ICHOOSEYOU NEWSLETTER

JANUARY 2016

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!   It's so hard to believe it's 2016...I hope that it has started out fun, exciting and filled with grace and blessings for each of you. 

I received a wonderful report from Sarah, from our IChooseYou office, last week. 

All of the children are doing so well. Everyone is healthy, happy and really excelling in school.  Everyone did very well in their studies, all advancing to the next grade.

Paul is starting his last year in Law School. He will be graduating in December 2016 then will start his year long internship.

Florence (Flower), has completed Sr.6 and is waiting to hear how she did on her national exit exam. She will then start classes at the University in the Fall.

Mike is starting his senior year (senior 6) and will take his national exit exam in Oct.

Joyce will return to boarding school, Lugazi Homeland University, along with Justine and John. Joyce is waiting for her results before entering Sr.5, Justine will be in Sr.3 and John will be in Sr. 2. 

Joining Joyce, Justine and John will be Charity, Winnie, Akuu and Kizito.  We are so proud of them for working so hard so they can go to boarding school. They will be in Sr.1class.

Children that will be attending Mbale Secondary School, Sr.1-Sr. 4 are: Vicky, Bumba 

Edrisa, Bumba James, Sharon, Ambrose, Meddie, Faizo, Rebecca, Bridget, Gorret, Nakihu Betty, Stanley and Lesse.

Children in P7 class at Covenant Primary School, living in the Hostel are: Jonah, Mwanga Paul, Ilukor Betty, Stephen, Sicilla, Martha, Fortunate, Sandra and Manuala.

Children in Covenant Primary School in Mbale, Nursery-P6 are: Loru, Gift, Baby Rebecca, Edwin, Tikwanga, Joann, Dennis, Esther, Ana, Beatrice, Gloria, Irene, Priscilla, Ruth, Asuman, Daniel, Isaac, Opio Isaac, Jacob, Peter, Joseph and Teko Brian. 

I hope you are as excited for your child as I am for them all.  They have done so well and are learning what a gift and great opportunity you are giving each one of them. 

We will be returning to Uganda in June. If you are wanting to send a letter and/or picture to your child(ren), please feel free to send it to us at IChooseYou P.O. Box 1357, Wimberley TX 78676. 

Thank you so much for loving your children and all that you do for them.

Sports Day!

        Last Friday was sports day at Covenant Primary school! Several other primary schools in Mbale came to Covenant Primary to participate in a competitive sports day. Several IChooseYou children participated in netball, volleyball, and football (soccer) matches. The school grounds were full of teachers, children, and referees. Vendors came to sell popcorn, mandazi (donuts), and ice cream. Covenant Primary came away victorious in the under 12 boys and under 14 boys football matches. It was great fun for all! 

Happy Birthday, Vicky!

It is this beautiful girl’s fifteenth birthday, so it’s only fitting that we feature her on our blog today. Vicky is in the P7 class (equivalent of 6^th grade) at Covenant Primary school. Vicky has been in the IChooseYou program for six years. She lives in Namatala with her mother, seven year old brother, and three year old sister. 

When  she grows up, Vicky wants to pursue a career as a doctor. I asked her why she is choosing this profession, and she responded that she would love to treat God’s people. At school, Vicky likes to hang out with her friends Rebecca (also in IChooseYou), Rachel, Mercy, and Christine. 

After school, Vicky helps her mother with chores and takes care of her two younger siblings.When she isn't at school or helping at home, Vicky likes to play netball and volleyball, as well as sing and dance. She loves to praise and worship, and she says that God has been teaching her more about worship lately.

Until recently, Vicky had a hard time reading her Bible because the print was too small and she had a problem with her vision. Now, she has been provided with glasses and is able to read her Bible once more. Her favorite story in the Bible is the story of Noah’s ark because “we should all serve the Lord our God and trust in him, just like Noah did.”

Vicky’s message to you: “Hold on to God and trust in Him, because he cares for everybody!”

Learn more about how you can sponsor a child like Vicky at www.ichooseyou.org 

Asuman

This is Asuman. Asuman is ten years old and in the Primary 2 class (1^st grade). He works very hard in school and is in the top of his class. His favorite subject to study is mathematics. When he grows up, Asuman wants to be a pilot because he thinks it would be fun. Asuman enjoys playing football (soccer) and playing with his friends Teko Brian, Wataka, and Senyonga. 

Asuman has chickens and ducks at home, which he helps to care for. He lives with his mother, three brothers, and two sisters in Namatala. His mother, Grace, is a diligent participant in the IChooseYou mother’s sewing club. His favorite animal is a monkey and his favorite Bible stories are found in the book of John. Asuman has been in the IChooseYou program for two years. When I asked him if he wanted to say anything to his sponsors, he said, “I love you.” Asuman is a happy and helpful child. He can often be found pushing other kids around in a wheelbarrow during break times. He loves to laugh and have fun. He is very kind and smart, but my favorite thing about him is his enormous smile.

Gloria

“Why do you want to be a doctor?”

Gloria scrunches her forehead together in deep concentration, as if the thought had never occurred to her before. After thinking about it for a moment, she replies, “I just want to help people.”

That statement embodies everything you need to know about this beautiful ten year old. At school, Gloria is always ready to lend a hand, whether it be carrying something for you, or helping to get the other children quiet during Bible stories. On more than one occasion, I’ve seen her put a gentle hand on a friend’s arm, to warn them to settle down before they get into trouble. At home, Gloria loves to help her mother with the other children, cooking, and other work around the home. Gloria lives with her mother, father, three sisters, and a “brother cousin”, as she calls him. Gloria has been in IChooseYou for one year and is in the P-3 (2^nd grade) class at school. She enjoys going to school and being with her friends, Priscilla, Irene, Sandra, and Anna. Her favorite subject is science, and she especially likes to learn about domestic animals and insects. She likes to learn about the many insects and see which ones she can spot at home in Namatala. Gloria enjoys playing soccer, making up stories, and playing games with her friends.When asked if she would like to say anything to her sponsors, Gloria replied, “I love my sponsors! Thank you for caring for me!”

The same love and care that Gloria has received, she is more than ready to give to others. What a beautiful example of what we all should do with the Father’s love that He so graciously has poured out on each of us.

Meddy

This smiley fellow is Meddy. Meddy is fourteen years old and in the Primary 7 class at Covenant Primary School. He lives with his mother in Namatala. Meddy has one younger brother and one younger sister. Meddy has been in the IChooseYou program for six years. His favorite subjects are English and math. Meddy is particularly gifted in math and he even helps his friends with their math homework. Meddy wants to study accounting at university and eventually work in a bank. Meddy makes excellent grades and is very dedicated to his school work. He is ranked in the top five among his classmates. Outside of school, Meddy enjoys spending time with his friends and singing. He sometimes sings, plays instruments, and dances at his church. His favorite Bible story is found in Acts 3, when Peter heals the lame man outside of the temple. This is his favorite story because it encourages him that God is powerful and does great miracles. Meddy is very grateful for the opportunity to go to school.

"I want to say thank you to Mama Becky and my sponsors. It is a good thing you have done here. We are not the same people were once were. I pray that you are given more of the spirit of giving so that you can continue to give to many others."

Sandra

This beautiful girl is Sandra. Sandra is in P-4 (3rd Grade) and does very well in her class. She loves to go to school and her favorite subject is mathematics. Her favorite color is pink. When she isn't in class, Sandra enjoys playing netball and jump rope with her friends, Irene, Gloria, and Priscilla.

Sandra comes from a very loving and stable home, a rare thing in Namatala. Her father, Robert, understands his responsibility to take care of and provide for his family, and he is a very loving father and husband. Sandra's mother, Annette, is an active participant in IChooseYou's sewing club, learning job skills, financial planning, and how work alongside others in a way that is pleasing in God's sight. The family is a beacon of light in the community, regularly caring for the children of their neighbors and it isn't rare to see a large group of hungry children on their porch at dinner time. Sandra has two younger brothers and two younger sisters, all of whom love her immensely.

When Sandra grows up, she wants to be a primary school teacher. She loves to read her Bible and she wants to teach the Bible to others when she is older. The story of Abraham is her favorite. When I asked her why, she said, "Because Abraham heard the voice of God. I want to learn to hear the voice of God." I think she already has.

Justine

This beautiful girl is Justine. Justine has just completed her final year of primary school and will be departing next week for boarding school in Kampala. After secondary school, Justine would like to continue her education at university. She would like to become a lawyer or a teacher when she has completed her education. 

Justine's life has not been an easy one. The youngest of four sisters, Justine was a baby when her father died of AIDS. Her parents owned and operated a shop together, but when her father died, her mother was turned away empty handed. Justine's uncle helped the family to find a new place to live in Mbale. Her mother, Sarah, now raising four children by herself, was able to obtain a job with TASO (The Aids Support Organization). Since Sarah had to work, the children were left alone most of the time. Justine fondly looks back at times when she spent days playing pretend games with her sisters. 

A representative from IChooseYou came to the area they were living in when Justine was school age. Joyce was immediately accepted into IChooseYou. When Joyce and Justine's mother heard about the child sponsorship program, she thought it was a scam. Surely no one could want to help her family, without desiring any payment in return? When it was proven that IChooseYou wanted to do exactly that, Justine was added to IChooseYou as well. Both began attending primary school, and with a little extra help academically, Justine thrived. 

Justine loves her sponsors, and getting to know them has made a great impact on her life. When she was nearing the end of primary school, Justine decided that boarding school would be the best choice for her. She discussed it with the leaders of IChooseYou and then humbly put her request before her sponsors. Justine is so happy and thankful that her sponsors have continued to support her so well throughout the years. 

Justine feels boarding school is the best place for her because she will be able to stay very focused on her studies in such a structured environment. Her favorite subjects are English and social studies. Justine's sister, Joyce, attends another campus of the same boarding school in Kampala. Justine is very excited about attending secondary school and being closer to her sister. 

Though her life has not always been the easiest, this lovely and wise thirteen year old is full of truth. While discussing outward beauty, Justine said,

"All are beautiful. None is ugly who is made in the image of God." 

How right she is. And what an exquisitely beautiful young woman she is, both inside and out. 

The Importance of a Sponsor

When IChooseYou was "born", I wondered how on earth I was going to get sponsors for 20 children.  It has been so easy!!!  Why? You ask....I'm so glad that you did.  There is only one answer.....The Lord has chosen each sponsor!!  Yes, there are things that we need to do but IChooseYou is here because it is to bring glory to The Lord!!!

I would like to share a couple of things that have happened since our 2013 Team has returned....remember, team member and board member, Callie Eacret, is still there and will be until November.

1.  One of our little girls fell on the playground at school and broke her arm.  She arrived at Callie's house after school to do her homework and she looked like she was unhappy, a little sad or maybe in some pain.....they do not complain much.  Callie talked to her and she told Callie what had happened and that she had gone to the doctor and that the doctor had given her some cream to put on it!   I am so thankful that Callie is there...she took her to another doctor, had her arm x-rayed and they put a cast on it.  She will be as good as new in a few weeks.

2.  The next day, a different little girl, fell and broke her collar bone!  This is not a new thing for this young lady, she has broken both arms....this is the third break in 4 years.  Again, Callie took her to the doctor and she too will heal and be as good as new!!

I tell you about these two little girls because if they were not a part of IChooseYou and if they did not have a sponsor....their arms and collar bone would not be set and they would have a difficult life trying to use them.

One more story:

We have a young man that has been in IChooseYou from the beginning.  He is 12 years old, doing well in school, a little shy and has the sweetest and biggest smile that I have ever seen!  His mother died after we left.  They had the burial in a different village so he with his Jja Ja (grandmother) went to the village for the burial.  The Jja Ja returned to Namatala but the boy did not.  When someone went to check on him, his uncle said that he was not going to come back to Namatala, to IChooseYou or to school.  He was to stay and live (probably work) with his uncle.  We could not do anything about it.  So, we prayed, and prayed and prayed.  Last week, Callie and Aidah went to the village, found the hut he was living in and found 4 + children under the age of 14 living there....no adults, no food, nothing.  They were dirty, hungry and very sad.  At the time, they could not do anything for all of the children but they could bring our IChooseYou child home.  They also found out that his Jja Ja would beat him and not let him have food so he was not excited about going home.  God is so good...he is living at Aidah's home for now, Callie is working with him and he will move into the hostel when he is ready.  He is back in school and they are feeding him food for his physical body and food for his emotional and spiritual well being.

This is just one more way to see God move in the lives of these children AND in the lives of the sponsors!!

So, I say, "Thank you Lord!!  Thank you Sponsors!!!"  You are making a way for children that would be lost in a world with no love, care, food, school or knowing the blessings of their Lord. 

If you are reading this and want to be a part in the life of a child in Namatala, Uganda you can!!!!  Go to  www.ichooseyou.net  , look at the children's pictures and join our family!!!  We welcome you! 

If you are a sponsor, then again, we say....THANK YOU for obeying God's calling on your life by sponsoring and loving a precious child!

Blessings,
Becky

Hey Everyone,
Below are several pictures from our recent trip to Uganda.  Also, the IChooseYou Newsletter has been posted after the pics.  Hope you enjoy seeing and hearing about the amazing children in Namatala....Enjoy!!!

Becky

The older girls went shopping!!!!

Madison teaching personal hygeine to the older girls

AN ICHOOSEYOU MOM WITH HER MONTHLY SUPPLIES

BABY LORU WITH HIS NEW BACKPACK!!!

We have new backpacks!!!!!

IChooseYou moms getting their monthly supplies

IChooseYou kiddos and team at Lake Victoria, Uganda

Having lunch at Lake Victoria

The bus is loaded and we are off!!!

Joyce on the bus going to Kampala for our weekend field trip!!