I Guarantee You...
...if you read this to the end, you will have a new perspective on life.
My Life Will Never Be The Same
12 children changed me forever.
These 12 children are not your average kids. They are all orphaned. Some of them double orphans.
Many of them were abused and neglected.
The stories of these children will tear your heart open...
When Baby Angela was two years old she was found sleeping under a tree with her mentally ill mother who was unable to care for her. It was the rainy season in Uganda and she barely had a covering over her head. She was sickly and scared and had literally no hope.
Little Jonathan was one of the youngest of 8 children when both of their parents died from AIDS. His older brother was only 16 at the time. He had to get married at 16 to be able to care for his siblings. Jonathan barely had enough food to eat, his brother and his new wife tried to care for him and his siblings, but they just didn't have the resources.
Esther and Sarah are twin sisters. When they were very young, their mother died. Because of this, their father went mad and left them. He returned only to burn their house down. These girls had no one, except an elderly grandmother, to care for them. When the girls were only two years old, they fell very sick when the grandmother left them alone so she could find work in the village. A neighbor heard them crying and cared for them until the grandmother came home. They could have died, but God kept them alive. Even so, their elderly grandmother couldn't provide for them.
All of these children have heartbreaking stories in their past, but their future is bright.
We found them.
About 5 years ago, my family started working with a local ministry in Uganda. At first, we were providing water filters, medicines, basic humanitarian aid. But, the work grew quickly.
Only two years after we had visited Uganda for the first time, we began working on an orphanage. We raised the money nearly entirely from individuals in the United States and Canada and we were able to complete the first building in just under a years time.
We moved the first 12 children into the orphanage 2 years ago.
It was incredible. They were so scared and uncertain when they first arrived.
But, now, two years later, they are well-adjusted, well-cared for, happy children.
What is the difference? Today, they have HOPE.
We called the project in Uganda Hope Children's Village because our goal is to raise up a generation that was brought up in hope so they can then bring hope to their people in their culture.
It's working.
The story goes even deeper for me. The twin girls Sarah and Esther we have adopted into our family, (we have twin boys so it's a great fit). We sponsor them and help pay for their needs every month. We hope that one day we can actually adopt them, but that's another story for another day.
The Question Is...
How will you give hope?
We all have opportunities to bring hope to people every single day. You don't have to go to Africa to find hopelessness, there are hopeless people across your street.
How will you touch their lives?
How will you make this world a better place?
I Love SteemIt, But The SteemIt Community Is Meaningless If Not Used To Invest In Change.
I want to encourage you to invest in giving hope.
Maybe one day, you can tell me your story of how 12 orphans changed your life forever.
This is the kind of work that does change people's lives. Not just theirs, but yours as well. I know you must feel a great deal of satisfaction and joy from meeting the needs of these children.
Unfortunately, most of society today views needy people as disposable, and not worth investing in.
Thankfully, there are still people who care, but they are becoming more and more rare.
Thank you for being people who care and who reach out to touch other's lives and remind all of us that we can be better human beings.
An up-vote for an up-lifting post. The smiles on these kiddos' faces are priceless. What a beautiful and inspiring story.
Thank you!
People should read this to remember how lucky and easy they have it in America. I constantly remind myself of that when I want to start complaining about stuff.
People - Shut off the reality TV. Put down the remote control and do something positive for the world!
So true. The real reality check is stepping onto third world soil for the first time. Totally life-changing.
Very great article, I love stuff like this, of course upvoted!