New Friends, New Clothes and New Homes Last Sunday, after the church service, our team was off on an exciting adventure to Ssela. Just a fifteen minute drive away, Ssela is the community where Freddie Kajjumba’s church is located. (Freddie Kajjumba is the director and founder of Mission House). Candice’s spirit was present as we celebrated the gift of a suitcase full of clothing items and shoes for the Ssela community that she provided. Ssela moms were tying new shoes on their little ones, primary school boys were putting on new t-shirts (some making their own style out of wearing them backwards), and primary school girls were grinning ear to ear as they stepped into new dresses. We tried our very best to capture the smiles and new fashion outfits that came from our time with the Ssela church family. The last stop of of the day was a very exciting one! Our team visited the two apartments of four Restoration Home girls that are currently studying at University: Theo, Prossy, Fatumah and Aggie. Passion Partners is supporting these resilient girls as they transition from the Restoration Home to living more independently. Tucked away in a neighborhood in Wakiso, the girls’ apartments are very inviting. The girls welcomed us into their spaces and they were very proud to show us their homes....
“Welcome, you are very welcome!” -Fred Kaddu These are the words that resonated out of the Restoration Home as Pastor Fred Kaddu and his staff led our team up the front steps and into the house. The 42 girls living in the Restoration Home embraced our team in bear hugs, many of them recognizing Margaret, and all of them asking about the rest of the team from last summer. This reconnection was familiar and true. Fred Kaddu, Uganda director and Restoration Home founder, began our program at the home this morning. Fred stood tall and proud, giving all thanks and praise to God alone. “We use the name Ebenezer,” Fred said, “God is our rock and stone of help.” As all of the girls and our team gathered in the common room of the home, every girl introduced herself; some grinning, some more serious. Worship proceeded; everyone linking arms as we sang and celebrated as a family united. Margaret, Alisa and I smiled and swayed, our Luganda is not quite up to par…at least not yet! Then, Becky Lukwago, the Restoration Home director and former Restoration Home girl, addressed everyone with a very gracious spirit. Becky praised God for the redemption that took place in her life as well as the beautiful redemption that is taking place within the girls...
“I ask God to listen, but I found that He already was.” -Freddie Kajjumba, the Director & Founder of Mission House Today, our team spent the morning at Mission House, situated in the heart of Wakiso, Uganda. As Pastor Kaddu & Ronald drove our team from Kampala to Wakiso, the sprinkling of rain began to smother the red clay which paths the streets causing us to take notice and to give thanks. For months, dry heat has been sitting upon Uganda; this rain was refreshing for the land & souls here, alike, it seemed. From the moment that our team stepped foot into Mission House, Freddie & the Mission House staff welcomed us. That is one of the most beautiful things about kingdom work; we live in the freedom to always accept one another as brothers & sisters in Christ. While the sewing, tailoring, cosmetology & salon vocational training was being conducted throughout Mission House, Freddie, Charity (the Mission House Administrator), Alisa, Margaret & I enjoyed some quiet space to discuss the trajectory of the ministry. Freddie & Charity shared highlights from the past year & processed aloud as to how Mission House plans to streamline their training program, develop their staff team & refine their missional outreach. Each day, the vocational school operates for 55 young single mothers; however, this is not...
My name is Annet Nassali I am 17 years old, a student at Wakiso secondary School in form 3. I have come to give a testimony about what Jitambue has done for me and my fellow girls. Jitambue has helped us to discover ourselves and to know how we should behave at home. When I joined the J-club at school, my mother did not have any idea about Jitambue. So I tried to explain it to her and she didn’t understand until Annet and the director Jitambue came to my home. She thanked them so much for saving her from buying Sanitary pads every month. Jitambue has helped us to increase our discipline capacity and has taught us how we should behave at our homes. The Jitambue staff has given us courage to believe in ourselves, most especially when you give everything to God. The last time jitambue team came to our school, they taught us about self-esteem and I believe each of us discovered whether she has low self esteem or high self esteem. Thank you Jitambue! We really appreciate what you are doing for us girls because, for many of us, our parents spend most of their time at their places of work, and they come back they are tired thinking about resting. So they do not have time...
Letter from Rebekah Lukwago Praise be to the Lord our God. We had a very busy week but still started with the devotions in which we were exposed to Passion partners and the background behind the founder’s vision. Within the week we carried out shopping where the girls bought clothes, shoes and other necessities. They were so happy and this is always a time anticipated. They go down town and chose clothes with the guidance of the leaders and employees. The girls took measurements of the uniforms and will be getting them soon after they are finished. We also carried out the shopping of the stationery and distributed them among the girls. We had a gathering with all the girls and had inspirational talks with them especially concerning academics and behavior since they were returning to school and a good number of them is to be in boarding. On Monday, all the girls were able to go back to school after a two months Holiday. It was very interesting to be with all the girls and seeing their faces almost everyday. Note: Many girls have changed physically, socially, spiritually, emotionally, Oh my goodness! The list is endless. What a joy it is seeing hope in the have been hopeless girls. Pray with us that we may expand and meet many other girls....
Dear Friends, On this last day of this year, I’d like to say “thank you” to those who have supported healthy communities through Passion Partners projects & partners in 2013! We could not have accomplished the milestones that were achieved without your help: • Over 10,000 cases treated at the Ashburn Ohuru Medical Clinic. • Over 48,000 additional days of learning achieved through distribution of feminine hygiene products. • Over 115,000 meals served to the hungry. • 42 girls have a home at Wakiso Restoration Home with clean water, 3 meals a day and an education. • And most importantly, almost 1000 professions of faith! And that’s just a glance. There is more to come capturing the work of the last year. On the last day of 2013, I would ask that you consider joining us by giving a tax-deductible gift toward the bountiful harvest that awaits in 2014! We have big plans and need more of you to be involved in providing tangible offerings of hope like medical care, food, clean water & education, in order that eternal Hope is given. You can go to www.passionpartners.org/donate and contribute today. These are several of the forthcoming projects for the new year that will continue building healthy communities: • Agricultural Development Program for widows in the community of Siaya, western Kenya. • Construction of a new ward at the Ohuru Medical Clinic moving toward becoming the preferred & referred hospital for maternal & child health...
Praise be to the Lord our God Dear Friends, Very soon we are coming to the end of the year. It has had a lot of impact on our individual lives but for this time I will talk on behalf of restoration home. What a year!!! I am so grateful to God for the many things he has done for us. We can’t count the successes we have had through the year. Oh! What a great God we have! It makes anyone leap with joy seeing transformed lives of young girls portraying radiance in their faces. Regardless of all the challenges that the girls have gone through, at the end of the year they have a reason to smile. On Wednesday, we hosted the parents/guardians of the girls. For those I interacted with, appreciation was all over their lips. Comments like “our children are looking good” were not reserved and its true when you look back to how each one of them came, there is a tremendous change. We thank God for making this possible in the lives of these girls. Special appreciation goes to every single one of you for all that you have done to make this possible. I know there are many sacrifices you made just to create a change in each girl’s life. What a delight to have...
To My Passion Partners Family, This has been a very wonderful week; all the 42 girls are here the house is filled with fun and jokes and sharing of stories. Some stories make my eyes wet with tears of both sorrow and joy because they are distressing, but thank God the girls have gained courage and hope and are now able to deal with all those post traumas and they can freely share their transformation. I can’t imagine God’s goodness! Thank you for partnering with us as we reach out to the most vulnerable girls, the most abandoned and the most impoverished in our community, created in God’s own image but torn apart by the evils of this world. You are helping build a far better place for our children and for many other children to come. I thank you so much for your compassion, commitment to ministry, friendship and love. I know both the restoration girls, the Jitambue girls in schools and us are far better persons for having known, worked and walking this earthly life with you. You make us even more look forward to seeing Jesus! On behalf of the Passion Partner community here in Uganda, I thank the Lord almighty God for you and the entire Passion Partner international staff, for conveying God’s love to us. May the peace love and...
