Charles

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3

"For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him." Col 1:16

Phil spent 12 days in the primary school, medical clinic, and churches supported by our friends Rick and Vicki Rogers and Divine Care Ministries in Uganda, Africa meeting students, pastors and teachers. He met Prossy, the amazing little girl we sponsor at this school. It was amazing to witness what God is doing through these faithful people, and heart wrenching to see how great the need is for resources so that they can do more.

At a church service in a remote area Phil noticed a little boy in a purple shirt sitting alone, very content, massive holes in his shoes. When the service was over and people lingered to visit with the American visitors, Phil noticed that this little boy still sat happily watching all that was going on, but in no hurry to leave. Phil sat down beside him and in visiting with him learned that his name is Charles and that both of his parents are dead. He had walked to church alone. The gentle spirit of this little orphan captured Phil's heart. Phil asked Pastor Peter if he knew the boy and his situation and Peter immediately said, "this boy needs some shoes!" Pastor Peter has developed a heart that sees clearly into the needs of a situation! Peter talked to the church members and learned that Charles was living with a relative, but no other details. Charles sat listening and realized someone was looking into helping him. Pastor Peter said to Phil, "This boy is so happy he can hardly contain his grin!" As Phil left this area and ultimately Uganda, he carried with him a burden for this boy.

A month or so after Phil returned to the U.S. we got this message,
"About the little Charles his situation is very pathetic he and his brother are now working in the stone quarry to get something. This last sunday i invited him to come for the evening services and he told me he could not make it because he works from dawn to dusk. We are inviting him and his little brother to come for christmas. If not then we will send something to their family for christmas."
We (the Newmans) hurt for Charles and his baby brother, to imagine children having to do manual labor from morning to night just to "get something". It was so hard to watch from afar and trust that the Lord and Peter were doing all that needed to be done for these little ones. We were able to send support for the boys, and soon received this message from Peter, "Hope you had a great christmas!! We had a good one and we were honored to have your son Charles as one of our guests! " (Ugandans often refer to the children we sponsor as sons and daughters:) Comforting, but we were so anxious for more detail, more relief!

Well, that relief came in this precious message,
"Praise God Dr. Phil, Laurie and your family? How are you all? Back here we are good, everything is growing, children are growing and the ministry. Thank you so much for your love and support, we pray for God's blessings upon you. Thank you so much Laurie for building up a relationship with the school (meaning PCA) we pray that God will bless you mightily. I am planning to send you pictures about the school and the children at school. And if you need any other information you think would help, please, we are ready to send it. Dr. Phil, we took Charles and his brother to our school, thank you so much, their situation was so pathetic, they had nothing completely. I was at school last week and they were very excited. I teased them, I said I was taking them back, and they shouted a big No!!!!!. Thank you for standing in the gap! Keep us in your prayers please. love you all

Peter and Phoebe.

Praise God for Peter and Phoebe, who are devoted to carrying the burden for little children in Uganda. Divine Grace Primary holds 620+ little ones like Charles. Divine Grace has hundreds of children living at the school and hundreds more walking miles to get there. Some children walk up to 8 miles to school; they are actually dismissed hours early to get home before dark to avoid dangers on the road and from wild animals. Peter told us that many children must swim across a river to get to school; they remove their school uniform and carry it over their head across the river so that it does not get ruined. When the children come to Divine Grace they receive a pair of shoes, but will often walk to school without them in order to “keep them nice”.