12 Days of Christmas 2018

On the 1^st day of Christmas, my true Love gave to me…

A PRIMARY SCHOOL IN NAMUWONGO

Doors Primary School in Namuwongo slum of Kampala is the heart of Doors Ministries. It is here that at risk children and families are welcomed into the loving environment of the school. Children are given a quality education at minimal to no cost, a rarity for this area. Additionally, the Gospel is preached, and students discipled. As the Christmas season is upon us, consider partnering with one of the 100+ pupils of Doors Primary School at $37 a month or through a one-time gift. This will help us to keep our DOORS open, and continue to see lives transformed. Send us a message to find out how, or email Ashley at Ashley@doorsministries.org.

On the 2^nd day of Christmas, my true Love gave to me…

2 LARGE POTS, and a primary school in Namuwongo.

Every day, our two faithful school cooks come and prepare enough food to feed 100+ students and staff. Our lunch menu is beans and posho most days. Posho is maize flour that is boiled and is the most common starch in every meal throughout Uganda giving the children the calories they need to grow. Beans give the children their much needed protein and energy. We praise God for the donors of 2018 who have helped make school lunches possible through one-time gifts while we await for every child at Doors Primary School to become sponsored!

On the 3^rd day of Christmas, my true Love gave to me…

3 NURSERY TEACHERS ,2 large pots, and a primary school in Namuwongo.

 These 3 nursery level teachers of Doors Primary School are leading their classes in games during the PE hour. Since April when Doors transitioned from being a US-based NGO to being a Uganda-based NGO, all of the teachers at Doors Primary School have volunteered their time to teach the students…this means they have gone without salary payments! This was due to a dip in funding and lack of available funds to guarantee salaries from the transition. When teachers were told that salaries would not be guaranteed until children at the school became sponsored, we expected to lose all of our staff. We were amazed when every single teacher continued to show up for school each day to teach. Truly, they see their vocation in teaching as a calling from God and not a job to pay bills. We are amazed that more than half are still standing with us at Doors Primary School! Consider partnering with Doors Primary School today to support these amazing teachers and their students, or consider giving a one-time gift that can go directly towards blessing these teachers with an end of year bonus. Contact us today to find out how, or simply click on the donate link at the top of the page.

On the 4^th day of Christmas, my true Love gave to me…

4 BLACKOUT DAYS ,3 nursery teachers, 2 large pots, and a primary school in Namuwongo.

 

Power outages are common throughout Uganda. They come semi-frequently and unannounced. Young men who have graduated out of other Doors programs and are currently enrolled in the Vocational Training Scholarship program are able to learn trades and skills to make a living such as becoming an electrician. Going to vocational school makes one more likely to receive a job in Uganda, than graduating from University. We are so proud of the 4 students enrolled in vocational schools beginning in 2018 and 2019. Thank you to the sponsors and financial partners of each of these young men!

On the 5^th day of Christmas, my true Love gave to me…

5 SMILING FACES ,4 blackout days, 3 nursery teachers, 2 large pots, and a primary school in Namuwongo.

These are the smiles of boys who formerly lived on the streets and are now in a loving home and back in school. They have been given permission to dream again…and they are dreaming big! Please pray for these boys and others as they continue in their studies and pursue their dreams. We are still looking for several foster families to allow one or more of the boys to join their home. They are currently living with a volunteer aunt who loves them as her own.  (pictured with the boys here)

On the 6^th day of Christmas, my true Love gave to me…

6 CHILDREN STUDYING ,5 smiling faces, 4 blackout days, 3 nursery teachers, 2 large pots, and a primary school in Namuwongo.

  

Education is empowerment. At the end of primary school, students in the graduating class (primary 7) take a national exam called the Primary Leaving Exam. Their score on this exam determines if they can continue their education onto secondary school (high school)…assuming they can afford to do so of course. Doors Primary School is unique in that every single graduating student from the school has passed this exam and been able to continue onto to secondary school. This is mostly thanks to the wonderful and dedicated teaching staff at Doors Primary School who work tirelessly to make sure the students are ready for this major exam. It is also thanks to our generous sponsors who have partnered with a Doors Primary School graduate at $80 or less a month, allowing them to afford to continue their education. We currently have 10 students awaiting sponsors in order to continue their education. Consider partnering with one of these students in 2019. To meet the students, or begin your partnership, send us a message today!

On the 7^th day of Christmas, my true Love gave to me…

7 CHAPATTIS FRYING ,6 children studying, 5 smiling faces, 4 blackout days, 3 nursery teachers, 2 large pots, and a primary school in Namuwongo.

Chappattis are a typical fast food, or “street food” in Uganda. You can find them on almost every street corner or couple of yards in Kampala. Think thick, doughier, fried tortilla or naan. Yum! They are delicious. Every Friday night for the past couple of months, the boys of the former Doors Home and now Street Child Reconciliation Program, have gathered together to make chapattis with their foster mom and neighbors. Not only is this a night of fun and tasty food, it is also a night that the boys are learning a skill that they can use in the future to start a small chapatti frying business to make money.

On the 8^th day of Christmas, my true Love gave to me…

8 HANDS-A-WASHING ,7 chapattis frying, 6 children studying, 5 smiling faces, 4 blackout days, 3 nursery teachers, 2 large pots, and a primary school in Namuwongo.

Can you believe that when Doors Primary School first opened, we had no running water?? Every day, our dedicated cooks would carry 20L jerry cans down to the slum to fill up from the public tap and lug them uphill back to the school multiple times a day in order for the school to have sufficient water for cooking, drinking, and washing. We praise God that a couple of years ago, a generous partner supported a fundraiser which allowed us to get running water to the school grounds….our next dream? Electricity on campus! Currently we have no electricity at the school making classrooms dark at times, especially during the gloomy raining days of “rainy season.”

On the 9^th day of Christmas, my true Love gave to me…

9 PUPILS PRAYING ,8 hands-a-washing, 7 chapattis frying, 6 children studying, 5 smiling faces, 4 blackout days, 3 nursery teachers, 2 large pots, and a primary school in Namuwongo.

“To awaken the wild love of Jesus by discipling the next generation of leaders in Uganda” is our mission statement. In all we do, we strive for discipleship to happen. It is only through the Gospel and grace of God that lives change and true hope received. At Doors Primary Schol discipleship happens both in and out of the classroom. Our staff of strong Christian leaders seek to bring the truth of the Gospel into their teaching. Each week, pupils also have a Bible study and a daily chapel service. The chapel service consists of a time of student-led praise and worship, corporate prayer, and a short devotion given by one of the staff or older students.

On the 10^th day of Christmas, my true Love gave to me…

10  SHARPENED PENCILS ,9 pupils praying, 8 hands-a-washing, 7 chapattis frying, 6 children studying, 5 smiling faces, 4 blackout days, 3 nursery teachers, 2 large pots, and a primary school in Namuwongo.

We are always in need of school supplies at Doors Primary School. Students are required to provide their own books for notes and pencils. Only teachers are allowed to write in pen in Ugandan primary schools. We are thankful for the numerous generous donors in years passed who have provided donations of or funds for school supplies. These gifts have taken financial pressure off of families to provide necessary supplies for learning, and have blessed the school as a whole. If you have supplies you would like to donate for the 2019 school year, or would like to make a financial donation towards school supplies at Doors Primary School, please send us a message or email Ashley at Ashley@doorsministries.org. You can also click on the “Donate” button at the top of the page and denote your financial gift is for school supplies through the link provided.

On the 11^th day of Christmas, my true Love gave to me…

11 RIPENED MANGOS ,10 sharpened pencils, 9 pupils praying, 8 hands-a-washing, 7 chapattis frying, 6 children studying, 5 smiling faces, 4 blackout days, 3 nursery teachers, 2 large pots, and a primary school in Namuwongo. 

Mango season comes twice a year in Uganda as there are two growing and two harvesting seasons. December, January and February tend to be the hottest months in Uganda, one of the 2 “dry” seasons of the year. Christians in Uganda typically spend Christmas by attending a church service in the morning dressed up as fancy as possible, then cook a large meal to share with family, friends, or neighbors. Matooke (green bananas), rice, chicken or meat, and gnut sauce are the typical menu…and of course mangos! if you are lucky as we are at Doors to have a mango tree on your property to pick fresh ones from.

On the 12^th day of Christmas my true Love gave to me…

12 SPONSORED STUDENTS, 11 ripened mangos, 10 sharpened pencils, 9 pupils praying, 8 hands-a-washing, 7 chapattis frying, 6 children studying, 5 smiling faces, 4 blackout days, 3 nursery teachers, 2 large pots, and a primary school in Namuwongo.

We are so grateful for the numerous generous partners of Doors who sponsor students and programs at Doors Ministries through monthly financial gifts and prayer. All of our children in the Vocational Training Scholarship Program and Street Child Reconciliation & Resettlement Program have sponsors. We praise God for this. We continue to look for donors willing to partner with 10 Secondary School Scholarship pupils and 80+ Doors Primary School pupils in need of sponsors. If you or someone you know would be interested to walk in partnership with one of the pupils of Doors, please send us a Facebook message or email Ashley at Ashley@doorsministries.org.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Consider giving a year end gift to Doors Ministries:

www.allegrosolutions.org/donate/DoorsMinistries001

Doors Primary School Teachers

Teachers at Doors Primary School in action: Working with no pay!

Doors Primary School has been blessed with phenomenally dedicated, passionate and unwavering teachers and staff! They come to school every day to teach, leaving their personal worries at home. In just the past couple of months, one teacher has been robbed and attacked with a machete, one staff member has lost her husband to heart failure after finding out she is pregnant,  and another has had to move in with friends being unable to meet rent herself for her and her family.

ALL of the staff have spent the last year volunteering at Doors…NONE of have received a salary! Why? When Doors transitioned early this year, we did not have the funds necessary to pay salaries for the rest of the year. When the staff were informed, they continued to show up for work in faith that God would reward their efforts! And they continue to show up day after day with no payment! They are dedicated to the students, dedicated to their vocation as teachers, and committed to Christ. Until the students at Doors Primary School are fully sponsored, the teachers and staff at the school will not be able to receive a regular salary. They know this, and know that more than 100 students are awaiting sponsorships…yet they continue to trek through the slum every day to come and teach!

Sponsorship of a student at Doors Ministries, is more than just providing an education for a child…its providing a salary for a fellow Kingdom labourer and more!

Consider giving a one-time end of year gift as a financial token of appreciation for these phenomenal men and women! Click the donate link today and denote that your donation is going towards Doors Primary Staff in the memo box of the link.

To Our Faithful Supporters

To Our Faithful Supporters-

Thank you for continuing to support and lift up Doors Ministries. We deeply appreciate your support more than our simple words can express.

You desire to fight for the underdogs, the children and communities of Uganda that are often overlooked. The families in Namuwongo and children from the streets are at the bottom of the social totem pole in Ugandan society. Your stand with them not only brings them encouragement, but is a picture of Christ’s love for them. Thank you for displaying that love so clearly.

Your support has shown us just how committed you are to making the world a better place, to bringing the “kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven”. We know that you make personal sacrifices in order to continue to support and lift up Doors.  

Thank you for dreaming with us about the future of Doors and the future of each of the children entrusted to us. Empowerment through education and discipleship grants each of these children and young adults at Doors not only a hope for a better future in this life, but also in the life to come in Christ.

From all of us at Doors Ministries, thank you.

Doors August Update

August in Uganda means the beginning of the rainy season. It is a time to plant seeds and plan for the coming harvest of December and January. At Doors, August was the end of the second school term of the academic year. Our academic calendar runs from February to December with three 10-12 week long school terms. We pray that seeds planted in August will ripen and bring forth a fruitful harvest in God’s kingdom. Read below to see what has happened in each of the ministry arms of Doors during this August planting season.

DOORS PRIMARY SCHOOL

We praise God for the faithful weekly short-term volunteers that came to Doors Primary School for Term 2 in June and July. They helped our understaffed teachers by filling in to teach classes such as English, Bible and Math. They led games and fun activities for the pupils, and brought much enrichment to the curriculum. Through their time at Doors Primary School, they were able to raise money to provide food for the school through the end of the year. This is a huge answer to prayer as more than 100 of our 121 students at the school are still awaiting sponsors.

Nursery students enjoying lunch at Doors Primary School. 

SECONDARY SCHOOL SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS

Longkok Augustine is one of the most promising young men enrolled in the Secondary School Scholarship program. He graduated from Doors Primary School as the top in his class. We had no doubts that he would thrive in secondary school (high school). Despite not being sponsored at the beginning of the school year in February, one high school offered to enroll him in faith that school fees would be paid in time. They recognized his potential and strong academic ability. His end of term report card came back just two weeks ago. Augustine was number 1 in his class out of 47 students! He is not only an exceptional student, but a wonderful young man and leader. He serves at his local church as an usher, leads class activities, and continues to demonstrate outstanding Christian character that others can’t help but recognize. We are thankful and praise God for the partner who has stepped forward to sponsor and support Augustine as he continues his education, and those that have volunteered to partner financially with the other promising secondary school scholarship students. We still have 8 young men and women in need of sponsors in order to enroll in school for Term 3 which begins at the end of September.

Augustine in class at his secondary school (high school). He was #1 out of 47 students last term!

  

VOCATIONAL TRAINING SCHOLARSHIP STUDENTS

Vocational Training Schools in Uganda follow the same academic calendar as primary and secondary schools. Our 2 sponsored students are enjoying the holiday and making the most of their time before beginning back for Term 3 at the end of September. One young man, who is studying to become an electrician, is utilizing his holiday to add to his skill repertoire by interning for a local NGO learning carpentry and welding. These added skills will help him to find a higher paying job upon his graduation from vocational school. 

At vocational training school learning how to become an electrician. 

  

STREET CHILD RECONCILIATION & RESETTLEMENT

August has brought us as a ministry to our knees in prayer over 3 boys who were in the Doors Boys Home for former street boys. We strongly desire to see these 3 placed in long-term foster families over this school holiday. Currently, we have 2 potential homes that our social worker is investigating before placing the boys in each. Pray for us as we continue to seek God’s guidance on homes for these 3 boys. May He guide us, and may godly Christian families step forward to open up their homes and raise these boys into the young men and leaders they are.

Praying for a home for this child who was formerly in the Doors Boys Home. 

SPONSORSHIP

Throughout the months of July and August, we launched a sponsorship campaign on Facebook aimed at Doors Primary School. We desired to match each of the 121 students with a monthly sponsor at $37 a month. This $37 per student goes directly towards paying for the operation of Doors Primary School to keep our doors open. Rent, teacher and staff salaries, utilities, curriculum costs, school food and more have been financial challenges for us at the school. Though this campaign was aimed at seeking sponsors for Doors Primary School, we had more people step forward interested in sponsoring children and young adults in other programs of Doors. We praise God for that. Currently, sponsorship at Doors is: 

• 8 of 121 students at Doors Primary School are now connected with a monthly partners of $37 a month. 
• 10 of 18 students who have graduated from Doors Primary School and are now enrolled in the Secondary School Scholarship program have a monthly sponsor of $80 a month in order to continue their educations.
• All of our students enrolled in the Vocational Training Scholarship program are sponsored!
• 4 of 6 former street children have been sponsored at $80 per month in the Street Child Reconciliation & Resettlement program.

Thank you to all of our continued and new monthly sponsors and partners. We praise God for you and the seeds you are planting. May God bring forth a bountiful harvest.

If you are interested in what sponsorship at Doors entails, please email Ashley at Ashley@doorsministries.org for more information.  

A Testimony: Light Shining

“Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” –Matthew 5:16

He was walking home from school one day and a worker (house cleaner) at one of the homes he passed on his was home made some derogatory remarks towards him. When provoked to respond, he simply said “I don’t abuse (verbally) my elders,” and continued on his way.

An on-looking mother saw this interaction. She called him over and asked him what church he attended. Without him even telling her about his faith, she could see the light of Jesus in him. After he answered, she made him promise to come Sunday morning and pick up her daughter so that she could attend church with him. “I want her to have the same manners and character that I see in you.”

The seed of the Gospel planted in this 10 year old boy has already begun reaping of the harvest. He is a fisher of men in the way he lives his life and responds to others. A challenge to us all on the Christian journey. Who has seen the way we respond to insults, and glorified our Father in heaven because of it?

Meet Opio Juventine. Former Doors Home boy, now awaiting placement in a foster family. We are proud of the man he is becoming.

Opio Juventine is awaiting sponsorship. If you are interested in supporting Juventine as he joins a family and pursues his education please send us a message or contact Ashley at ashley@doorsministries.org. 

A Prayer Request: "I'm Not Too Old?"

“Auntie, you don’t think I’m too old? You still think it’s possible for me?”

“Yes, I do. Very possible.”

I had just had to have a very hard conversation with this 15 year old boy. He was caught disobeying rules and leading other younger boys down his rebellious path. I was asked to intervene and talk to him about his behaviors and poor choices. Other staff had already tried their hand at him. It was my turn. 

 As we were talking, I got to the question of “why are you acting this way when you’ve been such an obedient boy before?” That’s when the truth came out; the root of his disobedience.

“Well, it doesn’t matter. I’m the next to be sent to the village.” At those words, my heart sank.

This boy had a hard background. Both of his parents died when he was young leaving him in the custody of his very impoverished uncle who had his own children to care for and worry about. That meant this boy was always pushed aside and never shown that he was loved and valued by family. This upbringing eventually lead him to run to the streets of Kampala and face homelessness as a “street boy” instead of staying in his village circumstances.

At the time of our conversation, he had been in the Doors Boys Home for former street boys for over 3 years after having spent more than a year on the harsh streets alone. He was recruited into the home in 2015 during a special street outreach program that Doors conducted. Three and a half years later, Doors had now just undergone a huge transition and a handful of children in the homes had been resettled with biological family. He believed he was the next to go and be resettled with his poor uncle. He was scared because he knew no future awaited him in the village. More than that, no one who truly cared for him awaited in the village.

I wanted to assure him that it wasn’t true, that Doors had no plans as a ministry to send him back to his uncle in the village where he would be neglected again.

“No! You aren’t going anywhere. The only place you will go from here is into a loving family with a mom and a dad. You do want a family?”

“Yes! More than anything.”

Then there was a long silence. Finally he looked up and met my eyes.

“But Auntie…You don’t think I’m too old? You still think that it’s possible for me?”

“Too old for what?”

“Told old to get a new family to love me?”

He is fifteen. Older than most children in Uganda who get placed in foster families. Older than most children who are recruited into homes for former street boys by other organizations.

“No. You’re not too old to be loved, my friend.”

All this maturing teenage boy wants is to be loved, to belong, to be valued. He is. He is loved by Him, belongs to Him and is valued by Him. We desire to see this loved and valued one placed in a foster family while he finishes his primary education.

Pray with us. We have not yet identified a family for him or for 2 other boys in the former Doors Boys Home. Pray that families will come forward willing to foster these hearts and souls. Pray that in the waiting, they would feel loved, that they belong, and that they hold value. Because they do.

Thank you for praying with us.

Thank You

Thank you to all new partners, we’ve had a wonderful and joyful month highlighting Doors Primary School. It’s been encouraging to reflect on what God has done, and what He is still doing.

Preparing for midterm exams

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6) This is a truth we believe over Doors and Doors Primary School. Thank you for walking with us. May God continue to bless you for your generosity as you store up treasures in heaven.

Studying the Word of God at daily morning chapel

If you haven't yet already, consider partnering with a student of Doors Primary at $37/month or a student that has graduated and moved on to Secondary School Scholarship at $80/month, allowing the school to remain open and positively impacting students and families for the glory of God. Contact us for more information.

www.allegrosolutions.org/donate/DoorsMinistries001

Receiving treatment in the nurse's office