Mission Trips in Uganda And Kenya

Victor Hugo, a French poet, once said, “To learn to read is to light a fire; every syllable that is spelled out is a spark.” For many years, there has been a significant deficit in reading skills of village children in Zirobwe, Uganda. This is partly due to lack of teacher trainers and partly due to not having reinforcement at home since many village parents do not know how to fluently read or speak English. Since English is the national language in Uganda, it is important that students are taught not only how to speak it, but also how to fluently read it. When volunteer, Natalie Puzuk, an elementary school teacher from Texas, traveled to Uganda and saw the huge need for reading skills in the village. She felt called to come back for 9 months in 2017 to volunteer specifically with Empowered Leader’s Academy, Empower a Child’s primary school, to help spark a love for learning and create opportunity to each child in her class. She partnered with the national teachers at Empowered Leaders' Academey to carve out time every day working specifically on children’s reading skills in each class. However, she quickly realized there was an even greater need than just reinforced reading in the classrooms. Some students were struggling more than others and needed one-on-one time with the teachers. In response to that need, she collaborated her resources and ideas with the management at the school and created a space for the children to have one-on-one reading lessons. The reading room was painted, remodeled with shelves and tables, and filled with reading materials to make a fun and appealing place for children to learn to read and to love to read. Teacher MiIly describes Natalie’s impact on the school, “The children have been very blessed to have her as she taught them all the reading skills that she had. She did not leave a single child behind and even went to the extent of having one-on-one time with children who struggled in class. As teachers too, we have benefitted from her skills as much as they were taught to the children. We also got an opportunity to learn a modern way of teaching.” However, Natalie didn’t just stop there. She also realized that there was a need for a pit latrine, also known as the restrooms, in the school since theirs was in need of repairs and renovation. Natalie was able to launch a campaign and raise funds to give the school new pit latrines for the boys and girls. The time Natalie spent in Uganda not only made a significant impact on the community of Zirobwe by strengthening and improving their education standards, but also on her. Natalie describes her trip, “Working alongside these teachers has taught me to put my trust in the Lord. The children are so eager to learn, even when they haven't eaten all day. Seeing them running to me saying, ‘Auntie Natalie, we want to read!’ made me feel so encouraged and wanted to do it more and more.” Thank you Natalie for your impact on the students and teachers at Empowered Leaders' Academy and thank you Armstrong Elementary School for your huge support to our children’s reading and hygiene standards. Empower a Child community will be forever grateful. If you would like to find out more how you can be apart of sparking a flame for education in Uganda and training teachers, email our Volunteer Coordinator here .

“Ever since I was young, I knew I had been drawn to African children,” said Lydia, “I started sponsoring a child at the age of 15 and since then I [have] loved Africa and the joy of the children just blesses my life. I believe every child has a story before they speak.”  Lydia Preusser is a recent high school graduate from Ohio who felt called to take some time off before attending college. She is currently devoting six months to the community of Zirobwe, Uganda. “It was so sweet and I have never, and will never, forget that day,” said Lydia as she was recalling the very first day she visited the village of Zirobwe. She said that 50 kids flooded the vehicle door as it opened. “I was surrounded by kids, hugging, screaming and smiling so beautifully. It felt like home away from home, even when I missed home.” Lydia recalled. Lydia arrived in Uganda last September. She arrived with concerns that many volunteers in her position have, missing the familiarity of home, her friends and family, fears of the language barriers and how she would communicate with the children. God faithfully led her to Jeremiah chapter one and she knew that He was going to give her the words to speak. However, “I learned that God never wanted me to speak,” said Lydia, “but instead, touch, love and share His joy with the kids.” During this time Lydia was spending with these children, her sister was praying for her. “Her prayer was that ‘I don’t choose them, [but] they get to choose you.’ I didn’t understand until I remembered this one girl who held my hand.” Lydia said. This little girl’s name is Edisa. She is nine years old and lives with her grandmother in Zirobwe. She chose Lydia. “By God’s grace, I singled out this one girl who was attracted to me and we began to do life together.” said Lydia, “I was a witness to her joy.” “My favorite time with her was two months ago when I got to purchase a mattress for her” said Lydia. She traveled to Edisa’s home with one of Empower a Child’s staff when Edisa was just recovering for malaria. Her grandmother was overjoyed with gift of a mattress. “It was at this point that I discovered that Edisa lost her parents to HIV/AIDS. That was the turning point in my life when I developed a deeper hunger to love her so much more.” “The one thing that will forever remain memorable was the day we were both strolling from her home back to Empower Community Church and as we talked, laughed, played, and were singing praises to God. She called me ‘Mama,’ that day.” Lydia was humbled and overwhelmed this little girl, who lost her both parents to a terrible disease, felt so connected and loved to call her that precious name. She added, “Until this day, she has never stopped calling me ‘Mama.’” Isn’t it wonderful how God does the same? In the midst of our loneliness, depravity and the like, He is still our father. God adopts us as orphans, but most of all, he chose us, and will never stop choosing us. We can pray, serve, and donate to causes, but until we see the need in a sweet child’s face, we are incomplete. We should be finding complete joy in restoring humanity and giving love to those who aren’t aware of it. “Edisa is one little girl in my life whom God has used to teach me to love without expecting anything in return,” said Lydia. “The Lord is faithful and if you don’t step out, you will miss out on experiencing a love you will never experience anywhere else.” In the same way, let us unconditionally love others the way God does, without expecting a return.