Wednesday, February 25, 2009

We are currently seeking State-Side volunteers to fill open positions in the areas of communications, administration, fundraising, volunteer development, photo project development, and many other areas. So if you are gifted or talented in any of these ways please email info@zionproject.org. We know this may not sound as exciting as going to Uganda, but we cannot do our work here on the ground without volunteers in the States being our backbone. :)


There was a lot of singing. Singing in a language I do not understand, but could decipher through the laughter and uplifted hands. Someone translated a line for me: "Tell Pharaoh we are not going back to Egypt."

This is the beginning of a new life.
A life safe from groping hands.
Safe from the threat of disease.

After the girl's got the eviction notice we didn't have much time to act. But God always knows what we need before we know we need it. We found a house in just two days (which needs some work--seems to always be the case with any house I find :) I negotiated with the landlord and a day later out of the 46 women and children who could have been on the street, homeless--11 are living in a home with 12 children. It isn't perfect. There are still some, some who choose to still rent small rooms and continue with the only life they've known for the past 8 years. I understand.

Sometimes it takes a lot for us to change.
But we have time. I believe in time, they will come home too.

Already Miriam, our house mom, is running a tight ship :) She is doing devotions and worship, is teaching them English classes, and bead-making. We know that if we want to keep them from going back to prostitution we need to find income generation projects. I wish I was gifted with a business mind. It isn't easy. This was more than I ever expected. Happened faster than I had time to prepare. Didn't have time to think, only act at the thought of the chance we had in front of us: To change a life. They have children.

I look at those children and think one less child to grow up under the shadow of a broken mother.

I was amazed at how God worked it out. Amazed more so by all of you. You, who after hearing, send donations and phone calls and emails. You, who amidst your own lives, and own problems, still find a way to care. It is you who made this possible. I can't say thank you enough.

Maybe it will never be a perfect situation. I find I am now running two homes when I barely had started learning how to run one :)

But to see them smiling. To know it is one less. One less....lost. It gives me strength.

I am however, very honestly, exhausted. I will be gone for 5 days at a retreat in Jinja. Not superwoman after all :)

Thank you for holding my hands.

with love,
Sarita


Wednesday, February 18, 2009



EMERGENCY: Congolese girls evicted from their homes

Dearest ZP supporters, right now 46 Congolese refugee girls along with their babies and children have been evicted from their homes in Uganda and are on the street.

I have been working with them for a month, loving them and sharing with them about how much Jesus loves them. They have decided to leave their lives of prostitution which they were only involved in for survival. Read more below.

I found a home to put them in so they can start a new life, but we need $1,600 by tomorrow just to pay the rent for 6 months. Maybe you watch the news and wonder what you can do: You can directly affect someone else's life in Africa right now. Please give to Zion Project: http://www.zionproject.org and indicate "Congolese" or send a check to P.O. Box 321 Quinque, VA 22965.

with hope,
Sarita