Meet Cocus!

Meet Cocus

   When Cocus came to us, he was behind in school. This year he has worked very hard to catch up with the students his age and is doing well in our local school! Curious and very intelligent, he likes knowing what’s going on and how he can be a part of it! Cocus is a shy little boy with a gentle spirit and sweet heart. He is thankful for what he has and helps teach the other children to be thankful! He is so strong and through all the treatment for his tuberculosis he has been so brave – facing the day with a smile and a quirky laugh! He’s content playing by himself but loves attention from the staff and Aunties, we are always finding him curled around our legs or with his hand in ours! His smile is contagious, always bringing joy and personality to our home! We are so thankful that he is a part of our family here at Rafiki!

History

   Cocus suffers from spinal tuberculosis. His father recently passed away from AIDS and his mother abandoned him because of his disabilities, saying that he wasn’t worth the trouble. He was severely neglected, unloved and slowly dying because of his tuberculosis going untreated. Never smiling, he would spend day after day laying in the filth and dirt in the largest slum in Kampala. He was one of over 3 million destitute, orphaned children living in the streets and slums of Uganda. But Cocus is NO longer one of these children because he is now part of our Rafiki Family where he receives all the love and care he deserves!

    Funky Facts!

Favorite…    Color: Yellow     Animal: Lion

Food: Chicken and Rice

Game: Tag      Activity: Nature Walks

  Volunteer Corner

Cocus is the cuddler in the home! Yes, he loves playing games, coloring, and going on nature walks with the rest of the kids, but if you give this little guy a chance to sit on your lap or just give you hug, he would stay there all day if he could. Every time he wakes up from his nap he lays across my lap and he wraps my arms around him. He’s not looking for some extra time to sleep; he’s just looking for some extra time to be loved. Every night before bedtime all the kids run around giving goodnight hugs to all the Aunties and Uncles. I can always count on sweet little Cocus to spend a little extra time with me before he gets into bed. He always hugs me a little longer, holds me a little tighter, and takes the extra step to give me a kiss. 

   He is such a blessing to have in the home. I love thinking of all the times I have spent with him and I look forward to making many more memories with him. Cocus loves, and you can’t help but love him back!              

                        By Stephanie Madrid

 Childcare Worker

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For the next few weeks we will be posting stories of all the kids here at Rafiki Africa Ministries (RAM). We want to give these kids a voice. There are more struggling kids here in Uganda than anyone is able to count. Here are the stories of 13 kids who's lives were changed by God through the work of RAM. We want to make you a part of this work, there is so much love and joy overflowing out of the Rafiki Home and we want you to experience this through these stories. We hope you can get to know the kids through these updates and we pray that you will fall in love with them just as we have. Be a part of the changes God continues to make in the lives of these kids. Make a difference. Spread the word.
 Rafiki Africa Ministries

Meet Fauziya!

Fauziya

Fauziya is 6 years old and will turn 7 on May 8^th. 

She is in Kindergarten and attends school at Little Rina Nursery and Primary School. She loves attending school and is very bright, wanting to come home and share all about the numbers, colors, shapes, and words she is learning.

History

Fauziya was abandoned by both of her parents when she was very young. We were told by a local government official that she was in need of a home and she came to us severely malnourished and in desperate need of a home and family.  

 
Fauziya was one of over 3 million destitute, orphaned children living in the streets and slums of Uganda. But Fauziya is NO LONGER one of these children because she is now part of our Rafiki Family where she receives all the love and care she needs!

Funky Facts!

Her favorite…

Color: Purple       Animal: Lion

Food: Chicken and Rice

Game: Red Rover   Activity: Coloring

Volunteer Corner!

Fauziya is a giggler, always laughing at something! She wants to help out with washing dishes, folding laundry or playing with the little ones whenever she is home! We have a little boy in our home and Fauziya loves to care for him. She also loves to take care of directors Joseph and Sara’s daughter Abigail. God has definitely given her a love for children and she already has the desire to nurture and protect the younger kids. Goofy and packed with energy, she brings life to our home!

                                By Kailey Jensen, Administrator

                                                    And Stephanie Madrid, 

                                                          Childcare Worker

                                                                           

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>

For the next few weeks we will be posting stories of all the kids here at Rafiki Africa Ministries (RAM). We want to give these kids a voice. There are more struggling kids here in Uganda than anyone is able to count. Here are the stories of 13 kids who's lives were changed by God through the work of RAM. We want to make you a part of this work, there is so much love and joy overflowing out of the Rafiki Home and we want you to experience this through these stories. We hope you can get to know the kids through these updates and we pray that you will fall in love with them just as we have. Be a part of the changes God continues to make in the lives of these kids. Make a difference. Spread the word.
 Rafiki Africa Ministries


Check back weekly for more stories!  

“Religion that God, our Father, accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress...”  James 1:27

Meet Joshua

Joshua

   
    Joshua is our oldest child 
here at Rafiki. He is 8 years old and will be turning 9 on March 31^st. He is in second grade at Little Rina Nursery and Primary school.  Joshua is one of the top students in his class at school. He is very curious and likes asking tons of questions! He wasn’t receiving any education before he came to us and so has had to work very hard to catch up. We are so proud of him and excited to continue to watch him grow and learn!

                        
History

Joshua was abandoned after his father died and his grandmother was struggling to provide for him when a local goverment official made us aware of the situation. She could no longer provide the care he needed and we felt that he should come to Rafiki to get the love that he desperately needed!

 
He was one of over 3 million destitute, orphaned children living in the streets and slums of Uganda. But Joshua is NO longer one of these children because he is now part of our Rafiki Family where he receives all the love and care he deserves!

   When Joshua came to us, he didn’t know how to be a kid. He was used to walking through the slums by himself, having a lot of responsibility and not depending on anyone. It’s taken time, patience, and love, to continue to show him that he isn’t alone and that he isn’t an adult. Though he is very helpful with all the chores (washing clothes or the dishes and with the other children), we have seen him become a kid again - laughing and having fun!

Funky Facts!  
Favorite…    Color: Red      Animal: Rabbits

Food: Chicken and Rice

Game: Tag      Activity: Nature Walks

Volunteer Corner!

The other day I was playing with Joshua. He asked if we could play tag and course, as with any kid his age, he did NOT want to be it. I accepted my position as the “chaser” when Joshua piped up in his deepest, manliest, voice, “I am the antelope. You are the lion. I am the better runner, which is why I am the antelope. You shall never catch me.” After speaking those eloquent words about himself, he took off running. I stood there laughing for quite some time before I could actually begin chasing him.

   Joshua is such a joy to have in the home. He is so full of life and he makes every day a joy. I’m excited to continue to watch him grow in the Lord and to one day become the man that God has created him to be! 

                                            By Stephanie Madrid

                                                         Childcare Worker

<><><><<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><<><

For the next few weeks we will be posting stories of all the kids here at Rafiki Africa Ministries (RAM). We want to give these kids a voice. There are more struggling kids here in Uganda than anyone is able to count. Here are the stories of 13 kids who's lives were changed by God through the work of RAM. We want to make you a part of this work, there is so much love and joy overflowing out of the Rafiki Home and we want you to experience this through these stories. We hope you can get to know the kids through these updates and we pray that you will fall in love with them just as we have. Be a part of the changes God continues to make in the lives of these kids. Make a difference. Spread the word.
 Rafiki Africa Ministries


Check back weekly for more stories!  

“Religion that God, our Father, accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress...”  James 1:27

Consider Sponsoring A Rafiki Child

Please read this letter from Sara Kiwanuka, the director and founder of Rafiki Africa Ministries and take some time to pray about sponsoring a child.

It costs $35 a month and makes a huge difference in the lives of orphans in Uganda.

When I was in Uganda this past summer, I will never forget the day that two of the girls got letters from their sponsors.  They carried them around with them and even slept with their letters in their beds.  They showed me the picture of the sponsoring family, and I asked who was in the photo.  The answer?  "My family."

Please contact sara@rafikiministries.org if you are interested in sponsoring a child or click here to learn more about the Rafiki children.

Dear Friends, 

I pray that everyone had a good Thanksgiving! I have lots to be thankful for this year. I was recently reminded of this verse by a friend, "Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever" (1st Chronicles 16:34). Don't you just love this verse? It really reminds us of God's goodness and never ending love for us! We have so much to be thankful for! We serve a GREAT God! :) 

During this time of thanksgiving, I am reminded of our faithful financial supporters. Thank you for your unwavering support....even through hard economic times! We would not be able to help these children without your love and concern. Thank you for being faithful in your giving and prayers. During the month of December, will you be faithful with us again and stand with us in praying for more monthly child sponsors? We would love to reach our goal of 100 monthly sponsors.

It currently takes 8-10 sponsors at each sponsor giving $35/month to support ONE child in the home. We currently have 13 children that we are caring for and have roughly 4-5 sponsors for each child. We would love to double the amount of sponsors that we currently have to reach our goal of 100 monthly supporters. We have a passion to serve these forgotten children. 

Everyday I spend in Uganda, I see children on the streets; children working for food; children receiving no education; children that don't know the love of a family or more importantly that Jesus loves them. God's heart breaks over this and ours should too. We feel that God has a greater plan for the ministry to help more hurting children but unfortunately we have to wait on finances. Finances are what always hold us back. I hate talking about finances and asking for money. But God has shown me His heart and passion to see these children accept Him and have life more abundantly (John 10:10). 

We have not received any new children into the home this past year. We are busting at the seams in our current home but don't have the resources to expand. I have been discouraged this past week as we have only received 1 new child sponsor during the last few months. However, God continues to remind me that He is faithful! I stand in obedience and faith knowing that He will continue to provide and expand the ministry to serve more children! 

God blessed Joseph and I with a vision that someday the ministry will own 100-150 acres of land with many children's homes, schools, medical facilities, vocational training, farming and animals, and even a soccer field for the kids to play on. He has blessed us with this vision but we are always unsure of how we will get there. Somedays the vision seems too BIG and we question how God will take us there. Thankfully we serve an AWESOME God where anything is possible! 

Prayerfully consider sponsoring a child this Christmas season! Help a Ugandan child know the true story of Christmas and Christ's love for us! If you are interested in more information about our sponsorship program and how it works, then please let me know.  

   

Blessings, 

Sara Hamilton Kiwanuka 

Director/Founder

Rafiki Africa Ministries

Kampala, Uganda