3 days, 3 necklaces, 3 winners

If you've been on Facebook this weekend, you know I got my new shipment of Uganda Magazine necklaces on Friday. They are made from recycled magazine pages. Pages that would otherwise be thrown away are recycled into beautiful pieces of jewelry. Talk about trash to treasure. My friend Sherry's 8 year old son said it best when he said, "It's amazing that something so beautiful can come from such poverty." Take a look at them!







Aren't they STUNNING? To celebrate the fact that I have 3 days until I leave, I want to give 3 of them away! Want to win one? Yes? Good, because I love, love, LOVE doing giveaways :) So how do you enter? There are several ways:

share a link to this blog post on Facebook - 1 entry
share a link to my blog on your blog - 1 entry
buy a piece of jewelry - 1 entry per piece*

*You can buy here on my blog by clicking on the red STORE button in the upper right-hand corner. I have all of the pieces available listed in a photo album on my Facebook page, so if you want a specific necklace, you will need to comment under it. If we aren't friends on FB yet, just click on the badge to the right to send me a friend request :)

You have several chances to enter. Once you're done, post a comment below and let me know which method(s) you used. If you have purchased jewelry within the last couple days and want to be entered into the giveaway, be sure to leave a comment below! However, if you shared the link within the last couple days, you will need to share it again to be entered.

I will draw for the 3 winners on Tuesday night, since I leave on Wednesday at noon. It is possible for one of the winners to win 2 necklaces, or even all 3 :) How exciting would THAT be?

this sister

Who accepted Christ in January and prayed to lose her job so she could do something radical? This sister.

Who got her prayer answered 8 days later and was on the verge of being homeless? This sister.

Who got her cable and internet turned off, leaving her with only power and her Bible for a few months? This sister.

Who felt God calling her to work for Him but was mortified at the thought of following Him to the hard places? This sister.

Who decided in May to step out of her comfort zone and raise money for a mission trip? This sister.

Who got an iPhone for her birthday JUST so she can keep up with her fundraising? This sister.

Who gave up her apartment and king size bed for a sofa in her sister's basement? This sister.

Who completely freaked out when she checked Paypal to find her very first $20 donation from a FB-friend-she'd-never-met? This sister.

Who did God start to mold into His image, leaving her at the top of satan's hit list? This sister.

Who felt like she was going insane because of this new roller coaster of emotions that she was experiencing? This sister.

Who struggled and tried to hide it but ultimately decided to be transparent on this journey, sharing the good and the bad? This sister.

Who lied to God when she told Him that she would go ANYWHERE but was really only planning a trip to a location that was inexpensive to travel to? This sister.

Who begged God to send her anywhere but Africa? This sister.

Who kept hearing God whisper Uganda but tried to ignore Him? This sister.

Who was overwhelmed as it became clear that God wanted her in Uganda, so she told Him that if Uganda was His plan, to bring in the money so she would know? This sister.

Who found favor with God and was reassured she was walking in line with His will as the donations poured in? This sister.

Who read blog after blog after blog trying to prepare her heart for what she was about to see? This sister.

Who did the "happy dance" when God raised enough money for her to purchase her plane ticket? This sister.

Who forgot to transfer all the money from her Paypal account, leaving zilch in her bank account to purchase that ticket? This sister.

Who was humbled into an "ugly cry" when one of her friends she hadn't seen since high school stepped up to let her use her credit card to buy the ticket? This sister.

Who did satan start waging a war against after God approved her travel request? This sister.

Who told him he was sadly mistaken and decided to fight back? This sister.

Who was burdened by the fact that a village she would be spending time in did not have clean water to drink? This sister.

Who decided 3 weeks before her departure that God wanted her to raise $2500 for a well? This sister.

Who praised His name as the final dollars came in just days before she boarded the plane? This sister.

Who waited until the night before she left to start packing? This sister.

Who stepped foot on African soil and knew she would move there? This sister.

Who praised God in a church with no walls, a tin roof, dirt floor, chickens walking through the service, clouds of dust that would take your breath, and in the midst of it all, felt Him stronger than she ever had before? This sister.

Who arrived in the Bugabo Village and found that Maria was still alive but was being starved by her grandfather? This sister.

Who asked God if He would provide for her if she gave the last $1000 of her savings to build a home for Maria, her mother and their caretaker? This sister.

Who did God use to bring His love to a village without the means to get clean water, by supplying them with 12 water collection tanks? This sister.

Who found out there was room for 23 more children in the school there and asked God to find sponsors for them? This sister.

Who woke up to find that God had found those 23 sponsors within 24 hours? This sister.

Who spent a very humbling 3 weeks in a foreign land that was stealing her heart every moment of the day? This sister.

Who fell in love with the people of Uganda and cried every single time she realized her departure date was closing in? This sister.

Who sobbed all the way through security as she begged God to give her one reason to stay? This sister.

Who did God tell to come back to the US and make preparations to move there? This sister.

Who found the whole "re-entry process" to be one of THE most excruciatingly painful things she had to go through in her new relationship with Christ? This sister.

Who decided to follow Him regardless of how hard it was, because she wanted to live a life of radical obedience? This sister.

Who did God ask to raise money to build a new 2-classroom building so that even MORE children could go to school in the village? This sister.

Who has amazing friends that let God use them to spread the word about my "Buy a Brick, Build up Bugabo" campaign, leading to the school being fully funded in 3 weeks? This sister.

Who found out one month ago that the 120 children that are now in school will be losing their sponsorship funding after December? This sister.

Who didn't think twice about adding those 120 to the 100 that she already has to find sponsors for? This sister.

Who is on her knees asking that He bring those 220 sponsors before she leaves in 2 weeks so she won't be stressed with the logistics of getting their uniforms, shoes, and supplies all during the month of December? This sister.

Who is trusting Him that all 220 children will be starting school in January? This sister.

Who is humbly asking you to share this burden with her by sharing the needs of these children? This sister.

Who is praising God that you're still reading? This sister.


We have 164 children that still need sponsors. Please click here to read more :)

encouragement from a new sponsor

God just continues to blow me away with who he puts in my path to walk alongside me on this journey. Getting messages like this from a new FB friend-I've-never-met is not coincidence, people. It's God.

"Okay, you will see our sponsorship donation come through very soon. God has blessed us as a couple to be able to sponsor 2 of your amazing kids. I'm so thanking God for this opportunity and for you. If you were not obedient to Him, it would not allow us an amazing opportunity to follow your journey to Uganda and be a tiny part of it. Thank you with for this, with my whole heart.

Christie, I am so very grateful for you. I don't have to have met you, and I don't have to have had the chance to hug your neck (although I'm praying one day I can)!! :) And I don't have to consider it a "leap of faith" to sponsor a child in your program never having done these things before. I don't have to have these things first because the Holy Spirit is written ALL over you and your awesome program in Uganda. You instant messaged me a few nights ago on fb, but really it was the Holy Spirit that instant messaged me. You see, I didn't like the idea of only being able to afford to sponsor one sweet child from the Bugabo Village for some reason and so I prayed about it and I waited. And the Holy Spirit, as of this morning, provided the remainder of the money to allow us to sponsor 2 children! You see, while I was praying about a sponsorship program (for about 5 months now), and there are SO many to choose from and the fact that we are in the referral period of our first adoption of our first sweet child, who coincidentally (if I believed in coincidences) will be born in Africa, and are saving and saving everything we can, and you see, through this journey He literally led me to your program that I had been praying about for at least 5 months, He provided a way for us to sponsor more than 1 child that He was telling me we would do and He is giving me a new friendship with an amazing sister that I feel such likeness in-hearts with!!!

I am praying so hard for your program and you and the kiddos. It's going to get pretty INSANE for you there, because once all of these 220 kids get sponsored....LOOK OUT GIRL!! You're a momma hen with a WHOLE LOTTA chickens! It's going to bring that saying "Raising children is like being pecked to death by chickens" to a whole new level. Whooo! Praise the Lord! I can't wait to hear all about it! I am praying for you Sister. I'm a mess sitting here @ my computer at work! I am happy and excited and thrilled for you ALL at the same time. The kids living in Bugabo Village are about to experience some seriously crazy love!"

Now THAT is good stuff, people. If you are not part of the body of Christ, you are missing out on Someone amazing. I shutter to imagine my life had I not turned to Him. He's pursuing you, too. Don't keep walking away from Him. Because He won't EVER give up. Trust me.

break the hearts

Dear Jesus, I know the odds. 183 children and a little over 3 weeks until I arrive to start getting them ready for school. Please bring in the sponsors for the children YOU want to be in school in January. Break the hearts of those that You want to sponsor them. And not just a little. Break them the way Yours is broken when Your children are overlooked. Help them to do something about it. Help us all to remember that as the body of Christ, this is our responsibility.


And here I am deep in prayer and in the background I hear this ridiculous news story about the people that went without power and running water on a cruise ship. What about the people in this world that are dying from hunger or preventable diseases? WHY DOESN'T THAT MAKE THE NEWS? Lord, don't let us sit back and allow these children to be forgotten. Let us not be so consumed with the busyness of life. We need to hurt. So hurt us. Maybe then we will react. There needs to be the same sense of urgency when we remember these children as there was for that news story to be gathered and broadcast just now.


Want to permanently change the life of a child for just $100 for the entire year? Click here :)

I have a secret!

I am the daydreamer type. Always have been! I landed in Uganda and was overwhelmed with tears as we made our way to the van. We all held hands and prayed. I don't even KNOW what they said because I cried the whole time. And believe me, those Ugandans pray for A LOOOOONG TIME. So I knew then that I would move there. So I started daydreaming almost instantly :)

Right before I left, George and I discussed how life-changing the trip was for me and we tossed around the idea about how we could bless someone else with a trip there. So we decided in July that someone would come back with me at the end of the year. Plans fell through because they were OUR plans. Instead of selling the jewelry and giving away a trip, God had us build a school. And now God has us filling that school.

But we're gonna make it happen after a big fundraiser in March and we'll be giving away a trip. We will bring to fruition what we planned in July. Right there in the village. Around the time those stupid rats freaked me out. The only catch is that there aren't any hotel rooms. You've already seen the restrooms, so there might not be any entries, but God is going to bring ONE of you to the village.

Y'all ready for this? I will be bringing back jewelry to sell in late Feb, early March and ONE OF YOU will be going to THE Bugabo Village. If you have sponsored a child, you will have the chance to meet that child and his/her family. How often do you get to do THAT? For FREE? I have wanted to share this for so long but because God kept changing our direction, it just didn't make sense to. I was going there in October to profile the 100 children to start in the new school, bring back some jewelry (and George - haha), do some fierce fundraising, and "give away" a trip to someone for Christmas! But God had other plans for that as well. He gave me an additional 120 kids :)

The ONLY reason I'm throwing it out there now is because God whispered in my ear to reward the people that have chosen to help me out over the past few weeks with these 220 children that He has put in my path. Because He could do all of this by Himself. But He chose ME and YOU. Not the person in front of you, or behind you, or beside you. YOU. So people have already started to get FREE entries into it. They just don't know it :) Are YOU one of them? I'll let you know for Christmas!!!

Maybe you'll be more surprised than I was on this Christmas :) There are so many things wrong with this picture that I don't know where to start!!!

sponsor a child for Christmas...

...and give the gift of education that will last a lifetime :) I made a post a few weeks ago but am still getting questions about things that are clearly stated in the post. If you would like to read the story about how God has asked me to find sponsors for 220 children, click here.


Here's what you need to know about sponsoring a child in the Bugabo Village:

• Cost - $100 will cover tuition, uniform, shoes, school supplies, a meal during school, and medical/dental visits (as needed) for one year. I would prefer the payment in a lump sum. However, if you can only pay monthly, let me know so we can work out the details.
  

• Child - I will get pictures and profiles of the children when I get to the village and will post them in an album on Facebook. The profiles will tell you specifics about the child (name, sex, age, parent(s) names, favorite sport, how many brothers/sisters, what they want to be when they grow up, favorite color, favorite food(s), and favorite animal) and this info will be listed in the caption of each photo. You can then comment under the child you (or your family) chooses. If you are not friends with me on Facebook, add me by clicking on the badge in the right hand column :)
  

• Communication - I will be right there in the village, so communication with your child will be as often as you want to check in with him/her. This will be in addition to the normal communication - exchanging actual letters, and pictures with him/her when I come to visit the States. I also have a brand new laptop that some friends bought for my ministry that has a webcam on it, and have been daydreaming about the children using Skype to communicate with their sponsors. This is something I think your family would really enjoy, especially if you have little ones at home.
  

• Concerns - God has just recently revealed to me what my ministry is for Him. Due to this, I do not have a 501(3)c to make your donations tax deductible at this time, but I am praying about when I can do that. Until then, if you are more comfortable donating to an organization that will give you a tax deduction for your donation, please leave me a comment and I will give you suggestions. Please note that the Bugabo Village sponsorship is only $100/year and the other organizations are usually a monthly commitment of $30-40/month.

You can sponsor by clicking on the "Donate" button in the right column or by sending a check to:

Christie Cotney
PO Box 401
Alabaster, AL 35007

**Thanks to all of you that are donating an extra $5 to cover the fees that Paypal takes from the donation :)


If I did not provide what you need to know to sponsor a child, please leave a comment so I can add it to the post.

I need each one of you to share this on your Facebook and Twitter accounts. Click here to share it. We need to make sure that every single one of these children has an opportunity for an education. We also need to ensure that they are not forgotten.


I will keep this blog post updated with the number of children sponsored. The donation meter on the sidebar will show the same thing but it doesn't show milestones. Oh, I am just waiting for the one. The one that God uses to start the domino effect and before you know it, I have people asking ME if I have any children left to sponsor :)

11/02/2010 - 15 of 220 sponsored
11/03/2010 - 17 of 220 sponsored
11/04/2010 - 23 of 220 sponsored
11/05/2010 - 29 of 220 sponsored
11/07/2010 - 31 of 220 sponsored
11/08/2010 - 34 of 220 sponsored
11/09/2010 - 37 of 220 sponsored
11/11/2010 - 42 of 220 sponsored
11/12/2010 - 46 of 220 sponsored
11/14/2010 - 47 of 220 sponsored
11/15/2010 - 55 of 220 sponsored
11/16/2010 - 56 of 220 sponsored
11/17/2010 - 60 of 220 sponsored
11/18/2010 - 72 of 220 sponsored
11/19/2010 - 76 of 220 sponsored
11/20/2010 - 80 of 220 sponsored
11/22/2010 - 83 of 220 sponsored
11/23/2010 - 85 of 220 sponsored
11/24/2010 - 89 of 220 sponsored
11/25/2010 - 91 of 220 sponsored
11/27/2010 - 96 of 220 sponsored
11/28/2010 - 100 of 220 sponsored
11/29/2010 - 105 of 220 sponsored
11/30/2010 - 110 of 220 sponsored
12/01/2010 - 114 of 220 sponsored

12/02/2010 - 116 of 220 sponsored

12/03/2010 - 122 of 220 sponsored

12/04/2010 - 124 of 220 sponsored

12/05/2010 - 126 of 220 sponsored

12/07/2010 - 127 of 220 sponsored

12/08/2010 - 132 of 220 sponsored

12/09/2010 - 135 of 220 sponsored

12/10/2010 - 139 of 220 sponsored

12/12/2010 - 142 of 220 sponsored

12/13/2010 - 147 of 220 sponsored

12/14/2010 - 152 of 220 sponsored

12/15/2010 - 158 of 220 sponsored

12/16/2010 - 162 of 220 sponsored

12/18/2010 - 166 of 220 sponsored

12/21/2010 - 170 of 220 sponsored

12/23/2010 - 172 of 220 sponsored

12/24/2010 - 175 of 220 sponsored

12/25/2010 - 181 of 220 sponsored

12/26/2010 - 187 of 220 sponsored

12/27/2010 - 194 of 220 sponsored

12/28/2010 - 200 of 220 sponsored

12/29/2010 - 203 of 220 sponsored

12/30/2010 - 204 of 220 sponsored

12/31/2010 - 206 of 220 sponsored

1/2/2011 - 209 of 220 sponsored

1/3/2011 - 212 of 220 sponsored

1/5/2011 - 213 of 220 sponsored

1/6/2011 - 220 of 220 sponsored

I saw God today

Ever prayed about something and just put it at the alter? That's what I did about my friend Regina Duck. The morning Daddy was moved into a private room at the hospital, I posted that one of my sweet friends from Alex City was in ICU in serious condition. I couldn't even wrap my head around it, as I had just seen a post from her a few days earlier. I was stunned. Shocked to the core. This was one of my friends. This only happens to friends of friends. This was a family that I had spend A WHOLE LOTTA TIME WITH.

This was a girl that had just celebrated her sweet baby daughter's 2nd month in the world.



This was a girl that also had an absolutely adorable 7 year old.



I just couldn't get my head around it. There was some serious denial going on in my heart. I prayed while my family members were talking it over and then I headed over to "Old Faithful" (Facebook). The flood of instant messages had me busy for hours. I lost count at how many people were lifting her up to Him. How many people are so involved in the journey God chose for me that THEY felt like they knew her. How many people prayed with me that day, that night, and the following days. How many people PROMISED me that they would CONTINUE to pray for her throughout her journey to healing. How many people moved my heart beyond measure.

I continued to keep you guys updated and I posted an update shortly after praying over her one night but I removed it shortly after (for fear that she wouldn't want me sharing the details of her at some of her bad moments). And to tell you the truth I cried like a baby that night after Daddy and Melinda went to sleep. I couldn't understand why God would move me to share such intimate details and hear that she wouldn't be comfortable with them. I messaged it to her so that one day, long after she'd gotten out of the hospital, she could look back and see my heart at that very moment. And she did. She read it shortly after she was moved from ICU and she wrote me back with a simple message that read: "I think it's fine & I thank you for prayers. Hopefully I can go home in a few days. Love you!" And although I was relieved that she wasn't upset or yelling at me through the computer, it wasn't very convincing. I was still so ashamed that I didn't even respond.

This morning, she wrote me another message that read: "Will you post that beautiful statement you wrote me the night you visited?" I immediately started sobbing. Had God heard my prayers? All I wanted to do was share with the everyone how I saw God that day. I didn't mean any harm. And you know what? He ALWAYS makes sure He gets the glory. It might be hours, days, weeks, months, or even years, but He's already won. He won at the cross. Praising God for allowing her to feel a little bit of Him through a little bitty girl like me :)

So here's what I posted to Facebook:

"Christie Cotney got to witness God AGAIN as I stood & prayed over Regina Duck a couple of hours ago. They wanted to keep her on the ventilator for 30 mins after she woke up & 10 mins had already passed by the time BJ & I got to go in. It was heartbreaking to watch as she kept crying & mouthing "I want to go home" over & over again. The nurse was really harsh with her so I spoke up & told her that if she remained calm, she could get the tube out in 15 mins. The nurse looked at me, said (in a really rude tone), "NOT NECESSARILY", & began to explain to her that she has a very serious infection (STREP - TYPE A), blah, blah, blah. I quickly interrupted her & said, "you know, you COULD give her some hope. Explain to her that if she stays calm, she can get it out sooner." It was as if God showed up at THAT VERY MOMENT. She turned & looked at me and then back to Regina. She explained, in a soft tone, what was going to happen step-by-step. Regina seemed so calm & was listening intently. Of course I lost it then. God's presence was just TOO OVERWHELMING. It reminded me of this picture! Praising Him tonight for that!"

The caption below this pic on FB . . . I opened the hotel curtains because the sun wasn't out and I climbed back in bed. Started singing "God of this city" and look WHO showed up. Maybe you can't see Him, but I sure can.

The fact that she just allowed me to post a time that was so raw for me...a time that I felt God for the first time soooo strongly in the same room with me gives me HOPE like you wouldn't believe. Thanks, Regina! I love you dearly, sweet girl :)

sweet blurbs

When I share links that people post, I never just click "Share" and click OK. I always write something in the text box that Facebook provides. That being said, I'm always eager to see what people write when they share a link to my blog posts. Most of the time they just share it. But sometimes, oh sometimes, they just pour their hearts out on behalf of the children. I am putting them here so I will always have them. I've been meaning to do this more often because I don't get a lot of comments on my blog posts themselves but a lot of comments on FB. Here are some of the ones written when sharing the Child Sponsorship post I did:

"I want to encourage the parents out there who are buying teacher gifts to pool the money and sponsor a child in honor of your child's teachers. Your sweet one can choose the child for the teachers and give each teacher a picture and profile of him/her. What better way to give the gift of education to a child in the village while also giving a gift to the teachers that educate YOUR child :) Who's game? " - Me

"Teachers! Want to teach the gift of giving this holiday season? Have your class sponsor child. $100 for an entire year. Get a picture, name, and address of the child. Have your students write letters to him/her in the new year. What a wonderful way to talk about thankfulness and create cultural awareness. 21st Century Skills? Call me, and I will do a program on Uganda for you! :)" - Lisa

"I'm planning to ask the parent's in E's class if they would be interested in pulling together to sponsor a child. I think it would be an incredible learning experience for the children on giving, other cultures, Africa, poverty, education, and much, much more. Will you join me?" - Mom Friday Designs

"Check out this blog post from Christie Cotney, who I used to work with. It is amazing to see what God is doing in her life, how He is is giving her a love for orphans in poverty, and how He is using her in His mission!" - Andrew


"How about the parents getting together and sponsoring a child or two or three. Seriously we spend 10.00 on stupid knick knack stuff that they have an abundance of. It will just collect dust. Give them the joy of knowing that you appreciate education, that you are giving to another child what they give to yours." - Rhonda

"We all need someone in our lives to hold our hand and make us better, may be it has happened before like me. Come join the cause and help Christie support the kids I have worked for 3 years to give an education and the future. Please join the cause and make life worth living for a child today." - George

"Is God leading you to support one of His children? We are all called to do something for the fatherless. Are you doing your part? Prayerfully consider one of these precious kiddos!" - Ashley

"These kids need your help! Think of how differently your life would be had you not had an opportunity to be educated. Would you be where you are today? Do you teach your own children that getting an education is important? Help your child sponsor one of these children. What a great way to show them that an education is so important! I'll bet it will be a GREAT motivator!" - Melinda (my little sister)
"Consider a Unique Christmas Gift!" - Tiffany

"I know you all read Katie's blog. Christie is also moving to Uganda but she won't be living in a home on a gated compound. She is moving into a village that practices witch craft. Please pray for her and follow on her journey in the early stages." - Linda

"Wow, PLEASE read this blog below. Even if just for 2 minutes!! If you read down to the video you won't regret it!! Please read the journey she is on and the journey we can put these beautiful children on to a new path of a promise and hope! It sure has me praying." - Nancy

"This is a GENIUS idea!! I'm going to email our PTSO president to see if our Charter school can do this." - Elizabeth

"Christie is letting God do AMAZING things through her for Uganda. Please take a couple minutes to check out her blog. This girl is not just talking the talk, she is walking the walk." - Anna
"I am personally challenging MY FRIENDS (yes that's YOU!) to sponsor ONE child this year. I have 495 friends, so that means all of these kids can be sponsored by the end of TODAY! (it is a mere $100 for a YEAR!) split it up into two months and its $50 today and $50 next pay day! I know you have the means, now exercise that particle of charity, the PURE love of Christ and give just a little!" - Deanna

"Pray about sponsoring a child! What do you spend $100 on at WalMart? I can spend $100 to take all 7 of us to eat and to the movies? Sponsorship for a child for a YEAR for $100! WOW!! Make a difference in another's life!!!" - Christine
"Please read and help if you can! If you cannot help financially, help with Prayer! WAIT - I have that backwards, please help with prayer AND give if you can!" - John

"I know this woman... She's a friend of mine... And these beautiful kids need sponsors to be educated, get clothing, one good meal, books, shoes! Please help if you can. We are sponsoring a child in honor of A's birthday." - Deb

"Please take a minute to read over this post. As a mother, I couldn't imagine my child being denied the simplicity of waking up and going to school. Christie is seeking people to sponsor these kids and get them an education. She has chosen to give up her life in the states to eventually move to Uganda and personally educate these kids. Her fundraising efforts include some really beautiful handmade jewelry, too! So look at her posts, buy her jewelry, and most of all keep her and her efforts in your thoughts and prayers...I know I do!" - Megan

"I have found a new friend on Facebook and her name is Christie Cotney. I didn't know her, someone on my page just comment on one of her pictures. I got to reading the blog on her page and cried my eyes out all day. She has gone over to Uganda to help the children over there. I learned we take a lot for granted, that the things we have will always be here. But think for a minute, what would you do without running water, power, or a bite to eat? I plead with you please go on to her page and at least buy some jewelry. I am sponsoring a child for just $100.00 per year. It pays for their tuition, shoes, uniform and a meal while they are at school. These kids have really won my heart over. And if any of you know me that is hard to do. DO IT FOR THE KIDS. THEY NEED EDUCATION." - Stormy

"I have seen some pictures about Uganda and thought kids might need extra supports there. Most of us have not been there yet but some have done it and still are. Can you take some couple of minutes from your time and look at the work Christ is doing through our sister Christie? You will love it and consider pushing her forward!" - John

"Let's rethink Christmas dear friends, and the sometimes not so valuable quick gifts we have to pick up for teachers/friends...consider this great idea of joining with other parents and giving the gift of education/food to a child in Uganda and change a life this Christmas. You won't regret it." - Mandi

"Christie went to Uganda, raised money to get 23 kids sponsored for school, then raised money to build a bigger school, then the organization that had sponsored the other kids pulled out, She stepped in and is moving there, but now has 220 kids to get sponsored for the January start." - Mark

"Can you put a price on education? I can't. Christie has a passion for the children in Uganda. She is moving there to become the headmaster of the school (which she raised funds to build) but has 223 kids that need sponsorships. Only $100 for the year, we spend more than that in fast food in a month! Will you sponsor a child and change a life?" - Lisa

"Suppose, for a minute, that you drink two cokes a week. And that these cokes cost about $2 apiece. That’s $4 a week. What if, for the next year, you decided to drink just ONE LESS coke a week? How much would you save? About $100. Enough to send a child in Uganda to school for a WHOLE YEAR. Puts things into perspective, doesn’t it?" - Morgan

"This would be a great gift for you, your family and a child who needs help to go to school and more.....read below...only $100 A YEAR can change a child's life!" - Melody

"Would you please consider sponsoring one of these kids for a year? School, uniform, shoes, medical and best of all.... HOPE. $100 for the YEAR. PLUS, this is the type of sponsorship that you would get pictures and see exactly who, what, where, etc. Frank and I sponsored 2 of the kids back in the summer and Christie was able to get us a TON of pictures of the kids, their families, their homes, the kids at school.... you can't get that through other sponsorship programs!" - Kryste
"I think what this person is doing is an amazing testament to her faith in God. Please read her blog and consider sponsoring a child for only $100 a YEAR. I plan on sending in our sponsorship this week. Need a teacher gift?? What about collecting $5 from 20 students and present the teacher with the gift of sponsoring a child in a small village in Africa with an education. There is even the possibility that Christie may be able to Skype when she gets there. Cool classroom project!?! I plan on trying to coordinate this with the mom's in E's class. Mrs. P would love it!" - Mandy

"$100 will cover tuition, uniform, shoes, school supplies, a meal during school, and medical/dental visits (as needed) for one year! Considering giving someone you love this as a gift in their honor! a lot more fun than yet another bottle of lotion of soft squishy socks haha" - Erin

"It is $100 to sponsor a child for an entire school year!! A child that you and your family will get to know, and correspond with!! Maybe you don't have $100 in a lump sum that you can give right now, but how about $10? Find 9 friends willing to partner with you and donate $10 and you can change the course of a child's life!!" - Tracy

"This would make a GREAT Christmas present ...hint hint :)" - Kelly

"What a great Christmas gift!" - Tanya

"Sponsor these kids so they can get and education! This is a FB friend who is moving to Uganda - totally grassroots (not some big organization), trying to make a difference for this village in Uganda." - Heather

"What do you get someone who has everything? How about providing the bare essentials to someone who has nothing in their honor. Please check out how you can sponsor a child in Uganda for only $100 per year!" - Beth
"You know what would make an awesome Christmas present??? Sponsoring one of the beautiful children at the Bugabo Village in Uganda. For the $100 cost of sponsorship it will cover school tuition, school uniforms, shoes, school supplies, a meal during school, and medical/dental visits. What could be better than that? And this is for a whole year! It would not only make a great gift to receive, but it would make a great gift to give someone." - Sarah

"What a blessing" - Paige

"I would seriously like to encourage all of you to consider sponsoring a child. This ministry would be a GREAT place to invest a little of what He has given us to do BIG things in the life of a child. This lady is not just collecting sponsorships, she is moving to live and care for these children. Maybe everyone is not called to adopt but we are all called to care for His children. Your $100 could change a life!! Let me add a GREAT idea!!! Honor your child's teacher with a sponsorship in their name. Instead of buying a gift for each child's teacher why not honor those teachers by sponsoring a child for a year and providing them an education! Make a cute frame with a pic of your sponsor child and give it to your child's teachers. As a teacher myself, I'd be so honored and who needs another monogrammed coffee mug?!" - Jenny

"Please Share this link! Within the next week I will have a letter that you can send in to your "room mom" at school or to your teacher :)" - Emily

"What are you doing for Christmas? Here's an idea!" - Kristie

"Give a child (or two) the most amazing gift of knowledge. It's something that can't be taken away. It's not something that can be broken. It's not something that they will lose. What these kids learn will improve their lives a thousand fold and help them improve the lives those around them ten thousand times over. Not to mention...you'll feel pretty good about yourself!" - Katie Chesley

If your blurb makes it to this blog post (I'm updating as we go), you will be entered to win my "Orphan Sunday Giveaway". Too bad you don't know what you'll be winning :) But THIS isn't the blog post that you need to be sharing. Share the "Sponsor a child for Christmas..." one.

If I missed anyone, please let me know :) Also if you have links that you want me to post with your name or if you want me to remove the link that I posted with yours, just leave a comment.


We still have 210 children available for sponsorship. Right now I am just trying to get them sponsored and will provide pictures and profiles of each child when I get to the village. I would like to have the money before the beginning of December so we will have time to buy their uniforms, shoes, and school supplies in time for the new school year.