Sisters Community Church reaching out to children in Uganda

Pastor Tim Kizziar and a team of 11 members of Sisters Community Church (SCC) returned recently from the remote region of Kapchorwa, Uganda, where they saw first-hand how $25 and pure fresh water have made a tremendous difference in the lives of the people living there.

In July of 2004 SCC established a partnership with the region of Kapchorwa which lies on the Kenyan border and has a population of approximately 200,000 people.

A team from SCC traveled to Kapchorwa and dug four wells that provided clean pure water for the people in that area.

Shortly after the July trip, SCC along with other community members sponsored 133 children from the Kapchorwa area. Sponsors were able to choose a child ranging in age from preschool through fifth grade that they would like to support.

After 100 children were sponsored funds were available to start a school, which was given the name Testimony.

The cost to sponsor a child is $25 per month and for that amount a child is given a uniform, a pair of shoes and tuition to attend school. The children are also supplied with needed medications, are given one hot meal a day, and are visited in the home four times a year by a social worker who makes sure their living conditions are adequate

Currently, the school is operating out of huts/shacks on land leased by SCC. SCC plans to purchase five acres of land and put up permanent school facilities for the children in the near future. At this time one acre of land has been purchased.

Pastor Tim Kizziar said, “The purpose of this trip was to solidify our relationship with the region of Kapchorwa by participating in the new beginnings of the school, revisit the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and provide leadership training.”

Kizziar told The Nugget it was phenomenal to see what has happened in the area over the past eight months.

The school is fully established and running smoothly and to show their appreciation for what the sponsorship has done for them, students greeted the team with a full presentation, including singing, memory work, poetry and art.

“We were extremely impressed with the quality care these kids are receiving,” said Kizziar. “It was so dramatic to see the hope and joy that just $25 per month brings to a child and his or her family.”

When the team visited the IDP (Internally Displaced Person) camps they were greeted with welcoming ceremonies.

IDP camps are refugee camps for families/people that have lost everything, including their homes and cattle. They have no way to support themselves due to cattle rustlers.

“The biggest thing at the camps was seeing the difference compared to eight months ago,” said Kizziar. “The fresh water has made such a difference in the energy, health and attitude of the people.”

Before the wells were installed many people were dying from water-related diseases.

“We also had leadership opportunities during the week and met with 700 Kapchorwa leaders and provided them with extensive Biblical and leadership training. The response was huge and they begged us to come back,” said Kizziar.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a child from Kapchorwa can contact the SCC office at 549-1201.