When’s the last time you spent $9? I think, for me, it was when I purchased lunch at the OKC airport on Sunday afternoon. A slice of Sbarro cheese pizza and the biggest bottle of water I could find.
After visiting one of the Child Development Centers and churches, we broke off into a few groups to visit homes of children who are being sponsored.
I wish this photo did it justice, but it doesn’t. This home was no larger than 6’x6′.
Just one room.
Just two beds.
And seven people to lay their heads to rest each and every night.
Annette is a single mother of six children. Her husband left her. He lives in the area, but they’re separated. He doesn’t provide any support for Annette or her six children, ranging in age from around five years old, to teenagers.
In order to make ends meet, Annette is a cook. She makes cassava and potatoes. On good days, she makes around $3 for working from dawn until dusk. Of that $3, only $1 is profit.
We also met her daughter, Brenda. Brenda is sponsored by a family here in the United States. The other five children, however, are not. Because of her sponsorship, her school fees are paid. Annette worries about paying for her other childrens’ fees. She knows they must go to school in order to break the cycle of poverty in which they live. She also has to pay for groceries.
On top of the school fees, Annette pays $9/month for rent. $9 for the tiny, six by six home where they live.
Brenda pointed out the spot on one of the beds where she sleeps. She wants to be a doctor some day.
There were seven of us in Annette’s home today. We sat shoulder to shoulder. Probably not unlike how tight space is when her whole family is home.
Taking a deep breath in…I let the air rest inside my lungs for a few moments before exhaling. The smells of the slum outside, the raw sewage in the small ditches along the roads, and the lack of hygiene of the people living in the area, as offensive as it should have seemed, I couldn’t stop breathing it in.
The reality that surrounded me in that moment caused my stomach to drop out of my body and land on the make-shift floor. I sponsor two children. A little boy in Ethiopia and a little girl in Uganda. I imagine their home is something very similar to the home I was sitting in. That every day, they walk along the side of dirt roads, covered in garbage, livestock, and disease.
And they smile.
Because they know someone from Oklahoma City love them so very much. And more importantly, they know there’s a Jesus who loves them even more.
[[You can sponsor a child like Brenda today…]]
PS-There is so much more to write and show. We are having some internet difficulties though. I encourage you to check out the other bloggers to see what they’ve experienced so far. Hopefully, we’ll have a more reliable connection tomorrow.
Comments
22 responses to “UGANDA: when’s the last time you spent $9?”
thanks, anne…
thanks for every bit of this; for reminding me why joy and i consider it a gift to sponsor young Sidia in Mozambique.
lotsa love and prayer for you from ky.
wow, real life stories. Makes me way more grateful for what I have. Keep going with the updates.. I can’t wait to sponser someday.
Amazing pictures. Amazing work you all are doing over there.
And do me a favor. Give one of those children a hug and tell them a guy in Memphis loves them.
Thanks Anne for taking the time to upload this. I know how difficult it is in a remote location to post. What takes us a few minutes in the States takes hours in other places. I appreciate you keeping everyone updated. Can’t wait to see more!
Terry and I have made the decision to sponsor two children through CI, one for each of our own. We haven’t chosen yet though b/c I tried to let Reia and Reese pick. NOT a good idea. They wanted to look through all 2000+ photos.
After this post, I won’t be dragging my feet. We’re on it!
my eyes are now open. i am disturbed enough to make a difference.
thank you so much for taking the time to do this. i am praying for you all.
wow… I’ve been to east africa several times but seeing this never gets easy.
thank you.
thanks Anne.
you’re words are being read!
Thank you Anne, for your words and pictures. How much our money can do….we have so much, and it takes so little to help them out!!
and she wants to be a doctor! that’s hope. Lord, make it so. and help Annette to raise those kids with what you provide for her and her young ones.
We sponsored a child until he graduated from the program… then we stopped… stupid stupid stupid… we’ve gotta pick up another child.
Thanks for going… and thanks for posting these stories.
Thanks for sharing. I have subscribed to all the bloggers, so am getting all of your insights into the work of Compassion in Uganda.
Hugs and prayers.
Thank you so much for showing us the reality of their everyday lives; thank you so much for giving of yourself (time, comfort, leaving loved ones) to do this!
and we all can say together “WE ARE RICH DARNIT – WE ARE NASTY FILTHY SPOILED ROTTEN RICH RICH RICH!!!!”
I hate that eye of a needle verse
When I was creating my blog I had seen on yours the thumbnail to Compassion. I decided I wanted on of those on my page. (I’ve been sponsoring David in El Salvador for over a year) So I added the link. I had to make sure it worked so I clicked it…And there she was Rhiassa in Brazil and she had a red heart which meant that she had been waiting for a sponsor for over 6 months. So now I am the PROUD sponsor of 2. What you are doing to bring sponsors and love to the children is awesome. In some strange way you are responsible for Rhiassa getting me. I am blessed. Thank you and please be safe!
anne, i was moved enough to actually stop ignoring the truth and sponsor a child.
what you all are doing is amazing!
I just spent that much on Valentines Day crap for the boys. {…sigh…}
feeling so convicted, but thanks from the bottom of my heart for sharing your experiences with us!
Hey Anne,
I was in E. Africa last May, spent a week in Uganda. What beautiful people. I love your pictures, they bring back many awesome memories. Enjoy yourself and let God change your paradigms…
I hope that the humbled feeling that i am experiencing right now will stay with me and that i will not find myself saying “I WANT, I WANT ,I NEED ,I NEED” …Thank you Lord for all that you have blessed me with.
Wowo, I am even more happy to be the sponsor of a Catherine in Uganda. Hoping that I can sponsor another child