Legacy

Dear Shining Hope Family,

“A small return in the life of a child can yield exponential results.” David McAlvany, in his book The Intentional Legacy, continues:

“The memories, experiences, and impressions of childhood often carry forward into adult life shaping the collective consciousness of the individual. A child spends one day with his grandfather fishing. They barely talk. They just sit and fish. Grandpa cuts the bait. The child casts the rod. They wait. They look at each other. Still, no talking. There is a nibble. The child reels it in. The fish escapes. It does not matter. For the rest of his life, that moment in time is preserved as the experiential definition of happiness.” What kind of impact could result from investing in our ministry’s children? In the lives of . . . Parentless children.

Abandoned children. Children in troubled homes. Children in poverty. In the blessing of . . . The filling meals you make possible. The loving family they are welcomed into. The times of reading the Bible and singing songs together. The games played. The long one-on-one talks. The joy of attending school. These kindnesses—and so many others—will stay with these children for a lifetime. Only the Lord knows the extent that your formative impact will make in the world around them for Christ. These pictures are to say an enormous THANK YOU for the legacy you are leaving through your love and generosity!

The first day of school was a soggy one! It started pouring in the early morning hours of the 18th and continued straight until evening. Some of our Ugandan roads become impassable when it rains heavily because the nearby rivers flood them. The next day was a beautiful sunny morning, and the children arrived at school with ease. We could tell just how proud they are having a supporting family from overseas (like YOU!). Having their tuition paid in full at the beginning of the term is a BIG DEAL to them! Harriet, Dalton, and Caroline are all smiles:

In this ADORABLE picture, our four youngest show the close bond they share. From left to right: Diana, Gloria, Cedric, and Jovan

On September 12th, a little preterm boy was delivered by an emergency C-section because his mama, Kiconco, started having serious pregnancy complications. She was able to go home after several procedures, but he needed to stay in the hospital until he was stronger and could breathe on his own. After using their entire savings to pay his wife’s unexpected hospital bills, Ethan did everything he could to find the money for their baby’s bills. Baby was ready to come home after about a week; however, hospital policies forbid patients to be released until their bill is completely paid. Kiconco and Ethan clung to this picture of their boy during their separation:

We saw the Lord move in this heartbreaking situation. Coupled with the dad’s efforts and the generosity of kind people like you, we were able to walk alongside this couple and offer them the help they needed. Their sweet baby boy was able to go home to his parents on the 22nd because of you! They gave Kalungi the honor of naming the baby, and he named him “Kalungi.” He sees himself in his tiny namesake: when he was a baby, a kind stranger paid for his life-saving surgery.

Ethan and Kiconco gave their son the middle name of “Talemwa,” meaning, God doesn’t fail to protect His people. Think back to when you were a child. Does a memory come to mind of something—big or small—that’s stayed with you all these years and impacted not only you, but those around you? THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE YOU’RE MAKING in the lives of our 21! In the lives of 50+ neighbor kids. In the life of baby Kalungi. Thank you, sincerely, for investing in these precious ones—and in the generations to come! This difference could not be made without you. Soli Deo Gloria, Kalungi + Rachel