March 26, 2009

A Sifa Update from Florence Mugisha

I am still in the U.S. and am taking care for Sifa, one of the sponsored children of ANLM, who just had her jaw surgery in Washington, D.C. after not opening her mouth for over 5 years.

Tomorrow marks one month away from the rest of my family (Charles and the two boys headed back home in February).  The truth is that I really miss my family but I do thank God I can help with Sifa.

God has been amazingly great to Sifa despite her difficult past.  She’s lost both of her parents and has been cared for by an elderly grandmother who really struggled to take care of her.

Last year Sifa had very very severe infection and could’ve died if God had not intervened by sending a mission team from USA, Immanuel Bible Church from DC.  Thank God for mission teams.

We praise God for successful surgery and continued healing for Sifa and for protecting her from losing her life during all the years she lived in pain.

Two days ago she had her dental appointment and the results were amazing, we all expected her to lose  all or most of her teeth.  But the doctor said was that she didn’t have any decay!

Sifa is now able to attend school and does speech therapy to help her completely heal.

Again I do not know what could have happened to Sifa if she wasn’t been able to be sponsored and be able to meet with  Doctor Susan and the team from IBC.

Thank God for child sponsorship!

Thank you all for your prayers and support to Sifa.

Please pray for Sifa’s total recovery,and pray for a safe journey home to Kigali, Rwanda on the April 10th.

We give God all the praise and we thank Him for using His peopleto take care of Sifa.

We all can’t wait to be home.

-Florence Mugisha

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March 3, 2009

View Pictures of Sifa...

…by going to http://www.caringbridge.org/cb/photoMainView.do

She is recovering nicely!

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February 27, 2009

Sifa on Mend!

Sifa is on the mend!

We will go home tomorrow.

This morning about 9AM she turned the corner in her recovery. She asked for a milk shake. ;) She drank it with a straw! Now we can work on taking pain medication orally instead of through the IV. It has been very hard for her to try to drink since surgery. In addition to learning to open and close her mouth and swallowing is discovering her tongue and all of the ways it can move when you can open your mouth.

Thank you soooooooo much for each of you who have prayed for her, read her site, followed her story and shared it with friends. So many people have given in so many ways to make this day possible. From the surgeons, to the meals, to the nurses and techs, the ICS school family, Immanuel Bible Church, the children who made cards and the list goes on and on. Praise the Lord and thank you so much! It took a very big team for such a little girl.

WHAT A BLESSING TO WATCH GOD WORK!

Sifa is treated like a celebrity here at INOVA Fairfax Hospital! Thank you all so much for the way you have taken care of this little girl with medical care she could have never even imagined!

May God Bless You Day. :)

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February 26, 2009

Sifa's Surgery

Sifa, the 11-year-old girl whose been in the U.S. awaiting critical surgery, is in recovery today.  This morning doctors succesfully unlocked her jaw.

Because of the infection in her mouth, some of her teeth were decayed.  Doctors were able to pull two of them while they were working on her jaw.

Please pray for Sifa as she will be very sore and swollen.  She will begin physical therapy in the coming weeks.  Sifa should be out of the hospital tomorrow.

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January 15, 2009
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January 8, 2009

Mission Trips for 2009

Are you interested in going to Rwanda in 2009?

Join Africa New Life Ministries for an informational meeting about 2009 mission trips on Sunday, January 18th.

Where: Christian Supply
10209 SE Division St
Portland, OR

When: Sunday, January 18, 2009 from 4:00-6:00 p.m.

What: This informational meeting will lay the groundwork for the 2009 ANLM Mission Trips from Portland, answer questions and give you the next steps to join a team!

Trips for 2009 include:

June 4-18: Rock Rwanda led by Gunnar Simonsen, General Manager for Chrisitian Supply.  This trip will be an extension of the Rock Rwanda Movement that has sprung up in Portland around Africa New Life. Music will be a big feature of this trip along with serving the needy on three ministry fronts.

June 18-29: Rwanda is Open for Business led by Tony and Serena Morones .  If you are interested in learning how you can do business in Rwanda and lift up the nation at the same time this is the trip for you.

June 18-July 2: General Service Team led by Dave Crosswhite. This team will build clean water systems in Kigali, serve refugee families in Kageyo and spend significant time with the thousands of street kids, single moms and sponsored children Africa New Life serves everyday.

July 3-20: Medical Mission led by Gary Tribbett and Compassion Connect.  This team will meet medical needs, working with local churches and Africa New Life in preparation for Kigali CityFest with Andrew Palau.  Both medical and support people are needed.

Please RSVP to Brooke Gray by e-mail: brooke@africanewlife.org

If you have questions, you may e-mail Brooke at brooke@africanewlife.org or call 503.906.1590 ext. 1212.

See you there!

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December 1, 2008
World AIDS Day is today.  Please pray for those suffering from HIV/AIDS in Rwanda, especially.  They need our prayers, our support and our love.  Many children have lost parents to the deadly pandemic.  Thousands are still HIV-positive.  Thank you for your prayers for Rwanda! To learn more go to www.worldaidsday.org.

World AIDS Day is today.  Please pray for those suffering from HIV/AIDS in Rwanda, especially.  They need our prayers, our support and our love.  Many children have lost parents to the deadly pandemic.  Thousands are still HIV-positive.  Thank you for your prayers for Rwanda!

To learn more go to www.worldaidsday.org.

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November 24, 2008
Sifa is a special girl with immense medical needs.  She was brought to the U.S. by Immanuel Bible Church for surgery on her jaw.  To learn more about Sifa and to read her story, click here.

Sifa is a special girl with immense medical needs.  She was brought to the U.S. by Immanuel Bible Church for surgery on her jaw.  To learn more about Sifa and to read her story, click here.

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October 23, 2008
One Woman’s Testimony from the New Life Family Center: Venancia is a struggling young widow with a small child.  After the 1994 chidlren, she was left to care for her brother’s and sister’s 3 children, as well.  She and her family live in a dirt-floored mud house near the Dream Center. Before coming to New Life Family Center, Venancia’s life was very unrewarding, as all her time was spent striving to get food.  She was hopeless.  In 2002, she married, but her husband got ill and died in 2005. Soon after his death, she also got ill and discovered that she had HIV-AIDS. It is assumed that her late husband died from HIV-AIDS. Through this hopelessness, though, she discovered Christ, made Him her personal savior and is now an active member of New Life Bible Church!  Because someone like you cared enough to sponsor her, Venancia now is a part of the Dream. Now, she is making a small garden to help provide food for her family. She is able to sell some of the things that she has learned to make in the tailoring class. And, a friend of hers has two sewing machines and sometimes lets her use one to supplement her earnings. Venancia is excited to begin her internship and show the knowledge and ability that she has gained in the program. She is also nervous that a customer may bring her something she doesn’t know how to make; she knows that she has a lot more to learn. Once finished with the program Venancia is looking forward to providing for her family. Please pray that she will do well in her internship and will be able to find a job after graduating from the program!

One Woman’s Testimony from the New Life Family Center:

Venancia is a struggling young widow with a small child.  After the 1994 chidlren, she was left to care for her brother’s and sister’s 3 children, as well.  She and her family live in a dirt-floored mud house near the Dream Center. Before coming to New Life Family Center, Venancia’s life was very unrewarding, as all her time was spent striving to get food.  She was hopeless.  In 2002, she married, but her husband got ill and died in 2005. Soon after his death, she also got ill and discovered that she had HIV-AIDS. It is assumed that her late husband died from HIV-AIDS. Through this hopelessness, though, she discovered Christ, made Him her personal savior and is now an active member of New Life Bible Church!  Because someone like you cared enough to sponsor her, Venancia now is a part of the Dream. Now, she is making a small garden to help provide food for her family. She is able to sell some of the things that she has learned to make in the tailoring class. And, a friend of hers has two sewing machines and sometimes lets her use one to supplement her earnings. Venancia is excited to begin her internship and show the knowledge and ability that she has gained in the program. She is also nervous that a customer may bring her something she doesn’t know how to make; she knows that she has a lot more to learn. Once finished with the program Venancia is looking forward to providing for her family. Please pray that she will do well in her internship and will be able to find a job after graduating from the program!


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