Written by: Alan Chantelau - Director of Missionary Care & Development in Global on December 21, 2011

A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE STREET

It’s my privilege to serve here at Northland connecting with our missionaries and many of our ministry partners serving around the world. God is doing some amazing things through these partners and it is my goal to use this Global Blog site to share that with you. As you read, respond with praise for what God is doing and intercession for the work that remains. The following entry is written by Al and Val Bransdorfer, who started a ministry called Saving Grace in Uganda. - Alan Chantelau 

Saving Grace in Uganda helps children who live on the streets of northern Uganda. Our program is set up in the city of Lira at a home called “Uncle Fred's House”. This home is a light at the end of the street for hundreds of street children in need of help. Uncle Fred's House is a place of refuge from the hunger, sickness and trouble that often comes to street children. They come to get food, take a bath, wash their clothes, play and see the love of Jesus first hand. When there is trouble in the community and a street child is killed or wrongfully imprisoned, the staff at Uncle Fred’s House becomes an advocate for that child. The love of God being demonstrated in all of these ways is the backbone of the relationships we have built with these children. The following is a story of one of the boys helped by Saving Grace in Uganda.

Steven has one of the brightest and happiest smiles among all of the boys that live at Uncle Fred's House. But this was not always the case. Steven's father died of AIDS and six months later his mother also died of AIDS, leaving four young children alone in their hut in the village of Bar Apwo in Lira District. Steven was only five years old but he was left alone to care for his two year old twin brothers and his three week old baby sister. Steven tried to find enough food for the four of them but without anyone to help, it was impossible and there was no way for him to even try to feed an infant. After one week his baby sister died in his arms.

Someone from the community called a local orphanage that came out to the home along with the children's aunt. Steven's younger brothers were placed in the orphanage and Steven stayed with his aunt, who was very abusive. A five year old is not prepared for hours of labor but that is what Steven was expected to do. His aunt would beat him if he did not get all of his chores done. One day Steven was beaten so badly that he fled to the town of Lira. After several days, he was found collapsed and bleeding on the side of the road, by Uncle Fred's House children who were returning home from school. The children told Uncle Fred and he immediately ran to find Steven, gathered him up in his arms and took him back to the house to be cared for. Fred said that it took several days for Steven to begin to speak about what had happened to him. As Steven revealed his tragedy, Fred held him close and they sobbed together.

That was 4 years ago. Steven came to live at Uncle Fred's House and he has grown into a fine young man who is happy and healthy. He is a very competitive soccer player and loves to play games, pray and sing worship songs to God, who has provided for his needs. Steven works hard on his school work and is proud to be in primary 4 grade level. He is a good friend and brother to all of the boys that live at Uncle Fred's House. He is in charge of worship, playing the drums and helping to care for the younger children. Steven hopes to be a pilot someday. His beautiful smile shows how grateful he is to have a loving home and a hope-filled future.

Uncle Fred's House has been a home to over fifty children, while close to two hundred street children are in waiting. Saving Grace in Uganda opened a children’s village this year in order to accommodate these children. The children will be attending our new school this January while taking on responsibilities and experience what it is like to be in a family. They learn skills they would have been taught by their own families such as house and yard chores, cooking and washing, planting and harvesting of crops, husbandry and construction. By the time they become of age and leave the Uncle Fred's House program, they are ready to go back to their land with full confidence that they are well equipped to live on their own. But it doesn't end there. Twice a year these young men come back to the Uncle Fred's House Program to volunteer their time and help the new boys coming into the program. These young men have been taught the importance of giving to those less fortunate. It is a great joy to see a former street child become a light at the end of the street for others.

Saving Grace in Uganda is a Northland partner ministry founded by Al & Val Bransdorfer in 2007. To learn more about this ministry, including plans for the new Children’s village and ways that you can be involved please visit www.savinggraceinuganda.com.