I am so grateful for the friends and family that have been regularly sending me funds to continue to sow into my future ministry. Along with the money I am able to set aside each month, we have been able to send quite a bit for projects. There is also a ministry up in WA called WonGeneration that has been doing a lot too. They are responsible for the well and the pigs among other things. Len Bundy just made a trip to visit Alex last month, if you're interested in seeing his thoughts, check out https://www.facebook.com/WonGeneration/ where he has posted some videos he filmed while there. In one of them you can see the cute piggies!
In the year I've been back home, I've been working a really great job that God dropped in my lap. I make plenty of money, so I have enough to send back to my Ugandan family to continue building our compound. The goal is to get it self sustaining. Alex has been hard at work growing crops both to eat, give, and sell. When I left he had goats and chickens, since then he has added pigs. Breeding animals is a good business. We hope to be able to not only feed ourselves and sell them, but to give to families to help them get something started to earn money as well. That old saying "you've got to spend money to make money" is so true, but when you don't have any money, it's impossible to make more in that context. Giving a family a pair of pigs for example, will allow them to begin breeding and selling and earning more. Not just giving the pigs, but training them in how to make that work. This is one of the most valuable ministry tools that is already at work in the village.
Since I left, the well was finished and the water tower added behind the house. The railing for the front porch to protect the toddlers is now installed. Little Jerome Jethro (JJ) was born just after I left, so now they have a 1,3, and 5 yr old. Solomon will turn 4 next month.
Recently we were able to get the house painted and I think it looks great!
He even added some color to the interior ceiling decorative piece.
Alex decided to create tiers on the land in front of the house. The first part he was working on while I was there, digging, moving dirt, packing it down. He created a level place out front with the intention of paving it. Then a retaining wall was added to contain it, and the next tier down is grass. Now with heavy rains coming in, the upper level was beginning to wash away since the paving hasn't been done yet. 
Money was sent again, and paving has now begun. They were advised that it needed to go all around the house since currently it is just dirt right up against the veranda, so there is still structural damage danger there. They are laying paving stones and filling around them with cement. This project is still in process. Rainy days slow the work.
Here's an idea what it will look like.
New living room furniture was purchased. Nice to have a place to host friends, have board meetings for WonGeneration Africa, and just a comfortable place to rest after a long day of working. We also added another solar panel and battery. I'm still wanting to buy a refrigerator for Violet. When I first arrived last summer she had one, but we had to get rid of it in the move because the electricity needed was too much for the solar we had at the new house. A fridge would allow food to be stored, so less trips to the market.
And how about some pics of the beautiful Kalema family?
Violet, Solomon, Elijah, Alex
Alex and JJ
Alex, JJ, Solomon in new Soccer cleats
Alex had the opportunity for a multi week soccer mission trip to Burkino Faso a few months ago. That is his Mother on the left.
I will try to remember to update projects on here more often. The next big thing we are currently talking about is getting a vehicle for the family/ministry. The house is a 20 minute walk from the main part of the village. Elijah was going to school on a Boda Boda (motorcycle taxi) every day, which of course costs money. A couple months ago that Boda Boda crashed with him on it and he was badly injured and now has the fear of getting back on. Having their own vehicle would be a huge blessing and much safer for the little ones. This project could run $3000-6000 depending on what car is chosen. Ultimately we want a van, but we're still discussing whether we should try for that now, or get something smaller for now and upgrade later. This project will take over a year at my current rate of donations and saving.
If you would like to join us in this venture, or if you are already partnering with me and would like an alternative tax deductible way to give, go to Won Generation and under the donate link, choose 'Won Generation Africa' for your purpose. We may get a specific project page put up, but we're still discussing that, but for now...
https://wongeneration.org/donate/
https://wongeneration.org/donate/
If you want it to be set aside for the vehicle, just put that in the notes section. Alex can hold onto money as he's saving up. If no note, the money will just be used for whatever ministry projects WGA has going. Otherwise, if you continue sending to me as you have been, I will send it in big chunks as we have the needed amounts for the projects.
I also take Facebook pay if you are my friend, and I have a Square cash account now ($BaseballGrrl)
One more big THANK YOU to all who have sown into this ministry. I am so grateful for your belief in me and love for the people I have been connected with to do this thing. We can't do it alone. I am beyond blessed by the body of Christ I've been connected with, even though we're now spread out over a few states.
