October 2015 photos and newsletter from Grace International Children's Foundation.
 
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Establishing sustainable loving homes for orphans in East Africa that develop children to reach their full potential.
Meet the Kelley Family !

For many years God has been moving in Ryan and Megan Kelley's hearts to serve Him overseas as missionaries. They had been viewing this as a “later in life” calling, but about a year ago they felt the Holy Spirit saying that the time to act had come. They contacted GICF to see if it was possible to pursue serving at Lulwanda where their dear friends John and Bobbi Palmer had gone to serve.  Ryan's skills as an advanced Emergency Medical Technician could surely fill a great need we have to get our medical clinic up and running again. And with the passion they both have for youth discipleship, the Kelleys appeared to be an answer to our prayers. 

The Kelleys have just returned from spending one month living in Mbale, Uganda while serving at Lulwanda Children's Home. This gave them a very close look at what life would be like for their family to live there full time. The Kelleys have 4 young children; Audrey is 6, Simon just turned 4 and Lucy and Norah are twin 17 month olds! The first 2 weeks were challenging with Lucy and Norah sharing their jet lag with mom and dad, and all 4 children experiencing some minor tummy upsets.  But everything settled down for the last 2 weeks, and the Kelley family began to enjoy their new routine. 


Naula Rose, one of our girls said this about the Kelley family: "They are God fearing and they love playing with children. And when we got injuries Uncle Ryan treated us. We love him." Another LCH girl, Norah Masai, added, "It was a Thursday when I saw them. I was so excited to meet Aunt Megan, Simon, Audrey, and Lucy. They were so nice and loving. But Norah never wanted anyone to carry her at first. But Lucy loved people so much. Uncle Ryan was a caring person. He always treated us whenever someone said he is sick. I was so sad when they were leaving I even wanted to cry. "

Ryan met with government officials and learned what it would take to have his medical credentials recognized in  Uganda so that he could manage the medical clinic. He treated minor wounds and one life threatening emergency of a staff member's child. Ryan and Megan loved on the Lulwanda children, who loved them in return and were especially enamored with the Kelley kids.  Upon their return to the USA, the Kelleys, the staff and leadership in Uganda, and the GICF board agreed that the Kelley’s missionary assignment to Lulwanda is a go! 

The whole Kelley family cannot wait to answer the call of the Lord and return to Uganda to serve Him full time as self-funded missionaries at Lulwanda. They are in support raising mode now and plan to move to Uganda next Spring. Please pray for them as they begin a whole new chapter in their lives, and prepare to leave the comforts of home in order to serve the orphans of Uganda.



Fun During School Break
The Lulwanda children just completed their second semester break. Everyone returned home from their various boarding schools for the break. Even the Lulwanda Tendo kids came out to Lulwanda at least twice per week to join their extended family. 

Summer learning "camps" were organized to provide structure and to keep the 120 children busy.
 The kids love learning new things. Mornings were spent doing individual and community chores. All children attended age-level Bible studies taught by staff members. After lunch each day the children enjoyed two hour-long classes that included art, music, basket weaving, baking, hands-on-equations and even learning the new game of baseball! Three times per week the boys were trained by a visiting professional soccer coach to improve on their skills and teach them how to be serious and respectable players.
 
Each week, a different group of children were taken to a nearby babies’ home to play with the little ones and help feed and bathe them. 

Planning is already in the works for the next break at the end of the school year from December to February. Keeping the children occupied with meaningful activity is very important. The camp idea is a great way to teach new skills and have fun at the same time. 
Basket Weaving Class
Art Class
Baking Class
Hands on Equations which the kids called Mathematics from America!
Music Class
Thoughts on Music Class
 
"In holidays they had made a great program. The program contained many things including music. This music was learning guitar, keyboard, and drum sets. How I love music in this world. This was the most precious thing in me. I wanted to learn at least the first two, keyboard and guitar. I even wrote some notes which I always use in case I got that chance of having a guitar in my hands. It is so good. I love all this because this is where I get my joy, where I remember God’s love for me. And understand that He loves and cares for me. Always music pleases my heart and renews my happiness. I love God’s doing for my life."  Egulasi Grace 16 yrs

 

Serving Others While on School Break


"In holidays I had good time when I went to St. Kizito. When we were on the way we saw many things. When we reached St. Kizito we saw new babies who were brought. I was so happy when I saw them. I had good time playing with the babies and those who are somehow growing. I also had good time feeding the babies. When I finished feeding the babies, I went to visit the farm there and I saw cows, goats, and they also have a large farm of pigs. When I finished visiting they called us to come and have a meal and when we finished eating we all thanked those who cooked food." – Timothy 11yrs
 


Outreach to the Village


Natalie took six of the older girls to a neighboring village to visit an old widow and help her in her home. Lulwanda's Sarah Gimono, 15 yrs old, tells the story: "We packed things like oil, rice, meat, cabbage, greens, and many other things. We had to sit in the car and began our journey. We had to help her with domestic work, for example fetching water and washing clothes and cooking. Some people helped in washing clothes and fetching water while other people helped in cooking As we were working, the old woman was telling us a story about how she was when she was still a girl and how her husband and children passed away. She had to live lonely up to now. After her story, she told us to have respect for everybody because without respect, nobody will ever live with you.
 
When food was ready, we served it while Teacher Natalie served soda. We first served the old woman food but she said, “I had never taken soda and eaten meat since January.” So for her, she thought that it was a party.
 
After eating food, we washed all the plates and went to fetch water on a well. When we came back from the well, we had to put water in the old woman’s house and we had to pray for her and leave. We left for her some things. The end. "

 


A Bountiful Harvest

The August harvest season provided Lulwanda children with an opportunity to do some hands on maize farming. They enjoyed working hard at cutting the stalks, pulling off the cobs, husking and shucking the maize, and even removing the kernels from the cob. The end result was almost two tons of maize, the best crop we have ever had!

The harvesting process wasn’t all work and no play. Children loved driving to the farm in the back of the truck, and they had fun throwing the cobs at one another and “showering” the kernels over their friends. There was even some sugar cane to chew on as a treat. 


Second Annual Fishing Tournament

The second-annual fishing trip to the nearby Manafwa River took place during this break from school. The kids had to first hunt grasshoppers as bait. What a funny sight it was to see children running and leaping into the grass to get the biggest grasshoppers before they flew off.

Once they had enough bait and were supplied with fishing line, rubber flip flop pieces (as bobbers) and little hooks, they hiked to the river. They collected branches along the way as their fishing poles. In the end they didn’t catch more than a few minnows, but the children still greatly enjoyed the outing. 

On the hike back to LCH, they ran into some local children who showed them the trick of throwing “sticker burrs” at each others’ clothing. And then the war began, everyone shooting burrs at each other's shirts! There were many giggles on the walk home from a great excursion outside the gates of Lulwanda. 
Birthdays are celebrated every term break and they are really a BIG deal. So much fun is had by all. There are lots of crazy games, dancing contests,  sodas and cake. 
Everyone is back in their respective schools now studying hard for the last semester of the school year. The long break comes from December through early February when another camp will be organized to provide the children with structured learning time. Send us your camp ideas! 
Join us in praying for our beloved Natalie who begins a 6 month sabbatical in the US starting now. She will be dearly missed but we pray for her rest and refreshment and can't wait to see her again in April. 
 
Dear sponsors and donors,

We give tremendous thanks to our Heavenly Father for your generous support and for your partnership in this Kingdom work. May you be greatly blessed. 

 
Visit ugandaorphans.org for more photos.
To make a donation by credit card click
here.
Checks can be mailed to GICF, 5121 FM 359, Richmond, TX 77406. 

 
Your partnership with Grace International Children's Foundation through donations and prayers is making a huge impact on the lives of many in Uganda.
Thank you. God bless you. 
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