Compassion for Others

"Our compassion for others seems to be directly correlated to whether people are close to us socially, emotionally, culturally, ethnically, economically, and geographically. But why do we distinguish the value of one human life from another? Why is it so easy to shut out the cries of these dying foreign children from our ears?" - Richard Stearns, President, World Vision

Perhaps it is because the poverty and suffering of those in another part of the world has not gotten personal for most people. They hear about it, read about it, see pictures on the television about it. However, I can tell you, from my own experience, that once it becomes personal, you cannot forget it. When I was in Uganda in July 2009 with Hope 4 Kids International, one of the most difficult and heart-wrenching experiences was when we participated in feeding the Karamajong children. Hundreds of children waited as we served them what would be their only meal for the day. After they were done eating, it was quite chaotic as children ran around playing. Many approached us and just wanted to be held or hold our hand. Amidst the chaos, I heard the sound of a baby crying. I looked around to see where the crying was coming from and saw a baby girl sitting on the ground with tears streaming down her face. She had a dirty torn dress on and she was sitting in a puddle of her own urine. I was overwhelmed by the sight and went over to her and picked her up. Within minutes she stopped crying and fell asleep in my arms. When it was time for us to leave, it was difficult to put her down. I think of her often and wonder how she is doing. I cannot "shut out the cries" of this child......

Instruments of Love

"When a poor person dies of hunger, it has not happened because God did not take care of him or her. It has happened because neither you nor I wanted to give that person what he or she needed. We have refused to be instruments of love in the hands of God to give the poor a piece of bread, to offer them a dress with which to ward off the cold. It has happened because we did not recognize Christ when, once more, he appeared under the guise of pain, identified with a man numb from the cold, dying of hunger, when he came in a lonely human being, in a lost child, in search of a home" - Mother Teresa

Are you willing to be an "instrument of love"? Tororo City Hospital in Uganda is in desperate need of a delivery bed in the maternity ward. The cost of the bed is approximately $1,000.
A woman and her newborn unnecessarily died when they fell off the rickety delivery bed that is at the hospital. We would like to provide a new delivery bed. Will you consider a donation towards this great need? Any amount would be greatly appreciated and will go directly toward the purchase of the bed. If you would like more information, please contact me via email at sharonsstewart@msn.com or by phone at 719-510-0524

Why Uganda?

It is a beautiful fall morning in Colorado. The house is quiet. I am sitting in my comfortable home sipping a cup of coffee and enjoying the views of the mountains. I think of my friends in Uganda and long to go back there. I have never seen so many friendly, loving and joyful people in one place. Although they have so little, they always have a smile on their faces. You do not hear them complaining about what they do not have. They make you feel welcome, like a member of the family that has come home to visit. One of my female friends in Arizona got a flat tire the other day and not a single person stopped to assist her. When I heard this, my first thought was "that would never happen in Uganda". I pictured several people and children running up to the car to offer their help. I often hear the phrase "I need Africa more than Africa needs me". How true that is. The people there can certainly teach us what it means to be friendly, to be content, to make others feel welcome and loved. They do not judge you or criticize you. They accept you for who you are.
It is always said that when you go on a missions trip it will be a "life-changing experience". So true. I remember the words of Bob Mooney, who was with us on the trip with Hope 4 Kids International. In speaking to the group one day while we were in Uganda, he said that the trip would affect each of us in a different way. He said that when we get back home, we can take what we saw and experienced and "sweep it under the rug", but that it would "come back to haunt you". I believe that it was no mistake that I traveled to Uganda and experienced what I did. I can't ignore it. I can't "sweep it under the rug". So, that is the reason for this project.
Some of you may ask, "Why Uganda, when we have people right here in the United States that are in need?" I do not discount the needs here in our own country. Perhaps you may feel led to become involved in a cause here in the United States or Russia or China. I believe that we all have a responsibility to help our "neighbors". In the past, our neighbors were our immediate neighbors. They were those people in our own community. In the words of Richard Stearns, President of World Vision, "Today, not only can we be on the other side of the planet in fewer than twenty-four hours, but tens of millions of Americans fly internationally. We now have the opportunity not only to see those in extreme poverty but also to help them."
Because I have seen with my own eyes the great needs of True Vine Hospital and Tororo City Hospital in Uganda, I feel I must do something to help my "neighbors" there. I cannot ignore it.

Opportunity to Take Action

The book, Red Letters, Living a Faith that Bleeds, by Tom Davis, is a book that I read prior to my trip to Uganda in July 2009 with Hope 4 Kids International. I was at Barnes & Noble one evening looking for a book to read when I happened upon Tom's book. The title and cover caught my attention. I have since read this book several times and am sure that I will read many more times. It is a book that challenged me to do something, to take action, for those in need. In the Introduction, Tom Davis states "Those of us who claim to follow Christ's teachings should be ashamed for what little we've done to help the countless millions of women, children, and orphans who have died or are dying."
One of my favorite quotes from this book, and one which I cannot forget is "Jesus is interested in what we're doing with our compassion and acts of mercy. He doesn't care about how religious we appear. If our Christian faith doesn't manifest into something that helps the life of another human being, it doesn't mean squat to him."
Will you join me in reaching out to those in need? The Tororo City Hospital maternity ward is in desperate need of a new delivery bed. The cost of the bed is approximately $1,000. The bed they currently have is old and rickety. They also need electricity brought from a generator to the ward. The generator is currently not set up to reach the ward when power goes off, so often they are without electricity for hours at a time. This is life-threatening and has been the cause of death at times. The cost for this electrical work is $1488.26. If you feel led to make a donation towards either of these needs, please contact me. I can be reached via email at sharonsstewart@msn.com