Fasting On Purpose - Amazima Ministries

I don't think it's any secret that my favorite international ministries is Amazima Ministries!  Let me go back to the beginning and explain...

In 2011 I stumbled across a blog.  This blog was written by a young American woman living in Uganda, Africa.  She wrote candidly about being a missionary, working with orphans in a village in Uganda.  Her heart captured mine.  Her life resembled the very dreams of my heart.  Her passion for orphans matched the burning in my heart for the "least of these".  Her love for Africa only intensified mine.

At this time I was committed to a missionary team heading to Italy.  My dreams of moving to Africa were yet again on hold and sometimes felt as though they were dead.  I had come to terms with God's plan of moving me to Italy instead of Africa and so reading Katie's posts felt like my life-line to my beloved continent.

The journey God has taken Katie Davis on is not for the faint at heart.  She has faced trails of many kinds.  Trials few would be able to make it through.  This woman is fierce in her love for Jesus, her love for orphans and her love for her children. I write as though I know her.  I assure you I have never met this sister but when your heart breathes the same breath there is an undeniable connection!

When I began my journey into missions God made it very clear to me that I needed to be supporting missionaries/missions.  His exact prompting was, "Don't you dare think about asking people to give if you yourself are not willing to give!"  At that time I was not faithfully tithing nor was I giving to any cause.  As I began to speak with the Lord as to what tithing and giving meant for me, the only mission I could think of was Katie, her children, Amazima Ministries.

In 2011 I began giving to Amazima's general need fund and then last year I decided to dive into their Child Sponsorship Program.  I love the heart and reasoning behind their sponsorship program.  They have over 600 children in the Sponsorship Program and my $25 a month allows a child to have access to:
*Education at a Christian school
*School supplies and uniform
*3 meals a day
*Basic medical care
*Christian discipleship
*Spiritual growth activities for the children and their families and/or guardians

Not only do I have the privilege of helping meet these needs, I also get the honor of helping a child remain a child!  Many, if not most children in Uganda and many African countries spend their childhood working and fending for themselves.  It is not uncommon for a 5 year old to be digging through trash piles looking for scrap metal to sell and food to eat.  It is not uncommon for a 9 year old to be the sole provider for their smaller siblings.  Amazima's Sponsorship Program helps keep families together, whatever that family looks like.  It helps Mom's not have to sell their bodies to feed their children.  It helps Grandma's and Grandpa's send their grandchildren to school.  It gives children a hope for a future that is bright and healthy.  It gives children an opportunity to Live!

For some $25 is more than they think they could give.  Does it stretch my budget a little?  Yes, it does.  Is it a sacrifice for me?  Absolutely not!  Once your heart is connected to the understanding of what your measly $25 does for children, there is no turning back.  

I remember the day that I received my Sponsorship packet in the mail.  My parents remember the day I got that packet.  I was sitting at our kitchen table when I opened the packet and as soon as I saw the picture of little Thomas I fell to pieces.  My parent's heads quickly turned as they heard me crying and asked what was wrong.  Through tears I excited showed them his picture and read everything it said about him and told them all about the program and what it will help with.  I starred at his picture and just kept saying to them, "Look at him! He is so cute! He is so small!"  Thomas' picture quickly found its way into my favorite little pink picture frame. 

That small pink picture frame sits on my desk in France and his sponsorship care is one of my book marks in my Bible.  Both serve as a daily reminder to pray for him and the 600 others in the program. They also serve as a reminder to pray for the 147 Million orphans around our world.   

The picture of Thomas makes me thankful for ALL* Amazima is doing. It makes me thankful that because of this program Thomas will not go to bed tonight hurting from hunger pains.  It makes me thankful that because of Amazima, Thomas knows that he is loved.  That he has humans who love him and an amazing God who loves him.  

And I have asked God to let Thomas know that I love him too! 

*Amazima Ministries is an all around ministry! Check out their other ministries: Community Outreach, Vocational Projects, Discipleship, Masese Outreach