After visiting ROTOM in Ethiopia (which is just in the very beginning stages), we got to visit some seniors in Uganda that have been a part of ROTOM for a while. WOW! What an encouragement. We also got to tour the ROTOM offices and the brand new medical facility they have built to treat all the seniors in their program. We were so impressed! This facility is top notch! Clean, beautiful, efficient, and designed with those sweet elderly in mind.
Later, we visited some wonderful seniors. These seniors couldn't stop talking about how wonderful ROTOM was.
Robert and I went with Jay and Kimberly to visit with their sponsor senior, Kamera. Their Jaja (grandma in Uganda) lives with her older sister. As we walked down their driveway they danced and sang, so excited to see us. We were invited into their home where we sat on one of the straw mats the women make to earn extra income.
Jay and Kimberly began to talk and ask questions, and it soon became obvious that "older sister" was the dominant one. She (older Jaja) also made it clear that she had a crush on Jay. We all laughed and laughed together. Before we left, Jay prayed for the women and we all sang and danced together in that tiny house. What a joy!
Another surprise (and special treat) was that these women were in the process of getting a new home! The sponsors of older sister (I have spaced her name...) had recently sent a special gift for a new ROTOM house to be built on their property. Their old home was beginning to deteriorate and was becoming unsafe. Construction on the new home was well under way and it was sturdy and safe. There was even an "extra" room that the Jaja's offered to us (well, at least to Jay) next time we came to visit. So sweet!
We also got to visit another Jaja that had recently been given a new home as well. She, too greeted us with song and dance and then asked me (Mary) to sing a song for her. We went into her home and were pleased to see how well she was living. (Especially compared to the mud home she was in, which was still on the property.) Her grandson and his wife also lived there and Jaja was sure to tell us how proud she was of him, and tell us that when she passes she is leaving this home and her land to him. He had a sweet little 2 month old baby that we got to hold and snuggle.
I know that everyone on the team was so impressed and encouraged by the work that ROTOM is doing in Uganda. What a WORTHY cause!!
Jay and Kimberly with their "Jaja"
The "old" home they were living in.
The new home provided by ROTOM sponsors.
Jaja selfie. ;)
The mats and materials the Jajas make for income.
Jaja and her great granddaughter. So cute!
Mama Maria's motto! (Which I am making for my house...)
We finished our day with a tour of African Village. African Village is an amazing place that was started by a sweet Austrian woman 10 years ago to help the orphans and young people in Uganda. It's truly amazing what God has been able to accomplish in this ministry in 10 years. Hundreds of youth are cared for, trained for a huge variety of vocations, receiving medical treatment, and taught the Word of God every day. So very cool!
Check out this ministry at:
http://www.visionforafrica-intl.org/en/index.html
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