Babies and More Babies!

According to one article we read recently, Uganda has the youngest population in the world—we’ve read the statistic that the average Ugandan is 14 years old. In our small circle, among the Scripture Union staff members, three babies have been born within the past 3 months. Earlier this week we visited a friend who is into her fifth month of pregnancy…with twins. All of the above mentioned babies have loving families to embrace and nurture them. However, that is not true for many others. Due to war, poverty, rape/immorality, and disease (especially AIDS), far too many of them are unwanted and some are even abandoned and left to die. 
 

Praise God that here in Kamapa when police find one of these precious abandoned babies, they know where to go—Sanyu Babies Home, which is connected to the largest Protestant domination here. Several years ago, God challenged the hearts of two Canadian (New Brunswick) nurses to help in a practical way by volunteering in this ministry. Since then, they’ve been coming each year to assist the overworked staff, improve the health care with professional advice, provide financial help for many needed items, and simply love the babies. We have enjoyed the interaction and fellowship with these friends each time they visit Uganda.  Yesterday, one of my errands was to deliver cash from these nurses to the Director of the Babies Home; it is designated for the replacement of some worn-out cribs.  As I listened to the Director passionately share their challenge and joy of caring for 52 babies/orphans, I was struck by the similarities between that ministry and the one God has called us to…albeit different.

We have the challenge and joy of caring for the spiritual needs of children and youth who have been abandoned to the teaching/deception of Satan and the media. Although their material needs might be met, their emotional and spiritual needs are often totally neglected. Even though Uganda considers itself a “Christian” nation, the statistics for drunkenness, immorality, and abuse of children are among the worst in the world. What better place to connect with these “abandoned babies” than in their school classrooms…and from there to bring them to Christ and into a Bible-believing church.

Part of our ministry has included the printing of evangelistic tracts which are used in many settings including the schools. In the last couple of days I have been involved in printing the evangelistic CrossTalk tracts for children in the Zande language for use in the South Sudanese Refugee Camps in northern Uganda. Then a request came in from eastern Uganda for several thousand CrossTalks in English; we were informed today by the Scripture Union office that four boxes are ready to be sent on the bus. These tools, including the VOICE Values Curriculum, are all being used in Kingdom work to help bring spiritual life and nurture to the children of Uganda.  We thank God for all who minister physically and spiritually to the precious children of Uganda...and continue to pray for more laborers.