Well, look at this wonderful kid with his new prosthetic leg! Some of you know this story! I went to South Sudan in 2013 to teach English (after they gained independence in 2011), then again in 2015 when war broke out. While teaching there, of course I fell in love with this five-year-old war orphan amputee, Khan (photo on the left). We have been trying to “Get Khan a Leg” since then, and thanks to the his adopted family and many of you, Khan finally has a prosthetic leg! He is slowly getting used to it. Khan was too young to remember having that foot mangled in the same accident that killed his mother, though his body must keep the score. His father was killed during the war. Then his knee was also amputated at age seven because of sepsis.
So! That’s excellent news! Khan is doing well in life and school, living in exile in Kenya with Tito and Roda, the Nuer couple who adopted him into their family.
After adopting Khan, Tito contacted me saying, “I can help more than one child.” Hence he started UpperNile Orphans Care Organization (UOCO). Our first project as UOCO is the Hand of Hope Community School, so I jumped in to raise funds.
Isn’t it fascinating how the circle widens?
Now, for the not good. War is again rearing its mouth-opened horror. Tito wrote:
“…considering the current situation in South Sudan…reschedule for another time. The situation is unpredictable, gun fire and bombardment is almost all over the place.”
I so dearly wanted to spend time this summer with the children and staff at the Hand of Hope Community School, which is growing from the ground up. Back here in the States, I completed a class with Days for Girls to be able to deliver washable menstrual products and teach the girls how to sew them (boys are welcome in a Sewing Circle, too!). I am buying school-themed T-shirts so the kids have more than one shirt (to be clear, these efforts are paid with personal funds because, as always, 100% of donations go directly to the school). I hope to do some fun projects as well as teach English there. I travel with donated airline miles, but I need 45,000 more donated airline miles. I also get to donate copies of a kids’ book I put together about that area, which an old caving buddy is editing for us.
I am still working to get all my ducks in a row for the trip once things are a bit more stable. Strange that I can choose not to go; the kids, staff, and community have no choice.
With hope anyway, and with fervent prayer for peace for everyone, everywhere.
For the kids, staff, and board,
Mary Grace
President and Liaison, UOCO (USA)
