AM and I can't sleep.  Thinkin' about washing the dirty dishes in the sink.  Wanna come over and visit? It gets lonely by myself...up all night.