“This month let us meet Balyokwabwe Sekungu our Volunteer of the Month of March. Balyokwabwe a strong Christian and a resident of one of the remote village away from God’s Village known as Namala.
Since He joined us, he has been seen volunteering working together with other Volunteers much in our Children’s Multi-Skilling program especially with skills related to carpentry or wood works thus helping a lot children in training and increasing their social and carpentry skills.
Please Join me today and together lets appreciate the good ministry service Balyokwabwe is giving to our foster children especially and lets pray for God’s Blessing towards him in Jesus’ name. Say Pastor Ivan Ssewankambo ”
January 2021 Volunteer of the Month
Meet Debra Nakawuki Our Ministry Volunteer of the Month January 2021. In ministry especially when it comes to Foster Family Parenting , when it comes to making all children feel the spirit of family-hood there must be people like Mother , Father, Aunt or more and to us here Debra serves as our Foster Aunt and always see our children truly respecting her as their Aunt.
To us here we take a very serious note to make all our children feel love , cared for “God’s Village Home” as everyones good Home and apart from Debra being the Aunt, she always helps alot interacting with children boys and girls playing with them, telling them stories , teach them about values and how to tell what is right or wrong and as well teaching them how to cook while cooking with them especially girl.
Besides the above she also participates in all the church programs like doing follow up on our Church members and others as well. Not only that but also involve himself in all the available physical work like here at God’s Village.
And because of his hard work I feel like I can’t wait for any other day to appreciate her for her great work and I hope you join me as I say maximum appreciation dear Nakawuki Debra for being such a wonderful volunteer and I pray that the living God reward you above, abundantly and exceedingly. Says Pastor Ivan Ssewankambo.
December 2020 Volunteer of The Month
Meet Mugabi Harriet Our Ministry Volunteer of the Month. Well serving and being committed to Volunteer-ship isn’t an easy task to carry out but when it comes to Harriet the reverse is true when you find him volunteering you feel like it’s very easy to be a volunteer due to her expression when he is doing voluntary work especially here at our lovely home “God’s Village”. Harriet decided to become one of our ministry volunteers and indeed he has served the Lord through as faithful volunteer since 2007.
Harriet does everything out of love and she volunteers in various department for instance she is always available to attend our fosters’ education as a teacher and she always say I yearn to do it in my best because all I want is to see unprivileged children’s future brilliant and to make sure they have a better tomorrow.
Besides the above, Harriet with her Nursing skills, she is ever seen serving as a medical personnel giving treatment to our children whe they get sick. Not only that but also involve herself in all the available physical work like here at God’s Village.
And because of her hard work I feel like I can’t wait for any other day to appreciate him for her great work and I hope you join me as I say maximum appreciation dear Mugabi Harriet for being such a wonderful volunteer and I pray that the living God reward you above, abundantly and exceedingly. Says Pastor Ivan Ssewankambo.
November 2020 Volunteer of the Month
Samuel Habishuti
As today mark the end of the Month of November, allow us to introduce to you Samuel Habishuti our volunteer of the month who joined ministry and decided to be one of our ministry volunteers.
Samuel in Brief is a Rwandan by Birth who came to Uganda with his relatives to seek refugee due to the Rwanda Genocide at a early age and as well grew up in an Foster Home.
All we can briefly say a bout Sam is that, he is a multipurpose person , ever seen serving in different department like Music training children music, Teaching, Building especially during God’s Village home development activities as well as so many other department , and thats why today we choose him to be our Volunteer of the month.
Please Join me today and together lets appreciate the good ministry service Sam is giving to our foster children especially and lets pray for God’s Blessing towards him in Jesus’ name. Say Pastor Ivan Ssewankambo
October 2020 Volunteer of The Month
Meet Ronald Our Ministry Volunteer of the Month. Well serving and being committed to Volunteer-ship isn’t an easy task to carry out but when it comes to Ronald the reverse is true when you find him volunteering you feel like it’s very easy to be a volunteer due to his expression when he is doing voluntary work especially here at our lovely home “God’s Village”. Ronald decided to become one of our ministry volunteers and indeed he has served the Lord through as faithful volunteer since 2008.
Some time I ask myself whether such volunteers still exist and indeed they are still there. Looking at him committed to serve always makes me to make a prayer asking God to bless him with all the heavenly blessings in whatever he does because he is always seen doing everything out of love and he volunteers in various department for instance he is always available to attend our fosters’ education as a teacher and he always say I yearn to do it in my best because all I want is to see unprivileged children’s future brilliant and to make sure they have a better tomorrow.
Besides the above he also participates in all the church programs like doing follow up on our Church members and others as well. Not only that but also involve himself in all the available physical work like here at God’s Village.
And because of his hard work I feel like I can’t wait for any other day to appreciate him for his great work and I hope you join me as I say maximum appreciation dear Aryangasha Ronald for being such a wonderful volunteer and I pray that the living God reward you above, abundantly and exceedingly. Says Pastor Ivan Ssewankambo.
September 2020 Volunteer of Month
As Today we mark the end of the Month of September allow me to Introduce to You Charles Kanoel our ministry volunteer of the month all away from Kabuyanda Isingiro District one of the very remote districts in the Western Part of Uganda who decided to come join us serve God with us towards facilitating with the farm care at our lovely home of God’s Village.
For all time period he has been in our farm department serving as the Farm Manager he has proved himself to be proficient in everything he does, he does it out of love and passion.
Charles has been seen working with no supervision from any other person but only to supervise himself in whatsoever he does. Besides the above, it has been noticed that due to his presence, our foster children have learnt a lot from him as their ever with him learning how to look after animals and a number of things have changed in our farm developments for instance our animals get all the necessary food nutrition they need to grow health, their looking also prove a health living life, they get daily feeding in time and this has facilitated to their normal growth and health.
And because of his great work he is doing it has provided a question in my heart and I always ask myself what a caring farm/ cattle tender Charles is? His ways of handling things especially in farm department is admirable and I always bless the Lord who made it for me to meet him as our ministry volunteer and I can’t just take such a blessing of meeting for granted but to say maximum appreciation to our dearly volunteer of the month “Charles” for the great work he is rendering towards our farm development. Hope you can join me as we celebrate his presence in ministry as the volunteer of the Month of September. Says Pastor Ivan Ssewankambo
FOSTER ACADEMY CONSTRUCTION "BUILDING HOPE"
Join us as fundraising for Vangrace Academy Construction entitled Building Hope for our Foster Children. As Our mission is to Rescue|Nurture|Raise orphans, fostering them while educating as a way to easy managing supply and ensuring the quality of education to all our foster children.
Well as we all know that schools were reopened in most of the countries around the world and here in Uganda they are to be reopened soon the same to our Vangrace Academy will also reopen but looking at our classrooms, they are totally in a bad condition that’s very risky to be used by our foster children for even a single day due to high damages of timbers by woodworms, termites, roof timber too eaten up and Iron Sheets gone off and it’s rainy season once it rains our children are affected by rainfall as well as sunshine since both of them are unfavorable places for children’s learning but what’s challenging even though they reopen the schools in Uganda, our school “Vangrace Academy” condition is out education system due to the worry full condition of the structures, it’s risky to reopen it when it is still in that condition of living on probability it’s like risking our foster children’s lives and putting them in danger since it’s all almost fallen since timbers were weakened by woodworms, termites and roof has gone off. Due to our school’s bearable, unfavorable condition we call upon friends and partners to support us in the construction of our school classrooms in order to enable the foster children fit in and for their excellent academic performance.
It’s therefore budgeted for a total sum of 5,374USD for 6 Classrooms to support over 300 orphan and all unprivileged children have education which will include purchase of nails, timbers, new iron sheets and strong Eucalyptus log poles and we believe that once classes are in good condition we believe it will contribute to their academic performance. As we all believe that good school infrastructure is one of the top priorities for the children’s performance and am looking for the way forward to see that our foster children’s classrooms be constructed before the schools get reopened in a fortnight but am finding a very hard time to fulfill it due to financial shortage that’s why am here by calling again your both financial and prayer support for a quick divine provision. And we believe that this construction will take us for quit long years period as we continue believe for permanent structures as Every child needs a safe and supportive education environment, Says Pastor Ivan Ssewankambo
Besides the above, a number of impacts of good school infrastructures have been analyzed and a review of the most recent literature indicates that the investments to improve school infrastructure has a number of effects on educational quality for instance attendance and completion of academic cycle, teachers’ motivation and it has a greater impact on volunteer teachers absenteeism then teachers’ facilitation and a powerful impact on learning results. And still empiric evidence that there is a direct relationship between school infrastructure and educational performance and investments in education infrastructure contribute to improve the quality of education and economic performance for the future generation especially when it comes to our foster children.
Join me today to support the lives of abandoned, street children, vulnerable and orphan children by giving them their basic needs like food, education, medication, shelter and others.
Vangrace Compassion Ministries a both a Uganda and USA nonprofit ministry with our vision to RESCUE |NURTURE|RAISE foster children. #Education #givinglife to all #children with #Love to all #Foster #African children. #Rescue #Nurture #Raise; join us today and become our ministry partner serving these children with love, mercy and Compassion and for more please email; ministry@vangracecompassion.net or click on Donate Button to Help. God bless you
August 2020 Volunteer of Month
Well today allow us to introduce to you Hope Getrude of Volunteer of the Month of August 2020,
As ministry service hasn’t been easy when it comes to volunteer-ship and it takes someone’s heart and decision to be involved in a volunteer ship just like one would never love to volunteer in the hospital but desire to carry out another kind of volunteer ship according to his/her heart’s desire.
And today we would love to introduce to you Hope our volunteer of the month who joined us willingly and decided to be one of our ministry volunteers. But when we asked her why she desired to take a heart of volunteer ship with our ministry she gave us the answers to the asked question in the narration
And She Says; “I have grown up in the life of parentless where my mother died at my early age of five years and at that age the life became miserable since she was the mother, father and everything in life since then no one could take the responsibilities of a parent in my life and this marked the beginning of my suffering. In the midst of all those after some years the devil planned a life sacrifice upon my life due to wealth greed by one of my relatives but God’s love, grace and mercy was upon me because God never allowed it to happen and it became an aborted sacrifice that’s why I always say glory to God who saved my life from death. In time I gave my life to Christ and indeed my life changed and transformed from parentless since I had got a parent without deals of disappointments once you trust Him and any other terms and condition since He is the father to the fatherless and the husband to the widow says the Lord but indeed in those very moments he brought a volunteer in my life who stepped on my life and fulfilled the responsibilities of a parent and showed me the parental love I had never got before from my parents or relatives and this created a yearning spirit inside of me to share that same love God shared with me and a blessing through a volunteer who stepped on my life and long alone I could ask myself why after all the circumstances I finally met a volunteer but I realized that it was to train me and to help me share the same love and life experience to the same kind of people who are like me”
Thats Getrude Hope in Classroom Educating our Foster Children
Besides all those in her narrations Hope has been seen volunteering in various activities, as for Education programs always attending learning lessons and providing education/ academic services to the foster children and ever supervising them do their revision in order not to keep their minds idol. We all know and believe that education is the best and everlasting gift we can ever give to our children and of all things it’s the key to success once children are offered with education services their future becomes brightened.
Not only that but she also tries her level best to get involved in the spiritual motivations as a caregiver. Since Hope’s talent or gift is to sing she always leads in music when it comes to Christ fun moments where our foster children get time to do Godly fun like dancing gospel music bits, singing and play skits according to the bible like that of Esther when she was appointed as the next queen, memory verse moment where they get time and share verses as children and so many others.
When it comes to her leisure moments she mostly spends it with our foster girls sharing inspiring and educative stories, encouraging them, sharing her life experience with them and reminding them always that their presence is a paramount case for the future generation as long as they stay focused and determined to their goals. Not only to the foster girls but also the young foster kids who likes playing she also gives time to them and this gives them interesting playing moments.
Join Us today together with me Pastor Ivan Ssewankambo, comment, recognize and appreciate Hope’s in anyway as thy Holly Spirit or your heart feels for her great service towards our foster children. Together we do more “Serving God, Serving His Children and Living a Life for His Devine Purpose”.
SMART PHONES REACHES AN ORPHANAGE IN UGANDA
Research has shown that only 2% of Uganda’s children
in urban centers have access to smart phones and 0% in rural areas. Young adults however account for 28% of internet usage in Uganda. In 2019 it was noted that 46% of Uganda’s families had access to smart phones of which 3% were employees who get mobile facilities from their employers in form of allowance and some Ugandans have been asking themselves why it’s rare in Uganda for children to have smart phones.
According to our research we observed that most parents are unable to purchase smart phones for their children since they are expensive and not affordable to everyone. Some have mentality that smart phones have a negative impact to children and a waste of family resources.
We believe that smart phones can have profound benefits towards child development when used properly and with supervision providing children with confidence in learning, digital literacy, adding a dimension to children’s learning since it provides children with ability to get answers quickly and accurately when carrying out research for school assignments.
That’s why it should be noted that God’s village Home of Vangrace Compassion Ministries received a donation of smart phones From Jen Finateri and Yen Hoang for the foster children and Caregivers.
It has been the long time prayer and desire to see that the foster children also get access to such digitalized materials in order for them to be able to compete in the digitalized competitive world we are living in.
And to some of them having got now access to smartphones , we believe this is to help them to carry out online lessons mostly in this pandemic period (COVID 19) where schools are closed and we pray and believe our foster children will all soon get access to them . And today we would love to say special thanks to Jen and Yen for having stepped out and given these awesome tools that are to cause a great impact towards our foster child development as well as to help in updating our friends and sponsors on the wonderful things taking place here in General Ministry Programs and Activities. God bless you More
By; Yours in Ministry
Pastor Ivan SSewankambo
The Importance Of Fathers.
The father of five children had won a toy at a raffle. He called his kids together to ask which of them should have the present. "Who is the most obedient?" he asked. "Who never talks back to mother? Who does everything she says?" Five small voices answered in unison. "Okay, dad, you get the toy."
Today is the day that we honor fathers. That’s me! Honor me! Yea!
In all seriousness, we are to honor our fathers, and our mothers, and this day in June is set aside for us to honor the fathers in this country. But we are to honor our fathers, not because it’s a holiday, not because it’s a tradition, not because there are sales going on all over the country, but because God said so.
In fact, he said so very specifically. The bible tells us in Ephesians 6:1-3, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”
Notice that it doesn’t say, honor only good moms and dads. It doesn’t say, honor them if you like them. It doesn’t say, honor only the right ones. It says, “honor your father and mother.” And so, today, we ought to honor all fathers.
But I want to speak directly to the dads here today. And if you’re not a dad, don’t check out, because we all need to hear this. You see, we are involved in a war today, and the battleground is not in Iraq or Afghanistan. The battleground is in our homes. And what’s at stake is not our land, our property, our freedoms. It’s more important that than. What’s at stake are our children.
And believe me—it’s a war, it’s an important war, and in this, we are losing the battle. Children are turning from the faith in record numbers. It’s as if as soon as they leave home and go to college they leave the church. And if you don’t believe me, look here this morning. And lest you think that its only a problem here, it is true all over the world. Children in record numbers are turning from God.
But it’s nothing new. It’s the same as been happening over the course of time. I want to tell you a brief Biblical story this morning that’s going to be our guide for the remaining time we have today—and I’ll be brief. It’s found in the book of Judges in the Old Testament. Genesis, exodus, Leviticus, numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges. In the pew bible it’s found on page _______________. Judges 2: 6 -12
Let me give you a little background here today. The nation of Israel had just marched into the promised land, and they were settling into the land. Now, it wasn’t a complete victory, because when they went in, they didn’t always follow what God desired, and instead of conquering all of it, they instead settled into some of it. And just before what we’re going to look at, they were instructed that they didn’t do what God desired, and they repented of it. With that in mind, let’s read this important passage this morning. Judges 2:6-12.
After Joshua had dismissed the Israelites, they went to take possession of the land, each to his own inheritance. 7 The people served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had seen all the great things the LORD had done for Israel.
8 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of a hundred and ten. 9 And they buried him in the land of his inheritance, at Timnath Heresa in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
10 After that whole generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what he had done for Israel. 11 Then the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD and served the Baals. 12 They forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of Egypt. They followed and worshiped various gods of the peoples around them.
Once Joshua and his generation passed away, the next generation turned their back on God and worshiped the gods of the peoples around them. Today, they don’t wait for mom and dad to pass on. They turn away immediately, and worship the god of television. They worship the god of fashion. They worship the god of convenience. They worship the god of this world. They worship the world. What is the world, 1 John 2:16 tells us. For the world offers only the lust for physical pleasure, the lust for everything we see, and pride in our possessions. These are not from the Father. They are from this evil world. (NLT)
In your notes is a passage from Romans 1:28-32 that closely parallels what is going on today in America. Let’s look at that together.
Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Do you realize we live in a culture that approves of turning its back on God? From court cases to tv to popular movies, it’s okay to make fun of religion, because it’s not important, it’s not relevant. It worked for mom and dad, but it’s not for me.
Well, can I tell you this morning, moms and dads, you are at the front lines. This is a war, and we are called to be a part. This morning, I want to give you your marching orders to tackle this important task of saving the children, and we are going to look briefly at a few steps that will help us to do so. How can we win the war? Three suggestions this morning.
1. With our words.
Deuteronomy 6: These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children.
You need to talk to you children. Be involved in their lives. Tell them about God, and tell them about the Bible. Remember in the past days. What God has done for you, so that you can share it with others. Are you sharing it with your children, what God has done for you? You need to, you ought to.
A study was done recently on a certain television to determine the amount of interaction between fathers and their small children. First, the fathers were asked to estimate the amount of time they spent each day communicating with their child. The average answer was about fifteen to twenty minutes. Next, microphones were attached to the father so that each interaction could be recorded. The results of this study were shocking: The average amount of time spent by these middle-class fathers with their small children was thirty-seven seconds per day. Their direct interaction was limited to 2.7 encounters daily, lasting ten to fifteen seconds each!
Look back at Deuteronomy 6 again with me. Can that be accomplished in 37 seconds a day? Do you want to know how much time the culture has with your children? 37 seconds does not come close to meeting the job. Communicate with your children; tell them about God and about the Bible.
Proverbs 1: Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching.
Don’t let the schools be the only thing that instruct the children. Don’t even let the church be the only thing that instructs your children. And that’s not an indictment on the teaching ministry of the church, but mom and dad, we are not responsible for raising your kids. We will help you, but when the bible tells us to Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it—that’s not to the church, that’s to parents.
Dad’s, how are you doing with your words? Are you fighting?
2. With our time.
A friend of mine, a pastor, once told me that he chose to fail so he could succeed. He said, "I chose to fail at football, because I wanted to succeed as a father." Though he loved football immensely, he knew that he could never devote adequate time to his job, his hobby, and his family . . . so he gave up his hobby.
How are you doing with your time? We looked at Deuteronomy 6, but let’s look again at verses 7 and following: Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Dad’s, do you want to know what is important in your life today? Look at your day time, your palm pilot, your schedule, and where your time is devoted to, that’s what is important. Unfortunately, many dads say that by their time they love their jobs. They love their hobbies. They love their entertainment, their comfort. If you asked them if they loved their children, they would swear to you that they do. But their time doesn’t match up.
And some of you have bought into the thinking of this world. I’ve got to keep working and working and working so I can provide for them the finer things of this world, and providing for family is important and biblical,
8If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
but I think that we sometimes go beyond what is necessary.
There’s a story told of a man asking his daughter if she would want quality time with her dad or quantity time with her dad. She replied, “Quality time, Dad, and lots of it!”
I read about a little girl who drew a pretty picture. She went in her dad’s
office. Crawled on his lap. And said, "Daddy, come and see my picture."
And the dad said, "Not now, honey. Dad’s busy."
About 10 minutes later, she came back again. Crawled on his lap. And said,
"Daddy, will you come see my picture now?"
And the dad got frustrated. And said, "Can’t you see I’m busy? Don’t bother
me right now. I’ll come and look at your picture later. When I’m ready."
A couple of hours later, the dad came out. And he said to the daughter, "Can
I see the picture now?" And the girl said, "Sure." And it was a picture of
her and her brother and her mom standing on the lawn. With the family dog.
With big smiles. On a sunny day. But the dad noticed that he wasn’t in the
picture. And so the dad said, "That’s a nice picture, sweetheart. But how
come I’m not in the picture?"
And the girl said, "Because you’re working in your office, daddy."
Time is a gift you give that you can never get back. You can give money, and always make more. You can give gifts, because you can always get new things anyway. But once time is given, it never comes back. Time reveals the priorities in your life. And if you want to win the war with for your children, you’ve got to invest time.
3. With your lives.
Genesis 18:18-19 is a revealing passage—I want to remind you of what it says to us today. Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just.
The way you live your life will be a direct reflection of how your children will grow up. There’s a song, called, “I want to be just like you.” It goes like this—I want to be just like you, cause he wants to be just like me. I want to be a holy example for his innocent eyes to see. Help me be a living Bible, Lord, that my little boy can read. I want to be just like you, cause he wants to be like me.”
I can see that now, in my sons and daughters. They desire to be like me. Some will repeat words I say, repeat things I do—they loves me, and at this point, they want to be just like me. I’d better be the right kind of dad, because they will mirror me.
It’s kind of like this situation—A little boy was caught swearing like a sailor. "Young man, where did you learn to talk that way?" said the boy’s mother. The boy looked at his father and said, "Well, Dad, should I tell her?"
2 Kings 14:3 speaks of a king of Israel named Amaziah. “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD…. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash.”
What kind of example are you setting for your kids? Your words may say some things about you, but your life declares who you really are. Are you fighting the war with your lives?
As we wrap up, let me speak to the kids there today. Life isn’t always what we want, and it isn’t always what’s best, and it isn’t always pleasing to God. There are some of you who have fathers who aren’t all that great, or maybe not even there? How can you honor your father, even when it’s difficult? How can you go through life without a good father?
Let me suggest to you something this morning. God calls the church his family. And here this morning, there are lots of good, godly dads. I would suggest to you that you go and adopt a dad. Not literally (Can you be my dad, and move in with us), but you know, go up to him and say, “I need a dad, someone I can look up to for advice and help, and I think you’d be a good dad.” And dads, if someone comes up to you and asks that, you know how you are to respond.
Well, it was a typical scenario of young boys debating whose father was the best. This discussion highlighted who their fathers knew. The first boy started the debate by claiming his father knew the mayor. He was soon topped by the second boy who said, "That’s nothing. My dad knows the governor." The stakes were getting pretty high, and the eavesdropping father wondered what his young son would say about him. The little boy shot back, "So what! My dad knows God!" Would your son say the same thing? May our children always be able to say, "My dad knows God!"
How are you fighting the battle? Maybe you need to start today, by apologizing to your kids, and starting anew.
4 THINGS THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT ORPHANS
God’s heart for the orphan is clearly displayed throughout the Old and New Testaments. Below is a beginning list of what the Bible says about orphans. What are some other ways God shows his love for these precious children? Leave us a comment and let us know your favorite verse!
1. All Orphans Have a Father
God is the great protector and loving Father of all orphans. Psalm 68:5 says, “Father of the fatherless and protector of widows, is God in his holy habitation.” He who numbers the hairs on our head will certainly not turn away from the orphan.
2. All Orphans Deserve Justice
Deuteronomy 10:18 says, “He ensures that orphans and widows receive justice. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing.” And Psalm 10:14 says “But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.” Justice is a fundamental part of God’s character. He promises protection and help for those who cannot protect themselves, and he cares about righting wrongs in the lives of orphans. God invites us as his people into this holy work of securing justice for orphans.
3. The People of God Will Care for Orphans
James 1:27 says, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” God’s people are called to actively pursue meeting the needs of orphans and a great place to start is through prayer.
Each month, Vangrace Compassion Ministries features a prayer focus child from our Care Center at God’s Village. Praying for orphans becomes much more personal when you know the face and the name of a child who has been directly impacted by the orphan crisis. Whether you are a prayer partner, an advocate, a Vangrace Compassion Ministries’ sponsor, we have great resources available to help you get involved in caring for orphans!
4. The People of God Share Their Resources with Orphans
The following verse comes from a passage in Deuteronomy where God is instructing His people about tithing. Deuteronomy 14:29 says, “And the Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance with you, and the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow, who are within your towns, shall come and eat and be filled, that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands that you do.” God calls His people to specifically remember orphans in their giving.
As you consider how God may be calling you to care for orphans in their distress, take heart! He who calls you to this work will be faithful to equip you for the work he has called you to! “For the God who calls you is faithful, and He can be trusted to make it so.” I Thess. 5:24
TWO MONTHS OLD BABY RESCUED FROM HER DYING MOTHER.
Reaching out and listening to the ideas of people facing adversity is one of our core strategies. If we give them the dignity to speak, we may discover simple solutions to the most pressing challenges facing them.
Today our founder and Director, Ivan Ssewankambo, together with his wife Prossy Ssewankambo reached out to an HIV infected young mother whose life has been on the edge of death.
When you get to hear Lydia’s story (infected young mother), it brings tears. She learnt that she was infected two months before giving birth to her beautiful daughter Esther who is two months old now at the age of 18 years. Her mother died when she was still young as well her father also died when she was 2 years. So after her relatives knowing that she was infected, they abandoned her and the only thing they waited for was her death.She had been living with her one of her friends whom she calls her aunt “Irene”. From here, that’s when our Papa Ivan and the wife Mama Prossy found out about this needy young mother. They have been providing milk and some other support to Lydia’s daughter since she could not breast feed from her mother.
Two month before giving birth, she went to hospital to check her as she was not feeling good and to her surprise she was found that she had both HIV and TB (Tuberculosis) and was put on both HIV and TB drugs , later on 01/ September/2016 she gave birth to her beautiful daughter. From that time her body/ health became so weak and with her immune system getting low day by day until this week’s Monday Evening around 01/November/2016 when her situation became unbearable and her aunt “Irene” took her to a hospital where she was taking her ARVs from but they failed to work on her since her condition was critical so they had to refer her to Mulago National Referral Hospital. Here her condition went beyond, she couldn’t talk or eat and the doctors doing everything possible to save her life.
After Admission at around 07:00PM Monday 01/November/2016, her aunt was told not to bring baby Esther (baby child) near her mother since she was being taken to HIV and TB (Infectious Diseases Hospital ward) and doctors added on saying that its was so dangerous for the baby to be with the mother in that critical/ risky condition as the baby could easily catch TB or other infectious diseases from both the mother and other patients within the ward.
So Yesterday 02/November /2016 Ivan and Prossy went to visit Lydia after their tough night receiving phone calls from both Lydia’s Aunt (Irene) and the doctors to come and rescue the baby as Irene had already told them about Vangrace Compassion Ministries’ Previous support that was being rendered to the mother before admission. By the time of their arrival at the hospital, Lydia’s aunt told them that Lydia was back from a tough condition she was in and now she could speak as well as recognize people around her. The first thing Prossy did was to feed the child as she was so hungry and crying. After feeding the child, they had to visit the mother where she was. Reaching where she was, she was just looking around but had a smile seeing Ivan and Prossy not related to her coming to visit her and caring for her child there after Lydia humbly asked Pastor Ivan Ssewankambo and Mama Prossy Ssewankambo if they could foster her baby until she recovers of which both Papa Ivan and Mama Prossy fully accepted with open arms.
Our surprise was, when her aunt came to say goodbye to Ivan and Prossy, she said “I have left Lydia smiling and says she feels relieved after you accepting to foster and look after her baby.
But in all, we are praying for her daily so that she recovers and gets a chance of seeing her sweet baby again. And we believe that God can heal her completely.
From the left (in black) Xander 12 yrs, Jennnifer (Mother to Xander and Chase) and Chase (in orange) 9 years.
CELEBRATING OUR SPONSOR OF THE MONTH.
From the left (in black) Xander 12 yrs, Jennnifer (Mother to Xander and Chase) and Chase (in orange) 9 years.
Hello My name is Jennifer Atlee, and I want to thank Vangrace Compassion Ministries for this opportunity to tell you about myself and an amazing and life changing opportunity that was presented to me at one of my most trying times in my life, when I was questioning my faith and trust in the man upstairs.
I am a 32 yr old single mother of two wonderful little boys ages 9 and 12. I am a health care advocate for a disease called Lipedema, a Social Entrepreneur, and an artist from London Ontario. 2 years ago I was diagnosed with a rare disease, and was told I had no medical help available to treat me, and that there was no cure. At that exact second my life crumbled around me. I went into a depression; I started to hate life and everything that surrounded me. My children were the only thing in this world that was keeping me going and preventing me from giving up in my battle. Being a single mom your priorities change significantly, and you come to live for your children only, you make a vow to be and do everything you can be and do for your children no matter what is occurring in your life or how sick you are because their lives are the only thing that matters, and you are all they have. My kids once again saved my life, and instead of feeling sorry for myself I started to teach myself to love and have faith in god once again. I began to tell myself that this wasn’t the end of what life had in store for me, I’m here for more then to just fade away without making any significant impact on this world or feeling like I have not made a difference. And so one morning I looked up to the sky and I spoke to God, and I said “ok…im listening show me what I am supposed to be doing! Give me a sign of where my services are meant to be here because I am lost, there has got to be more then this!’
The next few days I decided to take my fate into my own hands. I jumped online and I started to research fundraisers and charities because I knew nothing about raising money and I knew if I needed to raise funds to travel to the USA for surgeries that were not available in Canada for my disease I would have to learn everything that I possibly can and make sure I do this right the first time because I only have one shot as we all know medical care expenses are crippling. I started a GoFundme page to raise my funds and between this and the help and support of my friends families and community I was able to raise enough funds to travel to the U.S.A for surgery, but not to pay for the actual procedure. I was devastated and defeated once again. I was so angry because I tried so hard. I began to give up. I left my home with my children and we bounced from family home to family home searching for help, for a miracle. It seemed that one horrible thing after another was happening until I felt like I couldn’t stand on my own two feet another second I told the sky I was done I give up, I am tired, and I cannot go any further that the bad has defeated my soul. And that’s when it happened. Someone came to me and I now know it was through him. This person also had one horrible thing after another happen in their life and because of one of the horrible thing in particular, this person had extra funds given to them to start their life over. This person being close to the family had watched for almost 2 years my struggle and was severely effected emotionally by my battle and he came to me the day after I told God I give up im in your hands now, and he said to me. “I have the money to pay for your surgery and I want you to have it. Your life is far more important to me then starting mine over and I cannot sit here and watch your disease take you over and not do anything about it.” On this day I fell to my bed and I cried and cried and I thanked God that he brought this person, this miracle into my life and I stood here before myself and the man upstairs with nothing in between but gratitude and I said “ I promise to pay this forward….the amount of support I received and the pureness of love in the hearts of those that surrounded me at my hardest time was so strong that I was vibrating inside and it changed my life.
2 months later while I was sitting in a bed healing from my surgery in another country that gave me my life back again to live with my children, and to be able to keep up with them for years to come, thanking God for such a miracle it came to me, I wanted to help people who are at rock bottom. I didn’t know who, how, where, or what, I just kept being told in my soul I’m to pay it forward. Later that day I signed onto facebook and saw a message in a group chat from some one new and I had a look. It was a man asking for help with children from an orphanage. I saw that this man was not getting a very positive response with regards to his plea for help and it hit my heart hard because I was just in the same position and I knew how it felt to be asking for help when you don’t know where else to turn and my heart broke into a million pieces. So I did some research on Vangrace Compassion Ministries the orphanage this man was speaking about, and I made sure that it was of course real, and once I confirmed this I started to soak in everything presented to me on my screen. I realized that there were many children in the world that don’t have loving parents or the necessities of life, and if my journey of not having my necessities of life available to me like so many of us are accustomed to was so devastating to me, it killed me to think of the harm and stress it would have on a child’s soul. It was this moment I knew what I was being told and I reached out to this gentleman regarding the ministries and I instantly grew a connection with Ivan his wife the ministry workers and of course every single child there, and I knew this is where I would pay it forward! I decided to Sponsor two children at that time, as honestly $24/ Month is very affordable and if I could provide the necessitates of life to two children by eliminating my monthly wants like Tim Hortons Coffee once a day how could I not give this gift to two wonderful children who are also looking for their miracle? And so we did, and a few months later we decided to sponsor another child through Vangrace Compassion Ministries because of how large of an impact Patricia and Jibu had on me and my kids lives and so quickly! And so, we came to meet and welcome Oliver as well. All three children are so amazing! Their hearts are so large and their smiles are so big everytime we see them in videos and pictures I cry., very single time Ivan sends me a message from them im filled with so much emotion, knowing we are making a difference. We have been sponsoring our children for a year now and even though they live across the world from us Ivan ensures that our connection is memorable and personable. Unlike most Sponsorship programs Ivan allows us to send photos and videos to our children, and the children reply with photos and videos of their own. My children write letters to them and we also send out surprise boxes to them and Ivan never fails to send us photos and videos of them opening the boxes and to see the smiles and the laughter and them sharing their gifts with the other children in the orphanage is an experience you would never ever have the opportunity of having anywhere else!
Xander and Chase (Jennifer's Two sons)
My kids and I watch our videos daily and we plan on going out and visiting Vangrace Compassion Ministries and hugging our children for real and show them that even though we are worlds apart they have a family, brothers, and a mom that love and cherish them so much, and that they are never alone. I have chosen to devote my life to fighting for the rights and needs of these children and this village, and I will continue to sponsor from Vangrace Compassion Ministries and Ultimately my personal goal is to eradicate child malnutrition entirely at Vangrace Compassion Ministries, by connecting with other global social entrepreneurs and like minded individuals to work together and set up a support system for Ivan and the orphanage, and I will not stop until we succeed as this is the path that was laid before me and I will never let these children down, as they are looking to us for their miracle, their next meal, their healthcare, and education, and most of all their safety, just as I was looking for my miracle a year ago. I think so many of us forget that our hearts are one, and we need to fill one another’s hearts with love, compassion, unity, and hope. Because without this what kind of world would we be living in? These Children are our future they are the worlds hope. I have learned something recently it’s a whole new meaning of hope that most have not heard I am sure but it truly hit home with me in my heart and I carry this mantra with me everyday now and I hope you all do as well. When I say I want to give hope or we need your help in giving these children hope this is what we are doing… We are ….HELPING OTHER PEOPLE EVOLVE. And this is what I dream of for the future of Vangrace Compassion Ministries!
People often ask me why do I waste my time sponsoring children from Africa. What could I possibly get out of this transaction? Besides changing a child’s life and showing them they are loved and not alone, besides changing your perspective on life all together… besides expanding your family, and watching your child grow and prosper right before your eyes, and seeing what amazing things are happening with your contribution and the lives you are saving, or the love and bonds you build with your child daily, here are some reasons why my family sponsors these amazing children;
Your not just giving money, you are giving hope- its not just money that makes a difference. The feeling these children have knowing that there is someone in this world that is investing in them is significant! We all have the right to feel like we are loved and knowing that they are not alone gives hope to these children.
Your not just saving one child. Yes when you sponsor a child you are helping that particular child, but it goes further then that you are helping an entire community evolve one person at a time. This may not feel like a significant impact individually but when we have sponsors in numbers its very easy to see how the entire community is impacted. I always remember a saying when I think of this and that’s “it takes a village to raise a child” in order for that village to raise that child we must help support that village in numbers, and those numbers will grow one sponsor at a time. You are helping increase those numbers by sponsoring just one child.
From the left Patricia (in pink), Jibu (orange) and Oliver (green) being sponsored by Jennifer and the two sons (Xander and Chase).
It helps teach your children about compassion and equality. I know most moms are like me and when their child does something so heartfelt we take lots of pictures and launch them all over social media of them singing silly songs or when your child give their change to a homeless person outside of the coffee shop. When you sponsor a child, and include your entire family you have these moments daily. I have found that my children have a whole new perspective on life and what social expectations our society has laid before them are right or wrong. My children having a connection with Patricia Jibu and Oliver are questioning at a young age the way the world runs and they are constantly brainstorming on how to help their brother and sisters at Vangrace. In fact, they recently had boxes of their own toys packed and I mean everything from their bedrooms in boxes ready to send it away I sadly had to explain that mommy couldn’t afford that big of a package to be sent out and that we will come up with a more efficient way to make an impact for their siblings and they are right back to the drawing board. I have found that not only has this experience helped me learn who I am as a person but it has also helped my children find their passions and what part of their life path is important to them. My youngest son has already decided that when he’s old enough he will be traveling and helping as many children as he can like his brother and sisters at Vangrace, he says he will give all he has to those who need it more then him and to know that he could someday change the world because of our decision to sponsor these three amazing children impacts my heart in so many ways and I am forever grateful to of been able to give my 5 of my children an opportunity to learn from one another, and for me to learn from all of them.
Its very affordable, and you see on a regular basis where your money is going and how you are helping your child. You are looking at a $1 a day per month to give a child a whole new life and help create a rippled effect creating the same outcome for many other children, and your payments never increase. I have seen personally numerous times how just 1$ a day can save a child’s life, in the end your experience with Vangrace Compassion Ministries will prove to you that the impact these children have on your heart and your life is in fact priceless.
If I had an opportunity to meet the members and CEO’s of Vangrace Compassion Ministries, first of it would be a honor, secondly I would give each and every one of them a huge hug and express my gratitude and commend them for what they are doing and creating for these children. These amazing people put the needs of these children first every single day and they work day in and day out to do everything in their power to ensure that each child is properly cared for and feel loved even at their worse of times. And in my opinion that is the definition of everything pure and everything good. The love I hold for them and their work words cannot express, and if every person in this world carried the same love, devotion, and core values as this ministry does, the world would be a much better place!
Thank you Vangrace Compassion Ministries for giving me and my family an opportunity to be a part of your family! Through thick and thin we will always stand beside you and your vision.
I hope that this encourages everyone to join us, and take action regarding an important global issue, and that our story helps you to decide to get out there and be the change you wish to see in our world.
Sending love from our family to yours, and to our sponsor children Patricia, Jibu and Oliver
Jennifer Atlee & Sons
Celebrating Our Caregiver of the Month: Aciiro Grace.
When Grace joined Vangrace Compassion Ministries, she felt a “Divine calling” of being a caregiver upon her life. Though she didn’t exactly know at that time what it would look like, she knew this was where she was meant to be and she saw it as a gift and blessing from God to be able to help the innocent orphans and vulnerable children at God’s Village.
A “War Victim” of the Northern Uganda Civil wars from 1996 to 2012 between the LRA Rebels (lord resistance army) and the government of Uganda. Click here to know more about this war.
Grace born 1993 spent her childhood in northern Uganda refugee camps staying with the mother after her father was taken away by the rebels. She studied her primary and secondary level right from the UN IDP (Internally Displaced Person) Refugee Camps still in Northern Uganda, though the situation wasn’t good at all as we all can imagine IDP Refugee Camps Life style. But though she passed through all that miserable life, Grace knew that she would to do something to give love and encouragement to others. Grace’s Dream was “caring for innocent war affected children, orphans.”
Grace’s ways of helping our children are compassionate, patient and understanding. She can handle all challenges that children come with through counseling, tendering to them and making them feel at home as any parent would do.
When we asked Grace how she feels when caring for the children, she said “Seeing these children with jiggers, crying, and so dirty, it bathers me and makes me cry too. So that’s one of the reasons as to why I involve myself in helping these little vulnerable children.”
Grace Says “When we asked Grace how she feels doing
As all Caregivers know, there are good and bad days with care giving. Grace is no different. She gets down when she comes across things that she can’t ‘make right’ mainly for the children and she relies on God because she knows He is the only one who can ‘fix’ things.’
As Vangrace Compassion Ministries, we are so honored that God led Grace to our doorstep, and consequently to many doorsteps where her passion, love and patience touch so many lives!
Celebrating Our Sponsor of the Month.
We are excited to have Chris as our sponsor of the month of September. Join us as we celebrate him and appreciate him for his kindness, love, caring and support towards our ministry’s programs and activities.
Chris is one of our top active sponsors who take part in every event through donation whenever there’s a call to give. He also sponsors one of our kids “Kigenyi Patrick” monthly. So it is such a pleasure to have him as our sponsor of the month.
INTERVIEW with CHRIS via FACEBOOK.
1. Chris you are one of our top active sponsors that we have currently. But someone out there would like to know who Chris is.
~My name is Christoph Eid. I was born in Lebanon but was lucky to move to Australia when I was a child due to the civil war in Lebanon~
2. How old are you and what do you do currently for a living?
~I am 30 years old now, single living with my mother and older brother and I currently working at a cafe/pizza shop~
3. What inspired you to come up with a plan of helping Vangrace Compassion Ministries and how does it feel to help those that are in desperate need?
~I had been friends with Ivan on Facebook for a little and would always see his posts about the orphanage, the smiles on the children at the orphanage would always put a smile on my face but when I would see how much they were struggling I would feel bad so I decided to sponsor a child and help the orphanage when I ever I can. The $23 US I spend a month to sponsor Patrick is sure worth it~
4. You've been sponsoring Patrick one of the kids from Vangrace Compassion Ministries for a long time , what makes you to continue donating again and again?
~Since I have started sponsoring Patrick, Ivan has kept me updated with photos, videos and even a letter from Patrick! A price can't be put on this~
5. What is the secret behind sponsoring a needy child from Africa?
~Well, the secret is not all that big, but since giving and helping those that are in need is part of me, I just find my self doing it with ease and happiness. Another thing sponsoring a needy child from Africa is another way of giving what I have to God as Mathew 19:14 says 'But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.'
Do you also want to help or support those that are in need? Vangrace Compassion Ministries is the way to go. Join us as we serve many people that are in need today.
NABUUMA SHARIFA RAPED BY A STEP FATHER
Today we have got a 13years old orphan girl (lost her father) child who has narrated a story to Ronald a caregiver (VCM Administrator) after being defiled and raped by her step daddy one month ago. This poor girl was seen by the neighbors in too much pain as she couldn’t walk properly and with a strong odor (smell) and they took her Ronald at God’s Village.
“‘I was asleep that night and when I woke up, I found my step father on top of me’ says Sharifah crying and in deep much pain. ‘When he (step father) had that I was awake, he held my mouth with his hands so I couldn’t make an alarm. When he was done using me, that’s when he got off my mouth. But I was in too much pain and seeing blood, I was so much terrified but one thing he told me was to keep quiet and not to tell anyone else because if I do, he told me he would kill me and take me on streets, stay alone, be abandoned and leave even my mother. Sharifah narrates more “even though I was told to keep quiet, but I told my mother, who cried and her too told me not to tell anyone else because she didn’t want her man to chess me away from home.”
Now immediately today after Ronald getting that story from her, he took Sharifah to Harriet (God’s Village caregiver & nurse); Harriet gave us a report after checking her. And the report is that she saw pus coming out of her private parts and a strong odor also.
Now as Vangrace Compassion Ministries’ Core responsibility to help the poor communities that we serve together with such children, we have taken a step forward and now taking the poor girl to police and then afterwards to Hospital for Proper Check Up and then after all that is done we are to request the police for full custody of the girl for security and her wellbeing here at God’s Village.
Automatically all possible ways to arrest that step father and also Vangrace Compassion Ministries’ full custody of the girl has to be our number one priority.
Many children mostly young girls suffer a lot especially those that stay with their step fathers. They face rejection, not being sent to school and some are being raped by their step fathers. Because of fear, 98% of such children keep quite after being tormented by their step fathers and only 2% of such children will take a step out and report such incidents to the police or their neighbors.
Stand with us as we take a step of helping such children like Sharifa Nabuuma.
NOTE: Keep watching this story's comments for more news about Sharifa's case.
Children Born in February
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below are the Children Born in February
Vegetable Seeds Donation Program.
Vegetable Seeds Donation Program.Many of the times, Uganda Orphanages getting all variety of food to feed the vulnerable and orphan children and improve on their diet is really hard since they have no access and monetary funds to purchase different types of foods for the children. Most times children are being fed on only one type of food because that’s what they can afford and that’s the same issue to Vangrace Compassion Ministries Orphanage-God’s Village. Our children mainly feed on corn flour (maize flour) mixed with water and beans daily. The issue of them feeding on variety of foods (Egg plants, Amaranthus white Elma, Cabbage, Solanum Aethiopicum, Onions, Sweet Paper, Tomatoes ,carrots and others) is a tale.
Seeing all that, Vegetable Seeds Donation Program has been introduced to ease on the issue of children feeding on only one type of food. This program is aimed at providing high nutrition and producing abundant food for the orphans and vulnerable children.
The soils and weather at God’s Village is conducive which will make this program so important to the children. It only takes three months or less for these seeds to be ready for harvesting.
2 Corinthians 9:10 “He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness”
We cannot do this alone but we'd like to encourage you to support our efforts of feeding the orphans, neglected, street and abandoned children that God has placed in our care.
Your financial contribution of $5 or more will make Vangrace Compassion Ministries a reality for these children as they move toward a lifestyle of sustainable sufficiency. Your donation will purchase Vegetable seeds to start or expand vegetable gardens at orphanages. Not only that but it will also bring back the hope of these children of feeding on at least two types of food daily, it will bring joy and happiness to their hearts hence improving on their standards of living.
“Thank you for your support”
Walk the Talk@ African Child’s Day
It's 10am, and the 4-year-old is still waiting for breakfast. Sarah collapses to her knees in tears and plops her forehead down on the dirt outside.
Soon she is wailing inconsolably and writhing on her back in the sand. A care giver spots her, picks her up easily by one arm, and gives her a little cassava in a bowl. The toddler shovels it into his mouth with sticky fingers coated in tears and grime. The crying stops, for the moment. But tomorrow, there will be no breakfast. There will be only the prayer that many children say every morning, asking God to help them and get food.
Hunger, Malnutrition, illiteracy and chronic pain are some of the commonly used words referring to African Child. She sleeps on the streets, eats garbage and going to school is seen as a miracle to her.
As we celebrate African Child’s Day, let’s remember her, let’s consider remembering all the African children mostly those whose hope of living well is destructed by unfortunate situations. Let’s reach out to them, let’s show them love and empathy. It’s time for us to walk the talk for saving the African child.
The good news is, Vangrace Compassion Ministries has many proven ways to help an African Child through educating him/her, providing nutritious and healthy food as well as giving medical treatment and accommodating her/him.
When friends like you partner with us, we can meet the urgent physical needs of an African Child by providing food, providing education and medication facilities to her/him... Join us now!
Remember every for contribution that you make, you will be saving an African child as well you will receive a tax exemption receipt.
