Seeing a big need, David and Jeanne Burnell from Fellowship Church in Knoxville, donated money for shoes for some of the kids at Focus. Flip flops or sandals are not permitted at school and several of the kids had been sent home due to improper foot wear.
Focus is a ministry for around 200 "at risk" children from the Mulago slum. You can sponsor a Focus child for $300 a year. This pays school fees, all day classes on Saturday in Bible, life skills, as well as the 3R's plus breakfast and lunch.
Doug Harris asked me to assist in the buying and distribution of the shoes. Today Sylvia, Enoch and I boarded at taxi van with 20 other strangers and rode to the downtown market district. If you need it, you can buy it there (see pictures below)! Sylvia had negotiated the price yesterday, because the presence of a Mazungu makes things more expensive! We bought socks at two stores, and went through forty to fifty pairs of black shoes at three different stores to find the twenty six we ended up with. Some were new; some were gently used. It seems as if locally-made shoes do not last as long as quality used shoes from America! Audrey, the director, was very pleased with our selection of sturdy school shoes.
Saturday I am going back to distribute the shoes and help with classes, so stay tuned to this station for the rest of the story!
It was a another great Ugandan adventure! Thanks David and Jeanne for the opportunity to serve God here in Africa! Thanks Sylvia and Doug for the adventure!
Blessings to all who pass this way,
Kathy
Focus is a ministry for around 200 "at risk" children from the Mulago slum. You can sponsor a Focus child for $300 a year. This pays school fees, all day classes on Saturday in Bible, life skills, as well as the 3R's plus breakfast and lunch.
Doug Harris asked me to assist in the buying and distribution of the shoes. Today Sylvia, Enoch and I boarded at taxi van with 20 other strangers and rode to the downtown market district. If you need it, you can buy it there (see pictures below)! Sylvia had negotiated the price yesterday, because the presence of a Mazungu makes things more expensive! We bought socks at two stores, and went through forty to fifty pairs of black shoes at three different stores to find the twenty six we ended up with. Some were new; some were gently used. It seems as if locally-made shoes do not last as long as quality used shoes from America! Audrey, the director, was very pleased with our selection of sturdy school shoes.
Saturday I am going back to distribute the shoes and help with classes, so stay tuned to this station for the rest of the story!
It was a another great Ugandan adventure! Thanks David and Jeanne for the opportunity to serve God here in Africa! Thanks Sylvia and Doug for the adventure!
Blessings to all who pass this way,
Kathy