Sunday, May 9, 2010

My Mom

My mom was one of my heroes. I remember as a child wishing I could stay home all day and do whatever I wanted--just like my mom:) I didn't know she had to do dishes, wash clothes and cook for her family of seven kids. I thought she just wrote stories on her typewriter all day.

She was a great story teller--we questioned the accuracy of her stories but they were always interesting. I wanted to be a writer just like my mom. She died before I was published but her fingerprints are all over the book I wrote with my brother Tom.

Her mother died when Mom was 14 and her father wasn't poor and indulged her and her younger brother. Her two older sisters were married at the time. Mom secretly took flying lessons when she was 17 and one day invited her dad to go to the airport with her for a "surprise". It was the day she took her solo flight:) I wonder how surprised her dad was! She received her pilot's license in 1940 at the age of 18 and begged her dad to allow her to go for her commercial pilot's license but family members intervened saying that that was no profession for a young lady--so with that dream aside she went on other adventures--a motorcycle trip to Texas--Once she settled down with my dad and they formed a family of seven kids her adventures mostly took place on the typewriter.

I always thought being a mother wasn't really what she had in mind for her life and was disappointed for her sometimes but she was a great mom and her "free spirit" remained within her and her need to "soar" was instilled in all of us.

She passed on her love of the Lord, her love of life and great sense of adventure and I'll always be grateful. Because of our faith in Jesus Christ I believe we will meet again in Heaven and I know she is there now on the greatest adventure that none of us can even imagine.

I love you Mom. Save a place for me:) I'll be there soon.

Monday, May 3, 2010

Sponsored Women of Uganda Receive English Participation Certificates





Under Hope 4 Women's Sponsorship program women are being trained to read and write in English along with their business skills training, spiritual guidance and life enrichment classes.

Bonnie, from Wisconsin just spent three months in Uganda teaching English to women. Each participant in the program received a certificate.
With Bonnie back in the States a Ugandan woman has taken over the English class and the women are enjoying it thoroughly!

Here's what Pastor Ruth of Smile Africa Ministries writes:

Here are pictures of the Certificate Awards for the sponsored women as well as the second class.There was great joy and ululations as the ladies proudly received their certificates.The ladies expressed great confidence and satisfaction for what God has done for them through H4Women.

Sabina and Catharine's statements caught my heart the most.

Catherine said, "God is so great,people study and get Certificates from within Uganda,but ours have come all the way from America." She exclaimed: "God is no respecter of persons,He has loved us the widows with a great love."

Then Sabina spoke next. She said: "Pastor Ruth i am going to frame my Certificate and when i die, my Certificate should be placed on my coffin for every mourner to know that i achieved a certificate in my lifetime. May the Lord bless Rachel and all the people who have supported us to achieve an education."

Okay. THAT makes me cry when I think of how a certificate can bring such dignity to a woman in Uganda. There are many more Catherine's and Sabina's waiting for you to sponsor them. For more information please contact lisa@h4wi.org