Blessings of Motherhood

July 2023

Love your Family!

“If you want to change the world, go

home and love your family.”

Mother Theresa

I have often said that it is a blessing to be a mother. Experiencing the joy of being a mother in a children’s home is a very special blessing! To love children who have really no one that can care for them, to let them know that someone does care and to be able to teach them of the love of their Father in Heaven is the greatest blessing one can have (besides Jesus as Lord and Savior!). Watching them thrive in the love of Christ, seeing that they are fed and clothed, educated and receive what they need – it’s beyond special. I feel a divine purpose, chosen by God, to be able to make a change through loving this precious family that he has entrusted to me. I have had the pleasure and blessings of raising 36 children to date to finishing university or other training, ready to conquer the world. Not all of them have been successful in the eyes of the world, but our Lord sees who they are and I know He is watching over them.

I am currently raising 22 children, loving them, giving them what I can with what the Lord provides, and teaching them of His great love for them. I love seeing the smiles on their faces, hearing their laughter, watching them as they grow and change. It takes a lot of prayer and wisdom that God gives to you. You find yourself often, even when they become grown adults, wondering how they are doing and you keep up with them, as they know you as Mom!

I remember their birthdays always, never missing a chance to make each child feel loved and cherished. That is when they receive gifts of things they need, like clothing, shoes, and more. We recently had the pleasure of celebrating three amazing birthdays. Norah, our talented nursing student, just turned 20 and we are so proud of her. She lives in our extended home for girls that are over 18 and live there during school breaks until they finish their education. My younger children, Elijah (6) and Priscilla (4), who came to live in my home in the last year, also celebrated their birthdays and it was a joy to see the expressions on their faces as they blew out candles on a cake and opened a few gifts. Here are few pictures to share the love and joy!

Sponsorship

Where are they now!

We are so proud of our many graduates from the sponsorship program who are not only embracing their faith but also sharing it with their loved ones and raising their own families to have a saving faith in Jesus. The statistics from UNICEF are staggering, as they reveal that just over 1 in 4 Ugandans attend secondary school and the numbers are even less favorable for those in rural communities. With the majority of our children completing primary and secondary school, they are defying the odds in an impoverished nation. Most have also completed vocational or even university training and have broken the cycle of poverty for their families.

Mary is the youngest of 3 orphaned siblings who found a new family through Hines Ugandan Ministries. Despite losing one brother in a tragic accident, Mary and her brother, Charles, persevered. Charles is serving as a dentist and Mary is thriving as an accountant for a ministry near Uganda’s capital city of Kampala. She is married to a Christian young man, also in the financial management field, and they are enjoying parenting their new little boy. Mary’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and what a faithful God can do.

We’ve been sharing with you the increasing costs of education for our secondary and higher education students. Thank you to the many sponsors who have increased their giving and to others who have given to our “High School” and “Higher Education” funds. We continue this need as the 3rd term of school begins for these students in early September.

Give Now

Witnessing the transformation of young lives in the ministry as a whole is a true blessing. Despite greater challenges for some, we trust in the Lord's plan for each and every one of them. I know that God has used us, all of you included, to make a lasting impact on their lives. We have shared the Gospel over and over and tried to be a bright light with the message of hope to each and every one, including their families and guardians. We have educated, helped them to be healthier, and planted many seeds and watered too. We celebrate with gratitude as we join the Lord in the harvest of many! We entrust all these precious lives to Jesus, who makes all things possible.

We are incredibly grateful for your support of this ministry. Your prayers are essential to our work, as we seek wisdom, boldness, courage, and the love and compassion that can only be shown through the Holy Spirit's prompting. Your contribution is making a tangible impact on the lives of those we serve. From all of us here, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude and love. You are making a difference, and we pray that God blesses you abundantly beyond what you can imagine. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey with us.

Katherine