Katelynn's support page to get to Spring of Hope and Amani Baby Cottage in Uganda

Dear friends and family,

I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to let you know about an extremely exciting event taking place in my life; one in which I have been waiting to come to pass for years! I am close to obtaining a bachelor's degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Abnormal Child Development. A large reason why I chose my degree is because of my love for children with disabilities. It has been my heart's desire and passion to be a light to those that many societies have deemed "unlovable". Over the past year and after seeing much of what the world has to offer, God has moved greatly in my life and changed the desires of my heart to align with the desires He has for me. As I began to trust in God's perfect ways and plans, He brought the opportunity for me to go to Spring of Hope and Amani Baby Cottage in Uganda to serve there this summer from June 4-August 23.  (www.springofhope.org.uk, www.amanibabycottage.org).

Spring of Hope is a community based rehabilitation non-profit organization for children with disabilities. Before the work of Spring of Hope began, children with disabilities were often abandoned, neglected, sexually abused, forced to become prostitutes and beaten to rid them of the supposed "evil spirit" which had been believed to have caused their disability. The goal of Spring of Hope is to see the perspective of these precious children with disabilities changed in order for them to be fully accepted into their community and family and to help the children reach their true potential by providing them with needed resources.

As a volunteer at Spring of Hope from June 4-August 1, I will be going on home visits into the most rural areas of Uganda to provide physical therapy, medication, teach daily living skills and to educate the childrens' care takers how to care for their specific disability. This is done by being vessels of Jesus's love and having His attitude toward the children. When the parent(s) or care taker see us having fun and interacting with their children, many times they start to duplicate these actions and attitudes.

Spring of Hope offers three types of clinics, including:

 1.) Drop-in clinics:  held at the main office where parents travel with their child to receive medication, physical therapy and tips on activities of daily living.

2.) Wobwoko clinics: larger scale drop-in clinics held at a health center building an hour from the main office where hundreds flock from the surrounding areas to receive medication and therapy for their children.

3.) Parish clinics:  awareness clinics used mainly to focus on the perspectives of the children with disabilities changing thru games played with the children, Bible stories taught, and providing a place where parents are talked to about how special, beautiful and wonderful their children are and how to start viewing their child as a blessing.

I would like to share with you a story of the powerful impact that these clinics make. A mother from a rural village shared that God sent her a woman who invited her to a parish clinic on the same day she was planning to poison herself and her son with disabilities because she no longer saw hope for either of them to live. This mother felt an urge to go to the parish clinic because of how lovingly and tenderly the woman spoke to her. Now, her son is receiving assistance and she has made friends with other parents in her situation which has "lessened her sorrow" and brought joy into her life.

For the last month spent in Uganda during this trip from August 1 "“ August 23, I will be relocating to Amani Baby Cottage (www.amanibabycottage.org). This is an orphanage that works alongside the Spring of Hope.

Will you join with me to help bring justice and hope to these children and continue the beautiful work of Spring of Hope and Amani Baby Cottage? You can join with me first, and most importantly, by keeping me in your prayers before, during and after this trip. Please pray for protection, strength and an endless amount of love from the Lord to lavish upon these children. Also, please pray that I would serve all those I meet with humility and as if I was directly serving Jesus and that there would be harmony among all the team members working together.

In addition to prayer, I would greatly appreciate any financial support you may be able to provide. I will be in Uganda for almost 3 months and during that time I will need approximately $3800 to cover my travel, lodging, and other necessary expenses. Enclosed is a response card and envelope. My funds must be raised by May 25^, but you can continue to prayerfully support me throughout my trip. As you pray and consider how you can partner with me for the children's sake and God's glory, know that I am also praying how this experience will impact your life and how grateful I am for your consideration.  I look forward to being an extension of your generosity and service to bring the love of Christ to the neediest children of Uganda.

Blessings,

Katelynn Casey

"If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it." Matthew 25:45