James dreams of helping others...

After we drove through Gulu, Uganda,  it should have been a very short journey to Kitgum by kilometer, but the roads were terrible and full of potholes and the heat beat down on our car, air-conditioner had stopped at the beginning of the journey.   We were sweaty and miserable, our bodies stuck to the car seats.  We had not stopped but once in 8 hours.   That last leg of the journey was as long as the 4 hours to Gulu.  I felt miserable, hungry, thirsty.   I remember thinking this is the longest road in the world.   The road to Kitgum showed beautiful terrain, landscape full of African wildlife and flora.  The  occasional Acacia tree hovering over the land, and the towering cashew trees made me realize I had truly made it to Africa, yet this trip was so tiresome, and we just could not stop until we got there, we didn’t want to be driving at night, it was too dangerous.  I felt excitement, and dread to see the conditions that lay before me.  I was being prepared for a tiny taste of life after war. A very small bite of that life, so bitter and not at all nourishing.  Yet what I found was food for my very soul.   My life was changed by the children I met.  They fed the empty place in my heart.

I  traveled on North into the former war zone of Uganda, and seeing the signs of the city finally welcoming us to Kitgum, knowing I had reached my final destination.   It was so peaceful when we entered, people waving at me, smiling, but the land mine warning signs said this was once otherwise.  This was the place that I knew God had sent me.   Why I had come here to Uganda.   I knew after this trip I would feel I had accomplished something in my life, fulfilled what God wanted me to fulfill.  I have now my destiny, my purpose:  help the children of the war, the children of Uganda.   The children that are called the invisible ones…the former night wanderers… orphans… and the child soldiers.

I met one such young man, orphaned during the time he needed his parents to guide him through his early life, puberty, graduation.   It wasn’t to be for my special son James, an orphan of the war.  He was articulate, handsome and smiling continuously.  I would have never known he  had suffered so during his short life. He came to say goodbye to me and told me his story before he left on the bus to go back home to Gulu.   He had come on the bus to meet me!   I could not imagine, all that way on those roads!!

I have adopted him under God and hope somehow that you can hear his plea as I did.   He is honest, and forthcoming with me, and still remains innocent to a life with loving family. I am giving him support as a guiding parent would, and I know that his story will be received by the world as I received it.  I pray that his story touches your heart in a deep place.   I pray that you are so moved that it moves you to step out to help.

I met James on the first day I arrived, and he came to me with his story one evening and asked if I might be able to help him get a sponsor.   And I am here on my knees praying for this to happen for this young man.

James spoke very frankly to me of his time as a captured boy under the control of the LRA (Lords Resistance Army) and the devastating effects that losing his parents had on him, orphaning him when he was only 12 years old. He spoke of his life after escaping and now during the peaceful (cease-fire) times after the war, that has left him stricken by the effects of war over poverty in Northern Uganda.

He wrote his story for me, which caused him to have nightmares afterward.   Please keep James in your prayers for emotional healing.   James wasn’t a child for long.   He lives amongst one of the worst humanitarian catastrophes and crises in the world, Northern Uganda.

“My name is James Ariama, a young man of God.  In my life I am a boy who has been wounded and has pains all over the course of his life. I suffered in the bush for three years at the hands of the Ugandan rebel leader Joseph Kony.  This was the worst time that any person can imagine.

After my primary (elementary education) during my vacation is when we started having attacks from the rebels and and sleepless nights.  We were forced to stay awake every night to protect ourselves.   The attack threats were on and off I could not really tell whether it was the real rebels of the Lords Resistance Army,  or just threats.

One day the whole community was amazed and shocked when more than 53 people where missing in the society.  A terrible investigation began and not even three days later the rebels attacked my family too.  I was only 12 years old.   The rebels stormed my home.  They took my parents and my young brother, and I remained  alone because during the course of trying to run away from the rebels, I ran another direction than my family because the attacks were in the night when everyone was most vulnerable. I never saw my parents again.

Kony and his army who killed my parents, destroyed all the family properties and structures and brutally abducted me.

The remaining clan members of the village a few days later also were dead.   I began my new life, a hopeless life as a child soldier/slave in the bush with no parents or relatives. I was and am still alone.

After the rebels took dozens of abductees both boys and girls to the bush, all our minds could no longer focus on anything, which is human, but rather we were brainwashed and had destructive minds, and we became friendly to the inhabitants of the forest and the bush. I really encountered a lot of suffering in the bush, some which are still too hard to describe and continue to haunt me in the dark.

I served as a boy that carried excess guns and bullets for the rebels.  I carried everything that was of heavy weight.   I supplied and carried food to the rebels during the journey in the bush. We would sleep in open bush fields,  using grasses as our mattresses and blankets. All mosquitoes and other predators used their advantage on us.   This was no existence for a young boy, only survival.

We usually ate raw food, such as meat from dead animals and blood and meat from dead people under enforcement from the top officers. Failure to obey would be death. It was a miserable and terrible condition of life.

One day, when I attempted an escape, I almost died because a bullet came from nowhere.  God was with me that day, and because of God’s hand, it just grazed tip of my hair since I had much hair on the head. I bled but it stopped after some few minutes. I was very lucky not to have been killed.

We used medicines as forms of healing, and witchcraft was the final game for all the decision making that the rebels undertook. We always believed in the spirits of the dead. Every dead body would be buried under water possibly on the banks of the river or on streams of water and this would be done by us young soldiers immediately. We used to move long distances while carrying guns and bullets, but whenever somebody would complain of tiredness, the best answer from the rebel leaders was just to shoot them and eventually that child or person was left there to die.   So my time with the rebels was much worse than slavery.

My real break at life began one evening when there was serious fighting between the rebels and the Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF).  It was a crucial and ferocious battle, which lasted for more than six hours. During the fighting it rained heavily and many people thought of escaping the clutch of the rebels, but you couldn’t see where to start from or where to go.

God’s favor was upon us. We were told to go and collect water tanks as it was our normal custom. So I took this advantage of this situation to run away in the neighborhood forest known as the Kichwamba, but again the conditions worsened as a dreadful fear developed inside of me.    I stayed and hid in the forest three days without eating any food. The only food of mine was to fruits from the forest and drinking stagnant water.

After three days,  I saw the government army patrolling the forest. I thought that they would kill me, but they questioned me and knew that I was ignorant. I was taken to the IDP camps (internally displaced persons) where I started catching up from the hardship I had just endured.

To this day I remain parent-less, hopeless and a miserable person, except for my faith in God.  He will never forsake me, never leave me.”

After I returned back to Texas, James wrote to me asking me to help him choose his career path, and we exchanged ideas much the way a parent and child would talk about college plans and the future.   James currently lives with other acquaintances in the slums in Gulu.  He is a brilliant and gifted young mind and I intend to see him through his education!!!  James wrote me this letter recently, and I was even more touched and wanted to help James in a very significant way.  A young man so hungry for one person to care about his future.

Dear Mum,

I shared my story with you so that with GOD’s will somebody will get up and help in this trouble and struggle of education I have.   There really is no hope here without.   I  really need your help, and I know that God is arranging this for me.

I really appreciate and thank you so so much for encouraging me and giving parental hope and good future.  I have always been scared by myself, because there is nobody that can give me comfort and hope.   I had really lost all hope.   I appreciate you a lot.

Love, your son,

James

We will see the future Dr. James Ariama walk as an Advance High School Graduate soon, and I hope that you will be a part of making this child’s future dreams come true!!!  If you can help his dream to become a village doctor and attend Medical School,  by sponsoring James, we will forever thank you.    We will provide quarterly updates and photos from James as he enters the university.   He will be so grateful if you can help!!!

I will set up specific paypal buttons for individual tuition/books needs in the near future but we are desperate to get the $150.00  he needs to graduate right away!!   Any overage that I receive on this first plea 7/12/10,  will go to his college fund for fall.

James will need in the future, books, tuition, internet services.  We are happy to also get this young man clothing and funds for food and lodging if someone desires to do this for him as well.

Sincerely,

Lori Scott

To assist James with his Advanced Level Educational Plans:

Donate by Paypal (all donations are tax-deductible):

OR

You may pay by check: Make payable to “Little Miracles International” on the “for” identification line of the check, please write the “James Ariama, Educational Fund” and send to:

Humanitarian Projects
Little Miracles International
PO BOX 19776
Amarillo, Texas 79114

Acholi Orphans

I’ve just had the most amazing experience, meeting some of the poorest of the poor, the neediest of the needy and loving on children from the depths of Northern Uganda. I will never forget these little tribal children nor will I ever forsake them in their desperate need. We will immediately begin a sponsorship program with these children and I’ll let all of you know soon how you can help. Their faces will haunt me forever. I bought them 100 kilo sacks of rice, maize beans and posha, soap and salt. They get no meat protein.

I love these children now and I cannot imagine their life without our help. We must do more. They have qualified nurses but absolutely no medicines.  My heart has been changed, I’ve seen and I cannot forget.

These children do not go to school, sleep in mud/thatch roof huts, haul water on their heads for miles and yet they are joyful. This by far has been the most humbling trip I’ve ever been on. I want you to know these children and help me pray for them.  They are cared for by a community granny and two nurses who love them. This orphanage was founded and solely supported by a 24 year old former child soldier who cannot stand to see the children lost and without someone to care.

They sang and danced and drummed and told song stories to me. Although there was a language barrier the laughter filled the sweltering Ugandan air. They were joyful. Yet they had nothing. They were behaved. They were shy and lovely.

I had a disturbing mail regarding the orphans residing in Pader District. My children are sick.

When I arrived in Northern Uganda what I found there broke my heart. Children tragic victims of dozens of family members adults and children abducted and turned into soldiers, or brutally killed by the LRA (Lords Resistance Army) The AIDS epidemic has also orphaned hundreds of thousands of children there along with the desperate conditions that invite illness. The conditions for the orphans and in the IDP (Displacement Camps) are deplorable. Dirty water, walking for miles for food and water.   All are riddled with parasitic infections in their little intestinal systems.  No medical care. Everything is filthy. Only means of living is simply to survive to the next day. That is a huge task and almost impossibility each day. Before I arrived the children were maybe getting one meal a day. Yet they were so joyful. When I asked the children if they had questions for me, one raised her hand and jumped up and asked, “mama will you help us?”

Tearfully my resounding answer, yes!  I now have 20 children in Northern Uganda.

Little Miracles/Dream of a Child needs your help.

Twenty lovely orphaned children of the Acholi Tribe from 3 and up are in serious need. Total desperation. They have food only for 3 more weeks. (I’ve personally fed them for a month) They have no clothing but what is on their backs, and some of their little bottoms were out of the clothing due to the seams not holding up. Their clothing is ripped apart. They are riddled with various parasites, typhoid, cholera, HIV and filthy situations. Their conditions are worse than you can see on television commercials assisting children in Africa. There are two qualified nurses caring for these children but absolutely no medicine for them to use if the children get sick. They suffer in silence with no one to love them. I’m about to change all of that.

We now have children sick. This is a matter of life and death for them. If they become dehydrated or weak, the nurses must put them on their backs and walk 18 kilometers to help. These children are so very rural.

I will be purchasing first line medical kits to be put together in Kampala, Uganda and then shipped up by bus to the children this week. In these kits will be Typhoid and Cholera medication, Malaria treatment, antibiotics, anti-parasitic medication, anti-febrile medication, fungal cream for infections, first aid supplies antibiotic ointments and bandages and HIV first line medications. I will prepare the children for individual evaluations if I get enough donations.

I also plan on having a mobile ambulance built that they can put on a bicycle so they can get children to medical care quickly.  The other alternative we do not want to think about.   These children deserve someone’s love and care!  Please partner with me!

If you can only donate a couple of dollars this will help so very much. I appreciate anything you can do to help. God bless you all.

Please Donate Now!   Your donation will go directly to assist the children and will be tax-deductible.   Little Miracles International, Inc. is a nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization.

You can send an instant payment by PayPal.

You may pay by check: Make payable to “Little Miracles International” on the “for” identification line of the check, please write the “Acholi Orphans” and send to:

Humanitarian Projects
Little Miracles International
PO BOX 19776
Amarillo, Texas 79114

I cannot thank this organization enough for surprising us with this blessing!

Please help them to help our special children by purchasing during the month of May!!

Darlene Sullivan and her three children, oldest adopted in 1998 (the same year I adopted my Maggie) from Romania at the age of 3 years, and her two youngest adopted from Guatemala wanted to do more. We received the nicest donation in kind in the form of clothing etc. from the Sullivan children. Additionally a wonderful monetary donation for the House of Angels. We are thankful for their handwritten letter and we look forward to hearing from them again as they want to support as much as possible! It is so special when adopted children see the need and know what should be done to help! Thanks Sullivan kids!

Wish Upon a Star
Jeanette Dubanowski

House of Angels
Krishan K. Agarwal
Mr. and Mrs. Homer A. Gregory
Susan Berger
Marcia McHenry
Elwin Leung

Kazakhstan
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clark, In Honor of Director Erbol Kapanovich
David Wilstermann, Shining Light and Semey Windows Project
Lex and Karla Moran, for Vasalisa in Shymkent

Ethiopia
Brian & Margaret Dillingham, BP Pino Hope Project
Louis Demarco, BP Pino Hope Project
Jennifer Hall, BP Pino Hope Project
Eduardo Sanchez, BP Pino Hope Project
Christopher and Ann Muehling, BP Pino Hope Project
Teresa Carnt, BP Pino Hope Project

Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund
Melany Bartholow

Little Miracles International General Humanitarian Fund
Just Love Coffee Roasters
Asset Value Investors Limited, Kimberly Lau
Anonymous, In Memory of Alan R. Elia and in Honor of Irene Elia

The House of Angels would like to thank all of their supporters, donors, volunteers, friends, prayer partners and the staff that work tirelessly for the children so gently entrusted inside it’s strong walls. Thank you for this year of hope, this year of dreams that seemed unreachable, thank you for your support and generosity.

On New Years Eve, it is a Romanian tradition to leave a lamp alight on the New Year’s night until the dawn. This light has shined eternal each year during all of the years of the projects we have done. The light will continue to shine again this new year with your help. Fie ca lumina sărbătorilor să vă rămână în inimi tot anul Toate cele bune! Un an nou fericit! (May the light of the Holidays be in your hearts all year long! All the best! Happy New Year!)

Now HOA shares with you their most extraordinary year in photos:

It turns out that giving is good for you and your health!!  CNN posted a very interesting article this month about charitable giving and volunteering.

If everyone gave time, money, talents or passion, what could that mean for individuals, communities, even the world?

“The power of giving is instantaneous, continuous and eternal,” he said. “When you die, you don’t take what you have.You take what you gave.”

What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.  Each and every day we face with extreme courage and faith.  We have so much hope for the future for the orphans and families we assist. Without you, all we have done would not have been possible!  We pray that one day we won’t need our projects or that there is never a child to be found without love in this world.  Until then we will continue to have broken hearts and do everything we can to make lives better.

Thank you for the great year and we wanted to let you know that tax receipts will go out in the first two weeks of January.

We will be posting an update of the Semipalatinsk Window project, Wish Upon a Star and House of Angels within a week.

We are still seeking Volunteers for the House of Angels!  Please consider how you can help!

Please see a special Holiday Greeting from Little Miracles.

Merry Christmas and a bountiful and blessed New Year!

Lori Scott

Just Love Coffee Roasters is a company that provides fair trade specialty coffee, while helping orphans left behind and orphans soon to be adopted. Just Love Coffee Roasters is assisting Dream of a Child, by allowing us to sell their coffee to raise humanitarian funds.

The coffee is hand roasted upon order, and hand packed to deliver! They have a variety of different blends, and who doesn’t love coffee? If you or someone you know is interested in buying coffee, we would appreciate it! The coffee club allows us to have a constant fundraiser while you enjoy your morning brew every day of every month. You can also order individual coffees.

Funds from the purchase of these coffees will go to our projects as well as the JustLove projects in Ethiopia. You will be helping orphans around the world. We look forward to your help!

Please retweet if you would like to help us spread the word!

Wish Upon a Star
Jeanette Dubanowski
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Faragher

House of Angels
Greg and Michelle Smith
Beth Lipton
Susan Berger
Mr. and Mrs. Homer A. Gregory
Nancy Shephard
Carol Jansson
Brady and Anne Woody
Marcia McHenry
Richard and Debra Kruger in Memory of Mary Goodall
Michael Doheny
Gabriela Santa

Kazakhstan Window Project
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Clark

Kazakhstan
Michael and Cara Covert
Robert and Angela Kenner
Susan Knoblauch

Little Miracles International General Humanitarian Fund
Robert and Angela Kenner
Susan Knoblauch
Michael and Cara Covert