1:04 PM
Posted by
Justin Manny
So on the last blog I made, I talked about our friends in Uganda, and them wanting to help a family there who lived in a building that was not finished. They sent out an email to people they knew. Their goal was to finish the construction of a one room house they lived in. I just got an email from them that the response was so great they not only could finish they one room, but they could add another room, and buy them furniture and mattresses. They are talking of providing them with seeds and tools to plant a garden. This is what the church is supposed to do.
It's funny though, that it was so easy to get people to send money to this. Lately we've been talking about money in our services. A common attitude is that people will keep their money to give to that, when God prompts them to give to a worthy cause [which this is definitely the most worthy cause you could find]. Why is it easy and awesome to do this kind of spending, but so hard to give regularly to your church. I'm just as guilty of this as most. I'll figure out a way to do this, but have a hard time on Sunday morning. When money is tight, why is church the first unpaid "bill." What God has given us, every single thing, is a gift from Him to us to bless others. The church has the exact same goal. All money we get is used to bless people, in every way imaginable.
I guess the thing I think about is that giving, money, all that stuff in our lives is a telling sign of our relationship with God. You give to what you love. I love the Jaguars, and they have gotten a lot of my money, in clothing, tickets, food, everything. I love technology, and that stuff is expensive. I say I love God, and that is the true definition of what love is, yet He seems to get my second best. I challenge to put my money where my mouth is. Plain and simple.
But anyways, if you would like to see pictures of Melisha's house in Uganda, financed in one week by people half a world away, check out
Ruco's photoblog.
1:18 PM
Posted by
Justin Manny
Most of us had the same experience this week, we were without power. And it was a terrible inconvenience. I mean how could I watch the Jets play the Patriots without my TV? How can I waste time on the internet? Honestly, I was thankful for the power outage. First off, I got to meet some of my neighbors I had never talked to before. Putting aside that I have lived there almost 3 years and don't know all my neighbors yet, that's an opportunity that I would never have had without the power outage. Something else, we got to spend time with other people in our small group because they had power and they opened their homes to us. Jill and I stayed at Jimmy and Julie Winkelman's and then at Jin and Lisa Park's, because they wanted to help those in need, which is funny that we might feel like we're in need.
I got an email on my phone today, while I'm down about still not having power. It is from a friend of our Kristi, who lives in Uganda, where she and her husband Ruco are the hands and feet of Jesus, spending time with those who really have need. Let me put it in here:
Sometimes being here in Uganda feels overwhelming. There is just so much poverty, disease, and death that sometimes I tell myself that I can’t help everyone, so I should just turn a blind eye. Some days I feel as if there just isn’t a whole lot I can really do…
Today started out much the same. We went to the home of an elderly widow, Melisha, who cares for her three grandchildren. Her daughter died from HIV/AIDS and her youngest grand-son, Charles (age six,) also has HIV. Our trip’s purpose was to deliver Operation Christmas Child boxes to Melisha’s grandchildren to encourage them, but I couldn’t believe what I saw when we pulled up to Melisha’s home. Her dwelling was a small 6ft by 6ft building which was only half constructed. Melisha told us her daughter was paying to have it built for her but she passed away in the middle of its construction. It stood with only ¾ of a tin roof and half of a brick wall on one side. The rain can freely pour into the home (as it is the middle of the rainy season here in Uganda!) As I looked at six year old Charles, I thought of his weakened immune system from the HIV ravaging his body. I can only imagine how the rain and cold aggravates his disease. When I glanced into the home from the outside, I noticed there were no beds and no furniture. I couldn’t believe that Charles had to lie down every night on a cold and wet ground.
We gave Charles his box and he was so excited. He received three matchbox cars! I listened to him talk animatedly in a language I don’t yet grasp, assumingly telling me all about his cars! I only wished that we were able to provide more for Charles as I looked around his dilapidated home.
As we were pulling away, I watched Melisha get on her knees inside her home and start to pray. In that instant, God encouraged me. He showed me that although I can’t help everyone, I can seek to help the people He brings across my path! He reminded me of the verse, “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do unto me.” To turn a blind eye because I sometimes feel overwhelmed in Uganda, I am turning a blind eye to Him. I began talking with my co-worker Damali about what we can do. She researched and informed Ruco that it would cost about 1 million Ugandan shillings-approximately 500 dollars to repair Melisha’s home. She also said the home could be repaired in less than two weeks! We want to ask for your help in repairing Melisha’s home. We are going to hire the builder and trust that God provide for Melisha, following Melisha’s example of faith. We are hoping to raise the 500 dollars, and with any extra money we receive, buy Melisha and her grandchildren beds, blankets, and other necessities. If you are able to help in any way, you may send a check to my parent’s home address, where it will then be placed into an account Ruco and I can access here in Uganda. Ruco has taken many photos of Melisha, Charles, and the home which you can see atwww.eyeingafrica.blogspot.com. Also, if you do send funds, perhaps you could email us and let us know how much you are planning to send, so that we can establish how much we still need for the project. We are very excited about the prospect of Melisha finally having a safe-haven for her grand-children. We are also excited when we think about our family and friends helping in this endeavor!!!
500 dollars is not a lot of money to give someone a home. I'm complaining that I can't play Madden, and these people don't have a bed to sleep in. I guess what I'm thinking about is that we are blessed here in America. I think we are so blessed that it's hard for us to rely on God. We can pretty much take care of ourselves, without Him. We need to take advantage of all that we are blessed with, to take it and bless others. I may never meet Melisha or Charles, but I will impact their lives in so positive way. That's what we should do, every way possible.
