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Kentucky Color: Christmas for the Children of Kabale

A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE - When the need of a small community high in mountains of Kabale were made manifest to a group of concerned Christians in Adair County, Russell County and Pulaski County, a mission work began to make a change . . . a result of which includes a new school facility for the children of Kabale. Billy Joe Fudge writes, "I like to believe, it is a Christmas miracle. Indeed it is a miracle. Recently when all the children were shown their new school facility, one of the wide-eyed little preschoolers proclaimed, 'God has remembered us!' "
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By Billy Joe Fudge

When Brother Sam Tindimwebwa and I first became friends, I immediately felt his concern for the children of his community. I'm convinced that his ministry to the people and especially the children in and around Kabale, Uganda is not of his choosing as much as it is an answer to a call from God.

I became even more convinced when I began to see that Brother Sam was putting almost all of his income from his consulting business into the education and care of 40 children. Additionally, his Mum was contributing most of her school teacher retirement, time, life and home toward that same effort.




Brother Sam's Mum owns a small home on a quarter-acre lot in Nyakambu Community which is a very poor section of the larger town of Kabale. Inside the confines of this small home and lot, she was housing the school (Edifice School) of 40 children during the day and actually allowing 15 of the children, which were homeless, to live there.

Brother Sam and his Mum have a list of applicants for their school of 260 children in the same, in most cases, dire financial and cultural circumstances. Most of the children pay little to no tuition and most of the 260 applicants would not be able to pay, also. Since in Uganda, most of the schooling goes to children whose families can afford to pay for it, Brother Sam and his Mum were struggling to provide even one meal a day to the children consisting of Posho (what we call corn meal mush) and sometimes a few beans or rice or potatoes. Libby and I began to help as best we could. What we were able to send at least helped to feed the children and to make sure that the couple of folks who helped with the school were paid. Just prior to and after Laura Harris was able to visit Brother Sam and his Mum during a missionary trip to Uganda, she and Mike began to help them also.

Sometime back, it came to my attention that the children in the school had grown to about 60 with 15 living at the school full time and 5 living with Brother Sam's family members on the weekends. Needless to say, it was apparent that the need was outgrowing the facility and at the same time, I could not imagine the crowded conditions of both the school during the week and the home on the weekend.

Brother Sam and others, including us here in Columbia began praying for an affordable facility which could accommodate the needs of Brother Sam's ministry and school while allowing for future expansion. Well, Glory to our God who answers prayers because within a couple of weeks a house and lot became available to us. It is huge compared to the existing facility and is only a quarter mile from it. It was in a bad state of disrepair and the owners did not have the sufficient means to do the total repairs. However, they agreed to make the repairs if we would pay 8 months' rent in advance, agree to a 5 year lease and if we would commit to doing some electrical and plumbing repairs also. So, thanks be to God for calling out friends, family, a couple of churches and folks I don't even know in Adair County, Russell County and Pulaski County to help the children of Kabale. I like to believe, it is a Christmas miracle. Indeed it is a miracle. Recently when all the children were shown their new school facility, one of the wide-eyed little preschoolers proclaimed, "God has remembered us"!!! Jesus said, "From the lips of children and infants You, Lord, have called forth Your praise".

And indeed it is not only a Christmas miracle for the children of Kabale but a Christmas miracle for all who have truly experienced the real meaning of Christmas through this effort. If you've not yet had this pleasure, I pray that the Lord would lead you to the pinnacle of joy only found through the giving of one's self and resources to those in need.


This story was posted on 2017-12-24 15:18:53
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Christmas for the Children of Kabale



2017-12-24 - Kabale, Uganda - Photo Submitted by Billy Joe Fudge.
The old school facility in Kabale, Uganda. - Billy Joe Fudge

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Christmas in Kabale. Children outside the new school



2017-12-24 - Kabale, Uganda - Photo by Billy Joe Fudge.
These are the 20 orphaned children many of whom Sam's Mum has picked up off the street. This is part of the new, one and half acre compound. - Billy Joe Fudge

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Christmas in Kabale. Kabale is home of Mountain Gorilla



2017-12-24 - Kabale, Uganda - Photo by Member of Laura Harris missionary group.
Kabale, in Southwestern Uganda is the home of the Mountain Gorilla. This pic was taken by someone in Laura's missionary group this summer. - Billy Joe Fudge

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Christmas for the Children of Kabale: Outside the new school



2017-12-24 - Kabale, Uganda - Photo from Billy Joe Fudge.
The new building is a sturdy mortared building with a concrete foundation and floor. Much of the old facility has no floor or modern amenities. Notice the chimneys for heat as well as for cooking. Although Kabale is in the tropics, it is 6600 feet above sea level and can become quite cold on occasion. On another note, almost all the window panes had to be replaced. Things are so bad there that someone had stolen all the panes of glass. - Billy Joe Fudge

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Christmas for the Children of Kabale - New restroom



2017-12-24 - Kabale, Uganda - Photo submitted by Billy Joe Fudge.
The new outdoor toilets are being constructed to Ugandan construction code from brick and clay to be coated with plaster when finished. Notice the old toilet in the rear which is collapsing and is being removed. - Billy Joe Fudge

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