Every Child Ministries - Ugandan children of IDP camps

Every Child Ministries showing the love of Jesus to children in IDP camps in northern Uganda

Ugandan Children in IDP Camps in Northern Uganda

This girl was not beautiful in the traditional sense but her smile lit up the whole room She lives in the Tegotatoo IDP camp of northern Uganda and ECMs summer missionaries met her when they recently ministered there A team of summer missionaries from Every Child Ministries inaugurated ECM's ministry to the IDP camps in 2007. (IDP means Internally Displaced Persons, roughly equivalent to being a refugee in your own country.) A full 90% of the northern population of Uganda was forced into IDP camps for their own protection because of the LRA terror of the last 20 years. Conditions are now safer, peace talks are underway, and military protection has been withdrawn from the camps. In official terms, the people can now return to their homes, except that after 20 years there are no homes to return to. The whole infrastructure of former villages has been destroyed. As of July 2007, only about 5% of those in the camps had returned home. In practical terms, it looks like the IDP camps will continue to be a reality in the lives of most of this generation of children.

Every Child Ministries partners with a Ugandan church to minister to children in the IDP camps One of the neediest, most neglected camps, the Tegotatoo (say Teh-goh-tah-tor) camp, was selected. Tegotatoo is well off the main road, which probably explains why most groups bypass it for easier-to-reach places.
ECM Co-Director Lorella Rouster, left, planned the outreach to Tegatatoo in partnership with Pastor Chris Couris of the Gulu Community Bible Church (far left), who planted the church at Tegatatoo. A military man (in fatigues) was enlisted as pastor of the church. He has now applied for dismissal from the Ugandan Army so that he can devote full time to pastoring the church.

Every Child Ministries summer missionary team in church at Tegotatoo IDP camp in northern Uganda Cheryl Bockstahler Leanne McKitrick Megan Towell '

The ECM team enjoyed worship at the Tegotatoo church their first Sunday in the camp. At the left are Cheryl Bockstahler (team leader), Leanne McKitrick, Megal Towell, and Heather Hernandez in the open-sided thatch church structure.

Every Child Ministries summer mission team at Tegotatoo IDP camp in northrn Uganda Leanne McKitrick praying for sick Ugandan baby

At one point in the service church leaders prayed for the many sick in the community, and ECM team members were asked to join in. At the right, Leanne McKitrick pours out her heart for a sick child.

Summer missionary Lance Bernhard in worship at Tegotatoo

Every Child Ministries ministers in the Tegotatoo IDP camp in northern Uganda Children peer into the church Camp in background

At the far left, summer missionary Lance Bernhard follows in English Bibles as the pastor preaches in the Acholi language. At the near left, children peer in along the edges of the thatch church building. Huts of the IDP camp, home to 20,000, are in the background.

Daniel a child in the Tegotator IDP camp in northern Uganda received first aid treatment prayers and loving care from the summer missionaries of Every Child Ministries After church, the team took the opportunity to ECM team seeing the homes of the children in the Tegotatoo IDP camp in northern Uganda visit the homes of the children in the camp.
One of the first tragedies they noticed was little Daniel, pictured at right. He had a large, dirty open sore on his head to which flies were attracted by the drove. He had some food of some kind, but he could not seem to eat it or even hold up the plate. The team did what first aid they could for Daniel that day. As treatment continued through the week, Daniel showed significant improvement.

Cheryl Bockstahler teaching the Tegotatoo IDP children a Bible story as a summer missionary with Every Child Ministries

Kids listening intently to the Gospel message presented by ECM summer missionaries at Tegotatoo IDP camp in northern Uganda

Every day began with songs, a memory verse, and a story from the Bible taught by ECM summer missionaries. We were all amazed at how intently most of the children listened. The lessons were translated into the children's native Acholi language by helpers from the Gulu Community Bible Chruch. During the Bible teaching time, an opportunity was given to the children to invite Jesus into their hearts and lives as their personal Saviour and Lord. Many gladly responded.

The summer missionary team included Cheryl Bockstahler (team leader), Lance Bernhard, Heather Hernandez, Amanda Kedzierski, Leanne McKitrick and Megan Towell. ECM International Co-Director Lorella Rouster also participated.

Some of the children at Tegotatoo IDP camp in northern Uganda preparing for a game The recreational activities were led by a summer missionary team from Every Child Ministries Lance Bernhard prepares to play soccer with some of the boys at the Tegatatoo IDP camp in northern Uganda Lance was serving as a summer missionary with Every Child Ministries After Bible time, the children were divided into smaller groups for games and activities.

Lance's soccer games (called football in Africa) were extremely popular, as were all the games--such a welcome reprieve in the children's dreary lives!

Children from Tegotatoo IDP camp in northern Uganda wait patiently in lunch for a hot lunch served by Every Child Ministries Cups for 300 children Lunch was provided by ECM each day of ministry at the Tegotatoo IDP camp in northern Uganda

ECM summer missionaries serving up lunch at the Tegotatoo IDP camp in northern Uganda Cheryl Bockstahler Amanda Kedzierski Leanne McKitrick Heather Hernandez Thank you ECM partners for my lunch The best I have had in a long time Girl from Tegotatoo IDP camp enjoying food provided by Every Child Ministries
By that time the children were ready for lunch. ECM provided a simple hot meal consisting of corn porridge and a roll each day. It took awhile to serve all 300 children, and we were impressed with the way they waited patiently in line until they were served. (Funds from the summer team were used to provide the meal, so thank you to all who helped them.)

Children waiting in line for first aid from Every Child Ministries summer missionaries Ragged children seeking first aid from Every Child Ministries summer missionaries First aid up close Every Child Ministries summer missionaries showing the love of Jesus in practical terms
In the afternoon some of the team ran a first aid clinic to treat the many open, running sores and ulcers so many of the children had. This was one more way to give the children personal attention at their point of need and to show them the love of Jesus in action.

/files/Uganda pictures/740Meganregisterskidsforsponsorship.jpg While they were doing first aid, Megan Towell registered orphans so that Every Child Ministries could begin to seek sponsorship aid for them to enable them to go to school and receive medical help and supplemental nutrition. The church and camp leaders selected 41 of the neediest orphans to begin with. For immediate encouragement, the team presented each of those 41 orphans with new shoes and clothing, brought by the team and supplemented by Gulu Community Bible Church.

Megan reviewing a verse with her Ugandan helper Pamela Every Child summer missionaries to Tegotatoo IDP camp in northern Uganda

Heather playing a game with some of the children at the Tegotatoo IDP camp in northern Uganda Every Child Ministries summer missions trip

Lance Bernhard reviews witht he children as Heather Hernandez looks on Every Child Ministries summer missionaries to Tegotatoo IDP camp in northern Uganda Megan Towell gives personal attention to two little boys at Tegotatoo IDP camp in northern Uganda Every Child Ministries summer missions team The afternoon was a more informal time which included review, coloring and other activities in small groups as team members were available. It was a time for reinforcing the Bible teaching, for interacting in smaller groups, and for giving kids personal attention to show the love of Jesus. About 4 p.m. the team began the trip back to Gulu town where they were staying, leaving behind 300 kids eager for the next day to begin!

ECM International Director Lorella Rouster showed this woman how to make oral rehydration formula and then led her to Christ Lorella found out how much difference showing the love of Jesus can make. One afternoon a mother came up to her, complaining that her son had diarrhea. Lorella knew that oral rehydration formula in most cases would help him more than medicine, so she carefully described how to make it from simple everyday ingredients. The mother said she had every element except sugar, so Lorella emptied a crayon box and put a small amount of sugar in it. After she reviewed the formula again, the mother suddenly looked at Lorella and declared, "OK, now I am ready to be born again." Lorella was really surprised, because she had not directly shared the Gospel with the woman. She could only guess that the woman understood some of the Gospel and seeing someone try to show simple Christian love, God opened her heart. Lorella led her to Jesus on the spot.

So, it was an amazing summer at Tegotatoo IDP camp and for ECM's summer missionaries who ministered there alongside the local church. The next step? ECM has found sponsors for 40 of the neediest children and is looking for more. Those who get sponsored get to attend school, get supplemental nutrition and medical care, plus additional Bible teaching on Saturdays. Please pray for this continuing outreach and for the church as it ministers regularly to the families of Tegotatoo.

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UPDATE: August 11, 2009: 40 Children from Tegotatoo have now been sponsored and have begun school, most of them for the first time in their lives. Others are waiting. Will YOU make it 41?

Sponsor a Child Today for only $30/month. Designate "Tegotatoo sponsorship" The cost is modest, and the joys are many. THANK YOU!