The Purpose of Each Other

“If you were all alone in the universe with no one to talk to, no one with which to share the beauty of the stars, to laugh with, to touch, what would be your purpose in life? It is other life, it is love, which gives your life meaning. This is harmony. We must discover the joy of each other, the joy of challenge, the joy of growth.”

—Mitsugi Saotome
(1937-); Aikido instructor, author

The MIC group has brought hope to several families in Uganda. These families and the MIC group supporters have added extra joy in their lives by being a friend to someone far away that they may never meet. The mothers in Uganda, most of whom had lost all hope for a future, are now feeling a sense of renewal that soon they will be able to provide for their families.

This family above is one of such families. Mack sponsors Kasumba Brian through CUS. I spoke with Hellen to see if there was anything that his mother could do such as make purses or beads. Hellen said she would be able to teach his mother how to make the beads, and she would be very grateful to be a part of the group. (For those of you with CUS children that would like to see if their mothers could be a part of the group, you must e-mail me, not Kate. Kate has nothing to do with this project. This is completely separate from what the school is doing, but we can include the parents of the students. Of course, if we add more people, we will need to sell more items to take care of everyone. Any help you could provide with getting the word out on the items these women are making will help all of the mothers in the group).

The letter written to Mack by Proscovia is a lengthy one, so I will condense it. Here are parts of the letter (Hellen distributed some of the money that we sent to help the mothers get food for their children- approx $60. Proscovia received some of the funds as a down payment for items that will be sold):

I want to thank you very much for Brian's Christmas gifts and the money you sent to me through the director. I had outstanding food debts in the shop and rent. I am happy that they are cleared.

I have 4 children whose fathers died but now I am struggling with them like that. Everything is not very easy. Sometimes I go to the stone quarry to get something for a day's meal but even then, sometimes we end up breaking stones which are not paid. My major problem is that if our beads can be bought, it would help meet all of the needs for [a home of our own] and [food]. I have learnt to make the beads together with the children.

I love to work with my own hands in order to survive. I am happy that I will make the beads that can now be sold. I am happy and pray that one time you visit us. I love [Hellen] because she is very understanding. Help her to help us.

Greetings to everyone there and God bless you all

Madam Prossy

A Christmas Surprise for Kasumba Brian

Mack's sponsor child at CUS is Kasumba Brian. He had been in need of a sponsor for a while, and his family has always been noted as being desperate for any help.

Mack took him on as her child, and even sent him a package & monetary donation for new clothes for Christmas. This is what Hellen had to say:

"There was too much excitement especially when I bought their gift clothes and called them to make selections. Brian Kasumba's body was just shaking and was supprised at the very expensive cloth and moreover that they were bright and new and not second hand. The mother was equally suprised as you know they are a very desperate family. She wanted to thank the sponsor very much for the Christmas gift."

Meet Mack's Ugandan Sponsor Child Brian!

Kasumba Brian is the one with the pink sandals

Message from Mack:

Back in July, I sponsored a 9-year-old boy named Okello Jeremiah from one of the group photos on the CUS website. I never heard anything back about him, but figured that correspondance takes a long, long time from Uganda.

A couple weeks ago, I contacted Kate to inquire about Okello Jeremiah. She did some research and reported back that he had dropped out of school and his whereabouts were unknown. Sad! If he ever returns, at least he will have a sponsor.

Kate told me about another little boy who was in need of a friend, so I am now sponsoring Kasumba Brian. In the photo of the family, he is on the right wearing pink sandals.

Here's what Kate has to say about Kasumba Brian:"I met Kasumba Brian this past June, and he is an absolute sweetheart! He has one older brother, and two younger sisters. His sister Prossy is in nursery class at CUS and she is 4 years old. Brian is in P.1 and he is 6 1/2 years old. He is working hard on learning how to read and write basic english, and is doing well in his local language studies. His favorite activity is to play soccer, and he also likes to draw. His mother works in the stone quarry, where she breaks rocks all day for around 0.50-1.00$. She is hardworking and honest, but is extremely poor and it is difficult to meet her children's needs. All of her children benefit from our Saturday feeding program, when it is running. We hope in the future to set the mother up with an income generating project."