Jesus and Me Children’s Ministries

God always answers prayers. For quite a long time, we have been praying and believing God would provide us a number of items which included a keyboard and a laptop.

We did not know how God would answer our prayers, but we trusted and believed Him completely for everything.  When Joan MacDonald talked of coming back to Uganda for a visit, we did not expect that she would bring us God’s answers to our prayers.  Yes, God has provided us a keyboard and a laptop through Jennifer Kesterson and her husband Larry in Wanatchee, Washington DC.

True giving is not necessarily out of the abundance of resources but rather that of the heart. We have been praying and will continue to pray for God to call people with love for children to come to JMCM and God is just doing that. Matthew 9:7 says “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?” Indeed, He will give us what we ask of Him, if it according to His will.

When God lays something in your heart, it is all you can think of. Jennifer and Larry joined us in prayers about the items –Keyboard and Laptop. God laid this burden in Jennifer and Larry’s heart.  Jennifer bought a Compaq laptop computer on eBay and she had been looking for about 10 days and making comparisons and praying for a good choice. The keyboard and laptop both shipped within US, so Jennifer received them and mailed to Joan in Canada who brought both items along. Actually, Larry bought the computer with money from his painting projects and Jennifer purchased the keyboard. What a blessing and wonderful assets these would be to JMCM.

This is what God can do and we continue to believe Him for many more because He promised in Philippians 4:19, “And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”

Praise the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! Joan Macdonald has arrived safely to visit us. The guy we had arranged with to take us to the airport and pick her let us down, but God guided Joan who boarded an airport taxi and brought her to us safely.  I waited for her along the way as she could not remember the place quite well.

We are so grateful for the presents she brought. As soon as she arrived, she set up the keyboard stand and put the keyboard on it.  She also brought us a laptop and both electronic machines worked well.

On 2^nd July 2010, Ronnie Matovu celebrated his 13^th birthday. In a typical African tradition, there is nothing like celebrating birthdays. In most cases, poverty and ignorance plays a major role. Hence, very few families can celebrate a birthday for their dear ones. There are some children who do not even know when they were born.

However, at JMCM, we are here as a family to minister to the children, and we continuously pray to God to give each and every child in JMCM a sponsor who can love, guide, care and pray for them.

This year, Carrie Pulizzi and family who are Ronnie’s sponsors sent Ronnie wonderful items on time and this is what made his birthday so special. He know it deep in his heart that someone loves, cares and prays for him every day.

Cornelius Obbo Celebrated his 18th birthday on 16 June. If it wasn’t for God’s love, Cornelius wouldn’t have this time to celebrate his 18th birthday.   He would be dead by now but thanks to God who used Joan Stella MacDonald all the way from Canada.  She became the hands and legs of God and rescued Cornelius from death. It is so nice to see Cornelius full of Joy and with such a sweet smile. Praise God!

FRANZISKA SATZINGER’S VISIT

Franziska Satzinger, a PhD student at the University of Toronto in Canada picked interest in the work JMCM that is doing with regard to orphan situation in Uganda. In collaboration with Makerere University of Public Health, she visited JMCM mainly to learn more about the Organisation, the orphans in Kampala and responses of Non Governmental organizations towards tendering to the needs of orphans.  She did not only come empty handed but she brought along some useful materials to bless the children and make a difference in their lives.

We praise and thank God for Franziska’s visit.

BIBLES

We are on a journey through this life with trail ending in one of two places –Heaven or Hell. God has provided a guide to direct us to Heaven if we faithfully follow it. This guide is the Bible.

For many, many years, We have been praying, trusting and believing God to provide Bibles for the children attending JMCM programs so that each one of them could get a Bible to read, meditate on it day and night, and learn about showing hospitality, trusting God for their future and prayer in their daily walk with Jesus Christ and God the father.

God has answered our prayers for Bibles!

Jennifer Kesterson and Lary her husband from Wenatchee Washington DC sent $50 and later sent again another $50 towards purchasing Bibles.

As a few days passed by, Jeff and Linda Lumsden from Columbine Road –Macungie –Pennsylvania –USA emailed on Friday, April 30, 2010 and I quote, “Our Sunday school class collected $438 for bibles and we have just sent”. This was good new indeed. God has been so good and is at work in His ministry-Jesus and Me Children’s ministries. What an amazing God we serve!

When we look at the land, the bibles, the motor cycle, this website, we praise and glorify His name because all the glory and honor must be given to Him alone for He shares it with no one.

Circumstances can never dictate on us, even if things seems to be making no sense, God is present and the bibles tells us to glorify him in all situations.

We had anticipated getting 32 bibles for 32 children but God’s ways are not ours; He provided more exceedingly according to His will, plan and purposes.

We put the $50 and $50 from Jennifer Kesterson and Lary, and the $438 from Jeff and Linda Lumsden and their Sunday School class - $538 altogether.  We went straight to shop for Bibles at Uganda Bible society –BIBLE HOUSE on Bombo Rd near Wandegeya-Kampala.  We knew that at Bible house, we would get more Bibles than in a mere book shop that sells Bibles.

At Bible house, we were advised not to get only adult Bibles as we had planned for children and were told that when done that way, we would deprive children because they generally learn with pictures and Bible stories.

We bought 20 of The lions Children’s Bibles, 30 Good News Bibles [GNB], 30 New International Version Bibles [NIV] and 3 Toddlers Bible story books. Altogether, we bought 83 Bibles.

Excitement gripped the children as they received the Bibles. It was really a beautiful scene. Bibles were given according to the children’s levels. Those who were not present will be given on a later date. 

We praise and thank God for all His people   who have responded to walk in obedience according to God’s call and support JMCM in different ways.

May God’s richest blessings rest upon your lives as we serve Him together from different countries.

VOLUNTEER WORK WITH JMCM

JMCM offers volunteer opportunities for individuals, families, groups, and teams from schools, organization, churches, and companies, to come to Uganda and volunteer in orphanages and children’s home and youth projects in Uganda.

We have been spending a lot on transport especially for day to day movement. We praise and thank the Lord Jesus so much for providing us a Yamaha motor cycle through this wonderful woman of God, Joan. The motor cycle will be more economical and will simplify our volunteer services.

Volunteer placements can be short –term (2weeks-4months) or long-term (5-12months), but can be longer depending on the volunteer’s time frame,  and are organized throughout the year. Placements are in orphanages in Kampala city, Wakiso, and Luwero and projects including working in orphanages and children’s homes, schools, local hospitals and community out reaches.

During this period, volunteers help with caring for the children at the orphanages, teaching ICT skills at orphan schools, building projects, organizing out-of-school kids programs, holding community outreach in the form of medical clinics or clubs and conducting counseling sessions for HIV/AIDS women and children, organized fourth sports programs and community outreaches.

Requirements.

Why volunteer?

We always need more volunteers to help in orphanages and youth community projects in Uganda. Not only it is a great chance to give something back, but it is an opportunity to learn more about the country and culture and how people live in Uganda and the challenges orphaned children go through.  It is also an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the children.   Identifying with the community is a blessing from the Lord.

It is a welcoming atmosphere over here with lots of people of all ages offering their time and skills for God’s kingdom. You don’t need experience or special skills. You need only God’s love reflected in your heart with passion to help, a good attitude and energy and strength from the Lord-Jesus.

Volunteer Roles:

JMCM  welcomes volunteers with or no skills. We are looking for people gifted with ability to just love and work with the children.

Team Coordinators:

We need those who will coordinate teams in their countries. Their role involves mobilizing and recruiting potential volunteers, following up and making confirmations with potential volunteers, airlines, making travel timetable, etc acting as the coordinator for the team.

Working in Orphanages:

Volunteers will help with providing care for the children, playing with and teaching children, organizing sporting activities, music dance and drama programs, feeding the children in the orphanage, etc, working alongside our local staff.

Medical Outreaches:

In addition to providing routine medical checkups and treatment for the children at JMCM, volunteers will conduct community health outreaches in needy communities where we work and conduct counseling session with HIV/AIDS positive women and children and other Aids victims.

Community medical outreaches involve providing free medical treatment of poor sick people from within the community who may be suffering from various illness such as malaria, flu, cough, stomach problems, wounds etc but are poor to afford or pay for medical care. The main beneficiaries of these projects are orphaned children, widows and infected/affected with HIV/AIDS.

Teaching ICT Skills:

We are intending to start with ICT skills training covering hardware and software installation and trouble shooting;

Working with windows XP and vista, skills in Microsoft office;

Microsoft word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, DTP with publisher, e-mail configuration with outlook, LAN Network configuration and trouble shooting, computer repair and maintenance skills, etc.

Building Projects:

Building projects are usually done with teams or with the help of local people, when funding for a building project has been provided for. This may involve building a new house on JMCM premises, a facility for medical centre, a new orphanage or renovating an existing building which can mean painting, plastering, replacing damaged windows, doors or roofs or iron sheets, etc.

Other Areas:

There are lots of other invaluable skills and interests for volunteers which include: film, movie making, documentary, monitoring and oral education, environmental, health worker, photography, journalist, animation, music recording and so many others.

For more information, please contact us by e-mail, phone, or P.O.Box