Congratulations to our hard working students!

I'll be honest, I had no idea just how much hard work it takes to make an entire term successful at Vision of Destiny!  There are countless hours spent not just teaching the students, but also on grading papers, filing and sorting them, organizing, and many other jobs that go unnoticed throughout the term.  Our students work hard, but our 8 teachers continually amaze me in their dedication to educating these students!

This evening was a reason for celebration as we gathered to recognize the students who placed highest in their classes.  According to Cari, over half of all of our students made all A's and B's this term - something that is very much to be proud of!

Tomorrow we start the 2nd term of this school year!  We have also welcomed Stephanie Frey who is from Virginia.  She will be working with us part time this 2nd term as she continues her application process to be a long term worker with Africa Inland Mission.  Also we have welcomed 6 volunteers from Youth With A Mission (YWAM) for 2 weeks as they will be helping with music, arts, and other projects around the school!  We are so thankful for those who have come to Uganda to serve alongside of us.  We hope they laugh, play, love, and enjoy these kids as much as we do!

A lot is happening as we continue to walk with these families and students!  Thanks for your continued prayers and willingness to coming alongside this journey with us!

In Christ,

Courtney Wrinkle

2012 Vision of Destiny Voulnteer

End of year trip!

On the bus getting ready to go!

 At Vision of Destiny we use a pretty simple discipline system.  It involves a chart with 3 colors, green, yellow, and red.  On Monday every student starts off in green.  After a warning, if a child disobeys a teacher, is talking in class, or doing other disruptive behavior then they move to yellow.  If they continue the disruptive behavior they move to red and it starts over at the beginning of every week.

At the end of the term, those children who have consistently stayed in the green color are rewarded with a trip.  And this term the trip involved getting on a bus, going to the playground, and eating ice cream.

Jumping on the trampoline!

This was my first trip I had made with the students outside of school (maybe Aunt Cari agreed I had stayed in green color all term and allowed me to go - just kidding!), but it was neat to see them enjoy themselves and have some fun!  Even our teachers enjoyed playing with them, as one of the teachers told me while we were watching them play, "these kids are very happy!"  I asked Uncle David how many of these children had ever had ice cream before and he said that for most of them this was their first taste of ice cream.  I was humbled by how well our kids behaved and acted in a public and it was a treat for me to jump and play with them!

I hope you enjoy these photos that I took of our journey!

In Christ,

Courtney Wrinkle

2012 VOD Volunteer

Lined up to eat ice cream!

Uncle Jonah handing out the ice cream to the kids!

Prossy enjoying ice cream!



Playing on the slide!

Doing life with these kids... is never boring!

So, yesterday afternoon I decided to follow a few of our kids as we left school. We are laughing and walking along and out of nowhere they tell me they are going to take me to see... a monkey!



Now, let me remind you, I am from Texas. The land of horses and cows. In Texas, we don't see monkeys, and we certainly don't see them on a casual walk through the neighborhood. I'm thinking to myself "how funny is this situation?!" I go along with the kids and what do we find? Sure enough, a monkey!

I'm not going to lie, this little thing was intimidating to me! The kids were touching it on it's back, on it's tail, they had no fear. Me on the other hand? I did good just to shake it's hand and take a few photos! Meanwhile the kids and I are all laughing the entire time! The following day at school the kids tell one of their teachers that "Aunt Courtney came to see the monkey and she was fearing it!!" The teacher thought they were telling a lie, so she came and got me. And... I confirmed that the story the kids were telling her... yes, it was true! I even had to show her pictures of the monkey to get her to believe our story!

Here is the photo I snapped of our kids with this monkey!The lesson I learned? Life with these kids is never boring!

Courtney Wrinkle

Vision of Destiny Volunteer

The fun of Sponsorship!

Over the past few days it has occurred to me just how much it means to these kids when they get a sponsor!

Speaking from my own experience, last year I began sponsoring one of the children at Vision of Destiny who's name is Yosam. He was one of the first kids I met when I arrived in Uganda, and there are so many reasons I love this funny, rambunctious, and outgoing kid! While he is great at causing his fair share of trouble, he really is more joy than anything else.

Some of those who sponsor our children occasionaly come here to Uganda to visit them. Others send their children gifts. Others send photos of their family (which the kids LOVE!) or gifts for the child.

For me personally, being both a sponsor AND a teacher has been a great challenge! I will be in the middle of teaching a bible lesson in Yosam's class and hear "Aunt Courtney. You are my sponsor." Yes, that is correct, I tell him. I have explained to Yosam's class many times "yes, I am Yosam's sponsor, but there are many other sponsors out there who make it possible for you to go to school!" I begin naming off other sponsors who have children in that class. One day as we were wrapping up class the children and I prayed for all of our sponsors who make it possible for these kids to go to school! While my struggle in the classroom is valuing Yosam as my sponsored child and making sure I discipline him just like every other child, it occurred to me one day as he was reminding me that I am his sponsor... To these children,

Having a sponsor... means that there is somebody on the other side of the world who is praying for me. It means someone out there cares enough to value sending me to school, allowing me access to uniforms and school supplies. It means that there is someone out there who wants me to hear about the Good News of Jesus! It really does mean more to these kids that they have a sponsor than people realize!

To see the list of current children who are awaiting sponsorship, please visit:
http://vodafrica.org/waitingchildren.html

In Christ,
Courtney Wrinkle
Vision of Destiny Volunteer

Sharing the Vision!

What is the Vision?

Many of you may know that Vision of Destiny (VOD) was the dream of Cari Nash: to have a Christ centered school that allowed orphans and vulnerable children access to education. In Uganda, education is the biggest expense a family has. Since many families cannot afford school fees, many children simply do not go to school. Or, if they are able to afford school fees, the schools are overcrowded and lack a Christ centered education.

VOD started in 2009 in Cari’s fourth story apartment with 6 children and has since grown to 140 children currently in 2012. The mission and goals remain the same: to share the love of Jesus with this young generation and break the cycle of hopelessness. Statistics from various sources estimate that 50 – 60% of all Ugandans are under the age of 14. With an average lifespan of about 50 years and a total population of about 34 million, that is a LOT of young people.

In the words of Katie Davis, one of our fellow missionaries working in Uganda,

“Children in Uganda must learn to read and write, to add, subtract, and multiply. They must learn about science and social studies and everything else school offers in order to be productive citizens in the future. Their nation needs them to move it forward, not hold it back. It needs them to be equipped to provide good leadership and support in positions of government, medicine, technology, social services, and other areas of society. Uganda truly has the potential to live up to its moniker, “the pearl of Africa,” if today’s children can gain the knowledge and experience they need to usher their country into a bright future.” - Taken from the book “Kisses from Katie”

Where are we going?

Eight acres of land has been purchased just outside of Kampala for a boarding school as we move forward with plans to re-locate. Maybe you are asking the question of “why a boarding school? Isn’t it best to leave the children in their homes with their families?” The answer is complex. Family units with many of our children are almost non-existent. Most of them live with aunts, uncles, and distant relatives. For those who do stay with their families, many of them consistently see un-Christ like behaviors. It is not uncommon to hear of our children who daily see alcoholism, prostitution, drug abuse, and theft. The hope and prayer is that if our children are at a boarding school for 8 months out of the year, if they are shown a positive, Christ like example, that not only will their families be impacted during the 4 months they remain at home, but also the cycle of hopelessness will be broken as they move on to raise families of their own.

While the key to eternal life for these children is Jesus, the key for a better life here and now is education and breaking the cycle of hopelessness!

Courtney Wrinkle

Vision of Destiny Volunteer

WIND MARY

This is Wind Mary. She is a student at Vision of Destiny and she is waiting for someone like you to sponsor her.  Wind Mary is from Southern Sudan. Her family fled the war there. Upon reaching Northern Uganda, her father was killed by rebels.

She lives with her mom, two siblings, and an uncle in a single room. She's an outgoing and friendly girl, helpful to her family, and a bright student.
Why don't you bless her life as well as yours by sponsoring her.

To sign up for sponsorship, email Cari at nashsanyu@yahoo.com or go to www.vodafrica.org for more details.

Living Under His Grace and Mercy,

Staci

ZALIKA'S EYES

This is Zalika.  Isn't she cute!  Her happiness is contagious in the classroom.  Cari enrolled her last year into the Vision of Destiny baby class.  She and her sister now spend their days in class learning their numbers and letters, playing at recess, singing songs and learning English.  Both sisters are precious but Zalika has a problem.  She doesn't see well.  Her eyes are horribly crossed.  She manages to get around ok but it is a problem for her.  One day she was carrying her lunch around to the front of the school to sit in the shade and eat when I saw her miss the bottom step of the stairs.  Down went her plate of food and suddenly she was lying in the dirt.  I ran over and picked her up.  Tears began streaming down her face.  Not only was she embarrassed but food is scarce at her house and she didn't think she would be given another plate of food.  Of course she did right then and there.  But the truth is, Zalika has trouble seeing.  Cari has done reseach in town and has found a surgeon who is qualified to do this surgery on Zalika's eyes to straighten them.  He has performed this surgery before.  We estimate the cost to be around $1,500 for the surgery and hospital stay.  Remarkably affordable compared to what it would cost here...but we don't have it.  Please help us with the cost so we can help Zalika see.  It will change her life permanently - not just during her childhood but throughout her adulthood as well.  No one will hire her with such terribly crossed eyes.  Please donate here:  give to Uganda School (make a footnote:  Zalikka's Eyes). I am certain that God will fill this need!  Any tiny bit will help - so please help us help Zalika.  I'll let you know when the need has been met!

Living Under His Grace and Mercy,
Staci Guthrie