Are you ready for some GREAT news? Then meet Beatrice...

I first met Beatrice several years ago, when we attended church services in
Busia, Uganda during one of our frequent mission trips – she is a devout
Christian, sings in the choir, never misses fellowship, and is faithful in her
service to the Lord. We gave her a job as a cook at our Helping Hands
school, and she worked for about $10 monthly, preparing meals for our
students. Her husband had divorced her many years ago because she is
barren. After a horrible surgery, she was unable to have children and in
Uganda, a woman is valued by the number of children she bears. Thus
Beatrice, who was illiterate, had little opportunity to ever marry again or
to advance in any way in her life.

Last year, we needed someone to come and live with us at the mission house, helping to care for Arafat, the young boy who was critically ill after being run over by a motorcycle. Beatrice was the first person we thought of. She was already caring for her niece and nephew, whose mother was unable to take care of them. So Beatrice moved in with us last year and what a blessing! She is a compassionate and dedicated caregiver, always smiling, and singing praises to the Lord.

Now…here is the news that I hope will make you smile (as it did me)! Helping Hands offers free literacy classes and Beatrice has been attending faithfully and is slowly learning to read and write. She is going to be our very first Housemother at the Village of Eden and I have already begun her training. She is so excited!! Here is the best part…I was talking to her last night as she was practicing her writing skills. She shared with me her dream… Every Sunday in church, the pastor calls on someone to read a passage from the Bible, and Beatrice is dreaming that one day, she will be the one who can stand up and read the passage.

I think of her simple dream, and want to say “THANK YOU” for helping to make her dream a reality. For you and I, that may seem like such a small thing, but it is what Beatrice is working toward. Can you imagine the day that is soon coming when she stands and begins to read? What joyous singing by the angels in heaven. She wants to read her Bible and through your support and your partnership, this will happen.

Thank you for supporting us – the work here in Africa, the literacy classes, the 1600 school children who are receiving an education, training the pastors, and building the Village of Eden. Thank you for your part in all that is going on through Helping Hands.

– let your heart soak in the joy of all that God is allowing us to be a part of!

With love and gratitude to you, and all glory and praise to God! from Dr. Brenda in Uganda