Letter from Laurie

Dear Village2Village Family,
   Just a few months ago, our family went through an irreversible change. Two daughters who we have spent day and night with for nearly 18 years have left for colleges in the Midwest. We are proud of our girls' accomplishments, happy for their new adventures and excited about how they will grow from this next step in their journey. And yet, it's a loss…my husband and I still have sadness as we miss their childhood days, and our little boys miss their big sisters.
   Far too many Ugandan children live in families that also have gone through an irreversible change. For them, there are no mixed feelings…only grief, deprivation and fear for the future. For them, loss of their family members is not because of a happy milestone, but because of disease or violence. It means not only personal tragedy, but also the loss of stability…and daily food, education and medical care. In this environment, deep in rural villages that surround a small trading center in northeastern Uganda live 62 of our children. It would be easy to overlook their loss, poverty and grief. After all, there are millions of orphans in Sub-Saharan Africa. And yet…these are children, not statistics. They have painful memories, and daily joys, hopes and dreams.
   Thank you for reaching out…for paying for casework staff that can love these kids…for food to fill hungry bellies twice a day…medicine for malaria and emergency surgery…water purifier and electrical wiring, shoes, school uniforms, desks, gas and repairs for our aging van, books and tuition fees…sweaters, mosquito nets…the list goes on and on. Thank you for your prayers, your packages and your letters…your encouragement and your ideas. As we grow in depth as well as numbers, we continue to be challenged, and you are continually there. We appreciate it.
   God has brought us on an amazing journey over the last five years. Who knew when the first bag of rice and beans was delivered on July 4th, 2003, that it wouldn't run out? Who knew that our little group of nine children would grow to 62 children and their families over the next five years? During our Children's Center opening in January, the radio announced, "Heaven has come to Serere". The answer is, God knew. Like the destitute widow who made bread for Elijah out of her handful of flour and little jar of oil, (1 Kings 17) resources to care for a growing number of children have not run out or run dry, even when we couldn't see how the provision would happen. He is the ultimate caregiver and has a special love for the parentless child.

   Please continue to care, continue to pray, continue to call to encourage us and continue to share our mission with others. Please continue to give generously as you have always given, for in uncertain times, with food, medical and fuel costs skyrocketing it is hard to keep up with the increases that are so desperately needed. Every month costs go up…and every day there are people desperate for help that we have to turn away. In those painful times, as heartbreaking as it is, our focus has to be on one child at a time. But with your help, we are helping one more…and one more…and one more. It is a privilege to partner with you and with God in this work. Thank you.
Grace and peace, Laurie
Laurie Kroll, Executive Director