BOMBO CHURCH YOUTH HELP PAINT DONELA:

The young people at Bombo Pentecostal Church demonstrated a unique spirit when they gladly volunteered to help paint and work on Donela school.  The building materials needed to be shifted to keep the Donela children from harm when they reported back for a fresh school term.  The classes being completed on the top floor needed to be mopped and arranged.  The huge heavy cabinets that had been stored away in a lockable classroom for safety needed to be carried into the various classrooms, the school building needed to be painted……  There was work to be done.  Regardless of their own need to prepare for school, the youth worked sacrificially and relentlessly.  They worked for three full days under the scorching sunshine, while covering their eyes from the rising dust that viciously attacked them whenever a dry wind would blow.  Somehow, they were able to do rehearsals for youth Sunday amidst all of this work!  What Uganda needs is such selfless spirits that are eager to see a transformed community. 

To Align friends and partners - know that you are not alone.  You are partnering with and providing hope to a people whose hearts are sold out to see God’s Kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.  Let us continue working together to see Donela transform a life, a community, and a nation.  God bless you.

STORIES OF LIFE WITH HOPE IN KAKOOGE, UGANDA

As told by Pastor Patrick Kabugo, Kakooge Pentecostal Church 

There is nothing that brings greater joy, satisfaction than seeing people’s lives being transformed, participating with the creator of mankind to bring a difference in people’s lives.

People, organizations, ministries have names which never measure up to their meaning but Life With Hope which is an arm of the church to reach out to the rejects, discriminated of society, those suffering directly or indirectly from this deadly disease HIV/AIDS has measured up to it’s name.

It hard to imagine that a person living with HIV AIDS can have a life of hope again. Many people that the church has brought on board through Life With Hope had lost hope. To them to live was of no value, excessive drinking was the resort and many had even tried committing suicide.

LAWRENCE KIGAYAZA now nicknamed LAZARUS had not discovered he had HIV/AIDS until he started falling sick frequently. To him some body was bewitching him. By the time we found him, Lawrence’s body had begun rotting. I had never seen maggots coming out of a living person but this was the condition of poor Lawrence. Nobody could go near his unipot, a small round single room steel structure he called home. A swarm of blue flies became his companions. In his time of greatest need all of his “friends” left him because of the ugliness and stench of his rotting body.

That was Lawrence’s state by the time the church found him. Pastor Agnes Kabugo encouraged him saying, “Lawrence, there is still hope for you.” “I am tired of those mocking words”, you could sense his heart say that. Lawrence is beyond recovery one doctor told us, he actually has cancer that is why his leg is rotting. The only solution is amputating the leg first to avoid the cancer from spreading to other parts of the body. “I rather die with my leg”, Lawrence said. 

We took Lawrence to the hospital, put him on special diet prepared by the church members. (Note: hospitals in Uganda do not provide meals for the patients; that is the responsibility of family and friends.) He is now on treatment. You need to see Lawrence now. He is back to a normal life. That is why we nicknamed him Lazarus - recalling the Lazarus whom Jesus called out of the grave he was already rotting (John 11:38-44). Thanks be to God who has enabled the church through the Align Ministries that people like Lawrence can have Life With Hope again

MARGRET NAKIBUUKA

The first days we met her, you could see the sorrow and misery in her face. Margret would greet us with tears. She would look at her 4-children and burst into tears. Margret would ask, “With whom will I leave my children when I die?” The father of the children deserted the family to stay with another woman a common practice for men here. By the time the church became aware of Margret’s condition she had a swollen stomach, you could think she was an expectant mother and she became bed ridden. The church took her for medical check up and it was discovered she had HIV/AIDS and T.B.

She is now on treatment. It is amazing to see the changes in her life now. When you talk to her now smiles fill her face, she now looks younger and healthy. Margaret has come to know that Christ as a friend that sticks closer in times of sorrow and is a committed member of the church.

How Are YOU Different?

What impact for God's Kingdom are you making?

It doesn't have to be big, as a matter of fact those little things, opportunities we overlook or pass by everyday can mean the difference to someone else.

Is someone in Heaven because of you?

Are YOU different?

Just a thought - 

If it were illegal to be a Christian in the United States:

Would there be enough evidence to convict you??

Donela School Kids Sing

If you want a treat check out our MEDIA page and watch the kids sing the Donela School Anthem.

http://www.alignministries.org/photosandvideo

Mariners Church - Spread The Love

Check out Mariners Church 
http://www.gospreadthelove.com/index.php/stories-of-love
Uganda Spreading The Love

WE HAVE MOVED

PLEASE NOTE OUR NEW ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER

Align Ministries and Don & Elaine Herr have moved.

Our NEW address and phone number:

26 Blakeley, Irvine, CA 92620

Phone: 1-949-825-7788

Bridge of Hope

 BRIDGE OF HOPE MINISTRY

Bridge Of Hope is a ministry created to empower a disadvantaged life with hope for a future through education.  It was conceived in the hearts of young church members, who through Align Ministries efforts are able to access scholarships to study in various institutions of higher learning.   This privilege was opened to them when there was no hope to proceed with an education, and consequently no hope for a worthwhile future.  They decided that they must pass the blessing they received on to others. 

In order to do this, the young church members are contributing a minimum of a dollar per month and saving it until it amounts to what can send someone to school.  The fire has now caught the entire congregation – young and adult alike.  Our mission churches in Wobulenzi, Kakooge, and Luweero are also making monthly contributions.  All of the church projects (Life Shop, Donela school, and eventually poultry project)  are contributing from profits made.   We now have 75 people who contribute monthly.  Within less than two months we have collected a total of 600,000/= (300 dollars), and interest is still growing.  In 4 months i.e. by the end of December according to the pledges we expect about 2,000,000/= ( Close to US$ 1,000)

The young Bridge of Hope members that received scholarships are indeed excited to make a difference.  Already they offer revision, teaching, and coaching opportunities to High School students to better their academic performance.

Bridge of Hope:  “JOINING HANDS TO GIVE HOPE THROUGH EDUCATION.”

Missionary Work

In missionary work the great danger is that God's call will be replaced by the needs of the people to the point that human sympathy for those needs will absolutely overwhelm the meaning of being sent by Jesus. The needs are so enormous and the conditions so difficult, that every power of the mind falters and fails. We tend to forget that the one great reason underneath all missionary work is not primarily the elevation of the people, their education, not their needs, but is first and foremost the command of Jesus Christ--"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...."Matthew 28:19

Oswald Chambers

Spread The Love

DONELA – A SOURCE OF HOPE AND TRANSFORMATION

What and who is Donela all about?

Donela Orange Nursery and Primary School is much more than just another school among millions or even gazillions.  It is a school with a heartbeat.  This heartbeat aches to love a neglected child, heal a hurt, restore a life, give a future, and by so doing transform a community.  This is God’s heartbeat.  He has made it our heartbeat as Bombo Pentecostal Church.  So far, He has enabled us to make significant progress.  Right now, we have 470 children in attendance; when completed we will have 900 students. 

How you can participate in making a difference:

We have hit a snag right now – we need room.  Completion of a building is standing in the way of a meal in a hungry stomach, love to a trauma hardened child, and a job that would give a future to an entire family.  These to us are as major as the much needed quality education from Donela that will enable these children change their life and family situations.  So far, through the faithful and generous giving of people responding to God’s call, we have made major progress.  We now have a two story building with 12-rooms that are not completed but already in use.  The upper floor’s classrooms are not yet plastered and have no doors, windows, or ceilings, and need painting, and the electrical installed.  In order to accommodate the growing numbers, we have to let children study in the incomplete classrooms regardless.   We also need our eco-system toilet completed because right now, the over 520 people (children, teachers, and all employees) at Donela school share a dilapidated latrine which has only 5 latrine holes to serve everybody.  In order to complete the classroom block and eco system toilets, we need a total of $30,000.

By donating towards the building you are giving chances to many, who in turn will change their circumstances, and consequently, will change the community.  Below are the life change miracles you will be creating:

Quality education for the disadvantaged:

What Uganda Government schools are struggling to provide is affordable (almost free) education.  So far, their efforts are lacking in many ways –teacher student ratio is 1 to 100.  Children are too hungry to concentrate in class, no desks, no chairs, hardly any teaching materials and books, overworked and underpaid teachers, poor quality education, many failures, and a high dropout rate.  Right now, there is no way a child undergoing school in such circumstances can be assured of a bright future.  Private schools on the other hand are too expensive and are for the wealthy few that can afford them, leaving the vast majority to languish in their poverty. The vast majority we are talking about here constitute 84.6% of the nation who are living in rural areas. (Uganda National Bureau of Statistics )

Donela Orange Nursery and Primary School in Bombo is out to make a difference.  Children from very poor families leave their mud-huts or one roomed dilapidated homes to attend a quality school, where there is a teacher student ratio of 1 to 45.  This child will sit on his/her own chair, and will have a desk.  This child will access good books.  This child will sit next to someone from a well to do home, and will have a chance to compete favorably with them.  This child will even access a computer and learn to use it!!  This child will speak the prestigious English language, known to be spoken by the few elites.  Our aim is for this child to gain a wider world view, intelligence, and charisma, to break the cycle of poverty experienced in their society and circumstances.

Meals for the hungry:

Our target children at Donela are assured of a healthy meal and cup of porridge every school day.  This cannot be taken for granted because most of them live on one scanty meal a day.  A well cooked meal in good quantity is a special treat.  A cup of milk porridge and a snack to go with it is an extra blessing.  These children get healthy when they come to school.  A significant number of our children fall under the 31% of Ugandans that live on less than a dollar a day.  These depend on Donela meals as their only source of feeding.

Nice clothes and shoes:

At Donela, the children who are otherwise dressed in rags, have a descent school uniform and shoes to go with it.  One would just have to look at the way similar children in other schools look on their way to school to appreciate this fact.

Love:

These children are from traumatic backgrounds.  One or both parents died to HIV/AIDS, or they are leading child headed homes, or mummy is very sick and could die any time, or they are in extended families where they get beaten, verbally abused, with lots of child labor to top it up.  A hug, the words “I love you”, the words “You are valued” mean a lot to these children.  These children come to Donela sick, reserved, hardened, and dead to emotion because of the trauma they have to live with.  It is so fulfilling to see them soften, socialize, and run up to us for a hug!  What a difference a little love can make!

DONATE TO ALIGN MINISTRIES

Go to: http://www.alignministries.org/donate

For any questions email us at: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Follow Us on Facebook and Twitter

http://www.facebook.com/alignministries

http://www.twitter.com/alignministries 

KIDS WHO WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Garage Sale – Raising Money for school in Bombo Uganda

LOCATION: 21215 Cedar Lane, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
DATE / TIME: SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 2011 AT 08:00AM TO 12:00 NOON

When our neighborhood kids heard about the blight of the children in Bombo Uganda and the fact that 90% of the kids going to public school fail and their families live on less than $2.00 a day, and many are HIV+ or parents have died from AIDS, they responded.

Align Ministries in partnership with Bombo Pentecostal Church is changing their community in Uganda by educating the children who would not have a chance to get an education, supporting families, widows and orphans who are too sick to work, get healthy and move to a point of self sufficiency through a program called Life With Hope.

Please come by the garage sale on Saturday, August 27th and see their enthusiasm. Help change a community in Bombo Uganda.

Check Out: http://www.alignministries.org
http://www.facebook.com/alignministries

KIDS HELPING KIDS

Cierra, Bree and Aine are doing something to make a difference...

About a week or so ago Cierra, Bree and Aine had a lemonade

stand on our street. We walked over to purchase some lemonade

and support whatever they were raising money for. We asked them

what they were going to do with the money they raise? They said,

"we want to give it to charity but we do not know how to do it or

who to give it to." We then shared with them about the schools we

have in Uganda called Donela. We asked them if they would like to give the money to them

and their response was a unanimous, Yes! Then the next weekend they went on to have a

garage sale selling their toys. These kids raised enough money for a new desk and supplies

for the children of Donela. They also wrote letters to the children at Donela telling them

what they were doing. Align is so deeply touched by these kids and their hearts to want to

give back. So many kids only care about getting more for themselves but not these kids,

they have HUGE hearts. We are so very proud of them and the children of Donela are so

thankful to them. We are hoping and praying that their story will inspire other children to

get involved and raise money for the kids at Donela. These kids have been great examples

of how we can all help if we would just have the hearts to do it and act on it!

If you have kids or know of any other kids that would like to be apart of this amazing kids

club (they are still thinking of a name) please contact us here at Align Ministries and we

will forward your information to them.

So Many Lives Changed Because Of One Desk

Thank you once again.....This desk is going to put a smile on

these children faces who have been doing their work kneeling on a

dirt floor and either using a chair seat as a desk, a church bench as

a desk or just using their lap to rest on and write. Now they can sit

comfortably and do their work without getting sore and dirty legs.

It is very difficult to concentrate and learn when you are so

uncomfortalbe, what a gift this new desk is!!!

Donela School is growing at an amazing rate. In September there will be over 700 children

attending. All of these children come from disadvantaged families, most living on $2.00 per

day or less. Many of the children attending Donela would not eat but maybe one small meal

a day consisting of a small amount of rice and beans. Donela provides them two nourishing

meals a day so they can pay attention and learn. The children are very excited at Donela

School where they are loved, nutured and given an excellent education. HELP us provide

desks, books and school supplies for these children. They are working hard to break the

cycle of poverty they are currently trapped in.

DONATE TO ALIGN MINISTRIES

Two ways to give a tax-deductible gift:

1. Send a check to Align Ministries

Life With Hope

Life With Hope is an Align supported ministry through Bombo Pentecostal Church, Pastor Alex Ojera and his wife Millie.

Life With Hope is a ministry that reaches out mostly to people who are HIV+ and struggling grossly with this disease. We also reach out to those who are sufferering from poverty, and other dibilitating diseases and circumstances that leave them powerless to make a change in their lives. 

We call these people clients. Most of our clients have HIV which has turned into full blow AIDS. Life With Hope come's alongside them and gives food and medical care on a regular basis. We also provide their children with an education at Donela School. Most of all we share with them the love of Jesus Christ and the hope there is in Him. We know that no matter what we do many of these clients will lose their battle with this disease. They need to know that their is hope for eterniy. To also have the peace of mind that Life With Hope and the church will be there for their children they leave behind. They need to KNOW that Jesus is their healer and life giver and they must look to Him not us. He is their comforter and their refuge for all that they are going through as they battle this horrific disease. 

Many of our clients, in spite of their disease, have become strong and healthy enough to earn a living to support their family. At this point we help them to start up a business or trade so they can move to self sustainabilty. Once they become self sustaining we use their support to help another family who is in need. A quote from Millie Ojera, "Many who would have been dead today are alive and vibrant, raising their families." These children would have been added to the staggering statistics of the orphans in Africa. We must be about prevention and helping these parents or caretakers stay alive at least long enough to raise these children to an age of independance, how many orphanages can we build??

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE....ONE LIFE AT A TIME!

How Your Donations Are Used
OUR SPONSORSHIPS ARE DIFFERENT. At Align Ministries we work through the local church so that they become the beacon of hope as they reach out to the community around them. Everything we do is to lift up Jesus and the hope He gives to those who put their life and trust in Him.

When you become a sponsor with Align Ministries, you do not have direct personal contact with the child or family you sponsor. However, you are encouraged to communicate with the Pastors in Bombo, Wobulenzi, Luwero and Kakogee in Uganda that oversee Life With Hope in those communities.

• ALL sponsorship funds are directed through the local Church. In Uganda it is Bombo Pentecostal Church, Pastor Alex and Millie Ojera
• The people look to the local Church and Jesus, not from a person in America
• This empowers the Church to share Christ and become real and tangible to the community
• The Church can then direct them in their walk with the Lord and in moving them to sustainability
• The people will then look to the Church for guidance, prayer and support
• The Church is there all the time, we are not
• The Church becomes the beacon of hope in the community – a light that shines in the darkness

DONATE TO ALIGN MINISTRIES
Two ways to give a tax-deductible gift:
1. Send a check to Align Ministries
2. Donate online with PayPal: www.alignministries.org/donate

Align Ministries is a California Non-Profit Corporation registered by the IRS under Internal Revenue Code 501c3. 
ALL GIFTS AND DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE AS ALLOWED BY LAW.

Align Ministries
27562 Sweetbrier Lane
Mission Viejo, CA 92691-6611
Office: 1-949-215-7516 
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
http://www.facebook.com/alignministries

Alex, Millie and Family Back Home