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A Ray of Hope

I met a man in town named Steve, who sells paintings on main street. I often walk through town, and the shop keepers beg me to look at their merchandise, and I usually just say, “not today”. However, Steve stopped me, and had a conversation before asking me to buy something. That impressed me. I told him I would come buy something another day when I had more money and time to stop and look. I held my promise, and a few weeks ago I went and bought this piece of art.

When I returned, he was stunned to know that I kept my promise. I think many times mzungus will say they are coming back, but they never do. I like to stay true to my word. I feel like that is what Jesus calls us to when He says, “let your 'yes' be 'yes' and your 'no' be 'no'” (Matthew 5:37). After I bought the painting, he told me that he sells them to support children in an orphanage. He is a Christian, and wants to help the children of his community. This started a good friendship.
The next time I was in town, I walked past his shop, and he invited me to go see his ministry. We figured out a time that would be convenient for all, and finally I was able to go visit.

There were many children here that day. All kinds of children from all kinds of ages. They stood their distance from my until I was leaving, and Steve said they were afraid of me. They are out in the village, and as a result, do not see many white people, but they could not take their eyes off of me. They watched, and listened respectfully, and you could tell they were loved.

I am not sure where all the funds are coming from to care for these beautiful faces. I know the financial side of running an orphanage, and it is not easy. They do what they can to make a better life for the children, and in the long run they are making a difference. We all want to make a perfect world for the people in our lives, especially when it becomes a ministry. But we can never make it perfect. All we can do is use what we have, and allow Christ to make everything perfect. He is the Healer, and the Provider. That is what this ministry is doing. They have little, but are using it to make a Kingdom impact

I am thankful for people like Steve. He saw a need, has a talent, and uses what he has to help the need. So many times Ugandans get a bad rap for being selfish and cheaters. Although those people exist, there are those who are truly making a difference in their communities. I love seeing Ugandans rise up to fix Uganda. I wish there was more of it, so that ministry could be more self sustaining. People like Steve give me hope that one day it will be a possibility. It is still a long way off, but I believe it is a possibilit

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