June 2, 2010 / by invite only /
Contact Kelsey@loveROWAN.com
Come enjoy an evening of inspiration, community and all things ROWAN.
Contact Kelsey if you would like to help sponsor & promote this cultural event.
Special guest speaker, Pastor Daniel Kisa (Cornerstone African Congregation), share the unique story of ROWAN and paint the picture of hope for this growing community.
Through this cultural celebration, it is our hope that you capture the vision and heart behind ROWAN's future as we seek to empower the orphans and widows of Mawanga, Uganda.
Live African music, handcrafted artisan jewelry, silent photo auction, launch of www.loveROWAN.com
Friday, May 7, 2010
Friday, April 16, 2010
Drama and Dance Program Begins
Dear Helpers of ROWAN,
Greetings in the Precious Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
I would like on behalf of ROWAN Uganda to thank you once again for your
faithful labor and work in this ministry to transforming the Widows and
Orphans from hopelessness to hope children in Jesus’ name. May the Lord who
sees in secret reward you openly.
The ROWAN programs are doing well, the bead making training for new designs
began on Monday it will take two weeks, It is exciting to watch people work
as a team for the betterment of the Ministry. Tomorrow Saturday Drama, Dance
and Music practice will begin. And, the Pineapple planting in the new garden is
going on well. The children next week they will have their holidays, So we
will enjoy the Holiday program where we plan to teach the Orphans to make
necklaces, and children are the best in Bead Making , you cannot believe
it, but it is true.
May God continue to give all of you Wisdom and favour as you fulfill the
ROWAN VISION. Of transforming the Widows and Orphans from
hopelessness to hope..( A poor man is shunned by all his relatives how much
more do his friends avoid him! Though he pursues them with pleading they are
nowhere to be found - Proverbs 19:7.)
We are happy that ROWAN is ready to say come and we will give you
hope.
Thanks and God bless you.
Pastor Paul.
Greetings in the Precious Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
I would like on behalf of ROWAN Uganda to thank you once again for your
faithful labor and work in this ministry to transforming the Widows and
Orphans from hopelessness to hope children in Jesus’ name. May the Lord who
sees in secret reward you openly.
The ROWAN programs are doing well, the bead making training for new designs
began on Monday it will take two weeks, It is exciting to watch people work
as a team for the betterment of the Ministry. Tomorrow Saturday Drama, Dance
and Music practice will begin. And, the Pineapple planting in the new garden is
going on well. The children next week they will have their holidays, So we
will enjoy the Holiday program where we plan to teach the Orphans to make
necklaces, and children are the best in Bead Making , you cannot believe
it, but it is true.
May God continue to give all of you Wisdom and favour as you fulfill the
ROWAN VISION. Of transforming the Widows and Orphans from
hopelessness to hope..( A poor man is shunned by all his relatives how much
more do his friends avoid him! Though he pursues them with pleading they are
nowhere to be found - Proverbs 19:7.)
We are happy that ROWAN is ready to say come and we will give you
hope.
Thanks and God bless you.
Pastor Paul.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Volunteers' Highlight by Kelsey
In Rowan, volunteers play an important role. More so when they are from the community. Two
very important men of God, Christopher and John, have both grown up in Mawanga and are very active in the local church under Pastor Paul.
When Paul began ROWAN back in 2004, the two men immediately came alongside to support him. They have given their time, love, resources and energy to serving the widows and orphans in the community.
They are at the front lines of projects, keeping track of administration and assisting Pastor Paul in whatever he does. As ROWAN expands, these men will be crucial in this ministry as their hearts are pure as gold.
Currently working as head volunteers for the ROWAN network, they divide duties of visiting the widows and orphans, overseeing the ROWAN office, and records keeping. Even in the toughest of
circumstances, you would hardly see them without a smile, with the joy of the Lord - their source of strength.
They love the Lord.
very important men of God, Christopher and John, have both grown up in Mawanga and are very active in the local church under Pastor Paul.
When Paul began ROWAN back in 2004, the two men immediately came alongside to support him. They have given their time, love, resources and energy to serving the widows and orphans in the community.
They are at the front lines of projects, keeping track of administration and assisting Pastor Paul in whatever he does. As ROWAN expands, these men will be crucial in this ministry as their hearts are pure as gold.
Currently working as head volunteers for the ROWAN network, they divide duties of visiting the widows and orphans, overseeing the ROWAN office, and records keeping. Even in the toughest of
circumstances, you would hardly see them without a smile, with the joy of the Lord - their source of strength.
They love the Lord.
Monday, December 28, 2009
ROWAN Christmas Party 2009 JOY
Celebrating Christ and all He brings to us, I hope your Christmas was as full of joy as those celebrating in Mawanga, Uganda! Here is a report from there ~ Elaina
[from Pastors David Wafula and Paul Nyende]
Belated merry Christmas. Hope all went well on your side. I was so much involved in this Christmas party and am happy to give you details of our budget.
The package for the Children to to take home each included the following: (67) Children
1 pair of bedsheets with pillow cases
Bathing and washing soap
Tooth paste
Tooth brush
Body oil Balloons
A paper bag
The package for the Widows to take home each included the following. (33) Widows
Kilos of rice
kilos of sugar
Washing soap.
During the party time, we feed both the children and the widows the following
Rice
Meat
Sodas
Ugali (Posho)
We spent some money on the generator to show Jesus film in Lusoga...
The Church was decorated for the Christmas party.
The total spent in Uganda shillings was 2,800,000/= This is equivalent to 1500 dollars taking an exchange rate of 1870 per dollar.
It was a good time of sharing together and encouraging these people....
Be blessed and happy new year.
David for Paul
[from Pastors David Wafula and Paul Nyende]
Belated merry Christmas. Hope all went well on your side. I was so much involved in this Christmas party and am happy to give you details of our budget.
The package for the Children to to take home each included the following: (67) Children
1 pair of bedsheets with pillow cases
Bathing and washing soap
Tooth paste
Tooth brush
Body oil Balloons
A paper bag
The package for the Widows to take home each included the following. (33) Widows
Kilos of rice
kilos of sugar
Washing soap.
During the party time, we feed both the children and the widows the following
Rice
Meat
Sodas
Ugali (Posho)
We spent some money on the generator to show Jesus film in Lusoga...
The Church was decorated for the Christmas party.
The total spent in Uganda shillings was 2,800,000/= This is equivalent to 1500 dollars taking an exchange rate of 1870 per dollar.
It was a good time of sharing together and encouraging these people....
Be blessed and happy new year.
David for Paul
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Typhoid Outbreak
Hi friends and prayer partners for ROWAN,
Just got an email Yesteday from the local pastor that typhoid has broken out in the community, and even his 6 children are affected. the major borehole is now down, and the villagers are drinking from ponds where their animals drinnk. I have been on my knees all night- and we are praying about how we can quickly Act on this.
For now, the clinic doesn't even have any medicine to treat the Typhoid, so we are sending over some $$ for this asap. I would suggest that any giving you can do today, can go towards this. You can just go to the same donate page at ruralaids.org, and donate under "Medical," and it will go towards this Typhoid outbreak...
All donations are tax deductible.
All donations are tax deductible.
Kelsey
Friday, October 16, 2009
In The Village, August 2009
In The Village: August 2009, by Sherlee Cholilidud
It's easy to loose sense of time and day in the village. there's no set timing for meals, appointment times are kept flexible. We sleep when we're tired, eat when the food is ready, and bathe when there's water.
I got used to the joy hole, where the toilet is basically a hole in the ground. Where some random chicken will cackle really loudly around the compound signaling it's time to wake up, and there's so much dust everywhere, even your orifices produces red/blackish dirt depending on where you're at.
There's an abundance of everything here, of land, insects, animals, and of course time. One does not waste time here, time comes to us. Of course there are a lot of children here. They run everywhere in the day, but like the chickens here, they know where's the limit they can go to, and when to go home. The children would stare at us, wondering how the color of our skin works, wondering how my hair gets so straight, and they swarm around, just staring, discussing among themselves about us Muzungus. Some will giggle nervously, some just stare... it can be a little overwhelming. I don't know what to do with myself at times but to smile in amusement at their amusement of us.
But more importantly, while I can dissect the village anthropologically, there's also one thing that is in abundance here: Love, which no science can measure but your own heart. God's love is so abundant in the hearts of his redeemed people such that it just pours out each time each moment. They praise god in their joy and sufferings in full freedom and abandonment. In a place where's there's so much lack and pains, that a redeemer’s love means so much more to them than a person like me from the city who lacks nothing but the true understanding of God's love. Jesus is even more alive and real here. And it is free love and love on tap here! It's ceaseless.
What they lack in the material is replaced with love they received from God, and receive they do. They also give out this love even more freely, and they give out so much more to the people around them, even to strangers they've barely known. Many a times I am struck dumb, in awe of the outpouring of love. Just completely bowled down by god's sovereignty and his abundant love. . . . . . . .
And we learnt that Mawanga means coming of the nations. That word itself is prophetic. Amen. I am proud, of the fact that I'm the first Asian/Southeast Asian, Indonesian Chinese, here in Mawanga. :)
I've also heard so many testimonies, Pastor Paul, Henry's, Hakim’s, and especially Eddy's. Each is a tale of trials and rejection but yet trusting God with all their heart in a sense that that trust and love for God is above all, and indeed with tears from trials and rejections, become like raindrops being splashed against a windscreen where God will wipe them all away.
I think this trip has made me realize that I do want to do rural development or urban development in developing countries. Not because I think I'm better, but simply because I want to serve god's kingdom. That is it. I like developmental work, and love added into it will only work in god's kingdom and I hope I'm using well the gifts that god gave me for his kingdom.
This trip has also made me realize that it is ok to enjoy modern conveniences and the importance of physical communications. But also I think it had chipped off some rose tinted glass off my eyes. I think it's ok to want to have a decent life, and yet still serve in the rural area. I think it's more effective that way. . . . . .
by Sherlee Choliluddin,
ROWAN’s newest board member, and glad to have her!
Our newest focus is on acquiring more land.
This is the next vital step to expanding micro-enterprise.
DONATE NOW!
send your tax-deductible gifts to:
ROWAN
P.O.Box 1055
Acton, CA 93510
It's easy to loose sense of time and day in the village. there's no set timing for meals, appointment times are kept flexible. We sleep when we're tired, eat when the food is ready, and bathe when there's water.
I got used to the joy hole, where the toilet is basically a hole in the ground. Where some random chicken will cackle really loudly around the compound signaling it's time to wake up, and there's so much dust everywhere, even your orifices produces red/blackish dirt depending on where you're at.
There's an abundance of everything here, of land, insects, animals, and of course time. One does not waste time here, time comes to us. Of course there are a lot of children here. They run everywhere in the day, but like the chickens here, they know where's the limit they can go to, and when to go home. The children would stare at us, wondering how the color of our skin works, wondering how my hair gets so straight, and they swarm around, just staring, discussing among themselves about us Muzungus. Some will giggle nervously, some just stare... it can be a little overwhelming. I don't know what to do with myself at times but to smile in amusement at their amusement of us.
But more importantly, while I can dissect the village anthropologically, there's also one thing that is in abundance here: Love, which no science can measure but your own heart. God's love is so abundant in the hearts of his redeemed people such that it just pours out each time each moment. They praise god in their joy and sufferings in full freedom and abandonment. In a place where's there's so much lack and pains, that a redeemer’s love means so much more to them than a person like me from the city who lacks nothing but the true understanding of God's love. Jesus is even more alive and real here. And it is free love and love on tap here! It's ceaseless.
What they lack in the material is replaced with love they received from God, and receive they do. They also give out this love even more freely, and they give out so much more to the people around them, even to strangers they've barely known. Many a times I am struck dumb, in awe of the outpouring of love. Just completely bowled down by god's sovereignty and his abundant love. . . . . . . .
And we learnt that Mawanga means coming of the nations. That word itself is prophetic. Amen. I am proud, of the fact that I'm the first Asian/Southeast Asian, Indonesian Chinese, here in Mawanga. :)
I've also heard so many testimonies, Pastor Paul, Henry's, Hakim’s, and especially Eddy's. Each is a tale of trials and rejection but yet trusting God with all their heart in a sense that that trust and love for God is above all, and indeed with tears from trials and rejections, become like raindrops being splashed against a windscreen where God will wipe them all away.
I think this trip has made me realize that I do want to do rural development or urban development in developing countries. Not because I think I'm better, but simply because I want to serve god's kingdom. That is it. I like developmental work, and love added into it will only work in god's kingdom and I hope I'm using well the gifts that god gave me for his kingdom.
This trip has also made me realize that it is ok to enjoy modern conveniences and the importance of physical communications. But also I think it had chipped off some rose tinted glass off my eyes. I think it's ok to want to have a decent life, and yet still serve in the rural area. I think it's more effective that way. . . . . .
by Sherlee Choliluddin,
ROWAN’s newest board member, and glad to have her!
Our newest focus is on acquiring more land.
This is the next vital step to expanding micro-enterprise.
DONATE NOW!
send your tax-deductible gifts to:
ROWAN
P.O.Box 1055
Acton, CA 93510
The Harvest is Plenty
Have you ever been so proud of something that you couldn’t WAIT to show it to off? Well, as Sherlee and I arrived on the scene of Mawanga, Uganda on August 19, Pastor Paul hurried us to the garden where ROWAN widows were picking their first harvest of pineapples. And these weren’t just any pineapples. These sweet fruits became the foundation of discipline and unity between ROWAN members.
Since 2007, these men and women have been labouring for the fruits we saw before us. Who knew pineapples took 2 years to grow? Every other day the widows and caretakers would trek from their homes to till the garden. Our trusty volunteers John and Christopher would take attendance of each woman who would turn up and joke with those who came late! Talk about accountability.
Sherlee and I danced with laughter between the rows and rows of ripe fruit. The smiles of these victim warriors, although currently suffering from HIV/AIDS, drought, malaria and the difficulties that life brings, will forever be etched in my mind. Our joy had little to do with the actual pineapples harvested that day, although it brought in income for their immediate needs. But it had everything to do with building community and hope. These women are empowered. They have each other. They love the Lord.
This is just the beginning.
What does ROWAN do, you ask? ROWAN is in the hope business.
Donate NOW!
send your tax-deductible gifts to:
ROWAN
P.O.Bøx 1055
Acton, CA 93510
Since 2007, these men and women have been labouring for the fruits we saw before us. Who knew pineapples took 2 years to grow? Every other day the widows and caretakers would trek from their homes to till the garden. Our trusty volunteers John and Christopher would take attendance of each woman who would turn up and joke with those who came late! Talk about accountability.
Sherlee and I danced with laughter between the rows and rows of ripe fruit. The smiles of these victim warriors, although currently suffering from HIV/AIDS, drought, malaria and the difficulties that life brings, will forever be etched in my mind. Our joy had little to do with the actual pineapples harvested that day, although it brought in income for their immediate needs. But it had everything to do with building community and hope. These women are empowered. They have each other. They love the Lord.
This is just the beginning.
What does ROWAN do, you ask? ROWAN is in the hope business.
Donate NOW!
send your tax-deductible gifts to:
ROWAN
P.O.Bøx 1055
Acton, CA 93510
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
