Ten-year-old Patrick Nyakojo is one of the children being sponsored under the Harvest International's Good Samaritan Sponsorship Project. Patrick and his siblings were left parentless when their father killed their mother and was condemned to die.
The three brothers and a sister were sent to live with an uncle, who had nine children of his own. Their new home is a mud hut with no running water or electricity.
"All the children are so sweet, Patrick, Frank, Steven and Sara. We know them all, have hugged them all, talked to them all and prayed with them all," Dick Johnson said in a letter to Patrick's sponsor. "We have assisted their Uncle John with food, clothing and medical needs. He is a sweet Christian man. God is good, as he does have land to grow food."
Barbara Johnson talked about Patrick in a recent interview.
It was hard on Patrick, she said, to have to testify against his father. The Johnsons decided to send him to the Toro Boarding School because his aunt, who is not a Christian, said he was a troublemaker. He resides at the school for three months and then home for a month. The cycle repeats throughout the year. Steven and Sara attend the school as well. The fees for the boarding school require two sponsorships.
"We were at Fort Portal for Thanksgiving, returning just before Christmas," Mrs. Johnson said. "What a beautiful Thanksgiving we had with Harvest International missionaries Bob and Jennifer Chedester, who, with Uncle John's permission, have brought Sara into their home. Stephen, Patrick and Frank came to spend several evenings with us there. Patrick ran up to me, placing his arms around me and thanking us for sending him to boarding school. He is excelling in all of his classes, and when we talked to his teachers, we were encouraged by what we heard.
"Patrick is so special. I could just pack him in my suitcase and bring him home. And he's so appreciative of everything that has been given to him, especially when he was having trouble in the home. He has just excelled. We said if he was a problem maker we would have the same trouble in the boarding schools, and we have not had any problem. He is a very loving and caring young man.
"Now our next step is to watch Frank and his progress with living at Uncle John's. We need a sponsor for him."
In their December newsletter, the Johnsons tell the story of another of the sponsored children, Fred Katusabe, and his mother, Betty.
"Betty and her family live in the back room of her little shop, where she daily sells small items like cooking oils and bread for income," the newsletter says. "This room is no bigger than 8 feet by 8 feet, which includes all of the beds, their clothing and other personal belongings.
"We shared the plight of Betty's family to Fred's sponsors here in the U.S., and God moved not only in the hearts of his sponsors, but also in the hearts of some others. Praise the Lord, Betty now has been able to start construction of her own brick and mortar house. She is praising God for his provision for her and slowly by slowly, the house is moving from only a dream to a reality.
"This project is an example of only one of many where assistance is given to orphans and widows who have need of new pit latrines, cook houses, roofs, plastering or replacement of old reed and mud walls of their homes. It seems on each trip to Uganda God reveals these needs to us, and wherever possible we are obedient to his leading for assistance."
Edith Kanyiginya and Robinah Tusime are two of the girls who are waiting for sponsors. Both are 15 and come from large families.
Edith is the third born in the family of seven. Her mother is an unemployed widow who suffers from high blood pressure. There is no steady income, so Edith's education has been sporadic over the years. Edith loves the Lord.
Robinah's mother is very old, a widow and unemployed. Her brother, who was a deacon at New Life Presbyterian Church, had been helping the family with education. Since becoming a pastor in a new church, and with six children of his own that he struggles to educate, his income has not allowed him to continue Robinah's education.
More than 40 other children on a waiting list need sponsors.
