The following is a letter recently shared by Daniel Kibalama.  John (Mugabi) introduced Daniel to us (via e-mail) in June of 2008.  Shortly thereafter Daniel was sponsored and now attends University.

Before you read the letter from Daniel, however, here is what John had shared with us (in June) about Daniel’s background:

Daniel has had a difficult life.  We came to know him because his father is in prison.  As such, he has been a victim of his father’s problems. This boy has been rejected by everyone in the village.

I have kept him for a year and can now introduce him to you.   He was to join University but his father’s problems got him off to a bad start…no school fees,  no shelter, no food.  He really suffered rejection until we met him.  He is bright, but has nobody on his side.   It’s us now.  ~ Brother John

Daniel Kibalama

Daniel’s Letter

When I recall the times that surrounded my birth and early childhood years, all the things that happened could be put together and hence I would say I was forgotten.

Isn’t it amazing and at the same time difficult for a woman with all the pain they go through in labor to reach a point and forget their children???

It is true that time comes in Africa when children are forgotten. Children are not forgotten because there is no love for them, but for lack of sustenance.

Many parents have given up on their kids for lack of food, clothes, shelter, etc. My main reason as to why I thought I was forgotten was lack of food at home and lack of clothes. This always put me off. I thought I was unloved, unwanted and useless.

To date there are thousands of young kids who are thinking the same way. As a Ministry in Nkumba we are trying to kill this stigma in the lives of many kids.

Many kids we have in our care program often say `I was unloved.` This is not true; the spirit of lack is causing many to think wrongly.

I would love to salute each one of you who has decided to help us build the lives of these kids. I particularly thank you who where very instrumental in killing this spirit out of my life.

I request all of you to put each of the kids in the hands of God through prayer.

We are not forgotten!!!!! Not at all!!! He knows us and knows our names and holds us in the palms of His hands.  We are blessed to be part of the body of Christ with you.

Thank you so much,

Daniel Kibalama

Are you thinking the same thing I am?  How MANY forgotten children are there?  What else can I do to help the “least of these”?  Let’s not read the letter from Daniel, chalk it up to a nice warm, fuzzy story and move on with our day.  NO!  Let’s do something for the next forgotten child.

Umaru Kasijja- 7 year old orphan (unsponsored)

Let me share this stunning statistic again.  If you or your family earns more than $25,000/year, you are among the top 10% of the world’s wealthiest!  I know…we consider $25,000/year poverty level.  But it is NOT!  Imagine living on $700/year or less (which nearly half the world does.) Now $25,000 sounds MEGA-WEALTHY, doesn’t it?!

These economic times are good for us.  Why?!  In 2 Cor 8, Paul speaks of the Macedonian church–how their generous, liberal giving- beyond their means–flowed out of their abundance of joy, their affliction and their poverty!  That’s an interesting grouping, isn’t it?!

Paul goes on to say, “In this matter, I give my judgment…this benefits YOU!–the giver!”  Yes, it benefits the person receiving, but Paul states that giving benefits US!

So, what can we do?  Most of us have probably cut back already–due to the economy.  What else can we do–not because of the economy, but because we are BEGGING for the favor of participating in the relief of the saints!?

If we eat rice one or two nights a week, instead of a regular meal, we can likely sponsor a child (or another child) with the grocery money we’ve saved! (See RICE NIGHT) Do we have something we can sell?  Can we cut out cable TV, a trip to the salon, a golf outing?

Frank and I don’t exclude ourselves from this introspection.  What can we do?  We just sold our TV and TV stand.  That means the DVD’s and DVD player can go.  I am going to stop getting my hair cut at Great Clips and ask my sister-in-law Catherine to cut my hair. (This is news to her!)  We closed out a small IRA.  I’ve got old Nancy Drew books I can take to be sold.  I’ll keep thinking…

Comments are open (as always now)…let’s spur one another on toward love and good deeds!  We can share ideas of what we will do to find a way to care for those who are seemingly forgotten.